BusinessMirror October 12, 2021 by BusinessMirror

Neda nixes oil excise halt amid price hikes By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @Tyronepiad

& Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

CONSUMER group is asking the government to suspend the excise tax on petroleum products to provide relief to many sectors amid the pandemic, as oil companies announced another round of price hikes effective midnight Tuesday. The top government economist, however, said suspending the excise tax is not yet necessary at this point, and that the pressures caused by rising oil prices have already been factored into the infla-

tion projections. Laban Konsyumer President Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba said such suspension of the excise tax is in line with Presidential Proclamation 1218, which allows the national government to monitor and control prices of necessities and prime commodities. “[I] a m i nvok i ng P residential Proclamation 1218 and the President can by executive order suspend the excise taxes on fuel products for a limited period, every two weeks interval, and this will be a big help to all consumers across all sectors,” he told the BusinessMirror. He said suspending excise taxes

of P10 for gasoline, P6 for diesel and kerosene and P3 for liquified petroleum gas is a “big assistance to mitigate unavoidable pass on costs of goods and services to all sectors.” The consumer group noted that the year-to-date retail prices of gasoline, diesel and kerosene are currently at P16.55, P15 and P12.70, respectively. The excise tax regime is based on the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TR AIN) previously, which mandates increasing rates from 2018 to 2020. However, the TRAIN law allowed for suspending the scheduled in-

crease when the average Dubai crude oil based on Mean of Platts Singapore reaches at least $80 per barrel. Meanwhile, the consumer group also proposed to conduct tax investigation of all oil companies for windfall profits to assess tax compliance.

Neda, DOF chief

WITH oil prices hitting $80 per bar rel, suspend ing prov isions of the TR AIN Law may not be necessar y to keep inf lation at bay, accord ing to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda). Continued on A2

FDI NET INFLOWS RISE

Tuesday, October 12, 2021 Vol. 17 No. 4

P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 20 pages |

52% IN JULY, POST $1.3B

DOF: We’ll buy Covid booster shots this year

By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

ONG-TERM investments made by foreign investors in the Philippines rose for the second consecutive month in July as the world continues to reopen its economy, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Monday. Data showed that foreign direct investments (FDI) to the Philippines hit a net inflow of $1.3 billion in July, up 52 percent from the $831 million in the same month last year. FDI are investments made by foreign players in the Philippines in the hopes of long-term return. Since these are in the country for a longer term compared to their short-term counterpart—the foreign portfolio investments (FPI) — FDI usually create jobs for Filipinos and have a multiplier effect on the economy. The BSP attributed the increase in FDI net inflows in July this year mainly to the 61.1-percent growth year-on-year in investments in debt instruments to $1.1 billion from $667 million. Similarly, reinvestment of earnings rose by 87.1 percent to $155 million from $83 million. July’s FDI growth brought the cumulative FDI net inflows to $5.6 billion, 43.1 percent higher than the $3.9-billion net inflows in the first seven months of 2020. This was mainly on account of the 78.7-percent expansion in nonresidents’ net investments in debt instruments to $3.9 billion, from $2.2 billion. Likewise, reinvestment of earnings reached $677 million, 19.3 percent higher than the $567 million. Net investments in equity capital decreased by 12.4 percent due to the downturn in placements by 9.5 percent to $1.2 billion from $1.4 billion, and the increase in withdrawals by 6 percent to $223 million from $210 million.

MANILA residents line up at the Comelec remote registration site at Tutuban Mall in Manila as the Commission on Elections resumed voter registration for the 2022 polls and began accepting applicants anew until end-October.The resumption of voter registration followed the week-long filing of certificates of candidacy which kept Comelec staff busy attending to aspirants for the May 9, 2022 vote. ROY DOMINGO

‘DIGITAL GENDER GAP COST NATIONS $1-T GDP LOSS’

OW- and lower-middleincome countries, including the Philippines, lost $1 trillion in GDP in the last 10 years due to the gender gap in the digital divide, according to a new study. T he study, “ T he Costs of Exclusion: Economic Consequences of the Digital Gender Gap” conducted by the World Wide Web Foundation and the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), asserted that barriers preventing women from accessing the Internet and participating online are costing economies. The report estimated that in 2020, the digital gender gap cost these economies a total of $126 billion. This represented a loss of more than $24 billion in tax revenues, funds that could be used to invest in education, health, and infrastructure programs. “This report reveals just how expensive gender inequality is for all of us. Investing in a more inclusive digital future gives lead-

ers a tremendous opportunity to promote economic growth while creating healthier societies,” Boutheina Guermazi, Director of Digital Development, World Bank and A4AI Advisory Council member, said. “For governments looking to build a resilient economy as part of their Covid-19 recovery plans, closing the digital gender gap should be one of the top priorities,” she added.

PHL: Rising trend favors women

IN the Philippines, however, the digital gender gap favored women more than men. Internet access among women and men have also improved over time, increasing to above 60 percent in 2020 from below 20 percent, at least for women, in 2011. Between 2011 and 2016, the Internet access of men was higher than that of women. But starting in 2017, there was a reversal that saw women’s access online to surpass men. In 2017, women’s internet ac-

cess was at 56 percent while that of men was at 48 percent. This gradually improved to 67 percent for women and 65 percent for men in 2020. But other low- and lowermiddle income countries in the region were still struggling. Only Mongolia has reversed the trend in 2019, where women now had more access to the Internet than men at 72 percent versus 71 percent. The trend in Mongolia is holding: in 2020, women’s access to the Internet increased to 78 percent while men’s access remained at 71 percent. However, this showed a wider digital gender divide that favored women. “Closing the digital gender gap is not just a moral cause, it is also an economic imperative. As the Internet becomes a more potent enabler for education, business, and community mobilization, a failure to deliver access for all means failing to realize everyone’s potential to contribute. Governments that enable women to fully partici-

pate in the digital revolution will unlock a wealth of creativity and productivity,” Web Foundation Director of Research Catherine Adeya said. The report estimates that closing the digital gender gap would add an estimated $524 billion in economic activity over the next five years. By investing to enable more women to use the Internet and participate in the digital economy, governments have a substantial opportunity to generate economic growth. To promote a more inclusive digital economy, the report encourages governments to look holistically at the barriers that impede women’s and girls’ access to the Internet. It urges them to develop comprehensive broadband strategies that include infrastructure investment, transparent policy targets, and programs to deliver digital skills and literacy training, promote women’s and girls’ rights, and address safety and privacy concerns. Cai U. Ordinario

HE national government is bent on purchasing booster shots this year as the Philippines will be able to secure new financing before the end of 2021, according to the Department of Finance (DOF). Finance Undersecretary Mark Dennis Joven told reporters the new financing will be obtained from the Asian Development Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank by November; and World Bank by December or January next year for this purpose. The new financing, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said, is “almost like a syndicated loan” and that the Philippines was ahead of other countries in securing this type of financing. “We are not going to buy it next year, we are going to buy it this year. Additional financing [will be secured for this purpose],” Joven said. “The objective here is to have a seamless delivery of vaccines. So starting from January 1, we’ll withdraw from the new supply agreements already [to prevent any] disruption.” Dominguez also noted that the government has started talking to vaccine manufacturers as early as last month. With this, he stressed, the government is “not scrambling” to purchase vaccines. The DOF official said, however, that a recent meeting with the British Minister for Asia highlighted the issue surrounding the delay in vaccine deliveries. Nonetheless, Dominguez said, the government remains on top of the situation and tries to be as proactive as possible to secure the needed supplies. “We are trying to be as proactive as possible, proactive as possible, to make sure that we’ll be ready with a follow-on dose for next year,” Dominguez said. While the subsidy of booster shots is already in the budget for 2022, Dominguez said, the next administration can also keep this in mind since vaccines serve as an insurance. Dominguez said subsidizing Covid-19 vaccines is an investment in the health of Filipinos and can help ensure that the economy will recover faster.

Continued on A2

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 50.4870

Continued on A12

n JAPAN 0.4498 n UK 68.7835 n HK 6.4853 n CHINA 7.8347 n SINGAPORE 37.2708 n AUSTRALIA 36.8757 n EU 58.4337 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.4625

Source: BSP (October 11, 2021)

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Tuesday, October 12, 2021

AMLC: Budget okay to help PHL exit from FATF grey list

By Butch Fernandez

@butchfBM

HILIPPINE authorities are looking to completely resolve soon all the issues flagged by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on money-laundering, officials said on Monday, boosting hopes of having the country exiting a grey list.

The Philippine action plan for resolving the rest of the issues— with about “84 percent” already responded to by Manila—has been submitted to FATF, which will review it in its meeting later in October, senators were told. In June 2021, when the Philippines was once again put on the FATF grey list, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno vowed that Philippine authorities will “work unceasingly” to

satisfactorily respond to FATF recommendations, in hopes of exiting the grey list on or before 2023. Landing on the FATF grey list does not automatically result in sanctions kicking in, but could cause prolonged procedures in some financial transactions— something Philippine authorities are keen to avoid in order not to inconvenience, for instance, the millions of migrant workers whose remittances shore up the economy.

While upbeat on improving Philippine response to FATF issues, Executive Director Mel Georgie Racela of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Secretariat, however, admitted at Monday’s Senate Finance committee hearing that it took five years for the government to start prosecuting guilty parties under the Terrorism Financing law enacted in 2012. “What accounts for non-prosecution under that statute?” Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara asked Racela, and was told it was mainly a problem of “lack of awareness [on the statute enacted in 2012].” Pressed by Angara, Racela said that starting in 2017, “we’ve been filing” cases since then. Angara wanted to know what is the “most advanced among the cases prosecuted under terror financing law,” and the AMLC official replied it was the case against the “matriarch of the Maute Gang,” who financed her two sons and their cohorts in staging the Marawi siege of 2017. The case has reached trial, Race-

la said, but the pandemic delayed such trial because courts were closed for much of the pandemic, with hearings done virtually. Towards the end of the hearing, Racela asked the Angara panel to help the AMLC secure additional funding so they can carry out all the measures needed to exit the FATF grey list and effectively fight money laundering. Their DBM-endorsed budget for 2022 is P77.1 million. Angara assured him, “we will recommend your budget favorably, without prejudice to possible augmentation.” However, Angara added that, while “in previous years we tried to augment your budget, it’s hard to promise anything at this stage,” since the NEP (National Expenditure Program) for 2022 has itself been underfunding even vital requirements in the health sector, which are crucial in a pandemic. Meanwhile, the AMLC is also enforcing provisions of the AntiTerrorism Act (ATA) of 2020. The ATA which took effect in 2020 entails designation by ATC of terrorist organizations and individuals.

Salceda: Energy crunch looms, let’s ramp up RE

S prices of traditional fossil fuels hit historic highs this week, the

chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means on Monday warned against a

possible “energy crunch,” or a rise in power and fuel costs. Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda

appealed to the Department of Energy to expedite the process of approvals for power plants, especially for renewable energy. “The world is facing what could be a year of price hikes on coal, oil, natural gas, and other non-renewable energy sources. We are facing a confluence of factors. Oil is back where it was pre-pandemic. Natural gas is at all-time highs,” Salceda said in a statement. “You could be looking at a worldwide energy crunch by mid-2022. That can cause major problems for countries like the Philippines that import non-renewables for our energy needs. That could dampen economic recovery, so energy has to figure in the country’s economic recovery plans,” Salceda said. Just this week, Salceda said the price index for natural gas hit all-time highs. “Natural gas used to be seen as the alternative to oil. But now, I’m not so sure it is more immune to the kind of price volatility typically avoided in oil,” Salceda said.

RE needed

IN response to disruptions and price hikes in fossil fuels, Salceda recommended that the country diversify its energy portfolio quickly. “RE is just 24 percent of our energy sources, when we are both a net importer of fossil fuels, and an excellent location for all sorts of RE. One problem appears to me to be the approval process. The Renewable Energy Law imposes much more requirements on RE players than on traditional fossil fuel plants, which of course tends to discourage rather than encourage RE power plants,” Salceda said. Congress, he added, may need to review the Renewable Energy Law to see how approval processes can be expedited. “Moving into a fossil fuel crunch, your ideal mix should be at least 40-60, 40 percent being renewable energy. Our international commitment is to get that up to 35 percent by 2030, but we should do ourselves better by aiming for 40 percent, since almost all of our fossil fuels are imported,” Salceda said. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Neda nixes oil excise halt amid price hikes Continued from A1

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua, who was the architect of the Duterte administration’s tax reform program in his previous post as Undersecretary for Finance, believes inflation was still within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas targets, and resorting to suspending TRAIN provisions would not be necessary at this time. The recent spike in oil prices in the international market, Chua said, has already been factored into the BSP forecast of 4.4 percent this year “with risks tilted to the upside, including risks on high oil prices.” “No, since [we are] within target. Remember we have an annual program. We base it on that, not on a single data point,” Chua told the BusinessMirror on Monday, when sought for reaction on he proposal to suspend excise on petrol products. Chua added that based on CME futures market as of 11 October 2021, Dubai crude oil prices are expected to settle at $78.2 per barrel by December from $79.8 per barrel in October. “Should actual oil prices for November and December 2021 settle based on CME futures, the 2021 average Dubai prices would average at $69.3/bbl. This is still within the DBCC [Development Budget Coordination Committee] assumption, although at the high end,” Chua said. Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said while the DOF can suspend the TRAIN, this only pertained to annual increases in the tax rates, and only if Dubai Crude exceeded $80 per barrel. H o w e v e r, D o m i n g u e z said, the DOF will check the revenue impact if the suspension can be done. “Under the TRAIN, what was allowed to be suspended, upon recommendation of the DOF, was the annual increases of rates— which ended in 2020 —and only if the MOPS for Dubai Crude in the last three months exceeded 80 per barrel.”

‘Little effect’

DOF Undersecretary and Chief Economist Gil Beltran said that while suspending provisions of the TRAIN Law may have legal consequences that he may not be familiar with, this may only have “little” effect on inflation. This “little” effect, Beltran said, only takes into consideration the fact that the coun-

try is a net oil importer, since it cannot shift to a substitute product. This effect also considers the impact on the tax that the government may have to give up with the suspension of TRAIN Law provisions. “On the positive side, the high price of petrol won’t last long. Futures prices expect a return to USD60 per barrel as soon as [the] market normalizes,” Beltran said. DOF data showed the government collected P299.27 billion from its fuel marking program, which became mandatory under the TRAIN law. T he d at a showed t hat P269.49 billion in duties and taxes were collected by the Bureau of Customs from oil imports as of October 7 this year. This is broken down into P107.77 billion collected in 2019; P147.44 billion in 2020; and P14.28 billion in 2021. DOF data also showed the Bureau of Internal Revenue collected P29.78 billion from excise taxes between December 2019 and July 22 this year —broken down into P18.77 billion collected in 2019 and P11.007 billion in 2020. No data on excise taxes are available for 2021. The government has marked a total of 30.54 billion liters between September 2019 and October 8 this year. This is composed of 12.05 billion liters marked in 2019; 17.086 billion liters in 2020; and 1.41 billion liters in 2021.

Another price hike

IN separate announcements, oil companies said Monday said gasoline prices will go up by P1.30 per liter, diesel by P1.50 per liter and kerosene by P1.45 per liter, hikes now entering the seventh consecutive week. See related story on A5. This week’s oil price hike will result in the year-to-date adjustments standing at a total net increase of P17.85 per liter for gasoline, P16.50/liter for diesel and P14.19/liter for kerosene. Oil firms, which adjust prices every week, said the price adjustment reflects movements in the world oil market. “The reason for the hefty oil price increase is the same as last week. There is insufficient supply of crude oil versus demand,” said Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) of the energy department Director R ino Abad in a text message.

FDI NET INFLOWS RISE 52% IN JULY, POST $1.3B Continued from A1

Equity capital placements emanated largely from Singapore, Japan, and the United States. These were infused mostly in the manufacturing; financial and insurance; and electricity, gas, steam, and airconditioning industries. R iza l Commercia l Bank ing Corporation (RCBC) economist Michael Ricafort said optimism on increased vaccination and the normalization of economies have helped push the country’s FDI numbers upward. “Economies locally and in many countries around the world have further picked up and reopened from the hard lockdowns, especially from the worst levels in MarchApril 2020, thereby allowing more inflows of FDI into the Philippines,

as facilitated by improvements in the global supply chains and logistics,” Ricafort said. Going forward, the economist forecast continued growth in FDI for the Philippines. “For the coming months, FDI could still continue to go up amid better global economic prospects as some developed countries that are the major sources of FDI move towards herd immunity,” Ricafort said. “More FDI would also be encouraged to locate as the country moves towards population protection and eventually towards herd immunity in the coming months, thereby fundamentally improving economic recovery prospects,” he added.

The Nation BusinessMirror

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UK proposes deployment of 2 frigates in SEA region By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

HE United Kingdom (UK) wants to permanently station two warships in Southeast Asia in what is widely seen as its contribution to the international collective effort of maintaining peace and security in the region being challenged by China’s expansionist claims and aggressive military activities. UK’s intent was conveyed by Amanda Milling during his meeting with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday at the Department of National Defense (DND). The official made his first visit to Manila as the new minister for Asia at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). “Minister Milling conveyed the UK’s intent to maintain two offshore patrol vessels [OPVs] permanently in Southeast Asia, as a demonstration of its long-term commitment to the Indo-Pacific region,” the DND said in a news statement issued through its spokesman Arsenio “Popong” Andolong. UK’s Royal Navy flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth, and its carrier strike group flotilla, which included American, Dutch and Australian warships is currently in the region for its Asian voyage under its first operational deployment since it went into service. Last week, it crossed into Bashi Channel and the disputed South China Sea on its way to Japan,

Marikina mayor waives penalty fees to market stall owners

MID the clamor of the Marikina Public Market stall occupants, City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro has ordered a waiver on the penalties and interests imposed on stall occupants who have failed to pay rents due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “Last Friday, October 8, I was about to file my certificate of candidacy [COC] when market stall occupants approached me and humbly asked me to help them during this pandemic by removing the penalties and interests for failing to pay their rent. They told me that the number of their customers decreased due to quarantine restrictions,” Teodoro recalled. After listening to stall occupants, Teodoro said that he immediately ordered the City Council to pass an ordinance that will waive such penalties and interests burdening market stall occupants. No number of stall occupants was given. “I did such because this needs a unilateral action, and this is a council matter,” Teodoro said recognizing that they were badly affected by the pandemic and that the city government’s way to help them is to remove the hefty burden on them. “What we need now is understanding and compassion. We must understand the plights of market stall occupants who have been badly trying to make ends meet amid the pandemic,” he added. The mayor lamented that the impacts of the pandemic are real, but “we can unite and help each other through these hard times.” “We’ll surpass these challenges together. This is just a pandemic [and] we are from Marikina. We’re together in this fight,” Teodoro assured. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

dismissing warnings from China against sailing into the regional waters that Beijing claims. Just days before, it joined and sailed with two US carrier groups. Lorenzana said the region welcome UK’s intention to permanently deploy two ships, but the country is lukewarm to it, adding that the warships could be based in Malaysia or Singapore. The DND said that during the meeting, both Lorenzana and Milling also discussed the AustraliaUK-US (AUKUS) trilateral security partnership, the intent of which, “as Minister Milling emphasized, is to support Australia’s capability development to contribute to security in the region.” The AUKUS, one of the newest security partnerships to rise in the region along with the Quad Security Dialogue, which groups the US, Japan, Australia and India, was formed basically to challenge China’s military weight and its activities in the region. The DND said that UK has been granted the status of Asean Dialogue Partner since August 2021 and has applied for observer status in the Asean Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Experts’ Working Groups (EWGs). On bilateral issues, Lorenzana and Milling tackled defense cooperation between the Philippines and the UK, which is being implemented under the 2017 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Defense Cooperation.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Tuesday, October 12, 2021 A3

Legarda pushes wider focus on mental health amid 57% hike in suicide count By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

S suicide cases rise by 57 percent in the Philippines, a House deputy speaker on Monday called for aggressive government measures to address mental health issues confronting some Filipinos amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Alarmed by an unprecedented rise in the country’s suicide rate, House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda sought stronger implementation of Republic Act (RA) 11036 or the Mental Health Care Act (MHCA). Legarda, one of the authors of RA 11036, cited the need to strengthen MHCA, which seeks to provide affordable and accessible mental health services for Filipinos suffering from mental disabilities and prevent cases of self-induced harm. October 10 has been declared as this year’s World Mental Health Day, with the theme, “Mental Health in an Unequal World.” Citing latest Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data, Legarda reported a whopping 57 percent climb in the country’s suicide rate in 2020 compared to the previous year. The PSA reported that a total of 4,420 people died in the country due to self-inflicted harm last year, compared to 2,810 deaths in 2019. Suicide also jumped on the list of top causes of deaths in the Philip-

pines, from 31st place in 2019 to 25th place last year. “The pandemic has highlighted the need to also take care of our mental health to help us survive and thrive despite the current challenges. This is one of the many laws that I passed when I was senator and these are relevant and helpful in coping with changes caused by the current health crisis. RA 11036 has ushered in a new chapter in mental healthcare policy and service delivery in the Philippines and we should ensure its strict and effective implementation on the integration of mental heath in all health services and policy initiatives,” the Antique lawmaker said. “Mental health is one aspect in the society that is not given utmost attention. With various societal issues that we are facing, we sometimes neglect to prioritize the mental health of every citizen of this nation without us knowing its effects on people’s day-to-day performance on education, employment, physical health and even relationships,” she added. According to Legarda, the National Center for Mental Health also saw a huge spike in the number of calls to its hotlines since lockdowns were enforced in much of the country at the beginning of the pandemic in March. From just 400 calls monthly, NCMH reported it received an average of over 700 calls per month from

March to August 2020. Legarda lamented how MCHA has not been fully utilized in addressing mental health problems of Filipinos. “Adding to the woes of those who are suffering from mental health illnesses is the shortage of qualified mental health professionals as well as the stigma being associated with it. This mental health intervention would usher in a new chapter in mental health-care policy and service delivery in the Philippines as it would integrate mental health in all health services and policy initiatives,” she said. Under the said law, the Philippine Council for Mental Health shall be established as an attached agency under the Department of Health (DOH) to provide a coherent, rational and unified response to mental health problems, concerns and efforts through the formulation and implementation of the National Mental Health Care Delivery System. The system shall constitute a quality mental health-care program through the development of efficient and effective structures, systems and mechanisms that will ensure equitable, accessible, affordable, appropriate, efficient and effective delivery of mental health care to all its stakeholders by qualified, competent, compassionate and ethical mental health professionals and mental health workers.

In 2012, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 2,558 cases of Filipinos committing suicide, averaging to 7 cases per day. Meanwhile, DOH reported that one in five Filipino adult suffers from mental illness, such as schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety.

Low expenditure

MEANWHILE, Legarda, citing a recent study by Nicholle Maravilla and Myles Tan on RA 11036, said “even after the country has recently passed its first Mental Health Act and Universal Health Care Law, only 5 percent of the health-care expenditure is directed toward mental health. “Also, there are only 7.76 hospital beds and 0.41 psychiatrists per 100,000 people,” she said. With this, Legarda said, mental health and wellness is an integral part of the Philippine health-care system, as she saw the growing number of mental disabilities that were left untreated due to lack of facilities, and the shortage of physicians who are trained to specialize in the treatment of these mental conditions. The deputy speaker’s growing concern for these statistics led her to ensure the measure’s passage, as she saw the need for the government to promote mental health awareness, and ensure that no Filipino suffers from the dreaded impacts of mental disorder.

COA pressed to keep close track of P5-B housing fund DOH logs 411 more Delta variant cases in sampling By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

HE Commission on Audit (COA) was asked on Monday to keep close track over a P5billion fund collected from private housing developers in compliance with the Urban Development and Housing Act. This, after Senator Risa Hontiveros noted reports that of the P5- billion fund, representing the total amounts placed in escrow accounts under various names, P1.8 billion was reportedly spent by former Undersecretary Christopher Lloyd Lao during his 2018-2019 stint in the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), adding that “hundreds of millions could not be accounted for when he left HLURB.” “A whooping P5 billion was collected from private housing developers since the entry of Undersecretary Lao at HLURB,” the senator said, but noted there was “no clear explanation yet where the huge fund went during Undersecretary Lao’s time.” The lawmaker lamented in Filipino that “hindi maipaliwanag at matagpuan kung san ginasta ang malaking tipak nito noong panahon ni Lao.”

She added: “There was no paper trail. The fund should have been turned over to build low-cost homes for minimum wage earners, including those who wish to leave informal settlements.” “I urge the COA to look into this matter immediately,” the senator said even as she also prodded the DHSUD (Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development) to “cooperate without hesitation.” In the same statement, Hontiveros recalled that when Lao was serving as chief executive officer and Commissioner of the HLURB, “there was a scheme in which private developers gave a certain amount or ‘fee’ as an express lane alternative to their compliance with the requirements of the Balanced Housing Development Program law.” She noted that under RA 10884, developers are also mandated to allot a portion of their projects to socialized housing. The lawmaker, however, admitted she got confused “over the fact that Lao was able to spend P1.8 billion without the formal and documented knowledge of the agency,” referring to HLURB. “How did Lao spend the P1.8-billion fund?” she asked, adding it was

“only Lao and not the HLURB that decided what projects and who are the contractors that will be favored with that amount.” The senator went on to ask: “Naging pork barrel ba ang pera? Hindi natin alam kung pabahay ba ang naitayo. Hindi kayang i-assemble ng DHSUD ang detalyeng matagal ko nang hinihingi. Sunud-sunod ang mga kinasasangkutan ni Lao, hindi lang barya-barya, kundi bilyon. Hindi na dapat ito palampasin pa.” At the same time, Hontiveros raised the possibility that “the scheme may also have been against the law as the funds raised and placed in escrow accounts with banks are only one-fourth of the amount stated in the law.” If the law had been followed, she added that the private sector would have created up to P20 billion in socialized housing units and this would have been a huge addition to the very small budget provided by the budget department to housing agencies. “It is the people’s right to know where the public funds were spent as they worked hard to earn it,” she said, even as the senator assured he was sure COA will do its mandate, more so in cases involving unexplained spending.

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

HE Department of Health (DOH) on Monday reported the detection of additional 411 Delta (B.1.617.2), 78 Beta (B.1.351), 88 Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant cases in the latest batch of whole genome sequencing conducted by the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the latest run on October 8 was comprised of 747 samples collected in February, April, May, August and September of 2021 wherein 55.0 percent were found to be positive with Delta variants; Alpha, 11.8 percent, and Beta, 10.4 percent. “We are doing retrospective sampling to trace the beginnings of the Delta variant introduction to the country as well as the earliest cases,” Vergeire said in an online media forum, noting that April and May samples were added because “we don’t have sequencing kits then” and that the DOH wanted to “fill in” such gap in sequencing for these

“critical” months. Of the 14,517 samples or 88.52 percent with lineages as of October 8, it showed that 26.2 percent or 3,798 were positive with the Delta variant, while Beta variant comprises 22.8 percent or 3,307; there were 20.2 percent or 2,935 for Alpha variant, and 0.02 percent or three samples positive for the Gamma variant (P.1; Brazilian lineage). Delta is the most common lineage nationally among sequenced samples, while Beta is the second most common lineage. Vergeire said all regions and all National Capital Region (NCR) cities/municipality either have Alpha or Beta variants detected. “The Delta variant, initially detected from returning overseas Filipinos [ROFs], is now detected in all 17 regions and all NCR cities/municipality as well,” she said. The P.3 variant, while initially observed in only one region, is now detected in all regions. Vergeire said that local cases of Alpha and Beta could be directly linked to an introduction by an incoming international traveler.

Mayor Sara extends leave, Mother-and-daughter tandem of docs seeks reelection in LU contracts Covid-19 virus T By Manuel T. Cayon

@awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

AVAO CITY—City Mayor Sara Duter te- Car pio contracted the Covid-19 virus last week and had to extend her leave of absence from the City Hall. In her official Facebook page, the city government posted the announcement on October 9 that the mayor “tested positive for Covid-19 tonight.” “She has mild symptoms and is in isolation caring for other family memberswhoneedmedicalattentionin DavaoCity,”thepostadded. Itrequested complete privacy “at this time and respectfully urges the public to refrain

from sending tokens for well wishes.” It also asked everyone who came in close contact with the mayor in the last 14 days to self-monitor for symptoms and get RT-PCR tested five to seven days from contact with her. City Hall said Duterte-Carpio earlier underwent a swab test on Monday last week as part of her preparations for a scheduled travel abroad on official leave of absence the following day. She said she tested negative for the Covid-19. But on Saturday last week, she took another test which turned positive. She was supposed to hold her regular Monday radio broadcast on Monday but it was canceled. A person who tested positive of the virus has to undergo a quarantine of 14 days.

HE mother and daughter tandem of Sandra Y. Eriguel and Stefanie Ann Y. Eriguel, both medical doctors, have filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) to seek reelection in the May 2022 elections as representative of La Union’s Second District and mayor of Agoo town, respectively, to sustain the progress and development in their localities. Congresswoman Sandra Eriguel, provincial chairperson of Lakas-CMD political party in La Union, filed her COC on October 1, 2021 for her third term as representative of the Second District of La Union province, while daughter Stefanie, provincial chairperson of National Unity

Party (NUP), filed her COC on October 8. The filing of COCs by Sandra and Stefanie aims to continue the outstanding brand of public service by the Eriguel family in the last 15 years, which transformed the Second District of La Union into a hub of progress and development in Northern Luzon, a news statement read. Sandra Eriguel, a medical doctor, is one of the authors of Republic Act 11509, or the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act, which established a medical scholarship and return service program for deserving students in state universities and colleges or in partner private higher education institutions.

Among the legislative pieces that she pushed in Congress for the benefit of her constituents include R A 11562 which expanded the Rosario District Hospital and R A 11559 which upgraded the Naguilian District Hospital. She is also the principal author of RA 11484, which converted the road from Anduyan in Tubao, La Union to San Pascual, Tuba in Benguet into a national road. Sandra Er ig uel is a lso cur rent ly the chair person of Inter-Parliamentar y Relations and Diplomac y Committee of the House of Representatives and v ice-chair person of the Committee of Hea lth and Foreig n A ffairs Committee.

A4 Tuesday, October 12, 2021 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

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Dar backs early appropriation of ’22 RCEF funds By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) is eyeing an early procurement for all programs funded by the 2022 Rice Competitiveness Enhancement

Fund (RCEF) to avert any possible delays that may be caused by the election ban on public spending due to the upcoming national and local elections. This was disclosed by Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar during a virtual news briefing

on Monday when he was asked if it is his position to have an early procurement for the 2022 RCEF following an interest to do such a measure by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech). “Every secretary wants procure-

ment, who doesn’t want that? I will support [PhilMech’s early procurement plans],” he said. “Ganoon lahat, kung may pera agad, even wala pa iyong pera, iyong tinatawag na procure na short of award. Iyon po ang gagawin natin para mas mabilis—procure but short of award. Meaning kapag dumating na ang pera iaward mo na. [It should be done in all R C E F components. E v e n w it h out t he f unding yet, we can do the procurem e n t short of award. T hat is what we are going to do to fa st-

track the implementation, procure short of award, which means we will just award once the fund arrives],” he added. PhilMech Executive Director Baldwin G. Jallorina earlier said their agency is keen on conducting early procurement for the 2022 RCEF mechanization program in anticipation of the election ban on public spending next year. PhilMech plans to complete the bidding for the 2022 RCEF mechanization program before the election ban takes place, which is 45 days before the May 8, 2022 election date. Dar, who chairs the RCEF program steering committee, said he would want all the procurement activities related to the 2022 RCEF to be completed before the election ban. “We will do everything that we must do, we will procure early. We will adopt this during our ManCom [Management Committee] meeting in the third week of November,” he said. Under the Commission on Elections’ Resolution 10965, the release, disbursement or expenditures of public funds as defined by Section 261v of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC) are prohibited from March 25, 2022 until May 8, 2022. Existing r u les stated under C i rc u l a r 01-2 0 0 9 i s s u e d b y

the Gover nment Procurement Polic y Board (GPPB) state that gover nment agencies may proceed w ith their procurement basis w ithout the issuance of the notice of award on the basis of the National Expenditure Program (NEP). The policy was reiterated in Circular Letter 2010-9 issued by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), allowing agencies to proceed with their procurement activities, short of award, upon the President’s approval of the NEP. The RCEF is an annual P10billion regular fund that seeks to improve the domestic rice industry’s competitiveness by improving yield, reducing production costs and cutting post-harvest losses. The RCEF was created by Republic Act (R A) 11203 or the rice trade liberalization law, which deregulated the country’s rice industry, in 2019 and will run until 2025. Under RA 11203, half or about P5 billion of the annual RCEF fund will be dedicated to the procurement and free distribution of farm machinery and related post-harvest technologies to rice farmers. The law allocated P3 billion for the distribution of high-yielding seeds, P1 billion for expanded credit assistance and the remaining P1 billion for extension services.

Public perceptions of political integrity

By Henry J. Schumacher

OULDN’T we all like to see political decision-makers put our shared interests ahead of their own? Take, for example, a number of leading industrialized countries around the world, where at the height of the Covid-19 crisis some politicians found new opportunities to enrich themselves or to consolidate power—often side-stepping anticorruption measures. Even if much of this happened behind closed doors, citizens were aware of resources being skewed in favor of certain powerful groups. Whether it’s perceptions of government corruption and impunity for wrongdoings or the use of personal connections when accessing public services, the results challenge the image of these otherwise respected countries as places of integrity. Business and government intertwined People increasingly scrutinize the cozy relationship between business and government when it is unclear what ties the policy-makers have to the business community, there is a risk that politics and regulations are made in favor of narrow private interests rather than the common good. Consequently, both the private sector and governments call for immediate and coordinated action against a growing problem. Governments have much work to do to free decision-making from undue inf luence. This cozy relationship between business representatives and government officials also brings home the message that building political integrity requires

more than fighting public sector corruption. Governments and private institutions need to make immediate and concerted efforts to ensure that the lives of ordinary people are free of corruption. They should: 1. Build people’s trust and participation by ensuring that decision-making is fully transparent, enabling citizens to hold governments to account. 2. Protect all who expose corruption, including through the protection of whistle-blowers. 3. Safeguard against undue influence in politics through improving transparency of all lobbying activities and tackling conflicts of interest among officials. 4. Build integrity standards in the private sector by strengthening corporate anti-corruption standards. 5. Improve corporate tax transparency and prevent tax avoidance. I am sure you’ve read the Pandora Papers also with disgust. Calls are growing internationally and hopefully locally also for an end to financial secrecy that has allowed many of the world’s richest and most powerful people to hide their wealth from tax collectors. I was surprised about the names of local and international persons appearing in the Pandora Papers. 6. Reduce opportunities for corruption in government contracting by improving the availability and quality of public procurement data and inviting civil-society organizations to observe the contracting processes. 7. Ensure accountability for abuses of power, including breaches of the rule of law governments and private sector accomplices, through effective monitoring, enforcement and dissuasive sanctions. Let’s clearly understand that the future of our societies hangs in the balance. It is up to citizens like you and me to create change. I admire the work done by Transparency International! That organization is committed to making the voices of people like us be heard by those in power—both in government and in the private sector. If you, too, would like the common good to prevail, please become active and create Integrity Circles. The time for change is now. Let’s work together in the Integrity Initiative/in Integrity Circles. Feedback is appreciated—contact me at hjschumacher59@gmail.com

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Another ‘big time’ fuel pump price hike today By Lenie Lectura @llectura

UMP prices are on the rise as oil firms implement for the seventh consecutive week another round of price adjustment. In separate announcements, oil companies said Monday that gasoline prices will go up by P1.30 per liter, diesel by P1.50 per liter and kerosene by P1.45 per liter. Seaoil, Pilipinas Shell, Petron, Caltex, Total Philippines, PTT, Phoenix Petroleum and Unioil said they will implement their price adjustments effective 6 a.m. of October 12. Other oil firms are expected to follow suit. Cleanfuel, meanwhile, will adjust its prices at 4:01 p.m. This week’s oil price hike will result to the year-to-date adjustments to stand at a total net increase of P17.85 per liter for gasoline, P16.50/liter for diesel and P14.19/liter for kerosene. Oil firms, which adjust prices every week, said the price adjustment reflects movements in the world oil market. “The reason for the hefty oil price increase is the same as last week. T here is insufficient supply of crude oil versus dema nd,” sa id Oil Industr y Management Bureau (OIMB) of the energy depa r t ment Director Rino Abad in a text message. He explained that t he Orga nization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Plus (Opec+), which consists of the 13 Opec members and 10 of the world’s major non-Opec oil-exporting nations, did not accede to the request of US, India, China and European countries to provide additional supply over and above the 400,000 staggered increase per month from Aug ust t h is year to April next year. Abad explained that t h e O p e c+ member countries collectively agree on how much oil to produce, which directly impacts the ready supply of crude. The Department of Energy (DOE) said current supply could not serve demand. “Aggressive demand in the fourth quarter is seen to reach as much as 103 million barrels of crude oil per day while supply is only about 100.32 million barrels per day. Clearly, this Platts projection shows a

supply deficit of around 2.91 million barrels per day,” it said. Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi reminded oil firms to comply with Executive Order 134, which requires oil companies and bulk suppliers to maintain a sufficient minimum inventory of petroleum. “I am directing all oil companies in the country to ensure adequate supply, and come up with plans to mitigate possible price hikes of oil products in the coming months,” Cusi said. He reminded oil firms to comply with the Minimum Inventory Requirements (MIR) under Department Circular 2003-01-001. The circular states that all oil companies, except refiners operating in the country, and bulk suppliers maintain a minimum inventory equivalent to 15 days worth of petroleum products’ supply, except for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Oil refiners are required to maintain MIR equivalent to 30 days worth of supply, consisting of petroleum crude oil and refined petroleum products. Also a seven days worth of supply must be maintained for LPG.

Tuesday, October 12, 2021 A5

NHM bares ‘alarming’ PHL biodiversity loss until 2050 By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

HE country’s natural biodiversity will continue to deteriorate and is expected to be below 60 percent intact by 2050, according to the Natural History Museum’s (NHM) Biodiversity Intactness Index. NHM explained that the Biodiversity Intactness Index estimates how much, on average, of a region’s natural biodiversity is still left. It is an estimated percentage of the original number of species that remain and their abundance in any given area d e s p it e impacts of human activities. “If the Biodiversity Intactness Index is 90 per-

cent or more, the area has enough biodiversity to be a resilient and functioning ecosystem,” NHM said. “If the Biodiversity Intactness Index is 30 percent or less, the area’s biodiversity has been depleted to such an extent that it is below the most generous boundary of what is needed for a functioning ecosystem,” it explained. The BII is estimated based on five Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) that include global projections of wealth, population, education, technology and reliance on fossil fuels. SSP1 is on Sustainable development; SSP2 is Middle of the road

development; SSP3 is on Regional rivalry; SSP4 on Inequality; and SSP5, Fossil-fuelled development. For SSP1, the estimate showed the BII of the country is at 62.27 percent in 2021. This has deteriorated from 65.38 percent in 2000. The country’s biodiversity will deteriorate to 62.01 percent in 2031 and 61.57 percent in 2041 before reaching 61.26 percent by 2050. “Between 2000 and 2050 the BII changes from 65.38 percent to 61.26 percent, with a difference of -4.12 percentage points,” NHM said. In terms of SSP2, the BII of the country is at 62.03 percent in 2021.

This has deteriorated from 65.38 percent in 2000. The country’s biodiversity will deteriorate to 61.78 percent in 10 years and 61.3 percent in 20 years before reaching 60.33 percent by 2050. “Between 2000 and 2050 the BII changes from 65.38 percent to 60.33 percent, with a difference of -5.05 percentage points,” the study stated. For SSP3, it was estimated that the country’s BII was at 62.17 percent in 2021. This will deteriorate to 61.76 percent in a decade. By 2041, the BII will decline further to 61.28 percent and reach 60.86 percent by 2050.

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A6 Tuesday, October 12, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION 24/7 BUSINESS PROCESSING INC. 9/f Capella Bldg., L-3&4 B2, Filinvest, Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa

No.

DANG, LI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 1.

Brief Job Description: Responding promptly to the inquiries to ensure customer satisfaction LIANG, JIYE Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Responding promptly to the inquiries to ensure customer satisfaction LU, JIANJUN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Responding promptly to the inquiries to ensure customer satisfaction WANG, MENG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Responding promptly to the inquiries to ensure customer satisfaction XU, JICHAO Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Responding promptly to the inquiries to ensure customer satisfaction XU, XIONGHUANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Responding promptly to the inquiries to ensure customer satisfaction

8 STONE BUSINESS OUTSOURCING OPC 5-10/f Tower 1, Pitx Kennedy Road, Tambo, City Of Parañaque BACH TRONG HIEU Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 7.

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

CHEN, LONG Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 8.

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

TANG, SHENGZHI Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 9.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin speaking FU, SHILANG Mandarin Customer Service Representative

10.

11.

12.

13.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status HE, YUANYUAN Mandarin Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status HUANG, MENG Mandarin Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status LIU, ZHANGLONG Mandarin Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status YANG, XINYU Mandarin Customer Service Representative

14.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status ZHU, SHOUSONG Mandarin Customer Service Representative

15.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ACCENTURE, INC. 7f, Robinsons Cybergate Tower 1, Pioneer St, City Of Mandaluyong

MARIN RODRIGUEZ, JAVIER Application/cloud Support Team Lead

16.

Brief Job Description: communicate with the client functional design in-charge about the detail of requirement definition and function design; explain development status and issue with team leads of the client; understand the clients’ original develop/runtime architecture and develop standards (including deliverable flow, template, description level: perform knowledge transfer about business requirement/ functional design written in required language to team lead and members.

No.

Basic Qualification: bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer science, or other relevant fields; must be able to communicate effectively, verbally and written, in both English and required language; experienced in any of the following: o java (java ee, java se, spring, nodejs) o javascript o sap o net o cobol o angular: knowledgeable in back-end programming language/framework; willing to work on holidays, weekends, shifting schedules and extended working hours. Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

AMAZON WEB SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. 21f Arthaland Pacific Century Tower, 5th Avenue Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

LAGAAC, CARLO Senior Solutions Architect 17.

Brief Job Description: Collaborate with customers, partners and other aws teams to craft architectures, proof of concepts or demonstrations of our platform that work back from customer’s business needs and accelerate the adoption of appropriate aws technology.

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ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Post graduate certificate in the related industry, Professional certifications/ accreditation of multiple technology domains is a must, Deeper understanding in technology areas (i.e., software development, systems engineering, infrastructure, security, networking, data, and analytics, Can create proof of concepts, demos, and/ or scripts from scratch or leveraging reusable components Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

ANOC99 CORPORATION 5/f To 10/f Ayala Malls Manila Bay Building D., Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Aseana Street, Tambo, City Of Parañaque Basic Qualification: WANG, ZHEN Able to speak, read, and Chinese Customer Specialist write Chinese language 18. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 ASAHI NETWORKS PHILS. INC. 6/f Maripola Bldg., 109 Perea St. Legaspi Village, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati ANDO, TAKUYA Basic Qualification: Assistant Manager (experienced Bilingual Associate 3) Preferably with auditing experiences in auditing/ Brief Job Description: accounting firm or 19. Provide assistance to Japanese clients in translating professional firm and understanding government and business-related documents and materials necessary for the operations of Salary Range: the company Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue Cor. Rufino Street, Salcedo Vill., Bel-air, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in MONICA TANDUSANG accounting, finance, Bahasa Indonesian Language-officer Fund Management management or any business 20. course Brief Job Description: Must ensure their funds’ reporting requirements are met Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Degree holder; must fluently STEFEN INTAN speak and write Bahasa Bahasa Indonesian Language-supervisor Customer Service Indonesian language to cater 21. foreign markets Brief Job Description: Initiate conversation to uncover customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Degree holder; must fluently CHANTA, WATCHARAWALEE speak and write Bahasa Thai Language-officer Customer Service Indonesian language to cater 22. foreign markets Brief Job Description: Initiate conversation to uncover customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM BUSINESS SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. L-2-3, Blk. 45, Alabang Zapote Road, Cor. North Bridgeway, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa Basic Qualification: BAE, HANS Experience in source to pay Specialist, First Level Support process, helpdesk support handling of queries and good 23. Brief Job Description: communication. Responsible for supporting the user community of the s2p systems being main contact for supplier inquiries. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: MAGOU, YDEX LINDA Minimum of 3 year Specialist, HR Direct experience in HR administrative function/ Brief Job Description: experience in HR it platforms, 24. Main contact for all queries related to HR services in the in particular success factors region and processing support requests in an efficient and and ticketing tool structured way as well as following up on them with the next service levels, and for giving end-user trainings. Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 BOUVARDIA INC. Unit-25d 2/f Zeta Ii Bldg., Salcedo St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling DAM CHI QUYEN customer questions about Chinese Speaking Business Analyst services or products 25. / excellent mandarin Brief Job Description: communication skills Planning, maintaining and coordinate the development of primary and secondary market research Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 C’EST LA VIE EVENT MANAGEMENT INC. 230, Narra Street, Marikina Heights, City Of Marikina Basic Qualification: CHEN, QINGAN Can develop strong Key Accounts Specialist Consultant positive relationships with executive and management Brief Job Description: contacts: able to speak 26. Oversee the relationships of the company with Chinese and communicate using clients; Responsible for obtaining and maintaining Mandarin. long term key customers by comprehending their requirements. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 LI, JIACAN Basic Qualification: Key Accounts Specialist Consultant Can develop strong positive relationships with Brief Job Description: executive and management Oversee the relationships of the company with Chinese contacts: able to speak 27. clients; Responsible for obtaining and maintaining and communicate using long term key customers by comprehending their Mandarin. requirements.ee the relationships of the company with Chinese clients; Responsible for obtaining and maintaining Salary Range: long term key customers by comprehending their Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 requirements. MOHAMMAD AWNI JAMIL ALMADI Basic Qualification: Key Accounts Specialist Consultant Can develop strong positive relationships with Brief Job Description: executive and management Oversee the relationships of the company with Chinese contacts: able to speak 28. clients; Responsible for obtaining and maintaining and communicate using long term key customers by comprehending their Mandarin. requirements.ee the relationships of the company with Chinese clients; Responsible for obtaining and maintaining Salary Range: long term key customers by comprehending their Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 requirements. WANG, SUYANG Basic Qualification: Key Accounts Specialist Consultant Can develop strong positive relationships with Brief Job Description: executive and management Oversee the relationships of the company with Chinese contacts: able to speak 29. clients; Responsible for obtaining and maintaining and communicate using long term key customers by comprehending their Mandarin. requirements.ee the relationships of the company with Chinese clients; Responsible for obtaining and maintaining Salary Range: long term key customers by comprehending their Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 requirements.

No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

CONCENTRIX SERVICES CORPORATION 18th, 20th, 21st Floor, Tera Tower, Bridgetown Along C-5 Road, Ugong Norte, Quezon City Basic Qualification: High school diploma LEE, YONG SANG with three to six months Advisor I, Customer Service experience with strong 30. computer navigation skills Brief Job Description: and pc knowledge Provide customer service for Google clients Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 CRONYX INC. No. 4th-10th Flr. Yinhope Bldg., Dela Rama Cor. Zoili Hilario St., Seascape Village, Ccp Complex Subd. Zone 10, Barangay 076, District 1, Pasay City LAUK SAN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 31.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services ZHOU, ZHONGXIAN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

32.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services SURBENDI Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer

33.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services VICTOR HUANG Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer

34.

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

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

CYPRINE TRADING CORPORATION 12/f Aseana 3 Bldg., Macapagal Cor. Aseana Ave. Aseana City, Tambo, City Of Parañaque YU, ZHONGBIN Basic Qualification: Customer Service Representative (Mandarin Speaking) High school graduate 35. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Answer questions, and resolve any emerging problems Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 that our customer accounts DA PROSPERITAS HOLDING INC. 16/f Tower 6789, 6789 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling GUO, PENG customer questions about Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk services or products/ 36. excellent Mandarin Brief Job Description: communication skills Enters customer and account data and keeping and maintaining information confidential Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 EASTERN GOLD CORPORATION 503, Nueva St, , Binondo, City Of Manila

CHEN, SHANG Marketing And Sales Agent 37.

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

SUN, RUYI Marketing And Sales Agent 38.

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

TAO, BINGBING Marketing And Sales Agent 39.

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

WANG, NIEWEN Marketing And Sales Agent 40.

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

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

FLASH EXPRESS SOFTWARE (PH) CO., LTD. INC. 9th Flr. Arthaland Century Pacific Tower, 5th Avenue 30th Street Cor. 4th Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

XIANG, XING Hub Manager 41.

Brief Job Description: Maintain operational framework, processes, tools, standard operating procedure and best practices anr recommend improvement when necessary

LIU, JUNTING Local Product Supervisor 42.

Brief Job Description: Organizing, monitoring, and prioritizing task to meet production goals

Basic Qualification: Job-relevant degree / 5-10 years supervisory / managerial experience in logistics or operations / Multilingual Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Job-relevant degree / 5-10 years supervisory / managerial experince in logistics or operations / Multilingual Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

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

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ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION YANG, YINBO Customer Service Representative

43.

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

GLADIOLOUS INC. Unit 25d 2/f Zeta Ii Bldg., Salcedo St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati ANG CHIN KOOI Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative 44.

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

GLVICTORY TECHNOLOGY INC. Unit 1, 14/f 6789 Tower, Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati 45.

46.

47.

48.

49.

GUAN, ZONGWEN Mandarin Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Assist customers through chat or e-mail LI, JING Mandarin Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Assist customers through chat or e-mail LI, SHA Mandarin Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Assist customers through chat or e-mail YANG, DAKAI Mandarin Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Assist customers through chat or e-mail ZHAO, JUAN Mandarin Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Assist customers through chat or e-mail

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customers questions about services or products/ excellent Mandarin communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Skilled using MS office with 1 year work experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Skilled using MS office with 1 year work experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Skilled using MS office with 1 year work experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Skilled using MS office with 1 year work experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Skilled using MS office with 1 year work experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

51.

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

HOLCIM PHILIPPINES, INC. 7th Floor Two World Square, Mckinley Hill, Pinagsama, City Of Taguig MAGANTI, RAMAKRISHNA SVP, Head Of Marketing & Innovation 52.

Brief Job Description: Oversee, lead, plan and manage all aspects of the company’s marketing and innovation objectives, policies, etc.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Human Resources Supervisor , Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least 20 years combined leadership work experience in strategic marketing management and innovation roles Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

INFOVINE INC. 8th, 9th, 10th/f Aspire Corporate Plaza Bldg., Macapagal Blvd. St., Zone 10, Barangay 076, District 1, Pasay City Basic Qualification: LIU, KUN With atleast 6 months Chinese Speaking Program Designer customer service experience/ good in oral communication 53. Brief Job Description: and written Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION Ground, 2nd, 3rd And 4th Floor, Eight West Campus Mckinley West, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: XU, HANMEI Able to speak and write in Mandarin Customer Support Representative MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with 54. Brief Job Description: related BPO experience. Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: ZHOU, ZIDI Able to speak and write in Mandarin Customer Support Representative MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with 55. Brief Job Description: related BPO experience. Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LY VAN TIN Able to speak and write in Vietnamese Customer Support Representative VIETNAMESE and at least college level with related 56. Brief Job Description: BPO experience. Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 INVEROS (PHILIPPINES) INC. Unit 1504 West Trade Center, 132 West Avenue, 1, Phil-am, Quezon City WAUGH, PETER WILLIAM Basic Qualification: Managing Director Accounting Diploma 57. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Manages and directs overall operations Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 J-NA ALLOUT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORP. 3/f Lipams Bldg., #48 President Avenue, Bf Homes, City Of Parañaque KIM, MYOUNG SOON Basic Qualification: American Marketing Consultant Graduate, speaks and write fluently in English 58. Brief Job Description: Work with corporate management to improve Salary Range: management strategies Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: XU, YARUI College Graduate, speaks and Chinese Customer Service Representative write fluently (Mandarin and 59. English) Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls & customer inquires Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 DENNY NIZAMUL KAMAL Basic Qualification: Indonesian Customer Service Representative At least college graduate Indonesian speaking 60. Brief Job Description: Track main industry trends in Indonesian through blogs, Salary Range: micro blogs and forums. Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 ERIK FAUSTINO Basic Qualification: Indonesian Customer Service Representative At least college graduate Indonesian speaking 61. Brief Job Description: Track main industry trends in Indonesian through blogs, Salary Range: micro blogs and forums. Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION ERIS Indonesian Customer Service Representative

62.

63.

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

HECTECHURE CORP. Units A&b 20/f Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Malaysian Digital Marketing DU, JIANAN Officer, Familiarity, Mandarin Digital Marketing Officer knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Brief Job Description: 50. Equipment use by company, The Mandarin Digital Marketing Officer will be strategist Demonstrable experience in and a leader able to steer the company to the most developing strategic business profitable direction while also implementing its vision, plan. mission and long term goal.

YANG, YINGGUANG Mandarin Human Resources Supervisor

No.

Brief Job Description: Track main industry trends in Indonesian through blogs, micro blogs and forums. KINATY LIM Indonesian Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Track main industry trends in Indonesian through blogs, micro blogs and forums. KIM, YOUNG-JU Korean Customer Service Representative

64.

Brief Job Description: Create and manage product in conjunction with marketing strategies to Korean customer service representative

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

81.

82.

83.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires TAN KHEE SAIK Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires XIAO, DINGCAI Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: At least college graduate Indonesian speaking Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: At least graduate speak and write fluently (Korean & English)

84.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents

85.

86.

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

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

87.

88.

CUI, WENXIU Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

GAO, LINGFANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

GU, ZHENGDONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents JIAN, JINGPEI Chinese Customer Service

89.

90.

91.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents LEI, ZANBO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LI, DAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services LI, HONGYAN Chinese Customer Service

92.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents LI, XIAOPENG Chinese Customer Service

93.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents LI, XIN Chinese Customer Service

94.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents LI, YANTING Chinese Customer Service

95.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents LI, YI Chinese Customer Service

96.

97.

98.

99.

100.

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

HU, XIAOFENG Chinese Customer Service

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

101.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents LI, YUXUAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LIAN, BIXIA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LIU, NING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LIU, XINCHENG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LIU, YU Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

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

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th/f, Pearl Marina Building Pacific Drive, Don Galo, City Of Parañaque 1331 Pearl Plaza Bldg., Quirino Ave., Tambo, City Of Parañaque Sky Garage Bldg., Aseana Avenue, Entertainment City, Tambo, City Of Parañaque CHEN, RONGFAN Chinese Customer Service

No.

Basic Qualification: At least college graduate Indonesian speaking

JSLINK INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION 803-804 Ri-rance Building, Aseana Enclave Aseana City, Tambo, City Of Parañaque ZHOU, YUCHAN Basic Qualification: Consultant Able to speak mandarin Chinese and English 65. Brief Job Description: Researches any organization dysfunction and provide Salary Range: solutions for improvement Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 MEGA-WEB TECHNOLOGIES INC. 6,7,8,9,10,11/f Met Live Bldg., Edsa Cor. Macapagal Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay City Basic Qualification: LI, WEI Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider reading and writing in 66. mandarin Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LYU, XINQI Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider reading and writing in 67. Mandarin Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: SU, WEI Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider reading and writing in 68. Mandarin Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: SUN, SHUAI Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider reading and writing in 69. Mandarin Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 MINDSCAPE CREATIVES INC. Unit 19-o, Burgundy Corporate Tower, 252 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: YU, PENGLEI Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Marketing Specialist reading and writing in 70. mandarin Brief Job Description: Conducting research and marketing strategies to develop Salary Range: areas of the business opportunities Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower, C4 Rd. Edsa Ext., Brgy. 076, Pasay City Basic Qualification: CHEN, LISAN Able to speak, read and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 71. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: CHEN, ZHENHAO Able to speak, read and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 72. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: CUI, PENGCHENG Able to speak, read and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 73. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LE KIM THAO Able to speak, Read, and Chinese Customer Service Write Chinese language 74. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LIU, JIAWEI Able to speak, read and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 75. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: MOHAMMED ABDO MOHAMMED AHMED BASHIR Able to speak, Read, and Chinese Customer Service Write Chinese language 76. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: TIAN, QING Able to speak, Read, and Chinese Customer Service Write Chinese language 77. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: WANG, CHAOJUN Able to speak, Read, and Chinese Customer Service Write Chinese language 78. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: WANG, JIMING Able to speak, read and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 79. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: XI, JINGNA Able to speak, read, and Chinese Customer Service write Chinese language 80. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 YE, BINGXING Chinese Customer Service

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Basic Qualification: College Graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native Language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

LU, JINSONG Chinese Customer Service 102.

103.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native Language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native Language & English) 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: College Graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native Language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native Language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native Language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native Language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native Language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native Language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

A8 Tuesday, October 12, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION MA, YUAN Chinese Customer Service

104.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents RAO, PENGFEI Chinese Customer Service

105.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents. REN, HANG Chinese Customer Service

106.

107.

108.

109.

110.

111.

112.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents. SU, LINGYU Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

TANG, PAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

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

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

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

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

113.

114.

115.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents. WANG, ZHAOBIAO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

WU, FENQIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services XIE, YAAN Chinese Customer Service

116.

117.

118.

119.

120.

121.

122.

123.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents. XIE, YUANHONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

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

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

YI, JIBANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

YI, LAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

YU, CUIQIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

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

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College Graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native Language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English) 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: Knowledge in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills 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: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

No.

ZHANG, ZIHENG Chinese Customer Service 124.

125.

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

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

ZHAO, FAYONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

ZHENG, CHAO Chinese Customer Service 126.

127.

128.

129.

130.

131.

132.

133.

134.

135.

136.

137.

138.

139.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents. ZHENG, JIAMING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

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

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

LING HUI ING Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

YU YEW HENG Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

CHIENG SIU CONG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

CHUNG TRANH HAO Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

CHUNG VAN TAN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LE DUC TOAN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LE NHAT HAI BINH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

NONG VAN TUAN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

PHUNG THI ANH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

TAT VAN LUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

OOAK LIMITED 1803 Dian, Cor. Enrique Sts., Palanan, City Of Makati WONG, HANG LEE Chinese Cuisine Chef 140.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English)

EDY Mandarin Speaking Operations Specialist 141.

Brief Job Description: Provide business operations support on the financial administrative and contractual aspects of a business unit.

142.

Brief Job Description: Support and assist in purchasing department

143.

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

Basic Qualification: Excellent in Chinese language

Basic Qualification: Good oral and written communication skills in mandarin, at least 6 months’ work experience, knowledgeable in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: College Graduate, Fluent in English and Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

PAYMAYA PHILIPPINES, INC. 6/f Launchpad, Reliance Cor. Sheridan, Brgy. Highway Hills, City Of Mandaluyong

Brief Job Description: Responsible in driving the formulation of technology roadmap and lead team of PayMaya’s core platform, digital banking products and key technology capability to deliver the next phase of the organization’s growth, as well as driving key innovation initiatives TRIPATHI, HARSH VARDHAN Directors Of Technology Group

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION CHAKRABORTY, PINAK Directors Of Technology Group

144.

PARANAQUE ONLINE PALENGKE INC. 305 Mtf Building, Dr. A Santos Ave., San Isidro, City Of Parañaque XIN, JIWEN Purchasing Assistant

No.

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

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Evaluating the quality of food products to ensure and Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 maintain consistency of the quality standards OUTWIT, INC. 2/f Marvin Plaza, 2153 Chino Roces Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

www.businessmirror.com.ph

145.

Brief Job Description: Identity AI projects of high business impact in product, technology and operational areas. Collaborate and communicate effectively with various stakeholders to evangelize and drive AI adoption MADNE, MANOJ ASHOK Head Of Financial Services Technology

146.

Brief Job Description: Drive formulation of technology roadmap and lead team of PayMaya’s platform, digital banking products and key development capability to deliver the next phase of the organization’s growth, as well as driving key innovation initiatives

PERFECTZEST INC. 16th Floor Tower 6789, 6789 Ayala Avenue, Bel-air, City Of Makati ZHOU, ZHENGDONG Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative 147.

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Experience with mobile money, payment service or related product development. Tracks records in building highly scalable & robust financial platforms Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above Basic Qualification: Experience with mobile money, payment service or related product development. Tracks records in building highly scalable & robust financial platforms Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above Basic Qualification: MS or PhD in computer science, mathematics, engineering, operation research (STEM fields) develop production-quality time-series forecasting models Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above Basic Qualification: Exposure to regulate environment in financial sector. Expertise in management and deployment of cloud computing applications and infrastructure such as AWS Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customers questions about services or products/ excellent Mandarin communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

PH GLOBAL JET EXPRESS INC. 11th Floor, The Marajo Tower, 26th Street Cor. 4th Avenue Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig ZHANG, LAIYONG Basic Qualification: Mandarin Operations Supervisor Bachelor degree in Business, Mandarin Speaking 148. Brief Job Description: Monitor the day-to-day operations within the company, Salary Range: such as market data on a local, regional or national level Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 ZHANG, QUANQUAN Basic Qualification: Mandarin Purchasing Specialist Bachelor degree in Procurement Management, Brief Job Description: 149. Mandarin Speaking Preparing proposals, requesting quotes and negotiating purchase terms and conditions within the company, Salary Range: evaluating products and suppliers according to key Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 business criteria PHOENIX INFOMAX GLOBAL SOLUTIONS CORPORATION Unit 25d, 2/f Zeta Ii Bldg., 191 Salcedo St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati SUN, YUAN Basic Qualification: Mandarin Operations Manager Able to speak Mandarin Chinese and English 150. Brief Job Description: Oversee operations, checking for quality of output and Salary Range: integrity of process flow Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 PMFTC INC. Plant C & D, Champaca Ii, Fortune, City Of Marikina SOKOLOWSKI, DARIUSZ SEBASTIAN Basic Qualification: Commercial IBS Supervisor Outstanding organizational and leadership skills. 151. Brief Job Description: Manage and control activities related to commercial back Salary Range: & middle office performed by the team of up to 6 analyst. Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: ASAD, MUHAMMAD Knowledgeable about Director Factory Batangas production from systems and techniques to compliance 152. Brief Job Description: standards Manage, plan, lead activities of production units in compliance to sustainability, quality and legal Salary Range: requirements. Php 500,000 and above Basic Qualification: TURGUT, MERVE Strong communication & Open+ Deployment Leader interpersonal skills and has 153. attention for detail Brief Job Description: Monitor the impact of open+ deployment in what Salary Range: concerns capability building and business impact. Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: Can act as local/regional MUDASSIR, SYED QASIM single point of contact for Productivity Office Lead drive for zero program and 154. other global programs Brief Job Description: Ensure deployment locally and across the region Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 POWERCHINA PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Unit 2101 21/f Bdo Equitable Tower, 8751 Paseo De Roxas, Bel-air, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: WU, SAICHAO Proven experience as Mandarin Construction Manager mandarin construction manager, excellent Brief Job Description: 155. communication, interperso The mandarin construction manager will be a strategist nal and presentation skills. and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, Salary Range: mission and long term goals. Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: HU, LIANG Proven experience as Mandarin Contract Manager mandarin contract manager; excellent in communication Brief Job Description: 156. , interpersonal and The Mandarin Contract Manager will be a strategist and presentation skills a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and Salary Range: long term goals. Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: WANG, LI Proven experience as Mandarin Contract Officer mandarin contract officer, excellent communication, Brief Job Description: 157. interpersonal and The Mandarin Contract Officer will be a strategist and a presentation skills. leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and Salary Range: long term goals. Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LIU, ZHIJIE Proven experience as Mandarin Financial Manager mandarin financial manager , excellent in communication Brief Job Description: 158. , interpersonal and The Mandarin Financial Manager will be a strategist and a presentation skills leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and Salary Range: long term goals. Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LONG, HAITAO Proven Experience As Mandarin Project Manager Mandarin Project Manager, Excellent Communication Brief Job Description: 159. , Interpersonal And The Mandarin Project Manager will be a strategist and a Presentation Skills. leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and Salary Range: long term goals. Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 QUALITYKIOSK DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES INC. 8th Floor Sunlife Centre, 5th Avenue Corner Rizal Drive, Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: NAIKODI, RAKESH JIJARAM Experience in data analytics, Test Lead technology and quality 160. assurance Brief Job Description: To act as Liaison with business, project management and Salary Range: development team to analyze test requirements. Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 ROBERT BOSCH INC. 11th Floor 10 West Campus, Le Grand Avenue Mckinley West, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION DA CONCEICAO DUARTE, PAULO JORGE President And Managing Director

161.

Brief Job Description: Overseeing business operations as the company’s highlevel executive.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Mater in Business Administration, Deep country knowledge. Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

SKY DRAGON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES CORP. 2f-5f, Unit 710 Shaw Blvd., Global Link Center, Brgy. Wack Wack, City Of Mandaluyong Basic Qualification: CHEN, SHIYUN Fluent in Mandarin, both oral Customer Service Representative and written 162. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Customer relations service provider Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: CHENG, CHUXIONG Fluent in Mandarin, both oral Customer Service Representative and written 163. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Customer relations service provider Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: HAO, JINHU Fluent in Mandarin, both oral Customer Service Representative and written 164. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Customer relations service provider Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: HONG, GUIHUA Fluent in Mandarin, both oral Customer Service Representative and written 165. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Customer relations service provider Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: HUANG, BINSHU Fluent in Mandarin, both oral Customer Service Representative and written 166. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Customer relations service provider Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: JIANG, YUXIN Fluent in Mandarin, both oral Customer Service Representative and written 167. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Customer relations service provider Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LIN, HAIPENG Fluent in Mandarin, both oral Customer Service Representative and written 168. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Customer relations service provider Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: SHANGGUAN, XIUYING Fluent in Mandarin, both oral Customer Service Representative and written 169. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Customer relations service provider Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: XIANG, JUN Fluent in Mandarin, both oral Customer Service Representative and written 170. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Customer relations service provider Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: YAO, QINSONG Fluent in Mandarin, both oral Customer Service Representative and written 171. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Customer relations service provider Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: YAO, ZHAOBIN Fluent in Mandarin, both oral Customer Service Representative and written 172. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Customer relations service provider Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 SKYWORTH (PHILIPPINES) CORPORATION U-2202 & 2204 22/f Antel Corporate Centre, 121 Valero St., Bel-air, City Of Makati DONG, YAJUAN Operation Manager 173.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for planning, directing or coordinating the operation of the companies SNOWDROPS INC. 2/f Zeta Ii Bldg., 191 Salcedo St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati YANG, YAHAN Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative

174.

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

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer’s questions about services or products/ excellent mandarin communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

SNPDRI PHILIPPINES CORP. Unit 622 Bsa Twin Tower Bldg., J. Vargas, Wack-wack Greenhills, City Of Mandaluyong Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Operations ZHOU, ZHAOFENG Manager, Familiarity, Mandarin Operations Manager knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy 175. Brief Job Description: Equipment use by company, A strategist and a leader able to steer the company to Demonstrable experience in the most profitable direction while also implementing its developing strategic business vision, mission and long term goal. plan.

STACKTREK ENTERPRISE INC. 7/f Finman Center, 131 Tordesillas St., Bel-air, City Of Makati YUEN, SHUNG HEI BILLY Director And Chief Executive Officer

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

Brief Job Description: • Provide leadership, management and oversight of all aspects of the business; demonstrate a commitment to excellence and collaborate well with the different departments • You are expected to meet the company’s objectives, in addition to having a passion for success, and a proven record of successful strategic planning and Basic Qualification: implementation. • Provide direction and development; College Graduate formulate policies and strategic plans for future growth; 176. manage daily operations of personnel, purchasing, Salary Range: administration and other departments; and improve Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 operational efficiency in targeted areas including customer support and engagement. • Closely monitoring of revenue margins, develop guidelines for personnel evaluations, staff advancement and redeployment • Maximize client engagements and work with the leadership team to develop plans to meet future site needs • Develop strong relationships with outside partners, vendors, and advisors; as well as internal partners, including department supervisors and co-executives. • Performance monitoring, staff career development, and culture building are also at the top on your list of responsibility. SUEZ INTERNATIONAL PHILIPPINE BRANCH Unit Lz-2 19f Tower 1 Highstreet South Corporate Plaza, 9th Ave. Cor. 26th St., Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig PERILLAT, CHRISTOPHE JEAN PIERRE Engineering Manager Basic Qualification: Brief Job Description: With at least 10 years Within the engineering platform organization, the international experiences engineering manager manages and develops the from water and wastewater 177. engineering activity of his engineering platform. This industry as engineering activity concerns the projects in the Philippines but can be manager extended to other projects in SEA and worldwide projects as per decision from Suez Management. He enforces the Salary Range: platform policy and strategies taking into account the local Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 constraints. He is accountable for the achievement of the engineering platform missions. TECHNOPAQ INC. 254, Benito Soliven Ave., Manggahan, City Of Pasig KUMAR, BALWANT SINGH Basic Qualification: Vice-president/senior General Manager Post-graduate 178. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Overall management of the company such as Accounting, Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 HR, Inventory, Sales, and Warehouse TETRAULT MABUHAY CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC, INC. Rm. 25, 2/f San Antonio Plaza Arcade, Mckinley Rd., Forbes Park, City Of Makati

No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION SONI, VRUN Chiropractic Consultant

179.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

192.

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

No.

Basic Qualification: Licensed and graduate in doctor of chiropractic.

Brief Job Description: Manual spine adjustments and manipulation, correction Salary Range: misaligned bone Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 TREVI FOUNDATIONS PHILIPPINES INC. U-2301 88 Corporate Center, 141 Valero Cor. Sedeno Sts., Bel-air, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: Experience in a similar VICENTINI, MARCO role. Able to oversee the Project Manager entire bored piling project in different aspects, from 180. Brief Job Description: financial, logistic, utilization, Plans carefully and coordinate all aspects of the piling implementation, planning, process, including selection of appropriate equipment and execution and monitoring. suppliers for the work. Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 TRINITY WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS INC. 7/f, The 30th Corporate Center, Meralco Avenue, Ugong, City Of Pasig Basic Qualification: Bachelor Degree in SANGEETAM, GOVARDHAN Management, Business Operations Manager Administration or related field; with experience in Brief Job Description: operation management 181. Communicating the process and benefits of the solution position and budget to key stakeholders, including changes in process, new development and oversight initiatives/projects and additional service offerings. skills. among others. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 TRIVES TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION Tower 4 Bayport West, Naia Garden Residence, Naia Road, Tambo, City Of Parañaque Basic Qualification: OU, HUAXIONG Able to speak and write Mandarin Customer Support Representative in Mandarin/Fukien and at least college level with 182. Brief Job Description: related BPO experience. Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions and responding to complaints. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 UNITED MOTION BUSINESS CONSULTANCY INC. U-2215 22f Cityland 10 Tower 2, 154 H.v. Dela Costa Cor. Valero Sts., Bel-air, City Of Makati CHEN, TINGTING Visa Consultant Basic Qualification: Preferably 6 months -1-year Brief Job Description: as Visa Consultant; Fluent in Responsible that all the information from the Chinese Mandarin or Vietnam and and Vietnamese client to local documentation officer are 183. English Language correct. Responsible to follow up local liaison officer of all immigration issues and operations remaining up to Salary Range: date with any charges to legislation and overseeing all Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 the aspects involved in processing a visa and immigration services. LIN, XIAOJIAO Visa Consultant Basic Qualification: Preferably 6 months -1-year Brief Job Description: as Visa Consultant; Fluent in Responsible that all the information from the Chinese Mandarin or Vietnam and 184. and Vietnamese client to local documentation officer are English Language correct. Responsible to follow up local liaison officer of all immigration issues and operations remaining up to Salary Range: date with any charges to legislation and overseeing all Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 the aspects involved in processing a visa and immigration services. LU, SHAOMIN Visa Consultant Basic Qualification: Preferably 6 months -1-year Brief Job Description: as Visa Consultant; Fluent in Responsible that all the information from the Chinese Mandarin or Vietnam and and Vietnamese client to local documentation officer are 185. English Language correct. Responsible to follow up local liaison officer of all immigration issues and operations remaining up to Salary Range: date with any charges to legislation and overseeing all Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 the aspects involved in processing a visa and immigration services. SHI, CHANGHAO Visa Consultant Basic Qualification: Preferably 6 months -1-year Brief Job Description: as Visa Consultant; Fluent in Responsible that all the information from the Chinese Mandarin or Vietnam and 186. and Vietnamese client to local documentation officer are English Language correct. Responsible to follow up local liaison officer of all immigration issues and operations remaining up to Salary Range: date with any charges to legislation and overseeing all Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 the aspects involved in processing a visa and immigration services. SUN, PEIXUAN Visa Consultant Basic Qualification: Preferably 6 months -1-year Brief Job Description: as Visa Consultant; Fluent in Responsible that all the information from the Chinese Mandarin or Vietnam and and Vietnamese client to local documentation officer are 187. English Language correct. Responsible to follow up local liaison officer of all immigration issues and operations remaining up to Salary Range: date with any charges to legislation and overseeing all Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 the aspects involved in processing a visa and immigration services. ZHAO, JUNLE Visa Consultant Basic Qualification: Preferably 6 months -1-year Brief Job Description: as Visa Consultant; Fluent in Responsible that all the information from the Chinese Mandarin or Vietnam and 188. and Vietnamese client to local documentation officer are English Language correct. Responsible to follow up local liaison officer of all immigration issues and operations remaining up to Salary Range: date with any charges to legislation and overseeing all Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 the aspects involved in processing a visa and immigration services. VOLENDAY INC. U1406 14/f Pacific Star Bldg., Sen. Gil Puyat Cor. Makati Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: LIU, ZHONGKE Responsible on IP, access Project Control Manager network and optical network 189. products Brief Job Description: To provide consulting technical and advisory services Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 WILDFIRES TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION 24th Floor Bgc Corporate Center, 11th Cor. 30th St., Bonifacio Global City, Fort B Onifacio, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: ZHOU, YOU Proficiency with database Mandarin Business Consultant languages. Problem solving 190. skills and analytical mindset Brief Job Description: Responsible for leading the diagnosis and repair process. Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 XINCHUAN INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL PHILIPPINE PROJECT LTD CORP. 16/f Tower 6789, 6789 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: Proven experience as proven experience as Mandarin Technical Supervisor, familiarity, knowledge and HU, JING awareness on machinery Mandarin Electrical Commissioning Analyst and heavy equipment use by the company; demonstrable Brief Job Description: experience in developing 191. The Mandarin Electrical Commissioning Analyst will be a strategic business plan., strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the familiarity, knowledge and most profitable awareness on machinery direction while also implementing its vision, mission and and heavy equipment use by long term goals. the company; demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

KANG, YAN Mandarin Electrical Commissioning Analyst

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as mandarin electrical commissioning analyst familiarity, knowledge and awareness on machinery and heavy equipment use by the company; demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION XIE, LINGYUN Mandarin Finance Manager

193.

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

HE, WEI Mandarin Quality Inspector 194.

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

XI, ZHEN Mandarin Technical Supervisor 195.

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Proven experience as mandarin finance manager , familiarity, knowledge and awareness on machinery and heavy equipment use by the company, demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proven experience as mandarin quality inspector, familiarity, knowledge and awareness on machinery and heavy equipment use by the company; demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proven experience as mandarin technical supervisor, familiarity, knowledge and awareness on machinery and heavy equipment use by the company; demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ZONAC AND SHIBATA SERVICES INC. 4/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

196.

197.

198.

199.

200.

201.

202.

203.

204.

BENNY Bahasa/Indonesian Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customer needs to achieve satisfaction DAKAN Bahasa/Indonesian Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customer needs to achieve satisfaction DENY GUNAWAN Bahasa/Indonesian Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customer needs to achieve satisfaction JIMMY Bahasa/Indonesian Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customer needs to achieve satisfaction

KELVIN SALIM Bahasa/Indonesian Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customer needs to achieve satisfaction

STEPHANNIE CHINTALOIS Bahasa/Indonesian Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customer needs to achieve satisfaction

DIANTI Mandarin Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customer needs to achieve satisfaction

ROSMA LILY Mandarin Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customer needs to achieve satisfaction

STELLA Mandarin Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customer needs to achieve satisfaction TEW XHIN HUI Mandarin Customer Service Representative

205.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in answering customers about products and services of the company. WU, JUI-LIN Mandarin Customer Service Representative

206.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in answering customers about products and services of the company. WANG, BIN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

207.

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

Basic Qualification: Great communication skills and must be fluent in English language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Great communication skills and must be fluent in English language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Great communication skills and must be fluent in English language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Great communication skills and must be fluent in English language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Great communication skills and must be fluent in English language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Great communication skills and must be fluent in English language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Great communication skills and must be fluent in Chinese & English language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Great communication skills and must be fluent in Chinese & English language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Great communication skills and must be fluent in English language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English, Mandarin and other multilingual language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English, Mandarin and other multilingual language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in English, Mandarin and other multilingual language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 *Date Generated: Oct 11, 2021

In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on September 25, 2021, the name of TIANYANG, LUO under ANOC99 CORPORATION, should have been read as LUO, TIANYANG and not as published. In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on September 29, 2021, the position of LI, ZHEXIONG under ARTSOFT CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT CO. INC., should have been read as SALES AND MARKETING OFFICER and not as published. Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE National Capital Region located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication. Please inform DOLE National Capital Region if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

A10 Tuesday, October 12, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

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editorial

Addressing the concerns of vaccine fence sitters

nvented by British physician and scientist Edward Jenner, the smallpox vaccine was the first jab ever developed against a contagious disease. In 1796, Jenner demonstrated that an infection with the relatively mild cowpox virus conferred immunity against the deadly smallpox virus. The vaccine ushered in the era of preventive measures for contagious diseases. Jenner’s vaccine was novel for his time, however, and many people in England were skeptical. The original anti-vaxxers asked people not to get vaccinated because the cowpox virus will make ox-faced children, elderly women sprouting horns, and cloven minds. Many others objected to vaccination because they believed it violated their personal liberty, a tension that worsened as the government developed mandatory vaccine policies. The Vaccination Act of 1853 ordered mandatory vaccination for infants up to three months old, and the Act of 1867 extended this age requirement to 14 years, adding penalties for vaccine refusal. The laws were met with immediate resistance from citizens who demanded the right to control their bodies and those of their children. From the Associated Press: “Thousands of demonstrators marched down Rome’s famous Via Veneto and other streets on Saturday, some smashing their way into a union office and clashing with police as they protested Italy’s new ‘Green Pass’ vaccination requirement for employees to enter their offices. The certification is mandatory beginning on October 15 and applies to public and private workplaces. Both employees and employers risk fines if they don’t comply. Public sector workers can be suspended if they show up five times without a Green Pass.” Last week, President Joe Biden said the roughly 67 million unvaccinated American adults must get the shot even as he acknowledged that mandates weren’t his “first instinct.” “There is no other way to beat the pandemic than to get the vast majority of the American people vaccinated,” Biden said, adding that a stubborn slice of the public that has refused to be inoculated are jeopardizing the lives of others and the nation’s economic recovery. In the Philippines, the government hopes to achieve herd immunity faster this year after President Duterte approved the vaccination of the general population against Covid-19 beginning in October. The country has been vaccinating priority sectors of the population, including health-care workers, senior citizens, people with comorbidities and frontline workers. It’s now expanding coverage for all citizens after solving supply constraints. Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government expects to receive around 100 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines by the end of October. This early, the turnout is not as high as the government wants it to be. Vaccine hesitancy remains an issue, particularly among the elderly in both farflung and densely populated communities. Even Davao City, the President’s hometown, about half a million residents were unable or simply refused to get themselves vaccinated against Covid (See, “Davao City grapples with vaccine hesitancy, outright refusal,” in the BusinessMirror, September 30, 2021). Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the city government would still resort to persuasion, as city officials finalize the strategy to “incentivize” the target backlog with food packs and even gift certificates. Health experts around the world are one in saying that the arrival of safe and effective vaccines is a major development in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. As more people are vaccinated, families and communities will be able to gradually return to a more normal routine. The Philippines may be getting 100 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines by the end of this month, but we won’t reach herd immunity if many Filipinos remain unvaccinated. Health experts say vaccine-hesitant people who are on the fence far outnumber vaccine refusers. Addressing their fear and counseling these people might be an effective strategy. As the most trusted source of information on the Covid vaccine, our health workers, we believe, should play a key role in driving vaccine acceptance among doubters.

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Manny B. Villar

THE Entrepreneur

nfrastructure is certainly one of the major legacies of this administration. Despite the challenges of the health crisis, the government has built better and stronger roads to guide our way towards economic recovery.

Although business activities have yet to reach their pre-pandemic levels, more motorists and commuters are now back on the streets, thanks to the gradual reopening of establishments and essential services that serve the public. The recent completion of major infrastructure projects in Metro Manila and the provinces has resulted in less road congestion, although the dense traffic during rush hours may be unavoidable when the economy fully reopens. Over the past couple of weeks, the Department of Public Works and Highways led by Secretary Mark Villar oversaw the completion of the BGC-Ortigas Road Link Project in Metro Manila, the Ciudad De Victoria Interchange and Overpass Bridge and Bypass Project in Bulacan province and the 19-kilometer Marawi Transcentral Road Phase 1 in Lanao Del Sur province. We hope these projects will contribute to the convenience of motorists and passengers and lead to further development of these areas. Infrastructure projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program generated nearly 1.5 million jobs despite

the Covid-19 pandemic from March 2020 to August 2021, making construction a key driver of economic rebound. Our path to recovery is being paved by these infrastructure projects. The government allowed construction activities to resume, even at different levels of quarantine restrictions, to make sure the projects will be finished. More projects are on their way to completion to facilitate connectivity, trade and progress once the pandemic dissipates. This makes us more hopeful as we entered the fourth quarter of 2021. Economists share our optimism, as they cite the strong manufacturing output and export volume starting July. While the two-week enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila led to a temporary setback in August, there were signs that business activities still picked up in August and September. We hope that with the declining Covid-19 transmission rates in recent days, the government would allow business establishments to operate at a higher capacity towards the Christmas period. It will also help

the tourism sector if the government allows the fully vaccinated individuals to visit provincial destinations, subject to health protocols deemed necessary by local government units. But we need to avoid unnecessary and pointless measures, such as complete lockdown of communities, which only make families desperate and miserable. Another reason to be hopeful is the government’s stable finances despite the hundreds of billions spent on Covid-19 response efforts. Even as the budget deficit widened in 2020 and 2021, international credit rating agencies are still keeping the investment-grade score of the Philippines. In fact, Japan Credit Rating Agency retained its “A” rating with a stable outlook for the country’s debt. This shows that our government is able to secure financial resources, by revenue collection or borrowing, to fund public services. We have to work harder to shore up the economy, though. The total cost of Covid-19, lockdowns and mobility restrictions, per the estimate of the National Economic and Development Authority, would reach P41.4 trillion in the long term. This is particularly hard on the young generation of learners who were not able to attend physical classes for more than a year now. We have yet to quantify the real impact of the pandemic on our future productivity as a nation. The cost could continue to swell if we keep shackling business activities and keeping our students at home. Vaccination, as I said here before, holds the key to lifting the economy from the doldrums created by the pandemic. To achieve

May you live in interesting times

Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug

Senior Editors

Creative Director Chief Photographer

The road to recovery is being paved

John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

ven having lived the past 19 months with the sword of death and economic destruction hanging over us, I can say that it is a great time to be alive. I am serious. In one sense we have witnessed a global clown show of decisions all made in the “public good.”

We have seen continuing hypocrisy from the elite on a scale probably not seen since Roman philosopher Seneca amassed a huge fortune preaching public honesty and virtue while being Emperor Nero’s closest adviser. Hollywood celebrities earn many millions making super violent action movies while lecturing the public on violence. The ultra-rich travel around the world—literally—in their private jets as they keep telling everyone how we need to reduce

our own standard of living to “save the planet.” California has had some of the strongest mask-and-lockdown restrictions in the US. The mayor of San Francisco was caught on video partying without a mask at the Black Cat Jazz Bar and Nightclub last month. Mayor London Breed slams back at the “fun police,” saying she was “feeling the spirit” of the live show. What is it with these people? Nonetheless, who could not be entertained by it all.

But how strange is the world today? American comedian Dave Chappelle is being widely condemned, canceled, and even threatened by the press and politicians for saying among other things that “Gender is a fact. Every human being in this room, every human being on Earth, had to pass through the legs of a woman to be on Earth.” The West has way too much time on its hands to make this an issue. What an age we live in. Certainly, I can be amused because I am not one of the 700 million on Earth living in extreme poverty. I have never lived in poverty although at some times in my life as a child, single adult and with a family have been “broke” and poor, concerned about where food on the table was coming from. Perhaps that is why as my wealth grew, so did my generosity and char-

our pre-pandemic performance, we need to double our efforts in inoculating our general population, as two-thirds of adult Filipinos have yet to receive their double doses of Covid-19 vaccines, particularly in the provinces. So far, Metro Manila has received the bulk of the vaccine doses under the Sinovac, Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V and Janssen brands. The high vaccination rate in Metro Manila shows we can manage the health crisis and the economy at the same time. More than 75 percent of the target population in the National Capital Region, according to official data, has been immunized against Covid-19. Over 7.4 million adult residents in NCR have already received their second dose of the vaccine. If we could replicate this in other parts of the country, we will be in a better position to reopen the economy. Let us hope that we can achieve herd immunity, or at least 70 percent of the adult population who are fully vaccinated, by December, so we can also begin inoculating minors, especially students, as we reopen schools and sports facilities. Because of the rising vaccination rate in Metro Manila, we were able to contain the spread of the more transmissible Delta variant. The virus reproduction rate fell below 1.0 in recent weeks, which would help ease the critical hospital bed utilization rates. The falling infection and rising vaccination rates are our ticket out of this pandemic. For comments, send e-mail to mbv_secretariat@vistaland.com.ph or visit www.mannyvillar. com.ph

ity. We who have are responsible for those who have not. No discussion. But I also firmly believe that the government should not “take from the rich to give to the poor” until all political officials and employed “public servants” are held completely accountable for their personal wealth while in service. Also, no discussion. Philippine politics can be frustrating and can even bring us to anger. Politicians, not only here obviously, treat the public like children most of time. Reporter to President Biden: “I have a question on raising the debt ceiling. And then I have a question on Ethiopia. Biden: “I’m going answer one—I’m not going to answer Ethiopia. Let’s stick on the debt so we don’t confuse the American people”. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in March 2010 on the “Obamacare” legislation: “We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy.” By “controversy” Pelosi meant debate by the public. You want elected officials to be See “Mangun,” A11

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Taxability of campaign contributions

The evils of substitution Manny F. Dooc

TELLTALES

Atty. Rodel C. Unciano

Tax Law for Business

S the 2022 elections draw near, I find it timely to revisit once again the taxability of campaign contributions to candidates, political parties and party-list groups considering that financial aid from supporters for campaign purposes will surely flood the campaign trail, especially this time that the pandemic is making the campaign more difficult to launch than it used to be. But before we proceed, let me remind all candidates, political parties/party-list groups and campaign contributors of their duty to register or update their registration with the appropriate Revenue District Office of the Bureau of Internal Revenue in relation to their candidacy, pursuant to Revenue Regulations 8-2009, as amended and as circularized in Revenue Memorandum Circular 38-2018. All candidates and political parties/ party-list groups shall register NonVAT Official Receipts to be issued for every contribution received, whether in cash or in kind. Proceeding now to the taxability of campaign contributions, as circularized in Revenue Memorandum Circular 38-2018 and as reiterated in RMC 31-2019, campaign contributions are not included in the taxable income of the candidate to whom they were given, the reason being that such contributions were given not for the personal expenditure or enrichment of the concerned candidate, but for the purpose of utilizing such contributions for the campaign. In order to be considered as exempt from income tax, the contributions must be utilized to cover a candidate’s expenditures for his/her electoral campaign. Unutilized/excess campaign funds, that is, campaign contributions net of the candidate’s campaign expenditures, shall be considered as subject to income tax, and must be included in the candidate’s taxable income in the income tax return filed for the subject taxable year. As a condition for the deductibility of the campaign expenditures, any candidate or political party or party-list group must file with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) a Statement of Contributions and Expenditures required under the Omnibus Election Code. Any candidate or political party or party-list group, whether winner or loser, who fails to comply with this requirement shall be automatically precluded from claiming such expenditures as deductions from the campaign contributions, making the entire amount directly subject to income tax. Every candidate and treasurer of the political parties or party-list groups shall submit the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures to the Comelec and Revenue District Officer where the candidates or political parties or party-list groups are registered within 30 days after the election. Income payments made by politi-

Mangun. . .

Continued from A10

responsible? Demand it. Foreign investment will or should be a crucial topic in the presidential campaign. Oxford Economics—with whom I have a love/hate relationship—just released its outlook on the prospects for FDI inflows into APAC over the medium term which “remain strong even though pandemic-driven supply disruptions and uncertainties over the pace of recovery may see some firms rethink.” The Philippines ranks next to last of 14 countries from Australia to Japan. Why? We scored lowest in “Quality of Infrastructure and Logistics,” which includes Long Term government infrastructure spend-

Under the Omnibus Election Code, contributions in cash or in kind to candidates, political parties, or party-list groups are exempt from the imposition of donor’s tax. Only those donations or contributions that have been utilized/spent during the campaign period as set by the Comelec are exempt from donor’s tax. Donations utilized before or after the campaign period are subject to donor’s tax and not deductible as political contribution on the part of the donor. cal candidates and political parties or party-list groups on their purchases of goods and services as campaign expenditures shall be subject to the 5 percent creditable withholding tax (CWT). Income payments made by individuals or juridical persons for their purchases of goods and services intended to be given as campaign contribution to political parties and candidates shall likewise be subject to 5 percent creditable withholding tax. Expenses that were not subjected to the 5 percent CWT are not considered utilized campaign funds, and the candidates, political parties or party-list groups are precluded from claiming such expenditures as deductions from their campaign contributions. As such, the full amount corresponding to said expense shall be reported as unutilized campaign funds subject to income tax. Under the Omnibus Election Code, contributions in cash or in kind to candidates, political parties, or party-list groups are exempt from the imposition of donor’s tax. Only those donations or contributions that have been utilized/spent during the campaign period as set by the Comelec are exempt from donor’s tax. Donations utilized before or after the campaign period are subject to donor’s tax and not deductible as political contribution on the part of the donor. The author is a partner of Du-Baladad and Associates Law Offices (BDB Law), a member-firm of WTS Global. The article is for general information only and is not intended, nor should be construed as a substitute for tax, legal or financial advice on any specific matter. Applicability of this article to any actual or particular tax or legal issue should be supported therefore by a professional study or advice. If you have any comments or questions concerning the article, you may e-mail the author at rodel.unciano@ bdblaw.com.ph or call 8403-2001 local 140.

ing. Of course, we have the most terrible and lowest score in Asia with “FDI Restrictiveness.” Now let’s hear some specific and believable campaign promises. But how strange is the world today? American comedian Dave Chappelle is being widely condemned, canceled, and even threatened by the press and politicians for saying among other things that “Gender is a fact. Every human being in this room, every human being on Earth, had to pass through the legs of a woman to be on Earth.” The West has way too much time on its hands to make this an issue. What an age we live in. E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.

T is sad that this early, Yorme Isko, who has emerged as a leading candidate for the presidency, has shown early signs of irritability. His sudden outburst against VP Leni last week calling her a “fake leader with a fake color” and her camp “yellowtards” was totally uncalled for. In his desire to show that he can take on anyone who stands in the way on his path to the presidency, he has resorted to coarse language to destroy his opponents. I hope he maintains his cool and equanimity, which were his hailed virtues when he was still establishing his credentials as a local executive who is capable of resolving our national problems. As he had affirmed in his wellreceived political ads shown during prime time in TV, he suffered ridicules from many quarters while struggling to improve his lot. His humility and lack of vindictiveness have served him in good stead in the past. He will only self-destruct if he continues to take the low-moral ground in this campaign. He should learn from the example of his fellow presidential contender, Senator Panfilo Lacson whose approach to campaigning is to focus on his own performance and program of government. He has declared that he would not comment on his adversaries’ qualifications or fitness to hold the office but rather concentrate on what he and his party can offer to our people and our country. Some months ago, I wrote favorably about Yorme Isko in this column. Now that he has filed his COC, my advice to him is to build on his own strength and not attempt to elevate himself at the expense of others. It would be prudent not to imitate others who succeeded in their own brand of leadership. They have their own identity, and their campaign method suits their unique personality. For instance, don’t try to be another Mayor Arsenio Lacson who was well loved by the people. Mayor Arsenio Lacson was fearless and gifted with wit, eloquence and colorful language.

Lacson was unrivaled in this department. His wisecracks and witticisms had no equal. And he did it without becoming vulgar and boorish, but with style and elegance typically his own. Chastising VP Leni as “a fake leader with a fake color” and calling her camp as “yellowtards” stooped down to gutter campaigning. Disappointed to hear Yorme’s tirades against VP Leni, many were shocked by his pronouncement. Mayor Lacson was always looking for a good fight and he never yielded to whoever he was ranged against. No wonder he was called “Arsenic.” He went against Presidents Elpidio Quirino and Carlos P. Garcia and was even suspended as a mayor but he was never uncowed by power. Be your own self, Yorme. People love you for that. You possess your own talents and potentials. You have a compelling story, which does not need any embellishment or exaggeration. Overcoming overwhelming odds to lift you and your family from abject poverty is an epic struggle that should inspire every young Filipino born of deprivation and want. Your insatiable desire to learn despite great financial difficulties makes you the poster boy of how education can transform the life of a poor individual. Add to this your sterling accomplishments as the mayor of the country’s capital and you will gain more adherents

Tuesday, October 12, 2021 A11

It’s high time to review the law or regulation allowing substitution of candidates except those in cases of death or disqualification; otherwise, there will be no honesty and fair play in our elections. to your cause. You own the script to become a box office candidate in this election. March on to success, but you are making a wrong turn once you start calling your political opponents names. Pound on the valid issues, instead. n n n Since it was successfully employed by no less than President Duterte during the 2016 elections, there’s a sense that substitution will be exploited to the hilt in the 2022 elections. The deadline for substitution in the case of voluntary withdrawal of a candidate is still five weeks away but there are telltale signs that such stratagem is now at work. The last minute filing for presidency by an unheralded candidate, whose name is hardly a byword inside his own party, much more outside, reinforces this suspicion. Senator Bato de la Rosa has not even indicated nor hinted any interest for the highest office of the land until he submitted his COC for the presidency shortly before the deadline expired last Friday. By his own admission in the course of the media interview after he completed the filing of his candidacy, his seeking the presidency was a party decision. It appears then that it was a late party decision because an hour earlier the full slate for senators of the PDP-Laban Party filed their COCs accompanied by no less than the President and the party chairman of PDP-Laban who raised the hands of their senatorial aspirants before the camera. If it were a decision made sometime ago, the filing of the PDP-Laban senatoriables and its VP-nominee would have been synchronized in the presence of the President to underscore unity and maximize the media mileage. Yet its own standard bearer was left out and unattended by the President. If it was indeed a party decision, what

were the criteria used by the party in selecting Senator Bato? PDPLaban made well-publicized efforts in selecting Senator Bong Go and President Duterte earlier as its presidential and VP bets, stressing that the party had adhered to its rules and processes. Later, it was silent when Senator Go slid down to the vice-presidency slot and the President withdrew his nomination. The honor of being a flag bearer is normally given to one who has shown exemplary leadership within the party and whose accomplishments as a lawmaker has been nothing short of extraordinary. President PNoy was an exception, but there were special circumstances that worked in his favor. I will not mind this if Senator Bato would really be serious in his quest to become president of our country. He obtained the 5th highest number of votes during the 2019 senatorial election. Everyone has the right to be a candidate for an elective position he desires, not what another man dreams of for himself. If PDP-Laban has nominated and endorsed him to be its standard bearer without intention of substituting him later, I can only wish Senator Bato good luck. But if he’s there to reserve the place for someone who will be the party’s official candidate come November 15, 2021, the final day for substitution for withdrawing candidates, his action is condemnable. It is making a mockery of our electoral process. Knowingly becoming a complicit in an effort to foist deception to the public defies transparency and good faith. A person with principle and conviction will not be a party to such an unethical arrangement. If he does, it demonstrates his low regard of the people and he should not enjoy their trust. He is no different from a nuisance candidate who is devoid of any intention to serve our people but to commit an undue advantage over, or wreck the chances of, political opponents. It’s high time to review the law or regulation allowing substitution of candidates except those in cases of death or disqualification; otherwise, there will be no honesty and fair play in our elections.

Small businesses navigate ever-changing Covid-19 reality

By Mae Anderson | AP Business Writer

EW YORK—For a brief moment this summer, it seemed like small businesses might be getting a break from the relentless onslaught of the pandemic. More Americans, many of them vaccinated, flocked to restaurants and stores without needing to mask up or socially distance. But then came a surge in cases due to the Delta variant, a push for vaccine mandates and a reluctant return to more Covid-19 precautions. Now, small business owners are left trying to strike a balance between staying safe and getting back to being fully open. Navigating ever-changing coronavirus reality comes with a number of risks, from financial hardship to offending customers to straining workers. Those challenges could intensify as winter approaches and outdoor alternatives become limited. Still, small business owners say the whiplash is worth it to keep customers and employees as safe as possible. “Just weeks ago, small business owners hoped that a return to normalcy would help jump start our recovery,” said Jessica JohnsonCope, Chair of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Voices National Leadership Council and owner of a small business herself, Johnson Security Bureau in New York. New York City ordered a vaccine mandate for customers in August. For Dan Rowe, CEO of Fransmart, which runs the Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, the mandate has been a financial burden, and a headache. Brooklyn Dumpling Shop first opened in May and has six staffers. Its pandemic-friendly format is contactless and automated. “It was engineered to be a restaurant with less employees,” Rowe

said. Glass separates the kitchen and staff from customers, who order food from an app. When the kitchen is finished making the food, it’s placed an automat-style window, so workers don’t come into contact with customers. “We’ve engineered this great low labor restaurant, and the government is making us go backward,” he said. Rowe had to hire another staffer to check vaccine cards at the door, increasing his overhead. His complaint is that retail stores and groceries with prepared foods like Whole Foods don’t face the same restrictions. “It’s not fair what’s going on and it’s not practical,” he said. The changing rules can cause customer confusion—and even some resentment. Suzanne Lucey has owned Page 158 Books bookstore in Wake Forest, N.C., for six years. When the pandemic began, the store was closed for three months. Page 158 Books reopened last July, and gradually increased store capacity from 5 to 12, abiding by state guidelines. Capacity limits were lifted ahead of the holidays last year. When case numbers started crawling up this summer, Lucey’s zip code became the third highest in the state for Covid-19 cases. They have a sign in the window that says a mask is required inside the store, but without state or city rules to back them up, they’re not

“The constant adjustments over the last 18 months have been draining,” Benhaim said. “More than anything, it’s been stressful balancing making adjustments with trying to keep a sense of normalcy for my staff and clients.”

enforcing it. Lucey said only about one or two people a month disregard the rule. “It’s hard. You don’t want to turn people away. But I want my staff to feel secure,” Lucey said, especially since two of her staff have medical conditions that make them more vulnerable. “I don’t want my staff to feel like they have to be combative. So that’s how we’re handling it. Most people are pretty respectful.” Allison Glasgow, director of operations for McNally Jackson bookstores in New York, echoed Lucey’s sentiment. Her stores follow state and city rules for restrictions. One store has a cafe, which must follow the New York City mandate for customers being vaccinated. The bookstores also require vaccination proof at events. Otherwise, masks are optional, though recommended, if customers and staff are vaccinated. “You can seem antagonistic when you’re trying to monitor people’s vaccination status,” she said. “It’s not ‘Hey, welcome in!’ which is what you have always wanted to do—it’s a bit of a roadblock there.” Although safety is the priority for everyone, the changes can be draining for owners and staff alike. Jennifer Williams, founder and CEO of closet organization company the Saint Louis Closet Co., said the company scrambled at first to implement a Covid-19 plan,

including masking and increased sanitization. “We don’t have the option to ‘work from home,’ our business happens in our manufacturing plant and in our client’s homes, so we had to adjust quickly at the onset of the pandemic with Covid precautions,” she said. She nixed the mask requirement July 1, after her staff was fully vaccinated, Covid-19 cases were declining and the CDC recommendations changed. But that was short-lived. In early August, Missouri was one of the top three states of coronavirus cases. Williams re-implemented the mask mandate. Williams’s staffers can spend up to eight hours a day in a mask installing closet organizing systems in a customer’s home. “The mental drain on employees has been extreme,” Williams said. Jessica Benhaim, owner of Lumos Yoga & Barre, an independent fitness studio in Philadelphia, gradually increased size limits of classes from late spring into the summer, but capped them at 12, short of pre-pandemic levels of 18 students for yoga and 14 for barre. Even though the city has lifted capacity restrictions, she’s keeping it capped in case restrictions come back. She lifted mask requirements for vaccinated students on June 15 but reinstated them when Philadelphia implemented a mask mandate in mid-August. Vaccinated students can remove their masks when they reach their mats. “The constant adjustments over the last 18 months have been draining,” Benhaim said. “More than anything, it’s been stressful balancing making adjustments with trying to keep a sense of normalcy for my staff and clients.”

A12 Tuesday, October 12, 2021

‘PLACE HOLDER’ FILERS MAY BE ‘NUISANCE’ BETS

SO-CALLED “placeholder candidate”—or someone who files just to “reserve” a slot for another candidate before the period for substitution ends —could be declared a nuisance candidate, a former official of the Commission on Elections said on Monday. Citing the provision of the Omnibus Election Code, retired Comelec commissioner Luie Guia said aspiring candidates could be declared as such if it will be proven that they have no bona fide intention of running in the elections. He noted suc h “mere placeholder” aspirants could be subjected to a Petition to Declare a Candidate a Nuisance Candidate under Section 69 of the Election Code, which will be filed with Comelec. “If the petition succeeds, there is no candidate to substitute,” Guia said in a post in his Twitter account. Guia issued the statement after Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa announced on Friday that he will be running for president in the 2022 elections under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). The last-minute, surprise

declaration drew public criticism after no less then Dela Rosa said that he is “willing to give way,” when it comes to his candidacy, to Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCar pio, the daughter of President Duterte, should she change her mind. This led to speculation of Dela Rosa as being a mere substitute candidate for Carpio until she formally declares her presidential bid before the November 15, 2021 deadline set by Comelec for voluntary substitution. In a television interview on Mond ay, prom i ne nt elect ion l aw yer Romu lo Macalintal said Dela Rosa’s statement can be used as evidence to have him declared a nuisance candidate. Macalintal said the petition could be filed by anyone of the 97 presidential aspirants, who filed their Certificate of Candidacy (COC) last week. One of the said aspirants is Macalintal’s client, Vice President Leonor “Leni” Robredo. Macalintal said he is not recommending that Robredo file such a petition against Dela Rosa, at least for now, stating it is still too early to do so. Samuel P. Medenilla

PHL cinema industry incurs ₧21-B losses in pandemic

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @Tyronepiad

HE local cinema industry, which has yet to fully reopen, has incurred about P21 billion in losses since the lockdown measures were placed last year.

This estimate, however, does not include the opportunity losses from supporting sectors like food stalls near the theaters, Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines (CEAP) President Charmaine Bauzon said at a Laging Handa briefing on Monday. Bauzon said the cinema industry has been reeling from the impact of the pandemic as mobility restrictions and lockdown measures have stopped the operations of the theaters and slowed down the film

productions. Some 336,000 workers are affected by the pandemic, she said, noting that half of these comprise those in the film production, including the directors, actors and production crew. Others include 136,000 employees in the film distribution segment; 43,000 suppliers; and 7,000 ticket sellers, ushers, projectionist, housekeepers and security personnel. The CEAP official said they hope

the vaccination rollout, which can improve mobility, will allow cinemas to be reopened. Earlier this month, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said that the Covid-19 Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) is studying the reopening of cinemas during Alert 3. Metro Manila is currently under Alert 4. Based on the Alert Level System (ALS), cinemas are not allowed under Alert 3-5. But they are permitted at 50 percent and full capacity under Alerts 1 and 2, respectively. “Kami po ay optimistic sa patuloy na pagbaba ng kaso...Yung maigting na pagbabakuna. Kami ay naniniwala na malapit na tayong magluwag ng alert level [We are optimistic about the continuous decline of cases and vaccination. We believe that soon the alert level will be eased],” she said. She said that the public is excited to visit the cinemas again because watching big screens with friends or family provide a different viewing experience for the audience. “It is an experience that cannot be replicated [by other] medium

available right now,” she said. The local creative industries in general hit a snag last year amid the lockdown measures, Creative Economy Council of the Philippines President Paolo Mercado had said earlier. Apart from cinemas and theaters closing down, the tourism activities also were in slump, affecting the sales of related industries like handicrafts, he explained. Mercado noted that the cinema-based film sector; performing arts, concerts and live events; and heritage sites and museums, folk arts and crafts lost about 85 percent to 90 percent of their revenues last year. The television and radio incurred losses of over 50 percent while traditional advertising (TV, radio, print and outdoor) suffered 30 percent to 50 percent in lost income in 2020. Last year, software, animation and game development; and digital marketing, digital advertising, web and graphic design lost around 20 percent to 30 percent of their cash inflow.

Travel bubbles within region, in countries to aid tourism revival By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

REATING travel bubbles within the region and within Asia Pacific countries could help revive the tourism industry, according to the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO). In its latest Analytical Note, AMRO said creating these regional tourism corridors or bubbles in the Asia Pacific region would help make up for the decline in Chinese tourists who used to boost tourism in the region. “Tourism corridors or bubbles within the Asia-Pacific region and with Western economies, where Covid-19 risks are under control, as well as vaccinated travel lanes, could help ease the pain on the tourism industry,” AMRO said. Domestic tourism corridors, meanwhile, can help maximize the already strong domestic tourism in Asia Pacific countries, including the Philippines where 86 percent of tourism revenues were wiped out by the pandemic. AMRO said these should be accompanied by efforts to boost vaccination and the maintenance of health and safety protocols. It added that adapting to Covid-19 also means a new normal for travel where vaccination requirements, virus testing, and high sanitation standards would

be the norm. Efforts to digitize will also play a major role in order to reduce touchpoints and enhance efficiency. T his, A MRO said, will hasten the recovery of the tourism sector. “Against this backdrop, robust and coordinated policy actions would be critical in providing an enabling environment for the tourism industry to adapt to the new normal of living with Covid-19,” AMRO said. AMRO, citing data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad), noted that losses from international tourism and its ancillary sectors are estimated to have reached $2.4 trillion in 2020. The analytical note also stated that based on the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), some $4.4 trillion worth of domestic tourism activities were also lost in 2020. Further, international tourist arrivals plunged by 73 percent in 2020 and by another 65 percent between January and May 2021, as new Covid-19 variants and continuing movement restrictions forestalled any recovery. AMRO said, however, that majority of tourism experts expect a rebound in international tourism in 2022, any return to pre-pandemic levels is not considered likely until 2023 or later.

THE Philippine Red Cross has been at front and center of the fight against Covid-19 since a pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization in early 2020. It has helped set up capacities, for both government and private institutions battling Covid, in terms of: conducting tests and setting up testing laboratories; providing isolation facilities, among others. All these, on top of its regular mandate, to get and process blood donations and provide such to those in need; and to help in rescue operations and other humanitarian tasks.

Cutting period between Covid detection, isolation crucial

HE projected daily active cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) may decrease to 1,731 from 3,897 by October 31 if a shorter period of four-day detection to isolation will be imposed, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday. “In the National Capital Region, projections were made if we continue Alert Level 4 or if we de-escalate to Alert Level 3. Projections were also made assuming two scenarios from the detection to isolation time,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire

said, citing the first scenario in August where the detection to isolation is longer at six days. The other scenario is a shorter period of detection to isolation, which is four days. Meanwhile, 3,211-3,605 daily cases are expected if the NCR is de-escalated to Alert Level 3. “However, if the detection to isolation time is again prolonged just like what we have observed in August [6 days], daily cases may decrease to 2,195 daily cases under Alert Level 4 while 4,0614,557 daily cases are expected if

DOF: We’ll buy Covid booster shots this year Nonetheless, Dominguez said, this does not mean that this will be the only medical technology that will soon be available in the market. He noted that there are already

pills being created to lessen the effects of Covid-19, as well as nasal sprays which can help prevent people from contracting the disease. “I’m not predicting that it’s

only going to be vaccines because I think the technology will develop and, as shown, the prices will go down. The price of vaccines, as the manufacturing gets more and

more efficient, is certainly going to drop,” Dominguez said. Earlier, DOF said vaccinating adolescents aged 12 to 17 and acquiring Covid-19 booster shots for both adults and adolescents will

Alert Level 3 is imposed,” Vergeire added. “This further supports our call to focus [on] reducing the time between detection and isolation and not to only rely on measures that restrict mobility,” she noted. The DOH officials said that they observed a similar trend in the active case projections. “If our detection and isolation time is maintained at four days, active cases in the National Capital Region may decrease to 10,100 cases by October 31, if Alert Level 4 is continued, while we expect about

13,471-14,672 active cases when Alert Level 3 will be imposed,” she explained. However, she added, if detection to isolation time is again prolonged, active cases may decrease to 11, 779, under Alert Level 4. An increase of 16,332-17,967 active cases is projected if Alert Level 3 is imposed. On Monday the DOH logged 8,292 additional Covid-19 cases, 302 recoveries and 36 deaths. The cumulative Covid cases in the country stood at 2,674,814. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Continued from A1

cost the government an additional P75 billion. Dominguez told reporters on Thursday they expect to vaccinate about 15 million adolescents after some countries have announced

that they would also be vaccinating teenagers apart from adults. Previously, the Philippine government was targeting to vaccinate a total of 70 million adults by yearend. Cai U. Ordinario

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Companies BusinessMirror

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Tough Covid restrictions cut auto sales by 12% in Sept

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

@TyronePiad

ocal car manufacturers saw their sales drop by 12.4 percent in September, as all vehicle segments performed poorly during the period, according to the latest industry data.

The joint report by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) on Monday showed that car sales reached 21,493 units in September, fewer than the 24,523 units sold in the same month last year.

September had been tough for most businesses particularly in the National Capital Region, which was under modified enhanced community quarantine in the first half of the month. The second half of the month saw the government piloting a new alert level system, which

allowed cities to implement granular lockdowns. Data from Campi and TMA showed that sales of passenger cars (PC) fell by 23.1 percent to 6,580 units for the period from last year’s 8,556 units. Commercial vehicle (CV) sales slipped by 6.6 percent to 14,913 units in September from 15,967 units in the previous year. Month-on-month, however, total industry sales improved by 35.6 percent to 21,493 units in September from 15,847 units in August. “Amid the challenges, the industry’s optimism still lingers for a better sales performance in the fourth quarter this year. This is driven by the overall improved consumer confidence resulting from a more buoyant economic condition and

household spending, according to the recent government data,” Campi President Rommel Gutierrez said. Year-to-date, car manufacturers booked a 29.5-percent sales growth after selling 191,605 units. CVs accounted for the bulk of the sales, which rose by 25.7 percent to 130,623 units in January to September, from last year’s 102,933 units. The PC segment, meanwhile, saw its sales shoot up by 38.3 percent to 60,982 from last year’s 44,079 units. Toyota Motors Philippines Corp. maintained its leadership with its 48.18-percent market share. Its yearto-date sales rose by 46.1 percent to 92,318 units from 63,182 units in 2020. Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. and Ford Motor Company Phils. followed with 26,830 units and 14,704 units sold, respectively.

AREIT gets SEC nod for swap deal By VG Cabuag @villygc

REIT Inc., the real estate investment trust (REIT) of Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), on Monday said the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the infusion of certain properties into the company. Commercial properties of Ayala Land units, Westview Commercial Ventures Corp. and Glensworth Development Inc., valued at P15.46 billion would be infused into AREIT. In exchange for the properties, Ayala Land and its units will subscribe to AREIT’s 483.25 million common shares at P32 per share.

Lenovo tumbles most in 3 yrs

enovo Group Ltd. plunged by the most in three years in Hong Kong trading after the world’s No. 1 personal computer maker withdrew a plan to list in mainland China just days after its application was accepted by regulators. Shares of the Beijing-based tech giant dropped as much as 18 percent in Hong Kong trading on Monday, the most since October 2018. Lenovo, which first announced plans to list Chinese depositary receipts (CDR) on Shanghai’s STAR market in January, said the validity of the information in its prospectus may have lapsed during the vetting process, according to a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange. The company also “thoroughly considered the relevant capital market conditions” as part of its decision to withdraw the listing, which would have been one of the largest since the inception of a trial program for CDRs in 2018. Lenovo had sought to raise roughly 10 billion yuan ($1.55 billion) to fund artificial intelligence and cloud services projects as well as industrial investments. The stock had been among the best performers on the Hang Seng Technology Index this year prior to Monday’s slump, as investors bet that hardware makers and advanced tech companies will be relatively immune to China’s crackdown on its internet giants. “The withdrawal of the listing means that it would have to look for other fundraising alternatives,” said Justin Tang, the head of Asian Research at United First Partners in Singapore. “It might be that investors are concerned this could take the form of a dilutive rights issue.” Bloomberg News

AREIT’s shares closed at P40 apiece on Monday. The company has also increased its authorized capital stock to P29.5 billion shares from the current P11.74 billion shares. The transaction will increase Ayala Land’s ownership in AREIT to 66 percent from 50.1 percent. “The infusion of the commercial assets is part of ALI’s commitment as AREIT’s sponsor to support AREIT’s growth plans of building a larger and more diversified portfolio,” the company said. With the completion of the transaction, AREIT’s gross leasable area would expand to 549,000 square meters. The assets that will be infused

into Areit include Vertis North commercial development, Evotech Buildings 1 and 2, Bacolod Capitol Corporate Center, Ayala Northpoint Technohub and the office condominium units at BPI-Philam Life Buildings in Makati and Alabang. Vertis North is a 125,507.39 sqm of leasable space and a retail podium of 39,305.76 sqm. The three office buildings are 97 percent occupied and are leased to large BPO locators including Google Services Philippines, Teleperformance, Telus and Global Payments. The retail component is operated by the Ayala Malls brand. Evotech Buildings 1 and 2 have a combined total of 23,723.27 sqm of leasable office space owned by Glen-

sworth Development. The buildings are 100 percent occupied and leased to Concentrix CVG Philippines and IBM Business Services. Bacolod Capitol Corporate Center has 11,313.14 sqm of leasable office space and 100 percent occupied by ARB Call Facilities. It is owned Westview Commercial. Ayala Northpoint Technohub, also owned by Westview Commercial, is a 4,653.50 sqm of leasable office space and 100 percent occupied by Iqor. The BPI-Philam Life Buildings in Makati and Alabang has 1,623 sqm of leasable space. It is 100 percent occupied and leased to Oberthur Card Systems in Makati and Amaia Land in Alabang.

Cebu Pacific offers P1SO fare until Oct. 14

‘NTC must fix glitches in MNP service rollout’ By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

he National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ought to intervene to fix the delays in the full implementation of the mobile number portability (MNP) service, a think tank said on Monday. Infrawatch Convenor Terry Ridon said his group has filed a petition before the regulator to initiate motu proprio proceedings to address problems related to the implementation of the service. The group also asked the NTC to order the telcos to “faithfully comply with the provisions” of the MNP Act, and make them pay penalties and fines should they fail to comply with the said provisions. He said the telcos should never use “system glitches” as an excuse to poorly implement the said law, which further democratized telco services by giving consumers the power to choose their providers without changing their mobile numbers. “It is our position that system glitches and bugs should have been identified and resolved prior to commercial launch, because a sufficient length of time has been granted to various telcos to prepare for the MNP’s commercial launch,” Ridon said. To recall, Globe Telecom Inc. is being blamed by Smart Communications Inc. for the delays in porting service. Globe replied that it is still fixing “technical issues” of its GOMO brand, noting that the delays were without “malice or intent to violate the MNP Law.” MNP services started on September 30. Globe said its porting services for GOMO will start today, October 12. “While we welcome the clarification of telcos that there is no bad faith in the delays and problems in implementing the MNP, it remains our position that the NTC should keep telcos honest by ensuring that they cannot impose process roadblocks to frustrate the objectives of the MNP,” Ridon said.

He added that telcos should not give its subscribers a hard time porting out of their current networks. “With the coronavirus continuing to be an everyday risk for all, porting out of their networks should not be more than a one-day affair. Telcos have failed if their customers need to return to their stores simply because their MNP protocols are not yet in place,” he said. Ridon also alleged that the telcos have been “imposing internal process roadblocks to deter their existing subscribers from migrating to other telcos.” “Telcos are doing this by limiting booking appointments relating to MNP, defining bundled services broadly to cover a wider swath of excepted mobile numbers, and limiting functionality required for thirdparty services such as virtual wallets and online banking,” he said. These, he said, “subvert the efficiency timelines under the MNP law and its implementing rules.” “We have received reports that several customers who ported out of Globe had been unable to use the full functionality of their virtual wallets such as topping-up their mobile load and receiving One-Time PIN notifications,” he said. Hence, he said, the NTC should intervene and help consumers get the full benefits of the law. “The NTC should nip these delays in the bud, which is why it should decisively act even no more than one week into the NMP’s full implementation. Because at the end of the day, the buck stops with the NTC if the NMP’s birth pangs remain unresolved for a longer period of time,” Ridon said.

Manila Water seals second water deal in Saudi Arabia

Photo shows a long-range A330neo aircraft ordered by Cebu Pacific from Airbus. www.airbus.com

ebu Pacific (CEB) continues to spur travel as it launched its trademark Piso fare for all domestic and international destinations, available for five straight days, for the first time. Up until October 14, passengers can enjoy CEB’s lowest base fare at only P1 to over 47 domestic routes and 11 international routes. With this special #CEBSuperSeatFest, the airline said passengers will have plenty of time to plan for their travels from June 1 to August 31, 2022. “As we enter the last quarter of the year, we are happy to have seen some positive developments in the travel industry. More and more people are gaining confidence to travel again, and we are happy to keep supporting our sector’s recovery through our trademark low fares,” Candice Iyog, CEB vice president for Marketing and Customer Experience said in a statement.

CEB’s said its first-ever five-day sale will give travelers the opportunity to plan ahead and book that much-awaited beach trip to Boracay, Bohol, Coron, Siargao; or visit family and friends in Manila, Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Clark, and more destinations across its widest domestic network. CEB flights to chosen international destinations, such as Tokyo (Narita) and Osaka, are also up for grabs. “We look forward to having more Juans on board again as we endeavor to safely bring you to your desired destinations for #MoreSmilesAhead,” said Iyog. Passengers may use their existing Travel Funds to book new flights. Credit and debit cards, as well as payment centers may also be used to pay for bookings. “Everyjuan can continue to travel with peace of mind with CEB as it continues to enable all passengers

to avail of unlimited rebooking as needed,” the airline said. Cebu Pacific has been rated 7/7 stars by airlineratings.com for its Covid-19 safety compliance as it continues to implement a multi-layered approach to safety, in accordance with global aviation standards. These include contactless procedures, thorough cleaning and disinfection protocols for all aircraft and facilities, mandatory wearing of masks and face shields for both passengers and crew, as well as Antigen testing for CEB frontliners before duty. “On top of these, our aircraft are also equipped with hospital-grade HEPA filters with 99.99 percent efficacy, keeping viruses at bay.” To date, CEB has already vaccinated 97 percent of its flying crew. CEB currently flies to 32 domestic destinations from its Manila and Cebu hubs, on top of 9 international destinations from Manila.

anila Water’s consortium with French water distributor Saur Group and Saudi’s Miahona Co. clinched another 7-year water contract in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The National Water Co., Saudi Arabia’s state-run water agency, awarded the Management, Operations and Maintenance Contract (MOMC) to the consortium to undertake the operation of the water and environmental treatment services in the Eastern Cluster of the largest oil producer in the Middle East, with a population of 5.27 million and a supply demand of about 1,800 million liters of water per day. The cluster includes the cities of Dammam, Al Hofuf, Al Jubail, Al Khobar, Al Qatif and Hafar Al Batin. In December 2020, Manila Water won the bid for its first project in Saudi Arabia and signed the MOMC for a seven-year agreement to manage and implement improvement initiatives for the water and wastewater systems of the North West Cluster. This cluster is one of 6 regional clusters created under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and National Water Strategy which restructures the water distribution services and engages private sector participation. Manila Water President and Chief Executive Officer Jocot de Dios expressed his appreciation for the clinching of the second water contract in one of the world’s top oil producers. Winning the North West and Eastern clusters puts Manila

Water and its partners in a strong competitive position when the same management contracts are converted into long-term concessions. “We are extremely elated with this new international expansion as Manila Water gears up its vision of becoming a global Filipino water company whose operation and management expertise is now being recognized in the industry worldwide,” de Dios said. “Manila Water will bring in 24 years of experience and knowhow in the water space to provide innovative solutions to the water and wastewater requirements in a region whose population and demand are almost comparable to our existing concession area in eastern Metro Manila and Rizal Province.” “Our operations beyond the East Zone as well as our international operations in the Asia Pacific region also provide us the leverage to better understand and address the needs of foreign markets in providing solutions through an appropriate public private partnership framework,” de Dios added. The awarding of the water contract for the Eastern Cluster is part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s plans to drive its water infrastructure sector towards privatization. The consortium, where Manila Water holds 30 percent interest, was chosen because of its extensive experience in water services and environmental treatment management around the world.

Companies BusinessMirror

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Petron concludes issuance of ₧18-B fixed-rate bonds

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

etron Corp., the country’s largest oil company, said Monday it has completed last week the sale of its P18-billion fixed-rate, peso-denominated bonds. The amount is part of the oil firm’s P50-billion shelf registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The full amount will be offered to the public in tranches. The first issuance of P18 billion was concluded last October 5. The P18-billion fixed rate bonds consist of P9 billion Series E bonds due 2025 and another P9 billion Series F bonds due 2027. BDO Capital & Investment Corp. was tapped as the sole issue manager. “The company hereby notifies the

Commission of the completion of the Offer on October 5,” Petron said. Proceeds will be used to finance the company’s working capital requirements and debt payment. Petron recorded a net income of P3.87 billion in the first half, a turnaround from the P14.24billion net loss it suffered in the same period last year due to the pandemic. Consolidated revenues of Petron’s Philippine and Malaysian operations for the first six months went up 14 percent to P174.13 bil-

lion from last year’s P152.36 billion despite lower sales volume. Overall sales volume was 7 percent lower versus the same period last year as the market continues to reel from the impact of the pandemic. The slowdown in sales to industrial accounts was however partially offset by the gradual improvement in the retail segment. Local sales in the service stations climbed by about 12 percent while volumes for lubes significantly improved by nearly 50 percent, reflecting the favorable performance of Petron’s products in the Philippines and Malaysia. In April, Petron announced that it allotted P11 billion for its capital expenditure (capex) budget this year, higher than the last year’s P8.5 billion. “The Company’s estimated consolidated capital expenditures for 2021 are about P11,048 million, primarily to fund ongoing capex projects,” Petron said in its final offering circular.

The company said, however, that the amount is just an estimate as projects are constantly being reviewed and the contracts entered into are subject to various factors. These include market conditions, the general state of the Philippine and Malaysian economies, the company’s operating performance and cash flow, and the company’s ability to obtain financing. Over the past several years, Petron has made significant capital investments to maintain and upgrade the Petron Bataan Refinery, to expand its retail service station network in the Philippines, and to upgrade its service stations in Malaysia. In 2018, 2019 and 2020, Petron’s capex stood at P10.42 billion, P19.8 billion and P8.5 billion, respectively, which primarily related to expenditures for refinery, depot and service stations. It has funded its capex with net cash flows provided by operating activities and debt or equity financing.

Davao Light energizes more areas under SEP

AVAO CITY—The Aboitizowned Davao Light and Power Co. Inc. has energized 95 percent of the villages within its target area under its electrification program, which it aims to complete by 2023. The company said it has a total target of 3,868 sitios to be energized within its franchise area covering Davao City, Panabo City, and the Davao del Norte municipalities of Carmen, Dujali and Sto. Tomas under its Sitio Electrification Program (SEP). As of September, it said 113 more sitios were newly energized.

The company said it hopes to energize by the end of the year an additional 14 sitios where it is currently installing electric posts and wire connections. According to Rodger S. Velasco, president and chief operating officer of Davao Light, “the company strives to complete the program [SEP] by 2023”. “As directed by the Department of Energy, Davao Light envisions having the remaining unenergized areas to be completed by 2023. We’ve been working hard since late 2020 since operations were halted due to the pandemic,” he said.

“Electrification is among the government’s priorities as it is geared towards economic growth. It aims to increase and accelerate access to electricity services in the country’s remote and far-flung unelectrified communities which provide opportunities of improved quality of life.”

The company also reported that a new 69 kiloVoltage sub-transmission line was recently built and completed to improve power quality and reliability in the southern areas of Davao City specifically, in Maa, Ecoland, Matina, Bangkal, and Ulas. Manuel T. Cayon

mutual funds

October 11, 2021

NAV

One Year Three Year Five Year

per share

Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

221.2

13.21%

-2.48%

-3.38%

-2.64%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.6526

56.27%

6.46%

3.62%

25.86%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.06

15.79%

-6.28%

-6.25%

-2.33%

-4.45% n.a.

-8.54%

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7434 11.04% First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7902 17.4% First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a

5.0015

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

0.13% n.a.

6.55%

19.34%

0.6%

-1.29%

1.22%

0.7413

13.42%

-1.93%

-5.33%

-4.17% n.a.

-3.22%

MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

98.59

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

45.4025

15.92%

-0.7%

-2.03%

-3.07%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

475.5

12.97%

-0.48%

-2.52%

-2.75%

Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d

1.1039

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.254

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

34.6582

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.8865

16.48%

22.29% n.a. n.a.

0.6%

25.14%

1.5%

-0.26%

7.34%

18.12%

-0.21%

-1%

-0.32%

14.61% n.a. n.a.

-2.9%

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.6684

16.7%

0.07%

-1.35%

-2.56%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

780.44

16.69%

0.12%

-1.39%

-2.64%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.7109

16.81%

-4.08%

-4.48%

-1.11%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.6252

17.82%

-2.04%

-2.43%

0.04%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8909 16.28%

-0.22%

-1.56%

-2.92%

United Fund, Inc. -a

-0.21%

-0.61%

-0.85%

0.25%

-0.91%

3.2905

17.25%

-4.52%

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

104.836

16.74%

-2.53%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

$1.1532

7.26%

6.33%

4.73%

-4.13%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.7849

16.3%

12.22%

11.32%

6.7%

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

1.6638

8.31%

1.39%

-1.33%

-0.29%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.1935

7.81%

0.86%

-1.28%

-4.02%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.6329

10.34%

2.76%

0.29%

0.23%

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.1969

8.84% n.a. n.a.

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

7.05%

3.23%

1.9606

0.8%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.6691

6.34%

2.88%

-0.55%

-3.19%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.4214

6.44%

2.73%

-0.52%

-3.06%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.0571

7.97%

0.97%

-0.37%

-1.63%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.5676 10.16%

0.37%

-0.99%

-0.16%

4.39% n.a. n.a.

-4.82%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9733 Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.9038

9.71% n.a. n.a.

-4.78%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.8919

11.39% n.a. n.a.

-4.42%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

14.66%

0.9094

0.41%

-1.15%

-0.61%

-0.33%

2.44%

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

$0.03742

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

$1.0638

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.6984

-4.1%

2.6%

0.82%

-4.3%

1.1%

4.01%

2.52%

-5.86%

12.2%

9.21%

7.94%

4.11%

5.25%

4.09%

0.27%

0.45%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a $1.2055 5.17%

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

372.8

1.17%

2.97%

2.4%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.9273

-1.28%

1.22%

0.22%

1.42%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2422

1.21%

3.31%

4.13%

0.83%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.2514

-1.83%

2.07%

1.28%

-2.04%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4265 -0.98%

3.12%

1.69%

-1.09%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.4394

-4.39%

5.47%

1.19%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. - a

1.3174

0.37%

3.99%

2.62%

-0.3%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9686

0.32%

4.73%

2.31%

-0.81%

-4.12%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0246

-1.33%

5.47%

1.48%

-1.81%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1929

0.33%

5.07%

2.73%

-0.41%

1.7363

-0.55%

4.29%

2.03%

-1.07%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

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

$487.59

1.71%

3.04%

2.13%

0.74%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є219.99

1.25%

1.06%

0.8%

0.35%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b

$1.1856

-4.33%

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0258 -2.27%

1.92%

1.02%

-7.36%

1.33%

0.63%

-3.01%

-0.12%

-1.54%

-6.54%

-1.75%

4.8%

1.57%

-3.23%

1.89%

3.32%

0.64%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.1018 -2.63%

2.57%

0.38%

-3.78%

PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

$1.0187

-6.22%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$2.4579

Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a

$0.0627016

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

2.54%

0.74%

First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0557 0.97% n.a. n.a.

130.78

0.73%

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

1.09%

1.311

1.21% 1.53%

2.94% 2.72%

2.54%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0589

0.88%

1.54% n.a.

0.5%

Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d 1.3231

29.41% n.a. n.a.

17.13%

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

$0.97

2.11% n.a. n.a.

-1.02%

a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago. c - Listed in the PSE. d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU). 1 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last July 8, 2021 (formerly, Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc.).

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

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

October 11, 2021

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

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

45.5 127.2 83.65 23.9 9.33 49 9.34 17.34 20.95 56.4 19 118.7 86.7 4.29 3.21 1.08 0.315 0.61 219 0.84

46 128 83.75 23.95 9.34 49.1 9.98 18 21 56.45 19.64 118.8 87.8 4.32 3.3 1.1 0.34 0.66 220 0.85

45.45 122 81.5 23.85 9.03 46.6 9.42 17.98 20.85 56.4 18.6 110.2 85.4 4.32 3.19 1.07 0.315 0.65 222.8 0.82

46 129.9 84.05 24 9.35 49.25 9.42 17.98 21.35 56.4 19 119 88 4.33 3.21 1.1 0.315 0.65 222.8 0.85

45.4 122 81.5 23.8 8.97 46.5 9.34 17.98 20.6 56.4 18.5 110.2 85 4.3 3.19 1.07 0.315 0.6 219 0.81

46 127.2 83.75 23.95 9.33 49.1 9.34 17.98 21 56.4 19 118.8 86.5 4.32 3.21 1.1 0.315 0.6 219 0.85

36,000 5,791,440 4,432,830 186,700 1,448,800 7,276,300 3,600 500 621,700 3,470 23,800 1,189,950 10,310 30,000 33,000 99,000 60,000 592,000 3,160 257,000

1,645,190 739,548,026 370,560,527 4,476,690 13,322,884 354,601,635 33,640 8,990 13,084,075 195,708 448,408 139,230,976 890,729 129,490 105,360 105,990 18,900 366,680 694,098 209,470

INDUSTRIAL

AC ENERGY ALSONS CONS ABOITIZ POWER BASIC ENERGY FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG MERALCO MANILA WATER PETRON PETROENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL SPC POWER AGRINURTURE AXELUM CNTRL AZUCARERA CENTURY FOOD DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EMPERADOR SMC FOODANDBEV ALLIANCE SELECT FRUITAS HLDG GINEBRA JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR MAXS GROUP MG HLDG MONDE NISSIN SHAKEYS PIZZA ROXAS AND CO SWIFT FOODS UNIV ROBINA VITARICH VICTORIAS CEMEX HLDG EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP HOLCIM MEGAWIDE PHINMA TKC METALS VULCAN INDL CROWN ASIA MABUHAY VINYL PRYCE CORP CONCEPCION GREENERGY INTEGRATED MICR IONICS PANASONIC SFA SEMICON CIRTEK HLDG

12.82 1.12 30.95 0.59 30.5 75.15 292 24.85 3.55 4 11.48 21.8 13.9 4.75 2.81 14.2 26.3 15.4 7.91 18.32 75.95 0.62 1.32 118 208.4 29 6.6 0.178 18.9 8 0.79 0.115 135 0.76 2.42 1.31 14.44 6.83 6.3 6.54 14.5 0.9 1.14 1.68 5.2 5.4 22.5 2.23 8.29 0.84 5.9 1.13 4.28

12.84 1.13 31 0.6 30.8 75.4 295 25 3.56 4.1 11.68 21.85 14 4.88 2.84 14.38 26.5 15.42 7.92 18.38 76 0.65 1.35 118.5 210 29.7 6.62 0.18 18.98 8.1 0.8 0.117 136 0.77 2.48 1.32 14.48 6.85 6.31 6.55 14.68 0.92 1.15 1.7 5.42 5.46 23 2.24 8.3 0.85 5.93 1.15 4.29

12.6 1.14 29.65 0.62 30 76 292 23.8 3.46 3.95 11.52 21.3 13.76 4.99 2.79 14.38 27.1 15.34 8.02 18.38 75.95 0.62 1.35 114 206 29.75 6.52 0.177 18.26 8 0.79 0.115 131.5 0.76 2.48 1.3 14.26 6.7 6.35 6.39 14.68 0.9 1.17 1.68 5.42 5.46 22.2 2.25 8.31 0.84 5.96 1.16 4.26

12.9 1.14 31.15 0.63 31.25 76.1 296 25 3.59 4.1 11.7 21.9 14 4.99 2.84 14.38 27.45 15.76 8.02 18.4 76 0.62 1.37 119 212.4 29.75 6.63 0.178 19.02 8.05 0.86 0.117 136 0.77 2.48 1.33 14.48 6.85 6.4 6.55 14.68 0.9 1.17 1.68 5.42 5.46 22.2 2.34 8.46 0.85 5.96 1.16 4.3

12.48 1.12 29.65 0.59 29.75 75 288.2 23.8 3.46 3.91 11.4 20.55 13.76 4.7 2.79 14.38 26.25 15.26 7.74 18.06 75.65 0.62 1.32 114 205.4 29.75 6.47 0.177 18.26 8 0.78 0.115 131.1 0.76 2.48 1.28 14.24 6.7 6.3 6.3 14.68 0.9 1.14 1.68 5.42 5.4 22.2 2.17 8.25 0.84 5.93 1.13 4.23

12.84 1.13 31 0.59 30.8 75.4 292 25 3.55 4.1 11.7 21.85 14 4.89 2.84 14.38 26.3 15.42 7.92 18.32 76 0.62 1.32 118.5 208.4 29.75 6.6 0.178 18.98 8 0.8 0.117 135 0.77 2.48 1.31 14.46 6.83 6.31 6.55 14.68 0.9 1.14 1.68 5.42 5.46 22.2 2.24 8.3 0.85 5.93 1.15 4.28

18,633,100 686,000 3,723,900 29,000,000 9,658,200 52,650 165,420 5,178,200 5,099,000 186,000 128,400 551,300 263,200 130,000 170,000 2,400 1,666,600 151,500 6,425,500 3,379,900 280,990 33,000 8,607,000 85,720 381,410 500 570,400 1,590,000 12,893,600 66,000 5,180,000 1,490,000 491,100 1,017,000 13,000 2,755,000 50,000 340,400 506,100 1,756,300 4,600 37,000 2,482,000 137,000 1,000 190,000 400 6,938,000 1,028,500 55,000 20,500 356,000 2,295,000

1,182,520 342,897,223 -242,628,514 67,090 141,120 142,667,645 1,394,965 56,400 44,967,889 -282,578 -64,800 53,472 40,500

238,397,956 769,380 114,839,230 17,536,820 295,585,120 3,962,724.50 48,358,568 127,303,360 18,004,510 740,920 1,487,028 11,895,155 3,679,078 622,500 477,870 34,512 44,388,300 2,341,814 50,741,997 61,687,422 21,347,575 20,460 11,536,080 10,033,567 79,729,572 14,875 3,743,635 281,730 242,120,900 528,180 4,201,590 172,510 66,339,259 773,690 32,240 3,609,920 718,262 2,320,026 3,201,123 11,320,403 67,528 33,300 2,859,080 230,160 5,420 1,026,496 8,880 15,728,850 8,564,220 46,300 121,837 403,590 9,799,950

78,960,822 2,130,075 -214,970 61,719,825 225,008 -2,035,110 11,799,340 -3,049,730 2,519,265 -733,026 23,630 28,010 -14,256,415 30,996 -45,189,320 -355,808 -12,726,190 665,340 -5,434,581 29,481,054 -14,996.00 11,746,680 437,600 1,977,700 -15,641,720 -16,940 32,240 1,361,360 -8,213 -2,901,165 -296,957 89,430.00 -228,480 19,110 1,416,300 -2,514 -226,000.00 17,080

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL 1.09 1.1 1.06 1.1 1.04 1.1 13,855,000 15,001,890 ASIABEST GROUP 5.67 5.88 5.89 5.89 5.67 5.67 3,200 18,775 819 820 804.5 822 804.5 820 186,690 152,841,230 AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY 47.7 47.75 46.75 47.95 46.75 47.75 674,200 32,182,020 10.36 10.42 10.34 10.66 10.32 10.36 13,313,800 138,366,750 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 5.77 5.78 5.9 5.95 5.62 5.78 4,157,000 24,154,587 AYALA LAND LOG ANSCOR 6.93 7.15 7.05 7.14 6.88 7.14 31,700 221,149 0.92 0.94 0.92 0.93 0.91 0.92 287,000 264,970 ANGLO PHIL HLDG ATN HLDG A 0.48 0.49 0.5 0.5 0.465 0.49 497,000 238,670 5.07 5.08 5.1 5.1 5.04 5.08 543,000 2,747,330 COSCO CAPITAL 8.09 8.1 7.94 8.18 7.92 8.1 16,059,600 130,241,621 DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV 7.7 7.9 7.77 7.8 7.6 7.6 140,300 1,090,680 0.29 0.305 0.29 0.305 0.29 0.305 560,000 167,300 FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL 536.5 542 534 543 534 536.5 181,770 97,937,565 HOUSE OF INV 3.52 4.05 3.51 3.51 3.51 3.51 10,000 35,100 61.9 62.5 61.7 63 61.7 61.9 462,320 28,781,511.50 JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG 5.32 5.45 5.45 5.45 5.45 5.45 100 545 0.67 0.68 0.63 0.68 0.63 0.67 1,009,000 665,790 LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG 3.15 3.28 3.26 3.31 3.15 3.15 508,000 1,613,870 LT GROUP 9.58 9.6 9.25 9.69 9.25 9.6 3,673,600 35,072,928 1.26 1.31 1.26 1.26 1.26 1.26 1,000 1,260 MJC INVESTMENTS METRO PAC INV 3.73 3.76 3.71 3.78 3.71 3.73 12,384,000 46,356,150 3.19 3.27 3.03 3.25 3.03 3.25 6,000 19,140 PACIFICA HLDG PRIME MEDIA 1.4 1.46 1.5 1.52 1.3 1.4 214,000 303,470 SOLID GROUP 1.16 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 23,000 27,600 1,000 1,005 968 1,018 968 1,005 241,280 241,868,390 SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP 113.9 115 113.1 115 113 115 89,820 10,237,649 0.66 0.73 0.69 0.69 0.69 0.69 2,000 1,380 SOC RESOURCES 130 133.9 130 130.5 130 130 920 119,650 TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS 0.25 0.26 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 2,960,000 740,000 0.185 0.197 0.184 0.185 0.184 0.185 650,000 120,150 ZEUS HLDG

6,075,260 -42,338,485 7,575,555 -81,722,280 324,923 39,270 -1,840 1,759,770.00 18,595,348 0 -63,129,095 -515,117 -3,260 7,864,878 -21,144,590 -2,400 19,784,950 510,132 1,380 -

PROPERTY

ARTHALAND CORP 0.63 0.64 0.63 0.64 0.61 0.63 1,369,000 851,640 AYALA LAND 36 36.05 33.9 36 33.85 36 16,359,900 579,619,340 1.04 1.1 1.08 1.08 1.05 1.05 113,000 119,210 ARANETA PROP AREIT RT 39.95 40 39.95 40 39.85 40 515,900 20,628,085 1.35 1.37 1.35 1.37 1.33 1.37 67,000 90,100 BELLE CORP 0.86 0.88 0.88 0.9 0.86 0.88 141,000 122,480 A BROWN CITYLAND DEVT 0.77 0.78 0.78 0.78 0.76 0.77 81,000 62,390 6.15 6.2 6.2 6.2 6.2 6.2 15,600 96,720 CEBU HLDG CEB LANDMASTERS 2.93 2.94 2.93 2.96 2.93 2.93 778,000 2,290,310 0.45 0.455 0.45 0.455 0.435 0.455 13,830,000 6,149,400 CENTURY PROP 10.3 10.34 10.24 10.4 10.2 10.3 154,200 1,590,754 DOUBLEDRAGON DDMP RT 1.87 1.88 1.84 1.9 1.83 1.87 5,967,000 11,150,740 6.98 6.99 6.97 6.99 6.97 6.99 36,000 251,280 DM WENCESLAO EMPIRE EAST 0.27 0.28 0.275 0.275 0.27 0.275 380,000 103,100 EVER GOTESCO 0.325 0.33 0.33 0.34 0.325 0.33 16,420,000 5,431,350 7.3 7.34 7.3 7.41 7.28 7.3 2,630,400 19,314,085 FILINVEST RT FILINVEST LAND 1.1 1.11 1.09 1.11 1.09 1.1 6,037,000 6,629,860 0.89 0.9 0.89 0.92 0.89 0.89 1,079,000 967,250 GLOBAL ESTATE 8990 HLDG 10.5 10.58 10.8 10.98 10.34 10.58 6,043,100 63,591,934 PHIL INFRADEV 1.15 1.19 1.17 1.19 1.14 1.19 292,000 336,100 0.95 0.96 0.99 0.99 0.94 0.96 229,000 219,240 CITY AND LAND MEGAWORLD 3.02 3.03 2.91 3.06 2.9 3.02 36,190,000 108,771,780 0.29 0.295 0.285 0.295 0.285 0.29 7,230,000 2,108,000 MRC ALLIED 17.68 17.7 17.6 17.82 17.52 17.7 3,376,300 59,841,176 MREIT RT PHIL ESTATES 0.51 0.52 0.5 0.51 0.49 0.51 1,837,000 923,495 1.83 1.84 1.74 1.83 1.7 1.83 484,000 864,880 PRIMEX CORP RL COMM RT 6.85 6.92 6.96 7.02 6.85 6.85 5,497,500 38,173,827 16.28 16.32 16.04 16.42 16.04 16.32 3,543,500 57,806,662 ROBINSONS LAND 0.242 0.247 0.247 0.248 0.247 0.247 30,000 7,420 PHIL REALTY ROCKWELL 1.53 1.55 1.6 1.6 1.55 1.55 349,000 542,430 2.63 2.66 2.6 2.66 2.6 2.66 46,000 121,220 SHANG PROP STA LUCIA LAND 2.89 2.9 2.9 2.93 2.8 2.9 442,000 1,279,350 SM PRIME HLDG 35.15 35.2 33.65 35.2 33.5 35.15 6,744,600 234,631,440 3.66 3.71 3.72 3.72 3.66 3.71 68,000 250,660 VISTAMALLS SUNTRUST HOME 1.48 1.5 1.48 1.5 1.48 1.48 315,000 466,370 3.6 3.62 3.51 3.63 3.5 3.6 2,811,000 10,021,670 VISTA LAND SERVICES ABS CBN 16 16.24 15.48 16.3 15.48 16.24 820,600 13,115,834 GMA NETWORK 15.78 15.8 15.3 15.86 14.84 15.8 4,493,300 69,144,390 0.41 0.42 0.415 0.42 0.415 0.42 60,000 25,000 MANILA BULLETIN GLOBE TELECOM 3,078 3,080 3,088 3,134 3,002 3,080 104,970 324,694,410 1,660 1,670 1,676 1,710 1,651 1,660 162,780 272,111,615 PLDT 0.104 0.105 0.103 0.106 0.1 0.105 332,330,000 33,879,440 APOLLO GLOBAL CONVERGE 35.9 36 33.2 36.55 32.5 36 33,118,800 1,177,126,175 3.11 3.15 3.22 3.26 3.1 3.15 556,000 1,743,220 DFNN INC DITO CME HLDG 7.51 7.53 7.44 7.57 7.3 7.51 6,553,400 48,316,209 1.94 2 2 2 2 2 10,000 20,000 JACKSTONES NOW CORP 1.87 1.88 1.86 1.89 1.86 1.87 783,000 1,466,940 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.345 0.355 0.345 0.36 0.34 0.355 3,650,000 1,281,250 2.34 2.4 2.3 2.42 2.3 2.4 649,000 1,539,310 PHILWEB 2GO GROUP 8.1 8.15 8.08 8.16 8.08 8.1 36,000 293,221 ASIAN TERMINALS 14.02 14.4 14 14.4 14 14.4 20,500 288,640 2.14 2.17 2.15 2.18 2.13 2.18 1,214,000 2,605,390 CHELSEA CEBU AIR 40.75 41 41.2 42.45 40.75 40.75 1,056,800 43,218,510 185 186.1 186 188.3 185 185 2,482,330 461,728,326 INTL CONTAINER LBC EXPRESS 18.2 18.3 18.2 18.3 18.2 18.2 30,500 556,202 MACROASIA 5.01 5.02 4.95 5.05 4.95 5.02 1,572,000 7,859,120 1.43 1.49 1.4 1.49 1.4 1.49 85,000 123,020 METROALLIANCE A METROALLIANCE B 1.62 1.77 1.62 1.62 1.62 1.62 8,000 12,960 1.03 1.04 1.04 1.05 1.03 1.04 131,000 135,190 HARBOR STAR ACESITE HOTEL 1.54 1.55 1.54 1.56 1.47 1.54 88,000 134,570 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.072 0.073 0.075 0.075 0.071 0.072 178,360,000 12,959,710 2.4 2.5 2.59 2.59 2.38 2.5 783,000 1,939,900 DISCOVERY WORLD WATERFRONT 0.51 0.52 0.51 0.53 0.51 0.52 520,000 271,270 0.36 0.365 0.365 0.365 0.36 0.365 370,000 133,850 STI HLDG 5.76 5.77 5.66 5.8 5.57 5.77 61,800 349,724 BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY 6.27 6.3 6.11 6.34 6.11 6.27 2,628,000 16,494,043 2 2.03 2.04 2.04 1.93 2.03 15,000 30,040 PACIFIC ONLINE LEISURE AND RES 1.65 1.69 1.69 1.69 1.66 1.66 152,000 252,920 PH RESORTS GRP 1.08 1.09 1.16 1.18 1 1.09 6,329,000 6,884,510 0.415 0.425 0.415 0.425 0.415 0.42 2,370,000 990,500 PREMIUM LEISURE ALLHOME 9.98 10 9.9 10.18 9.72 10 2,523,800 25,189,603 1.38 1.39 1.35 1.38 1.34 1.38 1,113,000 1,520,000 METRO RETAIL PUREGOLD 42.4 42.9 41.9 44.3 41.9 42.4 2,734,200 118,197,470 ROBINSONS RTL 59.9 60 60 60.65 59.9 59.9 342,400 20,571,518 89 89.7 88 89 88 89 25,090 2,227,060 PHIL SEVEN CORP SSI GROUP 1.22 1.23 1.23 1.24 1.21 1.23 4,378,000 5,350,580 30.4 30.75 32.7 33 29.8 30.4 29,733,500 920,733,115 WILCON DEPOT 0.265 0.275 0.275 0.275 0.275 0.275 380,000 104,500 APC GROUP EASYCALL 4.8 5 4.9 4.9 4.8 4.8 5,000 24,300 525.5 535 535 535 535 535 330 176,550 GOLDEN MV PRMIERE HORIZON 0.85 0.86 0.83 0.86 0.82 0.85 14,815,000 12,437,980 4.27 4.3 4.25 4.3 4.25 4.3 7,000 29,890 SBS PHIL CORP MINING & OIL ATOK 6.8 6.98 7 7 6.67 6.98 143,600 998,052 1.4 1.41 1.4 1.41 1.4 1.41 255,000 359,050 APEX MINING ATLAS MINING 6.01 6.05 5.89 6.02 5.86 6.02 513,500 3,075,853 5 5.18 4.9 5.18 4.9 5.18 17,700 90,681 BENGUET A BENGUET B 4.75 5.18 4.9 4.9 4.9 4.9 10,000 49,000 COAL ASIA HLDG 0.285 0.29 0.28 0.29 0.28 0.29 20,000 5,700 2.7 2.78 2.75 2.78 2.7 2.78 25,000 68,400 CENTURY PEAK DIZON MINES 5.77 5.94 5.96 5.96 5.74 5.74 5,700 33,818 2.1 2.12 2.09 2.15 2.07 2.1 2,227,000 4,691,310 FERRONICKEL 0.217 0.228 0.221 0.221 0.216 0.216 190,000 41,240 GEOGRACE LEPANTO A 0.13 0.131 0.13 0.131 0.13 0.13 1,610,000 209,910 0.133 0.134 0.134 0.134 0.134 0.134 100,000 13,400 LEPANTO B MANILA MINING A 0.0094 0.0095 0.0094 0.0095 0.0094 0.0094 22,000,000 207,500 MANILA MINING B 0.0096 0.01 0.0096 0.0096 0.0096 0.0096 1,200,000,000 11,520,000 0.88 0.91 0.9 0.92 0.87 0.88 1,055,000 937,230 MARCVENTURES NIHAO 1.02 1.03 1.02 1.03 1.01 1.02 276,000 279,390 5.48 5.49 5.38 5.49 5.38 5.48 3,780,200 20,606,434 NICKEL ASIA ORNTL PENINSULA 0.82 0.83 0.84 0.84 0.82 0.83 345,000 286,410 PX MINING 5.03 5.05 4.91 5.05 4.9 5.05 830,000 4,153,960 25.35 25.45 24.9 26.1 24.8 25.45 4,761,300 121,970,405 SEMIRARA MINING UNITED PARAGON 0.0066 0.0068 0.0066 0.0066 0.0066 0.0066 36,000,000 237,600 17.22 17.28 16.84 17.74 16.54 17.28 116,100 1,974,312 ACE ENEXOR 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 38,300,000 421,300 ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 100,000 1,100 0.0097 0.0098 0.0098 0.0098 0.0097 0.0097 31,000,000 301,900 PHILODRILL PXP ENERGY 6.12 6.25 6.37 6.43 6.06 6.12 718,200 4,424,114 PREFFERED HOUSE PREF B 100 101.2 101.2 101.2 100 100 100 10,060 ALCO PREF B 101.5 102.6 102.6 102.6 102.6 102.6 170 17,442 524.5 525 524.5 524.5 524.5 524.5 10,000 5,245,000 AC PREF B2R CEB PREF 41 41.2 41.55 41.55 40.85 41.2 5,800 238,115 101.2 102 101 102 101 102 2,120 214,990 DD PREF GTCAP PREF A 990 1,020 996 996 990 990 4,990 4,954,300 GTCAP PREF B 1,030 1,035 1,030 1,030 1,030 1,030 500 515,000 101 101.5 101 101.5 101 101.5 1,600 162,150 MWIDE PREF MWIDE PREF 2B 101.1 102 102 102 102 102 1,110 113,220 106.2 107.6 106.4 107.6 106.3 107.6 4,600 489,055 PNX PREF 3B PNX PREF 4 1,008 1,009 1,009 1,009 1,006 1,009 1,720 1,734,860 PCOR PREF 3A 1,128 1,135 1,135 1,135 1,135 1,135 10 11,350 1,168 1,170 1,155 1,170 1,155 1,170 710 829,550 PCOR PREF 3B SMC PREF 2F 79.15 79.25 79.1 79.25 79.05 79.2 73,200 5,795,821.50 SMC PREF 2I 79.05 79.35 79.05 79.05 79.05 79.05 1,200 94,860 76.5 76.8 76.5 76.5 76.5 76.5 160 12,240 SMC PREF 2J SMC PREF 2K 76.35 76.5 76.5 76.5 76.35 76.5 14,110 1,079,317 PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 15.1 15.44 15.4 15.5 15.4 15.44 89,200 1,378,704 GMA HLDG PDR 14.6 14.98 14.16 14.68 14.16 14.6 100,300 1,453,262 WARRANTS TECH WARRANT 1.43 1.44 1.46 1.46 1.4 1.43 3,841,000 5,469,680

40,460 208,790,890 8,412,525 12,270 88,300 79,350 -84,148 -1,060,470 10,800 3,250 576,004 -652,510 -307,778 -17,250 9,500 -14,732,900 -57,300.00 -18,647,228 -12,500 498,950 -11,303,804 -17,435,526 -465,390 -234,090 -6,088,830 -111,150 2,468,410 -40,196,820 25,418,660 270,620 3,070,200 -223,560 6,447,642 -136,650 16,995 -229,600 66,030 -18,027,480 -62,931,179 -36,400 49,900 35,420 78,680.00 -31,200 90,050 -5,600,760 10,100 418,950.00 -294,000 10,520,832 -12,847,735 5,372,519 194,920 -627,900 -359,624,295 985,140 4,300 1,360 39,480 118,181 68,400 29,800 826,940.00 -3,314,878 169,980 4,114,750 16,640 394,562 -3,334,417.50 - -47,850 238,180

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

ALTUS PROP ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MERRYMART

17.06 1.89 3.87 3.68

FIRST METRO ETF

106.5

17.18 1.9 3.91 3.69

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

107

17.1 1.93 3.87 3.72

17.1 1.93 3.91 3.75

17.1 1.88 3.87 3.63

17.1 1.88 3.91 3.67

11,800 172,000 5,000 4,773,000

201,780 326,730 19,430 17,568,200

1,687,500

105.4 107.2 105.4 106.5 3,520 375,184 72,224

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Tuesday, October 12, 2021

EXCLUSIVE

‘Illicit tobacco trade thrives, especially in Mindanao’

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

@Tyronepiad

ESPITE logistical constraints and mobility restrictions in pandemic, illicit cigarettes are still finding their way to the Philippine shore, most of which are being sold in Mindanao at a cheaper price.

In an email to the BusinessMirror, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) (Philippines) Inc. noted that the number of illicit cigarettes entering the country rose to 6.8 percent in the first quarter from the same period last year. Two-thirds of the illegal cigarettes are illicit whites, most of which are the “Two Moon” and “Astro” brands, JTI said. The remainder is counterfeit. The International Criminal Police Organization, or Interpol, defines illicit whites as “new cigarette brands produced legally in one jurisdiction but produced intentionally

for smuggling into other countries where there is no prior legal market for them.” “[The] highest prevalence of illicit trade is in Mindanao,” the tobacco company said, noting that illicit cigarettes are being sold more than tax-paid brands in the island. Based on industry observation, JTI said six out of every 10 cigarette packs sold are considered illegal. JTI identified Polomolok, Davao, Ozamis, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro as having “the highest concentration of sari-sari stores peddling illicit tobacco” in Mindanao.

Eight admirable habits of debt-free people

HAT is it like to be debtfree? What does it take to live a debt-free lifestyle? Is it possible to become debt-free on a low income? For me, the biggest advantage of being debt-free is never having to worry about debt collectors. And consequently, avoiding the emotional distress caused by their constant calls and letters. However, living a debt-free lifestyle also means being one step closer to reaching true wealth and financial freedom. So, if you want to be debt-free, where or how do you begin? I believe it all starts with learning these eight financial habits.

Saving habits

1. Building an emergency fund is a priority. People go into bad debt because they didn’t have money when they needed it. Fortunately, having an emergency fund is the simple solution to this problem. 2. Patience through delayed gratification. When it comes to their mindset, debt-free people are patient. They know the importance of practicing delayed gratification, especially when it comes to buying luxuries and unnecessary stuff. 3. Eyes are focused on financial goals. The secret why they’re good with saving money is because they are clear with their intentions. They don’t save just for the sake of saving. They save because they want to buy or spend on a specific financial goal. For example, by committing and focusing on a goal such as having an out-of-town vacation with your family, it will be easier to resist the temptation of making an impulse buy when there’s a mall sale. 4. Proactive with their finances. Being proactive means creating and following a budget. They monitor their cash flow— both income and expenses. They’re always on the lookout for opportunities and do constant checks on their spending.

Spending habits

5. Spends less than what they earn. This is, of course, the foundation of wealth building. By spending less than your income, you’re assured of extra cash when financial emergencies occur. Additionally, this habit allows you to create an investment fund.

Fitz Gerard Villafuerte

personal finance 6. Never buys stuff to impress other people. Debt-free people buy t hings for t hemselves—because they either need it or they personally want it. They don’t spend on things just because they want to impress or brag to other people. They simply enjoy what their money could afford. 7. Purchases only what their cash flow can afford. Being debtfree doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t use credit cards or they avoid getting loans. Most of them do. The only difference is that they make sure that they can afford it before taking on the debt. For example, they can apply for a housing loan, especially if buying their dream home is one of their financial goals. However, debt-free people will check and double-check their budget to ensure that they can afford to pay the mortgage. 8. Pays attention to details. Speaking of loans, debt-free people are meticulous when it comes to interest rates and other details. They often simulate their cash flow to have a good overview of how a debt or loan will affect their finances. Moreover, they don’t mind shopping around for the best deal. Sometimes, they delay their plans and save some more money just to be in a better financial position to manage a bank loan.

Everyone can be debt-free

IF you’re struggling with debt because of wrong financial decisions you made in the past, then remember that you are not alone. What’s important is you’re now aware of your mistakes, and you now have the opportunity to correct them. And just like the hundreds of people I’ve met who eventually became debt-free after years of financial hardship, you too can become debt-free one day with enough patience and discipline. Fitz Villafuerte is a registered financial planner of RFP Philippines. To learn more about personal-financial planning, attend the 92nd RFP program this October 2021. To inquire, email info@rfp.ph or text at 0917-6248110.

These are being sold at an average of P3 ($0.059) per stick, which is about three-times cheaper than the prevailing price of P8 ($0.16) to P10 ($0.20) per stick. JTI said in a paper sent to the BusinessMirror the data “validates the previous industry finding that Mindanao for the year 2020 had the highest incidence of illicit tobacco trade at 14.6 percent.” JTI noted that both domestic fake and smuggled non-duty paid cigarettes are “increasingly common” in the country, with 357.2 million seized sticks destroyed last year. The firm pointed out that the biggest ever cache of fake cigarettes was seized by Manila Customs in July last year, which was P187 million worth (about $3.68 million) at current exchange rates) and smuggled from Communist China.

Cause for concern

A person employed at the Intellectual Property (IP) Rights Enforcement Office (IEO) of IP Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) told the BusinessMirror that cigarettes are still at the top list of counterfeited products

pre-pandemic and up to now. “Definitely, counterfeit cigarettes are cheaper and with many having less income today—and based as well on our preliminary seizures data— there is cause for concern for more fake cigarette trade in a pandemic,” the person said. As such, the office reminded legitimate cigarette manufacturers to be more vigilant. Last year, IEO data revealed that the preliminary estimated value of seized cigarettes dropped to P8.12 billion from P10.66 billion. It has yet to finalize the 2021 report on fake cigarettes and other counterfeit products. “While there is a slight decrease in value, it must be noted that total inspections and search warrants significantly reduced last year to 1,312 from 3,143 in 2019, partially due to the pandemic restrictions,” added the person who requested anonymity as investigations are ongoing. “So last year’s haul on cigarettes is still sizable.” Apart from cheaper price, the JTI said that a cigarette is fake or smuggled if it has poor quality of packaging.

“Brand owners have their own tell-tale signs and markings especially in their packaging that would indicate the genuineness of their product or brand,” the person from the IEO said. JTI noted that illicit cigarettes also evade taxes by using fake tax stamp. Earlier this year, House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Salceda said that country is losing at least P30 billion in revenues annually due to cigarette smuggling.

Better enforcement

JTI Global Anti-Illicit Trade Operations Director Ian Monteith called for better enforcement at national borders to curb the illicit cigarette entry, in addition to improving knowledge sharing via public and private partnerships. Monteith also cited the need for “coordinated global campaigns to inform consumers through increased awareness about the dangers of illegal tobacco and the consequences that arise through its trade.” In a previous report, JTI said that illicit traders were unfazed by

the pandemic. Rather, they are in a “wait-and-see” mode to smuggle the counterfeit goods, the company explained. While production of fake cigarettes declined, JTI said it did not stop despite the pandemic, noting that Western markets even saw only “little reduction.” The tobacco company also said that illicit transactions are now being done via online social networking platforms as well amid the digital shift in pandemic. “The resourcefulness of criminals is such that the flow of illegal product is still manageable even when traditional sales outlets are put out of action,” it added. For its part, the person from the IPOPHL unit said they are coordinating with National Committee on IP Rights and other relevant agencies to ensure that IP laws and other anticounterfeit regulations are enforced properly. “We also randomly monitor online commerce to check for counterfeit goods being offered for sale online, including counterfeit cigarettes,” the person from the IEO said.

Bids for T-bills hit nearly ₧47B on financial market cues By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

HE Bureau of Treasury fully awarded P15 billion in Treasury bills (T-bills) in its auction on Monday. Data from the Treasury showed that the auction was about three times oversubscribed, with total tenders hitting P46.5594 billion in total. The bills also fetched higher rates during the Monday auction. According to National Treasurer Rosalia V. de Leon, the market reacted to both local and international

developments, resulting in higher rates during the auction. De Leon told reporters that expectations on the Federal Reserve’s unwinding of accommodative monetary stance pushed rates higher. Locally, the market expects high inflation to be temporary, given the slower inflation in September. Earlier this year, the Fed said that the US economy has made progress towards its goals of price stability and maximum employment and may start hiking its rates soon. Philippine inf lation, mean-

while, hit 4.8 percent in September this year. While this is still above the annual target range of 2 to 4 percent, it is a deceleration from the 4.9 percent print in the previous month. Analysts also said this lower inflation in September has given the BSP more space to keep its record-low monetary policy rates accommodative to support the recovery of the local economy. The 91-day T-bills’ average rate was at 1.095 percent, rising by 10 basis points from the 1.085 percent from the previous auction. Total

tenders for the tenor, meanwhile, was lower at P11.37 billion from the P13 billion. Meanwhile, the 182-day T-bills fetched an average rate of 1.391 percent, unchanged from its level in the previous week. Bids for the security were also lower at P18.364 billion from P22.42 billion. As for the 364-day T-bills, the average rate stood at 1.587 percent, higher than the 1.584 percent in the previous auction. The debt paper registered P16.86 billion, also lower than the P20.93 billion in the previous action.

BSP affirms commitment to sustainable finance bid

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) affirmed its commitment to pushing for sustainable finance and environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) principles into the local financial system. Virtually speaking in an international arena, BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said the country has already established a “Sustainable Central Banking” roadmap for sustainability in the Philippines. “[The roadmap will] provide the framework and milestones in the adoption of sustainability principles in key operations of the BSP,” Diokno said in a recent virtual dialogue

with International Monetary Fund officials and other Asian finance ministers. In this roadmap, the governor said the BSP adopts three roles—as enabler, mobilizer, and doer—in advocating sustainability in the financial system. “As an enabler, BSP issued the ‘sustainable finance framework,’ which emphasizes the pivotal roles of the board of directors and senior management in embedding ESG principles in all aspects of banks’ governance, risk management systems, business strategies and operations,” Diokno said. “As a mobilizer, the BSP leads

financial institutions in carrying out environmentally and socially responsible business decisions and adopting green practices, including adopting green principles in their investment portfolios,” the governor added. In October 2019, the BSP announced its decision to invest in green bonds launched by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). “As a doer, the BSP adopted best practices for environmental preservation, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and embedding ESG sustainability criteria in its own operations,” Diokno said. According to earlier data from

Diokno, more than $1 billion and P85.4-billion worth of green, social and sustainability bonds have already been issued by “first mover” banks since 2017. “The BSP and financial institutions play a crucial part in mobilizing funds to finance green and sustainable projects, and at the same time, in safeguarding financial stability from shocks coming from climate and other environment-related factors,” the governor earlier said. “We expect more banks to follow suit as enabling regulations had been laid down complemented by continued capacity-building activities for the industry.” Bianca Cuaresma

Yen’s slide to 2018 low prompts view of decline

HE yen dropped to a 3-year low against the dollar, with analysts forecasting more weakness ahead as the nation’s yield differentials widen. The currency slipped as much as 0.5 percent to 112.75 per dollar on Monday, the weakest since December 2018, with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. and Credit Agricole CIB predicting that the yen could drop all the way to 115, a level last seen in March 2017. Leveraged funds are adding to short positions against the currency, which has already lost more than 8 percent this year, as the Bank of Japan increasingly stands as the one major central bank that isn’t moving toward policy normalization. A weaker yen though could entice foreign purchases of the nation’s stocks while boosting its exports. “Japanese consumers and corporations tend to believe the domestic economy does much better with a weaker yen, so personal consumption

Photo shows cash being printed. The weakening of the yen to the greenback prompted analysts to say the Japanese currency could see steeper decline. Bloomberg News

should rebound faster than expected, while corporate spending should too,” said Nikko Asset Management Chief Global Strategist John Vail. Japanese shares were among the biggest gainers in Asia last Monday. The yen’s inverse correlation with the Topix index had been rising since June, suggesting a weaker yen typically coincided with higher equities.

As Treasury yields advance and other central banks talk about policy normalization, the yen has become the worst performer among Groupof-10 currencies this year. The yield premiums that Treasury 10-year notes offer over similartenor debt in Japan have widened more than 60 basis points to 152 basis points from a low in January

as the Federal Reserve moves toward tapering asset purchases. Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda is still trying to revive the economy, and has said he won’t hesitate to add stimulus if needed. “With inflation encouraging other central banks to begin withdrawing stimulus, the yield gap between Japan and the rest of the Group-of-10 that was present before the pandemic is returning,” said David Forrester, a senior FX strategist at Credit Agricole CIB in Hong Kong. He sees yen declining to 115 per dollar by end 2021. Leveraged funds increased their short positions on the yen to the highest since July, data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission showed. “While there’s talk of an exit strategy from accommodative monetary policy in other countries, there’s nothing like that in Japan,” said Daisuke Uno, chief strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. in Tokyo. Bloomberg News

Art

BusinessMirror

Tuesday, October 12, 2021 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Today’s Horoscope By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Josh Hutcherson, 29; Tyler Blackburn, 35; Marcus T. Paulk, 35; Hugh Jackman, 53. Happy Birthday: Take time to evaluate what’s going on around you before you make a move this year. You have options, and with preparation, you can reach what you desire. The world is your oyster; all you need to do is stop procrastinating and start taking advantage of opportunities as they arise. Engage in life, love and exploration, and happiness will prevail. Your numbers are 5, 13, 23, 30, 37, 41, 48.

❶ ❶ IN Dog Years,

Teo Esguerra, 2021, watercolor, acrylic, cut-outs on strathmore paper, 15”x20”

❷

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Avoid letting anyone distract you or make decisions for you. Look at the pros and cons, and draw a conclusion based on what you want to achieve longterm. A disciplined approach and positive attitude will get you where you want to go. HH

❸

Never for what it is

❷ Sverkhov’s

Bloom (Makahiya Series), Ronyel Compra, 2011, oiI paint, charcoal, acrylic on canvas, 12”x16”

❸ Siksikan nang

matikman, Raymond Carlos, 2021, leather, waxed thread, acrylic on canvas, 12”x12”

ubjectivity in art applies not only to how the audience consumes artworks. Artists, even in the infancy of the artmaking process, often perceive inspiration in ways other than what it simply means. In Mono8 Gallery’s exhibition lineup this October, one artist attempts to interpret a cryptic message. Another draws sociopolitical parallels from a decadelong fascination. A third presentation, meanwhile, gathers a collection of artists that showcases purely abstract works. ‘Every Year Dogs Love The Sea’ by Teo Esguerra Visual artist Teo Esguerra regularly explores themes

of beauty and imperfection, of impermanence and transience, based on the Japanese concepts of wabi-sabi and mono-no-aware. Three years ago, an indelible dream came to the artist. In it, he remembers reading the words: “Every year dogs love the sea.” Esguerra was clueless as to where the phrase came from or what it meant. In his attempt to understand the mystery, the artist has produced artworks that he now presents in the exhibition named after the peculiar line. Photography figures prominently once again in Esguerra’s most recent pieces, as he uses vintage film equipment and a makeshift darkroom to create his signature misprints or markings. These are in full display in works, such as A Dream Upon Walking and Nth End the World, wherein photographs of the beach and sea are overlayed with ghostly figures and texts. While these works concern the indirect object of Esguerra’s enigmatic phrase, the artist explores the idea of the dog in artworks using watercolor, acrylic, and cut-outs on strathmore paper. In Dog Years, for instance, features a sketch of a furry dog’s head and a canine skull. Perhaps the phrase that Esguerra has tried years to decipher was not about the message to be decoded, but the pursuit it has inspired.

Dried cured leaves artwork to be discussed in free online workshop Artist Cristina Escario, the creative behind the large biomorphic installation Dahon (2018), will discuss the art of dried cured leaves in a two-part webinar workshop, titled Patterns of Connectivity, from October 13 and 19. The lectures highlight the natural beauty in art and the endless possibilities of organic materials such as leaves. Escario introduces the patterns and compositions of nature, plus the diverse experiments and methodologies in preserving these. She guides the participants through the different facets of installations and elaborates on the importance of exploring visual metaphors in light of art as a form of social progress. Escario is slated to share the inspiration and creative process behind her solo show Dahon: Transcience in Infinity, which utilized hundreds of dried leaves collected for over four years to depict the flow and continuity of human life and nature. She finished her bachelor’s at the University of the Philippines, where she currently pursues her Master of Fine Arts degree. As an educator, she shares her talent and experience with young student-artists in Art Theory classes and studio sessions in Sculpture, Drawing, and Painting at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB). Hosted by the Arts and Culture Cluster of the DLS-CSB, Patterns of Connectivity is free and open to the public. It will be conducted via Zoom and will be livestreamed on

Facebook. Interested participants may register through bit. ly/PatternsOfConnectivity. More information can be found at www.facebook.com/benildearts.

‘Pagkalimot sa Laing Paaging Pagtalidhay (Forgetting a Different Way to Laugh)’ by Ronyel Compra Like most who has come across makahiya, a perennial flowering plant with compound leaves that fold inward upon contact, Ronyel Compra has always been fascinated by its reactive quality. So much so that the artist has spent more than 10 years working on a series inspired by the pantropical weed. Experimenting with indigenous materials is nothing new to Compra. Throughout his artistic career, he has utilized everything from non-commercial charcoal to twigs, pebbles, cow bones and skulls to create in different formats, including painting, video, sculptural installations, performances and printmaking. In Pagkalimot sa Laing Paaging Pagtalidhay (Forgetting a Different Way to Laugh), Compra presents his makahiya series wherein he investigates the characteristics of the Mimosa Pudica, or the Makahiya/Kipi-Kipi. But in no way does the solo show feature a literal presentation of a plant. Rather, the artist visualizes the parallels he draws between makahiya and “the way we cope with the changes in our sociopolitical environment.” Three variations of his work, titled The Last Day, suggest a human character folding inward from external pressures, leaving nothing but the feet uncovered. Hume’s Stone shows total coverage, while a flower blossoms in Sverkhov’s Bloom. There are three abstract works as well featuring scratched-out lines with acrylic and powdered charcoal. ‘Crumpled to Retain Shape’ featuring Isaac Sion, Alee Garibay, Lui Gonzales, Raymond Carlos, Babylyn Fajilagutan and Zeke Cancio Six abstract artists converge to explore biomorphic forms in Mono8’s third and only group show for October, titled Crumpled to Retain Shape. Isaac Sion and Alee Garibay present oil paintings of a pellucid skull and a chromatic fish, respectively. Lui Gonzales plays with depth and texture once more in Gig Shoes, so do Raymond Carlos and Babylyn Fajilagutan through an assortment of materials. Finally, Zeke Cancio brings otherworldly creations to life using enamel on acetate and plaster of Paris and vitrine. The three exhibitions opened last week and will run until October 27. Previously located in Ermita, Manila, Mono8 has moved to its new location at 306 Fox Square, 53 Connecticut Street, Northeast Greenhills, San Juan City. Gallery visits are by appointment only due to Covid-19 protocols. Bookings can be made through info@mono8gallery.com or 09173582164. n

ARTIST Cristina Escario

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Bring on the changes you’ve been eager to make. Stop procrastinating, and start doing what makes you happy. Keep your life simple and doable, and you’ll be pleased with the results you get. A change will be a learning experience. HHHHH

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Learn from experience that it’s better to research than rely on someone. Refuse to let anyone dominate or push you into something that doesn’t feel right. Speak up, and carry on with what works best for you. Love is favored. HHH

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Be careful what you say and do regarding relationships, shared expenses and the changes you want to make. Being upfront will ease your mind and allow you to deal with pitfalls before you start down an exciting new path. HHH

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Keep your emotions under control when dealing with friends and relatives. Be a good listener, and you’ll gain the confidence of others. The information you receive will help you sort out a pending problem. Personal improvement will boost your morale. HHH

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Reach out to someone doing something that interests you, and get the lowdown on the steps you need to take to follow suit. Once you start something new, it will give you the push you require to assess and progress. HHHHH

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Keep your emotions in check and anger under control. Setting a path to victory means balance, integrity and staying focused on what’s important. Don’t give in to pressure when doing what’s best for you is your ticket to success. HH

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Reach out to a friend or relative, and you’ll be offered insight into something unique. Be secretive about the changes you want to incorporate into your life. Once you establish a routine that works, you’ll get support and gain confidence. HHHH

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sort through personal matters and goals, and discuss your thoughts with someone you want to include in your future. An exciting proposal will offer benefits that will entice you to make a move. Love and romance will improve your personal life. HHH

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Be a good listener, and you’ll gain perspective. Criticizing someone will not create a friendly atmosphere. Change is inevitable, but how you go about it will determine your success. Empathy and compassion will lead to better results. Maintain a positive attitude. HHH

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Hang on to your cash. A joint venture will result in emotional disagreements. Keep an open mind, but don’t be afraid to do your own thing. Keep your money and passwords in a safe place. Personal improvement is favored. HHH

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The connections you make will encourage and help you bring about change. Heading in a different direction will lift your spirits and prompt you to approach life with renewed faith and enthusiasm. Tidy up loose ends. HHHH Birthday Baby: You are sensitive, caring and determined. You are cautious and aware.

‘the name of the game’ by greg johnson The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Football venue 6 Craps calculation 10 Box with a training partner, maybe 14 Reason to say “Oopsie!” 15 Donkey noise 16 Star Wars princess 17 One way to be in love 18 Victim in Clue 20 Tres—dos 21 Film holder 23 They’re all the same 24 With 52-Across, mascot in Monopoly 27 You rarely eat just one 28 Be an accomplice 29 Megan Thee Stallion or Cardi B 33 Welsh form of “John” 36 Pedal to work, perhaps 37 Brazilian metropolis, informally 38 Playing pieces in Candy Land 43 ___ bran 44 Sweet’s partner, in a sauce name 45 Sports org. for students 46 Shoe that may be bunny-shaped

48 Reverberation 51 Neither hide ___ hair 52 See 24-Across 57 Widely recognized 60 Word after “fast” or “express” 61 Naked mole-___ 62 Patient in Operation 64 Too trusting 66 Sword with a blunted tip 67 Texas Hold ‘em stake 68 Perplexed 69 Realtor’s favorite word? 70 Christmas, in Paris 71 Get a whiff of DOWN 1 Long leg bone 2 Neighbor of an Armenian 3 Lifesaver in a hosp. 4 Reaction to a silly emoji 5 Spice mix for meat 6 Thing 7 Oddly comical 8 “Lah-di-___!” 9 Harmonize

0 Skiing surfaces 1 11 Involving young patients 12 Senator’s staffer 13 “Projections” from the sun 19 Conked on the head 22 Benz- follower 25 Chill with friends 26 Lake bordering Pennsylvania 30 Wanted poster acronym 31 Opera with an Ethiopian princess 32 Parks who stood for civil rights while seated 33 Big ones may hinder teamwork 34 Cologne container 35 Unconventional work of fiction 36 “It’s chilly!” 39 ___ de corps (morale) 40 Eggs of a fish 41 Baby’s response to a pat on the back 42 What turns on a radio? 47 Paid (up) 48 Tooth protector 49 United Shades of America channel

0 African animals that whoop 5 53 Fill with joy 54 Crop up 55 Courtroom mallet 56 Shoplift, say 57 Treats, as a sprain 58 Crime syndicate head 59 Greenish-blue 63 ___-cone 65 Source of 20s Solution to today’s puzzle:

Show BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Craig’s final Bond takes $56 million at domestic box office

By Lindsey Bahr The Associated Press

FTER over 18 months of pandemic delays, No Time to Die opened on target. The final James Bond film of the Daniel Craig era grossed $56 million from 4,407 North American theaters, according to studio estimates on Sunday, to easily take the first-place spot. It didn’t break any pandemic or 007 records, but it didn’t fall significantly short either and is in fact the fourth-best opening in the 25-film series. James Bond isn’t Marvel when it comes to opening weekends. Bond has always had an older audience which is typically less inclined to rush out for the first weekend. In fact, the best Bond opening ever didn’t even crack $100 million. It was $88.4 million for Skyfall which debuted to in 2012. “It’s been a long time coming to get this movie on the big screen,” said Erik Lomis, the head of distribution for United Artists Releasing. “It’s right where we thought it would be and right where tracking predicted it would be.” Cary Joji Fukunaga directed this installment, which costars Lea Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Ana de Armas, Lashana Lynch and Rami Malek, as the antagonist. Both critics and audiences have responded positively (84 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and an “A” CinemaScore). According to exit data, audiences were heavily male (64 percent) and over 35 (57 percent). “I’m just really, really relieved that it’s in the cinemas and people are getting a chance to see it,”

Craig said on Sunday from the Charlotte Motor Speedway. “I am incredibly proud of it, as I am of all the movies, but I was just desperate for people to go and see this in a big group, like coming here today. It’s what we do. We’re a social species, we need to get together.” Craig was the honorary starter at the NASCAR playoff race where he waved the green flag. Unlike many films released during the pandemic, a streaming or hybrid release was never even a consideration for No Time to Die. In addition to being the longest Bond film ever at two hours and 43 minutes, it was also an expensive one with a reported production budget of around $250 million. And that doesn’t include marketing costs, which reportedly exceeded $100 million. “Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli are huge believers in the theatrical experience,” Lomis said of the film’s producers. “They delivered us a terrific movie and together we held it for theatrical. That was hugely important to us, to them and to the theater owners. And when you see this kind of result, it’s very gratifying.” According to North American distributor United Artists Releasing, 25 percent of moviegoers returned to theaters for the first time in 18 months this weekend, suggesting that the film will have legs. “That, I thought, was a pretty significant statistic,” Lomis added. He said he’s been getting calls from theater owners around the country saying that audiences have been regularly applauding at the end of the movie. But the profitability of Bond movies ultimately comes down to international, which in the Craig era has regularly accounted for over 70 percent of the global total. No Time to Die launched abroad last weekend, with Universal handling some territories and MGM others, and as of Sunday global grosses were estimated to be over $313.3 million. “This movie became bigger than life because it was really the first high-profile movie to move off of its release date when the pandemic began,” said Paul Dergarabedian, comScore’s senior media analyst. “To have Bond still be appealing and viable and relevant some 60 years on is quite amazing.” In second place was last week’s No. 1 film Venom: Let There Be Carnage, which fell 64 percent from its record $90 million launch, earning $32 million in its second

DANIEL CRAIG’S last turn as James Bond, No Time to Die opened as the No. 1 film in North American theaters.

weekend. The Sony sequel, which is also playing exclusively in movie theaters, has earned $185.6 million globally to date. Aside from Bond, it was a relatively quiet week at the box office. Other newcomers included A24’s haunting Icelandic film Lamb, which earned $1 million from only 583 theaters and Bleecker Street’s Mass, which opened on four screens to $14,457. Meanwhile, Disney is expecting on Monday to cross the $2 billion in global box office earnings in

Gabay Guro: Formidable at 14

During pre-pandemic times, Teacher’s Day was celebrated in schools all over the world with programs and school activities that pay tribute to educators. In many Chinese schools in the Philippines, this special day for teachers coincides with the birth anniversary of Confucius, a popular figure portrayed in history as a teacher, advisor, philosopher, and a paragon of Chinese sages. Students offer flowers, sweets and gifts as a symbol of their gratitude to the noble men and women they call teachers. Gabay Guro is now on its 14th year of paying tribute to teachers all over the Philippines. Aside from its yearly musical extravaganza, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. chief sustainability executive Chaye Cabal-Revilla said that Gabay Guro’s core is strengthened by its many programs on housing and educational facilities, trainings and workshops, scholarships for advance learnings, livelihood modules, broadband connections, computerization updates and technological upgrades. With the obvious pandemic challenges in continuing its tradition of gathering the country’s most formidable live performance artists in a special musical show, Gabay Guro recently assembled all its available resources, both human and technology, to come up with another spectacular online show that was witnessed by hundreds of thousands of teachers from all over the archipelago, spearheaded by the PLDT Smart Foundation and presented by Metro Pacific and PLDT Home. The theme for this year was “Guro sa Gitna ng Pandemya: Heroes for Digital Transformation,” and our best and brightest local artists made time to record and submit their individual numbers, put together by creative producer and content specialist Eloisa Matias. One of the more outstanding segments was the guitar and acoustic performances of Barbie

Celebration of Pinoy resiliencE get nods at creative awards

Clockwise: Manny Pangilinan, Chaye Cabal-Revilla, Ogie Alcasid, Sharon Cuneta, Dominic Roque and Martin Nievera.

Almalbis, Yeng Constantino, Ice Seguerra and Janine Teñoso. We also liked the “Iconic Ballads” portion where legendary singers Basil Valdez, Nonoy Zuñiga, Martin Nievera and Jose Mari Chan came out one after the other. The “Divas Medley” was also a hit among the teachers watching online, with wonderful performances by Joey Albert, Kyla, Regine Alcasid, Jona Viray, Zsa Zsa Padilla and Sharon Cuneta. The megastar gave a heartfelt message and then sang the classic “Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok Ko.” The Side A and Neocolours medley was also beautifully performed by the likes of Mark Bautista, Jeremy Glinoga, Jason Dy, Christian Bautista and Poppert Bernadas. For the finale, Ogie Alcasid sang “You Are My Song,” while his wife Regine soared as she interpreted

2021. And the momentum should keep going through October, with Halloween Kills and Dune, which has already made $117 million internationally, on the horizon. “A year ago we were in dire straits,” Dergarabedian said. “The year to date is now 32 percent up from last year. We’re gaining ground here and we have a lot of big movies on the way. The industry is chugging along and Halloween Kills could be much bigger than anyone expects.” n

the Gabay Guro theme song “Believing in Me.” The show was hosted by Pops Fernandez, Derek Ramsay, Atom Araullo, Iza Calzado and Dominic Roque, then ended with select artists singing “Isang Mundo, Isang Awit.” Gabay Guro has constructed and donated 55 double classrooms in 18 cities and municipalities nationwide. It has already given around 2,000 scholarship grants and has distributed thousands of laptops and learning gadgets to its deserving beneficiaries. PLDT chairman and Gabay Guro founder Manny Pangilinan gave a brief but meaningful message thanking the teachers for their hard work, sacrifices and dedication, with a promise to continue looking after their needs especially during these extraordinary times. To our dear teachers, then and now, mabuhay!

Upholding Filipino resiliency amid these challenging times, media giant GMA Network (www.gmanetwork.com) earned several National Winner awards at the 2021 Asian Academy Creative Awards 2021. Its flagship newscast 24 Oras emerged as national winner in the Best News Program category for its Special Coverage of Typhoon Ulysses (Vamco) in Luzon. Its report on Typhoon Ulysses Marikina Rescue also bested other Philippine nominees in the Best Single News Story/Report. The network’s pool of news anchors and reporters braved the challenges in logistics and weather conditions to provide the much-needed news and information to the public during natural calamities, such as Typhoon Ulysses. Meanwhile, multi-awarded investigative program Reporter’s Notebook was hailed as Best Current Affairs Program or Series for its Lilibeth, Sonia, Frank and Nabel documentary. Winning as Best Infotainment Program for the fourth time is the award-winning weekly show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho. This year’s winning piece was the segment on “Baby Switching,” which saw the heart-wrenching ordeal of two babies switched at birth. The five-part story also led to the investigation of the hospital where the incident happened. The Asian Academy Creative Awards also recognized GMA’s well-loved musicalcomedy-variety program All-Out Sundays, which bested other nominees from the Philippines and won as Best General Entertainment Game or Quiz Program. With its top-rate musical performances, exciting games and comedy series, the top-rating entertainment program brings together some of the network’s versatile and best performing artists on weekend at noon. Proving yet again its superb cinematography is the hit fantasy romance series The Lost Recipe, which took home two national awards: Best Editing and Best Visual or Special FX in TV or Feature Films. The GMA Public Affairs-produced series was headlined by Mikee Quintos and Kelvin Miranda and earned raves for its nonlinear storyline and stunning visuals. As National Winners, they will represent the Philippines in the Grand Awards and Gala Final this December. The Asian Academy Creative Awards recognizes programs and personalities that represent and promote Asian content and creativity.

GMA’S Reporter’s Notebook, anchored by Maki Pulido and Jun Veneracion.

B6 Tuesday, October 12, 2021

CCP Arthouse Cinema celebrates Indigenous Month with Walai and Kambalingan free screenings

Experience luxury the Lexus way

SPECIAL financing deals await you when you drive home in the Lexus RX 350, RX 350 F Sport, RX 450 Hybrid, and LS 500h this month

MOTENASHI—or Lexus’s unique brand of Japanese hospitality--is a means of ensuring every Lexus vehicles exceed expectations. It involves close attention to detail and a personalized approach and an understanding that every customer is different. With that in mind, these financing deals were crafted especially for customers looking to finally experience the luxury car of their dreams. For the month of October, the 2020 LS 500h, RX 350, RX 350 F Sport and RX 450h hybrid can be had through special financing packages from 30% to 50% downpayment, and 0% Interest for up to 36 months. Allow yourself to be captivated by Takumi craftsmanship when you get behind the wheel of any of these luxury models. The flagship *LS 500h (P9,458,000) brings together the virtues of a longwheelbase four-door sedan with a low, coupe-like profile, positioning the LS perfectly across the growing sedan and coupe segments.

Finely crafted both inside and out, the LS 500h (2020 model only) is equipped with the new Lexus Multi Stage Hybrid System, which provides enhanced responsiveness and linear acceleration, particularly when accelerating from a full stop. The RX 350 (P4,498,000) fits right into an active lifestyle with a sophisticated blend of the comfort of a luxury car, and the driving pleasure and added convenience of a high-riding SUV. It asserts its presence on a variety of roads and diverse driving conditions. Under its hood is a 3.5-liter V6 direct-injection engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Keeping things in control is Adaptive Variable Suspension which continually adjusts shock absorber damping rates in realtime. Not only does this inspire driver confidence, but it also keeps the ride buttery smooth--as expected from a Lexus. The RX 350 F Sport (P5,158,000) is a package that was created so that drivers can enjoy the essence of ‘F’ driving--the epitome of which is the LFA supercar. Naturally, the RX F Sport shares the same spirit and

enhances the sporty driving experience with a few key features. Inside are unique F Sport dials with full-length illuminated needles that add an element of excitement. The cabin is decked out in dimpled leather with an exclusive perforated finish on the steering wheel and shift knob. And then there are the aluminum pedals, exclusive to F Sport models. The RX 450h (P5,398,000) features Lexus Hybrid Drive which draws power from both electric and petrol motors, resulting in instant torque and rapid acceleration. There is also an EV drive mode at slow speeds for a silent and emission-free drive. RX 450h’s self-charging full hybrid system features a 3.5-liter direct-injection V6 petrol engine. The total system output (engine and electric motor combined) amounts to 308hp. The key components and control systems in the Lexus Hybrid Drive System were improved and reengineered to deliver class-leading fuel economy, minimal emissions and excellent on-road performance. Visit lexus.com.ph or Facebook and Instagram @lexusmanila

Keys for MSMEs to thrive in E-commerce: understanding branding, leveraging social media

S consumer behavior shifts, brands and retailers turn to online platforms to support and promote their businesses. Because of the transition, many new online sellers need the proper guidance and e-commerce knowledge to maximize the industry’s potential. Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, successfully concluded its second Shopee University Summit, with the support of vivo, PULUZ, CameraHaus, Human Nature Manila Branch, WM Shop, and Design Center of the Philippines. During the event, participants learned about developing the correct business branding, product photography skills, and leveraging Shopee tools and social media platforms to promote their businesses. Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “Shopee is proud of its successful second Shopee University Summit that aims to equip entrepreneurs with the right tools and knowledge to thrive in the e-commerce industry. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, Shopee ensures that sellers and entrepreneurs alike are ready to face the challenges and overcome them with confidence.” A majority of brands and micro, small, and medium enterprises adapt to the current retail landscape challenges. Shopee and brands like Human Nature and PULUZ shared the best e-commerce marketing practices to support small businesses to recover and thrive in the competitive digital space. Jillian Co, Branch Operator at Human Nature Manila Branch, said, “With Shopee, we overcame challenges to remain open for business. Being

HE CCP Arthouse Cinema, a program by the CCP Film, Broadcast and New Media Division, celebrates the Indigenous Peoples Month this October with free screenings of documentaries that uphold and demand the active inclusion, preservation, and utmost respect for the Indigenous Peoples’ traditions, cultures, and rights. Featured films are Walai by director Adjani Arumpac and Kambalingan by director Terence Giourdan Gonzalves. The films will be screened for free starting October 8 to October 15, 3pm, at the CCP Vimeo Channel. The 60-minute Walai prods on the memories of four Muslim women who once lived in the infamous White House in Cotabato City. The documentary seeks narratives in “places...we tend to feel without history.” It traces the past through the women's experience of what has happened inside the wrecked home-nostalgia and fear, loss and love, and birth and death. Kambalingan, meanwhile, is a short visual documentary on Marawi’s beauty before its

destruction during the Marawi Siege, told through the recollections of Maranao refugees. To watch the films, go to vimeo.com/ showcase/ccparthousecinema. Follow the CCP and CCP FBNMD FB pages for more updates on free screenings.

BGC embraces sustainable practices, bags 2nd runner-up in the Energy Efficient Building Award

HE recent events globally and locally intensify the urgency to expand sustainable energy solutions worldwide. As a sustainable city with various movements towards green-living, Bonifacio Global City recognizes the importance of ecofriendly practices, which has begun to receive recognition. Just recently, Bonifacio High Street was invited by the ASEAN Center for Energy to the Awarding Ceremony of the ASEAN Energy Awards 2021. The ASEAN Energy Awards, which started in 2000, is Southeast Asia's prestigious annual recognition program which puts the spotlight on outstanding work in the field of energy. Bonifacio High Street Complex was selected as the 2nd runner-up of the Tropical Building category under the Energy Efficient Building Award of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency and Conservation Best Practices Awards 2021. Among BGC’s environment-friendly initiatives are its energy-efficient buildings, streetlights, and parks, promoting alternative

transportation modes such as cycling and walking, creating more green spaces for the community, plus other programs that support renewable energy and lesser CO2 emissions. On top of that, BGC also recently became the perfect venue to unveil a meaningful popup artwork organized by the Filipino-born global grassroots solar lighting movement, Liter of Light. The massive solar installation featured 1,500 hand-built solar lamps made by thousands of participants through the “Light it Forward” campaign. It created a symbol of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal for Climate Action (UN SDG) #13: Climate Action. Through initiatives like this, BGC provides BGCitizens with an opportunity to Light it Forward and take part in the Light it Forward Challenge to help different communities and pay tribute to medical frontliners. According to Liter of Light, about 13 million Filipinos still don’t have access to electricity. With a kit that only takes less than 30 minutes to build and can light up a home for 12-16 hours every night, we can still lessen that number.

Celebrate October with Maxime, get discounts on your favorite treats on Lazada and Shopee

SHOPEE successfully wraps up its second Shopee University Summit with more than 35,000 online viewers. on Shopee also opened many growth opportunities and enabled us to continue to thrive. Its user-friendly platform and available marketing tools were convenient for the business to promote and sell our products. As the e-commerce industry rapidly expands and attracts many consumers, its impact will have a longlasting mark and will change the industry.” Carmella Peña, Brand Manager at PULUZ Philippines, said, “With our partnership with Shopee, we grew the business through their support and different tools in the Marketing Center such as Shopee Feed and Shopee Live. We can promote our products to attract more buyers. Shopee helped us reach a wider audience to share about our brand; we achieved almost 30,000 views on livestream in a month, something we

couldn’t have achieved before on our own. We will continue to maximize the positive changes in the e-commerce landscape as we step up our business.” Robenson T. Ong Lo, Vice President at CameraHaus, said, “Shopee helped us fulfill our goal to ‘be a friend to all Filipino photographers’ by bridging us to photographers in different parts of the country. With Shopee, we ensure photographers buy legitimate and brand new cameras with a warranty included. It also gave us access to widen our market range and reach people through the power of online convenience. Truly we are grateful for this digital platform.” Missed the second Shopee University Summit? Watch the full video on Shopee’s official Youtube page: https://youtu.be/ NYXH0BWUoOM.

ARK your calendars as Maxime is celebrating October with Tricks and Treats for your doggos.

Steals and Thrills

GET up to 50% off on Maxime products at Shopee, with the fun until October 14 at Lazada. As part of the celebration, Maxime will be hosting a series of Shopee livestreams so you and your doggos can be part of the fun. On October 1, 15, 20, and 31, special guests will join to give away up to additional 10% discounts.

Tips and Tricks

THE best way we can show our love to our doggos is to provide them with the best nutrition possible. Maxime is your best partner in pethood since its premium dog food is carefully formulated by a team of experts who are also passionate about our furry friends. It is packed with all the vitamins and nutrients doggos need to be happy, active, tough, and smart. Did you know that some of its essential ingredients include pre- and

probiotics, DHA, and Omega 3 and 6? When added to a doggo’s diet, these promote a stronger immune system, a sharper mind, a healthy heart, and shinier fur and coat. When you give your doggos the best care possible, you reciprocate the unconditional love they shower you with every day. Treat them with Maxime Dog Food so you can play together and nourish and learn from each other. Stay tuned for more surprises as we’ll be giving treats for tricks at @MaximePhilippines on Facebook.

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

TheWorld BusinessMirror

AstraZeneca antibody drug effective at treating mild Covid infection in trial

straZeneca Plc’s antibody cocktail was effective at preventing people with mild or moderate Covid-19 infection from worsening in a study. The cocktail halved the risk of developing severe illness or death compared with a placebo in a primary analysis of 822 patients who weren’t hospitalized, Astra said in a statement Monday. The trial took place in countries including the UK, Brazil, the US and Germany. The results are another boon for the product after it was also found to be highly effective at preventing symptomatic Covid in high-risk people. The outcomes are a relief for Astra after an initial trial testing whether the cocktail could prevent symptomatic disease in people explicitly exposed to the virus failed in June. The company said last week it had applied for emergency-use authorization in the US. Antibody treatments are a key tool in the fight against Covid-19

as they can be used to supplement vaccines for people who haven’t mounted a strong response to the shots or to protect those who couldn’t be immunized. Those who may be eligible for such cocktails include cancer patients or those with weakened immune systems. “With continued cases of serious Covid-19 infections across the globe, there is a significant need for new therapies like AZD7442 that can be used to protect vulnerable populations,” said Hugh Montgomery, the principal investigator on the trial and professor of intensive care medicine at University College London. In a separate analysis of patients who received treatment within five days of getting symptoms, the cocktail reduced the risk of the disease worsening by 67 percent. The majority of patients—90 percent—were from populations at high risk of progression to severe Covid-19, including those with comorbidities. Bloomberg News

Oil surges past $80 with global power crisis set to boost demand

il surged past $80 a barrel as the global power crunch rattled a market in which Opec+ has only been restoring output at a modest pace. West Texas Intermediate futures climbed around 2 percent after topping the psychological price threshold on Friday for the first time since November 2014. The prices of fuels such as coal and natural gas are soaring in Europe and Asia as stockpiles run low ahead of the Northern Hemisphere winter, prompting a switch to oil products such as diesel and kerosene. The American crude benchmark has risen almost 30 percent since mid-August as the energy crisis has intensified. Saudi Aramco estimates the gas shortage has already increased oil demand by around 500,000 barrels a day, while Goldman Sachs Group Inc. sees consumption climbing even higher. Concerns were compounded further after the US Energy Department said it had no plans “at this time” to tap the nation’s oil reserves. A decision last week by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies to stick to a plan of returning just 400,000 barrels a day to the market in November has added more upward price pressure as many analysts had anticipated the group would pump more. WTI’s prompt time spread is now 71 cents a barrel in backwardation, a bullish

structure where near-dated prices are higher than those further out, from 29 cents a week ago. “Opec’s decision to hold back from a bigger than scheduled increase in output is likely to see the market tighten further in the fourth quarter,” said Daniel Hynes, a senior commodity strategist at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. The “market remains well bid as demand continues to grow,” he said. There’s a possibility that signs of slowing global growth will ease some of the demand pressure on crude, however. Goldman cut its forecasts for US expansion this year and next, blaming a delayed recovery in consumer spending. The bank said in a note that it now sees growth of 4 percent in 2022, down from a previous estimate of 4.4 percent. The energy crises in China and India may also lead to a slowdown in Asia. Iran, meanwhile, said over the weekend, that it plans to offer oil and gas condensate to “any investor” in exchange for either goods or capital investment in the Islamic Republic’s sanctions-hit energy sector. That comes amid stalled discussions to get an international deal on its nuclear program, which would allow it to start exporting oil officially again. The coming weeks will be decisive for Iran’s nuclear program, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel, urging Tehran to come back to the negotiating table. Bloomberg News

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Sydney opens to vaccinated after 100-plus days of Covid lockdown

ANBERRA, Australia—Sydney hairdressers, gyms, cafés and bars reopened to fully vaccinated customers on Monday for the first time in more than 100 days after Australia’s largest city achieved a vaccination benchmark.

Sydney planned to reopen on Monday after 70 percent of the New South Wales state population aged 16 and older were fully vaccinated. By Monday, 73.5 percent of the target population was fully vaccinated and more than 90 percent have received at least one dose. Some businesses opened at midnight due to demand from people impatient to enjoy their freedom. More pandemic restrictions will be removed at the 80 percent benchmark, and New South Wales residents will be free to travel overseas for the first time since March last year. New South Wales reported 496 new infections in the latest 24hour period and eight Covid-19 deaths. The infection rate will rise as

Sydney residents return to work and become more mobile. New Sout h Wa les Premier Dominic Perrottet said the infection rate and numbers of Covid-19 patients being admitted to hospitals were lower than modeling had predicted. “So that’s positive and gives hope and confidence as we open up in a measured way we’re in a very good position to keep people safe,” Perrottet said. “There are still restrictions in place. It’s not a free for all. It is opening up in a measured way and if everyone can look after each other and respect each other, we can get people back into work, we can get businesses open, while at the same time keeping people safe,” he added. While Sydney infections have been trending down in recent

Customers line up to enter a store in the central business district after more than 100 days of lockdown to help contain the Covid-19 outbreak in Sydney on October 11. AP/Rick Rycroft

weeks, they have yet to peak in Melbourne, Australia’s secondmost populous city. Victoria state, which includes Melbourne, reported 1,612 new infections on Monday and eight deaths. Sydney’s lockdown began on June 26 and the outbreak of the Delta variant spread from Sydney to Melbourne, which has been locked down since August 5, and the national capital Canberra, which has been locked down since August 12. Most of the rest of Australia is largely free of Covid-19, although authorities warn that

Delta cannot be kept out of any state or territor y. The Australian Capital Territory, which includes Canberra and two villages, and New South Wales are the only parts of the country to achieve the 70 percent benchmark. Canberra will reduce pandemic restrictions on Friday. More than 95 percent of the target population has had at least one dose and 72.8 percent are fully vaccinated. Victoria remains a week or two behind. In Victoria, 85.5 percent has had a least one vaccine dose and 58.6 percent are fully vaccinated. AP

UN, Bangladesh sign deal to aid Rohingya relocated to island

HAKA,Bangladesh—The United Nations and Bangl adesh ’s gover nment have signed an agreement to work together to help Rohingya refugees on an island in the Bay of Bengal where thousands have been relocated from crammed camps near the Myanmar border. More than 19,000 Rohingya have already been moved to the Bhasan Char island by the government, and the UN said one of the key reasons to sign the agreement was to start serving that population. Bangladesh plans to relocate 100,000 Rohingya to the island in phases from the crowded refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar district. The agreement came as a paradigm shift after the UN and humanitarian groups criticized the relocation, saying the 30-year-old island regularly submerged by monsoon rains was not fit for habitation. But Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government has spent more than $112 million on development, adding sea walls, hospitals, schools and mosques, and insists it is no more a vulnerable area. After Saturday’s agreement,

authorities said another 81,000 refugees would be relocated to the island over next three months. A UN team’s visit to the island in March preceded the world body’s changed view. In a statement, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said the agreement was a further expression of the Bangladesh’s “generosity and support toward the Rohingya population until they can return safely and sustainably to Myanmar.” The agreement allows for close cooperation between the government and the UN on services and activities to benefit the island’s residents. The UN also said it had discussions with Rohingya living in Cox’s Bazar as well as those already living on Bhasan Char island, prior to signing of the agreement. “These cover key areas of protection, education, skills-training, livelihoods and health, which will help support the refugees to lead decent lives on the island and better prepare them for sustainable return to Myanmar in the future,” according to the statement. Johannes Van Der K laauw,

representative at the UNHCR, said the organization has seen the island and believes Bangladesh ’s government has added “significant infrastructure” to offset environmental hazards. The agreement also allows refugees to move back and forth between the island and the main camps in Cox’s Bazar, he said. Refugees will also have a chance to earn a living through odd jobs that will be accessible once aid organizations set up on the island. Klaauw also noted that movement to Bhasan Char would be on an informed and voluntary basis. But most Rohingya refugees say they don’t want to relocate. A woman who had moved to the island with her family earlier this year said many escaped on boats back to the camp because life on the island is hard for the refugees. “If people stay there for a couple of years, all of them might start having mental issues,” she said, adding that medical and other aid facilities were not very well set up on the island. She was unwilling to be named, fearing retribution. A m i r Ha m z a, 63, a not her

refugee said he won’t relocate to the island. “I will go to the country where I was born, my father and grandfather were born. I have love for that country, and I agree to go to that country. I don’t agree to go to another country, island, or any place, even if I am offered milk and rice on a golden plate. I am ready and happy to go to my country, land, and to my home.” Bangladesh has been sheltering 1.1 million Rohingya from Myanmar, including more than 700,000 who fled a harsh military crackdown on the Muslim ethnic group in August 2017 following an attack by insurgents. Hasina says her administration will not force them to return. The Rohingya are not recognized as citizens in Myanmar, rendering them stateless, and face other forms of state-sanctioned discrimination. A UN-sponsored investigation in 2018 recommended the prosecution of Myanmar’s top military commanders on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for the violence against the Rohingya. AP

India, China army commanders meet to defuse border tensions

EW DELHI—Indian and Chinese army commanders have discussed steps to disengage troops from key friction areas along their disputed border to ease a 17-month standoff that has sometimes led to deadly clashes, an Indian army spokesman said. The commanders met Sunday after a gap of two months at Moldo on the Chinese side in the Ladakh area, said Col. Sudhir Chamoli, the army spokesman. No details were immediately available. A written statement Monday from a Chinese military

spokesperson said “the Indian side sticks to unreasonable and unrealistic demands, adding difficulties to the negotiations.” Since February, both India and China have withdrawn troops from some face-off sites on the northern and southern banks of Pangong Tso, Gogra and Galwan Valley, but they continue to maintain extra troops as part of a multi-tier deployment. Additional troop deployment has also taken place at Demchok and Depsang Plains, Indian media reports say. With the standoff continuing, the two sides are

looking to continue troop deployment in the forward areas of Ladakh for a second consecutive winter in freezing temperatures. The talks came amid frustration expressed by the Indian army chief at what he called the massive deployment of troops and weaponry by the Chinese side. “Yes, it is a matter of concern that the large-scale buildup has occurred and continues to be in place, and to sustain that kind of a buildup, there has been an equal amount of infrastructure development on the Chinese side,” Gen. M.M. Naravane said

on Saturday. “So, it means that they [China] are there to stay. We are keeping a close watch on all these developments, but if they are there to stay, we are there to stay too,” he stated. The Chinese statement from Senior Col. Long Shaohua of the Western Theater Command said that “China’s determination to safeguard its sovereignty is unwavering, and China hopes India will not misjudge the situation.” Temperatures in the forward areas in Ladakh drop to 30 below zero Celsius (22 below zero Fahrenheit) around

January. The troops from both sides used to retreat to their traditional summer holding positions around this time, but continue to remain close to the disputed border since the start of faceoff in May last year. Both countries have stationed tens of thousands of soldiers backed by artillery, tanks and fighter jets along the de facto border called the Line of Actual Control. Last year, 20 Indian troops were killed in a clash with Chinese soldiers involving clubs, stones and fists along the disputed border. China said it lost four soldiers. The Line of Actual Control

separates Chinese and Indianheld territories from Ladakh in the west to India’s eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims in its entirety. India and China fought a deadly war over the border in 1962. Since the standoff began last year, the Chinese have been building dozens of large weather-proof structures along the LAC in eastern Ladakh for their troops to stay in during the winter. New helipads, widening of airstrips, new barracks, new surface-to-air missile sites and radar locations have also been reported by Indian media. AP

Frank keeps 18th spot in Finland

OUNG Sofia Frank remained in 18th place among 26th participants after the free skate program at the close on Monday of the Finlandia Trophy at the Espoo Metro Arena in Finland. But the 16-year-old Sofia still maintained her breakthrough performance as the highest Filipino scorer in the short program with 53.30, free skate with 94.79 and total of 148.09, according to the Philippine Skating Union (PSU) president Nikki Cheng. “It’s the same 18th [ranking]

but again she broke three records— short program, free skate and highest combined score for a female Philippine skater,” Sofia’s mother Preciosa Tongko-Frank said. Russians, as expected, dominated the free skate and overall performance with their 1-2-3 finish in the short program on Sunday with Kamila Valieva bagging the gold medal with 249.24, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva clinching silver with 233.30 and Alena Kostornaia taking bronze with 218.83. Josef Ramos

Erram doubtful for Game 5

NT KaTropa center John Paul “JP” Erram suffered a suspected fractured cheekbone he sustained after crashing to the floor in Game Four of their best-of-seven semifinals series with San Miguel Beer last Sunday. “Suspected fractured cheekbone. More tests to be done today,” TNT Coach Chot Reyes messaged BusinessMirror on Monday. Erram accidentally fell face first after a rebound battle with San Miguel Beer’s Moala Tautuaa, also 6-foot-8 like the former Ateneo Blue Eagle, two and a half minutes gone in the second quarter. He was rushed to the Mount Carmel Hospital which was the

closest medical facility to the Don Honorio Ventura State University gym in Bacolor, Pampanga. Without Erram, TNT yielded to San Miguel Beer’s dominating frontline of six-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo, Tautuaa and Arwind Santos, and lost, 11690, to see the series tied at 2-2. Kelly Williams, according to Reyes, remains a doubtful starter for Game Five. “Not sure about both [Erram and Williams].”But we will never give up, we will fight,” said Reyes said, who’ll be relying heavily on 6-foot-5 Dave Marcelo, 6-foot-7 Troy Rosario and bench player 6-foot-5 Chris Javier. Josef Ramos

Sports BusinessMirror

| Tuesday, October 12, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

HIDILYN RETURNING TO MALAYSIA By Josef Ramos

JOHN PAUL “JP” ERRAM’S teammates help him up after the fall.

SANGALANG TOPS ’EM C ONSISTENCY is the name of the game for Ian Sangalang, who has proven his worth time and again as a steady anchor for Magnolia throughout its Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup campaign. Calm, cool and collected, the 29-year-old Sangalang quietly and effectively played his role in the paint especially in the ongoing semifinals series where the Hotshots are in the cusp of

a return trip to the finals with a commanding 3-1 lead over the No. 2 seed Meralco Bolts. The versatile big man posted a near double-double average of 16.0 points and 9.3 rebounds in three games spanning the period October 4 to 11 to earn the Cignal Play-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week honor. The Hotshots went 2-1 last week, with the 6-foot-7 Sangalang tallying 16.5 points and 10.5

FTER dozens upon dozens of commitments—from media interviews and guestings to endorsements and commercial and photo shoots—that made her busier than a bee, Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz is flying to Malaysia on Saturday to return to training. Her next focus? The world championships gold medal that remains missing in her bevy of collections. “Malaysia’s a great place to recalibrate Hidilyn [Diaz] rather than in Manila because everything is still close here,” Julius Naranjo told BusinessMirror on Monday. “So we’ll see first what will happen in Malaysia. It’s going to be back to rebounds in their two victories. It’s the second citation for Sangalang this conference after also anchoring the Hotshots’ unbeaten start last July at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City. A lot has changed since then after the league embarked on a month-long hiatus and then transferred playing venue

KO GOES WIRE-TO-WIRE, SASO SHARES 4TH PLACE

EST CALDWELL, New Jersey—Jin Young Ko finished off a wire-to-wire victory Sunday in the Cognizant Founders Cup with her 14th consecutive round in the 60s that matched a 16-year record held by Annika Sorenstam. Even in a steady rain at Mountain Ridge, the 26-year-old South Korean star made it look easy. She closed with a five-under 66 for a four-shot victory over Caroline Masson of Germany. Filipino-Japanese Yuka Saso, on the other hand, couldn’t ignite a final round rally and wound up tied for fourth at 10-under 274 alongside South Korea’s Jeongeun Lee6. Saso closed out with a 70 that went with her earlier rounds of 67, 70 and 67. The Tokyo Olympics veteran faltered with five bogeys and one double bogey on Sunday. Dottie Ardina, meanwhile, finished tied for 33rd place with others. Saso improved to 14th place in the tour rankings and banked $138,664 (P7 million) from her fourthplace finish. Ardina, 31, carded a four-day best a 69 for a 281 total, good for $17,756 (P.9 million). Elizabeth Szokol closed with a 69 and finished alone in third, seven shots behind. Ko started the final round with a four-shot lead and no one got closer than three all day. The tournament all but decided, it was then a matter of how she finished. Ko ran off four birdies in a five-hole stretch in the middle of the back nine and finished at 18-under 266. It was her 14th consecutive round in the 60s dating to a 69 in the final round of the Evian Championship. That ties the mark Sorenstam set in the middle of her 10-win season in 2005. Sorenstam won three of four tournaments during that stretch of 14 straight rounds in the 60s, including a major, and was runner-up in another. Ko won twice and was runner-up and tied for sixth in the others

HIDILYN DIAZ strikes a pose during one of her numerous engagements.

during her streak. Ko joined Nelly Korda as the only three-time winners on the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour this season, and she became the fifth South Korean with at least 10 victories, still well short of the record 25 held by pioneer Se Ri Pak. Next up for Ko, who has played the last four weeks, is a trip home and short break. She plans to play the BMW Ladies Championship the following week in South Korea—the only Asia event in the fall because of the pandemic. “I still have a chance [to] beat Annika, and I will try to do my best,” she said after getting a champagne shower. Ko successfully defended her title at the Founders Cup, though it was as different as could be. The tournament was held in Phoenix in 2019, was canceled last year during the pandemic, and then picked up a new title sponsor and moved to the Donald Ross design in New Jersey. AP

YUKA SASO closes out with a 70.

pure focus and work out there.” Diaz and part of her team— now popularly called Team HD for Team Hidilyn Diaz—locked themselves down in Malacca, Malaysia, since February last year up to July when they flew to Tokyo for the Olympics. While there, Diaz trained with nary a distraction with the Malaysian and the Malacca governments and the country’s weightlifting federation extending courtesy to the now first Filipino Olympic gold medalist. The world championships are set from December 7 to 17 in Tashklent, the Uzbekistan capital where Diaz got to formally qualify for the Tokyo Olympics during the Asian championships last April. “That’s the only one missing,” Diaz told BusinessMirror when she, along with boxing silver

medalists Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio and bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial, were presented their brand-new homes in Tagaytay City by Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino in August. Diaz was already an Olympian at 17 when she was a wild card entry in Beijing in 2008 and attended the next two succeeding Olympics in London and Rio de Janeiro. But it was only in 2018 in Jakarta when she won her first Asian Games gold medal and in 2019 in Subic when she got her first Southeast Asian Games title. Naranjo admitted they need to refocus immediately as he assumes the role of Diaz’s head coach. They let go of Chinese Coach Kaiwen Gao, who has long requested after Tokyo that he returns home to his family in Beijing.

at the Don Honorio Ventura State University gym in Bacolor, Pampanga, for its restart amid the unwavering challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. But Sangalang stayed the same, backstopping gunners Paul Lee, Mark Barroca, and Calvin Abueva in the Hotshots’ bid for a third All-Filipino finals appearance in four years. The former NCAA MVP put up 16 points and 10 rebounds in Magnolia’s 92-78 Game 2 win for a 2-0 lead before registering 15 markers and seven boards in a narrow 91-86 loss in Game 3. Sangalang was instrumental anew in the Hotshots’ crucial 81-69 Game 4 win for a mammoth 3-1 series lead with 17 points and 11 rebounds, his eighth double-double

for a league second-best behind June Mar Fajardo’s 12. Sangalang beat out teammates Lee and Abueva as well as Terrence Romeo, Mo Tautuaa, and Fajardo of San Miguel in the weekly honor handed out by the men and women regularly covering the PBA beat. Also receiving besides Sangalang were Romeo and Fajardo. IAN SANGALANG has been calm, cool and collected for the Hotshots in the Philippine Cup.

Gilas ladies guests in PSA Forum

T’S the turn of the members of the Gilas Pilipinas women’s national basketball team to grace the online session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday.

He said he is ready to face the challenges as head coach. “It’s never easy to transition to head coach. But I feel the pandemic has given me the opportunity to really take lead,” he said. “I put in a lot of work during the pandemic to really work on Hidilyn’s program and do all the necessary work a head coach normally does.” Naranjo said Diaz always made sure to lift weights and sweat as she attended to her various sorties. He added that the Hanoi 31st SEA Games and Hangzhou 19th Asian Games in 2022 are also on their program. Without Gao, Team HD is now one member less with Naranjo assuming the head and strength and conditioning coaches position, Jeaneth Aro staying as sports nutritionist and Karen Katrina Trinidad as sports psychologist.

Head Coach Pat Aquino along with stalwarts Janine Pontejos and Camille Clarin will talk about their recent campaign in the Fiba Asia Cup and their other plans in the coming months. The public sports program starts at

11 a.m. and presented by San Miguel Corp., Milo, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. The session is livestreamed via the PSA Facebook page fb.com/PhilippineSportswritersAssociation and also shared by Radyo Pilipinas 2 Facebook page.

No dallying with Daleo WE were picking the brain of a coaching mind with an arsenal powered by 30 years of teaching the game and mentoring young men to play hoops the right away. Should I call him now former Thailand national men’s basketball team head coach Chris Daleo? Thai officials have already reached out to him but nothing is definite yet. The latest in his long list of accomplishments and achievements is coaching the Thai men’s and women’s teams to silver medal finishes in the 2017 and 2019 editions of the Southeast Asian Games thereby taking Thai basketball to a whole new level in the FIBA rankings at No. 99, the highest ever in Thai basketball history. The proof is in the pudding and the body of work speaks for itself. Even after 30 years of sideline skirmishes with opposing head coaches, Daleo is still learning. He does what he can to help players get work, he vouches for their character and talent putting his reputation on the line for these players. As me and my colleague, veteran sports journalist Brian Yalung conversed with him over the weekend, 30 years have not diminished his passion and

enthusiasm for the game. He’ll be back in the game coaching if the situation works for him. Being in the pandemic, it is understandable that it has to be right for you in order to achieve success in the form of wins and championships to follow. If Thai basketball is to pose a threat to the Philippines, the Thais need to give Coach Chris the resources to sign up these Thai-American players. The bigger the goal, the bigger the consequences. If they want to wrest the SEA Games title from us, they need to support Coach Daleo. Give him whatever he needs. I’m surprised Thai-American Tyler Lamb remains unsigned. The kid can play. He’s athletic and can finish with either hand and drive either left or right going to the basket. He can start for any team here in Asia. There’s no dilly dallying with Chris Daleo.