BusinessMirror October 02, 2021 by BusinessMirror

ROTARY CLUB OF MANILA JOURNALISM AWARDS

2006 National Newspaper of the Year 2011 National Newspaper of the Year 2013 Business Newspaper of the Year 2017 Business Newspaper of the Year 2019 Business Newspaper of the Year

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

A broader look at today’s business

Saturday, October 2, 2021 Vol. 16 No. 353

LOOMING ‘DARK’ DAYS IN OCTOBER

EJAP JOURNALISM AWARDS

BUSINESS NEWS SOURCE OF THE YEAR (2017, 2018, 2019)

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

2018 BANTOG MEDIA AWARDS

PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY

DATA CHAMPION

P25.00 nationwide | 12 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK

By Lenie Lectura

NERGY officials have given assurances that Luzon is unlikely to experience power interruptions during the preventive maintenance period of the Malampaya gas facility that starts Saturday, October 2, 2021, until Friday, October 22, 2021. The shutdown, however, is likely to create an upward pressure on electricity rates. “They don’t have any projected yellow or red alert notice in the course of the usual delivery of power during the Malampaya shutdown,” said Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary Gerardo Equiza Jr. during a hearing conducted by the Senate Energy committee. “In their PSAs [power supply agreements], there is a provision that they have to use liquid fuel. The impact, of course is, it’s more expensive so there might be some impact on electricity prices.” The costs incurred as to the use of liquid fuel when the Malampaya gas facility could not supply the gas plants—Ilijan (1,200 MW), Santa Rita (1,000 MW), San Lorenzo (500 MW), Avion (97 MW), San Gabriel (420 MW)—are passed on to customers via the generation charge. These gas power plants have a combined capacity of 3,200 megawatts (MW). As the country’s only natural gas facility, Malampaya’s continued operation is vital since

30 percent of households in the country, or 6.575 million residential customers, depend on it.

‘Not that high’

THE Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP), which was asked by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi to simulate the impact on the Malampaya gas facility shutdown, played down the prospect of rate spikes. IEMOP Chief Operating Officer Robinson Descanzo said WESM (Wholesale Electricity Spot Market) prices in October could hover around P3 to P4 per kilowatt hour (kWh). WESM prices from September 1 to 21 stood at P3.10 per kWh, lower than the average price of P4.76 per kWh in August. Descanzo said the downward trend in WESM prices could continue, on account of low demand and sufficient supply as most baseload plants are no longer on shutdown.

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 50.8790

“We’re not seeing any problem in the supply adequacy,” said Descanzo. On WESM prices, he said, the gas plants’ price offers are normally not that high,” even when they run on alternative fuel. “Since some natural gas plants will still be operating on liquid fuel in lieu of natural gas during the temporary shutdown, price volatility will be likely dampened. But we’ll still have to see how much they will price their capacity,” he said. While there is sufficient supply of electricity during this period, consumers need to know the effects of all these on their electricity bills. After all, Santa Rita, San Lorenzo, San Gabriel and Ilijan plants supply almost 60 percent of the requirements of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s largest power distribution firm servicing over seven million customers.

Twice the cost

IN its September 17 letter to the committee, Meralco said the cost of using liquid fuel is almost twice that of using Malampaya natural gas. “Thus, increase in liquid fuel consumption due to Malampaya curtailment results in higher generation cost,” which accounts for the bulk of the cost component being passed on by Meralco to consumers. The gas curtailment that Meralco was referring to happened on some days from March to August this year. During the period, the gas plants provided around 56 percent of Meralco’s monthly total supply to its more than seven million customers. “The contribution of the use of liquid fuel to the increase in overall

GUNAWAN GUNAWAN | DREAMSTIME.COM

Malampaya’s maintenance schedule from Oct 2 to 22 revives fears of power shortage and increase in electricity rates, again

generation cost this year is around P0.11 per kWh,” Meralco said. Among the gas plants, only Santa Rita and San Lorenzo plants, which account for 31 percent of Meralco supply, have the capacity to run on alternative fuel when gas from Malampaya is reduced. “It should be noted that the use of an alternative averts the detrimental effect of the plants’ nonoperation, specifically, the impact of the 1,500 MW of generation capacity that will be lost in the Luzon grid, which will likely lead to significant higher WESM prices and/ or rotating power interruptions,” Meralco said.

avoid a repeat of the unplanned and forced outages. He reiterated the need to ensure backup plans as well. “We expect the DOE to exhaust all means to ensure the continuity of flow of electricity to our homes and even avert hikes in electricity rates,” he said. The last time the Malampaya gas facility underwent a 20-day maintenance shutdown from January 28 to February 16, 2017, the rate impact reached P1.75 billion. To cushion the impact, the Energy Regulatory Commission ordered Meralco to collect from consumers in three monthly installments a total one-time passon of P0.66 per kWh.

It is noteworthy to mention that the power supply disruptions in the past few months have been partial, while the events in 2017 that coincided with the Malampaya preventive maintenance involved complete power plant shutdowns. The Malampaya shutdown this year coincides with increasing fuel prices and a depreciating Philippine peso, both of which are major factors affecting electricity prices. If there will be no unscheduled power plant outage this month, then the DOE officials might not catch the ire of the lawmakers again.

‘Action plans’

THE DOE has already met with industry stakeholders to discuss action plans for the Malampaya shutdown. It assured the public that there would be no supply interruption. The Senate Energy committee chairman took note of the DOE officials’ assurance on the availability of power supply and preparations such as alternative measures during the shutdown. “We’ve been assured that brownouts will not happen during the summer season and that there’s sufficient supply, yet power interruption still took place from May 31 to June 2. I do not wish to call them out on this for the second time in a matter of just four months,” said Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.

What’s expected of DOE?

GATCHALIAN emphasized that the DOE needs to ensure that the Grid Operating and Maintenance Program (GOMP) is followed to

n JAPAN 0.4572 n UK 68.5595 n HK 6.5350 n CHINA 7.8620 n SINGAPORE 37.4772 n AUSTRALIA 36.7703 n EU 58.9382 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.5666

Source: BSP (October 1, 2021)

NewsSaturday BusinessMirror

A2 Saturday, October 2, 2021

www.businessmirror.com.ph

China’s vaccine push falters as nations switch to mRNA shots By Iain Marlow & Randy Thanthong-Knight

Bloomberg News

N the early days of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout, Chinese shots saved countless lives. They kick-started inoculation programs across Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, while richer countries hoarded scarce mRNA shots from Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc.

But many governments that once relied on vaccines from Sinovac Biotech Ltd. or Sinopharm Group Co Ltd. are now turning to options from the US and Europe instead, as concerns mount about Chinese vaccines’ efficacy against the delta strain and the Western stranglehold on mRNA supplies grows looser. That preference may already be showing up in China’s customs data, where exports of human vaccines dropped 21 percent in August to $1.96 billion from $2.48 billion in July, after rising steadily since December 2020. “Basically people took what they could get” when Covid vaccines first became available, said Nicholas Thomas, an associate professor at the City University of Hong Kong who has edited several books on foreign policy and public health. “But as this has gone on, general populations—rather than just medical practitioners—have become more educated about the differences,” he said. “They have realized that not all vaccines are equal in terms of protection.” This shift played out during Thailand’s deadly outbreak earlier

this year. As cases surged and Southeast Asia emerged as the new epicenter of the pandemic, the nation desperately tried to purchase vaccines. Only one supplier came through in time: China’s Sinovac. The shots allowed the country of 70 million to begin its inoculation campaign earlier than hoped, but Thailand soon confronted a challenge now faced by lawmakers across the developing world. The efficacy of China’s inactivated vaccines ranges from about 50 percent to 80 percent in clinical trials. But they are less potent than mRNA vaccines and questions are mounting about their effectiveness against the highly transmissible Delta variant. As a result, the Thai government became the first in the world to offer an AstraZeneca Plc shot to people who had already received a jab or even two of Sinovac. While it is not an mRNA, Thai studies showed the Cambridge, UK-based company’s viral vector vaccine is potent as a booster to the Chinese shot, and that Pfizer’s dose was found to be even more effective.

A MAN is inoculated with China’s Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine in Quezon City, September 13, 2021.

But many Thais soon expressed a strong preference for Western shots—even protesting to demand them—and the country’s opposition began lambasting the government for its reliance on China.

AP/AARON FAVILA

Location

Stance on Chinese vaccines

Thailand

Stopped Sinovac orders entirely, began ordering mRNA vaccines

Singapore

Withheld privileges from Sinovac recipients, then excluded them from its national vaccination count

UAE

Mandated boosters for Chinese vaccine recipients, not those who received Western shots

Philippines

Has relied mainly on Sinovac. Just placed an order for 90 million boosters, mostly Pfizer, according to a media report

Hong Kong

Investigating whether to give mRNA boosters to those who took Sinovac

Turkey

Agreed to buy 100 million Sinovac vaccines, then ordered 120 million Pfizer doses. Now giving Western shots to some recipients of two Chinese shots

Brazil

Halted talks over 30 million Sinovac shots and backed Pfizer as a booster, according to a Wall Street Journal report

Ecuador

Now using Sinovac for second doses only. Currently ordering more Pfizer and AstraZeneca doses than Chinese shots

“I’m not anti-Sinovac,” said Chaowat Sittisak, a 29-year-old teacher in northern Thailand who got a first dose of Sinovac but ordered a second Moderna shot from a private hospital. “If the world only had one vaccine and it’s Sinovac, I’d get it. But we have so many other choices. And I want whatever is best.” Many governments that once relied on Chinese shots are now ordering or seeking donations of mRNA vaccines instead. The swing away from China is likely to accelerate as US President Joe Biden promises to donate 1.1 billion mRNA shots, Europe pledges hundreds of millions of vaccines and India prepares to once again export AstraZeneca vaccines after curtailing shipments following its deadly second wave. In addition to availability and efficacy, freedom of movement may also be motivating the shift: Recipients of Chinese vaccines can’t travel to some locations, such as Singapore.

Vaccine exports

IN a written reply to Bloomberg, Sinovac said its CoronaVac shot has been effective at preventing hospitalization, intensive care admissions and deaths throughout the pandemic. A spokesperson said some countries first rolled out Sinovac to the elderly, who are more likely to be hospitalized with Covid-19, while younger populations received different vaccines later, “and this should be factored in the evaluation of CoronaVac’s effectiveness.”

Many countries, including Thailand, have “purchased vaccines from multiple suppliers in order to maximize the number of doses available for their population,” the company said. As things stand, the list of places shifting away from Chinese vaccines—or augmenting them with Western boosters—includes Singapore, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. In China’s own territory of Hong Kong, which has long offered residents a choice between Bio NTech and Sinovac, health officials are now testing whether the Chinese shot will perform better when paired with a Western booster. While Sinovac allowed Thailand to start its rollout earlier than planned, the 6 million doses arriving in October will be the last shipment. In 2022, at least three quarters of the government’s orders will also come from Astra and Pfizer. Moves like Thailand’s represent a blow to China’s vaccine diplomacy ambitions. Nevertheless, governments face a tricky balance between wanting to protect the public and maintaining good relations with China. The Thai Health Ministry has been careful to say that while it has no plans to order more Sinovac, it isn’t suggesting the shots aren’t effective. Chinese firms have exported some 884 million doses of its homegrown vaccines via mostly bilateral deals with places like Brazil and Indonesia. This week Chile started giving Sinovac shots to children as young as six, a strong endorsement of a shot that’s formed the backbone of their rollout. And there are still many parts of the world drastically short of vaccines. Some African nations, for instance, have barely started their inoculation drives after struggling to procure shots. Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina

Faso and Kenya are all rolling out Chinese vaccines, and Beijing is a key supplier to the World Health Organization-backed Covax facility aimed at getting vaccines to the developing world. President Xi Jinping has pledged to export 2 billion doses this year, matching commitments by Group of Seven nations. Various studies conducted around the world have shown the jabs to be effective at preventing serious illness and death. Yet China’s pharmaceutical firms—which were initially less forthcoming than Western companies in releasing clinical trial data —have not released similarly conclusive studies that inactivated vaccines are effective against delta. Over the coming year, policy makers may well continue turning away from the older technology of the inactivated Chinese vaccines, says Benjamin Cowling, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Hong Kong, who published a recent study in the Lancet showing the Pfizer vaccine generated 10 times more antibodies than Sinovac. “If you’ve got some vaccines that are more effective than others, and the cost is roughly the same, then you’re going to get a better bang for the buck if you choose the more effective vaccines,” Cowling said. “But I still think that the supplies are limited, so it may not be as easy as saying, ‘We just want to order the Moderna vaccine,’ or whatever.”

‘Better alternatives’

IN Thailand, the opposition Move Forward party is now calling on the government to reveal the percentage of people who have only received the Sinovac shots. “The government already knows that studies and research show inactivated virus vaccines are less effective against virus mutations when compared to mRNA-based vaccines,” said Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, an opposition lawmaker and a key critic of the government’s vaccine policies. “We should know the vaccination rate that excludes all two-dose Sinovac shots because the immunity may not be enough any more. Any regions that are ready can then reopen.” Thailand’s health ministry didn’t respond to a request for comment. Chaowat, the teacher, said he felt pressured to take the Sinovac shot because of his job but is hoping to get a Moderna shot in a month or two. “The government is turning away from Sinovac because they have to push through with their reopening plan and they want to reduce vaccine hesitancy among people who don’t want Sinovac,” he said. “They’re turning to better alternatives.”

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

News BusinessMirror

PHL’s September PMI highest in six months

By Bianca Cuaresma

he country’s manufacturing sector strongly rebounded to the growth territory in September after contracting in the previous month due to renewed Covid-19 restrictions. In its latest report on Philippine Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), global think tank IHS Markit said the country’s PMI “rose sharply” from 46.4 in August to 50.9 in September. This is the highest PMI of the country in six months, or since March this year when it hit 5.2. A country’s PMI gauges the health of its manufacturing sector. It is cal-

culated as a weighted average of five individual sub-components. Readings above 50 show growth in the industry while readings below the 50 threshold signal a contraction in the manufacturing sector. “After a tough trading period in August, manufacturers in the Philippines welcomed the relaxation of some virus-related restrictions. A number of factories and businesses resumed their operations,” IHS Markit economist Shreeya Patel said. “On a positive note, the vaccination effort supported optimism, and with the government securing more doses, the Philippines looks committed to inoculating the population,”

Patel added. Broken down, however, the country’s manufacturing sector has a lot of room for improvement based on specific data points. For example, IHS Markit said production volumes fell during September, marking a six-month sequence of decline as firms continued to indicate that the remaining Covid-19 restrictions hampered production. Similarly, new orders declined further, but at a softer pace during September. “Anecdotal evidence revealed a general reluctance to spend among clients amid ongoing restrictions. Meanwhile, after falling sharply in

the previous survey period, there was broad stagnation in new export sales,” the report read. Job shedding in the sector also persisted during the month, the report said, resulting largely from a combination of weak consumer demand, movement restriction and voluntar y resignation left manufacturing firms in the Philippines w ith lower staffing levels. “G lob a l s hor t a ge s h av e a l s o weighed on t he sec tor w it h pr ices inc rea si ng sh a r ply. Unfor t u nate ly, f i r ms w i l l h ave to endu re t he d i sr upt ion a s sup ply pressu res show no sig ns of slow i ng ,” t he IHS econom ist sa id.

Peaceful first day of COC filing; Pacquiao, Atienza seek top posts By Samuel P. Medenilla

t o b e i n c lu d e d i n t h e 2 0 2 2 N L E ba l lot: AC T- C IS, AGA P, K abaya n, An-Waray, DIWA, Pilipinas para sa Pinoy, Alona, TODA, Cancer, People’s Volunteer Against illegal Drugs, 1-PACMAN, Marino, Ako Tanod, Ang Probinsyano, PBA, COOP-NATCCO, WACCAA, and 1-Rider.

ESPITE the pandemic, the first day of the filing of Certificate of Candidacy (COC) and Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance (CONAs) remained peaceful and orderly, according to the Commission on Elections. Among the aspirants for the top elective posts for the 2022 polls, only boxing icon and Sen. Manny Pacquiao filed his COC, alongside his running mate, Deputy Speaker and Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza. In a press briefing on Friday, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said they got no reports of untoward incidents related to COC filing being conducted in the Sofitel Harbor Garden Tent in Pasay City, as well as their regional offices. “They opened at 8:00 am for the reception of COCs and this is true across the board. “ Eve r y of f ice se e m s to h ave been ver y prepared in coord ination w it h t he A FP [A r med Forces of the Phi lippines] and t he PNP [Philippine National Police] beginning in early September, so t hese of f ices were able to f unction ver y smooth ly,” he added. He noted health and safety protocols were strictly observed within the filing venues and no “significant” congregations formed outside of the venues. Comelec recorded a lone “staff ” in the COC filing venue in Batangas, who was immediately isolated by authorities.

Auspicious dates

During the first day of the filing period, Jimenez noted only a few aspiring candidates submitted their COCs for national positions at the Sofitel as in previous elections. “The first day really doesn’t see a lot of filers. The people who file on the first day are the people who make it a point to file on the first day. But for the most part, most of the candidates tend to cluster at the end of the period,” Jimenez said. He sa id most c a nd id ates a re likely to file their COCs on October 7 and 8, which he said are both auspicious dates.

Nuisance candidates

Senator Manny Pacquiao, alongside Buhay party-list and House Deputy Speaker Rep. Lito Atienza, display their Certificate of Candidacy for President and Vice President, respectively, for the May 2022 elections at the Harbor Garden Tent, Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City on Friday, October 1, 2021. HANDOUT PHOTO FROM SEN. PACQUIAO’S OFFICE “We feel that is really a bigger factor than Covid,” Jimenez said.

National candidates

Only a few prominent of the 23 aspiring candidates for the national positions filed their COC last Friday. Among them are Pacquiao, who is running for president under the PDP-Laban/Promdi/PCM Alliance and Atienza. Other well-known aspirants are Antique Representative Loren Legarda and Sorsogon Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero, both members of the Nationalist People’s Coalition who are eyeing a return to the Senate. Senator R isa Hont iveros is a l so seek i ng ree lec t ion u nder t he A kbay a n. Meanwhile, other less know n presidential aspirants include Dave Aguila; Dr. Jose C. Montemayor (DPP); Ley Ordenes (independent); E d mu nd o R u b i , (i nd e p e nd e nt); Lurencio Jun Yulaga (PGRP). For the vice presidentiables, the candidates are Rochelle David (independent) and Alexander Lague, (PGRP). Most of the senatoriables who filed: former Secretary of the Senate Lutgardo Barbo, (PDP-Laban); Abner Afuang, (independent); Bay Maylanie Esmael, (independent); Norman Marquez, (independent); Bertito Del Mundo (independent); Romeo Plasquita

DOH starts own probe into Pharmally face shield deliveries By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

he Depar tment of Hea lth (DOH) has initiated its own investigation into the alleged tampering of manufacturing dates of face shields procured from the Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., even as the agency said suspended accepting anymore deliveries of face shields from the controversial company. Following reports of the alleged tampering, the DOH said it will further implement “stringent measures” of inspection during delivery to ensure procured supplies are not damaged nor have exceeded shelf life. The department also underscored that it does not tolerate the practice of tampering with any procured supplies. “The DOH has decided to suspend acceptance and further deliveries of face shields from Pharmally, pending the conclusion of the investigations in the department. We are aware of the statements made by Pharmally employees about the tampering of the production date on the certificate. Out of prudence and caution, the DOH has decided to suspend the succeeding deliveries to protect the interest and safety of our health-care workers,” Atty. Charade Mercado-Grande, undersecretary of the Health Regulation Team of the DOH said.

Upon the directive of Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, the agency said that they are already conducting a “comprehensive review” of procurement transactions, which includes inspections of incoming or currently housed stocks of personal protective equipment procured from Pharmally, “either directly or indirectly” through the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM). “We are fast-tracking our investigation on the face shields delivered to the DOH and if those are the ones being referred to in the Senate hearing. If the face shields are proven to be tampered with, we would definitely take necessary legal remedies,” added Mercado-Grande. “The DOH assures that prior to sending out any procured items for use by our health-care workers, these are duly inspected. Likewise, health facilities have to inspect, count, and verify the items they received from the DOH,” he added. Pharmally previously won the bidding for the face shield contract with the DOH, a separate procurement from PS-DBM. The procurement of the face shields was done through a competitive bidding process wherein eight prospective bidders submitted their prices for the face shields last March 2021.

(independent); Samuel Sanchez, (independent); Baldomero Falcone (DPP); Phil Delos Reyes (independent); Ziegfred “Tapzlord” Giron (independent) and Agnes Afable. In the case of par t y-list the follow i ng g roups, f i led t hei r CONA s

Jimenez said Comelec will screen the list to remove “nuisance” candidates—those who have no bonafide intention to run or are merely aiming to mock the election system. “There will be an opportunity for them to defend their candidacy. There will be a hearing for that if necessar y other w ise the criteria provided by law is fairly safe and explanatory,” Jimenez said. He noted even previously dec l a red “nu isa nce” ca nd id ates in previous polls will still be allowed to file their COCs for the 2022 NLE. “Maybe now their circumstances have changed. We have to take each case as it comes,” Jimenez said.

Saturday, October 2, 2021

Labor force participation rises to 3.375M in August–DOLE

ore jobseekers are now back in the labor market as business confidence recovered after being dampened by months of strict quarantine lockdown, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Citing the latest Labor Force Sur vey of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Labor Secretar y Silvestre H. Bello III disclosed labor force participation rose by 3.375 million in August. During the same period, he noted the number of employed persons also increased by 2.567 million monthon-month, while those unemployed also rose by 809,000. “This indicates jobseekers’ confidence to enter the labor market and become economically active,” Bello said in a news statement issued on Friday. “We remain positive that the worst for the labor market has already been reached last year when unemployment peaked to 17.6 percent based on the April 2020 survey,” he stressed. A nother positive development, the labor chief added, was the dec l i ne i n u nderemploy ment rate w ith 14.7 percent or 6.482 million underemployed workers in August

2021 from 20.9 percent or 8.692 million in July 2021. DOLE said it is optimistic the trend will continue as the number of fully vaccinated Filipinos against the novel coronavirus disease (Cov id-19) i nc rea ses, a l low i ng t he country to further relax quarantine restrictions. The government and the private sector, meanwhile, are now able to adapt their operations to cope with the effects of the pandemic. “We expect our labor market and the economy, in general, to be more resilient and prepared for other shoc k s t hat t his pa ndemic may bring,” Bello said. The labor chief said the continuation of the positive trend in the labor market would depend on the private sector and citizens’ compliance with minimum public health standards and occupational safety and health policies to keep the spread of infections in check. He said the National Employment Recovery Strategy Task Force is currently coming out with new programs to further hasten the recovery of the labor market from the impact of the Covid-19 health crisis.

Samuel P. Medenilla

BusinessMirror

A4 Saturday, October 2, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

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

CHU BOI NGHI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries PHAM THI VAN ANH Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

FLINNYSA FEBLAVIAN LIMIUS Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative 12.

Brief Job Description: Oversee planning, organization, creation and publishing of all content

Brief Job Description: Assist/ help customers, give customers information about products or services

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

Basic Qualification: Must fluently speak in any of the following: Chinese, Bahasa Indonesian, Malaysian, Vietnamese

HUANG, ZICHEN Financial Business Controller 13.

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

Brief Job Description: 1. Support Huawei Philippines business risk management in preventing non-compliance issues. 2. Support the Annual Control Assessment 3. Act as the Project Manager to control the assessment progress of all control units

Brief Job Description: Responds to basic and routine inquiries of a technical nature including hardware/software, or other designated clients products. This position assists external users of the client’s technical products or services by answering questions and solving problems involved in their use. LI, SHAORONG Advisor I, Technical Support

Basic Qualification: Fluent and/or native speaker in English and Korean

HU, CHAOYANG Plan Specialist For Philippine Lte Project 14.

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

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

Basic Qualification: Fluent and/or native speaker in English and mandarin

Brief Job Description: Assist in developing strategic marketing leads specifically for Japanese clients

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

Brief Job Description: Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Japanese language

Brief Job Description: Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

CHEN, RAN Mandarin Customer Support Representative 16.

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

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

FENG, GONGPO Mandarin Customer Support Representative 17.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 LIN, ZHIHONG Mandarin Customer Support Representative 18. Basic Qualification: High School graduate in Chinese curriculum, can speak and write fluent Chinese Mandarin, can operate computer Mandarin characters Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

LI, XIANGHUA Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: 1. Develop regional demand plans 2. Develop project supply strategies. 3. Identify project demand risks and formulate ‘decisions.

BAI, CHAOLEMEN Mandarin Customer Support Representative 15.

FAREAST OUTSOURCE PROCESSING INC. 7th, 8th, 9th Flr. Nu Tower, Moa Coral Way, Brgy. 076, Pasay City

LAN, XIAOLIN Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: High School graduate in Chinese curriculum, can speak and write fluent Chinese Mandarin, can operate computer Mandarin characters

19.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

TONY YONG WEI KWONG Mandarin Customer Support Representative Brief Job Description: Mandarin Customer Support Representative

WANG, JINHU Mandarin Customer Support Representative 20.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

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

10.

LIU, FEI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: High School graduate in Chinese curriculum, can speak and write fluent Chinese Mandarin, can operate computer Mandarin characters

WU, SHUANG Mandarin Customer Support Representative 21.

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

11.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: High School graduate in Chinese curriculum, can speak and write fluent Chinese Mandarin, can operate computer Mandarin characters

Basic Qualification: 1. With at least 3 year work experience in business control managing risk and business compliance 2. Knowledgeable in solution design, IT development and testing, regional communication go-live enablement training, and operation optimization of the business risk indicator models 3. Must have a Bachelor’s degree in Financial Management 4. Highly proficient in Chinese and English language

Basic Qualification: 1. With at least 3 year work experience in product sales and operation plans 2. With excellent digital business planning capabilities 3. Must have a master’s degree in statistics 4. Highly proficient in Chinese and English language.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

31.

23.

AN, ZHOUZHOU Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

32.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

NIU, ZHICHUAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TAN, JINSHUAI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WANG, DEFENG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WANG, HE Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WANG, QIANQIAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WEI, PAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHAO, XUEBIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHI, XIAONAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZU, ZHENHAO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

ZHU, ANTING Chinese Speaking Business Analyst 33.

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

34.

35.

CHEN, JINHUANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

SUN, YONGJUN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

36.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

37.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

38.

39.

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

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

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

LE THI CAM NHUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

DE MARCOS, ROMAIN NICOLAS Operations Support Specialist 40.

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

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

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

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

SHELL SHARED SERVICES (ASIA) B.V. 16/f-25/f Solaris One Bldg., 130 Dela Rosa St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

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

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

SA RIVENDELL GLOBAL SUPPORT, INC. Flr. No. 5th & 7th Star Cruises Ce Bldg., Andrews Drive, Newport City St., Brgy. 183, Pasay City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

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

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

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 GRAND PREMIUM CREST HOLDING INC. 16/f Tower 6789, 6789 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

XIONG, CHENG Mandarin Customer Support Representative 22.

XU, HAIYI Customer Service Representative

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

No.

INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION Ground, 2nd, 3rd And 4th Floor, Eight West Campus Mckinley West, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

FAIR CONSULTING GROUP PHILIPPINES, INC. U-2103, 21/f Phil Axa Life Centre, 1286 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Cor. Tindalo St., San Antonio, City Of Makati HARUKA, WATANABE Supervisor Under Relationship Management Department

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products/ excellent mandarin communications skills

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

DEXIN 999, INC. Red Hotel No. 345, Edsa Cor. Don Carlos Revilla St., Barangay 147, Pasay City LIU, CONGQING Mandarin Customer Support Representative

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

CONCENTRIX CVG PHILIPPINES, INC. 25/f Ayala North Exchange, Tower 2, 6796, Ayala Ave. Cor. Salcedo & Amorsolo Streets, City Of Makati BAE, GEONOH Advisor I, Technical Support

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

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

BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue Cor. Rufino Street, Salcedo Vill., Bel-air, City Of Makati ANITA INDRAYANI Bahasa Indonesia Language-manager Web Content

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Brief Job Description: Works collaboratively with Trading AND Customer Support Analysts to ensure end to end process to settlement is performed in an efficient, timely manner

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in French language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

SHEVRONE INC. Unit No. 2c, Floor No. 4/f, Zone 10, Barangay 76, District 1, Pasay City

The World

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BusinessMirror

Saturday, October 2, 2021

Amid power crunch, China orders miners to produce coal ‘at all costs’

hina’s leadership has told the country’s state-owned miners to produce coal at full capacity for the rest of the year even if they exceed annual quota limits as they struggle with the deepening power crisis.

The directive, along with other measures to secure energy supplies for this winter at all costs, was emphasized during emergency meetings this week in Beijing, according to people familiar with the matter. Boosting domestic thermal coal production is critical, said the people, asking not to be named as the discussions aren’t public.

T he gover nment has been holding a series of meetings with company executives this week in a sign of how serious the situation in China has become. Many regions have had to curtail the supply of electricity to the industrial sector, while some residential areas have lost power due to the energy crisis that’s gripped the

world’s second-biggest economy. Premier Li Keqiang has vowed that every effort will be taken to maintain economic growth. China will ensure the needs of basic livelihoods are met and will keep industrial and supply chains stable, he was cited as saying by China National Radio during a meeting with foreign diplomats on Thursday. China’s struggles have also been unleashing turmoil in global commodities markets, fueling rallies in everything from fertilizer to silicon. Authorities may be especially concerned about energy security this year, with the high-profile Winter Olympics due to be held in and around Beijing in February. The country controls coal production under a quota system

that caps annual output of mines in order to manage supply. Authorities have also been clamping down on illegal mining, blamed for a spate of fatal accidents. China is still the world’s largest producer of the fossil fuel, producing about 3.8 billion tons a year over the past decade, roughly half of global output. Coal accounts for around 70 percent of the nation’s electricity generation. The cheap energy source has been key to China’s dramatic economic growth since the 1980s, but it also triggered criticism over the rise in pollution from mining and processing the fuel. Coal mines are under close environmental surveillance, and Beijing has been pushing for consolidation in the sector. Bloomberg News

Trains packed with commuters as Japan fully ends emergency

OKYO—Japan fully came out of a coronavirus state of emergency for the first time in more than six months as the country starts to gradually ease virus measures to help rejuvenate the pandemic-hit economy as the infections slowed. At Tokyo’s busy Shinagawa train station, a sea of mask-wearing commuters rushed to their work despite an approaching typhoon, with some returning to their offices after months of remote work. The emergency measures, in place for more than half of the country, including Tokyo, ended Thursday following a steady fall

in new caseloads over the past few weeks, helping to ease pressure on Japanese health-care systems. The lifting of the emergency marked a fresh start for some people. Office worker Akifumi Sugihara, 46, said he is back to the train station for the first time in about a year. “I had been working from home for more than a year, and I came to the office in Tokyo as [the emergency] was lifted today,” he said. “It’s really been a while. I feel it’s a new start.” Another office worker, K aori Hayashi, 37, said it was an ordinar y Friday. “In my mind

nothing rea l ly has changed,” she said. “We still need to be careful. I will stay vigilant and carr y on my life as usual.” Japan is eager to expand social and economic activities while balancing the need to prevent another wave of infections as the weather turns cooler. Officials say the government still needs time to create more temporary Covid-19 treatment facilities and continue vaccinations to prepare for any future resurgence. The emergency measures have mainly involved requests for eateries to curb alcohol and hours. They can now serve alcohol and

operate an hour longer but still have to close at 9 p.m. Daily reported cases have fallen to below 1,600 as of Wednesday nationwide—less than one-tenth of the mid-August peak of around 25,000. Experts attributed the declining numbers to the progress of vaccinations and to people increased their social distancing efforts after being alarmed by the collapse of medical systems during the summer. Nearly more than 59 percent of Japanese people have been fully vaccinated. Japan has had about 1.69 million cases and 17,641 deaths from Covid-19. AP

Australia okays China’s Sinovac vaccine ahead of border opening

Artists carry national flags during the opening ceremony of the Dubai Expo 2020, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on September 30. AP

Dubai’s Expo opens, bringing first World Fair to the Mideast

UBAI, United Arab Emirates—After eight years of planning and billions of dollars in spending, the Middle East’s first-ever World Fair opened on Friday in Dubai, with hopes the months-long extravaganza draws both visitors and global attention to this desert-turned-dreamscape. Named Expo 2020, the event was postponed by a year due to the outbreak of the coronavirus last year. While that could have an impact on how many people flock to the United Arab Emirates, the six-month-long exhibition offers Dubai a momentous opportunity to showcase its unique East-meetsWest appeal as a place where all are welcome for business. Not long ago, the site of the 438-hectare expo was barren desert. Less than a decade later, it is a buzzing futuristic landscape with robots, a new metro station, multimillion-dollar pavilions and so-called districts with names like “sustainability”

and “opportunit y”—all built, like much of the Gulf, by lowpaid migrant workers. Organizers say 192 nations are represented at the expo. The US pavilion will showcase a replica of the Space X Falcon 9 rocket. Italy’s pavilion houses a 3-D replica of Michelangelo’s biblical hero, David, that is 17 feet high. Other attractions include an African food hall, a royal Egyptian mummy, concerts and performances from around the world, and the option to dine on a $500 three-course meal with glowin-the-dark cuisine. Since first making a splash in London in 1851, world fairs have long been an opportunity for nations to meet, exchange ideas, showcase inventions, promote culture and build business ties. For more than a century, these global exhibitions have captured the imagination and showcased some of humanity’s most important innovations. The first World Fair held in the United

States in 1876 debuted Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone, the typewriter, a mechanical calculator and Heinz Ketchup. Held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that fair attracted nearly 10 million people at a time when the entire US population was estimated to be just 40 million. One of its main buildings, Memorial Hall, is now a museum. Other fairs showcased inventions like the sewing machine, the elevator, carbonated soda, the Ferris wheel and, in 1939 in New York, the television. People journeyed far for the chance at a glimpse of the world in ways they couldn’t otherwise access. This year’s expo is happening amid a global pandemic, when untold numbers are still working and studying remotely—and connecting to the world virtually. It’s unclear how many visitors Dubai can attract, and how much the expo will stimulate its tourismdriven economy. AP

ustralia recog ni zed China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd. Covid-19 shot and I nd i a- m ade A st ra Z enec a Plc jabs, paving the way for overseas travelers and fee-paying foreign students who have received t hose vaccinat ions to enter the country. The nation’s top drugs regulator, the T herapeutic Goods Administration, said the shots should be “recognized vaccines” in determining incoming travelers as being inoculated, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Friday. Australia is starting to unwind some of the world’s most intense pandemic border restrictions as vaccination rates across the country approach as key threshold of 80 percent. Recognition of Beijing-based Sinovac’s shot, which has been approved by the World Health Organization for emergency use, contrasts with the UK and neighboring New Zealand, which are yet to endorse it. A number of European countries have said they will accept the vaccine, known as Coronavac, as part of programs for vaccinated entry. The US indicated similar when it announced plans to open entry to most vaccinated foreigners last week. Friday’s announcement potentially opens the door to thousands of foreign students that have been shut out of Australia during the pandemic. International education is a lucrative source of revenue for the country, worth A$14.6 billion ($11 billion) to the state of New South Wales alone in 2019. “Very soon, we’ll be able to open those international borders again,” Morrison told reporters. “This will start happening from next month.” Bloomberg News

A6 Saturday, October 2, 2021

ExportUnlimited BusinessMirror

Experts cite enormous benefits from RCEP

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently hosted the “International Trade Forum: Benefits of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership [RCEP] Agreement to the Philippines” in a bid to raise awareness on the opportunities presented by the trade pact.

Attended by over 300 participants, the forum is the first in a series of webinars on RCEP that the DTI is spearheading to inform stakeholders of the agreement, which was signed on November 15, 2020, by the 10 memberstates Asean, Australia, China, Japan, Korea and New Zealand. Panelists from the government, private sector and academe recognized the opportunities that RCEP presents to the Philippines, and called for its timely ratification to ensure that businesses, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), will be able to realize the opportunities of the agreement as soon as possible, and help with the country’s post-pandemic economic recovery efforts. In his opening remarks, Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez noted the importance of continued information campaigns in ensuring that stakeholders have the requisite information to fully utilize the RCEP agreement:

“Starting with this forum, the DTI is also set to intensify the promotion of RCEP to raise awareness and disseminate information to stakeholders as we move closer to the target date to implement this agreement,” Lopez said. “We will work with our partners in promoting RCEP as we believe the Philippines will only be able to reap its benefits if we fully utilize the agreement.” Dr. Caesar Cororaton, senior research fellow at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in the United States, highlighted that the RCEP is generally beneficial to the Philippine economy with initial findings reflecting improved trade balance, increased welfare, and lower poverty incidence as early as its entry-into-force with significant improvements by 2030. In particular, the RCEP is initially estimated to improve the country’s trade balance by as much as $51.7 million, increase overall welfare by

Importer brings Spain’s anti-virus smoke disinfectant to local market By Roderick L. Abad Contributor

HE new normal is here to stay. Whether they like it or not, the public and businesses need to continue to adapt to an ever-shifting environment and protocols amid the Covid-19 pandemic. With recent news reports of case surges and new strains, there lies the need to take stronger, extra precautions to keep households and businesses safe from the threats of this virulent disease. Good thing KPP Powers Commodities Inc. Chief Executive Officer Pinky Tobiano luckily found out a disinfecting solution even before this crisis took effect two years ago. Manufactured by leading biosecurity company Bioplagen from Spain, Sanivir Smoke has been tested by international laboratories like the Instituto Valenciano de Microbiologia and approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines as the best against all type of airborne virus. “It was serendipitous when we imported Sanivir,” the businesswoman and chemist told the BusinessMirror in a social-media interview. “The main purpose we imported them [is] because it was proven effective for African swine fever. And on the next year, Covid started and Bioplagen had it tested by various laboratories in Europe, and it was proven to be effective against the coronavirus.” Sanivir Smoke penetrates and disinfects all spaces, even hard to reach areas. Afumigantdisinfectant,itfights againstalltypesofviruses,bacteria,and

fungi in the air and on surfaces. Its potency lasts from seven days to 14 days. It contains Orthophenylphenol (7.0 percent) and Glutaraldehyde (3.5 percent)—two powerful ingredients proven by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States, as well as global laboratories to kill the coronavirus. This makes Sanivir Smoke more effective than fogging, misting, ultraviolet light, or any spray disinfection. This product that comes in 25gram and 1 kilogram canisters can disinfect homes, offices, restaurants, warehouses, cars, and even hard-toreach cracks and crevices such as airconditioner filters and keyboards. It does not leave any residue. Apparently, the longer protective effects of Sanivir Smoke than usual air purifying methods were well received by the local market. Proof of which is that it has made its way to the venues of the most discerning. The Farm at San Benito, for instance, has partnered with Sanivir Smoke for the sanitation of its guest and treatment rooms alongside stringent safety protocols, as part of its “new hospitality” measures. Likewise, it has become the top disinfectant in consumers’ homes like socialite and influencer Cat ArambuloAntonio who, aside from sanitizing her living spaces, also uses Sanivir Smoke to disinfect their cars after running weekly errands. She said: “Prevention is always better and cheaper than trying to get cured at the hospital.” Sanivir Smoke is available at Rustan’s Department Stores and online shops, Stork.ph, Shopee, Nest Genie and Lazada.

$573.7 million, contribute to a 0.84percent real GDP growth, and lower poverty incidence by 4.97 percent in 2030. This was supported by the initial findings of the study of Dr. Francis Mark Quimba, senior research fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, which showed that the non-participation or delayed participation of the Philippines to the agreement would negatively affect the economy. Dr. Quimba also emphasized that while East Asian countries stand to benefit the most in terms of increase in exports, the Philippines and Vietnam will gain the most in terms of real GDP due to lower trade costs and

higher factory gate prices. Dr. George Manzano, dean of the School of Economics of the University of Asia and the Pacific, also emphasized the important role of the RCEP in facilitating the industries’ participation in the Global Value Chain (GVC) highway and further embedding the country in the AsiaPacific trading system—one of the most lucrative economic and trading regions in the world. For his part, Atty. Anthony A. Abad, chief executive officer of TradeAdvisors, stressed that the Philippines should step away from a protectionist mindset and instead, seek to emulate the trade openness

of China and Vietnam, who have significantly reduced their poverty levels as soon as they opened their markets to trade. On the need to strengthen government and private sector collaboration, Mr. Gil Gonzales, executive director of the Asean Business Advisory Council (Asean-BAC), and Secretary-General Ruben Pascual of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomed the call for partnership and expressed their commitment to working with the government in ensuring that the agreement is fully utilized by the business community, including MSMEs. According to Mr. Gonzales, “The RCEP agreement needs to be at

the center of the government’s economic agenda to fully reap its benefits.” Assistant Secretary Allan B. Gepty, for his part, said RCEP should be viewed not only as a plain trade agreement that provides enhanced market access and stable business environment, but also as a strategic tool to sustain the region’s economic advantage, noting that the RCEP region is the center of economic activities in the world. “The Philippines needs to be part of the RCEP free-trade area lest it will be left not only in a disadvantaged position, but it will be missing a lot of growth opportunities both in trade and investments,” Gepty added. For his part, Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo highlighted that the cost of Philippine non-participation in the RCEP Agreement is very high. “Bereft of this platform, we will not be able to take advantage of new investments in GVCs that form an integral part of our export sector. The government is here willing to work with you. Let us collaborate so that we can fully utilize RCEP and realize its benefits,” said Rodolfo during the September 22 online forum. The instrument of ratification of the agreement was issued President Duterte on September 2, 2021, and the agreement has been forwarded to the Senate for concurrence. The target entry-into-force of RCEP is in early 2022. A recording of the forum can be accessed through FB: https://www. facebook.com/DTI.Philippines/videos/1040858946733797

China’s growth risks multiply as manufacturing activity shrinks

CTIVITY in China’s vast factory sector contracted in September for the first time since the pandemic began, the latest sign of deceleration in the world’s secondlargest economy. The drop in the official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index below the 50-mark, which signals a decline in output, shows the damage a widespread electricity crunch is having on growth. Alongside tough measures to rein in the property market, the latest developments have led economists to pare back full-year growth predictions below 8 percent and warn that Beijing could be willing to tolerate a sharper slowdown as it tries to reform its economic model. The problem for the economy is that manufacturing and property investment have been the main drivers of growth since the pandemic hit, while consumption growth remains relatively weak with households still cautious about travel and eating out.

Electricity shortages, which have caused power cuts across China this week, combined with propert y curbs are “a double whammy on the key drivers of growth this year,” said Bo Zhuang, China economist at Loomis Sayles Investments Asia. “A further growth slowdown is inevitable.” Beijing is focused on preventing instability: the central bank told financial institutions to prevent fallout from the property slowdown which has exacerbated a debt crisis at China Evergrande Group, and targeted financial easing aimed at the manufacturing sector may be likely. But economists see little prospect of relaxation on tough policy, such as curbs on housing purchases and energy use limits, until December, when President Xi Jinping and top officials meet to set economic priorities.

What Bloomberg economics says... A DDI T IONA L pol ic y suppor t

will need to come soon to avert a sharp deceleration in growth. The economy’s near-term outlook is highly challenging and uncertain. Headwinds include softening external demand, continued virus risks and a lack of fast, ready solutions for the energy shortages. Regulatory tightening is also a significant drag—Chang Shu and David Qu. When the government set its growth target at “above 6 percent” in March, economists saw it as modest against their own predictions of 8 percent-plus. Many are now rethinking their views, with major banks from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to Nomura Holdings Ltd. downgrading their forecasts in recent weeks to as low as 7.7 percent. Here’s a deeper look at the challenges facing China’s economy:

Power crunch

CHINESE factories in 21 provinces have been hit by power cuts in recent weeks, largely driven by a spike in coal prices that made it unprofitable

for power plants to sell electricity at fixed-prices. The impact was in the official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index, which declined to 49.6 from 50.1 in August, below the 50 median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists. Beijing has scrambled to solve the problem by allowing power companies to raise prices and trying to funnel more coal to the sector. Those efforts could get production going again in many factories, but that relief might not come for weeks. Beyond that, Beijing is signaling that it wants highly energyintensive producers, like steel and chemical factories, to reduce output for the rest of the year, as it tries to meet environmental targets. China’s aim to reduce energy intensity, or how much power is needed to drive output, by around 3 percent in 2021 could drag down full-year growth by 0.3 to 0.6 percentage points, according to Ming Ming, head of fixed income research at Citic Securities Co. Bloomberg News

Ghana’s record cocoa yield is bittersweet for export industry

HANA, the second-biggest exporter of cocoa beans, is facing a problem many would’ve thought impossible: you can have too much chocolate. The country has reaped its l argest-ever cocoa harvest, thanks to favorable weather and higher pay for farming the beans. Yet at the same time, the coronavirus pandemic, which shut down marketplaces and airport gift shops

around the world, has weakened demand for chocolate. Adding to the glut, the nation’s cocoa regulator, the Ghana Cocoa Board, improved yields by distributing free drought-resistant seedlings and promoting better farming practices, including hand pollination. This year was supposed to mark the start of a more sustainable era for cocoa farming in Ghana and Ivory Coast, the biggest cocoa ex-

porter. The West African nations, which grow almost 70 percent of the world’s beans, introduced a so-called living-income differential, aimed at boosting farmer pay, at the beginning of the 2020-2021 season. The premium adds $400 to every ton of cocoa sourced from their countries. While some global confectioners have publicly insisted they’re committed to paying the LID despite falling demand and revenue, West

African regulators say certain buyers are trying to make up for it by cutting the “country premium” they pay in Ghana and Ivory Coast. And lower rates are upsetting the system that’s allowed them to increase farmers’ income. The success of the LID now depends on how much value sustainability continues to add, as well as the world’s hunger for chocolate. Bloomberg News

Russia sees higher gas exports this year amid energy crunch R USSIA projects Gazprom PJSC’s gas supplies to key markets, including Europe, Turkey and China, will grow to 197.3 billion cubic meters this year, as the world’s energy markets are battling the worst supply crunch in decades. The figure, which is 10 percent more than last year, is also slightly

above Gazprom’s own conservative outlook for 2021. The Russian gas producer earlier said it sees flows to Europe and Turkey at 183 billion cubic meters, while supplies to China are expected at 8.5 billion cubic meters. Europe, the single-largest buyer of Russian natural gas, is starting its heating season with abnormally

low levels of gas in its inventories. Regional benchmark prices have surged to record-highs, boosted by intense maintenance at Norwegian gas fields earlier this year and competition with Asia for liquefied natural gas cargoes. The projections form part of the macroeconomic outlook seen by Bloomberg News and used by

the Russian government to draft the nation’s 2022-2024 budget. The actual 2021 exports may differ from the outlook as Gazprom makes the final decision on supplies, based on the market situation, client requests and own production capacities. Gazprom, which last year provided a third of all gas consumed

in Europe, has faced criticism and accusations of intentionally capping export flows to Europe in the past couple of months to force a fast approval of its controversial Baltic gas pipeline Nord Stream 2. Yet the main European clients of the Russian gas giant said they are receiving requested gas fully in

line with contracts. Gazprom itself said it is aiming to deliver extra gas under the long-term deals “whenever possible.” The Economy Ministry, which participates in preparing the macroeconomic outlook, didn’t respond immediately to Bloomberg request for a comment. Bloomberg News

OurTime BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Legazpi City earmarks P30 million for senior citizens, tricycle drivers By Emmanuel Solis

EGAZPI CITY—Some 18,500 senior citizens and 2,500 tricycle drivers affected by the Covid-19 pandemic have received cash aid from the city government amounting to P30.45 million. Mayor Noel E. Rosal said in an interview the grant will help cushion the impact of the health crisis on these vulnerable sectors. “The government is duty-bound to help these vulnerable sectors. Our seniors had already made their contribution to our society long before. And the tricycle drivers are our indispensable partners in our economic and social engagements every day,” he said. Rosal said the payout, done in three tranches, materialized after the city council approved Resolution 15-0290-2021 allocating the said amount. “We want to commend the City

FILE photo shows senior citizens receiving cash assistance from the Legazpi City government during the first payout on August 26, 2021. Mayor Noel E. Rosal (in striped shirt) delivers his message during the payout held at the covered court of Barangay Homapon. PHOTO BY EMMANUEL P. SOLIS

Council for passing such a resolution that allowed the handing of cash assistance to these sectors of our society,” he said. The cash distribution held on

Tuesday was the third payout, with the first held in August, and the second, early this month. Office for Senior Citizens Affair (OSCA) head Wilfredo Intia, in a

separate interview, said the cash aid was distributed through the help of the Barangay Association of Senior Citizens Affairs and personnel of the City Treasurer’s Office. Health and safety protocols were implemented as a precaution against Covid-19. “Even in the distribution of this cash assistance, we need to observe the health protocols, particularly on social distancing, to avoid the potential spread of the virus,” Pecos said. Barangay Bagacay Chairman Julian Ariola, a senior citizen, said he was very grateful to the city government for the assistance given them, which could be used in purchasing maintenance medicines. “This [cash aid] is a big help to us, more so to those who do not have a regular source of income anymore,” he added. The senior citizens received P1,500 each, while the tricycle drivers got P1,000 each from the Legazpi City LGU. PNA

CDC panel backs Pfizer booster dose for people ages 65 and older

HE Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adopted the use of booster shots in the US for people at high risk of contracting or falling seriously ill from Covid-19, overruling a narrower recommendation from the agency’s advisers and clearing the way for a widespread vaccination campaign. Millions of Americans who were immunized with the Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech SE vaccine at least six months ago should receive a booster dose, including those aged 65 or older, those in long-term health-care facilities and those aged 50 to 64 with underlying medical conditions, the agency said in a statement. People aged 18 to 49 with medical conditions and those who are at high-risk for being exposed to the virus at their workplaces or elsewhere may also receive a third dose. The endorsement from CDC Director Rochelle Walensky will allow shots to be given immediately. She said the decision, which aligns with the Food and Drug Administration rather than an expert team of reviewers at the CDC, was based on imperfect data and designed to protect those at highest risk as the Delta variant continues to spread in the US.

“In a pandemic, even with uncertainty, we must take actions that we anticipate will do the greatest good,” Walensky said in the statement. “I believe we can best serve the nation’s public health needs by providing booster doses for the elderly, those in long-term care facilities, people with underlying medical conditions, and for adults at high risk of disease from occupational and institutional exposures to Covid-19.” The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices earlier on Thursday recommended the shots only for people most vulnerable to severe disease. It voted against an extra dose for people whose work exposes them to the virus. That put them at odds with the FDA, which issued an emergency authorization of boosters for the broader group of recipients of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot. Boosters are becoming more widely available at a crucial time, as the US fights a surge of infections driven by the highly contagious Delta variant of Covid. While the unvaccinated account for the vast majority of the most seriously ill in the current outbreak, breakthrough infections among the vaccinated have fueled concerns that the shots’ efficacy may wane over time.

Some of the CDC advisers rejected the idea of giving workers and people in other risky settings ages 18 to 64 access to booster shots in part because of the message it might send. The rift reflects an unresolved divide in the wider scientific community over whether boosters are needed, or when they might be most usefully deployed.

Weak data

A PRESENTER at the meeting from the CDC noted weaknesses in the data from Israel that had been used to support the use of boosters. Walensky acknowledged at the outset of the meeting that the data weren’t “perfect,” and that the panel had been given a difficult task. Many of the panel members were also concerned that encouraging boosters could damage broader uptake of Covid vaccines. Several emphasized that raising the level of primary vaccinations should remain the top public-health goal in the pandemic. So far, 75 percent of Americans who are eligible have received at least one dose, according to CDC data. There was worry as well, especially with regard to extra doses for younger people, that the committee

was merely throwing additional vaccines at the public to relieve Covidrelated anxiety, not because of any actual medical or public health need. “We might as well just say lets give it to everyone 18 and over,” said Pablo Sanchez, an ACIP member who teaches pediatrics at Ohio State University. “I think we have a really effective vaccine and it’s like saying that it’s not working, and it is working.”

Moderna, J&J

ANOTHER issue raised at the meeting was whether supplemental doses should be under consideration for recipients of the Moderna Inc. and Johnson & Johnson shots. The FDA has yet to clear additional doses for either of those vaccines, and ACIP won’t discuss mixing and matching of different shots until a future meeting. But panelists expressed fears that older and vulnerable people who had received those shots were being left with no alternatives in the interim. Walensky said those shots would be reviewed as quickly as possible. “We will address, with the same sense of urgency, recommendations for the Moderna and J&J vaccines as soon as those data are available,” she said. Bloomberg News

Juan en la Cruz: The price a Covid-hit family has to pay By Nick Tayag

MY SIXTY-ZEN’S WORTH

ICHARD is a nephew of ours and he is now in the crux of a crisis. His wife got a serious case of Covid-19 while delivering their child. The infant has a serious physical defect and has been operated on. So far, she is infection-free. However, his mother-in-law and elder child are Covid positive and are in home quarantine. Poor fellow, he shuttles back and forth attending to the needs of the patients at the hospital and at home. His own mother can’t assist him because she too is watching over an 80plus old grandmother who is also frail and sickly. Besides, as a senior citizen, she is not allowed to be in the hospital because of prevailing health protocols. The hospital bill is now running at more than a million pesos…and count-

ing. To make it worse, he is asked to buy medicines outside because the provincial hospital has no more stocks. One time he was frantic, looking for Tocilizumab for his wife, whose lung condition suddenly turned out for the worse. We tried to crowd source it for him, but he was finally able to get it from somewhere outside the usual drug stores. It cost him a whopping P80,000! Now the real problem is starting to hit him. He has run out of money. “Tuliro, parang turumpo,” as old folks would say. He used to be an employee of a trading company before the pandemic. His company subsequently closed down and he has been jobless since then. He has sounded the call for help to his relatives and friends. To help him raise money, my wife and I did our part to echo the

call on social media. So far, only two people have responded. Maybe they too need the money, or they’re experiencing donor fatigue, with so many other relatives and friends also crying out for help. Richard is today’s Juan en la Cruz, the common Filipino on the cross, who is agonizing in extremis. How many Filipinos have died of Covid? 30,000? How many were hospitalized and survived? Multiply our nephew’s situation by those numbers and you get a bigger picture of what Covid-19 has wrought on individuals and their families. In addition to the physical, emotional, and mental toll, every family that is now going through a hellish “home invasion” is paying literally a high price. Let me just quote verbatim some snippets of what I’ve come across on social media: “Hospital bill for moderate Covid is at least 1.2 million.” “My S-I-L died of Covid and her hospital bill was close to 900,000 in just 2 days.”

“I have a friend in the Philippines, his mom died due to secondary infection [bacterial] dahil sa Covid…he needs to raise 1.4 million.” “Ours was 750,000 in the March/April surge.” “Sa isang center para sa baga ang total bill ng nanay ng partner ko 400,000 nasakop naman ng PhilHealth, senior discount at ng HMO nila. Pero 45,000 cash para sa PH doc. Severe Covid 10 days.” One doctor tweeted: “Buti may HMO. Karamihan ng patients ko na may HMO ang nagka-Covid may cash out.” But someone told him the reality: “Doc, medical insurance coverage ranges from 60,000 to 100,000. We can’t afford that 1.2M. Kasi di po ako mayaman, bawal magkasakit.” I found this advice borne out of exasperation: “ For those without HMO, lapit sa mga governmentt agency at politicians, hingi ng tulong na parang pulubi, ganyan ngaun ang situwasyon.” Even if the infected are in home quarantine, the cost can

Editor: Angel R. Calso • Saturday, October 2, 2021 A7

700 senior citizen employees of MMDA receive flu vaccines By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

O boost their immunity, almost 700 permanent, casual, and job order senior citizen employees of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have received flu vaccines. The MMDA said the flu vaccine will also shield these elderly personnel from respiratory diseases and the Covid-19. The vaccines administered were provided by the Department of Health. “Our employees’ health and welfare are our priority. Through this vaccination drive, we can further boost the immunity of our elderly employees, especially those who are working in the field, which makes them more exposed to viruses,” MMDA Chairman Benjamin “Ben-

hur” Abalos Jr. said. Abalos said that getting the flu vaccine is very important to protect the vulnerable group from getting sick and help prevent hospitalization. The trivalent flu shots cover three influenza strains, namely, the two influenza A strains or H1N1 and H3N2, and influenza B. In April, the MMDA started administering Covid-19 jabs to its senior citizen employees who belong to the A2 priority group set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID). Meanwhile, Abalos reiterated his call to the agency’s employees to continue observing minimum health standards, including wearing of face shields and face masks, frequent handwashing, and maintaining physical and social distancing.

Brazil doctors accuse health company of forcing chloroquine By Débora Alvares The Associated Press

RASILIA, Brazil—A Brazilian health-care provider focused on elderly people has been targeted by a Senate investigation for allegedly obliging its doctors to prescribe drugs that aren’t effective in treating Covid-19. Lawyer Bruna Morato, who represents 12 whistle-blowing doctors currently or previously employed by the company Prevent Senior, told lawmakers on Tuesday her clients were repeatedly told to choose between prescribing chloroquine to Covid patients, along with other dubious substances, or else lose their jobs. Prevent Senior owns several hospitals in Sao Paulo. The doctors remained anonymous due to fears of retribution. “Some were warned, and that happened in front of others. Other professionals were fired,” the lawyer said. “There was also a punishment that was common: they had their shifts reduced. If you didn’t show loyalty to the company and obedience to those protocols, you got punished.” Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro and his allies have highlighted Prevent Senior as a role model in the fight against Covid-19 due to its advocacy for chloroquine as treatment, even as mounting evidence showed it to be ineffective. As recently as September 21 at the UN General Assembly, Bolsonaro has insisted upon so-called early treatment with hydroxychlo-

still be painful: “Medicine+Covid tests+private nurse na nagbigay ng gamot kagabi na 50,000 na kami. Kung sa hospital ’yan X 4 na siguro.” One news headline about the case of a nurse is a heartbreaker: “Twice infected, P60,000 in debt, and no special risk pay.” One comment sums it up: “Mas problema pala ang funding kaysa mismong sakit.” As the Covid continues taking its terrible toll, it is bringing down many families on their knees because of the financial burden that is too heavy to carry by every member, whether one survives it or not. We are not even talking about the burial expenses. It’s a double whammy for the infected families. While the patient is gasping for breath or dying of the virus, the family members are at the same time sinking deeper into poverty. So, when all you get from the national leadership is the dispiriting advice to just be patient a little longer and live with it because “maliit na bagay lang ’yang Covid,” it is like pouring vinegar on a gaping wound. Some media commenters even have the gall to make snide

roquine, a less toxic version of the same anti-malarial drug. Morato said Prevent Senior gave doctors a kit with a total eight drugs and supplements, known as a “Covid kit.” Prevent Senior said in a statement to The Associated Press that the lawyer’s testimony was false, and based upon messages that were either hard to understand or edited so they could then be leaked to the press. Last week, a director from Prevent Senior told senators that patients had agreed to take their Covid kits, and argued doctors were free to make their own prescriptions. Sao Paulo state’s prosecutors’ office said Monday it is investigating Prevent Senior for allegedly researching chloroquine effects on Covid-19 patients without clearly letting them know they were part of a trial. Bolsonaro praised Prevent Senior’s studies on chloroquine on his social-media channels in April 2020. He suggested the trials by the health care company had shown patients taking chloroquine were spending seven days on ventilators, as compared to 14 days among those who didn’t. His son Eduardo Bolsonaro, a lawmaker, compared Brazil to Afghanistan under the Taliban regime Friday, saying there is too much outrage directed at those who admit they are using the Covid kit. A frequent advocate of Prevent Senior on social media, he tested positive for the coronavirus last week.

remarks that put the blame on the victims: “’Yan labas kasi nang labas, ayaw pumirmi. Huwag pasaway kasi.” One wants to lash back— “ikaw na kaya magka-Covid.” Meanwhile, a few people are being unmasked by the ongoing Senate investigations for making money from the Covid pandemic, even to the extent of swindling the government. Lots and lots of money. Billions of taxpayers’ money! As I am writing this, the condition of Richard’s wife is slightly improving, but she’s not out of the woods yet. The newborn infant is not getting any better. She needs blood transfusion. The meter on our Richard’s hospital bill is ticking. He is now slow to respond to our inquiries for updates, probably too drained and exhausted to bother. His last text reply to my wife was a dispirited laconic “ganun pa rin po.” Richard must be wondering: why, why, why is this happening to us? I can only think of the biblical Job at this point. He never did receive an answer from God. Job remained in the dark about why he, or any human, should suffer.

Education BusinessMirror

A8 Saturday, October 2, 2021

Pinoy teachers feted at global educators’ best practices tilt

HREE Filipino public-school teachers were recognized in the recent Asia-Pacific Teacher Exchange for Global Education (APTE) Best Practices Award.

Educators Noel V. Sadinas from the Schools Division Office-Nueva Vizcaya placed second, while George B. Borromeo of SDO-Manila and Honey Rose V. Yu Vega, with her “Project Tudlo”—SDOCebu City’s community-reading tutorial—bagged third place. They were among 18 winners from the region, and are alumni of the Korea-Philippines Teacher Exchange Programme (KPTEP). “We took these challenges as our weapon[s] to prove that teachers like us can do more, and be more,” Yu Vega said. “The launching of KPTEP’s local programs opened new doors of opportunities, and more support was poured.” She added: “It is a matter of

determination and compassion toward education. It is very fulfilling to claim our achievement with the challenges we have been through.” The contest was opened for all alumni of KPTEP from 2012 to 2021. Apart from their Korean counterparts, teachers or mentors from partner-countries also submitted entries for the contest. Prizes for the winners included the Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding Director’s Award, the opportunity to attend the Sharing Stories of Asia-Pacific Education Movements Conference to present their essays, and cash rewards. “In KPTEP, I started to accelerate my speed as an educator,”

BUSINESS ENVOY

TEACHERS Noel V. Sadinas (from left), George B. Borromeo and Honey Rose V. Yu Vega DEPED

Borromeo shared. “With the advocacy of [its alumni association, in partnership with the Department of Education’s] International Cooperation Office on Global Citizenship Education, I was able to maximize my full potential.” The recognition encouraged KPTEP educators to share their experiences in APTE. They submitted essays with supporting documents like photographs and video presentations to display their understandings, learning, education, changes, practices, and other experiences gathered

during the program. “I always believe...opportunities to understand other cultures would always enhance the competence and commitment of our fellow teachers in terms of effort to create learners who are respectful of diversity,” Education Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio said. The KPTEP was developed as part of APTE supporting the enhancement of the quality of education in the Philippines through the capacity-building of its key educators and schools.

TRIUMPHANT industrial engineering students from the Technological Institute of the Philippines-Quezon City

being a class requirement, was a test on the students’ resilience and creativity,” said research adviser Dr. Romalyn Galingan. “They had to make use of the available data given the circumstances.” For T.I.P. Industrial Engineering Program Chair Dr. Arriane Palisoc, bagging first prize showcased the immense knowledge and capabilities of T.I.P. engineers: “We always try to be responsive to the needs of the times...Since the pandemic is the most pressing issue as of late, conducting the research was only fitting and necessary.” IEOM is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of industrial engineering and operations management among countries. It holds various conferences yearly, which connects students and professionals with innovative and entrepreneurial minds. Six groups competed in the undergraduateresearch classification.

Scholar hired, promoted prior to graduating amid the pandemic

OPHIA Nicole Aquino, Enderun Colleges’ 2021 class valedictorian, is a woman with great ambition who goes above and beyond her scholastic feats to serve others. “I was given the opportunity to study in Enderun as a scholar,” said Aquino. “I came from a very humble family. I was raised by a single mother, and our path was full of... challenges.” Nothing stopped her from striving for success. She was grateful to have had the opportunity to grow, to lead, and to go beyond. Aquino is a scholar of the Enderun Industry-Partner Grant in cooperation with Microsoft, and a consistent Dean’s Lister. With a general point average of 1.14, the valedictorian was always at the top of her class. She was also chosen to be part of Procter & Gamble’s (P&G) Next Business Case competition. With a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Major in Technology Management degree, Aquino was able to land a managerial post at P&G, where she had her internship months prior to graduation in August. She has been handling significant initiatives, and leading key projects in Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa as an information

AQUINO

technology manager. The milestone has allowed her to “combine business and technical expertise with global leadership”—competencies she learned in Enderun. In school, Aquino cultivated a wide range of skills—including those related to professional development, academic achievement, as well as social and civic engagements. She was once invited to speak at Girls in STEM MNL, an ecosystem that inspires women to have equal opportunities to excel in maledominated science, technology, engineering and mathematics areas. The Remote Learning Report created in 2020 was Aquino’s most

Investing in our teachers: Key investment in the future

Steven J. Robinson AO Ambassador of Australia to the Philippines

T.I.P. students emerge on top in industrial eng’g conference ENIOR S from the Technological Institute of the Philippines (T.I.P.)-Quezon City bagged first place in the Industrial Engineering and Operations Management (IEOM) Society’s First Central American and Caribbean International Conference with their undergraduate research paper: “Minimizing the Effect of the Covid-19 Pandemic as One of the Supply Chain Disruption[s] in a Timber-Trade Sector.” Using secondary-data analysis, researchers Christienne Austin Bernardo, Celenina Grace Cruz, Kate Antonette Dy, Hector Jamero, Norvin Mindoro, and John Russel Tan assessed the current state of the furniture industry, as they noted a major decrease in sales and productivity because of the pandemic. Their recommendation is to maximize the use of digital technology and online marketing strategies. “This undertaking, apart from

Editor: Mike Policarpio

significant contribution to Enderun. The study included student evaluations from the ideal virtual learning environment. It was a crucial step toward Enderun’s current remote-learning feedback. She also managed “Project Pangkabuhayan,” a program designed to assist Enderun staff in starting their own sari-sari store. It also teaches them the fundamentals of the said business as a secondary and sustainable source of income during the pandemic. The project was able to raise funds for two beneficiaries. “In her outstanding years at Enderun, [Aquino] has not allowed anything to stand in her way to [achieve] academic excellence, leadership effectiveness, and early professional achievement; not her youth, not the pandemic, not [even] self-concern,” President Dr. Edgardo Rodriguez of Enderun Colleges commented. “Even while still in school, hers has been a life of purpose, [as well as] helping other students and the wider community’s members in need. Her professional success started early, even before she graduated, [as she was able to land an] early managerial position at P&G.” Rodriguez added, “In my mind, what…really defined [Aquino], besides her selflessness and grit, is her

natural ability to be a leader across all degree programs, not just [in] Technology Management...which she has [now certainly] brought to the forefront of Enderun’s drive to keep education relevant in the future.” To be able to teach in Enderun one day and share her industry knowledge is something that Aquino looks forward to: “Teaching is definitely one thing...I would try, and I think it would be a great opportunity to share my knowledge through the lens of a former Enderun student.” Leading with courage was the most crucial lesson she learned: “It helps me to reflect on myself, and what I must do in order for this endeavor to be a success.” Finally, Aquino makes it a point to always transform possibilities that come her way in order to create more opportunities for others: “I want my classmates to remember that they should make the most of every chance they have, whether [it was given at birth, or earned… along the way. Then use such] to open more doors for others. Accept obstacles that will come our way, and learn from them, because some of the most devastating challenges can really teach us something.”

HE role of teachers has become even more important during the pandemic. It has disrupted education for 1.6 billion learners globally—including about 27.7 million Filipino students. Learning has shifted to remote modalities, and educators had to act quickly. Having trained as a teacher decades ago, I never imagined how much the profession would change. Yet, the integral role educators play in our lives remains the same. They are one of the most important influences on a child’s future outside the family. Gadgets and the Internet boost learning, but they simply can’t replace teachers. Australia believes supporting teachers is a critical long-term investment which will ensure a qualified and skilled work force, and a prosperous Philippines. Quality teaching produces better performing students and subsequently, better performing workers. Through its development programs, my country has been supporting the Department of Education (DepEd) with teacher training and critical improvements in the curriculum. Combined with continued perseverance and innovation of local teachers, these education quality reforms aim to enhance Filipino children’s learning. Through the Sustaining Education Reform Gains project, Australia is working with Save the Children and DepEd to upgrade teacher/professional-development programs, while improving the quality of teaching and learning across the Philippines. In the Bangsamoro, Australia’s Education Pathways to Peace Program is supporting trainee teachers in securing their qualifications by providing tailored training focused on peace,

local languages, and inclusion. We are supporting the development of quality teaching materials not only to aid remote learning delivery, but also prepare for the return of faceto-face teaching in schools, which we hope will occur soon. Australia has long been a supporter of education in the Philippines. This dates back to 1952 when the first Filipino Colombo Plan scholar, Dr. Dionisia Rola—a teacher—studied at the University of Melbourne. To date more than 4,000 Filipinos, including many teachers, have graduated from Australian universities through Australia Awards scholarships. Since 2005 248 Australiatrained scholars have utilized their Australian training to enhance the Philippine education system. These include Education Undersecretaries Diosdado San Antonio and Jesus Mateo. During a recent visit to Cebu, I met three former scholars who were supported by Australia and the Philippine Business for Education to obtain teaching qualifications. Publicschool teachers Annabelle, Roselyn and Jovanni are now ensuring that students will keep learning during the pandemic by supporting parents with limited education to guide children’s learning. Like our health-care workers, these Filipino teachers are also “frontline heroes.” A trial of pandemic-safe face-toface learning is underway. As the new school year progresses—remotely and in-person—we remain committed to our education partnership with the Philippines, especially in support of teachers. As the saying goes: “A good education can change anyone; a good teacher can change everything.” Happy World Teachers’ Day, and a heartfelt “Thank you!” to all teachers.

BRIA Homes provides internships for real-estate career aspirants

RIA Homes is currently offering virtual internships to students aspiring for a career in real estate. With online marketing and virtual tours replacing onsite ocular trips, the realm of property sales has become more attractive to young people who have the necessary skills to succeed in it. Job seekers’ web sites point out that real-estate interns are tasked to assist with financing, advertising, conducting research on potential investments, doing data-entry work, and negotiating loan agreements. As they typically work under an experienced mentor, they can eventually develop into professional real-estate agents. With the right training and exposure, interns will learn to recognize good opportunities opening up in the field, and explore brighter prospects moving forward. For basic qualifications interns should have to make it in real estate, BRIA Homes’ president Red Rosales shared that having people skills is an absolute advantage: “They must communicate well with customers and be proactive in the sales process, know the area, and be familiar with the ‘lay of the land,’ so to speak. They must also consider their clients’ time frame.” Rosales likewise believes that realestate professionals must be clientmotivated and possess excellent listening skills. He advises newbies and interns: “When clients are speaking, they deserve your full attention. Listen

carefully when they express doubts or apprehensions about any step in the transaction process. Ask follow-up questions. This is the best way to build trust between you and a customer.” BRIA Homes is now opening its doors to students who are looking for a good head start in the real-estate industry. Its president supports this, as he said, “Virtual internships in toptier property developers are the best way to jump start a potential career in the housing industry. And experiential learning has always been most effective in achieving this goal.” He cites other benefits to virtual internships: “For one, more than honing their skills in digital communications, internships can help students establish networks early on. After all, connections are something...only a true work environment can provide.” Other skills and values that internships can foster are accountability, selfdiscipline, time management, patience, and resourcefulness. Finally, Rosales says interns are given a chance to prepare themselves for the future of work: “Many businesses now see value in remote [jobs]—not just for convenience, but for safety as well. Interns will get to experience working from home, becoming well-versed in telecommuting, and [using] digital platforms.” BRIA Homes’ virtual internship initiative springs forth from the company’s commitment to help Filipinos live better, more comfortable lives.

Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror

Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

Saturday, October 2, 2021 A9

That southern punch straight to Sarangani

GAWAD sa Manlilikha ng Bayan Bai Estelita Bantilan is a B’laan mat weaver. BLS

KALON Barak Skyline Ridge in Malungon has a stunning view of Sarangani province.

Go to BOCAY-EL Falls in Kiamba for a refreshing dip

Story & photos by Bernard L. Supetran

he recent title match and the throwing of the hat of Manny Pacquiao into the presidential derby have once again shoved the eightdivision champ into the spotlight, as well as his home province of Sarangani. Much like its most famous son, this underrated province has virtually gone up several weight classes in terms of tourism and economic development since it was carved out in 1992. A seven-tow n prov ince in southern Mindanao, this unheralded destination does by the slogan, “Sarangani, Your Adventure,” you can also throw in culture and nature as its counter-punches. With mountains still teeming with lush forest cover, pristine beaches and biodiversity dive sites, and exotic cultures of Islamic communities and indigenous peoples, it is a consummate getaway away from the madding crowd. And with among the lowest incidence of Covid-19 and streamlined travel requirements, it has become an even more enticing go-to place. For the mutual safety of guests and local frontliners, provincial authorities are cautious in reopening the attractions to tourist traffic. And while holding its punches, Sarangani scored a major victory last summer in the global ring after its locally produced MTV bagged a special recognition at a prestigious international film festival in New York City. Titled “Sarangani: Nature, Ad-

venture, Culture,” the two-minute promotional video was conferred the Gold Excellence Award at the 11th International Film Festival in Manhattan (IFFM) spring edition last May. The video was submitted under the corporate category, and was among the 15 Philippine entries which made the cut in the nine-country competition. “It showcases Sarangani ’s natural resources and destinations, landscapes, white-sand beaches, inland bodies of water, and ethnic diversity, showcasing the preserved and honored indigenous cultures. It boasts of the people’s efforts to keep Sarangani environmentally and socially sustainable,” says Sarangani Provincial Tourism Council Chairman Michelle Lopez-Solon, who also directed the video. She added that the video advertisement features snippets of experiences visitors can enjoy, such as its vibrant beach parties, municipal festivals, water sports, white water rafting, scuba diving,

SARANGANI Bay dive site is also known as the diving haven of Soccsksargen.Bretch Garcinez

PARAGLIDING site in Maasim is about 95-feet above sea level.

SARANGANI Bay boasts of fine white sand beaches.

paragliding, sightseeing, and cultural immersions, to name a few. Previous IFFM editions showcased selected videos and films in Manhattan, but the annual competition shifted into online mode this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Earlier this year, the province scored a major milestone as it marked the 25th anniversary of the proclamation of Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape (SBPS), one of Mindanao’s most important body of water for fishing, shipping, recreation and tourism. The 215,950-hectare bay is shared by 68 coastal barangays from six towns of Sarangani, as well as General Santos City, spread over a 224-kilometer stretch of scenic and undulating roads.

WHITEWATER tubing in Maitum starts at Pangi River.

It is also home to the General Santos City Fish Port Complex where one can find the world’s besttasting tuna, a coal thermal plant, shipyards, and aquaculture farms. Also declared by the Department of Tourism as a scuba diving haven in southern Mindanao in 2017, the bay was also listed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as a Key Marine Biodiversity Areas with coral resources covering 2,293 hectares, 60 important live hard coral genera, 411 reef, and 11 seagrass species. The agency has also monitored various dolphin species, killer whales, dwarf and pygmy sperm whales in the bay, attesting to its rich biodiversity. The far eastern end of the bay in

SARANGANI Pride Philippine Eagle flies over Sarangani forest.

the town of Glan was also declared a new scuba diving haven with the launch of the municipality’s scuba diving industry last summer. On top of the established tourist spots in the pre-pandemic era, travelers can look forward to modified enhanced adventure under the new normal regime. Nature lovers and naturalists can also foray into the woods in a physically distanced trek of Mount Busa mountain range, which being pushed by local authorities and conservationists to be declared a national protected area. The 2,064-meter peak, home to one of Mindanao’s last verdant primary forests, straddles the towns of Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum, and covers a total area of 118,443.15 hectares in the west-

ern half of the province. A key biodiversity and important bird area of the DENR, the mountain range is habitat to some 200 plant, 58 bird, 30 amphibian, 24 reptile, 12 mammal, and at least 18 flora and fauna species, and 36 waterfalls. Other threatened wildlife species of conservation concern found in the area are the Philippine eagle, southern rufous, Mindanao flying lizard, Taylor’s dwarf reed snake, Kalaw, tarsier, and frog and orchid species. With the abundance of natural wonders in its arsenal, a well-timed visit to Sarangani is like a southern punch which will knock out a travel-starved tourist knocked down by the unending quarantine lockdowns.

Dive town to adopt zero waste policy D

auin town, the scuba diving and the resort capital of Negros Oriental, is set to adopt a municipality-wide zero waste policy in keeping with its thrust of being a sustainable tourism destination in Central Visayas. This after the municipal government led by Mayor Galicano Truita recently held a coastal cleanup, which involved local officials and employees, and a simultaneous underwater cleanup by volunteer scuba divers. The event, which is part of the recent International Coastal Cleanup Day, included an educational component which integrated all the environmental, waste management and upcycling initiatives within the municipality. The fourth-class municipality

takes pride in its rich ridge to reef ecosystem because of its forested uplands and lush marine life. Dauin is inspired by its tourism gem, Apo Island, which was recently awarded as the first “zero waste” island barangay in the Philippines by the Zero Waste Cities Project (ZWCP) because of its community-based upcycling livelihood projects. The ZWCP is an initiative of the GAIA Asia Pacific and 10 member collaborators from India, Indonesia, and the Philippines and is funded by the Plastic Solutions Fund. The project aims to push solid waste management at the grassroots level, enabling waste reduction policies, and creating income opportunities in the handling and

Silver Reef Dive Resort managing partner Reggie Reyes and Apo Island barangay chairman Mario Pascobello at the turnover of organic bathroom implements.

Apo Island in Dauin

processing of recyclable materials. The island currently has four purok-level material recover y facilities which integrate solid wastes into construction aggregates, resort furnishings and decorative items. One of the country’s sought-after scuba diving sites, Apo boasts of a lush marine biodiversity with lush coral gardens, sea turtles,

school of jacks, and other aquatic resources. The 74-hectare island is also recognized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as a Protected Seascape and Landscape. Earlier in 2019, the island also bagged the prestigious 7th Para El Mar Awards as the most outstanding marine protected area under the government’s National Inte-

grated Protected Areas System. Named by Sport Diver Magazine as among the world’s top 100 diving spots, it is habitat to over 650 documented species of fish and about 400 species of corals, from tiny bubbles to huge gorgonian sea fans and brain corals. Taking its earth-friendly way of life a notch higher, Apo Island is pilot testing the use of organic

shampoos and body wash, lime soap bars, organic liquid laundry and dishwashing solutions to gradually eliminate plastic waste sachets. The social enterprise is a partnership with Silver Reef Dive Resort and PLS (Plastic Life Sucks) which will supply in pump bottles refillable and biodegradable bathroom and daily washing essentials.

A10 Saturday, October 2, 2021 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Why Facebook is holding off on kids’ Instagram B

BY BARBARA O�TUTAY The Associated Press

OWING—perhaps only for a moment—to pressure from lawmakers, critics, the media and child development experts, Facebook on said Monday it will “pause” its work on a kids’ version of its photo and video-oriented Instagram app. But what’s not yet clear is just how seriously Facebook is taking the concerns of experts and parents. Its decision to merely pause the project suggests it still plans to expose a much younger audience to Instagram, its well-documented harms and possibly the user profiling that feeds Facebook’s targeted ad machine. That ad machine, of course, has made the company one of the most profitable on the planet.

WHY IS FACEBOOK DOING THIS NOW?

THE company’s move follows an explosive midSeptember report by the Wall Street Journal that found Facebook knew from its own research that Instagram was harming some teens, especially girls, leading to mental health and body image problems and in some cases eating disorders and suicidal thoughts. In public, however, Facebook has consistently played down the app’s negative side and until now has barreled ahead with the kids’ version despite alarms from experts, lawmakers and its own research. It has also relentlessly criticized the Journal article as cherry-picking from Facebook’s research, though it did not dispute the facts. That story, however, was based on internal research leaked by a whistleblower at the company. It’s likely not a coincidence that on Thursday, a panel of the Senate Commerce Committee will hold a hearing examining the “toxic effects” of Facebook and Instagram on young people. It’s the latest of several hearings to look at whether Big Tech companies are hiding what they know about the harms their products cause.

SO IS INSTA FOR KIDS CANCELED?

FACEBOOK has very specifically not said that it will abandon the project. Instead, Adam Mosseri, the

head of Instagram, said in a blog post on Monday that the company will use its pause time “to work with parents, experts and policymakers to demonstrate the value and need for this product.” Translation: Expect Facebook to sharpen its message on the “benefits” of Instagram for Kids in hopes that the furor will die down. Consider that Facebook had already said it was working with parents, experts and policymakers back in July when it introduced safety measures for teens on its main Instagram platform. In fact, the company has been “working with” experts and other advisors for another product aimed at children — its Messenger Kids app that launched in late 2017. “Critics of Instagram Kids will see this as an acknowledgement that the project is a bad idea,” Mosseri wrote. “That’s not the case.”

WHO ARE THE EXPERTS WORKING WITH FACEBOOK?

FOUR years ago, Facebook said it gathered a group of experts in the fields of online safety, child development and children’s media to “share their expertise, research and guidance.” The group it calls Youth Advisors include some well-known and some lesser-known nonprofit groups, including the Family Online Safety Institute, Digital Wellness Lab, MediaSmarts, Project Rockit and the Cyberbullying Research Center. All of these groups receive some form of funding from Facebook, according to their websites. Meanwhile, some of the best-known children’s online advocacy groups—and Facebook’s biggest critics on this matter—such as Common Sense Media and Fairplay (formerly known as the Campaign for Commercial-Free Childhood) are notably absent. Critics acknowledge that many of the cooperative experts mean well, but say their influence has been negligible. “Facebook has shown time and time again that it is incapable of governing or advising itself with any integrity,” said Kyle Taylor, program director for the Real Facebook Oversight Board, a group critical of the social network. “Facebook’s funding of research and civil society is hugely problematic, and prevents the kind of direct, open process that is required for any real change to

occur.” When Facebook seeks feedback for its projects, Taylor added, “the decks are always stacked with experts who have a financial interest or who will never criticize Facebook’s core issues - their algorithm and their profit margin.”

COULD FACEBOOK STILL PULL THE PLUG?

FAIRPLAY executive director Josh Golin argues that Instagram for Kids may have already sunk beneath the waves. The “pause”, he said, is a good way for Facebook to save face and hope that after a while people will forget about it. He acknowledges that his group and other advocates failed to pressure Facebook into canceling its kids’ messaging product, but says Instagram for Kids is different. “Instagram is a much much worse platform for children” than Messenger, he said, noting Facebook’s own internal research and a “wealth of evidence” supporting this point. The climate has also changed since 2017 and 2018, when the “techlash” against Big Tech’s harmful effects on society was just emerging. Now, it’s in full force and much more organized. Finally, there’s tech product inertia. “With Messenger Kids, the backlash didn’t start until it had already came out,” he said. “It is much easier for a corporation to walk back a product that doesn’t yet exist than to take a product off the market.”

WHAT ABOUT OTHER PLATFORMS?

FACEBOOK, of course, is not the only tech platform whose products have caused ripples of concern about the well-being of children. And creating kids’ versions in the face of these concerns is a popular response. After getting in trouble with US regulators for violating children’s privacy rules, for instance, TikTok created a “limited, separate app experience” for users who are under 13. They can’t share videos, comment on other people’s videos or message people. But as with any other app, if kids enter a fake birthdate when they register with the app, they can get around that provision. YouTube has a kids version, too. Lawmakers earlier this year called it a “wasteland of vapid consumerist content” and launched an investigation that’s still ongoing. ■

Popular mobile MMORPG launches 5-month long tournament

ABAL Mobile, the mobile version of the blockbuster MMORPG Cabal, has announced the launch of its own online league with cash prizes of up to P1 million and in-game items. The Cabal franchise is one of the biggest MMORPGs in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian regions. With its mobile version, Cabal is looking to conquer new territory and new fans with its blend of combo-based combat system, assortment of character classes and diverse PVP modes to cater to the competitive MMORPG enthusiast. The Nevareth League 2021 formally opened yesterday and will run until February. The league, which has three phases, started with the Guild Rank Infinity Tournament, with a cash prize pool of P300,000. Cabal Mobile is an action-packed, skills-based MMORPG. The game is set in the land of Nevareth where players will step into the role of one of the many protectors of the land, vanquishing enemies prophesied to return and engulf Nevareth in darkness as they did a thousand years ago. During its Closed Beta Test (CBT), over 542,000 players joined in to try the game, prompting the developer to utilize a supplementary server to handle the load. The official launch of Cabal Mobile attracted 45,000 concurrent players to welcome the game into

the mobile world. Cabal has been widely popular thanks to its actionpacked gameplay, stunning and fluid graphics, tons PVE and PVP features, and of course the chain combo system. There will be eight available classes: Warrior, Blader, Wizard, Force Shielder, Force Archer, Force Blader, Gladiator and Force Gunner. Cabal Mobile uses a combat system that relies on precise timing and reflexes, and an explosive skill system that offers combat customization to fit different play styles. The qualifiers for the Guild Mission Festival,

which will be held on the first and second week of December, will follow, with the finals to be held in January with a P100,00 prize pool at stake. The Nevareth District Wars will follow and run until the last week of January 2022, with a P100,000 cash prize for its installments in the Philippines and Vietnam. Aside from the P1 million cash prize, winners can take home around P500,000 worth of in-game items and merchandise that they could use to build their players. All games in the tournament, for now, will be held online. ■

E-commerce platform makes it easier to launch online biz SOUTHEAST Asia’s leading eCommerce platform, Lazada (sellercenter.lazada.com.ph) unveiled recently Start It Up, Laz It Up, a refreshed easy three-step registration sign-up process for all aspiring entrepreneurs, social sellers, and existing brickand-mortar business owners looking to launch an online business. Over the first six months of 2021, the e-commerce platform saw new seller sign-ups increase more than twice across Southeast Asia, compared to the year before. In addition, the firstever bi-annual Digital Confidence Index released by Lazada in August 2021 found 70 percent of the region’s online sellers are optimistic and confident about their future growth and prospects for the third quarter of 2021. To encourage new and existing retail business owners to break into e-commerce, Start It Up, Laz It Up will reward one lucky recipient $10,000 worth of prizes to help jump-start their Lazada store in preparation of the platform’s biggest mega-shopping 11.11 festival. To qualify, new sellers need to sign up and launch their Lazada marketplace stores in active selling mode during the period of September 27 to October 30. The simplified seller account registration process now only requires interested merchants to: (1) submit and enter registered local mobile number; (2) enter a one-time six-digit code to verify the mobile number; and (3) set a strong and unique password. In just three steps, registration can be completed in less than a minute at zero cost. Anyone interested in selling online can also use their existing Lazada buyer account to link to a seller account during the set-up process. Once established as a Lazada seller, merchants can start selling products through the Lazada Seller Center. From there, merchants can effortlessly upload product listings with photos and descriptions available in multiple language translations with just the click of a button. In addition, merchants will gain exclusive access to the learning portal Lazada University that provides the requisite knowledge, tools and insights to manage and scale their businesses and drive success. Lazada University has an introductory stepby-step guide to welcome new users, a manageable Learning Management System with a suite of diverse training materials for easy understanding especially by first-time sellers. Topics available range from advertising to budget management, as well as offline and livestreamed training sessions conducted by Lazada staff and peers from the seller community. RENI SALVADOR

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Saturday, October 2, 2021 A11

Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6: Power meets Harmony

F not for the pandemic, those travel restrictions and the fear of getting infected and dying from Covid-19, my partner and I would have traveled back to Taiwan and HongKong, visited Japan or Korea in the winter, or ticked off several more provinces in the country. You see, when you reach a certain age, you realize the longer you wait, the more restricted you’re trips become. Long walks become bus rides, adventures off the beaten path turn into guided tours, and even food trips are ruined by new diet restrictions. It’s the same thing when deciding when packing and choosing which devices to bring on a trip. Unlike younger travelers, you become more conscious of the clothes you bring and the weight of your luggage especially if your trip involves a lot of public transportation. Since we need to work and update our blogs, we usually just bring a couple of smartphones instead of a heavy DSLR camera. I used to bring a laptop on all my trips, but it’s become too strenuous for my back and leaving it at the hotel just adds to my anxiety. Instead, I bring a tablet with keyboard to upload new posts, check our social-media feeds, and keep us entertained during those long travel times. So if we were travelling, or when we do, the Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 would be our most welcome third wheel. I’m actually typing this column using the MatePad Pro at a café while my partner is doing her shopping. Now, lets get on with the review.

HUAWEI MATEPAD PRO 12.6 SPECS

■ Processor: Kirin 9000E GPU: 22-core Mali-G78 ■ RAM/Storage: 8GB LPDDR4X/256GB UFS 3.1 internal storage ■ Display: 12.6-inch OLED display, WQXGA 2560×1600 resolution, 240PPI ■ Sound: Speaker x 8 Huawei Histen 7.0 Sound

Effect ■ Rear Cameras: 13 MP (f/1.8 aperture, AF) + 8 MP (Wide angle length, f/2.4 aperture, FF) + 3D Depth Sensing Camera ■ Front Camera: 8 MP Selfie Camera (f/2.0 aperture, fixed focal) ■ Connectivity: 5G WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 ■ OS: HarmonyOS 2 ■ Battery: 10050mAh ■ Dimensions: 184.7 mm (height)/286.5 mm (width)/6.7 mm (depth) ■ Weight: about 609 g (including battery) ■ Box Content: Huawei MatePad Pro unit, wall Charger, USB Type-C Cable, SIM ejector Tool, Quick Start Guide. “Out of clutter find simplicity. From discord find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity,” Albert Einstein once said. In a way, this quote sums up the story of Huawei following the US ban that prohibits it from using Google’s Mobile Services. After streamlining its business, and introducing its Seamless AI Life and innovative “1+8+N” strategy, Huawei finally debuts its own OS that could, just as its namesake, bring Harmony to its ecosystem of smartphones, smart wearables, PCs tablets, devices, and third-party IoT devices. This tablet looks like an iPad, runs Android apps but is powered by Huawei’s Harmony OS, making the Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 the most intriguing tablet that could dictate the future of Huawei’s tablet business. Premium elegance is the best way to describe the design of the Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 (2021). The design of the MatePad Pro adheres to four key principles: 1) less is more; 2) tap into your intuition; 3) light and portable; and 4) unique aesthetics. As such, every detail has been carefully considered— from the horizontal placement of the front camera that is subtly hidden in its superbly slim bezels, the lightweight design despite fitting in a large battery, to its intuitive interaction methods which includes touch, keyboard, stylus, mouse, and even voice and the symmetry that is observed throughout the tablet. The MatePad Pro sports a curved magnesiumaluminum alloy frame that gives off a polished touch, together with its metallic matte-coated rear. As much as Huawei tried to make it lightweight, there’s definitely a heft to it at 609 g—as you would expect from a tablet this size. But the large battery and that

reverse charging feature make the extra weight worth the compromise. Our unit is in the Matte Grey colorway but you could opt for an Olive Green variant if you want something more unique. Exploring the tablet layout, you’ll find a triple camera module with LED flash and a discreet Huawei and Harman Kardon branding at the back. As you’ll probably use it more in landscape mode you’ll find the red-accented power button beside a pair of speaker grilles on the left side while the volume rocker and three microphones with noise reduction features occupy the top part. On the right (or bottom in portrait mode), there’s the USB Type-C port and another pair of speakers, and on the bottom is a single dedicated NM card slot. There’s no headphone jack, but it does come with an adapter in the box. Unfortunately, there isn’t a fingerprint scanner as well, so you’ll have to make do with facial recognition or the good old password/pattern method. The display is the clear star of the tablet’s design principle. As the name suggests, It has a 12.6-inch OLED panel without any notch or visible punch holes as the front camera blends in with the horizontal top bezel together with the LED indicator. The placement of the camera on the length of the bezel makes it ideal for landscape mode and best for virtual meetings and video calls. The MatePad Pro has a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels and can produce 16.7 million colors with DCI-P3 wide color gamut. It is bright, vivid with an impressive accurate color reproduction making it ideal for creative tasks like photo editing or sketching. With an incredibly high contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1, the MatePad Pro significantly outperforms its competitors when it comes to reproducing the bright and dark parts of pictures. With an impressive ΔE < 0.5, the MatePad Pro rivals some professional reference displays. This means that any image displayed on the Huawei MatePad Pro is highly consistent with the actual color of the object itself. When the colors are so accurate, creative professionals will have no problem relying on the MatePad Pro for even the most color sensitive projects. As for eye protection, the MatePad Pro is the only tablet on the market that has passed all the tests making it the world’s first TÜV Rheinland’s Full Care Display 2.0-certified tablet. Next week we’ll talk about our Harmony OS experience and answer the most common questions about the lack of Google Mobile Services. ■

Amazon unveils ‘Jetsons’-like roaming robot for the home NEW YORK—Amazon’s new robot can hear, see and follow you around the the home, but its no Rosey the Robot. Amazon’s version, called Astro, doesn’t cook or clean like the animated character from The Jetsons, but it can check if you left the stove on while you’re out or send an alert if someone enters the house it doesn’t recognize. It uses cameras, sensors and artificial technology to avoid walls or dogs, and Amazon said Astro— which also happens to be the name of the Jetson’s dog—will only get smarter as time goes on. It does do some housework: snacks or a can of soda can be

placed on its back to be carted to someone across the house. The $1,000 robot, which will be sent out to customers later this year, was one of a slew of gadgets Amazon unveiled Tuesday as part of its annual event ahead of the holidays. Astro, however, stole the show. Amazon executive David Limp asked the 17-inch (43-centimeter) tall robot to come on stage during the virtual event, then asked it to beatbox. Its round digital eyes close or widen as it does tasks, giving it a human-like touch. Amazon said a limited number of the Astro will

be sold, but didn’t provide a number. Besides the robot, Amazon also unveiled a picture frame-like screen that can be hung to a wall and has Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant built in. The company foresees it going in the kitchen, where users can see recipes, check their schedule or watch a show as they cook. Also Tuesday, the Seattle-based company said its Echo listening devices will be put in Disney hotel rooms next year so that guests can order towels from room service or ask it the fastest way to get to a theme park. AP

SMART REAFFIRMS 5G LEADERSHIP LEADING mobile services provider Smart Communications (Smart) continues to lead the 5G revolution in the Philippines as it clinches the Most Reliable 5G Mobile Operator award in the latest report by Ookla, the global leader in Internet testing and analysis. For this recognition, Smart obtained the highest scores in 5G Consistency and 5G Availability based on Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence data in Q2 2021. Ookla notes that 5G Consistency is calculated based on the percentage of a provider’s users that meet minimum download and upload speeds, while 5G Availability identifies the network whose users spend the highest percent of their time on 5G. “This claim recognizes Smart commitment to delivering best reliability to their customers across the Philippines,” said Ookla CEO Doug Suttles in a statement. “Citations like this only attest to the superior customer experience we provide our subscribers as the 5G pioneer in the Philippines. These also inspire us to keep getting better and faster so our customers can pursue their passions in our increasingly digitized world,” said Jane J. Basas, SVP and head of Consumer Wireless Business at Smart. Prior to this, Ookla also cited Smart as Philippines’s Fastest 5G Mobile Network in Q1-Q2 2021, with median download and upload speeds that are twice as fast as its closest rival. Since Smart launched the country’s first 5G commercial service last year, the telco has fired up over 4,000 5G sites in more than 3,000 areas across the country, making Smart the first, fastest and widest 5G network in the Philippines. The telco’s 5G network is supported by parent company PLDT’s fiber network, which is the country’s most extensive at more than 524,000 kilometers as of end-June.

Sports BusinessMirror

PHL Choco Mucho puts up gallant stand in Thailand

HE Philippines’s Choco Mucho gave Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima QminC VC a second set scare before dropping a 11-25, 26-28, 17-25 decision to set in motion its 21st Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship campaign at the Terminal 21 competition hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, Friday. One of two Philippine clubs fielded in the continental tournament, Choco Mucho was in a getting-to-know stage in the first set and struggled with its reception and first ball. After losing the opener by a mile, Choco Mucho made a major overhaul in its rotation in the second set, with national team debutant setter Deanna Wong and opposite spiker Mylene Paat entering the match to compliment Kalei Mau. Mau’s spike brought Choco Mucho to set point, 24-22, but the Filipino-American open hitter, who flew in from the US on Wednesday, committed two straight errors and Nakhon scored on an attack to put the hosts ahead at 25-24. Choco Mucho reached set point once more courtesy of Paat’s lefthanded kill, 26-25, but could not close out as Nakhon scored three straight points capped by Kuttika Kaewpin to gain a 2-0 set lead. The Philippine side, whose participation in the tournament is backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Rebisco, Taguig City and Asics, never got the momentum from the close second set setback as the Thais took care of business in the third set to claim their first win in Pool A. Playing for the first time since switching federations from the US to the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, Mau stepped up and adjusted quickly to contribute for the team. “Kalei’s getting into the groove. After four days of traveling, she is pushing herself and she is trying to channel her energy to the team early on,” Choco Mucho Coach Odjie Mamon said. A four-time Thailand League winners, Nakhon is led by national team mainstays Nootsara Tomkom and Chatchu-on Moksri, who are popular for Filipino fans along with former Philippine club league imports Lek Thipachot and Kuttika Kaewpin. Nootsara and Chatchu-on were part of the Thailand squad that won its 12th consecutive Southeast Asian Games gold medal in Manila in 2019. Choco Mucho hopes to regroup and end its Pool A stint on a positive note against debuting Zhetyssu of Kazakhstan at 1:30 p.m. (Manila time) Saturday. A win will give Choco Mucho a shot at finishing second in its group. Captain Iris Tolenada remained positive that Choco Mucho will learn a lot from the opening-day setback. “The good thing about this being the first match is that we can learn from it, we watch the video and we’re just going to keep learning along,” Tolenada said. Choco Mucho had to give up Kianna Dy and Majoy Baron to Rebisco after four of its players have not yet complete their health requirements to play in the tournament.

AUSANNE, Switzerland—Boxing bouts for medals at the 2016 Olympics were fixed by “complicit and compliant” referees and judges, an investigation reported on Thursday. Investigator Richard McLaren was appointed by the International Boxing Association, known as Aiba, and found Aiba officials selected referees and judges to ensure that bouts could be manipulated in Olympic qualifying and at the Rio de Janeiro Games. He also found signs the 2012 Olympics in London were affected. “Key personnel decided that the rules did not apply to them,” said McLaren, who added there was a “culture of fear, intimidation and obedience in the ranks of the referees and judges.” There isn’t a final figure on how many fights could have been affected. The investigation identified “in the vicinity of 11, perhaps less, and that’s counting the ones that we know were manipulated, problem bouts or suspicious bouts,” including fights for medals, McLaren said. Senior Aiba officials used their power to select referees and judges and turned the commission which was supposed to ensure they were assigned fairly into “a mere rubber stamp,” McLaren said. “This informal structure allowed complicit and compliant referees and judges...to be assigned to specific bouts to ensure the manipulation of outcomes,” he said. The referees and judges who were selected generally “knew what was going on” or else were “incompetent” and willing to ignore signs of manipulation, and qualifying events for the Rio Olympics were used to filter out honest referees and judges, McLaren alleged. Referees and judges were told who should win a bout in the morning before a day of fights at the Olympics, including in a lounge area “protected from prying eyes,” McLaren said. He wasn’t able to identify who was ultimately responsible for running the match-fixing scheme and selecting winners. During the 2016 Olympics, there was a spotlight on judging after a contentious fight between Ireland’s Michael Conlan and Russian Vladimir Nikitin. After the judges awarded the fight to Nikitin, Conlan showed them his middle fingers and accused Russia and Aiba of corruption. McLaren’s report didn’t offer a verdict on whether the result of that fight was fixed. McLaren’s report includes witness testimony of discussions at the 2016 Olympics over a bribe of up to $250,000 for a Mongolian boxer to beat a fighter from France in a semifinal bout. The witness alleged a man from Kazakhstan working as a

A12

| Saturday, October 2, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

BOXING RESULTS IN LONDON 2012 FIXED

DURING the 2016 Olympics, there was a spotlight on judging after a contentious fight between Ireland’s Michael Conlan and Russian Vladimir Nikitin. After the judges awarded the fight to Nikitin, Conlan shows them his middle fingers and accused Russia and Aiba of corruption. referee and judge asked for the money in exchange for fixing the fight in Mongolia’s favor. No bribe was paid and the Mongolian boxer lost with “very unusual scoring” which was identical on all five judges’ scorecards, the report states. The London Olympics in 2012 may have been manipulated, too. The report states then-Aiba President CK Wu instructed Executive Director Ho Kim to ensure Turkish fighters qualified for the London Games because their country hosted an expensive qualifying competition, citing evidence from Kim. Wu also allegedly urged officials that Azerbaijan should not win gold medals in boxing at the 2012 Olympics. This was after the BBC broadcast a documentary suggesting Azerbaijan’s medal hopes might benefit from a recent loan to Aiba from an Azerbaijani company. Azerbaijan won only two bronze medals in boxing in London. Aiba has been led by Russian businessman Umar Kremlev since December and says it has reformed how bouts are judged since 2016, when ex-president Wu was in charge. Wu was a member of the International Olympic Committee until stepping down last year. “Aiba hired Professor McLaren

because we have nothing to hide,” Kremlev said in a statement. “We will work to incorporate any helpful recommendations that are made. We will also take legal advice with regard to what action is possible against those found to have participated in any manipulation. There should be no place in the Aiba family for anyone who has fixed a fight.” None of the referees or judges from 2016 were in their posts for this year’s Olympics in Tokyo after being suspended by Aiba. This year’s Olympic tournaments were organized not by Aiba but directly by the IOC, which remains unhappy with how Aiba is run. The IOC said this month it has “deepest concerns” about Aiba and that it received complaints about refereeing and judging at two major Aiba events this year, the Asian championships and world youth championships. The IOC has so far refused to confirm boxing will stay on the Olympic program at the 2024 Games in Paris. McLaren’s investigation will now broaden to examine more recent tournaments, including those this year, and whether there was corruption in Aiba management going back decades. AP

OR the first time, the two storied brothers, Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, will play against each other in international play as the former’s Shiga Lakestars take on the latter’s San-En NeoPhoenix in the Japan B.League. Filipino sports fans will get to watch not only the brothers who played briefly together with the Ateneo Blue Eagles, but also other young

KALEI MAU shows fine form despite being with the team for only three days. PNVF PHOTO

Filipino cage stars through Tap Digital Media Ventures that will air the B.League games over television and digital platforms exclusively in the Philippines for the 2021-2022 Season. TapDMV will broadcast 51 games including the season opener

on Thursday, Ryukyu Golden Kings against Alvark Tokyo at Okinawa Arena, and the games between teams where Filipino players play. The games air mainly on “TAP Sports,” “TAP GO” and their socialmedia platforms. “I am looking forward to playing against my brother and getting that first win for the Shiga Lakestars,” Kiefer Ravena said. “I am doing well here in Japan in the city of Otsu in the prefecture of Shiga.” “The transition is easy and it’s a cool, and fun place to be,” he said. “The people are very polite people.” As for his new team, Ravena described the Lakestars as “a young team full of promise.” “You can watch out for Shotaro Hayashi, Reon Shibuta, Teppeo Kashiwagura, our team captain, and others,” he said. “I am excited to be a part of a professional team that represents the city of Shiga. Hopefully, we can get a win against my brother’s team,” he added. Thirdy Ravena also expressed excitement about the match. “It is our first official match against each other. And we’re also

By Josef Ramos

OISTING the Philippine Cup trophy for Magnolia is tops in Calvin Abueva’s priorities and not the Best Player of the Conference award. “There’re many individual awards that came in my career, but I have only one PBA [Philippine Basketball Association] championship,” Abueva told BusinessMirror on Friday. “Individual awards are just bonuses. Winning a championship is the big deal.” The 33-year-old Abueva, now playing his eighth season for Magnolia, has been one of the most consistent players in the PBA bubble at the Don Honorio Ventura State University gym in Bacolor, Pampanga. He is ahead in the race for the Best Player of the Conference derby with statistical points standings of 35.36. He leads TNT’s Mikey Williams (35.39) and NorthPort’s Robert Bolick (35.27). Abueva was a rookie when he helped Alaska win the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup. He moved to Phoenix in pandemic year 2020 after he was given a reprieve from his indefinite suspension that ran for seven months. With Magnolia—he was traded in exchange with Chris Banchero in February 17—he’s been ranked 10th in scoring with 16.1 points and fourth in rebounds with 9.7—laced with 3.1 assists and 1.0 steal averages in the elimination round. But Abueva stressed Magnolia’s run is a team effort. “I have to give credit to my teammates Paul [Lee], Mark [Barroca], Ian [Sangalang] and the others,” he said. “My new team has the edge to win a title. And I think this is the best time, so I have to grab all the opportunities to make it happen.” The Hotshots swept the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters—81-70 and 96-86—to reach the best-of-seven semifinals where they could face either Meralco or NLEX, which will play sudden-death on Saturday. “Whoever our opponent will be we’re ready,” said Abueva, whose feeling at home in Clark which is located in his native Angeles City. Abueva said he is motivated more than ever especially by his family. “I need to work hard, play hard and save for my family,” he said. “They are my motivation and inspiration.” He has five kids with his wife Sam—Clint Joseph, Calvin James, DeAndre Calvin, LaMarcus Calvin and Alejandro Calvin.

CALVIN ABUEVA targets a second crown in his eight-year career.

PSC picks Zumbarangay’s top 50 bets

HE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will name the best 50 entries for the Zumbarangay Pilipinas: Solo Exercise On-Cam Challenge during the “Rise Up Shape Up” online program on Saturday. The top 50 entries will be selected by a panel of judges composed of international experts in the field of fitness and dance sports. Judging will be based on form and style, vigor and energy, and creativity and originality. The selected entries will advance to the third qualifying round and will receive a cash prize of P1,000 each. “More than the positive health benefits of exercise, Zumbarangay Pilipinas challenge can also be

a simple start for Filipinas to be confident on their strength, their ability to move and hold presence, and eventually try out sports too,” PSC Women in Sports oversight Commissioner Celia Kiram said. The PSC launched the nationwide Zumbarangay campaign last April aiming to provide opportunity for all women and girls to have an active lifestyle during the pandemic. The PSC also released its first official dance exercise music entitled “Igalaw-galaw Ating Katawan.” The country-wide exercise campaign received entries in the Women Frontliner, Women Open, LGBTQ and kids and young categories.

NBA vaccination rate climbs to 95%

released the figure publicly. Based on a rough count of nearly 600 players in the league right now for training camps—that figure will be closer to 500 when the regular season begins October 19 and rosters get trimmed—the 95 percent figure would suggest that, on average, one player per team is unvaccinated. ESPN first reported the 95 percent figure. Earlier in the week, AP reported that the leaguewide rate entering the week was 90 percent and climbing. The NBA gave teams tentative health and safety protocols for the season Tuesday, detailing how players who haven’t gotten the Covid-19 vaccination will be tested far more often than their vaccinated colleagues and face a slew of other restrictions. AP

Ravena vs Ravena as B.League unfurls Saturday on Tap Go By Rick Olivares

Abueva wants title with Magnolia over best player award

representing the country,” he said. The Shiga Lakestars and the SanEn NeoPhoenix clash at 4:05 p.m. Eight Filipino players are in the B.League in both B1 and B2. They are Thirdy Ravena (San-En Neophoenix, B1), Kiefer Ravena (Shiga Lakestars, B1), Bobby Ray Parks Jr. (Nagoya Diamond Dolphins, B1), Dwight Ramos (Toyama Grouses, B1), Kobe Paras (Niigata Albirex BB, B1), Javier Gomez De Liano (Ibaraki Robots, B1), Juan Gomez De Liano (Earth Friends Tokyo Z, B2) and Kemark Carino (Aomori Wat’s, B2).

THE Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins remains unvaccinated. AP

IAMI—The National Basketball Association (NBA) has seen a rise in vaccination rates in recent days when factoring in those players who have received at least one of the necessary shots, a person with direct knowledge of the situation said Thursday. The leaguewide rate is now around 95 percent when counting those who are now at least in the vaccination process, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither the NBA nor the National Basketball Players Association