BusinessMirror October 13, 2022

THIS YEAR

THE Philippine Exporters

Inc. (Philexport)

of

Philexport President Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. told reporters that the value of the country’s exports this year would still surpass last year’s receipts of $87 billion despite the 2-percent decline in export earnings in August.

“Last year, we made $87 billion,

THE Department of Energy (DOE) said Wednesday that its recent approval of the sale of the 45-percent stake of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEx) to Enrique Razon was mainly based on Prime Infrastructure’s commitment to expand the Malampaya gas production.

“The approval by the DOE of the sale of Shell’s interest in SC38 of Malampaya was premised also on the commitment of the new entrant to maximize the development of the existing resources in the Malampaya-Camago reservoir with a view to developing the nearby elds as well,” Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said.

Last month, the DOE gave its go-ahead to the

and the Philippines. The vessel is currently on a global navigation under the “One Ocean Expedition” campaign, which aims to share knowledge about the importance of the ocean in achieving sustainable development for the future.

REYES

Prime...

tion by November 1, 2022 of the process for safe and seamless turnover of operations from Shell. The Malampaya project is one of the country’s most important power assets, producing natural gas for power plants in Batangas City that provide up to 20 percent of Luzon’s total electricity needs. It started operations in 2001 with the consortium license for the project set to expire in 2024.

Prime Infra vowed to contribute by do ing all that it can to produce as much gas as possible to sustain production in support of the power demand in Luzon.

Prior to the DOE approval, the sale of SPEx shares to Prime Infra had been given consent by the Malampaya consortium and PNOC Exploration Corp.

“Prime Infra’s energy portfolio has always been aligned with the national government’s objective towards attaining energy independence and security, while re ducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels,” said Guillaume Lucci, Prime Infra president and CEO, also in a statement.

EXPORT EARNINGS SEEN TO HIT $100B THIS YEAR

and this year my good guess is will make [close] to $100 billion,” Or tiz-Luis said during a press briefing on the upcoming 48th Philippine Business Conference & Expo held in Manila.

e Philippine Statistics Au thority (PSA) reported last Tuesday that the country’s export receipts declined by 2 percent while import payments jumped by 26 percent.

PSA said electronic products re mained the top export in August 2022 with total earnings of $3.66 billion, accounting for 57.1 percent of the total exports during the pe riod.

However, electronic product ex

ports contracted 1.6 percent in Au gust. Semiconductors, which make up 41.9 percent of the country’s ex ports, also contracted 0.1 percent in August this year.

Commodities posting the larg est contractions were Cathodes and Sections Of Cathodes, Of Re fined Copper whose exports con tracted 81.2 percent; Christmas decor, 62.7 percent; basketworks, 55.7 percent; gold, 47.8 percent; and iron ore agglomerates, 47.2 percent.

Products with the highest growth were copper concentrates whose exports posted a growth of 173.9 percent; special transac tions, 110.3 percent; fine jewelry, 109.8 percent; iron and steel, 106.2

SERGIO ORTIZ-LUIS JR.

percent; other exports, 86.6 per cent; and footwear, 85.4 percent.

Last year, the PSA said earnings from the exports of goods reached

$74.64 billion. is, PSA said, rep resents a 14.5-percent increase over 2020’s annual total export value. For next year, the Depart

ment of Trade and Industry said the government is targeting to raise receipts from the export of goods and services to $110 billion.

Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pas cual said in a statement on Septem ber 18, “We recognize the continu ing challenges in the domestic and global trading environment and we hope to address the binding constraints to Philippine export competitiveness as we draft and implement the Philippine Export Development Plan [PEDP] for 2023 to 2028. e PEDP being drafted features a more robust analysis of our priority export products and its corresponding markets, wider stakeholder engagement, and a proactive legislative agenda.”

SM FOUNDATION RECEIVES PANDEMIC HEROES AWARD

SM Foundation recognized by the Board of Investments for its COVID-19 efforts

OCTOBER 3, 2022 - SM Foundation, Inc. (SMFI), the social good arm of the SM group, was recognized by the Board of Investments (BOI) with the Pandemic Heroes Award for its contribution in making a significant difference in the lives of Filipinos during the COVID 19 pandemic.

A t eam from the BOI led by its Governor Ms. Katrina Therese Lim-Dy conferred the award to SM Foundation represented by SMFI Executive Director Ms. Debbie P. Sy at the SM Retail Head Quarters in Pasay City. Also representing BOI are Ms. Rolienita Nebres, Mr. Ronaldo Buluran,Ms. Soledad Sendingan, Ms. Catherine Agup, Mr. Albert Jolo Ibay, Mr. Darwin Pesco, and Mr. Jechris Alindog. In addition, SMFI’s social good team were also present during the event: Executive Director for Education, Ms. Linda Atayde, AVP for Outreach and Livelihood Programs, Ms.

Cristie Angeles, and AVP for Education Eleanor Lansang.

T he Pandemic Heroes Award is part of the 55th founding anniversary celebration of the BOI, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry responsible for the development of investments in the country. The said recognition is given to BOI’s partner stakeholders that responded to the country’s pressing needs during the height of the pandemic and provided genuine support and assistance in ensuring the health and safety of our countrymen and bringing opportunities through investments.

BOI team led by Gov. Katrina Therese Lim-Dy (5th from the right) with SMFI’s Debbie P. Sy (4th from the right)

Supplies for frontliners: When the country was battling the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic at its early onset, the SMFI team had to work double time to be of service to disadvantaged communities who were the most affected.

BOI’s Katrina Therese Lim-Dy conferring the award to SMFI represented by its Executive Director Ms. Debbie P. Sy

Kalinga Packs distribution: SM employee volunteer unloading relief packs for families affected by the pandemic

More Filipinos rate PBBM’s first 100 days as ‘good’–Church poll

MMDA eyes revival of motorcycle lanes at Edsa and Commonwealth

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MAJORITY of Filipinos gave the first 100 days of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. a “good” rating, based on the latest results of a survey by the Catholic Church released on Wednesday.

Based on the nationwide, Veritas Truth Survey (VTS) by Church-run Radio Veritas, about 25 percent or one out of four Filipinos rated his first 100 days as good.

Meanwhile, 13 percent of the respondents gave an excellent

rating and 11 percent gave a very good rating.

Some 22 percent of the respon dents gave a poor rating, while 21 percent gave a fair rating.

The remaining 8 percent of the respondents were undecided.

Fr. Anton CT Pascual, Radio Veri tas president, said the result of the survey would help the present gov ernment to know the voice of the people and guide it on what to do.

“While the first 100-day mile

stone in office is mostly considered as a ‘honeymoon stage,’ the early days of a presidency can be an optimal time for new presidents to make immense advances in their political agenda. A new President is usually still popu lar with the public, and lawmakers often have an inducement to coop erate with a new leader, generating an occasion for a President to pass major legislation; thus, the public’s perception of the President’s first 100 days will be an effective tool to

help guide future efforts of govern ment,” he added.

The survey used a stratified sam ple of 1,200 respondents nationwide for a +/- 3 percent margin of error (gathered through a text-based and online data gathering process from the current VTS database).

It was conducted from September 18 to October 6, where respondents were asked on their perception of Marcos’ performance during his first 100 days in office. PNA

New normal prompts Filipinos to avail of insurance coverage

By Joann Villanueva Philippine News Agency

THE pandemic has increased interest to have insurance coverage, according to an of ficial of Manulife Philippines who said the “new normal” encouraged more Filipinos to buy insurance products online.

In a briefing on Tuesday, Manulife Philippines chief marketing officer Melissa Henson said sales through their digital channel grew by almost 200 percent since the pandemic started, bulk of which are for life insurance and medical or healthrelated insurance.

C iting the results of the nation

wide online survey that the com pany conducted in partnership with InSites Consulting in May 2022, Henson said the respon dents’ positive experiences with online transactions have encour aged them to purchase insurance and investment products through digital means.

T he survey was participated by 500 Filipinos who were not neces sarily Manulife policy holders.

Primary consideration is conve nience at 45 percent, and was fol lowed by security, 22 percent, and protection, 17 percent, she said.

Results of the survey titled “The Modern Filipino Family: Exploring family dynamics and digitalization

in the new normal,” showed that in the past 12 months, around 25 per cent of the respondents who belong to Generation X and around 33 per cent of the Millennials purchased insurance products online.

A lso, 41 percent of those who be long to Generation Z intend to buy insurance products in the next 12 months, Henson said.

She said results of their latest on line study are in line with results of their past surveys wherein respon dents indicated the need to have insurance coverage to protect them from the impact of untoward situa tions, such as the pandemic.

Henson said people now have “greater desire to be financially

ready” and “to be physically and fi nancially fit.”

And I think that’s what we saw among the parents that we surveyed this year, that they re ally have leveraged a lot on the new digital tools to improve their planning so that they can prepare for the unexpected,” she told the Philippine News Agency.

A nd taking note of the impact of the pandemic on people’s financial capacity, with some workers los ing their jobs, Henson said they would continue to provide protec tion products and investment op portunities “to help them achieve financial security and make their every day better.”

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

are motorcycles, Dimayuga said.

By Glen Jacob Jose

THE National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will deploy 10,000 policemen to ensure a peaceful and orderly com memoration of All Saints’ and All Souls’ days this year.

“ Initial 10,000 na mga police personnel kasama na diyan ang mga force multipliers, ang mga barangay tanods, mga civic volunteer organi zations at iba pang mga volunteer organizations. [Initial 10,000 police personnel including the force mul tipliers, the barangay tanods, civic volunteer organizations and other volunteer organizations],” Lt. Col. Dexter Verzola, NCRPO spokesper son told reporters on Tuesday.

He said the full deployment will happen one day before the event and it will guard all cemeteries, whether private or public in Metro Manila.

Verzola added the deployment of NCRPO personnel would serve as augmentation in the conduct of preventive patrol operations, and anti-criminality and antidrug campaigns.

Police assistance desks (PADs) will also be set up to guide commuters and prevent criminals from taking advantage of the crowd, he said.

Verzola said police assistance cen ters will be established inside and outside cemeteries and memorial parks to keep peace and order and reminded the public to ensure that minimum public health standards are observed.

A side from the policemen, the po lice official said seven mobile police outpost of the NCRPO will also be deployed so they can monitor, espe cially with the influx of people this coming Undas.

“Ang konsepto nito ay puwede mo ilagay kung saan ito kinakailangan na malagyan para mabantayn ng kapu lisan ang mamamayan lalong lalo na sa pagdagsa ng mga tao ngayong Undas [The concept of this is that you can deploy policemen where it is neces sary so that the police can watch over the people, especially with the influx of people this Undas],” said Verzola.

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MID the rise of road mis haps involving motorcycles, Metropolitan Manila Devel opment Authority (MMDA) Acting Chairman Carlo Dimayuga III bared a new plan to install exclusive mo torcycle lanes in select Metro Ma nila streets.

Dimayuga said that the motorcy cle lanes will first be installed along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City following the clamor of motor cycle groups to put up motorcycle lanes along Edsa, as well as Com monwealth Avenue, starting next month, if the Metro Manila Council, the governing and policy-making body of the MMDA, would approve the proposal.

During the Motorcycle Consul tation Workshop on Wednesday, Dimayuga noted the high volume of registered vehicles in the National Capital Region (NCR).

He said there are 2.9 million vehicles registered in NCR or 24.4 percent of the 11.8 million vehicles registered in the country.

Of these 2.9 million, 1.4 million

T he MMDA chief also disclosed that the number of vehicles on Metro roads have already surpassed the prepandemic level.

We notice na bumabalik na tayo sa pre-pandemic situation dahil sa pagluluwag at pagtanggal ng ibang restriction at pagtaas ng bilang na sasakyan na nagpaparehistro na nag dudulot ng traffic congestion,” Di mayuga said.

D ata provided by MMDA showed the daily average number of vehicles plying Edsa has now reached 410,000.

T he figure is 5,000 higher than the vehicle count before the Covid-19 pandemic.

T he agency said almost 50 percent of these vehicles are privately owned, while 38 percent are motorcycles.

Another 4.5 percent are taxicabs.

T he vehicle volume along Edsa has steadily increased from January this year with 302,309 to 371,882 by February, 377,591 by March, 400,776 by April, 403,774 by May and 408,105 by June.

T he number dipped slightly to 400,829 and 387,003 in July and August.

COTABATO CITY—Construc tion work started Wednesday for a P15-million halal meat hub-cum-slaughterhouse facility in Maguindanao province.

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Agrarian Reform-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Min danao (MAFAR-BARMM) Minister Mohammad Yacob said the project will rise on the border of Barangays Madia and Sambolawan in the towns of Datu Saudi Ampatuan and Datu Salibo, respectively.

Yacob said the groundbreaking ceremonies were held Tuesday in Barangay Madia.

T he project will consist of a halal meat processing area, a training cen ter, and an integrated halal slaugh terhouse that can cater to 50 heads of animals daily.

D atu Saudi Ampatuan Mayor Edris Sindatok pledged to provide the needed help and logistical sup port, when necessary, for the proj ect’s sustainability.

We assure you that all the proj ects implemented in our town will be useful for our community,” Sin datok said during the groundbreak ing, as he lauded MAFAR–BARMM for choosing his town as one of the project beneficiaries.

Datu Teng Sandigan, Datu Salibo environment, and natural resourc es officer, who represented Mayor Solaiman Sandigan in the ground breaking program, also lauded MA FAR for the initiative.

“ We are blessed to have this proj ect that will be beneficial to our farm ers and fisherfolk,” Sandigan said.

Dr. Daud Lagasi, MAFAR’s direc tor general for agriculture services, said the project aims to help farmers avail of the meat processing center and slaughterhouse.

We want this project to be suc cessful and acknowledged as one of the sources of halal meat in the BARMM region,” he said.

T he project is expected to be com pleted by March 2023.

NCRPO deploys over 10K cops for ‘Undas’

BARMM builds P15-M halal meat hub, slaughterhouse in Maguindanao

AGRICULTURE officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao lay down the foundation for the construction of a modern meat processing center and halal slaughterhouse in Maguindanao. The project is expected to be completed by March next year.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MAFAR-BARMM

(FROM left) Rep. Ramon Rodrigo L. Gutierrez of 1-Rider party list; Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Engr. Carlo Antonio Dimayuga III; and Rep. Bonifacio L. Bosita during the formal opening of the two-day consultation workshop that aims to come up with a consensus and an action plan to improve traffic management along major thoroughfares in the National Capital Region NONOY LACZA

DENR chief Yulo vows closer coordination in enforcement of small-scale mining law

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

ant that adversely affects humans and ecosystems.

THE

Department of Environ ment and Natural Resources (DENR) has assured Congress it will work closely with local govern ment units (LGUs), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and other concerned agen cies for the full implementation of the  “People’s Small-Scale Mining Act” to better regulate the activity and flush out illegal miners.

Camarines Sur Rep. and Com mission on Appointments majority floor leader LRay Villafuerte said DENR Secretary Ma. Antonia YuloLoyzaga gave this assurance to the Commission on Appointments (CA) during a recent committee meeting of the 25-member bicameral panel prior to its confirmation of her ap pointment as secretary.

Yulo-Loyzaga said she supports this enterprise as a means to lift cer tain populations out of their socioeco nomic conditions, “[but] we do feel at least at the DENR at the moment, that we need to strengthen our capacity to observe, to monitor, to evaluate the environmental impacts of these activities at the local level.”

Villafuerte, at the same time, sug gested to the DENR secretary to look into current mining technologies that already allow miners to process gold without using mercury, a pollut

“ There are already so many tech nologies, mercury-free processing of gold. So, I suggest that the depart ment can research on this and be updated, because every day there are new technologies and processes that are being implemented,” he said. “As you mentioned, [the use of mercury] is really dangerous.”

V illafuerte, a former CamSur governor, noted that although the Small-Scale Mining law was enacted in 1991, not so many such activities have been legalized thus far, hence the proliferation of illegal smallscale miners.

W hen Yulo-Loyzaga revealed that the DENR has recognized 50 Minahang Bayan projects since the law took effect in 1991, Villafuerte said, “That’s what we want to know, because 31 years since the law was enacted, it’s very sad to hear that there are actually only 50 [Minahang Bayan projects]. And I’m sure you know that there is probably hundreds of illegal small-scale mining waiting to be accredited. And as Secretary, it’s a law and, as you mentioned, you support it as long as it’s within the mandate of the law.”

T he former governor asked YuloLoyzaga how she intends to imple ment this Republic Act or RA 7076, given that “there has been a prolifera tion of illegal small-scale miners” be

cause previous administrations had failed to promote legitimate smallscale mining.

He said one other thing that the DENR could look into is to stream line the process of business regis tration under the law in order to encourage small-scale miners to go legit instead of continue engaging in illegal mining.

To create more jobs and ensure a more equitable sharing of natu ral resources, RA 7076 was signed into law to develop, protect and ra tionalize viable small-scale mining in mineralized areas, or those with naturally occurring mineral deposits of gold, silver, chromite, kaolin silica, marble, gravel and clay.

R A 7076 lets the government forge joint venture or mineral pro duction sharing agreements with small-scale miners for mining small plots or mineral lands, mainly rely ing on manual labor and using simple tools and methods in lieu of explo sives or heavy equipment.

To be able to secure mining con tracts, these small-scale miners have to first voluntarily form cooperatives duly licensed by the DENR, and their cooperatives must then be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Yulo-Loyzaga told Villafuerte she has had “initial conversations already on how we might be able to coordinate more closely with the

DILG, in particular, in order for us to be able to maintain some integrity in the ecosystems despite the necessity of this activity being made available to communities who actually need the incomes at the barangay and at the community level.”

Moreover, she said the DENR would like to work closely with LGUs and the Department of Social Wel fare and Development (DSWD) in addressing Gender and Development (GAD) issues related to small-scale mining as there are women who work in the mines.

T he DENR would similarly like to address the issue of child labor as there are also children working in mine sites, she said.

…There are a number of child laborers as well as, of course, also, women who are working in this field. This is a social issue, and we hope to be able to work with the GAD offices at each of the LGUs, in order to help support this particu lar—addressing this particular is sue,” she said. “At this point, the is sue of child labor is a particularly complex one. And so, we hope to work with the local governments, DSWD, as well as the department on trying to resolve this issue.”

Yulo-Loyzaga said, “Among the first things we will be doing—and as I’ve already informed the team at the DENR—we will be conducting a full process review of this approval process, not just po for the smallscale mining, but for other activities of the DENR as well.”

“ This will actually allow us to determine where the gaps are in terms of translating policy into actual implementation at the local level,” she said.

“It is very crucial for us to keep in close coordination with the DILG because as you [Villafuerte] men tioned, there are possibly hundreds, if not more, illegal small-scale min ing activities, which we will need the

cooperation of the LGU, in order for us to actually identify, and monitor and make that part of the formaliza tion process under this law,” YuloLoyzaga said.

She added, “I would also like to state that the DENR also needs the cooperation at the local government level in terms of monitoring the way the small-scale mining activities are being conducted, because at the end of the day, as you probably will know, the DENR is always blamed for a particular disaster because of the lack of the monitoring. And so, we hope we can work with you, as well as with the different LGU chief ex ecutives, in order for us to continue to expedite and provide the means of livelihood in a safe and as resilient way as possible.”

Villafuerte and three other Cam Sur lawmakers are backing the swift congressional approval of a consoli dated bill meant to guarantee the national government (NG) a fairer share of revenues from mining, while providing better protection to the environment as well as to local com munities hosting big miners.

He, along with CamSur Reps. Miguel Luis Villafuerte and Tsuyo shi Anthony Horibata, and Bicol Saro Rep. Nicolas Enciso VIII earlier intro duced House Bill (HB) 2014, which was one of several similar measures incorporated into the consolidated bill that the House committee on ways and means chaired by Albay Rep. Jose Ma. Salceda approved last month for plenary approval.

T he panel had approved a consoli dated bill in support of the proposal of the Department of Finance (DOF) for a new, single fiscal regime for all current and future mines, regardless of location, and that raised the tax rate for big-time miners from the current 38 percent to 51 percent, in a bid to raise P37.5 billion in mining taxes in this proposal’s first full year of implementation.

Arti Sta. Rita, Pidayit embellish awards night for brilliant Kapampangans in various fields

Ressa’s camp to seek relief before SC on libel verdict

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

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HE camp of Nobel laure ate and Rappler CEO Ma ria Ressa said they will seek relief before the Supreme Court (SC) against the ruling of a trial court and the Court of Appeals, which both found her and former reporter Reynaldo Santos Jr., li able for cyber libel crime.

L awyer Theodore “Ted” Te, counsel for Ressa, expressed dis appointment over the October 10 resolution issued by the CA deny ing their motion for reconsidera tion of its July 2022 decision, up holding Ressa and Santos’ convic tion for cyber libel by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Manila City two years ago.

“ The CA decision denying the motion for reconsideration is dis appointing. It ignored basic princi ples of constitutional and criminal law as well as evidence presented. Maria and Rey will elevate these issues to the SC and we will ask the SC to review the decision and to reverse the decision,” Te said.

Ressa, on the other hand, lament ed the failure of the justice system to protect journalists like her from harassment and threats.

The ongoing campaign of harassment and intimidation against me and Rappler continues, and the Philippine legal system is not doing enough to stop it,” she said.

“I am disappointed by today’s rul ing but sadly not surprised. This is a reminder of the importance of inde pendent journalism holding power to account. Despite these sustained at tacks from all sides, we continue to focus on what we do best—journal ism,” she added.

I n denying the accused-appel lants motion for reconsideration, the CA pointed out that they failed to raise new arguments that would warrant the reversal of its July 2022 decision.

A ssociate Justice Roberto Quiroz of the appellate court’s Fourth Divi sion penned the decision.

T he CA assured the public that Ressa and Santos’s conviction is not geared towards the curtail ment of the freedom of speech, or to produce a chilling effect that would hinder free speech.

In its June 2020 ruling, Manila RTC Branch 46 Presiding Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa held that the failure of the defense to pres ent Ressa and Santos to refute the charge against them was a big blow to their case.

J udge Montesa said Santos and Ressa are both in the best posi tion to testify that the article was published with good motives and justifiable ends.

CLARK

FREEPORT ZONE—The Kapampangan in Media Inc. (CAMI), keenly focused on re vitalizing Kapampangan arts and cul ture, will present the highly acclaimed Arti Sta. Rita, a group of performing artists led by the versatile performing artist Andy Alviz. The event, slated on November 25, 2022 at Royce Hotel here, is dubbed “Renaissance of Ka pampangan Art and Culture.”

Ashley Manabat, CAMI president said the event will be a prestigious one as CAMI will honor the staunch patrons and supporters of Kapampan gan arts and culture and distinguished Pampangos who will be conferred awards of excellence in various fields.

According to Manabat, the popu lar creations of fashion genius and philanthropist Philip Torres will also be featured during the event, which will immensely add glamour and grandeur to the event.

“Fashion producer Torres is the creator of Pidayit fashion, using quality fabric scrap cloth beautifully created and interlinked. Pidayit, now

gaining popularity here and abroad, has been employing women and many street children to create the Pidayit textile” he added.

On the other hand, Alejandro “Andy” Alviz, leader of Arti Sta.Rita, has been dedicating his life for the renaissance of Kapampangan arts and culture as singer, composer, di rector and choreographer.

With his artistry, Alviz has consis tently sought to elicit feelings of hope and cooperation among the people of Pampanga. Outside of his own music, he served as resident choreographer for the Miss Saigon productions in Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea and Manila and as stage director-cho reographer for Binibining Pilipinas.

CAMI is a non-stock, non-profit, non-political, organization of repu table journalists with Kapampangan roots aiming to work for the revival and enhancement of arts, culture and heritage. It aims to promote and de fend freedom of the press and advance the welfare and interests of journal ists in general.

T he judge also noted that despite Ken’s plea to publish a clarificatory article or air his side of the story the accused did not heed this.

T he trial court sentenced Ressa and Santos six months up to six years in jail and directed them to jointly pay complainant-businessman Wil fredo Keng the amount of P400,000 as moral and exemplary damages.

T he case stemmed from an ar ticle written by Santos in May 2012 claiming that Keng allegedly lent his sports utility vehicle to then Chief Justice Renato Corona.

A part from this, the story also cited an intelligence report that said Keng had been under surveillance by the National Security Council for alleged involvement in human trafficking and drug smuggling.

K eng has denied all the allega tions and decided to file a com plaint with the National Bureau of Investigation Cybercrime Division in October 2017 that eventually led to the filing of the case before the court.

OCD probes hacking of NDRRMC

FB page

THE Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said measures are underway to prevent a repeat of the hacking of the official Facebook page of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

In a Facebook post on Tuesday night, the OCD confirmed that the NDRRMC’s official Facebook page has been hacked at “around 3 p.m.” on Tuesday.

It added that necessary arrangements are in place to retrieve the account and investigate the matter.

“ We uphold data privacy and security, alongside the welfare of the members of the NDRRMC,” the OCD said.

However, the agency did not give exact circumstances and other details regarding the incident.

We would like to apologize for any inconvenience or confusion this incident might bring to the public and stakeholders. Rest assured, measures are in place to prevent this incident from happening again. Thank you for your understanding,” the OCD added. PNA

CA orders reinstatement of 2 NBI officials

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

posts because de Lima was “morally convinced” that they were the ones who prematurely informed pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles about the issuance of the warrant for her arrest in relation to the case for illegal detention filed by Benhur Luy.

“Petitioners’ dedicated and devot ed service with respondent NBI was carried out with no other intention but to serve the public. In return, the government, including this Court, cannot fail them,” the CA said.

ments at the current rate from the time of his actual dismissal from government service until he reached the compulsory age of re tirement, including all the retire ment and leave privileges that are due him as a retiring employee.

proper appointment in rank designa tion as NBI Deputy Directors III before being considered permanent appoin tees in their contested positions and thus enjoy security of tenure.

I n a 24-page decision penned by Associate Justice Mary Charlene Hernandez-Azura, the CA’s Spe cial Fourteenth Division reversed and set aside the rulings of the Office of the President issued on December 12, 2018 and January 27, 2021, which sustained the va lidity of the dismissal of Esmer alda and Lasala.

T he Palace ruled the position of deputy Director III is considered a third level position that requires third-level Career Executive Service (CES) eligibility.

It stressed that a CES employee can only attain security of tenure if he or she is CES eligible and is ap pointed to appropriate CES rank.

Since the two NBI officials do not possess the required CES eligibil ity, thus, the Palace said they were considered as mere temporary ap pointees, who do not enjoy security of tenure. Esmeralda and Lasala el evated the case before the CA after their motion for reconsideration was denied by the OP.

It can be recalled that on March 13, 2014, then Justice Secretary Leila de Lima issued Department Order No. 192, directing Esmeralda and Lasala to fully wind up and turn over their affairs to the newly appointed NBI deputy directors Ricardo Pangan Jr. and Antonio Pagatpat.

T he petitioners then elevated their case with the Office of the President seeking the recall of de Lima’s order and their reinstate ment to their previous or similar positions. They claimed their re moval from their positions was tantamount to dismissal from the service since there was no delega tion given to them.

T hey accused de Lima of com mitting grave abuse of discretion and violating their right to due pro cess because they were dismissed without any hearing or without being given the opportunity to rebut the accusation being hurled against them.

Esmeralda and Lasala claimed that they were removed from their

The entire civil service will not benefit on the policy among offi cials, especially those belonging to the closed career system as the pe titioners, who, after having honed their skills in their respective fields of service or expertise and after gain ing sufficient experience, will be re moved from their position based on an inexistent requirement imposed upon them,” it added.

T he CA directed the Office of the President and the NBI to rein state Esmeralda to his former posi tion as NBI Deputy Director III or its equivalent under Republic Act 10867 or the NBI Reorganization and Modernization Act, “Without loss of seniority right and without gap in the continuity of government service as if he was not removed” from his post at all.

Since Lasala has already retired from the service, the appellate court ordered the “immediate pay ment of his full back wages, sala ries, incentives, benefits, and other monetary privileges and emolu

I n their petition before the CA, Esmeralda and Lasala argued that their previous positions as deputy directors are “highly specialized in nature’ requiring highly technical, if not, scientific, expertise, which are among the positions excluded from CES coverage.”

T hey said their managerial or ex ecutive functions were only incidental to their main investigative functions.  I n agreeing with the petition ers, the CA declared, “The NBI directorial positions belonging to the closed career system whose in herent job responsibilities are sci entific and highly specialized and technical in nature were recognized as one of the premises or bases for the issuance of CESB [Career Ex ecutive Service Board] Resolution No. 1560 dated 15 October 2015, which eventually declared the NBI director’s position as beyond the coverage of the CES, thereby ex pressly repealing Resolution No. 1409 dated 12 July 2018.”

“Petitioners’ contested position of NBI Director III or Deputy Direc tor definitely was not covered by the CES,” the CA added.

Likewise, the CA held that the petitioners are not required to be ac credited and qualified Career Execu tive Service Officers (CESO) with the

L ikewise, the CA said the peti tioners were not even the subject of any pending case that would some how justify any action or sanction on their part.

“ If at all, the petitioners were not heard by the appointing au thority first before the imposition of any penalty converting their appointments in utter violation of their rights to due process and security of tenure,” the appellate court said.

E smeralda and Lasala, accord ing to the CA, are qualified to the position having served for a long time as NBI agents until their promotion and appointment as deputy directors having complied with all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications for the said position, foremost among them their being lawyers and their passing of the mental and physical examinations conducted by the NBI Academy in an appropriate qualifying course.

The removal of petitioners was illegal and in violation of their right to due process. Hence, petitioners are entitled the pay ment of back wages and other benefits due them from the time they were replaced up to their reinstatement to their former position without loss of senior ity rights,” the CA ruled.

THE Court of Appeals (CA) has declared illegal the dismissal from the service of lawyers Reynaldo Esmeralda and Ruel Lasala as deputy directors of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in 2014.

DICT bares program to provide Internet connection to GIDAs

Areas (GIDA).

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

THE

Department of Infor mation and Communica tions Technology (DICT) has launched a new program to pro vide Internet access to residents in remote parts of the country.

At a news conference on Wednes day, DICT Secretary Ivan John E. Uy

said their “Broadband ng Masa Proj ect” (Broadband of Masses Project) aims to cover most of the 30 percent of the population, who still have no access to the Internet.

T he latest beneficiary of the proj ect was Sacol Island in Zamboanga, which has a population of 12,000.

L ast month, Uy said they also constructed the tower and receivers in the cities of Lamitan and Isabela

in Basilan to also provide Internet access in the said areas.

This is the realization of the promise of President [Ferdinand] ‘Bongbong’ [Marcos Jr.] to reach out to isolated [and remote] parts of the country,” Uy said.

D ue to limited resources, he ad mitted they could not provide Inter net access to all of the Geographi cally Isolated and Disadvantaged

House bill pushes mariculture program for fishing industry

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz  @joveemarie

transport and marketing.

“

We cannot do 100 percent [In ternet access] because there are cer tain islands where let’s say [there are only] a handful of people,” Uy said.

U y said their Broadband ng Masa Project is a continuation of the Free Wi-Fi Project of the pre vious administration.

W hile the previous leadership of the DICT was able to construct the

infrastructure to provide Internet ac cess to isolated parts of the country, he noted the said facilities currently have no bandwidth.

The transmitters are there, but these have no bandwidth because the previous administration did not re new the connectivity [contract] from January 2022 up to today,” Uy said.

He explained they are currently identifying the affected areas so they

could reactivate the Internet service in the said areas.

While we’re working on that… because there are still existing is sues, we started with the Broadband ng Masa,” Uy said.

DICT earlier said it is targeting to construct 3,273 additional free Wi-fi sites in 2023, which is lower to 5,951 target sites by the end of the year.

Padilla presses DSWD, NCIP to end IPs’ yearly ‘begging’ in NCR streets as Christmas nears

boost the country’s food security, the AGRI Party-list has filed a bill seeking to es tablish a National Mariculture Pro gram (NMP).

TO

AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee said his House Bill 5531, or the proposed National Mariculture Pro gram Act, seeks to promote maricul ture as a major source of livelihood for fishermen.

Mariculture parks are areas in the sea that are similar to industrial parks or estates on land where the appropriate infrastructure such as roads, other facilities, and support services are provided to attract en trepreneurs/investors,” he said.

In mariculture parks, Lee said infrastructure provided is a moor ing (anchoring) system for floating fish cages, fish landings, cold storage, and support services for processing,

Mariculture refers to the farm ing of aquatic plants and animals through sea cages, long lines and other culture structures in marine and coastal areas.

High value species, such as ban gus, siganid, seaweeds, oysters, mussels, red snappers, groupers, among others, can be grown through this method.

“Our country is one of the world’s top producers of fish and aquatic plants. Given our distinct advantage in natural resources we must exert greater effort to ensure that we can use these amid the dangers of the climate crisis and increasing food insecurity,” Lee said.

He added mariculture could pro vide a renewable and scalable source of food for Filipino families, as well as livelihood for those living in fish ing communities.

T he bill pushes for the expansion of the NMP, which the Bureau of

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources cur rently implements, throughout the Philippines in areas that are identi fied as conducive for mariculture.

If passed, the government would be mandated to adopt the ecosystembased approach to fisheries man agement to ensure that the marine environment remains conducive to sustainable fisheries, species manage ment and mariculture investment.

T he government would also be tasked with minimizing the ad verse effects of mariculture in view of the multiple uses of marine and coastal areas.

T he government would also be required to improve the viability of mariculture by developing the tech nical skills of fishermen throughout the production, harvesting, process ing, storage, and transport stages in the value chain; providing appropri ate infrastructure and equipment for post-harvest technology; and ensuring easy access to finance.

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

SEN.

Robinhood Padilla moved to mobilize the Department of So cial Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Commis sion on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in a determined bid “to effectively end begging by Indigenous Peoples [IP] forced to travel to Metro Manila.”

To finally stop the seemingly endless cycle of Badjaos and other indigenous peoples forced to travel to Metro Manila at Christmastime and risk their lives while begging for alms,” the senator stressed, “It is time they get priority long-term livelihood assistance” from the DSWD and NCIP.

Padilla, chairman of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communi ties, passed on the proposal to of ficials of the two agencies during a Senate hearing on the DSWD’s bud get for 2023.

He recalled that when Christmas time approaches, “We see IPs such as our Badjao brethren on the streets, with their children,” noting, “Our authorities would rescue them from the streets and send them to their home provinces, but they will keep coming back.”

Padilla reminded that the DSWD has livelihood programs. “This is a suggestion—can we teach them to earn a living without having to risk their lives?”

He noted DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo announcing his department has programs like Balik Probinsya at Kala hi-CIDSS to help the IPs once they are brought to their homes, adding these must be implemented this year so they need not return to Manila next year.

The senator said NCIP Chairman Allen Capuyan said they plan to rep licate the program of the Davao City government where IPs are gathered

at a venue for a cultural presentation, and donors at sponsors can go there. Padilla recalled Capuyan as saying they are coordinating with the Techni cal Education and Skills Development Authority to teach IPs on weaving.

Azurin’s apology accepted

PADILLA also said he has accepted the apology of National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. “over the improper use of the word ‘Muslim’ to describe criminals.”

However, the senator said, “I hope this will be an important first step to end discrimination against people based on their faith.”

“My wish is that our heroic po licemen remove from their vocabu lary the word ‘Muslim’ in referring to those who are linked to crime or terrorism. Again, there is no connec tion between one’s faith and his/her wrongdoing,” he added.

Zubiri says Chinese envoy, not him, used ‘blacklist’ word in call

investments (FDI).

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

SENATE

President Miguel Zubiri on Wednesday in sisted that he did not invent the word “blacklist” in conveying the message of the Chinese ambassador that Beijing has included the Philippines on a list of tour ist sites it is discouraging its citizens from going to, on account of its “continued hosting of POGOs,” referring to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators.

T he Senate leader, who was visited by Ambassador Huang Xilian on Monday, said that what he heard as the envoy’s remarks will be borne out by the recollection of his colleagues who also attended the courtesy call, as well as the transcript of that meeting.

“Maybe it was a case of lost in translation,” Zubiri said in a radio interview, recalling that Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Ways and Means Commit tee hearing the POGO issues, also heard and understood Xilian’s message about a supposed “blacklist.”

Zubiri said he even “asked the ambassador to clarify what he meant by this blacklist,” and he said they have discouraged their nationals from going to countries on such list as they host offshore gaming, which victimizes many Chinese citizens.

Maybe, Zubiri explained, the envoy meant to speak “in the future tense,” conveying a plan to include Manila. How ever, his remark came off as “in the present tense,” taken to mean Manila is already in the blacklist, Zubiri added.

T he Zubiri revelations, aired at the Senate hearing pre sided by Gatchalian on Tuesday, roiled senators who said the Beijing “blacklist” could greatly impact the Philippine tourism revenues, as Chinese nationals accounted for the top arrivals before the pandemic in 2019.

Zubiri recalled there were “too many in the room and it was possible somebody used the word blacklist but it did not come from us.”

Cost of tourist ‘blacklist’

IN a Senate hearing on Tuesday, National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Rosemarie G. Edillon revealed that the 1.7 million Chinese tourist arrivals in 2019 contributed 0.7 percent of the country’s GDP.

But at the same hearing, Finance officials presented an assessment that “the social costs of POGOs outweigh the economic benefits they bring.”

Edillon disclosed that based on Neda’s estimates the POGO industry contributed 0.53 percent of GDP in 2019 or about P104.5 billion. Edillon added that the POGO industry’s contribution to the economy could even reach 0.67 percent of GDP based on multiplier effects.

“Because of this ban, we will not have Chinese tourists... [If we] have this foregone income from Chinese tourists, we are looking at a net cost of 0.03 percent of GDP,” she told the joint hearing of the Senate Committees on Way and Means with Public Order and Dangerous Drugs.

Edillon was referring to China’s so-called “blacklist” of cross-border gambling destinations as the Asian coun try intensifies its crackdown of gambling operations and activities involving Chinese nationals.

“[The blacklist] tries to stop the tourism of Chinese tourists to the Philippines. [China] singled out Cambodia and the Philippines for that matter. Cambodia quickly banned the industry but the Philippines did not heed China’s call,” she said.

Zubiri had said, “The Philippines now is part of a black list of tourist sites because they do not know if the tourist will be joining POGO operations and they do not know if the Chinese nationals who go to the Philippines will be safe from illegal activities being done by the triad, by the syndicates operating POGO. They may also be kidnapped, mistaken as POGO operators.”

A ccording to Zubiri, Ambassador Huang Xilian said Beijing was cracking down hard on offshore gaming be cause “in our country a lot of people have died, committed suicide, or are in jail for theft or robbery for payment of debt to POGO operators in other countries, particularly in the Philippines.”

Zubiri further quoted Ambassador Xilian as saying that offshore gaming “also provides criminality to the host country, as you have seen in yours.”

Context behind tourist data

STILL, data crunched by the BusinessMirror indicate that Beijing’s new travel advice policy is not necessarily behind the numbers showing weak tourism arrivals from China.

Prior to the pandemic and while POGOs continued op erating, China was the second top tourism market of the Philippines, with arrivals reaching 1.74 million in 2019, up 38.6 percent from the previous year.

A rrivals have fallen in the succeeding years due to the continued closure of China to outbound tourism, affecting not just the Philippines, but other tourist destinations as well.

According to the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute, some 1.7 million Chinese traveled to Macau in the first quarter of the year, the only destination they can go to without having to quarantine when they return home. Due to strict zero-Covid policies, Chinese mainland ers are mostly traveling domestically. In 2019, outbound Chinese travelers reached 170 million.

Fallout from POGOs

DURING Tuesday’s hearing by Gatchalian’s panel, Fi nance Undersecretary Bayani H. Agabin disclosed De partment of Finance computations that the Philippines lost P12.4 billion to P19.8 billion in investments last year due to POGO-related worries.

Citing an international study, Agabin argued that high crime rates “negatively” affect the country’s foreign direct

Based on a study on the relationship of kidnapping rate and capital flight among developing countries, it found that an increase in kidnapping rate by 1 per 100,000 of the population, would increase capital flight by 1.03 per centage points of GDP,” he explained.

Agabin noted that income from the POGO industry has been constantly declining since 2020 because of Covid-19 pandemic-related challenges and passage of the POGO tax law. This was also worsened by the clampdown by the

Chinese government against online gambling activities by its citizens, he added.

DOF data showed the government’s revenue from POGO operations peaked in 2019 at P8.02 billion before falling to P5.28 billion in 2020 and P3.47 billion in 2021.

“

In closing, we believe that the social costs of POGOs outweigh the economic benefits they bring, as no amount of money can compensate for social and emotional losses from serious offenses against society,” Agabin said.

“As positive public perception correlates with increased

business and investments, reputational risks associated with POGO may indicate more is at stake than there is to gain,” Agabin added.

L

ast month, Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno disclosed that the country faces “reputational risks” if the government would continue to allow POGO opera tions. (Related story:  https://businessmirror.com. ph/2022/09/16/diokno-keeping-pogos-gives-phlreputational-risks/)

With earlier reports by Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas, Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz, Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

CONWEP exec sees more retrenchments in garment industry

By Andrea E. San Juan

THEConfederation of Wear

able Exporters of the Philip pines (CONWEP) said 8 to 10 percent of its 270,000 workers could be affected if “current trend” extends longer, or global demand conditions worsen.

Currently we are experiencing around 3.5 to 4 percent workers af fected with a base of 270,000 workers covering wearables [apparel, travel goods, footwear.] It might reach to a maximum range of 8 to 10 per cent if the current trend extends longer or global demand conditions worsen,” CONWEP Executive Direc tor Marites Jocson-Agoncillo told reporters at a virtual news confer ence on Wednesday.

A s global demand for consumer goods continues to slow down, the

wearables export sector is expected to also bear the brunt of the worsen ing global conditions.

“ What happened to our Mactan, Cebu based member should not be singled out at this moment. This will be a trend to some factories whose customers are starting to cut down on their projections, so we expect temporary closures or partial re trenchment of work force in the next few months,” CONWEP said in a news statement on Wednesday.

4,000 workers of CONWEP were laid off in Cebu recently.

I n fact, the wearables export sec tor stressed that the United States, being its top export market, report ed that their monthly consumer con fidence index in August 2022 stood at 96.18.

T his, CONWEP stressed, is an in dicator that the average US consumer

is not confident to spend, as they are worried about another possible recession. Hence, the wearables ex port group said, American consum ers would rather hold back spending in the next 12 months.

T he US is the major market of the wearables export sector.

In fact, the group stressed that this is already happening as global gi ants in Silicon Valley already started cutting down costs.

The continuing downturn of the global consumer confidence index [CCI] clearly reveals the soft ening of the global apparel market. This is brought about by current global trend wherein consumers tend to spend less, hold back on discretionary spending such as ap parel and other consumer goods,” CONWEP said in a news statement issued on Wednesday.

T he wearables export sector em phasized that the uncertainty of the war in East Central Europe, ris ing fuel cost, the disrupted supply chain, and fear of another pandemic “directly” impacts on consumer be havior across the globe.

A s the wearables sector moves forward, it said that it is banking on the collaboration between the Phil ippine government and the industry sector, as it is “very critical” at this juncture.

“ We are grateful to the DSWD [Department of Social Welfare and Development] for extending out sup port to our 4,000 workers laid off in Cebu recently,” CONWEP said.

T he wearables export sector also highlighted that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) headed by Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pas cual organized the CEO Roundtable

Meeting (RTM) on Global Brands (Apparel, Shoes and Leather Goods) during the recent working visit of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. to the United States.

CONWEP said it supports such initiatives to push for better trade opportunities to mitigate migration of orders to more competitive coun tries with access to raw materials.

During the RTM, CONWEP said “strategic” trade and investment policy recommendations were dis cussed in length on how to increase US imports from the Philippines.  Moreover, CONWEP noted that the “key factors discussed were the US reauthorization of the General ized System of Preferences [GSP], en hancement of the GSP to cover other Philippine-made products, and other possible framework such as a bilat eral trade agreement which it said

will spur growth of the Philippine manufacturing sector and increase US inputs on products exported from the Philippines.”

Jocson-Agoncillo stressed that as CONWEP is in the output export manufacturing, their operating cost is “very small.” With this, the CON WEP executive director added that the wearables export sector needs “trade preferences programs,” such as the Regional Comprehensive Eco nomic Partnership (RCEP) to be able to “survive competitiveness.”

S he also stressed that “because with these trade preferences pro grams, we will be able to entice investors.” Jocson-Agoncillo added that being part of trade agreements can make the sector “vertically in tegrated” and will enable it to put more value in its exports to its ma jor market.

Herrera calls for House inquiry into ‘inefficient’ rollout of natl ID system project

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

ALAWMAKER has filed a reso lution urging the House of Representatives to look into what she described as “inefficient, delayed and faulty” rollout of the national ID system.

In filing House Resolution 471, House Deputy Minority Leader Bernadette Herrera said the gov ernment agencies in charge of the project—Bangko Sentral ng Pilipi

nas (BSP), National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)—must be taken to task for their “shortcomings.”

T he Bagong Henerasyon partylist representative even suggested replacing the current PSA leader ship due to “inefficiencies” pointed out in the implementation of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), which was supposed to be a means to improve the delivery of public services.

An accountability mechanism must be established to allow a closer look into what went wrong, or what may still be improved, in the imple mentation of the national ID sys tem,” Herrera said.

E stablished by Republic Act 11055, the PhilSys project seeks to promote inclusive coverage and en able better access to the most vulner able groups such as the poor, people living in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, Indigenous Peoples and persons with disabilities.

W hen the Covid-19 pandemic affected the country in 2020, then President Rodrigo R. Duterte or dered the immediate implementa tion of the PhilSys project to aid in identifying the poorest households entitled to government cash aid dur ing the lockdowns.

T he BSP was then mandated to produce and deliver 116 million prepersonalized IDs from 2021 to 2023.

However, Herrera said the Com mission on Audit (COA) noted that as of December 31, 2021, the BSP

was able to deliver only 27,356,750 pre-personalized cards or 76 percent of the 36 million required number of IDs for last year.

Prior to this period, Herrera, citing COA, added the BSP only managed to deliver 8,764,556 personalized cards, a measly 17.53 percent of the 50 mil lion required numbers of IDs for cal endar years 2020 and 2021.

Herrera said apart from the delay in meeting the quota for the num ber of ID cards to be accomplished, there have been complaints about

inaccuracy of personal information and blurry images on the cards, and that the IDs are no longer readable after about three months.

She also cited reports of hack ing, which led to concerns that the personal data or sensitive personal information of the citizenry has been compromised.

It will be recalled that Senator Imee Marcos questioned why the government awarded the contract for the National ID System to a foreign firm with a bad track record.

Agriculture/Commodities

Hounded by climate, pandemic, logistics woes, global food supply in peril from Ukraine war

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

ment has been trying to address one commodity after another to resolve the myriad of internal and external challenges hounding its food produc tion and supply.

Bittersweet problem

cause? Lackluster production be cause of typhoon-related problems. Political interventions in terms of the government’s importation program. And...well, mudslinging between government officials and industry stakeholders.

planters, undersecretaries and administrators were eventually involved in a highly-televised in vestigation by Congress. The end?

W

HO would have thought that it would take only one man to send the global food supply spiraling down to the near abyss? No one did.

Or perhaps Vladimir Putin did. Because, until now pundits and gov ernment officials are scrambling to address the shockwave sent across the global food systems by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

For its part, the Philippine govern

THE first to test the Marcos Jr.’s ad ministration’s mettle to resolve an agricultural problem was a fine white crystal of around 400 microns: sugar.

T he retail price of refined sugar skyrocketed to unimaginable levels of beyond P100 per kilogram, a his toric high for the Philippines. The

T he problem birthed more prob lems along the way, including the con troversial approval of a sugar order that authorized the importation of 200,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar in the country.

S enators, congressmen, highranking Palace officials, sugarcane

No one really knows until now but the government eventually allowed the importation of an additional 150,000 MT of sugar to somehow temper the runaway price of the sweetener in the market. (Related story: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2022/10/10/metro-ma nila-sugar-prices-hit-fresh-alltime-high/) Government and industry sources

told the BusinessMirror that im ports under the latest import program have started to arrive in the country. The impact of such supply augmenta tion is expected to be felt by Filipino consumers in the “coming weeks.”

Of onions and garlics

MUCH of the problems that the new administration are facing are perennial to the agriculture sector: supply-demand imbalance, market distortions and logistical concerns.

Agriculture/Commodities

Hounded by climate, pandemic, logistics woes, global food supply in peril from Ukraine war

T he social media space was filled with apologies from fast-food res taurants for the absence of the lowly white onion in their menu favorites like cheeseburgers and...onion rings.

T he government was quick to point out that the country would suffer white onion shortage this year. But it also emphasized that the country has a surplus of red on ions. (Related story: https://busi nessmirror.com.ph/2022/08/31/ phl-to-suffer-white-onion-garlicshortage/)

T he Department of Agriculture (DA) urged industrial users to just shift to red onions instead of using white onions in their products. It was easier said than done. But it has been one of the focal interventions of the government today: link farmers with industrial users in its bid to ensure a ready market for local produce.

And it did not stop there. The DA recently intervened in the market to further curb rising prices of red on ions by implementing a suggested retail price on the commodity. (Re

latedstory:https://businessmirror. com.ph/2022/10/11/da-issues-srpfor-red-onions-sold-in-metro-wetmarkets/)

Spend, spend, spend

WHEN President Ferdinand Mar cos Jr. took the portfolio of the agriculture department, the sec tor welcomed it with arms wide open. Various industry stakehold ers hoped that with Marcos as the concurrent agriculture chief, the sector would finally receive its longawaited necessary funding to boost domestic productivity.

True to their hope, the national government has allotted a total budget of P184.1 billion for the DA, its attached corporations and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). The total funding is 39.2 percent than their combined allo cation this year.

“In support of the mandate of our President, and in anticipation of a global food crisis and for the longterm goal of food self-sufficiency,

we increased the budget of the DA by 43.9 percent, to cover the funding requirements for its programs and projects,” Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said.

With the hike in total budget, industry stakeholders urged the na tional government to ensure fund ing allotment for critical yet often neglected segments of the agricul ture sector such as those of the salt, seaweed and bamboo industries. (Related story: https://business mirror.com.ph/2022/09/02/sea weed-growers-appealfor-palacefunding-support/)

Time will tell JUST as the government thought that its plate was already full, then came Supertyphoon Karding. The government has so far recorded P3.12 billion worth of agricultural damage and losses due to Karding, bulk of which being in the rice sector.

Despite the calamities and ex pensive planting inputs, the DA re mained steadfast that the country

would still reach some 19.5 million metric tons this year.

T he current administration is also facing another test that only time would tell on how he would be judged: extension of lower tariffs on import commodities.

M arcos has been vocal about his vision of reducing the country’s dependence on imports to meet the growing food requirement of the Filipino population. He is now facing lobbies from various quar ters to extend lower tariff rates on commodities such as pork, corn, rice and even coal. (Related sto ry: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2022/10/11/extend-periodfor-tariff-cutson-pork-rice-corncoal-fef/ and https://businessmir ror.com.ph/2022/09/30/groupto-pbbm-extend-lower-pork-im ports-tariff/)

A s the consumers grapple with ac celerating inflation, the government is caught in a tight spot to prove that it can tide the country over with the current global food crisis.

Toyota Motor PHL adopts planting sites in Laguna, Batangas

By Andrea E. San Juan

TOYOTA Motor Philippines Corp. the leading automotive firm in the country, said it is expanding its climate mitigation and biodiversity protection efforts with the adoption of an upland forest block in Siniloan, Laguna, and man grove forests in Calatagan, Batangas.

Under the National Greening Pro gram (NGP), TMP said it will sign this

month two separate agreements with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Region 4A Calabarzon to formalize the adop tion of the planting sites.

“ These projects’ commitment is to plant 41,000 trees and mangroves in a span of five years, aiming at 80 percent survival rate,” TMP said in a statement on Wednesday.

A s for its initial phase of reforesta tion activities, TMP said it mobilized

groups of volunteer Team Members to plant 10,000 trees and 5,000 man groves in the two areas in the month of September.

T he automotive firm said it also participated in the International Coastal Clean-up Day, turning over to the local authority 150 kilograms or 21 sacks of plastic wastes collected from the Calatagan coastline.

Toyota shares the responsibility in protecting the planet Earth and in

fighting climate change in line with United Nations Sustainable Develop ment Goals,” TMP President Atsuhiro Okamoto said. Okamoto spearheaded the simultaneous mangrove-planting and coast clean-up activities.

Global Toyota implements the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050 to achieve zero carbon dioxide [CO2] emissions and net positive en vironmental impact by year 2050,” the TMP chief added.

Meat distributor Meatworld remains bullish on growth

By Roderick L. Abad @rodrik_28 Contributor

MEAT

retailer and distribu tor Meatworld Interna tional Inc. said on Wednes day that it expects sales to grow by a single digit despite the decline in meat consumption due to inflation and peso depreciation.

According to Meatworld Inter national COO Bernadette Lee, the supermarkets where they distribute their products have observed that while consumption on food items like condiments, spices and the like has increased, the demand for the fresh meat category has declined.

In fact, this year, the first quarter saw a really big drop in consumption versus last year,” she said during a press briefing in Makati City.

Even if consumers have gone back slowly to the supermarkets in the second quarter due to the easing of mobility restrictions, she said they still “bought in smaller units.”

T he buying public, particularly the working-class with limited budget in terms of more expen sive food items, such as pork and beef, would rather purchase eggs, noodles, or canned goods within their means given the hastening of inflation, Lee noted. “Therefore, consumption also is affected by that,” she said.

She said the company is bullish on its prospects for the fourth quarter despite the continuous appreciation of the US dollar.

We are hoping that there will be revenge buying [that is] so similar to the restaurant industry where they have revenge eating out.”

Seeing the fresh meat industry’s tough situation at present, the COO

believes that this is just temporary because protein meats, particularly pork and chicken, are integral parts of the Filipino diet.

“We are about to bounce back, hope fully, last quarter of this year and, of course, we’re hoping that next year, it’s going to be a better year for the meat business [in general],” she said.

T he company is upbeat that it can still achieve a single-digit sales growth this year.

“ There is a slight growth de spite the depression in [meat] consumption in the first quarter of this year because [the economy] has opened up,” Lee said. “Most of our growths will be coming from supplying to key accounts or wholesale clients like hotels, restaurants and caterers.”

E stablished in 1996, Meat world International Inc. has been in the business of meat retailing for about 25 years. At present, it distributes meat products, such as pork, beef, chicken, and seafood items in 740 major supermar kets, as well as convenience stores 7-Eleven and Shell Select.

T he company employs over 1,500 butchers and merchandisers serving fresh, safe and high-quality meats to consumers.

T he firm also supplies to a lot of hotel, restaurant and caterer clients nationwide. Also, it has a strong on line presence due to its e-commerce site (mrsgarcias.com.ph) and other ag gregators, such as foodpanda, Grab Mart, Lazada and Shopee.

Ju st recently, it has begun of fering its community store, Mrs. Garcia’s Meatshop, for franchising.

The first store opened in Congres sional Avenue in Quezon City last October 11.

By Glen Jacob Jose

governorship to Degamo.

DEPARTMENT of the

Interior and Local Government (DILG)

Secretary Benjamin Abalos on Wednesday said political tension in Negros Oriental has ended peacefully after Pryde Henry Teves voluntarily yielded his post for the transition of leadership to Governor Roel Degamo.

We are thankful that the  governorship dispute in Negros Oriental has been resolved, with Teves respecting and adhering to the Comelec [Commission on Elections] ruling proclaiming Degamo as the duly elected governor of the province,” Abalos said in a news statement.

He lauded DILG-7 Regional Director Leocadio Trovela and Provincial Director Farah Gentuya for being at the helm of negotiations and for guiding the smooth transition of the

Abalos also expressed gratitude to Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo for his role in ensuring a smooth communication with both Teves and Degamo.

W ith this positive development, Abalos said the delivery of local government services in the province would no longer be disrupted.

“ We appeal to the supporters of both Degamo and Teves to set aside politics and to work in unison for the benefit and welfare of all Negrenses,” said Abalos.

Teves won in the last elections but the Comelec en banc, in a writ of execution last September 27, ruled that following the disqualification of a nuisance candidate who went by the name of Ruel Degamo, the latter’s votes were transferred to the original Degamo.

T he final recount of votes earned Degamo 331,726 over Teves’ 301,319.

AmCham exec to PBBM: Prioritize FTAs, please

By Andrea E. San Juan

THE Marcos administration should prioritize free trade agreements (FTAs), accord ing to an official of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Phil ippines (AmCham).

I n a televised interview on Tues day, AmCham Philippines Execu tive Director Ebb Hinchliffe urged the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. to “continue looking for free trade agreements.”

“

I think one of the top priorities is for the Senate to ratify the [Re gional Comprehensive Economic Partnership] RCEP and I’m also very much in favor of the free trade agree ment between our two countries,” Hinchliffe noted.

Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual mentioned at the AmCham Philip pines General Membership Meeting in August that the Philippines wish es to pursue a FTA with the United States, which he said will be a “more binding and permanent mechanism” to lock in market access preferences and other binding commitments to expand trade and investment oppor tunities between the two countries.

Hinchliffe also noted, “I was also a proponent and still am that the Philippines should join CPTPP [Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partner ship]. I think it’s a great opportunity for the Philippines.”

CPTPP, signed on March 8,2018, comprises Australia, Brunei Darus salam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Ma laysia, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand,

Singapore and Vietnam. The AsiaPacific trade pact was launched by the United States to rival economic giant China, but former President Donald Trump withdrew their posi tion in 2017.

On September 16,2021, China filed its application to join the 11-member FTA. Taiwan followed suit after.

In early 2021, Trade Undersec retary Ceferino Rodolfo confirmed that the Philippines signified inter est to join the CPTPP and wrote to New Zealand, the depository country of the FTA.

Rodolfo also identified five target export products that the DTI would like to secure in the deal: automo tive parts, garments, agricultural commodities, processed agricultural products and plant-based meat alter natives, and electronics.

Meanwhile, Pascual also mentioned at the AmCham general membership meeting in August, “We are now await ing the reauthorization of the GSP [Generalized System of Preferences].”

The US GSP deal expired last De cember 31,2020.

The GSP deal is a unilateral pref erential trade arrangement by the US to 122 beneficiary developing coun tries and least developed beneficiary countries, including the Philippines. It aims to promote economic growth, development and trade by providing duty-free market access to about 5,000 products into the US.

According to the trade chief, in 2021, the US ranked as the Philip pines’s third largest trading partner, the top export market destination, and the fifth largest import supplier. investments in the Philippines.

budget for Sierra Madre mountain range preservation

Majority Leader Joel Villanueva on Tuesday vowed to help the Department of En vironment and Natural Resources (DENR) seek additional budget for the preservation of the Sierra Madre mountain range.

SENATE

Like in previous instances, the 540-kilometer mountain range that spans Cagayan and Quezon provinc

es was believed to have saved several parts of Luzon from the wrath of Ty phoon “Karding” on September 25.

Villanueva was shocked to hear that the budget of DENR for Sierra Madre preservation amounts to just P9.9 million.

“Let me put into record na nanlata ako [that I was disheartened]. P9.9 million?” he said after hearing DENR

Undersecretary Analiza RebueltaTeh read the budget allocated for the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park during the budget hearing.

T he budget allocation is intended for the marcation, updating of man agement plan, monitoring of flora and fauna, and hiring of protected area superintendent and park rangers.

Villanueva noted the significance

of preserving the Sierra Madre moun tain range for slowing down flood ing and reducing typhoon-related calamities.

T he lawmaker said the mountain range shields Metro Manila and the provinces of Cagayan, Bulacan, Isa bela, Nueva, Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Quirino, Aurora, Quezon, Rizal, and Laguna.

Villanueva, a native of Bulacan, noted that Sierra Madre also stabi lizes water flow, prevent typhoon-re lated calamities and provides a path for slowing down and often taking the impact of the typhoon.

“ The rugged mountain slopes can mitigate strong winds. The forest also absorbed the heavy rains,” he said.

Villanueva assured DENR officials

the Senate is “here to help” and will find out how much the agency needs.

A ccording to the data of the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority, the Sierra Madre covers 1,417,472.81 hect ares of land area.

Its closed forest land covers 553,637 hectares and its open forest land 537,065 hectares. PNA

Health& Fitness

Awareness, lifestyle modification needed to combat liver disease

By Rory Visco Contributor

Many people believe that the liver is not suscep tible to certain medical issues unlike the heart or the kidney.

However, many medical experts have noticed that people with asymp tomatic liver disease and abnormal liver profile tests, after laboratory examination and testing, have dem onstrated n o nalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ( n a F LD). Though it can re main benign, na F LD may also lead to severe disease like cirrhosis and liver failure.

From benign to not benign

Dr. Janus Ong, Head of the Liver Research Program, n I H Hepatolo gist-Gastroenterologist of the Uni versity of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) said dur ing the webinar “Fatty Liver: Why Should I Care?” organized by the University of the Philippines, the UP Manila n I H n a tional Telehealth Center together with UP-PGH, said that while in medical school, they had always thought fatty liver was benign, until in 1979 to1980 when two separate groups of researchers described fatty liver as not being be nign after all. Since then, many pub lications about na F LD arose, from its epidemiology to the management of the disease.

He said that na F LD is not just one disease but a spectrum of condi tions, starting with simple steatosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver, leading to a non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

( n a SH), the progressive na F LD, that can lead to n a F LD-related cirrhosis.

“The difference between simple ste atosis and na S H is the presence of liver injury for na S H patients due to inflammation and hepatocyte bal looning,” Dr. Ong said.

A global problem

na F LD is now the leading cause of chronic liver disease in many parts of the world where global prevalence is about 25 percent, with the highest recorded in South a m erica and the Middle East and the lowest recorded in a f rica. In an ultrasound-based study the prevalence of na F LD in a wellness clinic in Metro Manila was found to be at a high of 38 percent because na F LD is often associated with metabolic conditions, where the prevalence of na F LD is expected to be higher in patients with these con ditions, while the worldwide preva lence of na F LD among diabetics is about 55 percent. In the same study, in Metro Manila, the prevalence of n a F LD among diabetics was like global estimates at 57 percent.

“The prevalence of na S H, how ever, is more difficult to estimate be cause there is a need to demonstrate liver injury and requires liver biopsy. But estimates show that between 1.5 to 6.5 percent of the general popu lation globally have na S H, and 37 percent among diabetics,” Dr. Ong pointed out.

He said that na F LD is not only common but in the next decade, the presence of na F LD and na S H is ex pected to increase further, driven by the increase of obesity and dia betes cases. More importantly, Dr.

Ong said that na S H has become the most rapidly increasing reason liver transplants are being done globally and is also fast becoming a particu larly important cause of liver can cer worldwide. In the Philippines, he said there were two studies from 2010 and 2016 that saw an increase in the proportion of liver cancer from n a F LD, from one percent in 2010 to 11 in 2016.

Low level of NAFLD awareness

na F LD is commonly associated with poor health-related quality of life compared to the general popu lation. “However, despite the fastgrowing importance of na F LD, there remains to be a low level of awareness and knowledge among the public even among those with metabolic condi tions, those that have the highest risk to develop na F LD-related com plications.”

He also cited a global survey of 2,200 physicians of various special ties, which discovered that there is a significant knowledge gap in the identification, diagnosis, and management of na F LD, especially in primary care where the greatest number of na F LD cases are seen, he explained.

It is concerning that in a global survey of more than 100 countries to determine how they are prepared against n a F LD, Dr. Ong said no country scored 50 or higher on the n a F LD Preparedness Index. “In fact, a third scored zero so the survey au thors thought that no country is pres ently prepared to address na F LD.

Because we are still in the Covid-19 pandemic, one concern is whether

Care opens

By Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

WHE n y ou mention La Loma, Quezon City, what comes to mind are the many shops that sell lechon. In addition to lechon, one of the streets in the area, Retiro Street, is also famous for the restau rants that offer beef pares.

It is amidst the lechon shops and pares eateries that CleanMed Health Care, the country’s newest medical laboratory and diagnostics center, opened its first branch. The establish ment was opened to provide residents in the nearby areas with affordable and high-quality health-care services.

Dr. Sheena Herrera, CleanMed Health Care Medical Director, said she and her partners decided to open the center because of the high demand for such services.

“We are here to offer our services because there is a high demand for health-care services at the moment. This company also happens to be a sister company of Clean Fuel,” Dr. Herrera said.

Strategic location S HE a dded that the clinic is in a very strategic area as it is located in the boundary of Quezon City and Manila.

“We are also very near hospitals like Chinese General Hospital and UST Hospital. With people still hav ing thoughts about visiting the hospi tal, CleanMed is here to serve them. We are reaching out to the people in the area to provide flexible access to health,” she said.

The newly inaugurated seven-story diagnostic center offers state-of-theart medical facilities that can conduct comprehensive laboratory tests such as hematology, blood chemistry, im munology, serology, histopathology, microbiology, and other clinical body examinations. It also offers imaging examinations such as X-Ray, Ultra sound, ECG and 2D Echocardiogram. a l l these services are done in the build ing’s new flagship center, where cus t omers can safely wait for the results of their tests.

CleanMed also provides doctor’s consultation with its pool of medical

doctors that cover various fields of medical expertise.

“We strive to provide better health care services for every Filipino, believ ing that every individual deserves to live a healthier life. a t C leanMed, we stand in our mission to provide qual ity healthcare, exceptional service as well as timely, accurate results for our patients,” Dr. Herrera said.

Comparative advantage

W H E n a sked what makes CleanMed stand out from the other diagnostic centers, Dr. Herrera said the clinic offers very personalized service and their clients can be assured of accu rate and reliable results.

“We are happy that we can serve and attend immediately to the health needs of our customers. Good thing, we have medical doctors, and efficient healthcare personnel to assist them with the medical services they need.” added Dr.Herrera.

CleanMed also offers home service for routine laboratory procedures, rapid antigen testing, and RT-PCR.

n a F LD changes the outcome in pa tients with Covid-19. a meta-analysis showed that while na F LD was associ ated with increased Covid-19 sever ity and ICU admission rates, it did not increase mortality in Covid-19 patients after adjustment of other confounding factors.”

However, Dr. Ong noted that screening and workup is highly rec ommended for those who are elevated risk with fatty liver and its compli cations, those with Type-2 Diabetes, metabolic conditions, and elevated liver enzymes. “These groups are at high risk for na F LD-related fibrosis and progressive liver disease, up to 20 percent for those with diabetes, 1.8-fold higher risk for progression to cirrhosis or liver cancer for those with two or more metabolic condi tions, which is the same for those with n a F LD and elevated a LT or SGPT,” Dr. Ong said.

It is also important, he said, to classify na F LD patients, whether they are elevated risk or minimal risk to adverse clinical outcomes to determine the extent of clinical care.

Because of the strong association of obesity and metabolic conditions to na F LD, Dr. Ong said that all major liver society guidelines recommend lifestyle modification that includes dietary change, weight loss, and structured exercise intervention as the cornerstone in the management of na F LD. “Since na F LD is a multisystem disease, its management will require a multi-disciplinary approach, with multiple specialists coming together to provide holistic care to achieve optimal outcomes,” Dr. Ong concluded.

Expert says smoking is not good for your mental health

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

“We are proud to say that CleanMed has responded to the health care needs of the public through the deployment of our healthcare personnel for home service testing,” shared Dr. Herrera.

“The opening of CleanMed Health Care is perfect timing for us amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Most of our customers became more conscious of their health; thus, we are giving them the chance and convenience of getting comprehensively checked,” explained Dr. Herrera.

“This is just the beginning of our much grander plan of putting a dialysis center that would eventually improve the management of many patients undergoing therapeutic care for renal diseases. This is one step at a time, as we wanted to make sure to cover ev erything in sustaining the quality of life of every person.”

CleanMed Health Care is located at n S. a m oranto Street in La Loma, Que zon City. Its clinic hours are from 6 a M to 5:30PM, Mondays to Saturdays. For inquiries, call (02)-8695-3388 or email customercare@cleanmedhealthcare.com

Mega Global launches new unit to bring nutritious food to Pinoys

By Roderick L. Abad Contributor

MEG a Global Corp. has re structured itself with the l aunching of its newest subsidiary, Mega Prime Foods Inc. (MPFI), aimed at helping elevate the lives of Filipinos by providing af fordable yet nutritious food with its con stant innovation.

Such initiative sets MPFI apart from the fishing and canning unit Mega Fishing Corp. (MFC) and the corporate citizenship arm Mega TiuLim Foundation.

a s a l arger subsidiary, MPFI will house all of the products currently known under Mega and now also serves as an incubator for the new releases in the future. This will be the hub of our research and development [R&D] group. It will also be in charge of the sales and distribution of the entire portfolio,” Mega Global Chief

Operating Officer (COO) Michelle Tiu Lim-Chan said in their media briefing in Quezon City on Tuesday.

The reorganization, likewise, pro fessionalizes Mega Global’s corporate s tructure in preparation for the com pany’s future growth.

This is just a change in structure because we aim to professionalize our entire business ecosystems so that we can deliver the highest qual ity products to Filipinos better and f aster,” she said.

Healthy food for every Juan EXPa n D I n G Mega’s current product portfolio, MPFI embodies the brand’s belief that nutritious food should be easily available to all Filipinos, as vividly captured in its tagline: “Im proving every day, one meal at a time.”

We assure everyone of the consis tent freshness and highest quality in t he products that we serve,” empha sized Chan.

W ith this in mind, it will increase its production with the January 2023 opening of its P1 billion Mega Manufacturing Plant in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, which can produce healthy, nutritious, and affordable products. Spanning around 2.3 hectares, this factory will have a lot of produc tion lines.

“ We will start with two lines for sardines. Its capacity, I think, is around 5,000 [cans of sardines] per day,” the COO told the BusinessMir ror in a sideline interview.

“ When it becomes fully opera tional, we actually are expected to p roduce about 160 million canned sardines across the whole, entire production line with just one year. So that will really help us a lot in terms of sales and in terms of inventories,” added Mega Global Chief Technical and Innovations Officer (CTIO) Mal colm Tiu-Lim.

I n support of the community

where it operates, the new facil ity will generate employment and l ivelihood opportunities amid the ensuing pandemic.

“The initial jobs that we’re looking at for Sto. Tomas directly impacted by the plant, meaning the factory workers, the R&D specialists, the Q a [quality assurance personnel] will go up to a thousand,” noted Mega Global Chief Growth and Development Of ficer Marvin Tiu-Lim.

But we have to also realize that we will be impacting many people such as the fishermen that are there in the sea [with] their livelihood. We will depend on them for their fish catch. So that will impact indirectly hundreds of thousands of families nationwide,” he pointed out.

The Mega Manufacturing Plant will, likewise, be opened to field trips to show MPFI’s commitment to sup port nutrition with proper education a nd boost tourism.

S

MO k I n G n ot only brings damage to the person’s physical health but is also detrimental to one’s mental health.

In line with the Mental Health aw areness month, HealthJustice Philippines, a non-government organization, urged smokers to quit to protect their mental health. HealthJustice is also cam paigning for young people to shun and reject smoking, to increase their health and well-being.

Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, a trustee of HealthJustice, said that once smokers stop their bad habit, this reduces the levels of stress, anxi ety and depression. a c cording to Dr. Galvez Tan, research has shown that smoking increases anxiety and tension.

He added that as compared to non-smokers, those who smoke may actually be possible candi dates for mental health condi tions.

“These health conditions are psychosis, anxiety disorders, and mood disorders,” he said.

Mental health or substance use disorder

M E a n W HILE , t he US CDC said that nearly 25 percent of adults in the United States have a mental health or substance use disorder (i.e., behavioral health condi tion), and these adults consume almost 40 percent of all cigarettes smoked by adults in the United States.

It added that people with be havioral health conditions die about five years earlier than peo ple without such conditions, more than 50 percent from tobaccoattributable diseases.

Likewise, smoking is much more common among adults with mental health conditions than in the general population.

In fact, in 2019, 27.2 percent of U.S. adults with any mental ill

ness reported smoking cigarettes during the past month compared to 15.8 percent of adults with no mental illness.

a p proximately one in four (or 25 percent) of adults in the U.S. have some form of mental illness or substance use disorder, and these adults consume almost 40 percent of all cigarettes smoked by adults.

Concern for all F OR its part, the DOH said, men tal health and well-being is a con cern of all.

a d dressing concerns related to mental health, the DOH said, n e urological and Substance use (M n S ) contributes to the attain ment of the Sustainable Develop ment Goals (SDGs).

a World Health Organization study says up to 60 percent of people attending primary care clinics daily in the country are estimated to have one or more M n S disorders.

The 2000 Census of Popula tion and Housing showed that mental illness and mental re tardation rank 3rd and 4th re spectively among the types of disabilities in the Philippines (88/100,000 ).

Quit smoking

T O achieve good mental health, Dr. Galvez-Tan said it would be better to quit smoking and prac tice natural methods to fight stress to feel better.

a f ter quitting, he added that it is important to “try to have a positive outlook, exercise, have a strong relationship with your family and the people around you, get enough sleep, take time to relax and slow things down if you feel pressured.”

“The best thing to do for your mental health is really to quit smoking,” Dr. Galvez Tan said.

“Relax, pray and slow things down,” Dr. Galvez Tan also rec ommended.

Canadian company offers online mental health platform for PHL employees

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

Cana DI an technology company Healthy Minds Solutions (HMS) recently launched MindWoRx to help companies assist their employ ees overcome their anxiety and depression and help them handle the day-to-day stress and pres sure at work and at home.

Richard Caballero, HMS Founder and CEO said MindWorx is a 100 percent web-based on line mental health platform for companies and an innovative and self-guided behavior ther apy platform with over 150,000 users globally using the Cogni tive Behavior Therapy (CBT) ap proach. He added the platform includes a web-based a n xiety and Depression a s sessment Test, online Mental Recovery and  Re siliency Courses, and a Commu nity Support Forum monitored by licensed therapists.

“Human resources profession als are faced with an ever-increas ing mental health challenges from their workforce. HR practitioners are looking for a preventative and innovative solution that will not only help manage the mental health issues of their employees but also provide them with tools that will help them become more mentally resilient. HMS has the solution,” Caballero said.

“One company that acknowl edges the importance of mental fitness is Medicareplus, one of the leading HMOs in the coun try.  They recently signed up a strategic partnership with HMS to offer MindWoRx to their  plan

holders,” he added.

Caballero observed there has been an increased focus on men tal health during the pandemic. However, many of those who feel anxious and depressed may not have the mental health solutions within their reach.

Research shows that an es timated 25 percent of Filipinos are suffering from various men tal illnesses including anxiety and depression, considered the 3rd most common disabilities in the country.  The Philippines ranks third among countries with the highest rates of mental disorders in the Western Pacific Region. Mental illness is a much larger kind of pandemic that, if unaddressed, can severely affect millions of Filipinos.

However, he lamented that Fil ipino culture has attached a so cial stigma on mental illnesses and consider it as a reflection on the person’s character, prompt ing most to suffer in silence and not seek help, even from their own families.  a c cessibility to mental health help is also lim ited and unaffordable to many, he pointed out.

Caballero said he is happy that HMS has been given the op portunity to break this stigma by providing companies with men tal health solutions and services that are effective, confidential, convenient, research-based and affordable.

“One company that acknowl edges the importance of mental fitness is Medicareplus, one of the leading HMOs in the coun try,” he said.

With new BOT-IRR in effect, NG listing projects for PPP

on Wednesday.

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

THE national government will be prioritizing which statefunded projects will be submitted for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) financing, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).

Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said if projects are included in approved masterplans, particu larly those that connect regions, these will be prioritized for PPP

financing.

The statement came as the revised Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) took effect

“Projects that fit into the ap proved master plans and connect regions would be given priority to ensure that all Filipinos benefit from economic growth,” Diokno said in a statement.

The amendments are intended to address stakeholder concerns about the financial viability and bankability of public-private part nership (PPP) projects, as well as clarify ambiguous provisions that might have caused delays in the PPP process.

Centered on transparency and accountability, the revised IRR determines the true cost of infra structure or development projects to the government, consumers, and

taxpayers.

The revised IRR, Diokno said, determines the true cost of infra structure or development projects to the government, consumers, and taxpayers.

“The revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of the BuildOperate-and-Transfer Law will al low us to mobilize private sector resources as an engine for capital and a catalyst for growth. This move will produce exponential re turns for our country that will span generations to come,” Diokno said.

This ensures that the benefits and risks of PPP projects are shared equitably among all parties while protecting national interests.

The revisions empower vari

ous regulatory agencies by giving them the freedom to carry out their duties and responsibilities, while introducing new oversight mechanisms to safeguard compli ance with PPP obligations by both implementing agencies and private sector applicants.

One of the major changes is on the definition of the Material Ad verse Government Action (MAGA) which now covers all government actions and not just the executive branch.

If these government actions discriminate against the propo nent and have adverse effect on its ability to undertake the project, the contract can be terminated and termination payment will be due to

private proponents.

Under the previous BOT IRR re vision, the MAGA only referred to “any act of the executive branch” and that acts of agencies, Local Gov ernment Units (LGUs) as well as the legislative and judicial branches of government are not covered.

However, this was removed in the latest version, so that MAGA will now apply to all acts by the government, including all three branches of government; line agen cies; and LGUs.

The MAGA provision also now covers approved contracts as op posed to the old version, which only states that the provision applies to “obligations under the contract.”

First 100 days: Bringing back tourism jobs; promoting Philippines beyond fun

On E hundred days into office, the Department of Tourism (DOT) under Secretary Chris tina Garcia Frasco has initiated mea sures to bring back tourism jobs, while actively promoting the Philippines as a destination fully ready to welcome returning travelers.

These efforts, Frasco said, are in consonance with President Ferdi nand Marcos Jr.'s eight-point socioeconomic agenda to fast-track the country's recovery.

Last September, some 8,305 job vacancies in 157 establishments were

opened for displaced tourism workers and new graduates during the DOTDepartment of Labor and Employ ment initiative "Philippine Tourism Job Fair: Trabaho, Turismo, Asenso."

DOT also conducted 219 trainings from July 1 to Sept. 28, benefitting 7,603 tourism stakeholders, commu nity-based tourism organizations and local tourism officers.

"These trainings include the ad vocacy programs for a sustainable, resilient and inclusive tourism indus try such as the Filipino Brand of Ser vice Excellence Program which aims

to highlight the good in the Filipino tourism professional," Frasco said in an Oct. 1 department report.

Aside from employment, the DOT is also working to address issues on gateway access, lack of infrastructure and health and safety.

On Aug. 8, the agency together with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), agreed to form a technical working group to enhance the coun try's airports and seaports.

"Pursuant to the President's direc tive during his first SOn A (State of the nation Address), the DOT and DOTr are

jointly undertaking the enhancement of the country's gateways, internation al airports and seaports, piloting na ia ( ninoy Aquino International Airport) Terminal 2, Davao International Air port and Cebu Pier," Frasco reported.

"Developments and minor up grades are underway, such as the in stallation of signage that will have a uniform look in all air and seaports, as well as the use of lighting, backdrop and furniture that will distinctly re flect the 'Filipino brand,'" she added.

Within the past three months Frasco had also initiated a meeting

with the DOTr for the resumption of pre-pandemic routes to minimize con gestion in major ports as well as the opening of new local roads.

'Improving tourist experience' T O f urther improve the overall tour ist experience, the DOT on October 7 broke ground for the pilot rest ar eas across the Philippines, including Manolo Fortrich in Bukidnon, Samal Island in Davao del n o rte, and Car men and Medellin in Cebu.

The agency has also begun iden tifying key tourist destinations that

need immediate development of health facilities to make sure tourists could get necessary help in case of ac cidents or untoward incidents during their vacation.

Frasco said the DOT, in coordina tion with the Department of Health and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging and Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), is undertaking a review of the country's health protocols "taking into consid eration the current health situation, and benchmarking on the best prac tices of Asean countries."

PNA

Envoys&Expats

PHL, EU galvanize undertaking to promote, uphold human rights

in fostering good governance.

The Philippines underscored its priorities to heighten the efficiency of the criminal justice system. The EU took note of the country’s commitments to address alleged extrajudicial killings, provide remedies for victims, and hold perpetrators accountable, as its opposition to the death penalty was reiterated.

The two underlined the importance of a strong independent media environment, including strengthening prosecution for crimes against members of the press.

THEPhilippines and the European Union (EU) restated their pledge to promote and protect human rights, while citing the need to further act on several issues.

This, as the Second Subcommittee Meeting on Good Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights under the EUPhilippines Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) was convened in Manila on October 6.

The monitoring mission of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus, or GSP+, of February 2022 assessed the progress and provided an additional platform for continued engagement on human rights and labor-rights issues. On the said occasion the two sides acknowledged that freedom of association

and assembly, as well as an enabling civic space, are crucial components of any democracy.

Both committed to protecting human-rights defenders from violence and harassment, while ensuring freedom for civil society. They expressed concern at the reported violations and abuses of human rights and global-humanitarian laws, then emphasized the need to guarantee that perpetrators are held to account.

The Philippines highlighted the importance of the United Nations Joint

Program on Human Rights (UNJP), which supports the government’s commitments in the areas of accountability, covering the context of the anti-illegal drugs campaign, police data on humanrights violations, civic space, drug control, counterterrorism, and national reporting mechanism.

The EU reaffirmed its continued support for the UNJP and the strengthening of illegal drug rehabilitation, reintegration and advocacy work. It urged the country to resume its constructive links and boosting of ties with civil-society organizations.

The subcommittee was jointly chaired by Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary of the Office of European Affairs Jaime Victor B. Ledda and Paola Pampaloni, who is the European External Action Service’s deputy managing director for Asia and the Pacific. The cochairs recognized the strong collaboration between the Philippines as well as the bloc in peacebuilding in Mindanao, and

Former senator Leila de Lima’s case was also raised, as well as those of journalists and media workers such as Maria Ressa, when freedom of opinion and expression, media and information were discussed. The Philippine side pro vided updates to those matters.

Both sides acknowledged that migration is a global phenomenon that requires close cooperation among countries of origin, transit, and destination in upholding the rights and ensuring the welfare of migrants.

The right to development was discoursed in relation to the ongoing process within the Human Rights Council.

The Philippines stressed the importance of nonstop engagement with Asean and UN human rights and humanitarian bodies. It looked forward to participating in the fourth Asean-EU Policy Dialogue on Human Rights from October 24 to 26, 2022. The country likewise invited the bloc to take part in the activities and programs of the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights.

Norway ‘creates currents’ in energy, maritime sectors

MORE than 90 companies from Norway, 45 speakers and three cabinet secretaries will participate in the two-day Norway-Philippines Maritime and Energy Conference starting October 13 to celebrate the strong business relations in the said industries.

Speakers and experts from both countries are taking on the most current pressing issues of the sectors, while pushing for sustainability and innovation.

“Norway is a long-term partner of the Philippines. Our maritime cooperation spans over 100 years. We are bringing a century-old Norwegian tall ship to celebrate our common seafaring history,” shared Ambassador-Designate Christian Halaas Lyster. “We are also looking to expand these strong ties into new industries, such as renewable energy, where Norwegian companies have a lot to offer.”

The gathering will coincide with the arrival of the 108-year old Norwegian ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl in Manila. It is currently on a circumnavigation under “One Ocean Expedition”—a global campaign that shares knowledge about the importance of the ocean in achieving sustainable development for the future.

The ship serves as a floating university-training vessel for students, scientists and professionals around the world, and will arrive in Manila from Ishigaki, Japan.

Maritime powers TODAY there are 25,000-plus Filipinos working on Norwegian-controlled and Norwegian-owned ships. Moreover, there are over 50 companies with Norwegian maritime interests established in the Philippines.

The Scandinavian country is the fourth-largest shipping nation in the world measured by value, and one of the leaders when it comes to shipping technology and zero-emissions solutions for the maritime sector. The goal is ambitious: By 2050 the entire Norwegian fleet will be carbon-neutral.

The conference will present solutions and technologies for the present transitional period, and for a carbon-neutral near future. Solutions and technologies involve hydrogen, ammonia, bioenergy and offshore wind, to mention a few.

According to the Royal Norwegian Embassy, these rapid changes in the industry together with global socioeco-

nomic uncertainties will require agility from both ship owners and managers to attract, retain and recruit for the future.

“Enhanced competence and skills development become even more important. With world-class Filipino talents, the partnership of Norway and the Philippines will continue to strengthen,” the embassy said.

‘30’ by 2030 NORWAY, it added, is a world-leading player in renewable energy, and is ready to aid the Philippines in the goal of upping its share in the energy mix by 30 percent come 2030.

“Norwegian companies and investors can play a very crucial role delivering renewable energy solutions to the Philippines,” stated Lyster. “This, for example, includes developing offshore wind and floating solar, in addition to liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a transitional source of energy.”

The European country has been present in the Philippine energy market, with Scatec owning and operating four hydropower players together with Aboitiz Energy. Their joint venture, SN Aboitiz Power, also installed floating

solar units around the Magat Dam in 2019. The technology was provided by Ocean Sun, another Norwegian firm. Others are also looking into deploying innovative solutions for floating solar panels.

Oslo-based BW is a partner of local company FirstGen in developing local LNG capabilities. Its floating storage and regasification unit facility and the ship BW Batangas—an LNG processing facility—is the debut project of a fiveyear linkage.

Norway is also looking forward to introducing new renewable energy capabilities, where the Philippines has a competitive advantage. A recent World Bank report revealed that the country has the potential to develop up to 178 gigawatts of offshore wind. Norwegian corporations are looking forward to exploring these viabilities with local partners in the Philippines.

With the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Manila, the conference is organized by the Norwegian Training Center, Norwegian Shipowners Association, and the Philippines-Norway Business Council. For more details visit creatingcurrents.com.

North Luzon mangoes pique Israel’s interest

LAOAG CITY—The Israeli government has vowed to assist Ilocos farmers in boosting their productivity by sharing innovative solutions to modern agriculture.

In his first visit to Ilocos Norte, Ambassador Ilan Fluss revealed that one of the major areas they are looking at for stronger support and longer cooperation is battling emerging diseases in mangoes and other promising crops in the region by tapping mango experts from Israel.

“We have lots of expertise in this approach,” Fluss said. “See what we can offer if I can identify good experts that can come and help in identifying the disease and solution, which is not always [about more and more pesticides, but trying] different approaches to look into it…”

As a junior diplomat to the Philippines in the 1990s, Fluss recalled that the Israeli government once introduced a training program in Guimaras to help the province export its mangoes to Japan.

Since 2012 the mango industry in the Northern Luzon province has been suffering from low yield due to erratic weather patterns and disease infestation.

Ricardo Tolentino, president of the Mango Growers Association in Ilocos Norte, said many of their members continue to suffer losses

due to El Niño and the oversupply from other mango-producing provinces that drove prices down.

Based on the Philippine Statistics Authority’s quarterly bulletin report from April to June 2022, the country’s mango yield decreased by 3.8 percent: from 556,820 metric tons in the second quarter of 2021, to 535,430 metric tons in the same period this year.

Of the total production, the Ilocos Region, which contributed 22.5 percent to the national production, remained the top mango producer during the three months with 120.220 metric tons. The region was followed by Zamboanga Peninsula and Western Visayas, with 9.9 percent and 9.6 percent, respectively. Leilanie Adriano/PNA

US continues support for disaster recovery, relief

THE United States government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), recently delivered additional pandemic-response supplies and humanitarian assistance to help communities in Surigao del Norte recover from the dual effects of Typhoon “Odette” (international name Rai) and the pandemic.

During a visit to Siargao Island on September 27, USAID Philippines Health Office Director Michelle Lang-Alli and Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance Officer Rachel Gallagher led the handover of more than P11.5-million ($200,000) worth of Covid-19 response supplies and equipment, which included 28,000 rapid antigen-test kits, 10 generator sets and field tents, 22 laptops and routers, 50 oxygen tanks, 10 oxygen concentrators, as well as vital sign monitoring equipment.

The additional assistance will help the local government test more residents, promote homecare strategies for mild and asymptomatic Covid-19 cases, and mobilize community health-care work-

ers for local vaccination-advocacy campaigns. It also highlights the US government’s continued support for pandemic response and mental-health awareness during times of crises.

“In collaboration with our partners, these efforts to bring Covid-19 cases down to manageable levels challenge us to work toward adaptive solutions to further [boost] the resilience of local communities,” said Lang-Alli.

On September 28 USAID also gave mental-health and psychosocial-support kits to help families recover from trauma caused by “Odette.” The kits complement the agency’s mental-health training for frontline responders and healthcare providers, while further supporting child- and women-friendly spaces that provide medical, psychosocial, and gender-based violence case-management services.

The US government has supported Surigao del Norte’s Covid-19 response and vaccination rollout by deploying mobile vaccination teams and testing units, medical technologists, data encoders, and operational support.

NATIONAL DAY Taipei Economic and Cultural Office Representative Michael Peiyung Hsu addresses Philippine government officials, top local Taiwanese businessmen and esteemed guests during the Republic of China’s (Taiwan) 111th National Day celebration on

broad

QUINCENTENNIAL The Philippines and Spain marked the 500th anniversary of the world’s first circumnavigation, with King Felipe VI (left) and Ambassador Philippe Jones Lhuillier in attendance in the city of Cadiz, Spain. Members of the diplomatic corps aboard the landing helicopter dock Juan Carlos I joined them to conclude the European country’s year-long celebration of the

event. The monarch paid tribute to the

sailors who embarked on the

and the

journey as

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in the

were

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journeyed by Juan Sebastian Elcano: the Philippines, Belgium, Cape Verde, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, and

COURTESY CALL Ambassador Jarosław Szczepankiewicz (third from left) paid a courtesy visit to Mayor Jerry Trenas of Iloilo City (third from right), as the Polish Embassy organized a small reception for the screening of the movie NeverGonnaSnowAgain Minister-Counselor Anna Krzak-Danel (second from left) said the embassy explored possible cooperation with local government units in the city, particularly on water desalination technology. The embassy officials also visited the Central Philippine University. ARNOLD ALMACEN

AMBASSADOR Ilan Fluss MIKE POLICARPIO

ASSISTANT Secretary Jaime Victor Ledda (left) and Deputy Managing Director Paola Pampaloni.

Humbled and Grateful at 20

Asian Hospital and Medical Center: The best just got better

By Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

DURING the yearly Kick-off Activity back in January 2022, Asian Hospital and Medical Center President and CEO President Andres M. Licaros Jr. said the hospital would be focusing on its digital transformation as part of the institution’s continued growth and sustainability.

Licaros stressed that while digital transformation would be the hospital’s core strategy, Asian Hospital will remain focused “on making every patient feel better as we make them well.”

“This has been the hallmark of our service and this year will be no different,” he said.

With “Humbled and Grateful at 20” as their anniversary theme, Asian Hospital is indeed humbled and grateful as it has received several awards and recognitions which they have dedicated to their patients.

“We will continue to provide quality and safe patient care, and this is a promise that every patient who comes to Asian can expect,” he said. JCI accreditation ASIAN Hospital’s biggest achievement this year is that it received its 4th Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission International (JCI).

The hospital was first accredited in 2013 and then subsequently in 2016 and 2019.

An independent, not-for-profit organization, JCI accredits and certifies health-care organizations and programs across the globe. JCI accreditation and certification is recognized as a global leader for health-care, quality of care and patient safety.

Accreditation means that Asian Hospital is one of the most advanced health-care institutions in the Philippines dedicated to providing value health-care for patients and their families.

“We were prepared, and we left no stone unturned for the weeklong reaccreditation process which was done online. This would not have been possible without the cooperation, enthusiasm, and commitment of every member of the Asian Hospital community, both doctors and staff,” Licaros said.

Hospital Management Award ANOTHER feather that was added to Asian Hospital’s cap was the Hospital Management Asia (HMA) Gold Award in the Clinical Effectiveness Improvement Category for the project titled “Evolving Clinical Pathway for Adult Covid-19 Patients.”

HMA helps hospital owners, C-level executives, directors, clinicians, and health-care leaders improve outcomes and become increasingly efficient.

At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic back in 2020, Asian Hospital struggled to manage Covid-19 patients because of the lack of evidence and either inclusive or conflicting interventions. As time went by, the hospital saw “an avenue to stick to what was more conclusive, adapt and learn from emerging evidence.” This, in turn, opened a chance to contribute on the growing body of knowledge.

Asian Hospital’s Pathway Team, Guidelines and Pathway Committee used evidence and developed the Adult Clinical Pathway that continuously improved as new data arose. This new data helped standardize and improve the treatment process and outcomes. Reliable guidelines were reviewed and allowed for the pathway’s evolution.

The application of the evolving pathway has helped Asian Hospital evaluate and manage patients. It improved clinical outcomes with higher survival rates and shorter length of stay.

“With a strong culture of safety and collaborative care, we are constantly working to give best outcomes in our firm promise to give quality and safe care,” Asian Hospital said in the video it submitted to the HMA.

Mother-Baby Friendly Hospital

THE Department of Health reaccredited Asian Hospital as a Mother-Bay Friendly Hospital. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization launched the BabyFriendly Hospital Initiative to encourage health facilities worldwide to better support breastfeeding. The initiative developed the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding to promote optimal clinical care for new mothers and their infants. There is substantial evidence to indicate that the implementation

of the Ten Steps significantly improved breastfeeding rates.

Some of the benefits of choosing a mother-baby friendly hospital include mother-baby bonding begins immediately after birth; breastfeeding is supported, not forced; mothers and babies receive greater care consistency, and the rooming-in policy gets families off to a stronger start.

HR Excellence Awards

THE latest accolades that Asian Hospital received were from the HR Excellence Awards Philippines where it bagged a Gold Award for the Workplace Wellbeing Category and a Silver Award for the Business Transformation Category.

The Human Resource Excellence Awards (HREA) is an end-toend awards program designed to reward and celebrate outstanding work from HR teams, with diverse

categories designed to cater to HR’s entire suite of skills and responsibilities.

HREA’s rich history began 10 years ago in Singapore for the Singapore market. Later the program was expanded to Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, and now the Philippines.

The HREA had 30 categories for entry, covering the entire HR spectrum. Entrants competed for gold, silver, and bronze awards in all categories. The entries were judged by the most eminent senior HR experts and thought leaders.

“We are humbled and grateful for all the awards and accolades we have received this year. We offer all our success to our patients who have contributed to where we are right now. Asian Hospital would not be able to achieve all these if it were not for your trust,” Licaros said.

ASIAN

THE Asian Hospital Team headed by Asian Hospital Director for Quality, Dr. Ana Maria Y. Jimenez (4th from left) accepted the Gold Award at the Hospital Management Asia Awards Night 2022 held in Bangkok, Thailand.

THE Asian Hospital Human Resources Team received Gold and Silver awards at the HR Excellence Awards Night held at Hilton Hotel Manila.

Where have all the nurses gone?

Filipino nurses are highly in demand all over the world, especially in developed nations. Hospitals prefer to hire our nurses because of their reputation as being incredibly compassionate and hardworking, which are sought-after qualities among healthcare workers. no wonder overseas opportunities abound for Filipino nurses.

In her book Empire of Care: Nursing and Migration in Filipino American History, Dr. Catherine Choy said the migration of Filipino nurses to the United States started after the Philippines became a US territory, when new professions such as nursing were introduced to the country. Dr. Choy said nursing schools sprang up in the Philippines beginning in 1907 and were interlaced with an Americanized medical training that equipped Filipino women to be employed as nurses in the US, not in the Philippines. Today the Philippines is “the leading exporter of nurses in the world”.

A recent Bloomberg article—Nursing shortage sparks bidding war as countries vie for talent—said with pandemic-related travel restrictions easing, countries from Germany to the United Arab Emirates and Singapore are stepping up efforts to lure foreign nurses and other medical professionals with promises of expedited visas and better pay.

No nation is better prepared to help the world staff up its hospitals and clinics than the Philippines, the single biggest exporter of nurses, Bloomberg said. Germany’s government said it wants to recruit 600 Filipino nurses for hospitals and elderly care centers, offering qualified applicants free travel expenses, language training, a bonus for passing exams on the first try and help finding accommodation. Singapore and the Philippines also opened talks last month on hiring more Filipino nurses and other health-care workers.

From Bloomberg: “The World Health Organization has warned of the potential risks from increased recruiting, particularly to developing nations. Historically, there have also been concerns about the human rights and working conditions of employees recruited overseas. At its annual assembly in May, the WHO asked countries and institutions to ensure they are using ethical recruiting standards so they don’t drain nations of critical personnel.”

The Philippine Nurses Association has said that 60 percent of the 500,000 Filipino registered nurses work in other countries. As our nursing graduates set their sights on foreign shores, the Philippines now faces a shortfall of nursing staff. This situation has revived a long-standing political debate over whether so many local nurses should be allowed to leave.

DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the country’s hospitals and clinics have a shortage of about 106,000 nurses, which is why she wants to retain a cap on the number of health-care workers allowed to go abroad at 7,500 a year.

President Marcos, however, said he plans to increase the number of Filipino nurses to be deployed abroad as his administration tries to resolve issues confronting the country’s nursing profession. “As we work hard to improve the state of our health care system at home, let us join hands to maintain our country’s position as the gold standard when it comes to providing health care workers to hospitals and health facilities globally,” the chief executive said during the 100th anniversary of the Philippine Nurses Association.

The Philippines is the second most populous country in Southeast Asia, with an estimated population of 110.8 million in 2021. As of October 31, 2021, there are approximately 88,500 nurses working in private and public hospitals in the country. We need to employ 1,846,666 nurses to fill the target nurse-to-patient ratio of 1:60 during the pandemic. The Department of Health said the ideal nurse-to-patient ratio should be 1:12, which means we need to employ an even higher number of 9,233,333 nurses if we follow the DOH’s prescribed nurse-to-patient ratio.

The Philippines is currently the biggest exporter of nurses in the world. Isn’t it ironic that even with the thousands of nurses that our nursing schools produce every year, there are not enough nurses to cater to the needs of our growing population?

Inflation and oil

John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

inSeptember 2009 Typhoon Ketsana, known in the philippines as Tropical Storm ondoy, crawled through Metro Manila at a snail’s pace and as a result, brought historic rainfall. The Quezon City Science Garden recorded 18 inches of rain in a 24-hour period, an amount expected to occur only once per century.

Depending on location, flooding measured between two feet and up to 10-feet deep. In my village of 80 homes, only my house and two of my nearest neighbors escaped the flooding—a splash under the front door is not flooding—that filled the inside of cars and caused refrigerators to float through the sala.

The village is measured as 30 feet above sea level. But 200 meters to the west is another, more exclusive (read expensive) village that is 72 feet above the ocean and water runs downhill. The rain, and being literally at the bottom of the housing food chain, caused the flooding.

While there were many complaints to the homeowners’ association Board of Directors, the flooding was a result of a nasty tropical

storm and geographic location of the village, both out of the BOD’s ability to change. The three homes not receiving any significant flood damage just happened to be at the right place at the right time sort of like Grab Delivery during the Covid lockdowns.

Why this fascinating tale? My village is the Philippines. The BOD is the government. Tropical Storm Ondoy and “geography” are the global price of crude oil and the US Federal Reserve currently raising interest rates. Now, I hope that you have a better understanding of inflation than many “Social Media experts,” pundits, and some politicians.

However, in the ensuing two years, the high-profile developer of the “rich village” built a P2-million

By Natalia Drozdiak | Bloomberg Opinion

WiTH Russia’s war in Ukraine in its eighth month, some European nations that have funneled weapons to Kyiv are running low, and it could take years for defense contractors to meet the shortfall.

NATO states are urging companies to boost production to help them restock — to both resupply Ukraine and reinforce their own stores in a climate of heightened tension, according to people familiar with the matter. That’s as Russian President Vladimir Putin escalates his threats, including warning of a potential nuclear attack, with his troops facing numerous setbacks on the ground in Ukraine.

Putin Threatens More Strikes on Ukraine After Missile Blitz Kyiv’s allies have already sent in billions of dollars in arms, munitions and equipment since Russia invaded in February. That’s putting pressure on ammunition stockpiles, including 155 mm shells for artillery, some of the people said, of which the US has given Ukraine well over a million rounds since the start of the war.

Defense companies in the US and Europe are now seeing demand rise for air defense and anti-tank arms alongside other equipment, with governments increasingly rec-

ognizing that Ukraine will probably need military support for years to come. But it will be a struggle to quickly expand manufacturing after decades of limited orders.

As the war drags on, Ukraine’s partners may be tempted to prune back support as they worry about their own security needs, potentially creating the types of fissures Putin is seeking to exploit alongside tensions over access to energy in Europe. Apart from multiple launch rocket systems, Ukraine’s allies have mostly focused on sending it Soviet-era weapons and tanks, which are also running low in supply.

Those stocks need to be replaced with modern weapons. At the same time, North Atlantic Treaty Organization members need more arms to shore up the alliance’s presence on its eastern flank.

Defense ministers will meet in Brussels this week to discuss these issues, following a gathering of national armaments directors in late September. “Enhancing NATO stock-

diversion drainage system under my village so that future worst-case scenario storms will have less negative impact. But obviously it was not available during Ondoy. And yes, the Philippine government must look for concrete, cost-effective, and fiscally realistic ways to temper both a dramatic increase in global oil prices and negative pressure on the PHP/USD exchange rate. These two situations will happen again. Guaranteed.

These two factors are related because a higher global price for oil affects the peso exchange rate as we need more pesos to buy the oil. Higher fuel prices means higher inflation. A lower peso value also means higher imported raw material costs.

So why is Vietnam/Malaysia/ Indonesia/Thailand in better shape with inflation, their currencies, and their trade surplus/deficit? I am beginning to think that too many people use the Internet for “Showbiz Balita” and not enough to gain simple information and knowledge.

Facts. Indonesia produced 743,000 barrels of crude oil per day in 2020. Malaysia produced 596,000 barrels of oil per day in 2020. Thailand produced 418,000 barrels of oil per day in 2020.

The Philippines: total “Petroleum and other liquids production” in barrels per day in 2020 was 37,000 —read slowly.... Thirty-Seven Thou-

sand barrels. And the Philippines has low consumption levels relative to its Southeast Asian neighbors.

The Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that the Philippine power mix is 47 percent coal-fired. Natural gas accounts for 22 percent and renewables for 24 percent, including hydro, geothermal, wind, and solar. Oil-based sources account for only 6.2 percent. We are buying oil and petroleum products for transportation.

Our need for oil will not disappear even if other power sources –nuclear, renewable, and futuristic supplies like methane clathrate – are advanced. The Cadlao Oil Field Redevelopment Project, after 30 years of being shut down, is a move in the right direction. The Cadlao field is estimated to hold 6.2 million barrels of economically recoverable oil.

The Philippines needs more domestic investment as well as foreign. In fact, domestic money put to better use is probably more important. As for government action, “The future depends on what you do today” –Mahatma Gandhi. That should be part of the Oath Of Office for public officials.

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.

piles will ensure we can keep supporting Ukraine,” Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said after that meeting.

It could take years before supply catches up with demand. Defense companies face hurdles to expand production to the scale that is necessary. European defense firms will also have to modify assembly lines after many governments cut defense spending following the Cold War and as the focus on equipment shifts back to what has worked for Ukraine.

Defense spending in Europe and Canada amounted to a total of around $310 billion in 1990, before dropping off for two decades, according to data from NATO, which bases the figures on 2015 prices and exchange rates. Only after 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea, did spending start to pick up again.

“We’ve been operating in that modus for decades and now all of a sudden we’re entering a totally different ball game,” said Burkard Schmitt, defense and security director at the AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe. “You have to scale up massively and this is simply an enormous effort and takes time because you have to reconfigure everything.”

Firms are also struggling to access certain semiconductors and rareearth metals, while skilled workers

are in short supply.

On an analyst call on April 26, Raytheon Technologies Corp. Chief Executive Officer Greg Hayes said the company wouldn’t see orders come in before 2023 at the earliest for larger replenishments of Stinger missiles and Javelin anti-tank munitions, noting difficulties sourcing materials needed to produce them. Both Stingers and Javelins have played a role in helping Ukraine beat back Russian troops.

“Unfortunately, DoD hasn’t bought a Stinger in about 18 years and some of the components are no longer commercially available,” Hayes said at the time, referring to the Pentagon. He said Raytheon would have to redesign some of the electronics in the missile, and “that’s going to take us a little bit of time.” The US Army in May subsequently awarded the company a $624 million contract to produce 1,300 Stinger missiles, including support to address “obsolescence, modernize key components, and accelerate production.”

Dassault Aviation SA Chief Executive Officer Eric Trappier on July 20 echoed concerns about supply chains and a shortage of skilled workers, stressing it would take at least an additional year to increase the pace of production of its fighter aircraft,

Ukraine’s allies can’t get arms fast enough as stockpiles shrink

Outraged Biden team vows consequences for Saudis over Opec+ cut

By Justin Sink & Steven T. Dennis | Bloomberg Opinion

Top aides to president Joe Biden voiced their fury with Saudi arabia over opec+ oil production cuts Tuesday, saying the administration was undertaking a sweeping reevaluation of its relationship and planned to engage with lawmakers clamoring to punish the kingdom.

But officials also conceded that a legislative plan to retaliate was unlikely to materialize until after November’s midterm elections, underscoring the complex calculations the US faces as it weighs a longtime partnership that has quickly soured.

“The decision last week on the part of Opec to align itself and to align its energy policy with Russia’s war aims went against the interests of the American people,” State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby called the Opec+ decision to slash oil production by 2 million barrels per day “short-sighted” and said “it benefited Russia at a time when nobody in any capacity should be trying to benefit Vladimir Putin.” And the administration warned that the move risked undermining the Group of Seven’s diplomatic efforts to support developing countries with infrastructure investment, since those nations were least equipped to bear the burden of higher gas prices.

But the anger expressed by administration officials was not necessarily met with commensurate action. Price said that the administration would evaluate proposals from Congress and speak to allies about the US partnership with Saudi Arabia over the coming weeks and months. Kirby, for his part, said the White House would “start to have conversations” when lawmakers returned from a recess scheduled to last into November, while downplaying internal efforts within the administration.

“We’re not announcing like a formal policy review here with a special team or anything like that—what we’re talking about here is the president’s belief that the relationship needs to be reviewed,” Kirby said, adding that he could not provide a time frame or blueprint for the reevaluation.

Other administration officials have repeatedly declined the chance to endorse specific proposals from Capitol Hill, including bipartisan legislation known as the “NOPEC” bill that would allow US lawsuits against countries in the cartel for manipulating energy markets.

The conflicting messaging revealed the difficult questions facing a West Wing infuriated by the Opec+ announcement, which threatens to elevate gas prices just as voters are headed to the polls. The sting was particularly acute in the aftermath of Biden’s trip to Saudi Arabia three months ago, where he met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman despite having previously criticized the country’s de facto ruler for his involvement in the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

Saudi Arabia appeared eager to deescalate the growing rift Tuesday, with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan saying his country and the US shared a “strategic” partnership and that the decision by Opec+ was “purely economic.”

“Military cooperation between Riyadh and Washington serves the interests of both countries and has contributed to stability in the region,” he said in an interview with

Al Arabiya.

That political reality has fanned concerns by some in the administration over other White House energy policies, and how to sanction Moscow —and Russia’s significant energy sector—without further upsetting markets.

It’s also prompted a flood of proposals from administration allies on Capitol Hill. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Representative Ro Khanna of California proposed legislation Tuesday to halt US arms sales to Saudi Arabia for one year, calling their bill a message to the Saudi leadership after a move they see as aiding Russia in its war with Ukraine by propping up oil prices.

“Saudis must reverse their oil supply cuts, which aid and abet Russia’s savage criminal invasion, endanger the world economy, and threaten higher gas prices at US pumps,” Blumenthal said. “We cannot continue selling highly sensitive arms technology to a nation aligned with an abhorrent terrorist adversary.”

Khanna said the measure would force the crown prince to reconsider.

“There is no reason for the US to kowtow to a regime that has massacred countless civilians in yemen, hacked to death a Washington-based journalist, and is now extorting Americans at the pump,” he said.

“There must be consequences for fleecing the American people in order to support Putin’s unconscionable war.”

Their proposal joins others made by members of Congress since the production cutbacks were announced and since Russia’s barrage of missile attacks on civilian infrastructure across Ukraine.

Senate Foreign Relations Chair Robert Menendez on Monday urged a freeze on all US cooperation with Saudi Arabia. Last week, three House Democrats—New Jersey’s Tom Malinowski, Pennsylvania’s Susan Wild and Illinois’ Sean Casten—said they planned to introduce a bill to remove all US troops and missile defense systems from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, another Opec+ member that supported the production cuts.

The White House on Tuesday signaled it was unlikely to support legislation withdrawing support for the integrated air and missile defense network provided to Arab partners and intended as a bulwark against Iran. Kirby noted that there were tens of thousands of Americans living in Saudi Arabia, in addition to American troops stationed in the region.

“It’s not only in our interests, that missile defense in the region become more integrated and cooperative,” he said. “It’s in the interest of our allies and partners in that part of the world as well.”

And the White House has previously expressed unease with the NOPEC legislation.

“The potential implications and unintended consequences of this legislation require further study and deliberation, particularly during this dynamic moment in the global energy markets brought about by President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine,”

Biden’s former Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in May.

click our fingers and accelerate the delivery of fighter aircraft.”

Creative solutions for nursing crisis

Dr. Carl E. Balita

Entrepreneurs’ Footprints

which already take approximately three years to manufacture.

“If we have to accelerate, we will accelerate, but we need time to accelerate,” Trappier said. “We can’t just

nursing luminary Dr. Carmelita Divinagracia shared a similar concept, which Board of Nursing Chair Elsie Tee also commended as a probable solution.

Here are some doable solutions, which SICI and I have pioneered.

While allies haven’t sent Western-made fighter jets to Ukraine, the European Union in a defense investment gap analysis published in May recommended member states modernize their fleets of multi role fighter aircraft. It also suggested

Ihave

written many articles about this crisis—nursing crisis. Solutions were offered. Both short-term and long-term measures were proposed. Then, it was just a warning. Now, it is a real volcano waiting to explode—the health care system will collapse and we will declare a code red in the very health sector in the middle of a pandemic that is not over yet.

Few years back, Philippine nursing envisioned itself as the best for the Filipinos and the choice of the world. Filipino nurses are now the choice of the world. But they can only be best for the Filipinos if they choose to stay. But why will Filipino nurses close their eyes on the amazing offers of foreign employers when they remain as contractual employees with status as job orders in higher paying government hospitals? On one end, the private hospitals hardly can compete with government hospitals, which by law is mandated to give salary Grade 15. And the biggest issue of positive practice environment remains unsolved in many health care settings. This refers to not only salary but also security of tenure, working condition, career progression, and benefits, among others.

Before the pandemic, the WHO declared the global shortfall of 5.9 million nurses. This is surely exacerbated by the increase in demand brought about by the pandemic. The nursing schools are having good enrolment these days but schools cannot accept beyond what their faculty members and resources can handle. And there is scarcity in the supply of qualified faculty, which the nursing law has spelled clearly in terms of educational and clinical qualifications. Many of them have left for greener pasture.

The regulatory authorities of nursing education along with advocates of quality nursing education have every reason to protect the quality of graduates in the light of recently remembered oversupply and poor quality of nursing graduates. They have valid anxiety about the commoditization of nursing educa-

tion anew. The moratorium on the opening up of nursing schools was lifted recently. The Technical Panel for Nursing Education of the Commission on Higher Education is even presenting the regions with scarcity in the supply of nurses. They labelled the MIMAROPA, Eastern Visayas, CARAGA, BARMM, CAR and SOCCSKSARGEN regions as code red for their need for more nursing higher education institutions.

Private hospitals through the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAPI) have expressed alarming concern over the scarcity of nurses for their staffing requirements. Some hospitals have offered comparable attractions with their global competition only to keep their nursing human resource. Big medical centers may be able to compete while the others are desperately praying for PhilHealth efficiency so that their financial mess can be addressed and be able to cope somehow. Some have closed units just to survive the pandemic disruptions. Increasing nurses’ salary in the private sector may prompt other health workers to demand corresponding increase as well. This may cause a more expensive health care.

The solution

N E CESSIT y breeds innovation. Through my consultancy for the Skills International Company Inc. (SICI) for a couple of years, a pioneering idea was born. This is supposed to be a secret ingredient. But with its President Marivic Daas and son Robi, we feel duty bound to share so we can help in solving the crisis, in the short-term and long-term. In a casual conversation, I am glad that

First, there has to be scholarships not for traditional beneficiaries from basic education but for the graduating nursing classes. This will arrest the decline in population towards the last two years in nursing due to the increasing financial cost of nursing education approaching the final years. The government funds may be funneled to this for immediate results and shortened return-oninvestment.

Graduates of government universities and colleges of nursing and the other scholars of government in nursing must be required by law (hopefully, the New Nursing Law) for a return of service for a specified duration, as employees with usual salary and benefits, to ensure a return on taxpayer’s investment for their education and other social services, and to make them available to serve the Philippine Healthcare System. This may also give them an opportunity to experience the sense of fulfillment in caring for Filipinos, especially the underserved. This may awaken the deeper sense of nationalism that may mitigate the temptation to work overseas.

One out-of-the-box idea is for foreign employers to begin their headhunting during the final years in college. They may invest on this early to build an inspiring relationship towards a career development strategy. Does this investment end in a scholarship? No. It continues.

Upon graduation, the scholars of these prospective foreign employers may engage the partner private hospitals in the country for a special engagement to deploy their nursing scholars in clinical areas to gain competencies that they prefer. The prospective nursing staffs are therefore trained and experienced for clinical competencies they need. This may commence immediately upon graduation and even while preparing for licensure and other qualifications and certifications.

And here is where the foreign employers may help further—subsidize nurses’ salaries as they gain

the required years of experience and train for the particular competencies in partner local hospitals. This will help private hospitals attract nurses. This will help nurses train with an end-in-mind of attaining proficiency towards an assured foreign employment that they wished from the beginning of their nursing journey. This will also help the prospective foreign employers to ensure the required competencies for their prospective staff. This strategy proposes a triple win scenario for aspiring nurses who will be preparing for future employment, the private hospitals in the Philippines availing of a subsidized salary for their human resource for a year or two, and the prospective overseas employers who, in time, will gain the adequately trained and experienced nursing staff. For as long as the supply-chain continues, no one loses. The cycle will continue.

This solution should not be misinterpreted as commoditization of nursing professionals but as a strategic alliance to address the nursing crisis.

Are we pushing the nurses away? No! We shall engage them as solution to our current crisis. After all, there is no way we can prevent our nurses from choosing to work overseas as this is their right. The deployment ban or cap may be a necessary “evil” only during the pandemic but would not have acceptable value for long and in the post-pandemic times. We have to give our nurses more reasons to stay, for a few years or even forever. But nurses should be given reasons, which in fact many, including this writer, have found.

As the Philippines values the overseas Filipinos as heroes because of their sacrifices and contribution to the economy, the case of nurses is different. While it is true that there is no place like home, home is what other countries are offering our nurses by allowing them to bring their families and establish a new home through migration. We take pride in our nurses who are so in demand overseas. But we are afraid that the supplier of nurses to the world runs out of supply of nurses for itself.

For feedback, please send e-mail to drcarlbalita@ yahoo.com.

IMF warns ‘worst is yet to come’ as steps to slow inflation raise risks

By Eric Martin | Bloomberg Opinion

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned of a worsening outlook for the global economy, highlighting that efforts to manage the hottest inflation in decades may add to the damage from the war in Ukraine and China’s slowdown.

The IMF cut its forecast for global growth next year to 2.7 percent, from 2.9 percent seen in July and 3.8 percent in January, adding that it sees a 25 percent probability that growth will slow to less than 2 percent.

The risk of policy miscalculation has risen sharply as growth remains fragile and markets show signs of stress, the IMF said Tuesday in its World Economic Outlook. About one third of the global economy risks contracting next year, it said, with the US, European Union and China all continuing to stall.

The impact of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy tightening will be felt globally, with the dollar’s strength versus currencies in emerging and developing markets adding to inflation and debt pressures.

Excluding the unprecedented slowdown of 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, next year’s performance would be the weakest since 2009, in the wake of the global

countries upgrade and expand their inventory of main battle tanks and armored fighting vehicles, and invest in frigates, submarines and high-end interconnected ships.

Officials are trying to work out how to better communicate their procurement needs with industry so that companies can invest in pro-

financial crisis.

“The worst is yet to come, and for many people 2023 will feel like a recession,” the lender’s chief economist, Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, wrote in a foreword to the report. “As storm clouds gather, policymakers need to keep a steady hand.”

The warning comes as finance and central bank chiefs gather in Washington for the lender’s annual meetings. Speaking at the opening on Monday, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva cautioned that higher borrowing costs in the US, the world’s largest economy, are “starting to bite,” while World Bank President David Malpass flagged the “real danger” of a global recession.

To be sure, the IMF sees greater risk from central banks doing too little rather than too much amid persistent price pressures, a mistake that would cost them credibility and only increase the eventual cost to

duction for the long-term. And while they want to replenish stocks, governments also need to be wary about excessive stockpiling given the shelf lives of some weapons.

That constraint was highlighted in August, when Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles said her government wouldn’t send Ukraine

bring prices under control.

Inflation will peak later this year, the IMF forecast, with an annual rate of 8.8 percent, and will remain elevated for longer than previously expected, only slowing to 6.5 percent next year and 4.1 percent by 2024.

For this year, the IMF sees world growth of 3.2 percent, unchanged from July but down by more than a quarter from the 4.4 percent projected in January, before Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine, which disrupted food and fuel flows and exacerbated inflation globally.

The euro area economy will grow just 0.5 percent in 2023, according to the fund, with the bloc seeing the sharpest outlook reduction among global regions. Germany, Italy and Russia all will see their economies shrink. Though the energy crisis in Europe triggered by Russia cutting deliveries of natural gas will challenge the continent this winter, next winter is likely to be even more difficult, according to the fund.

As countries deal with the energy crisis that’s elevating prices, Gourinchas urged nations not to implement fiscal policy that is going to be at cross

the Leopard tanks it had been considering after finding them in a deplorable state after years of disuse, according to media reports.

“The industry both in our country and around the world want to know, is there a sustainable longer-range plan for this production,” William LaPlante, the US defense acquisition

purpose with what the central banks are trying to do.

“If you try to do this, it’s like trying to drive a car with two drivers,” he said in an interview on Bloomberg Television. “It’s not going to work,” he said, adding: “ you want to make sure that you don’t create nervousness in the market and that you have a fiscal plan that doesn’t aggravate the inflation pressures.”

The US will expand 1% next year, unchanged from the previous view. It saw its outlook for this year cut the most, to 1.6 percent growth from 2.3 percent seen in July.

Advanced economies are forecast to grow 1.1 percent next year, compared with 3.7 percent for emerging markets and developing economies.

India will expand the most among the world’s biggest economies next year, growing 6.1 percent. China will grow 4.4 percent.

The recession in Russia won’t be as steep as expected in July, with the nation now seen contracting 3.4 percent this year, compared with an earlier forecast for 6 percent. Brazil also saw its forecast for this year increased by 1.1 percentage point to 2.8 percent. With assistance from Zoe Schneeweiss, Reade Pickert, Alix Steel and Dani Burger /Bloomberg.

chief, told reporters after the national armaments directors meeting. “And not that this will be something which has traditionally been feast or famine; that we go into panic mode, we increase production, and then when the crisis passed, we just go back to minimal production again.”  With assistance from Alberto Nardelli / Bloomberg.

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Senators evaluate DSWD’s

₧195-B budget, focus on 4Ps

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

Lack of funds bugs VaxCertPH as DICT forced to assume ops

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

SEN.

Joseph Victor Ejercito and other senators moved at a Finance subcommittee hearing Wednesday to thoroughly “evaluate” the P194.63-billion budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for fiscal year 2023, seeking a review of the “4Ps” or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program to get “an honest assessment” of its effectivity as a strategy to alleviate poverty in the past several years.

“Of course, we must help our fellow Filipinos, especially the poorest of the poor but it seems that we are encour aging a culture of mendicancy,” the senator said, adding that the govern ment should have an exit mechanism for 4Ps recipients.

This, as Department of Social Wel fare and Development Secretary Er win Tulfo vowed to execute a program evaluation along with the department’s sustainable livelihood program and exit mechanism for graduating 4Ps beneficiaries.

Secretary Tulfo, in presenting the DSWD’s budget before the Senate Fi nance Subcommittee, informed the panel that the bulk of DSWD’s pro posed allocation amounting to P182.7 billion would finance the agency’s ser vices and programs.

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino

Program or “4Ps” is the department’s top program in terms of allocation,” Tulfo said, adding this is followed by the grant of social pension to indigent senior citizens; and the agency’s ser vices for families in difficult situations.

Presiding at the hybrid Senate panel  hearing, Sen. Imee Marcos moved for the agency to level up its Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

The senator reminded DSWD that under the law, 4Ps is a poverty reduc tion strategy that provides grants to extremely poor households to improve their health, nutrition and education.

She suggested the agency should study revising the law’s implementing rules and regulation (IRR) in order to concentrate on nutrition because of high prices of food.

On education, Marcos said it is time to expand this field from high school

level to vocational-technical education to prepare and up-skill the beneficia ries. “These are the things that we have to look at in the IRR—still compliant with the law,” Marcos said, citing the Mexican experience that levels up the conditional cash transfer to include social and productive inclusion as an exit strategy.

S en. Sherwin Gatchalian, mean while, also sought an evaluation of the effectiveness of the 4Ps.

Gatchalian opined that 4Ps has yet to achieve its objective of alleviating poverty among indigent households.

He noted that under Republic Act No. 11310 or the 4Ps Act, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) is mandated to conduct an impact evaluation every three years to assess the implementation of the program.

Tulfo replied that impact evalu ations previously conducted by the PIDS found gains in the rollout of the 4Ps which include, among oth ers, increased school enrollment and attendance among children of household-beneficiaries to comply with the conditions of the program.

D SWD data submitted to the Sen ate panel, however, showed that de spite the some P900 billion shelled out for the program since 2007, only 97,000 “graduated” from poverty.

“It seems to me, that despite the ef fectiveness on participation rates of students . . .the challenge of break ing the inter-generational poverty is not happening. Despite the students going to school, they’re still poor,” Gatchalian said.

T he senator called for a separate hearing on the 4Ps, saying the PIDS impact assessment “will give us a complete view on the program.” “That needs to be analyzed deeply, why intergenerational poverty is not breaking,” Gatchalian said.

THE lack of funds is currently hampering the smooth operation of the government’s cen tralized vaccine certifi cate system, according to the Department of Information and Com munications Technol ogy (DICT).

DICT Secretary Ivan John E. Uy admitted the operation of the Vax CertPH is currently facing “challenges” since their con tract with a third party service provider, which supplied them with the software for the certificate system, already expired.

UY

He said the contract was only good until Sept. 30 since they were supposed to already turn over the manage ment of the VaxCertPH to the Department of Health (DOH) by that time.

Unfortunately, DOH informed DICT recently that its personnel are still not prepared to manage the Vax CertPH system.

So they requested DICT to continue running the system for them and in the meantime until they have the capacity to absorb the system,” Uy said in a press conference on Wednesday.

T he DICT official made the statement when asked about the cause of the outdated vaccination data from the Vax CertPH website.  Currently, he said they lack the fund to renew their contract with the concerned service provider.

“ It’s an unprogrammed expense that DICT has to assume . . . So, we’re still in that stage [of looking for funds],” Uy said.

TULFO

AMID A HARVEST OF AWARDS, YOUR SUPPORT COUNTS MOST

THEpandemic tested the media industry, forcing newsrooms around the world to overhaul the way they do their job while following strict health protocols in order to survive a deadly infection.

The BusinessMirror, the country’s premier national business daily, was tested like everyone else, and survived, even continuing to live up to its promise to provide a broader look at today’s business.

In November 2021, the business broadsheet was recognized as the “Business News Source of the Year” for 2020 by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (Ejap), the country’s premier organization of business reporters, editors and wire agencies. It was a 4-peat for BM, having gotten the same honors for the years 2017, 2018 and 2019.

And, as in the past Ejap awards, it also swept half of the individual categories, with its seasoned reporters adjudged as best in their respective coverages.

Earlier in 2021, the BusinessMirror was given the Pro Patria Award by the Rotary Club of Manila, for “its commitment of valuable resources for the protection of free expression and its resilience in disseminating fair and truthful information resulting in an informed and enlightened citizenry.”

It was just the latest recognition from the prestigious Rotary Club, which named it “Business Newspaper of the Year” for 2018-2019, and again in 2020. In all, it has received six top

Rotary journalism awards in its short 16-year existence.

The BusinessMirror has also consistently reaped top awards in the Brightleaf Journalism Awards for Agriculture and the Philippine Agricultural Journalists-San Miguel Corp. (PAJ-SMC) Binhi Awards, also for the best in agriculture journalism.

The BusinessMirror was also repeatedly adjudged the leading daily in biotechnology journalism, a recognition bestowed by the Jose G. Burgos Jr. Biotechnology Journalism Awards.

T he “broader look” mantra also drew recognition from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) which named the BusinessMirror, at its first awards rites in 2018, as the inaugural “Data Champion.”

In the first “Bantog Science for the People” awards for media from the Department of Science and Technology, the BusinessMirror got the top award for the Institution category for Print; and the grand prize in the individual category for science journalist Stephanie Tumampos.

In 2018, Environment Reporter Jonathan Mayuga received the Luntiang Aligato award from the Climate Reality Project, a nonprofit organization founded by Nobel Laureate and former US Vice President Al Gore.

T he Broader Look at biodiversity was also recognized. It was named among the Asean Champions of

Biodiversity, for the Media Category, by the Asean Centre for Biodiversity.

T he Broader Look also extended to the paper’s corporate social responsibility. It organized and staged the first-ever recognition rites for the best of the Philippines’s friends in the world, with the “MISSION PHILIPPINES: The BusinessMirror Envoys & Expats Awards.” The initiative won a Gold Anvil in 2019.

Distinguished institutions in government have also repeatedly recognized the BusinessMirror’s role in spreading the word about the work they do—information that shines a light on good governance and committed public service to uplift people’s hopes. Most notably, these are the Social Security System and Pag-IBIG Fund.

Sixteen years, two of them in a pandemic, have tested the promise of a Broader Look. But they are also a measure of the unstinting support of friends—advertisers and news sources alike—and readers who continue to believe in that promise.

THANK YOU, EVERYONE. YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT IS OUR MOST IMPORTANT TROPHY.

BusinessMirror

A broader look at today’s business

Bill postponing barangay,

SK polls signed into law

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. has signed Republic Act No. 11935, which  postponed the 2022 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to next year.

Marcos signed the measure on Oct. 10, 2022, but it was only posted in the Official Gazette last Wednesday.

I nstead of being held in Decem ber, the next BSKE will be held on the last Monday of October 2023 and every three years thereafter.

R A 11932 also amended Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9164, which now states the assumption of office of the elected Barangay and Sang guniang Kabataan officials shall

commence at noon of November 30 next following their election.

W ith the latest rescheduling of the BSKE date, the new law also provided the current BSK officials with holdover authority unless re moved or suspended for cause.

T he amount needed for the im plementation of the new law will be deducted from the funds of the Commission on Elections.

R A 11932 will take effect after

being published in the Official Ga zette or in two newspapers of gen eral circulation.

In a statement on Wednesday, Comelec Chairman George M. Garcia said they were already informed about the suspension of the BSKE and are now preparing for the resumption of voters’ registration and voter educa tion and information programs.

The Commission will release an announcement regarding an ad justment of the calendar of activi ties at the soonest possible time,”

Garcia said.   Garcia noted their preparations for the BSKE will continue despite the postponement, although he said they may “revisit” their ex isting and planned procurement contracts related to the activity.   L ast, the poll official said they hope the postponement will give time to aspiring BSKE candidates to “prepare and reflect on their rights and duties which they will exercise through their ballots and eventual offices.”

Proposed ₧8.96-B OP budget breezes through Senate panel

THE proposed P8.96-billion budget of the Office of the President (OP) for FY 2023 breezed through a Senate panel hearing on Wednesday, even as several senators asked Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and some of the executives with him to ad dress outsanding issues such as the stalled contracts on account of an office circular.

During the Finance Subcommit tee A hearing, Sen. Sonny Angara, panel chairperson, raised the effect of Memorandum Circular No. 3, which prevents officers-in-charge from entering contracts.

A ngara stressed that this provi sion affected the utilization of the budgets of their respective agen cies. “We were made aware of this during the hearing of the DepEd (Department of Education) budget when we asked the Early Childhood Care and Development Council why it had a low utilization of its budget. Council officials said “they were prevented from entering a contract to build day care centers because of that memorandum cir cular.”  Angara urged the chief ex ecutive to reconsider reviewing the said memorandum order M eanwhile, Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III

sought clarification from Bersa min on whether the recent trip of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to Singapore was a personal or an official visit.

B ersamin said the President was invited by the Prime Minister of Singapore to join him during the revival of Formula one (F1) race in the country. Bersamin added that the trip was not announced before hand due to security reasons.

From the answer given to us by the executive secretary, we saw that the root of it all is the invita tion from the PM of Singapore to Mr. Bongbong Marcos as president of the Philippines. Therefore, that was an official trip,” Pimentel said.

I n the same hearing, Sen. Fran cis Tolentino asked Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Secre tary Zenaida Angping about the procurement status of the P28.717 million worth of cameras for RTVM.

I can still recall during the lock down days, I initiated the procure ment of three or four cameras for RTVM. Apparently, the budget has still to be utilized and it will expire at the end of the year. Perhaps, the good secretary can note that and have it procured,” Tolentino said.

DMCI Homes: Mandaluyong project’s sales reach ₧4.8B

By VG Cabuag @villygc

company said.

Nido Petroleum allots $72M for exploration

tion into the second half of next year.

DMCI

Homes on Wednesday said sales of its newest residential condominium in Mandaluyong hit P4.8 billion barely a month after it was launched.

The company said as of early this month, its Sage Residences—the single-tower 50-storey development in Barangay Mauway in Mandaluyong—has sold 633 of the initially launched 812-unit inventory.

Sage Residences offers a mix of studio, one-, two- and threebedroom units ranging from 30 to 95 square meters. Unit prices range from P6.11 million to P14.14 million.

DMCI homes expects to generate a total of P12.46 billion sales from the project, which is targeted for turnover in February 2028.

“Sage Residences continues to generate interest from homebuyers who see the project as a convenient home or a high-value income property primarily because of its excellent location in the middle of major commercial and business districts of Makati, Taguig and Pasig,” the

The property is accessible via eD SA, Boni Avenue or Shaw Boulevard. The company said going in and out of the property is easy because of its proximity to the MRT3 Boni and Shaw Stations, and the abundance of transport options in the area.

A few minutes from Sage Residences are business centers Ortigas, Rockwell and Capitol Commons and prestigious schools such as Immaculate Conception Academy, Xavier, Poveda and La Salle Greenhills.

“Sage Residences is a sound investment not just because of its prime location, but also for its generous unit cuts, innovative designs, holistic amenities and green building features,” the company said.

Amenities include an indoor and outdoor play area, gym, ground

floor pool complex, shooting court and a picnic and snack bar area.

Sage Residences also has a distinctive roof-deck that contains an elevated Sky Deck Pool, a Sky Garden and two Sky Lounges.

To support the changing lifestyle needs of residents, units and common areas of the property will have a free, unlimited, built-in, commercial-grade internet service, similar to the service premium hotels provide their guests.

“Sage Residences will be a showcase of DMCI homes’ dedication to functional and sustainable design as it will bear its design innovation that brings abundant natural light and fresh air to the condominium.”

The property will also have a facility capable of collecting and treating wastewater to make it fit for general use, landscape irrigation and maintenance of amenities.

ERC gets RCOA-related complaints

The e n ergy Regulatory Commission ( e R C) said on Wednesday it is seeing a rising number of complaints filed by contestable customers against their power suppliers.

Contestable customers are large end-users that are able to purchase power directly from Retail e l ectricity Suppliers (R e S ) under the retail competition and open access program (RCOA) under Republic Act 9136 or the e l ectric Power Industry Reform Act.

The agency received 16 complaints from contestable customers, with a total demand of 123.69 megawatts (MW). The complaints range from improper implementation to unilateral termination by suppliers of the Retail Supply Contracts (RSC). The issue raised covers the imposition of Fuel Cost Recovery Adjustment (FCRA) in what customers claim to be fixed-

price contracts.

The e RC said nine of these large or contestable customers belong to major manufacturing industries that are vital to the economy.

“While the letters on file cover 16 complaints with the e R C, it appears that many more contestable customers are affected, thus, this 126MW is just a fraction of the capacity affected. We are taking this seriously especially since these contestable customers belong to industries which are critical to our economic recovery,” e RC Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta said.

The e R C has also referred the matter to the Department of e ne rgy (DOe ) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for coordination on steps to safeguard the interests of those affected contestable customers.

It also called on the Retail

e l ectricity Suppliers Association (R e S A) to advise its members to exercise restraint in enforcing notices of disconnection while the parties are undergoing negotiation and/or dispute resolution processes.

“The e R C encourages the parties to amicably settle their disputes based on the Complaints h a ndling Procedures and Dispute Resolutions of the R e S , as well as the Dispute Resolution or Arbitration clause incorporated in their respective RSCs.

We are certain that the parties are aware of e R C’s authority over cases where RSC provisions are disputed, pursuant to its original and exclusive jurisdiction over all cases involving disputes among participants in the energy sector and this includes contractual interpretations,” added Dimalanta.

Lenie Lectura

names regional CFO

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

NIDO Petroleum Philippines Pt. Ltd. will shell out $72 million to proceed with its exploration activities under Service Contract (SC) 6B covering the Cadlao oil field and SC 54 located Northwest Palawan basin.

Department of e nergy (DOe) Undersecretary Alessandro Sales said during an online briefing held Wednesday that Nido Petroleum would spend $56 million for drilling and extended production test for SC6B and $16 million for SC54 drilling.

“Around $16 million per well as per the budget they submitted. In Cadlao, they are undertaking extended production test so additional $40 million. When they drill it, they will test the flow rate for a period to determine how to optimize future production and determine the more appropriate way in installing permanent production facilities. So, if you count that, $16 (million) another $16 (million) and $40 (million) so total of $72 million for both contracts,” said Sales.

Nido Petroleum, operator of SC6B, has received the green light of the DOe to proceed with an on-site survey for its planned drilling activities. It plans to drill one exploration well and one appraisal well in the first quarter of 2023.

The Cadlao oil field may bring in recoverable volumes of five to six million barrels of oil in early oil produc-

Cadlao is an old oil field that was last produced in the early 1990s with over 11 million barrels. The technical operatorship of this oil field was assigned to Nido Petroleum from the Philodrill Corp. in February to fund the 100 percent development costs, which include drilling, extended well tests, and subsequent development of the said oil field.

The DOe also allowed Nido Petroleum, operator of SC54 to proceed with their site survey. SC 54 holds four discoveries including Tindalo and Yakal during their 2008 drilling campaign. This area contains the associated portfolio of shallow water discoveries and targets along the Nido field oil trend.

The DOe underscored the government’s commitment to preserve and maintain the investment incentives for service contractors under Presidential Decree (PD) No. 87 .

The state policy enunciated in PD 87 is “to hasten the discovery and production of indigenous petroleum through the utilization of government and/or private resources, local and foreign x x x to yield the maximum benefit to the Filipino people x x x and to assure just returns to participating private enterprises, particularly those that will provide the necessary services, financing and technology and fully assume all exploration risks.” Lenie Lectura

rector and country head of airasia super app Philippines, which has reached nearly 1 million monthly active users to date.

D

IGITAL platform airasia super app has appointed Raymund C. Berja as its regional chief financial officer and head for tax, compliance, and procurement, making him the first Filipino to be appointed to a regional executive position in the company.

Berja, a native of Piat and Solana in Cagayan, said his first orders of business in his new role are to “disrupt the disruptors” and enable the company to enjoy positive earnings.

“We at airasia are not strangers to facing giants. Two decades ago, we started disrupting the Asean aviation market with our low fares and value-for-money service. Today, our goal is to disrupt the tech disruptors and truly bring more value into the lives of the millions of people in the region through our suite of everyday services,” Berja said.

In his new role, Berja will oversee the management of the airasia super app’s finances in all of the territories it operates in, namely: the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, and tech support operations in India, and

expansions in Vietnam, Singapore and South Korea.

Currently, airasia super app has a base of 50 million users that use the platform to book for flights, hotel stays, experiences, land and sea transfers, rides, food deliveries, and online retail, among other services.

“I see this opportunity to bring in work ethic, values, expertise and collaborative mindset in influencing our five-year business plan and strategy in terms of growth and expansion. My goal is to provide a strong foundation for airasia super app to sustain growth momentum and positive e B ITDA, as well as to implement stronger finance governance and compliance, a disciplined fiscal management through the efficient and effective allocation of resources across line of businesses while balancing new product launches and expansion to new markets,” Berja said.

Concurrent to his regional position, Berja will also continue with his role as the managing di-

In his stint as the managing director and country head of the Philippine subsidiary, Berja led the company to book “a gross book value of 86 percent, with net revenues rising by 98 percent and transaction count increasing by 174 percent.”

Berja holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration which he earned from both the Ateneo de Manila University Graduate School of Business and Regis University in the United States. h e is taking his PhD in Business Leadership Studies in Ateneo De Manila University on leave of absence status.

h e also holds a Diploma in Financial Technology from Saïd Business School - University of Oxford.

Prior to joining AirAsia Philippines as its CFO in 2019, Berja has been at the helm of finance units from different industries for 15 years. These include large domestic corporations and other multinational companies such as ABS-CBN Corp., Jollibee Foods Corp., PLDT Global Corp., and GCash.

World Companies

Intel plans thousands of job cuts in face of PC slowdown

American tourists boost LVMH sales

general health of the economy. Unlike mass-market retailers, LVMH has the ability to pass cost increases to consumers, he said.

Intel

Corp. is planning a major reduction in headcount, likely numbering in the thousands, to cut costs and cope with a sputtering personalcomputer market, according to people with knowledge of the situation.

The layoffs will be announced as early as this month, with the company planning to make the move around the same time as its thirdquarter earnings report on October 27, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private. The chipmaker had 113,700 employees as of July.

Some divisions, including Intel’s sales and marketing group, could see cuts affecting about 20 percent of staff, according to the people.

Intel is facing a steep decline in demand for PC processors, its main business, and has struggled to win back market share lost to rivals like Advanced Micro Devices Inc. In July, the company warned that 2022 sales would be about $11 billion lower than it previously expected. Analysts are predicting a third-quarter revenue drop of roughly 15 percent. And Intel’s once-enviable margins have shriveled: They’re about 15 percentage points narrower than historical numbers of around 60 percent.

During its second-quarter earnings call, Intel acknowledged that it could make changes to improve profits. “We are also lowering core expenses in calendar year 2022 and will look to take additional actions in the second half of the year,” Chief Executive Officer Pat Gelsinger said at the time.

Intel, based in Santa Clara, California, declined to comment on the layoffs.

Intel’s last big wave of layoffs occurred in 2016, when it trimmed about 12,000 jobs, or 11 percent of its total. The company has made smaller cuts since then and shuttered several divisions, including its cellular

Meta debuts

modem and drone units. Like many companies in the technology industry, Intel also froze hiring earlier this year, when market conditions soured and fears of a recession grew.

The latest cutbacks are likely meant to reduce Intel’s fixed costs, possibly by about 10 percent to 15 percent, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Mandeep Singh said in a research note. He estimates that those costs range from at least $25 billion to $30 billion.

Gelsinger took the helm at Intel last year and has been working to restore the company’s reputation as a Silicon Valley legend. But even before the PC slump, it was an uphill fight. Intel lost its long-held technological edge, and its own executives acknowledge that the company’s culture of innovation withered in recent years.

Now a broader slowdown is adding to those challenges. Intel’s PC, data center and artificial intelligence groups are contending with a tech spending downturn, weighing on revenue and profit.

PC sales tumbled 15 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier, according to IDC. HP Inc., Dell Technologies Inc, and Lenovo Group Ltd., which use Intel’s processors in their laptops and desktop PCs, all suffered steep declines.

With PC prices stagnating and demand weakening, Intel also may need to pursue a dividend cut to offset cash-flow headwinds, Singh said. But Intel’s plan to sell shares of its Mobileye self-driving technology business in an initial public offering may ease those concerns, he said.

It’s a particularly awkward mo-

ment for Intel to be making cutbacks. The company lobbied heavily for a $52 billion chip-stimulus bill this year, vowing to expand its manufacturing in the US. Gelsinger is planning a building boom that includes bringing the world’s biggest chipmaking hub to Ohio.

At the same time, the company is under intense pressure from investors to shore up its profits. The company’s shares have fallen more than 50% in 2022, with a 20 percent plunge occurring in the last month alone.

The shares slipped 0.6 percent to $25.04 in New York on Tuesday.

US tensions with China also have clouded the chip industry’s future. The Biden administration announced new export curbs on Friday, restricting what US technologies companies can sell to the Asian nation. The news sent shares of chipmakers tumbling anew, with Intel falling 5.4 percent that day.

Intel has been trying to regain its footing in the industry by releasing new PC processors and graphics semiconductors. A key part of its strategy is selling more chips to the data-center market, where rivals AMD and Nvidia Corp. have made inroads. On Tuesday, Google unveiled new Intel-powered technology for its server farms that will help speed artificial intelligence tasks.

Intel is now looking to pursue those goals as a leaner company.

David Zinsner, Intel’s chief finan-

headset targeting working professionals

META Platforms Inc. unveiled its newest virtualreality headset on Tuesday, a foray into the world of high-end VR devices designed to entice creators and working professionals to adopt Mark Zuckerberg’s vision for an immersive digital future.

The Meta Quest Pro is the company’s latest offering in a product line previously branded as Oculus. The Quest Pro includes a number of technological advancements from the company’s Quest 2 headset, which was launched in late 2020.

The new headset is also much pricier than its predecessor--it will cost $1,500, or three times the price of the Quest 2, in part because the company is targeting more serious working professionals. With the new device, Facebook parent Meta is seeking to transcend the notion that VR is primarily the realm of gamers, an effort to broaden its audience. Meta’s Quest 2 headset has sold an estimated 15 million units.

“It’s work-focused,” Meta Chief Executive Officer Zuckerberg told a small group of reporters in late September. “The ideal customers for this [are] gonna be either people who just want the highest-end VR device—so enthusiasts, prosumer type folks — or people who are trying to get work done.”

Some of the Quest Pro’s new features are built for this work-focused

audience, and would be particularly useful for people taking meetings in VR while working remotely. The device includes face- and eye-tracking, which can be used to humanize avatars so that conversations in VR feel more personal. It also has what Meta calls a “full-color mixed reality experience,” which uses cameras on the outside of the headset to let people see the world around them and overlay graphics while wearing the device. (The Quest 2 also has this mixed reality feature, but only in black and white.)

Meta is also launching new “selftracking” controllers alongside its new headset, which means each controller has built-in sensors that can “track their position in 3D space independent of the headset,” according to Meta’s blog post about the product.

Meta and Zuckerberg have been teasing the Quest Pro for

months, and many of the gadget’s details leaked ahead of Tuesday’s announcement at the company’s annual Connect conference. Still, Meta’s research in developing virtual and augmented reality headsets is key to plans for the so-called metaverse, an immersive version of the internet where Zuckerberg hopes people will eventually work and play.

Someday users may access the metaverse as digital avatars through devices like the Quest Pro, and eventually through augmented reality glasses intended to look like ordinary reading spectacles. That vision is still far off—and costing Meta tens of billions of dollars in the interim. The company said investments in its Reality Labs division, which is responsible for building the metaverse, cut operating profits by $10 billion in 2021. Meta’s shares have tumbled more than 60 percent this year.

For now Meta is promoting the Quest Pro as an important tool for working remotely, and is teaming up with Microsoft Corp. to offer Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365 office-productivity software on the new devices. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella appeared on video alongside Zuckerberg Tuesday announcing the partnership and promoting the new headset, saying, “we are going through a once-in-a-lifetime change in how we work.”

cial officer, said after the company’s latest quarterly report that “there are large opportunities for Intel to improve and deliver maximum output per dollar.” The chipmaker expected to see restructuring charges in the third quarter, he said, signaling that cuts were looming.

Some chipmakers, including Nvidia and Micron Technology Inc., have said they’re steering clear of layoffs for now. But other tech companies, such as Oracle Corp. and Arm Ltd., have already been cutting jobs.

LVMH sales jumped despite fears of a global recession, with the owner of Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior benefiting from wealthy American tourists shopping in Europe for luxury goods.

In a sign of the enduring demand for pricey merchandise, sales of LVMH’s fashion and leather goods soared 22 percent on an organic basis in the third quarter, the company reported Tuesday. Analysts had expected a gain of 16 percent. Even so, the company said it will control spending as uncertainty persists.

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, founded by French billionaire Bernard Arnault, is the first high-end group to report revenue for the three months ending September, making its earnings a closelywatched event for investors.

The results indicate that so far, the industry has avoided the squeeze on spending that other retailers and consumer-goods companies have faced amid a growing cost-of-living crisis. LVMH Chief Financial Officer Jean-Jacques Guiony said during a call with analysts that a recession expected by investors “hasn’t materialized in full swing yet.” In past down cycles, luxury customers have tended to react more to stock-market shocks rather than GDP slowdowns, he said. Guiony warned against using the group’s results as a “proxy” for the

While LVMH has been able to increase prices on its goods this year, Guiony stopped short of laying out the company’s plans for 2023 amid a wider price discrepancy between the US and Europe.

Europe saw LVMH’s strongest organic revenue growth in the third quarter, rising 36 percent helped by visiting Americans, who have splurged on trips to Europe in recent months.

Japan and the US followed Europe in organic sales growth, which strips out items such as the impact of exchange rates. Asia, excluding Japan, lagged the other regions, posting 6 percent growth after seeing a drop in the previous three months amid lockdowns in China.

Despite the expansion of sales, LVMH said it’s not immune to the wider economic distress and pledged to keep a tight rein on costs and only invest selectively. That was a change of tone for the company -- in past quarters, outlook has tended to focus on growth prospects.

Even so, high-end consumers have yet to suffer the impact of higher inflation and lower macro-economic growth, said Bernstein analyst Luca Solca.

News

Upgrade your home with this essential renovation and building needs P.tech has everything you need for your next home renovation

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Carpet installation is difficult— but not so if you’re using carpet tiles! Besides offering a vast array of designs for different tastes, P.tech carpet tiles are reasonablysized to make installation easier for anyone.

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Valley Trays

HOME makeovers just got a lot less daunting with the help of these sturdy materials.

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A highly recommended brand is Wilcon Depot’s P.tech. The brand is known for its high-quality building materials, particularly when it comes to durability and design. Its wide range of offerings ensures that building professionals will find what they’re looking for. In fact, P.tech’s aim is to make construction accessible to everyone.

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Banking&Finance

Exemption from VAT of sugar, basic goods filed in Congress

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

THEMakabayan bloc of lawmakers in the Lower House has filed a measure exempting sugar, canned goods and other basic goods from 12-percent value-added tax (VAT).

In House Bill (HB) 5504, Gabriela Rep. Arlene D. Brosas, Kabataan Rep. Raoul Danniel A. Manuel and Act Teachers Rep. France L. Castro said they filed the measure to ease the economic burden of ordinary Filipinos amid surging prices and the free-falling peso.

House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda has warned last month that the weakening of the peso will affect

lower-income households more than rich households.

The economist-lawmaker said in September that the bottom 30 percent of households in terms of income spend 58.2 percent of their total expenditures on food. Salceda noted that 24.9 percent of total food consumption in the country is imported.

The authors of HB 5504 said removing VAT on commonly used

food commodities would provide relief to a large number of consumers and stimulate economic activity, “especially as more Filipinos have slid down to the ranks of the poor and the unemployed.”

“These savings mean more money for consumers to spend directly on their needs and less production cost for fuel-intensive businesses,” the explanatory note of the bill read.

“It is in this light that passage of this bill, which exempts the imposition of the VAT on basic necessities, is urgently sought,” it added. “The Marcos administration has no reason to refuse the certification of this measure as urgent.”

Dramatically ease UNDER HB 5504, lawmakers seek to scrap the VAT on the importation and sale of the following commodities: bread; canned goods; instant noodles; biscuits; sugar (raw and refined); cooking oil; salt; laundry

soap and detergents; charcoal; and, candles. It also seeks exemption of VAT on the importation and sale of drugs classified as essential by the Department of Health.

“Removing the VAT on basic goods consumed by poor families on a regular basis will dramatically ease their economic suffering amid skyrocketing prices, massive joblessness and depressed wages,” said Brosas.

“Instead of asking consumers to control their purchases, it is the government’s responsibility to provide concrete solutions to address high prices,” she added.

The lawmaker said any foregone revenues with the VAT exemption on basic commodities will not be as huge as the amount foregone under the government’s hefty tax exemptions for big corporations.

The Makabayan bloc has also filed HB 400 seeking to scrap the Train Law excise tax and VAT on petroleum products to effectively lower oil prices in the country.

GCash, Binance tagged ‘most trusted’ digital platforms

FOR being user-friendly and having a robust security platform, WRN Numero Research Inc. reported that GCash and Binance have emerged as the most trusted mobile wallet and cryptocurrency brands.

In their study, WRN said that 85 percent of the respondents of the survey said the GCash app by G-Xchange Inc. is the most trusted mobile wallet. Moreover, 73 percent of the respondents pointed out the application’s ease of use and strong security (55 percent) and transparency (50 percent) as foundations for trust.

Cleve V. Arguelles, Research Fellow and Managing Director of WR Numero Research, said they have observed in their research that Binance emerged as the most used and trusted platform. About 74 percent of respondents who said they are cryptocurrency users said they used the platform operated by Binance (Services Holdings) Ltd. More than half of these (52 percent) cited Binance as the most trusted exchange.

“Cryptocurrency exchange services are fairly new compared to the

other fintech services. And if the current trend of fintech adoption among Filipinos continues, we can expect that the number of Filipino cryptocurrency users is also likely to increase in the coming years,” Arguelles said.

According to the survey, 87 percent of the respondents believe that cryptocurrency is beneficial to the Philippines economy and 81 percent said the government should support the development of the industry.

USERS of Binance said they trust the platform because of its ease of use (64 percent), safety and security (62 percent) and ease of funds conversion (58 percent). About 85 percent of the respondents who use Binance answered that the platform will contribute to the growth of the country’s economy.

The result of this poll was revealed nearly two months after the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Enforcement and Investor Protection Department (EIPD) cautioned the public not to invest in Binance, the eponymous crypto exchange platform and blockchain infrastructure operated by the Ire-

land-headquartered firm.

Last August, nongovernment organization Infrawatch Philippines Inc. said it received a letter from the SEC saying based on the initial assessment of its EIPD, Binance is not a registered corporation and it does not possess the necessary authority or license to solicit investments from the public.

According to Arguelles, WRN employs several levels of statistical intervention in its digital surveys to arrive at accurate results. The firm conducted a commissioned nationally representative digital survey of 1,200 Filipino adults between August 27 to August 29. It has a margin of error of ±4 percent with a 99 percent confidence level.

Survey responses were statistically weighted to the national profile of all Filipino adults, including those without internet access, the research firm said. All reputable public opinion research agencies weigh data to correct 85 percent of the respondents who use Binance sampling issues in surveys, whether conducted online or face-to-face, the pollster said.

LandBank ramps-up ‘ayuda’ to farmers

The use of statistical weights ensures that the final survey data properly reflect the target population, it added. Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

UnionBank puts up ‘wall’ to protect patent filings

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio

THE Aboitiz-controlled Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) recently introduced a “Patent Wall” to acknowledge all patent registrations issued by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to the bank from May 2020 to present.

UnionBank unveiled the wall last September 8 during its Innovation Festival at the UnionBank Innovation Campus in San Pedro, Laguna.

UnionBank Chief Information Security Officer Jose Paolo G. Rufo said the “Patent Wall” is composed of 16 patent registrations, involving advanced and new technologies in the banking and financial services industry. The latter includes blockchain, artificial intelligence and data analytics, among others, that, Rufo said, has been helping the bank “provide the best digital banking experience” for its customers.

Some of UnionBank’s products, services and facilities that utilize these technologies are: its mobile application; “The Portal;” “The Ark;” “akin;” “XLOG;” “Project i2i;” “PHX Stablecoin;” financial supply chain; and, “GC Blockchain.”

“This ‘wall’ highlights the people behind our products and ser-

vices, their ideas and the continuous innovation of UnionBank. We credit the people behind these and their brilliant ideas that created significant impact and breakthroughs that allowed the transformation we are proud of today,” Rufo said. “To us, this wall is a reminder that we never stop, regardless of how far we think we have already reached.”

He said UnionBank also has more than 40 patents still ongoing.

“But of course, with this Innovation Campus, we won’t stop at that number. We might need to extend or put up another Patent Wall filled with the product of the innovative minds of our people.”

“Today, it is our pride and honor to be part of this occasion to celebrate the success of UnionBank in securing its products and services and ensuring that they are fully insulated from infringement,” said Darwin Angeles, Head of Intellectual Property at Mosveldtt Law, UnionBank’s official intellectual property partner.

“We are privileged to be [a] partner of a company that is pioneering and passionate in technology and we look forward to our continuing collaboration of filling up this entire wall of more Certificates of Registrations from the Bureau of Patents, including the rest of the walls in this building,” Angeles said.

THE

Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) announced it continues to ramp up the distribution of cash grants to farmer-beneficiaries under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) program.

The LandBank said in a statement that as of September 30 it has produced “Intervention Monitoring Cards,” or IMCs, for 54,188 beneficiaries nationwide. Of this

number, 26,523 are from Pangasinan, 8,011 from Cagayan, 7,047 from Isabela, 7,204 from Sultan Kudarat and the rest from the provinces of Tarlac, Pampanga and Camarines Sur.

Through the IMCs, each beneficiary would be given P5,000 in cash assistance to purchase farm inputs, the LandBank said.

In close coordination with the Department of Agriculture (DA), LandBank said it has, like-

wise, opened accounts for another 118,857 farmer-beneficiaries for immediate production and distribution of their own IMCs.

LandBank serves as the disbursing arm of the RCEF-RFFA program, designed to provide responsive financial support to eligible farmer beneficiaries identified by the DA, as part of the implementation of Republic Act 11203 otherwise known as the Rice Tariffication Law.

This

photo

Banking&Finance

Risk of recession rising–IMF, WB

THEheads of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank warned of a rising risk of a global recession as advanced economies slow and faster inflation forces the Federal Reserve to keep raising interest rates, adding to the debt pressures on developing nations.

In the US, the world’s largest economy, the labor market is still very strong but is losing momentum because the impact of higher borrowing costs is “starting to bite,”

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Monday. The euro zone is slowing as natural gas prices soar, as is China due to Covid-19 disruptions and volatility in the

housing sector.

The IMF calculates that about one-third of the world economy will have at least two consecutive quarters of contraction this year and next and that the lost output through 2026 will be $4 trillion.

At the same time, policymakers can’t let inflation be a “runaway train,” Georgieva said at a virtual event kicking off the IMF and World Bank’s annual meetings. “If you don’t do enough, we are in trouble.”

She added that fiscal support should be well-targeted so that it doesn’t fuel inflation and that the world needs to help emerging and developing economies hit particularly hard by tightening financial conditions.

World Bank President David Mal-

pass, speaking alongside Georgieva, warned that there’s a “real danger” of a worldwide contraction next year.

The dollar’s strength is weakening the currencies of developing nations, increasing their debt to “burdensome” levels, he said.

At an event later Monday, Georgieva said the IMF estimates that there’s a $9 billion shortfall in balance of payments coverage for middle- and low-income countries.

The IMF’s creation last month of a “food shock window” of emergency financing will help meet those needs, she said.

In a wide-ranging conversation with representatives from civil society groups, Georgieva said she’s encouraged by the latest IMF board discussion on quota review,

or updating the fund’s shares to give emerging economies a larger voice. That process is set to be completed by December 2023 and Georgieva said it’s important for maintaining the credibility of the fund.

Georgieva also said the IMF will discuss surcharges—the commissions charged to countries that use the lender’s credit lines extensively—as part of talks about its precautionary facilities in December.

Surcharges provide an incentive to middle-income nations to avoid borrowing excessively, Georgieva said. Some developing nations and Nobel prize winner Joseph Stiglitz have argued for eliminating them, saying they place an unfair cost on struggling countries. Bloomberg News

Yen weakens past level that triggered last Japan intervention

THEyen fell back into prime intervention territory Wednesday, as analysts debated whether its decline was extreme enough for Japanese authorities to prop up the currency as they did last month.

The currency fell to 146.39 per dollar, surpassing the level that prompted Japan’s first intervention to buy the yen since 1998. While Japan’s Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki and forex chief Masato Kanda are in Washington DC to attend Group of Twenty and other meetings, the government’s chief spokesperson Hirokazu Matsuno was asked about the yen Wednesday in a regular news conference.

“We’ll continue to monitor moves in the foreign exchange market with a high sense of urgency,” said Matsuno, repeating recent remarks from senior officials on the yen. “We’ll take appropriate responses against excessive moves.”

The yen has slumped to a 24-year low this year as traders focused on the widening yield gap between the US and Japan, with the former hiking rates aggressively and the latter keeping them at rock bottom levels to boost a sluggish economy. That encourages investors to seek out the more attractive returns in dollar assets from money-market instruments to fixed-income securities compared to Japanese ones.

Traders will be looking at the 1998 high of 147.66 as the next key target, though strategists have said authorities won’t necessarily have a line in the sand at which they’ll intervene again and are likely focusing on the speed of declines. The Ministry of Finance spent 2.84 trillion yen ($19.6 billion) in September to limit the yen’s losses.

“USD/JPY may top 146 briefly today, but there is so much tension that duration time will be short,” said Yoshio Iguchi, managing director of Traders Securities in Tokyo. “The chicken race will continue with people wanting to test the upside but at the same time scared of being countered by intervention.”

Policy pressure

DESPITE the efforts of authorities, the Bank of Japan’s easy monetary policy continues to weigh on the currency. Businesses have warned about the negative impact on the domestic economy and households are bracing for a cost-of-living crisis should inflation take off.

Meanwhile, a selloff in Treasuries this week has helped push the dollar higher, increasing the pressure.

“With Treasury yields seemingly heading back above 4 percent at 10-years, the dollar generally bid on risk aversion and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida [last Wednesday] fully endorsing Kuroda and BOJ policy, higher dollar-yen levels are readily justified,” said Ray Attrill, head of foreign-exchange strategy at National Australia Bank Ltd.

“But if we see a rapid move up from here as we are just now

seeing, then we may see another burst of intervention.”

Still, evidence for the Japanese government’s reasoning behind stepping into the market last month looks less compelling at the moment. One-week historical volatility in the dollar-yen has fallen to its lowest since March, indicating recent moves are far from extreme.

“Tokyo is unlikely to surrender so easily to the market, but the line of defence could be moved higher in response to the broad dollar uptrend,” said Alvin Tan, head of Asia foreignexchange strategy at Royal Bank of Canada in Singapore.

Markets are expecting the Federal Reserve to continue with its most aggressive monetary policy tightening in decades, especially with recent data showing continued strength in the labor market. Thursday’s US inflation report is the next key catalyst for investors. Bloomberg News

Fed rates seen high on wage pressures

FORMER

Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers said the US faces greater wage pressures than in the past and suspects the Federal Reserve will need to raise interest rates “somewhat more” than current market pricing in order to bring down inflation.

His assessment was that the neutral jobless rate, which was at roughly 4 percent pre-pandemic, is now closer to 5 percent and needs to rise significantly from there for inflation to begin cooling.

“I’d be watching wage inflation very carefully because I think you don’t become a low inflation country with high wage inflation and wage inflation is looking pretty high in the United States,” Summers said in his address via video link to a Citigroup Inc. conference in Sydney last Wednesday.

US unemployment unexpectedly returned to an historic low of 3.5 percent in September, putting the Fed on course to deliver another outsized rate hike. Wages are surging as firms compete for a limited pool of workers, just as policy makers are seeking a significant softening in the labor market to help cool prices.

“We probably have a different kind of labor market, in which there’s going to be more upward pressure on wages at any given level of labor market tightness than there has been historically,” Summers said. “I would expect that to continue for some time.”

Summers’s expectation that unemployment will need to climb sharply in order to achieve disinflation helps explain why he sees a US recession as almost inevitable.

News

Mango crypto exchange loses $100M

AN attacker spirited away about $100 million from decentralized finance provider Mango by manipulating the price of its token in an exploit that wiped out depositors on the crypto platform.

The heist began with two accounts funded with the stablecoin USD Coin, the platform said Wednesday on Twitter. The accounts took large positions in Mango perpetual futures, causing the price of the Mango token to spike.

The price jump stoked an unrealized profit from the futures. The attacker used that to borrow and withdraw roughly a net $100 million from the protocol in a range of tokens—leaving depositors with nothing, according to Mango.

“This incident has effectively resulted in a total draining of all equity available,” the platform said on Twitter, adding the attackers are communicating with Mango and “in-

dicating a willingness to negotiate.”

A string of attacks have befallen digital assets this year, most notably hacks on blockchain bridges, further undermining confidence in a sector that’s also nursing a $2 trillion wipeout from a November peak.

The Mango incident is “a price manipulation attack” that took advantage of the ability to leverage up positions on the platform, according to BlockSec, a company specializing in crypto security.

The perpetrator has posted a proposal on Mango’s governance page that appears to raise the possibility of returning some of the money in return for a bounty. Other conditions include using the service’s treasury to pay off bad debt and not pursuing criminal probes or freezing funds.

Pump and dump MANGO, which operates on the Solana blockchain, is a decentral-

ized crypto exchange that offers users the ability to make spot trades and loans.

It disabled deposits and said it believes the most constructive thing to do is to communicate with those responsible in an “attempt to resolve the issues amicably.”

Data from tracker CoinGecko shows that in the past 24 hours the price of the Mango token at one point shot up to about 9 US cents from 4 US cents before sinking to about 2 US cents.

Some $2 billion has been lost in crypto security incidents this year, many perpetrated by North Korealinked groups, according to blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis.

Just last week, 2 million Binance Coins—equivalent to nearly $570 million—were effectively minted and taken by a hacker. About $100 million wasn’t recovered, while the rest was frozen, according to a Binance statement. Bloomberg News

Ex-trader: HSBC has front-running problem

AFORMER HSBC Holdings Plc trader sued the bank, claiming he was fired for warning management about its “epic” frontrunning problem and confronting a colleague about trading ahead of an order for Steve Cohen’s Point72 Asset Management.

Stephen Callahan, who said he joined HSBC’s US rates trading desk as a director in 2021, claimed in a suit filed Tuesday in Manhattan federal court that he witnessed “rampant front-running, including directives to junior traders to ‘always’ prioritize the bank’s proprietary account.”

According to the suit, Callahan told his colleagues the practice was “unacceptable.” He claims HSBC responded by not promoting him, suspending him, withholding his annual bonus and then firing him in April for supposedly risky trades.

“We take claims like this very seriously and look forward to defending against these allegations in court,” Matt Ward, a spokesman for HSBC, said in a statement.

Callahan said he most often witnessed front-running in long-dated securities with maturities after 10 years, the more volatile prices for which made it easier for traders to profit from the practice. He said he provided his bosses with detailed accounts of the behavior, but that it continued regardless.

Shares of HSBC fell 2.4 percent on Wednesday morning in Hong Kong, taking this year’s decline to 17 percent.

Point72 Trades

ON one occasion, Callahan said he heard another trader say, in front of the desk supervisor, that he was going to buy five-year securities in front of

a client. Callahan claims he then told the desk supervisor that the practice was illegal and unacceptable.

In March 2022, the complaint alleges, a portfolio manager for Cohen’s $26 billion hedge fund asked HSBC to sell $100 million of long bonds at a certain time. Callahan’s desk manager instead sold the securities ahead of the deadline and then later filled the order for Point72 at the appointed time, generating “a significant profit for the bank” to the detriment of the fund, the lawsuit says.

Callahan claims he told the trader he should have given Point72 a better price given how much his earlier trade moved the market. According to the suit, the portfolio manager later complained to Callahan about the aggressive trading.

Tiffany Galvin-Cohen, a spokeswoman for Point72, declined to comment.

Banking&Finance

US core inflation seen returning to 40-year high as rents rise

Akey US inflation measure due Thursday is set to return to a four-decade high, underscoring broad and elevated price pressures that are pushing the Federal Reserve toward yet another large interest-rate hike next month.

The so-called core consumer price index that excludes food and energy is projected to rise 0.4 percent in September from the prior month and 6.5 percent from a year earlier, matching the rate seen in March that was the highest since 1982. But about a third of economists in a Bloomberg survey expect a print of 6.6 percent or more.

The overall CPI, however, is expected to decelerate to a still-rapid 8.1-percent annual pace, restrained by a decline in gasoline prices, based on the median estimate. The report is also set to underscore the enormous role played by one component in particular—housing. even so, analysts are seeing signs that core inflation has peaked and is finally on a downward slope, though the decline may take time.

“We’re probably near a peak, but that being said, I don’t think we’re going have a speedy return to lower numbers in part because” of the persistence of rental inflation, said Michael Feroli, chief US economist at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Shelter makes up about a third of the overall basket of consumer prices, and an even larger share of the so-called core CPI. The run-up in rents and housing prices over the past two years has slowly fed into the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ CPI figures, fueling massive jumps in the indexes for rent of primary residence and owners’ equivalent rent.

Both increased 0.7 percent in August and were up the most since 1986 on an annual basis. Deutsche Bank AG economists expect both metrics to rise by yet another 0.7 percent in Thursday’s report.

These measures are a key factor for the ultimate path of US inflation and are poised to keep

a floor under inflation prints well into next year, before recent signs of a cooling in asking rents begin filtering into the government’s measure.

Fed Governor Christopher Waller reinforced this thought when he said last week that he’s closely watching shelter inflation “in determining” his outlook for US inflation. He went on to say that “unfortunately, the message is that shelter inflation will likely remain high for several months.”

Bloomberg economics doesn’t expect yearover-year rates for the major shelter components to peak until well into the second half of next year.

Societe Generale SA Chief US economist Stephen Gallagher sees a relatively rapid deceleration in core CPI toward 4 percent over the coming year, but said it gets “incredibly challenging” to continue to see inflation drop when rents are still growing at a rapid pace. He noted that a softer labor market is needed to slow rent inflation to a degree that is consistent with the Fed reaching its ultimate inflation goals.

But even excluding food, energy and shelter, inflation is still extremely high―up 6.4 percent in August from a year earlier.

The Fed is “not raising rates just because shelter is high, they’re raising rates because so much of the basket is growing much faster than they want to see it growing,” said Omair Sharif, founder and president of Inflation Insights. That said, “my feeling is this is the start of a much more sustained period of softer core CPI prints.”

Used car and truck prices, a key driver of inflation last year, are set to drop for a third straight month, but by a much greater extent. Sharif expects used car prices to fall 2 percent in September, a reflection of both a decline in wholesale used-car prices and the way the government adjusts the price data each September for differences in the quality of newer cars in the sample.

Bloomberg News

BSP: More thrift banks to use digital finance

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

MOREthrift banks are expected to use digital finance with around 20 percent tapping digital payment rails, InstaPay and PesoNet, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

In a keynote message at the Chamber of Thrift Banks on Wednesday, Central Bank Governor Felipe Medalla said 25 percent of thrift banks are participants in InstaPay while 17 percent are participants in PesoNet.

“We are pleased to hear that thrift banks are actively leveraging our two digital payments rails PesoNet and InstaPay,” Medalla said. “We expect (their numbers to increase) as digital payments increase.”

Medalla said the Philippine banking system, which includes the thrift banking system, are “in solid footing” as assets, loans, deposits, and capital buffers are growing while still having enough to cover for bad loans.

For thrift banks, assets have grown 4.6 percent as of June 2022 while loan growth was at 6.5 percent. Deposits have also increased by 3.9 percent while profitability was higher than the average for the entire banking system at 57.1 percent.

Medalla’s data also showed that capital buffers for thrift banks are at 19 percent, also higher than the 16.2 percent average of the Philippine banking system. The liquidity buffer for thrift banks is at 32.4 percent, lower than the average for the sector at 193.9 percent.

Bad loans or non-performing loans (NPL) in the thrift banking industry is higher at 7.8 percent compared to the sector’s average at 3.6 percent while NPL coverage for thrift banks is at 63.2 percent, also lower than the 97.1 percent average for the Philippine banking system.

“In short, you have a banking system that’s growing steadily, without sacrificing the stability of the system and at the same time, preserving the depositor interest,” Medalla said.

“The same picture can be seen for the Thrift banking system today. Particular interest is the growth of thrift banks outpace that of the entire banking system by

more than three-fold,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, the CTB’s convention has adopted the theme, “Thrift Banks 2022: Responding to the Call for Sustainable Development.”

This is in line with the BSP’s launch of its sustainable finance roadmap that set out necessary guideposts aimed at unlocking funds for sustainability projects and initiatives.

The sustainable finance roadmap covers green finance, which is designed to facilitate the flow of funds towards green economic activities, and climate change mitigation and adaptation projects.

“Recent and current events such as the ongoing pandemic and natural calamities have triggered awareness about the importance of sustainability in various industries including banking,” said CTB President Cecilio San Pedro in his welcome message.

“We aim to jumpstart the members’ response to this urgent call of the Bangko Sentral for sustainable development,” he added.

The CTB, the umbrella organization of thrift banks in the country since 1974, is currently composed of 37 thrift banks nationwide.

The organization helps ensure a manageable operating environment for thrift banks, and has been at the forefront of advocating appropriate legislative and regulatory reforms, thereby influencing the statutory and regulatory framework.

NHA GM conducts ocular of housing projects in Zamboanga

WITH his program and policy thrust of Building Better and More housing for the Filipinos, National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Joeben Tai conducted an ocular of various ongoing housing projects of the NHA in Zamboanga City.

On October 6, 2022, Tai visited NHA's housing projects in Barangay Cabaluay, Zamboanga City, to check on their status as well as any issues that the projects face.

Cabaluay Place is a project under the Government Employees Housing Program (GEHP) intended to benefit 925 families. It comprises a two-story duplex housing unit of 80 square meters. Each house has two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a storage area. The project has a total land area of 222,427.25 square meters that would generate 925 housing units.

Tai inspected two more NHA housing projects on October 7 in the Labuan Sea Breeze Subdivision and the Ayer Village Subdivision. These housing projects are intended for families who survived natural and man-made disasters.

The Labuan Sea Breeze shall serve as a relocation site for 411 fire victim families whose houses were destroyed

by the 2018 fire incident. The project is expected to provide shelter to 1,265 families.

On the other hand, 109 families who were displaced and whose houses were destroyed during the armed conflict between the Moro National Liberation Front and the government shall be

relocated to the Ayer Village.

At present, Ayer village is 85.05 percent complete and is expected to be completed on January 26, 2023. The first phase of Labuan Sea Breeze is scheduled to be completed on July 10, 2022 while the second phase is scheduled sometime in September 2023.

Viral Sensation Green Soldier is Eurotel’s Newest Social Media Face

staff. The Green Soldier, being a fun and loveable personality, embodies a part of what Eurotel wishes to impart to the public,” he said.

Tito Noel, on the other hand, proudly said that his character and Eurotel’s objectives are very much aligned and that he will do his best to live up to Eurotel’s image. The Green Soldier has one million and 900,000 followers on Facebook and Tiktok, respectively.

EUROTEL , one of the fastest growing hotel chains in the country, recently signed a contract with Jhonwel Reyes, also known as Tito Noel, the viral “Green Soldier” mime performer from Baguio City, as its newest Brand Ambassador for Social Media. The contract signing was graced by the Green Soldier himself and Eurotel’s key officers led by Sue Geminiano, Marketing Head; Ronaldo Sebastian, Sector Head; and Mariel Quinto, Ads and Promo Manager.

Eurotel is a unique European-inspired hotel in the heart of the major cities of Metro Manila and top tourism areas in the

Philippines that was established in 2005. It is popular for its European-style room interiors, excellent service of international standards and warm and fun Filipino hospitality.

Eurotel’s new social media campaign called “EUR Green Soldier,” aptly reinforces the hotel’s core offerings. “Eurotel has been known for its affordable high-standard services. With our new campaign, we are reinforcing Eurotel as the best choice of hotel for all different types of guests because it provides a comfortable and relaxing experience with our complete amenities and friendly and efficient hotel

To bring Eurotel closer to the hearts of everybody, the Green Soldier will visit Eurotel branches located in Las Piñas, Pedro Gil, Makati, North Edsa, Baguio, Angeles, Boracay, Vivaldi, EDSA Shaw on various occasions, for a funfilled meet and greet with hotel guests and his fans.

Eurotel is a classy and affordable haven that meets every need of a sophisticated guest or a modern traveler; it also provides a distinctive and memorable experience on its own.

To know more about Eurotel, visit www.eurotel-hotel.com or call (02) 8353-6000/ (+63) 917 5486000/ (+63) 999-888-3876 and email centralreservations@eurotel-hotel.com.

Geminiano, Marketing Head; Ronaldo Sebastian, Sector Head; and Mariel Quinto, Ads & Promo Manager.

Better in every way: King Sue ham breakfast options fit for a king

EVERYONE talks about how important it is to eat a hearty breakfast. But now that Christmas is also just a few weeks away, everyone’s getting busier prepping for the upcoming festivities as well.

So when days are packed and mornings are even more hectic, what does one do to make sure that they can still start their day with a breakfast fit for a king?

Let’s start by making sure these classic breakfast staples are in your pantry: bacon, sausages, and franks. Everyone loves bacon, that’s a universally accepted fact.

The flavor profile of this breakfast favorite combines salty, sweet, and umami flavors that is complemented by a light crunch that few can resist.

But not all bacon is made equal, it turns out. THE way bacon tastes and cooks changes based on the quality of the pork used, how the meat is prepared, and how the strips are cured and made. In short, the brand of bacon you choose can make or break a good breakfast. This is why King Sue Ham’s Bacon is definitely a must-try.

King Sue Ham’s bacon is made from premium and quality meat, that is meticulously prepared following a proprietary salt-curing step-by-step process. Their signature flavor is distinct and delicious because they ensure that

every strip offers a balanced combination of marbling and spices to create that tasty crunch everybody loves.

Another hearty breakfast option? Sausages.

SAUSAGES contain a blend of spices and herbs that combine to create a mild, mouthwatering flavor that it is known for. The seasoning blend used to create sausages is what defines its taste. Combined with top quality meat, you get a tasty morning staple that’s flavorful and tender.

For this, we’re partial to King Sue Ham’s Hungarian Sausage.

PORK and Beef has a very mild flavor, so knowing what spices and seasonings to use is what makes Hungarian Sausage delicious. Given

King Sue Ham’s heritage (this is the same brand that gave us the exceptionally flavorful ham beloved by many), they obviously know how to perfectly match spices and herbs to create that depth of flavor and distinguishable aroma of

their Hungarian sausage.

Like everything in their line, they only use premium, high-quality meat and follow an incredibly stringent process that involves drying and smoking to create their distinct flavor and texture.

While we’re already on the subject of sausages, here’s another one that we’re throwing into the mix: German Franks— particularly, the King Sue Ham German Franks.

Like the Hungarian sausage, it’s also made from premium and quality meats. Because it’s by King Sue Ham, it also follows a meticulous production and creation process. But the German Franks flavor profile is a little more straightforward.

King Sue Ham’s German Franks for instance are smoked to achieve that unique aroma with that slightly dry and spicy taste. It has a natural color, and every bite is a juicy morsel packed with flavor.

These hearty, protein-rich foods are not only mouthwateringly scrumptious, they’re also quick and easy to make.

You can go big and enjoy a weekend fry-up featuring all these breakfast essentials in one plate, served with eggs and toast. Or you can choose one staple and one recipe for every day of the week. Don’t worry, they’ll still be simple and easy to make (literally fry them and serve) and they will taste just as good.

TO further boost Filipinos’ access to primary care services, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) recently renewed its call to all Local Government Units and qualified private health clinics nationwide to be accredited providers of its Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama or the PhilHealth Konsulta Package.

The Konsulta Package has been expanded to include targeted health risk screening and assessment, initial, and follow up consultations, selected laboratory tests, drugs and medicines as needed by the patients and as recommend by their primary care physician.

Laboratory and diagnostic examinations under the package include complete blood count with platelet count, urinalysis, fecalysis, sputum microscopy, fecal occult blood, Pap smear, lipid profile, fasting blood sugar, oral glucose tolerance test, electrocardiogram, creatinine and HbA1c. Likewise, a total of 21 drugs and medicines shall be made available such as anti-microbial, anti-asthma, antipyretics, anti-dyslipidemia, anti-diabetic, and antihypertensive medicines, including fluids and electrolytes, anti-thrombotic, and antihistamines.

PhilHealth shall release annual capitation

funds to accredited Konsulta Providers in tranches based on the number of registered members and their performance at a per capita rate of P500 in public facilities and P750 in private providers.

The application for Konsulta accreditation is open to non-hospital facilities such as rural health units, ambulatory surgical clinics and infirmaries. All outpatient departments of PhilHealth-accredited Level 1, 2, and 3, public and private hospitals are also encouraged to be accredited for the purpose.

Interested providers may submit their application and self-assessment tools to the Local Health Insurance Office nearest their facility. They must be compliant with the mandatory standards stated in PhilHealth Circular No. 2020-0021.

Minimum requirements in terms of service capability include the conduct of preventive/screening service and health education, provision of required laboratory and radiologic services, and the dispensing of drugs and medicines.

As of August 31, 2022, there are 877 accredited PhilHealth Konsulta providers nationwide. Intensified efforts are underway to accredit more providers to make this benefit accessible to as may Filipino as possible.

Ascott appoints new Citadines Cebu City manager

T

HE Ascott Limited - Philippines recently announced the appointment of Rey Vergel Mulat as the new Residence Manager of Citadines Cebu City. He will oversee the management and smooth running of the 180-room serviced residence, the first Citadines Apart'hotel in Cebu.

The 16-year veteran hotelier, who has worked with some of the industry’s reputable brands, will also oversee the pre-opening of lyf Cebu City, the first co-living serviced residence in the country.

“I am honored to be part of Ascott, one of the leading international owner-operators in the world. It will be an exciting chapter as I oversee this property in the Queen City of the South. We will continue to provide our residents the genuine and heartfelt Cebuano hospitality the brand is known for,” shares Mulat.

“As Citadines is the French word for ‘from the city,’ we will make sure that each stay makes them feel like they are from the city,” he adds.

Strategically located at the former site of Base Line, Citadines is just a few minutes away from the business districts of Cebu Business Park and Cebu IT Park, this serviced apartment is part of a development that comprises commercial and retail.

The property has partnered with Abacá Baking Company for a bakery and café concept at the ground floor, which offers

all-day breakfast, classic comfort food, and baked goods and pastries known to the local community.

To expand its national presence, Ascott is also gearing up to open lyf Cebu City, under a strategic partnership with leading local developer Cebu Landmasters Inc. Set to open in the second quarter of 2023, it will be a milestone in the growth of the Ascott brand locally.

With its co-living concept, the lyf brand offers a community of like-minded individuals and social interactions with one’s neighbors at one’s doorstep. The co-living brand aims to have 150 properties by 2030 across the archipelago.

MPIC awarded Finance for the Future Winner; lauded for embedding sustainability in overall company strategy

Across six categories, 33 finalists from 13 countries all over the world were celebrated at the Awards, which prides itself on being one of the few remaining, solely merit-based sustainability accolades globally. The awards ceremony was held in London with hybrid attendance by leading businesses around the world. MPIC participated and received the award online.

M

ETRO Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), the country’s leading infrastructure investment company in the Philippines, clinched the most coveted Finance for the Future Award for Embedding an Integrated Approach (Listed Companies) at the 10th Finance for the Future Awards held last October 4.

A partnership between Accounting for Sustainability (A4S), Deloitte, and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), the Finance for the Future Awards recognized organizations and individuals that support the integration of sustainability into financial decision-making. After a rigorous three-stage judging process, MPIC bested seven other international and equally competitive publicly-listed companies from across the globe.

“People, planet, and long-term impact are at the core of our work,” says MPIC Chairman, President, and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan. “We view this as an obligation to future generations of Filipinos. We will never stop pursuing sustainable growth.”

Created in 2012, the Finance for the Future Awards recognize leadership within the finance function to drive sustainable economies. The category “Embedding an Integrated Approach (Listed Companies)” acknowledges listed companies where sustainability is embedded in the overall strategy and decision-making processes, as well as finance teams that play a critical role in delivering this.

Winners of this category do not only embed sustainability into their overall strategy and decision-making process and consider it as the core of the organization’s activities, but also generate tangible environmental and/or social benefits in addition to delivering financial outcomes.

“The strong culture within MPIC to think about how the organization and its employees can leverage their roles to have a wider impact on lives in the Philippines was evident,” reads a comment from the Finance for the Future Awards’ judges.

“The commitment to driving sustainable outcomes came through clearly from the Chief Finance, Risk and Sustainability Officer and finance team’s advocacy and leadership, alongside a strong understanding that embedding ESG is essential for the existence of the business. This gave real credibility to MPIC’s purpose of “creating long-term value through responsible and sustainable investments”.

NATIONAL Housing Authority General Manager Joeben Tai looking at a housing plan.

PRESENT during the contract signing with Green Soldier (center) were, from left, Eurotel’s key officers led by Sue

PhilHealth calls on healthcare facilities to be accredited for Konsulta package to boost Pinoys‘ access to primary care

Rey Vergel Mulat, the new Residence Manager of Citadines Cebu City

UN and G7 decry Russian attack on Ukraine as possible war crime

By Adam Schreck The Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine—Russian forces showered Ukraine with more missiles and munition-carrying drones Tuesday after widespread strikes killed at least 19 people in an attack the UN human rights office described as “particularly shocking” and amounting to potential war crimes.

Air raid warnings sounded throughout Ukraine for a second straight morning as officials advised residents to conserve energy and stock up on water. The strikes have knocked out power across the coun try and pierced the relative calm that had returned to Kyiv and many other cities far from the war’s front lines.

“It brings anger, not fear,” Kyiv resi dent Volodymyr Vasylenko, 67, said as

crews worked to restore traffic lights and clear debris from the capital’s streets. “We already got used to this. And we will keep fighting.”

The leaders of the Group of Seven industrial powers condemned the bombardment and said they would “stand firmly with Ukraine for as long as it takes.” Their pledge defied Rus sian warnings that Western assistance would prolong the war and the pain

of Ukraine’s people.

Russia launched the widespread attacks in retaliation for a weekend explosion that damaged the Kerch Bridge between Russia and the Crime an Peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin alleged that Ukrainian special services masterminded the blast. The Ukrainian government has applauded it but not claimed responsibility.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr

Zelenskyy told the G-7 leaders during a virtual meeting that during the past two days Russia fired more than 100 mis siles and dozens of drones at Ukraine, and that while Ukraine shot down many of them, it needs “more modern and ef fective” air defense systems.

The Pentagon earlier announced plans to deliver the first two advanced NASAMs anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine in the coming weeks. The systems, which Kyiv has long wanted,

will provide medium- to long-range defense against missile attacks.

In a phone call with Zelenskyy on Tuesday, President Joe Biden “pledged to continue providing Ukraine with the support needed to defend itself, including advanced air defense sys tems,” the White House said.

Zelenskyy thanked the US and also Germany for speeding up the delivery of the first of four promised IRIS-T air defense systems. Ukraine’s defense minister tweeted that the German system had just arrived and begun a “new era” of air defense for Ukraine.

Zelenskyy also urged the G-7 lead ers to respond “symmetrically” to the attacks on the Ukrainian energy sec tor by doing more to stop Russia from profiting off its exports of oil and gas.

“Such steps can bring peace closer,” he said. “They will encourage the ter rorist state to think about peace, about the unprofitability of war.”

Ukrainian officials said the diffuse strikes on power plants and civilian ar eas made no “practical military sense.”

However, Putin’s supporters had urged the Kremlin for weeks to take tougher action in Ukraine and criticized the

Russian military for a series of embar rassing battlefield setbacks.

Pro-Kremlin pundits lauded the attacks as an appropriate response to Kyiv’s successful counteroffensives. Many of them argued that Moscow should keep up the intensity to win a war now in its eighth month.

The head of Britain’s cyber-intel ligence agency, Jeremy Fleming, said Tuesday in a rare public speech that Russia is running out of military sup plies and struggling to fill its ranks.

“Russia’s forces are exhausted,” Fleming said. “The use of prisoners as reinforcements, and now the mo bilization of tens of thousands of in experienced conscripts, speaks of a desperate situation.”

Like Monday’s strikes, the bombard ment Tuesday struck both energy infra structure and civilian areas. One person was killed when 12 missiles slammed into the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, setting off a large fire, the State Emer gency Service said. A local official said the missiles hit a school, residential buildings and medical facilities.

AN elderly man walks past a car shop that was destroyed after a Russian attack in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine on Tuesday, October 11, 2022. AP/LEO CORREA

The World

Nato to hold nuclear exercise despite Russian warnings

By Lorne Cook The Associated Press

BRUSSELS—Nato will push ahead with long-planned nuclear exercises next week despite rising tensions over the war in Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin’s insistence that he is not bluffing about using all available means to defend Russian territory, Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday.

The exercise, dubbed “Steadfast Noon,” is held annually and usually runs for about one week. It involves fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear warheads but does not involve any live bombs. Conventional jets, and sur veillance and refueling aircraft also routinely take part.

Fourteen of the 30 Nato member countries will be involved in the ex ercise, which was planned before Rus sia invaded Ukraine in February. The

main part of the maneuvers would be held more than 1,000 kilometers (625 miles) from Russia, a Nato of ficial said.

“It would send a very wrong signal if we suddenly now cancelled a routine, long-time planned exercise because of the war in Ukraine. That would be ab solutely the wrong signal to send,” Stol tenberg told reporters on the eve of a meeting of Nato defense ministers in Brussels.

“Nato’s firm, predictable behavior, our military strength, is the best way to prevent escalation,” he said. “If we now created the grounds for any misunderstandings, miscalculations in Moscow about our willingness to protect and defend all allies, we would increase the risk of escalation.”

With the Russian army retreating

under the blows of Ukrainian forces armed with Western weapons, Putin raised the stakes by annexing four Ukrainian regions and declaring a partial mobilization of up to 300,000 reservists to buttress the crumbling front line.

As his war plans have gone awry, Putin has repeatedly signaled that he could resort to nuclear weapons to pro tect the Russian gains. The threat is also aimed at deterring Nato nations from sending more sophisticated weapons to Ukraine.

Nato as an organization does not possess any weapons. The nuclear weapons nominally linked to Nato remain under the firm control of three member countries—the US, UK and France. The alliance’s secretive Nuclear Planning Group will meet on Thursday among defense ministers.

Stoltenberg described Putin’s spi raling nuclear rhetoric as “dangerous and reckless,” and underlined that the allies “have also conveyed clearly to Russia that it will have severe conse quences if they use nuclear weapons in any way.”

“We are closely monitoring Russia’s nuclear forces,” Stoltenberg said. “We have not seen any changes in Russia’s posture, but we remain vigilant.”

G-7 leaders pledge to support Ukraine ‘for as long as it takes’

By Michael Nienaber

GROUP of Seven leaders vowed to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes” and condemned Russia’s recent steps to escalate its war there “in the strongest possible terms.”

During a 90-minute video call Tuesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, G-7 leaders pledged their “undeterred and stead fast” commitment to helping the government in Kyiv “uphold its sov ereignty and territorial integrity.”

“We will continue to provide finan cial, humanitarian, military, diplomatic and legal support and will stand firmly with Ukraine for as long as it takes,” the leaders of the US, Germany, Japan, France, Italy, Canada and the UK said in a joint statement. They also promised to “impose further economic costs on Russia” and “to coordinate efforts to meet Ukraine’s urgent requirements for military and defense equipment.”

The G-7 leaders conferred one day after Russia launched a series of missile strikes in Kyiv and a dozen other cities that struck key infrastructure targets, as well as civilian sites.

In their statement, they said that such “indiscriminate attacks on inno cent civilian populations constitute a war crime” and that they would hold President Vladimir Putin “and those responsible to account.”

They also exchanged views on the Opec+ decision last week to cut oil production by 2 million barrels a day, according to a G-7 official. Leaders discussed whether to add a

critical remark on the move to their final statement, but they ultimately dropped the idea, said the official, who asked not to be identified discussing confidential talks.

In their published statement, the leaders attacked what they called “deliberate Russian escalatory steps” and said the tactics were “putting Eu ropean and global peace and security at risk.” They didn’t provide details of any specific new steps they would take or weapons they would supply to Ukraine.

They said they were “deeply trou bled” by what they called the “deliber ate damage” last month to the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea that transport Russian gas to Germany’s north coast.

Swedish investigators said last week that detonations caused the ruptures, with the evidence point ing to a deliberate act that Germa ny’s vice chancellor suggested was ordered by the Kremlin. Russia has denied responsibility and asked that its authorities and state-owned gas company Gazprom PJSC be allowed to join the investigation.

The incidents sparked fears that Russia could stage surreptitious attacks on vital energy links to trigger price in creases as winter approaches.

“We strongly condemn any deliber ate disruption of critical infrastruc ture,” the G-7 leaders said, toning down language in an earlier draft seen by Bloomberg that referred to “reckless and irresponsible acts of sabotage.” Bloomberg News

More missiles, drones strike Ukraine, alarms keep up fear

By Adam Schreck The Associated Press

YIV, Ukraine—Russian forces showered Ukraine with more missiles and munition-carry ing drones Tuesday after widespread strikes killed at least 19 people in what the UNhuman rights office described as a “particularly shocking” attack that could amount to war crimes.

K

Air raid warnings extended through out the country for a second straight morning. Ukrainian officials advised residents to conserve energy and stock up on water after strikes in the capital and 12 other regions the previous day caused widespread power outages and pierced the relative calm that had re turned to Kyiv and many other cities far from the war’s front lines.

“It brings anger, not fear,” Kyiv resident Volodymyr Vasylenko, 67, said as crews worked to restore traffic lights and clear debris from the city’s streets. “We already got used to this. And we will keep fighting.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the leaders of the Group of Seven industrial pow ers by videoconference Tuesday. Af ter the meeting, the G-7 leaders said their countries “will stand firmly with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”

Russia launched the widespread at tacks in retaliation for a weekend ex plosion that damaged a bridge linking the country to the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Russian President Vladimir Putin alleged the Ukrainian special services masterminded the Saturday attack on the Kerch Bridge.

Russia has has concentrated most of its firepower during the 7 1/2-month war in eastern and south ern Ukraine, and Ukrainian officials said the previous day’s diffuse strikes on power plants and civilian areas made no “practical military sense.”

However, Putin’s supporters had urged the Kremlin for weeks to take more drastic steps in Ukraine and ac tively criticized the Russian military for a series of embarrassing battlefield setbacks.

Pro-Kremlin pundits lauded Monday’s attack as an appropriate

and long-awaited response to Kyiv’s recently successful counteroffensives, and many of them argued that Moscow should keep up the intensity in order to win the war.

The bombardment Tuesday struck both power plants and civilian areas, just as Monday’s attacks did. One person was killed when 12 missiles slammed into public facilities in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, setting off a large fire, the State Emergency Service said. A local official said the missiles hit a school, residential build ings and medical facilities.

Energy facilities in the western Lviv and Vinnitsya regions also took hits. Although officials said Ukrai nian forces shot down an inbound Russian missile before it reached Kyiv, the capital region experienced rolling power outages as a result of the previous day’s deadly strikes.

The governor of the Mykolaiv re gion, Vitaliy Kim, urged residents to remain in bomb shelters as “there are enough missiles still in the air.”

The State Emergency Service said 19 people died and 105 people were wounded in Monday’s strikes. At least five of the victims were in Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. More than 300 cities and towns lost power, from the capital to Lviv on the border with Poland.

Beside the usual sirens, a new type of loud alarm that blared auto matically from mobile phones jolted Kyiv residents early Tuesday. A text message warning of the possibility of missile strikes accompanied the caustic-sounding alert.

A spokesperson for the office of the UNHigh Commissioner for Hu man Rights said Tuesday that strikes on “civilian objects,” including infra structure such as power plants, could qualify as a war crime.

“Damage to key power stations and lines ahead of the upcoming winter raises further concerns for the protection of civilians and in particular the impact on vulnerable populations,” Ravina Shamdasani told reporters at a UNbriefing in Geneva. “Attacks targeting civil ians and objects indispensable to

the survival of civilians are prohib ited under international humanitar ian law.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was due to address the lead ers of the Group of Seven industrial powers by videoconference Tuesday. Germany, which currently chairs the G-7, announced the meeting after Monday’s missile strikes.

As Ukrainian forces grew increas ingly bold following a series of coun teroffensive successes, a cornered Kremlin ratcheted up Cold War-era rhetoric in the last month and fanned concerns it might broaden the war and use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addressed the issue Tuesday, saying Moscow would only resort to that if the Russian state faced immi nent destruction. Speaking on state TV, he accused the West of encouraging false speculation about the Kremlin’s intentions.

Russia’s nuclear doctrine envis ages “exclusively retaliatory measures intended to prevent the destruction of the Russian Federation as a result of direct nuclear strikes or the use of other weapons that raise the threat for the very existence of the Russian state,” Lavrov said.

In Brussels, Nato SecretaryGeneral Jens Stoltenberg said the 30-nation military alliance would hold long-planned exercises next week to test the state of readiness of its nuclear capabilities.

The exercise, dubbed “Steadfast Noon,” is held annually. It involves fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear warheads but does not any live bombs. Conventional jets, and surveillance and refueling aircraft routinely take part.

Asked whether it was the wrong time for such an exercise, Stolten berg replied: “It would send a very wrong signal now, if we sudden ly cancelled a routine, long-time planned exercise because of the war in Ukraine.”

Estonia,

Yuras Karmanau

Berlin contributed.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg speaks

he meets the media during

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Malaysia’s Mahathir, 97, to run in general elections

By Eileen Ng By Associated Press

P

UTRAJAYA, Malaysia—Malay

sia’s 97-year-old former leader Mahathir Mohamad announced Tuesday he will defend his seat in the general elections expected next month, though he wouldn’t say whether he would be prime minister a third time if his political alliance wins.

“We have not decided who will be prime minister because the prime min ister candidate is only relevant if we win,” Mahathir told a news conference.

Though unlikely, he would be the old est ever candidate for the post, which has a five-year term.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob dissolved Parliament on Monday for snap polls, caving in to pressure from his United Malays National Organiza tion party, which is hoping for a big win on its own amid feuds with allies in the ruling coalition. The Election Commis sion will meet on Oct. 20 to fix a date for the vote, which must be held within 60 days of Parliament’s dissolution.

Despite his age and a health scare this year, Mahathir said he will defend his parliamentary seat in Langkawi is land. He also warned that a win by the ruling UMNO party could see impris oned ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak pardoned and let off the hook.

Mahathir was a UMNO premier for 22 years until his retirement in 2003. Then, in 2016, he was inspired to re turn to politics by the massive looting of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad state fund during Najib’s term in office and rode a wave of public anger to lead the opposition to a historic victory in 2018 polls that ousted UMNO, which had ruled since the country’s indepen dence from Britain in 1957.

Mahathir became the world’s old est head of government at 93, and oversaw graft charges against Najib

and other UMNO leaders. But his re formist alliance collapsed in less than two years due to defections, returning UMNO to power under a new coalition government.

After his government’s collapse in 2020, Mahathir formed the Pejuang party and a new alliance with several small parties.

Mahathir, echoing both the opposi tion and UMNO allies, slammed UMNO on Tuesday for putting its own interest first in rushing elections during the annual monsoon season in November that brings major floods. He said UMNO aims to win big by offering bribes and money to the people.

He said UMNO’s main objective is to free Najib, who began his 12-year jail term in August after losing his fi nal appeal in a corruption case linked to the 1MDB scandal. Najib also faces several other trials linked to 1MDB that could lengthen his jail term if he is found guilty. UMNO President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is also on trial for dozens of graft charges unrelated to the 1MDB case.

“If they win this election, their first move would be to ask (Malaysia’s king) to pardon Najib. At this moment, they have made a request but has not been pardoned,” Mahathir said. “Should they be able to win and form the government, that is their first objective, not about the welfare of the people.”

Mahathir said his political alliance hasn’t been approved by the govern ment and that some 120 candidates will run under Pejuang’s banner in Malaydominated parliamentary seats.

Analysts said Mahathir’s pull may no longer appeal to ethnic Malay vot ers who supported him in 2018. UMNO, which had only 36 out of 222 lawmak ers in the just-dissolved Parliament, believes many Malays have returned to its fold following its landslide victory in recent elections.

UK spy chief says rise of China world’s future security issue

By Jill Lawless The Associated Press

LONDON—The head of Brit ain’s cyber-intelligence agency on Tuesday accused China of trying to “rewrite the rules of interna tional security,” saying Beijing is using its economic and technological clout to clamp down at home and exert control abroad.

Jeremy Fleming, director of GCHQ, said that despite war raging in Europe since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Beijing’s growing power is the “national security issue that will define our future.”

In a rare public speech to the Roy al United Services Institute think tank, Fleming alleged that Beijing’s Communist authorities want to “gain strategic advantage by shaping the world’s technology ecosystems.”

“When it comes to technology, the politically motivated actions of the Chinese state is an increasingly ur gent problem we must acknowledge and address,” Fleming said. “That’s because it’s changing the definition of national security into a much broader concept. Technology has become not just an area for opportunity, for com petition and for collaboration, it’s be come a battleground for control, for values and for influence.”

He argued that the one-party

Graft convictions extend Suu Kyi’s total prison term to 26

By Grant Peck The Associated Press

BANGKOK—A court in military-ruled Myanmar convicted the country’s ousted leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on two more corruption charges Wednesday, with two three-year sentences to be served concurrently, adding to previous convictions that now leave her with a 26-year total prison term, a legal official said.

Suu Kyi, 77, was detained on February 1, 2021, when the military seized power from her elected government. She has denied the allegations against her in this case, in which she was accused of receiving $550,000 as a bribe from Maung Weik, a tycoon convicted of drug trafficking.

Corruption cases comprise the biggest share of the many charges the military has brought against the 1991 Nobel Peace laure ate. Suu Kyi has been charged with 12 counts in total under the Anti-Corruption Act, with each count punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine.

Suu Kyi had already been sentenced to 23 years’ imprisonment after being convicted of il legally importing and possessing walkie-talkies, violating coronavirus restrictions, breaching the country’s official secrets act, sedition, elec tion fraud and five corruption charges.

Her supporters and independent analysts say the charges are politically motivated and an attempt to discredit her and legitimize the military’s seizure of power while keeping her from taking part in the next election, which the military has promised in 2023.

In recent months, her trials have been held in a purpose-built courtroom in the main prison on the outskirts of the capital, Naypyitaw. She has not been seen or allowed to speak in public since she was arrested and her lawyers, who had been a source of infor mation on the proceedings, have not been allowed to speak publicly on her behalf or about her trial since a gag order was placed on them last year.

In the case decided Wednesday, Suu Kyi was accused of receiving a total of $550,000 in 2019 and 2020 from Maung Weik, with sepa rate payments being treated as two offenses.

Maung Weik, a construction magnate, had a close relationship with the army generals in

power during a previous military-run govern ment, and has headed two main companies during three decades in business: Maung Weik & Family Co. Ltd., specializing in the trading of metals and agricultural products, and Sae Paing Development Ltd., a real estate and construction company.

He was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2008 for trafficking drugs but was released in 2014 under a semi-democratic transitional government led by former General Thein Sein.

After his release from prison, Maung Weik returned to doing business with former generals and according to a 2017 report in The Irrawaddy, an online news magazine, became chairman of Mandalay Business Capital City Development, which was involved in urban development work.

Under Suu Kyi’s government, Maung Weik won a major development project that includ ed the construction of houses, restaurants, hospitals, economic zones, a port and hotel zones in Myanmar’s central Mandalay region.

He was reportedly interrogated by the army two weeks after its takeover last year, and shortly after that, in March 2021, militarycontrolled state television broadcast a video in which he claimed to have given cash payoffs to government ministers to help his businesses.

He said in his video that the money in cluded $100,000 provided to Suu Kyi in 2018 for a charitable foundation named after her mother, and another $450,000 in payments in 2019 and 2020 for purposes he did not specify.

A state-controlled newspaper, the Global New Light of Myanmar, reported in February that Suu Kyi in her position as state counsel or—the country’s de facto chief executive— received $550,000 in four installments in 2019-2020 “to facilitate the business activi ties of a private entrepreneur.”

Suu Kyi’s close colleague, Zaw Myint Maung, who served as a chief minister in the Mandalay region, was separately accused of receiving more than $180,000 from Maung Weik and was convicted of corruption in June.

Wednesday’s verdict sentencing Suu Kyi to two three-year sentences to be served concurrently was conveyed by a legal official who insisted on anonymity for fear of being punished by the authorities.

He added that her lawyers are expected to file an appeal in the coming days.

system in Beijing seeks to control China’s population and sees other countries “as either potential adver saries or potential client states, to be threatened, bribed or coerced.”

Relations between Britain and China have grown increasingly frosty in recent years, with UK of ficials accusing Beijing of economic subterfuge and human rights abuses.

British spies have given increas ingly negative assessments of Bei jing’s influence and intentions. Last year the head of the MI6 over seas intelligence agency, Richard Moore, called China one of the big gest threats to Britain and its allies.

In 2020, then-British Prime Min ister Boris Johnson followed the United States in banning Chinese tech firm Huawei as a security risk, ordering it to be stripped out of the UK’s 5G telecoms network by 2027.

Fleming warned that China is seek ing to fragment the infrastructure of

JEREMY FLEMING , head of the British Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), is photographed in London on February 14,

ment in history—a reference to the 1998 Gwyneth Paltrow film in which a woman’s fate hinges on a seemingly trivial moment.

He called on Western firms and researchers to toughen intellectual property protections and for demo cratic countries to develop alterna tives that can prevent developing nations from “mortgaging the future by buying into the Chinese vision for technology.”

He said the world’s democracies can’t afford to fall behind in cut ting-edge fields such as quantum computing, and warned of a poten tial weakness over semiconductors, the critical chips used in everyday electronics. Taiwan—which China regards as a breakaway province to be reclaimed by force if necessary— is a world leader in their production.

“Events in the Taiwan Straits— any risk to that vital supply chain— have the potential to directly impact the resilience of the UK and global future growth,” Fleming said.

the Internet to exert greater control. He also said China is seeking to use digital currencies used by central banks to snoop on users’ transactions and as a way of avoiding future inter national sanctions of the sort imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Fleming argued that China’s Bei Dou satellite system—an alternative to the widely used GPS navigation technology—could contain “a pow erful anti-satellite capability, with a doctrine of denying other nations ac cess to space in the event of a conflict.”

Fleming warned that the world is approaching a “sliding doors” mo

Fleming also addressed the war in Ukraine, saying Russia is running short of weapons and Ukraine’s “cou rageous action on the battlefield and in cyberspace is turning the tide.”

“Russia’s forces are exhausted,” he said. “The use of prisoners as reinforcements, and now the mobi lization of tens of thousands of in experienced conscripts, speaks of a desperate situation.”

GCHQ, formally known as the Government Communications Head quarters, is one of Britain’s three main intelligence agencies, along side MI5 and MI6. It did not dis close the sources of its intelligence on China and Russia.

Energy facilities in the western Lviv and Vinnytsia regions also took hits. Officials said Ukrainian forces shot down an inbound Russian missile before it reached Kyiv, but the capital region experienced rolling power outages as a result of the previous day’s strikes.

The State Emergency Service said 19 people died and 105 people were wounded in Monday’s strikes. At least five of the victims were in Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. More than 300 cities and towns lost power.

A spokesperson for the office of the UN High Commissioner for Hu man Rights said Tuesday that strikes on “civilian objects,” including infra structure such as power plants, could qualify as a war crime.

“Damage to key power stations and lines ahead of the upcoming winter raises further concerns for the protec tion of civilians and in particular the impact on vulnerable populations,” Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva. “Attacks targeting civilians and objects indispensable to the sur vival of civilians are prohibited under international humanitarian law.”

War crimes investigations have long been underway in towns where mass graves were found, along with other evidence of atrocities, after they were liberated from Russian occupation. In Lyman, a city in the eastern Donetsk region, forensic workers pulled several bodies from a mass grave Tuesday, part of an arduous effort to piece together evidence of what happened under more than four months of Russian occupa

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tion. Regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said the bodies of 32 Ukrainian sol diers have been exhumed so far from one mass grave.

The tempo of the war in the last month fanned concerns that Moscow might broaden the battlefield and resort to using nuclear weapons in Ukraine. As Ukraine’s counteroffensives in the east and south forced Russia’s troops to re treat from some areas, a cornered Krem lin ratcheted up Cold War-era rhetoric.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday that Moscow would only employ nuclear weapons if the Rus sian state faced imminent destruction.

Speaking on state TV, he accused the West of encouraging false speculation about the Kremlin’s intentions.

Russia’s nuclear doctrine envisions “exclusively retaliatory measures intend ed to prevent the destruction of the Rus sian Federation as a result of direct nuclear strikes or the use of other weapons that raise the threat for the very existence of the Russian state,” Lavrov said.

In Brussels, Nato Secretary-Gen eral Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance would hold annual war exercises test ing the state of readiness of its nuclear capabilities next week as scheduled.

Asked whether it was the wrong time for them, Stoltenberg replied: “It would send a very wrong signal now if we suddenly cancelled a routine, longtime-planned exercise because of the war in Ukraine.”

Stoltenberg called Putin’s rhetoric “irresponsible” but said he believes “Russia knows that a nuclear war can never be won and must never be fought.”

Nato as an organization does not possess nuclear weapons. They remain under the control of three member

countries—the United States, the UK and France.

The G-7, leaders who held the emer gency meeting in response to Monday’s attack, said the “indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilian populations consti tute a war crime” and reaffirmed their “commitment to providing the support Ukraine needs to uphold its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The pledge appeared to come in re sponse to Kremlin warnings that West ern military assistance, including train ing Ukrainian soldiers in Nato countries and feeding real-time satellite data to target Russian forces, increasingly made Ukraine’s allies parties to the conflict.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Pes kov said continued US weapons de liveries to Ukraine would prolong the fighting and inflict more damage on the country without changing Rus sia’s objectives.

As Russian forces pounded three districts around the Zaporizhzhia Nu clear Power Plant overnight, Ukraine’s state nuclear operator said Russian forces kidnapped the plant’s deputy human resources director.

Russians previously detained the facility’s general director and released him following pressure from Interna tional Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.

Grossi met with Putin on Tuesday in St. Petersburg and urged him to agree to a “safety and security protec tion zone” around the occupied plant to prevent a radiation disaster.

Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, Jamey Keaten in Geneva, Lorne Cook in Brussels and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.

Iran’s crackdown on protests intensifies in Kurdish region

By Jon Gambrell The Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates— Iran intensified its crackdown Tuesday on Kurdish areas in the country’s west amid protests sparked by the death of a 22-year-old woman detained by the morality police as oil workers demonstrated at a key refinery, activists said.

Riot police fired into residential neighborhoods in Sanandaj, the capital of Iran’s Kurdistan province, as Amnes ty International and the White House’s national security adviser criticized the violence targeting demonstrators angered by the death of Mahsa Amini.

Meanwhile, some oil workers Mon day joined the protests at two key refin ery complexes, for the first time linking an industry key to Iran’s theocracy to the unrest. Workers claimed another protest Tuesday in the crucial oil city of Abadan, with others calling for pro tests on Wednesday as well.

Iran’s government insists Amini was not mistreated, but her family says her body showed bruises and other signs of beating after she was detained for violating the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code. Subsequent videos have shown security forces beating and shoving female protesters, including women who have torn off their man datory headscarf, or hijab.

From the capital, Tehran, videos emerged showing students at two uni versities demonstrating and chanting. Some women and girls have marched through the streets without heads carves as the protests continue into a fourth week. The demonstrations rep resent one of the biggest challenges to Iran’s theocracy since the 2009 Green Movement protests.

“There is just so much anger and frustration in the country that it’s hard to imagine that the current gen eration of protesters in Iran would be cowed just by the system resorting to its traditional iron fist and trying to put down protests,” said Ali Vaez, an analyst who covers Iran for the Inter national Crisis Group.

Videos posted online by a Kurdish group called the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights showed darkened streets with apparent gunfire going off and a bonfire burning in Sanandaj, some 400 kilometers (250 miles) west of Tehran.

Another showed riot police carrying shotguns moving in formation with a vehicle, apparently firing at homes.

A video posted later Tuesday pur portedly showed a massive bullet hole inside the home of one Sanandaj resident, a hole that Hengaw alleged came from a heavy .50-caliber ma chine gun—the type often mounted on armored vehicles. Another video purportedly showed security forces randomly firing in the air while arrest ing someone there on Monday.

Videos later Tuesday showed pro testers throwing stones and wielding clubs in the city as they confronted security forces, who fired tear gas into the crowd. Hengaw reported a “fierce conflict” there Tuesday night, as well as in the nearby cities of Baneh and Saqqez, Amini’s hometown.

The New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran posted another video showing what it described as a phalanx of motorcycle-riding security forces moving through Sanandaj.

“They reportedly broke the win dows of hundreds of cars in the Ba haran neighborhood,” the center said.

Amini was Kurdish and her death has been felt particularly in Iran’s Kurdish region, where demonstrations began September 17 at her funeral there after her death the day before.

Amnesty International criticized Iranian security forces for “using fire arms and firing tear gas indiscrimi nately, including into people’s homes.” It urged the world to pressure Iran to end the crackdown as Tehran continues to disrupt Internet and mobile phone networks “to hide their crimes.”

Iran did not immediately acknowl edge the renewed crackdown in Sanan daj. However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned the British ambassador over the United Kingdom sanction ing members of the country’s moral ity police and security officials due to the crackdown.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry called the sanctions “arbitrary and baseless,” even while threatening to potentially take countermeasures against London.

Jake Sullivan, US President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, simi larly noted that “the world is watching what is happening in Iran.”

“These protestors are Iranian citi zens, led by women and girls, demand ing dignity and basic rights,” Sullivan wrote on Twitter. “We stand with them, and we will hold responsible those us ing violence in a vain effort to silence their voices.”

On Monday, workers held demon strations in Abadan and Asaluyeh, a key point for Iran’s massive offshore

natural gas field in the Persian Gulf it shares with Qatar.

Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency on Tuesday claimed the Asaluyeh dem onstration was a strike over wages. Videos of the protests included work ers chanting: “This is the bloody year Seyyed Ali will be overthrown,” re ferring to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei without his Shiite religious title of ayatollah. Workers also said several of their colleagues had been detained by authorities after their protests Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the Contractual Oil Workers Protest Organizing Council claimed another strike at Abadan, post ing videos outside of the massive refinery complex in the city near the Iraqi border. The details in the videos correspond with each and to known features of the facility compared against satellite photos taken in recent months.

The council later called on other oil workers to join them in solidarity— potentially raising the stakes further. The council’s contractors typically build oil facilities, so their demonstra tions haven’t affected Iran’s oil and gas production. Drawing in other workers potentially could change that.

It remains unclear how many people have been killed or arrested so far in the protests.

An Oslo-based group, Iran Human Rights, estimates at least 185 people have been killed. This includes an es timated 90 people killed by security forces in the eastern Iranian city of Zahedan amid demonstrations against a police officer accused of rape in a separate case. Iranian authorities have described the Zahedan violence as in volving unnamed separatists, without providing details or evidence.

Iran’s judiciary spokesman Masoud Setayeshi reportedly said Tuesday that Iran has released some 1,700 people arrested in the recent demonstrations, without offering a total figure for those detained so far.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, Iranian government spokesman Ali Bahadori Jahromi alleged without providing evidence that US sanctions affected Amini’s ability to get medicine for the chronic illnesses she faced. However, an Iranian government report Friday said that she was taking hydrocorti sone and levothyroxine—two medi cines made in Iran available in phar macies in the country.

Bodies exhumed from mass grave in Ukraine’s liberated Lyman City

By Justin Spike The Associated Press

As Ukrainian authorities entered the city, they found that many ci vilian residents had been killed by shelling. Others, mostly older people, had died during the Rus sian occupation because of a lack of food and medicine, Mark Tkachenko, communications inspector for the Kramatorsk district police of the Donetsk region, told The Associated Press last week.

The destruction in Lyman, a key rail and transit hub, is so widespread that large portions of the city have been completely destroyed. Ukrainian authorities are now working to restore basic infrastructure and investigate how civilians lived and died during the Russian occupation.

L

YMAN, Ukraine—Covered head-to-toe in protective suits, forensic workers pulled several bodies wrapped in black plastic from a mass grave Tuesday in Ukraine’s dev astated city of Lyman, part of an ardu ous effort to piece together evidence of what happened under more than four months of Russian occupation.

Ten body bags lay beside a rough ly 100-foot (30-meter) trench from which authorities said 32 bodies have been exhumed so far in the city in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.

The bodies were Ukrainian soldiers who had been buried together in a mass grave, the head of the Donetsk re gion’s military administration, Pavlo Kyrylenko, said in Lyman on Tuesday.

Another 22 civilians have been exhumed from individual graves at the burial site, located on the edge of a cemetery in a forested area on the outskirts of Lyman. Further exhumations are planned.

The burial site was the second found in Lyman so far, Kyrylenko said, adding that initial investigations sug gested the bodies had been buried by local residents and not by Russians.

“We have already found more than 50 bodies of soldiers and civilians,” he said. “We have one long trench or mass grave...We are finding bodies and parts of bodies here.”

Lyman was liberated by Ukrainian forces at the end of September as part of a rapid Ukrainian counteroffensive which recaptured swaths of the Do netsk, Kharkiv and Kherson regions from Russian control.

Forensic investigators on Tuesday lifted a black plastic bag from the trench and unzipped it to reveal a decomposed body in a bloody uni form of the Ukrainian armed forces. The remains were briefly inspected by investigators, then placed in an other body bag and set among several others beside the trench.

Authorities said children have been found among the dead, and that most victims appeared to have died as the result of the heavy shelling that besieged the city for months.

They were cautious in describing whether any of the bodies exhumed Tuesday showed signs of having been executed or subjected to torture, em phasizing that the investigation was still in its early stages.

Other towns in Ukraine liberated from Russian occupation—such as Bucha, northwest of the capital of Kyiv, and Izium in the Kharkiv re gion—are now the sites of war crimes investigations.

MEMBERS of a forensic team carry a plastic bag with a body inside as they work at an exhumation in a mass grave in Lyman, Ukraine on Tuesday, October 11, 2022. AP/FRANCISCO SECO

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Culture, entertainment sectors carry on with digital innovations

BY JT NISAY

MUCH of the past decade’s discourse on digital transformation once seemed more of a distant sci-fi future than an actual possibility for the thriving culture and entertainment sectors.

While there may have been efforts to adopt virtual processes pre-pandemic, product consumption and transactions still largely centered on the physical attendance of the audience in galleries and cinemas. Stakeholders understood that there was no equal to the experience of examining a painting’s brushstrokes up close in art spaces, or watching films on the big screen.

After all, it was an arrangement that has played sweet music for years—generations even—to the tune of billions of dollars in global industry value. Market and consumer specialist Statista reported that worldwide sales value of the art market stood at $64.4 billion in 2019, while global box office revenue was at $42.3 billion for the same year.

Culture, entertainment sectors carry on with digital innovations

Continued from D1

When the coronavirus pandemic hit and restrictions were enforced in wide swathes around the globe, the industries’ formula for success posed to be its own recipe for disaster. People stayed at home and, consequently, away from cultural and entertainment establishments. Global art market sales in 2020 dipped by 21.9-percent. With the closing of public spaces, including theaters, worldwide box office revenue saw an even bigger decline at 72.1-percent.

Twenty-twenty was a time when the threats of the worst global pandemic in over a century loomed over everyone’s head. The general sense of fear and uncertainty led people to search for a distraction, an escape...something. It was a demand that art and entertainment could supply—and did—by delivering their purpose through virtual means.

Ultimately, the digital transformation that the industries had been holding off got turbo-charged.

Filipino industry players believe that the new processes and practices did not only help buoy the sectors through the toughest of times; more than that, it propelled the necessary evolution, featuring innovations that are here to stay.

A strong rebounD “OVERALL, we survived the worst of the pandemic,” said Rio Ambrosio, owner of BGC-based Artes Orientes Gallery. “I am not aware of any gallery having closed shop, and that should speak for itself.”

The local visual arts scene was among the few that maintained a relatively healthy business during the height of the pandemic. Of course, it was not spared of having its own set of challenges, from working around logistical hurdles and mobility restrictions. Overall, however, gallerists and artists benefitted from the renewed interest in the arts. Statista reports that after the plunge in 2020, total value of transactions in the global art market in 2021 rebounded to $65.1 billion, which even surpassed the 2019 record. The trend traces to several factors, including patrons in quarantine with nothing to do but fill the blank walls of their sprawling homes with artworks, as well as the rise of NFTs and cryptoart that bore the promise of quicker riches.

The industry met the surging demand by adopting digital processes, such as the mounting of virtual exhibitions. Even marquee art events staged completely virtual showcases for the first time in

2021, including Art Basel Hong Kong, Frieze New York, and Manila’s Art in the Park.

Ambrosio also serves as the Exhibitor Relations Committee head for ManilART, tagged as the original and national art fair as a project copresented by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCAA). Set to run its 14th edition from October 19 to 23 at SMX Aura Convention Center, this year event carries the theme “Forging Futures.” The concept reflects the general carry-on, march-forward mindset of the local art industry. “ManilART 22 will continue to set higher goals and inspire the art industry as a force to reckon with. It has gone through the most difficult times yet it remains standing strong,” he said.

“With the support of NCCA, its partners, especially the media, ManilART looks forward to a more vibrant art industry.”

Veteran gallerist Carlo Reyes notes the industry’s resilience, as well. “In spite of the pandemic, the art scene is doing great,” he said.

Reyes has been involved in the art scene for 12 years and is set to open a new space next year, called Fuse Projects. He said galleries, collectors and artists have learned to adjust to the new normal and have adapted well to survive. “I believe we need to use all the new tools available at our disposal to thrive. We need to persevere, to be more careful, and creative.”

Meanwhile, in a virtual roundtable discussion in May, called la Nuit des idées (The Night of Ideas), with the theme “[Re]building Together: Smart Ideas, Smart Projects Born during the Pandemic,” Cultural Center of the Philippines artistic director Chris Millado shared how they found great value in smart technology.

“Video archive and live streaming: this saved our lives,” he said. “We immediately made a quick pivot to digital platforms. Many years ago, we started digitizing and archiving our productions and performances. We have hidden in one basement corner thousands of video titles. We didn’t know how to distribute them, but they were there for archival purposes. When the pandemic hit, we found a treasure trove of digital content that we used in live streaming. This gave birth to CCP Channel.”

“Change is not an entirely bad thing,” Reyes said. “Art, just like our human resilience, will never go extinct.”

newfounD AppreCiAtion

ALSO making things work with adjusted processes are the television and film industries.

by the mentality to carry out operations as normal as they could, said Jose Mari R. Abacan, first vice president for program management department of GMA Network.

“People will always have a need to be entertained and to have information—and TV is still the primary source of that in our country,” said Abacan, adding he sought help from other partners to air programs on their channels. “Aside from canned content, we were still able to come out with live variety and game shows, and there were also local dramas. It was also at this time that we launched our DTT channels, among them being I Heart Movies, which caters to the needs of moviegoers.”

Both executives acknowledged the rise of online streaming platforms. Abacan made no bones about tagging online streaming platforms as “game changers,” especially during the height of the pandemic. As for the TV side, Rasonable said they “welcome the challenge to keep on pushing for better, more competitive content.”

“We also have penetrated these online streaming platforms, providing quality content in their programming, as we continue to strive to reach the widest audience possible,” she added.

As the Covid-19 dust settles and the world marches further into the new normal, industry stakeholders reflect on the value of their jobs. Rasonable, for one, admitted she has a renewed sense of appreciation for the role of entertainment in people’s lives.

“When the pandemic happened and we all had to stay home, entertainment programs kept us company, helping us get through that very difficult time in our lives,” she said.

“Producing entertainment programs at the height of the pandemic made me realize all the more the importance of what we do—how our programs not only entertain but also teach, enlighten, keep us sane amid all the things happening around us, and give us hope for better days to come.” n

Horoscope By Eugenia Last

13, 21, 24, 33, 37, 43.

(March 21-april 19): You aren't alone. You have more going for you than you realize. Step out of your comfort zone, and you'll recognize you have control. A partnership will be helpful when it comes to balance and contributions. Romance

april 20-May 20): Keep your focus where it will help you most. Refuse to let emotions lead to poor decision-making or prolonged situations that will stand between you and what you desire. Uncertainty is the enemy, and being confident and consistent are your tickets to success.

MINI (May 21-June 20): Head in the direction that excites you the most. Follow your heart and enjoy the ride. Expand your mind, and your options will escalate. Relay what you have to offer to people who can help you achieve your goal. HHHHH

(June 21-July 22): You'll be insightful but fearful. Inconsistency will be your downfall. Look for the path of least resistance, and you'll find it easier to plot your course of action. Don't limit what you can do; educate yourself and proceed with enthusiasm. HHH

(July 23-aug. 22): Pay attention to detail, rules and regulations. Stay focused on what you can contribute and get in return. Approach whatever you do with an open mind and reasonable expectations. Commit to whatever or whoever makes you feel at ease. HHH

ug. 23-sept. 22): Take better care of your home, family and health. Don't trust others to tell you the truth. Research diligently, and take matters into your own hands. Protect what you cherish, and make lifestyle changes that ensure a better future. HHHHH

lIbra (sept. 23-oct. 22): Deal with domestic issues carefully. Control your temper, and set guidelines that are easy to follow. Showing discipline will encourage others to do the same. Look for balance, and offer positive suggestions. HH

scorpIo (oct. 23-Nov. 21): Live and learn.

Let experience be your teacher, and put mistakes to rest. Focus on getting ahead and what you can accomplish instead of dwelling on someone or something you cannot change. HHHH

saGITTarIUs (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Proceed by doing your job. Letting what others do influence you will slow you down and make you look bad. Focus on getting ahead to ensure you don't fall behind. Hard work will pay off. HHH

caprIcorN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Categorize your thoughts, and prioritize how you want to proceed. Once you have a to-do list, you'll find it easier to get down to business and finish what you start. HHH

aQUarIUs (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Address issues that entail government agencies, institutions, and legal or financial matters before you take on something new. Add to your qualifications and physically make adjustments that will improve your health. Make a point to share your intentions with someone you love. HHH

pIsces (Feb. 19-March 20): Participate in events or activities that have a purpose. How you contribute to something meaningful to you will influence how others respond to you. Maintaining a good reputation will lead to an unexpected opportunity to do things differently. HHHH

bIrThDay baby: You are aggressive, intense and resourceful. You are fun-loving and competitive.

H: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. HH: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. HHH: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. HHHH: Aim high; start new projects. HHHHH: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

by sally hoelscher

JOEY

Annette O’Toole savors

‘Virgin River’ role as real, freeing

By Lynn Elber

LOS ANGELES—Annette O’Toole is reveling in her role as the unpredictable mayor of a small town whose woodsy, peaceful setting belies its residents’ rollercoaster lives in the hit Netflix series

Her character is older but not always wiser, including in love. That goes against Hollywood’s tendency to view midlifeplus as past the sell-by date for nuanced storytelling, and O’Toole counts herself fortunate to play Hope McCrea.

Make that doubly lucky. When the actor chose to stay with her 97-year-old mom during the worst of the pandemic, that meant Hope was largely absent last season. The fourth and current season is a comeback for both, thanks to series creator Sue Tenney.

“She called me and said, ‘You’re in the hospital. You had a terrible car crash,” Tenney said of Hope’s in-limbo status. When O’Toole asked if Hope lives, Tenney let the actor decide: Did she want to return to the series, which stars Alexandra Breckenridge and is based on Robyn Carr’s novels?

“Are you kidding?” O’Toole replied. Such eagerness is characteristic, as proven by her resume that includes few gaps and some 100 film and TV credits ( Bridges and Smallville, among them). She earned an Emmy nomination for playing Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy in the 1990 miniseries The Kennedys of Massachusetts shortly after the birth of her second daughter.

She’s also emphasized theater work and, with husband Michael McKean, is a songwriter: several of their tunes were in A Mighty Wind —the film by McKean’s longtime friend and collaborator Christopher Guest—including the Oscarnominated ballad A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow

Then there’s her Spinal Tap back-up singer bragging rights, most notably at a London benefit concert including actor-writer McKean, Guest and others in the faux band of satiric movie fame.

O’Toole, 70, was breezily good-natured in a phone interview with The Associated Press during season-five filming in Vancouver, which stands in for Northern California on Virgin River. There’s more “emotionally at stake” than ever and the town is “really going to be unified,” she said of next season.

Virgin River isn’t sci-fi or fantasy, it’s simply human drama. Was that the appeal?

Exactly that. It’s about people and their issues and in a beautiful community. And Sue Tenney was so generous because this character is not really in the books very much, so

we kind of had a blank slate to draw this person together. You don’t do it (a project) because you want it to be a big success. The chances of that happening are so slim. You do it because you want to, and you like the people. And at this point in my career, it’s doing something that I haven’t quite done before.

That’s why this character was attractive, because I could help form her into something a little more real than than a lot of the stuff I read for characters my age, grandmothers and the sweet kind of homebody. That’s boring, I’ve done that.

What did you want to see in Hope instead?

I just wanted her to be complicated, a woman who even at her age doesn’t have the answers. She doesn’t have, at the beginning, a relationship that is steady. It’s very rocky. That’s interesting to me, somebody who has gone through most of her life and hasn’t figured it out yet. She’s impulsive and headstrong, and also very generous and can be very kind and loving. She’s just a person. I just wanted a full person.

It’s a screen rarity for older characters to be shown other than in a long and loving marriage or widowed. Hope and Doc’s story isn’t the show’s central relationship, but it’s a focus.

How interesting that he was unfaithful early in their marriage and she cannot let him go. She never divorced him. She never said, well, that’s it. Tim is fantastic and we’ve come up with a whole full life that they’ve had together. It’s not been a normal marriage at all. The way we look at marriage, I love that marriage can be whatever you want it to be or not be.

Hope is an attractive woman who doesn’t bother to hide her age behind hair dye or heavy makeup. Given the demands on women to be eternally youthful, how is to play a character who says, “Here I am world, an older woman”?

It’s wonderful. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had because when I started out, I was really young and I was sort of the ingenue, and then I was the leading lady in some things, and then you start to age. Now I just find it so freeing. I don’t worry about it, and that’s in life, too. So Hope and I feel the same way about it. It’s like, who are we trying to kid? Especially an actress, they can look you up (online) and see how old you are, see all the things you’ve done, look at all your pictures.

You and Michael have been married for more than two decades, impressive for any couple and considered especially so in the entertainment industry.

We’re really good buddies. He just left, he’s been over in London doing another Netflix series, The Diplomat. Covid was so terrible, but we were very lucky because it was the most consecutive days we had ever been together in our marriage. I realize we’re always saying goodbye. It was very hard because we’d been together so much, and we talked about the first time we said goodbye, and we talked about luck. We both really lucked out finding one another. I cannot imagine what my life without him, and he says the same thing about me. n

ANNETTE O’TOOLE as Hope McCrea, the mayor of a rural North California town in the hit Netflix series Virgin River.

NAVIGATING

Continuing the journey in a pandemic world

Pandemic disruptions, new climate risks spur revisiting of 6-yr-old Green Jobs Act

By Samuel P. Medenilla

THEimminent threat of climate change and the mass labor displacement caused by business disruptions from the pandemic have reinvigorated the government efforts to push for the creation of more “green jobs.”

Unfortunately, Republic Act 107741 or the Green Jobs Act, which was supposed to help in that initiative, has yet to be fully implemented six years after it was signed by former President Benig no S. Aquino III.

In his speech at the 55th An nual Meeting of the Board of Gov ernors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reiterated that his ad ministration will aim for creating a “green sustainable and climateresilient” economy.

He said this will boost interna

tional efforts to address rising sea levels and the increasing incidents of destructive extreme weather, which scientific experts attributed to climate change.

Marcos also hoped that “green ing” specific parts of the economy like the energy industry will reduce the number of unemployed work ers, which remained at 2.6 million as of July 2022.

The International Labor Or ganization (ILO) estimated the socalled green economy is expected to generate between 15 million and 60 million jobs worldwide by 2030.

Green Jobs Act

RA 107741 aims to establish the National Green Jobs Human Re source Development Plan (NGJHRD) and provide incentives to employers who will engage in green practices and industries.

These incentives include fis cal and nonfiscal, such as a special deduction from taxable income, equivalent to 50 percent, for skills training and research and develop ment expenses, as well as tax- and duty-free importation of capital equipment.

Under the Implementing Rules

and Regulations of RA 107741, as issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in 2017, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) was tasked to develop the standards that government will use to assess the qualified appli cants for the incentives.

B ut in an e-mail to the BusinessMirror in August, CCC Development Management Of ficer Arnold G. Belver said they are still finalizing their “green thresholds” mandated by the said legislation.

Navigating @17: Continuing the journey

Pandemic disruptions, new climate risks spur revisiting of 6-yr-old Green Jobs Act

“

We are currently in the pro cess of completing the data sets in the so-called ‘green thresholds’ of industry activities, and finetuning development and regula tory aspects of the draft guidelines and standards for the assessment and certification of green goods and services, and green technolo gies and practices for the purpose of regulating the availment of in centives, and ensuring green jobs content pursuant to the National Green Jobs Human Resource De velopment Plan spearheaded by the DOLE,” Belver said.

A mong the challenges CCC faces in crafting the said standards were the overlapping provisions of RA 107741 with RA 11534 or the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incen tives for Enterprises Act (CREATE), particularly those involved in the processes and innovations related to environmental protection sys tems and sustainability strategies.

The quarantine restrictions, which took effect during the onset of the pandemic, also caused delays in the consultations held by CCC for RA 107741.

The thresholds should have been completed by the CCC 120 days after the effectiveness of the IRR.

As of October 3, 2022, the CCC said the thresholds are still pending.

Just transition

THE former dean of the University of the Philippines-School of Labor and Industrial Relations (UP-SO LAIR), Rene E. Ofreneo, lamented the long delay in the full imple mentation of RA 107741, saying it would have encouraged more em ployers to create green jobs.

The legislation defined green jobs as “decent and productive em ployment that contributes to pre serving or restoring the quality of the environment.”

The vision and program of CCC [regarding RA 107741] will be critical for the green transforma tion of the economy,” Ofreneo said.

A side from providing incen tives to the private sector to adopt more sustainable measures, he said the law should also facilitate the “just transition” of workers from traditional less efficient and carbon-emitting activities, which are being phased out, to jobs with more sustainable operations.

The NGJ-HRD, which was fi nalized by DOLE in 2020, stipu

lates the importance of facilitating such transition through the con sultation and capacity building of all tripartite stakeholders, includ ing the affected workers, before the implementation of any eco nomic restructuring to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Th rough such transition, the government will establish a frame work to ensure the displaced work ers will still enjoy basic labor rights through employment-centered macroeconomic policies and envi ronmental regulations.

In his 2019 paper titled “Is the Philippines Getting Green and Just? A Baseline Study on the Ap plication of Just Transition Frame work in the Philippines,” labor leader Wilson Fortaleza noted that such a framework is currently lack ing in the local power and trans portation sector.

The lack of a just transition process in the power sector was due to the fact that there was no phaseout plan for fossil fuels to begin with, while the continu ing dispute between the govern ment and the transport sector on PUV [public utility vehicle] modernization also points to a shoddy process as well as fear of economic dislocation among PUV drivers,” Fortaleza said.

Both sectors, he said, are cur rently the top sources of carbon emissions in the country.

He estimates around 4,500 workers employed in the power sector, and 3.2 million in the PUV sectors, will be affected if the gov ernment decides to decommission coal power plants and modernize PUVs, respectively, as part of ef forts to achieve its carbon emis sions reduction targets.

Implementation challenges BESIDES incentivizing the cre ation of green jobs and ensuring the rights and welfare of affected workers are protected, the NGJHRD also contained capacitybuilding provisions.

A study conducted by the In stitute of Labor Studies (ILS), an attached agency of DOLE, dis closed that a major challenge in promoting green jobs is the lack of professionals and workers with skills and competencies, which are necessary for implementing “envi ronmentally sustainable activities, products and services.”

The said activities include mit igation actions (activities, products and services to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases); adaptation to climate change and disaster risk management; protection of the ecosystems and habitats and pre vention of land degradation from human activities; efficiency of wa ter and natural resources manage ment; pollution prevention and control; environmental compli ance; education and training; and public awareness.

The Bureau of Local Employ ment (BLE) said these emerging de mands from employers have led to the creation of “green occupations,” such as Solid Waste Management Equipment Operator, Recycling Worker, Solar Technician and Urban Gardener, among others.

ILS noted that identifying the skill demands from the private sec tor will be crucial so schools and technical-vocational training cen ters could produce graduates to fill the new vacancies.

Other issues that hamper ef forts of firms to implement green initiatives are existing regulatory environment constraints for busi nesses; inefficient infrastructure services, internal conflicts and cli mate change; and the lack of sus tainable actions for enterprises to go green.

The NGJ-HRD has listed the measures to address such challeng es, which include environmental education and skills development as well as the integration of green strategies on the industry road maps for the private sector and in the Philippine Development Plan for the public sector.

With the start of the Marcos administration, ILS Executive Di rector Charisma Lobrin-Satumba

from E1

Navigating

Continuing the journey

Pandemic disruptions, new climate risks spur revisiting of 6-yr-old Green Jobs Act

said some of the provisions of the plan may have to be updated to fit the current priorities of the pres ent government leadership.

She said this may include the newly signed memorandum of agreement between DOLE and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), where in emergency employment benefi ciaries will be tapped to help in the reforestation efforts.

“ The HRD plan, while it was already formulated in 2020, needs to be updated given the transition [in the government]. It will then be shared again with the [21] imple menting agencies,” Satumba said.

To further institutionalize the NGJ-HRD, its provisions will be integrated in the new Labor and Employment Plan of DOLE, which is expected to be completed before the end of the year, she said.

Commercial value BUT even with the delays in the implementation of RA 107441, the National Tripartite Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) said some companies are already engaging in green initiatives, cog nizant of its inherent advantages to their operations.

Business-wise, there is com mercial value in going green or

adopting green practices/processes as consumers nowadays place a lot of premium in an establishment providing green services and prod ucts,” NWPC Executive Director Ma ria Criselda R. Sy told the BusinessMirror in an email interview.

Likewise, she noted that green practices are also cost-efficient since these involve using locally available resources as well as con servation of energy and materials.

“This is timely amid the rising price of electricity and fuel,” Sy said.

The labor official said NWPC teaches such practices through their 7 S of Good Housekeeping modules (sort, systematize, sweep,

standardize, safety, self-discipline, and sustain), which teach employ ers how to keep their operations clean, organized, systematic and safe—resulting in fewer wastage of raw materials, energy and water in their operations.

The implementation of pro ductivity programs ultimately aims to improve the bottom line [of the companies], leading to expan sion and growth, thus more em ployment opportunities,” Sy said.

Despite the positive feedback from those who availed them selves of their “greening” modules, NWPC reported that only around 10,000 of the over 900,000 firms nationwide have implemented the programs.

Of these, 3,004 firms applied for NWPC’s Green My Enterprise (ME) module since 2012, while the remaining 7,137 made use of their 7 S of Good Housekeeping module since 2002.

Fortaleza said once the Green Jobs Act takes full effect, it will greatly help in mainstreaming such green activities and generate new employment opportunities.

“ Tens of thousands of green and climate jobs can be created depending on what sector, type of technology, level of investment, and the kind of policies and pro grams the government employs,” Fortaleza said.

DOLE-DENR MOA SIGNING President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. witnesses the signing of the memorandum of agreement between the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on the implementation of the DOLE’s Tulong Pang hanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program in areas under

improved National Forest Protection Program during

Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez

ceremony. ALEJANDRO P. ECHAVEZ, DOLE-IPS

NAVIGATING @17: Continuing the journey in a pandemic world

Recalibrating climate change, post-pandemic response

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

to recover from a climate changetriggered event.

STILL

reeling from the economic setbacks brought by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the Philippines was again struck by one of the worst impacts of climate change—extreme weather events.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that Super Typhoon Karding, the most recent of such extreme weather events, considered the “new normal” due

to climate change—devastated most of Luzon.

One of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, the Philippines is the first to be af fected and almost always the last

The estimated total damage to agriculture from Karding has al ready breached the P3-billion mark and the damage to infrastructure is P304 million.

On the other hand, the esti mated assistance provided by the National Government and Local Government Units (LGUs) to the typhoon-affected communities combined is only slightly over P51 million.

In its wake, Karding left 12 people dead, 5 missing and 52 others injured, according to a NDRRMC report as of October 2, 2022, which is Day 8 of Super Ty phoon Karding and Day 926 of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Th e same report said the su per typhoon affected 299,127 families, or 1,072,282 persons in 7 regions, 30 provinces and 229 cities and municipalities across the archipelago.

A total of 58,172 houses were damaged, with 7,150 having been completely destroyed during the onslaught of one of the strongest typhoons ever to make landfall in the Philippines.

The damage to infrastructure, which includes roads, schools, util ity services facilities, and other government infrastructure, is also enormous, with an estimated cost reaching P304,245,310.

Worst, the damage to agri culture is P3,076,968,120.04. Ac cording to the NDRRMC, a total

of 104,500 farmers and fisherfolk were affected when the typhoon ravaged 166,630.11 hectares of crops.

Preparing for the worst

TO Secretary Robert E.A. Borje, vice chairman of the Climate Change Commission (CCC), as far as the Philippines is concerned, we are on track in preparing for the worst impacts of climate change.

The CCC is the lead policymaking body of the government tasked to coordinate, monitor and evaluate government programs and ensure mainstreaming of cli mate-change action in national, lo cal and sectoral development plans towards a climate-resilient and climate-smart Philippines.

In a telephone interview on October 1, Borje said climate change is becoming an overarching governance issue that needs to be addressed, not just domestically, nationally but internationally.

“ You know how it is. It is an issue of systems and the Philip pine situation cannot be disag gregated from the global scenar io. Be that as it may, you know the Philippines has been work ing very hard to prepare for the worst impacts of climate change. In fact, our national panel of ex perts has already identified 10 of those risks and we are making headway, I think, when it comes to the impacts of climate change for a quick onset,” he said.

Navigating @17: Continuing the

Recalibrating climate change,

According to Borje, the Philip pines has established a very reliable system for quick-onset events like super typhoons, wherein the state weather bureau predicts when and where it will hit, and what is the worst-case scenario. This allows concerned national government agencies and LGUs to reduce the risk of disaster, minimize if not to tally prevent casualties, and mount a post-disaster response.

Early warning system

“I NOTE that when it comes to early warning systems, our PAG A SA has a particular capacity.

Our NDRRMC, also together with other government agencies, to help address quick-onset events such as typhoons,” he said.

How, he asks aloud, can the government truly commiserate with those impacted the most by disaster? “One of the metrics…is the number of fatalities and casu alties. We have observed, signifi cantly, there’s a reduction. But ev ery life matters. That is why it is

important for our government to con tinue working very hard in ramping up our capabilities to address the impacts of climate change. And may I say, not just for quick-onset events but also for slow-onset events. This requires coor dinated approaches and work on the adaptation part, essentially, and then the issue,” he said.

Indeed, he said the Philippines is more prepared today than a decade ago.

‘A developing thing’

“THE government has provided resourc es for this. But the question is, it is also a developing thing. Always, it moves. Be cause the challenges continue to change. It is important that we continue to adapt our approaches. I would say that based on the metrics, when it comes to quickonset events, we have significantly im proved. But is that the only approach we want? Again, every life matters,” he reiterated.

According to Borje, while close ly looking at the impacts of extreme weather events, the Philippines is also monitoring slow-onset events—for mit igation—while strengthening disaster preparedness through national and local responses.

Borje said the Philippines remains committed to implementing Republic Act 9729, or the Climate Change Act of 2009, and Republic Act 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

The Climate Change Act, the law that created the CCC, promotes the mainstreaming of climate change into government policy formulations and establishes the framework, strategy and program on climate change, while the DRRM Act of 2010 aims to strengthen the country’s disaster risk reduction and management system, provide a frame work for national disaster risk reduction and management, and institutionalize a national disaster risk reduction and management plan.

Local climate change action plans

ACCORDING to Borje, the CCC contin ues to push LGUs to create and allocate funds for the implementation of their lo cal climate change action plans.

The Climate Change Act of 2009, as amended, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations recognize the role of local governments as frontline agen cies in the formulation, planning and implementation of climate action plans in their respective areas, consistent with the provisions of the Local Government Code, the National Framework Strategy for Climate Change, and the National Climate Change Action Plan.

The DILG Memorandum Circular 2014-135, on the other hand, provided that city and municipal local govern ments consider climate change adapta tion as one of their regular functions, supported by provincial governments through technical assistance, enforce ment and information management.

O ver the past decade, much has been done to improve the crafting of local climate change action plans, he pointed out.

We have modified warning systems already. We have a series of rainfall ad visories and classifications,” he said.

“If we zero in on LCCAP, 79 percent [of LGUs] has LCCAP. But is that enough? The 21 percent still needs to have an LCCAP. We want to see everybody to be fully involved. We are working on, even as we speak, we are also working at capacitat ing not just the LGUs but the higher educa tions for LCCAP,” he pointed out.

A lthough the CCC is primarily a policy coordination office, Borje said the agency is mandated by law to partner with relevant government agencies, to work on increasing the adaptive capaci ties of communities and the government at the national level.

It is important that we continue to work on providing assistance and direc tion to our national government institu tions. Adequate budgets should be allo cated,” he added.

Increasing budgets

TO monitor the progress of government budget allocation for climate change-re lated programs, projects or activities, the CCC has partnered with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Borje said for tagging climate change expenditures, there has been a 56-percent increase in the 2023 budget

RESIDENTS wade through a flooded street due to heavy rains brought by Typhoon Karding (international code name Noru) in San Miguel, Bulacan, September 26, 2022. AP/AARON FAVILA

the journey in a pandemic world

change, post-pandemic response

as proposed by national govern ment institutions (NGIs).

I think this was subject of the advisory budget of the Department of Budget and Management. It’s an ongoing partnership with the CCC. In 2022 kasi, the budget was 289.7 billion. This time around for the NEP 2023, umakyat na siya to 453.2 billion so that is 56 percent in crease for climate change projects for NGIs,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Borje said the budget tagging activity revealed a 44-percent increase in NGI partici pation before the submissions in 2022.

“Before it was 145, now it is 210,” referring to the number of NGIs actively taking part in the budget process.

Be that as it may, we want to increase our target participa tion. Our target participation is at 70 percent. Right now, even with that significant increase, it is still at around 60 percent. We want it to be 70 percent. That is one of the things that we are currently work ing on when it comes to ongoing programs, mainstreaming climate change and the adaptation and mitigation programs,” he said.

Consultative mechanism

UNDER the Marcos administration, Borje said the CCC will pursue a consultative mechanism to broaden

participation of civil society organi zations (CSOs) as well as the private sector when it comes to crafting cli mate change action plans.

“ We have formalized for the first time the consultative mecha nism for civil society organiza tions. We now have at least 4; and for the private sector, we have so far 1. But we want the CCC to play an important part for policy for mulation. It is up to us to continue working with stakeholders and provide the space for discussion,” he said.

“ We want to work for a cli mate-smart and climate-resilient society,” he quipped.

According to Borje, fighting climate change under a post-pan demic scenario requires a wholeof-government approach, as well as international support.

“We recognize that this prob lem requires not just a whole-ofgovernment approach. We need to negotiate for the Philippines when it comes to commitment. Our na tional system is part of a global sys tem and as President Marcos says, we contribute so little when it comes to greenhouse-gas emissions and we bear the brunt of the impacts of cli mate change,” he said.

Support, Borje stressed, must come primarily from the interna tional community, particularly the so-called “carbon industry.”

Climate change financing

DESPITE efforts to increase the budget for climate change actions, the Philippines is compelled to depend on the international com munity for climate change-related programs, projects and activities.

In a separate telephone in terview, Albert Magalang, chief of the Climate Change Division of the Department of Environ ment and Natural Resources- En vironmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), said the Philippines introduced—at the Conference of Parties (COP) meeting last Decem ber—what he describes as “a game changer” in climate negotiations.

Instead of emission reduc tion and removal, the Philippines is pitching the call for emission avoidance, Magalang said.

Under the emission reduction scheme, claiming support is hard because of the baselining and mod eling to show the country’s emis sion reduction.

Low-carbon emitter

“BUT our emission is very small. Very, very small. In truth, the equivalent support they’ll give you is also very small. It’s get ting smaller and smaller and one can’t access it right away,” Magalang said. Thus, he ex plained, what the Philippines and other developing countries

want now is emission avoidance.

Under the concept or mecha nism of emission avoidance, ac tivities like not putting up a new coal-fired power plant guarantees a point in emission avoidance.

“And even the conversion of forest to agricultural land or any other land use, its avoidance,” he said.

Emissions are considered en vironmental risks, he said, and avoiding them should be consid ered in seeking climate financing from developed countries.

A nother emission avoidance score that needs to be considered, he said, is the use of “green tech nology” or technologies that avoid carbon emission.

Adaptation and mitigation, according to Magalang, should go hand in hand.

C limate change mitigation, he said, should address the challenge of limiting greenhouse-gas emis sion (GHG) to a minimum, while adapting to the worst impacts of climate change to make sure that communities are resilient and the ecosystem and people are protect ed against various risks.

Sustainable development IN Magalang’s view, low-carbon development can be achieved, us ing the right technology.

He said this even as the Phil

ippines, a low-carbon emitter, still has what he calls a remaining “car bon budget” to use.

Development is not really a problem. We really need develop ment. We still have carbon budget for development. But, it does not sit well with our goals,” he explained.

He noted that the Philippines is not yet fully industrialized, by way of explaining why the coun try’s GHG emission remains low.

Philippine GHG emission is only around 0.3 percent compared to the global GHG emission. “It is not even 1 percent, our contribu tion to the global GHG emission,” he noted.

Nevertheless, Magalang said the Philippines can opt for lowemitting technologies or non-GHG emitting technologies and demand support from developed countries to sustain development.

“ We are entitled to green fi nancing. That’s why every time there’s climate negotiations, we are reminding developed countries of that promised support,” he ended.

Recalibrating post-pandemicforrecovery

IN conclusion, Borje said recalibra tion of climate change actions for post-pandemic recovery forms part of the work that the entire government is doing.

And this is where the demand

for more climate change main streaming is coming. In fact, for all of our LGUs and national govern ment agencies, there is a realiza tion because this is a system that we cannot divorce climate change or disaggregate from the realities because the direction that we are taking is, we want to bounce back from the pandemic,” he said.

Recently, however, the prin ciple that is well accepted by the international community is the “build back better approach” or “build forward better,” according to him.

“ We argued that for the Phil ippines, our approach is different and that is the ‘build right at first sight approach.’ Why? Because we have limited resources. We can not afford to rebuild and rebuild. We have to make sure that every time we come up with a project for our LGU or national govern ment, the project must be done right; and the best science and climate-resilient response to the problems as identified by the na tional panel of experts.

It is an enlightened approach for our government. We want to say that with President Marcos’s vision, this is happening and the commitment further strengthens, our capacity for climate change is on track and something that is committed,” he concluded.

Navigating @17: Continuing the journey

PSE, SEC seize avenues for investor education to cut venues of fraud before full market throttle

By VG Cabuag

WITH markets still down, it is quite hard to talk about economic recovery.

Th is, however, did not deter the Philippine Stock Exchange Inc., the operator of the country’s equi ties trading market, from rolling out several projects to reach the general public that it hopes would invest their hard-earned money with them.

A fter several market road show events during the pandem ic, meant to show the public how trading should be as easy as 1-2-3, PSE President and CEO Ramon S. Monzon said they are now going to schools to target the students.

We’re just giving them access to the market,” Monzon said.

There’s only one solution for that and that’s investor education. We cannot tell an investor, ‘don’t buy this stock or buy this.’ We have 1.6 million investor accounts,” Monzon said.

Th at figure—1.16 million of which are online accounts—pales in comparison when compared with the country’s neighbors that have a lot more, way more.

To grow that figure, Monzon’s newest market activity was to trade using the fintech platform such as GCash.

Monzon said the initiative may be a game changer for stock trading in the country that could easily double or triple the 1.6 mil

lion accounts currently registered at the bourse in just a short period of time.

The PSE’s accounts are only growing at a compounded annual rate of about 31 percent during 2016 to 2021.

Monzon said the PSE will also launch a data analytics platform by the end of the year, which will open access to market data for retail in vestors. He said the program aims to democratize access to market data which is currently limited to big stockbrokerage firms.

Monzon said it will address retail investors’ needs for market data that can aid them in their in vestment activities.

SEC’s investor education MEANWHILE , at the Securities and Exchange Commission, the corporate regulator also promotes investor education through webi nars and information education materials, which could enable them to choose which investments options are legitimate or not.

Central to this strategic ini tiative is the celebration of Inves tor Protection Week every second week of November.

The event is a chance for the agency to further highlight its in vestor education efforts and to re mind the public of the dangers of falling prey to investment scams.

The SEC also partners up with public and private organiza tions who share in its advocacy of

promoting financial literacy for Filipinos. Currently, its network consists of 46 entities, including 28 local organizations which have been tapped by the SEC’s nine ex tension offices.

Educating the public, how ever, is hard, especially when the market is down. At the moment, the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index, or the PSEi, was trading at 5,900-point level, as in flation figures are also higher than what the Central Bank wants. This may mean more rate increases as the year ends.

With yields going down, peo ple were looking for assets that can grow their money. One of the op tions is cryptocurrency trading.

Compared with the online ac counts at the PSE, reports suggest that there are 16 million accounts owned by Filipinos in Bitcoin, one of the many trading platforms of cryptocurrency.

Cryptocurrency is digital money that is secured by block chain technology. Cryptocurrency investing can take many forms, ranging from buying cryptocur rency directly to investing in cryp

to funds and companies.

Cryptocurrency can be bought using a crypto exchange or through certain broker-dealers. Many cen tral banks do not agree on its fun damental concept, but it has been making its way into the market, and many of the entities are not registered with the SEC.

The SEC said that by law, an entity is required to register and obtain a primary registration with the SEC if it intends to conduct business in the Philippines.

Dealing or transacting with registered domestic corporations or foreign corporations with regis tration to do business as a branch, regional operating/area headquar ters or representative office within the Philippines assures domestic parties that they are duly protected by Philippine laws,” it said.

A nd this, for the SEC at least, is where it gets exciting.

Fraudsters have become more creative in order to confuse the public as to the nature of their ac tivities, using the current trends as their main weapon.

The SEC noted that invest ment scams have taken the form of primarily Ponzi schemes or those promising high returns with dif ferent variations.

Many of these schemes were masked with new or complex busi ness models and concepts such as cryptocurrency trading, foreign ex change trading and even franchis ing—every avenue where it can get

the money flowing to their pockets.

Other scams offer compen sation plans with incentives for recruitment or referrals, commod ity futures trading, contracts for difference, binary options trad ing, foreign exchange swaps, cryp tocurrency trading, advance fee fraud, affinity fraud, among oth ers,” the SEC said.

The anonymity that the Inter net offers, it added, “has provided scammers [with a venue] and has made it easier than ever for an in dividual or company to operate a scheme, stop that scheme as soon as authorities flag it, and start an other one under a different name.”

The SEC thus reiterates its re minder to transact only with enti ties that are registered with the agency. Corporations soliciting investments from the public must also have a secondary license is sued and approved by the SEC.

The agency also advises the pub lic to be vigilant and conduct their due diligence before transacting or dealing with any entity, and to avoid transact ing with corporations or entities with out any registration or license to do business in the Philippines in order to avoid losing their earnings.

Investors’ education is the so lution to all of these market woes, according to the regulators.

They educate the people exten sively while prices are down, and also to protect them from scam mers. All this, to prepare them for the eventual rise of the market.

STOCKS

NAVIGATING @17:

Continuing the journey in a pandemic world

As pandemic recovery boosts energy demand, PHL leans heavily on RE to tweak power mix

By Lenie Lectura

ASTABLE and sufficient power supply is crucial to economic growth, especially when the country is gearing up for a postpandemic boom.

Th e efforts of the power com panies and that of the govern ment are making headlines, not

only because they need to catch up but also because the new ad ministration’s priorities include

diversifying the country’s energy sources by focusing on renewable energy (RE) and possibly adopt ing nuclear energy.

The Department of Energy (DOE), under the leadership of its new secretary, immediately went to work.

One major strategy of the gov ernment is to increase RE to 35 percent of the power generation mix by 2030 and at least 50 percent by 2040.

A long this line, the DOE just recently increased the percentage of the utilization of RE for on-grid ar

eas from 1 percent to 2.52 percent. This shall take effect next year.

The increase is meant to en courage more investors and end-us ers to develop and utilize domestic energy sources, thereby gradually increasing the RE percentage in the generation mix which is still domi nated by coal.

Wind ANOTHER priority area in the country’s RE industry is offshore wind energy. The Philippines Off shore Wind Roadmap identified a total of 178 gigawatts (GW) of

offshore wind energy potential across the country, particularly in the areas of Northwest Luzon, Ma nila, Mindoro, Guimaras Strait and Negros/Panay West. This is critical in supporting the country’s clean energy transition initiatives.

Moreover, in a legal opinion that boosted hopes for business among energy stakeholders, the Justice department said that exploration, development and utilization of inexhaustible RE sources are not subject to the 60:40 foreign equity limitation as provided under Section 2, Article

XII of the Constitution.

Th is means that foreign own ership restrictions that hamper the flow of investments in the RE sector may now be relaxed follow ing the legal opinion issued last month by the Department of Jus tice (DOJ).

“ This favorable development will pave the way for the opening of foreign investments in renewable energy development,” Energy Sec retary Raphael P.M. Lotilla said.

L ast weekend, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, the vice chairman of

Navigating @17: Continuing the

As pandemic recovery boosts energy demand,

the chamber’s Energy committee, said the DOJ opinion, which he called a “game changer,” will see the rise in the number of invest ments in renewable energy, such as solar, wind, hydro and ocean or tidal energies.

Power firms bet bigon renewables

THE private sector is doing its part, too. They have positioned themselves to take advantage of the increasing demand for electric ity from RE platforms.

ACEN Corp., the listed energy platform of the Ayala group, con tinues to invest heavily in renew ables. It is currently constructing around 700MW of renewables ca pacity in the Philippines, and ex pects to start construction of over 700MW additional renewables ca pacity in the next 12 to 18 months.

“Given the faster construc tion timeline for renewables, these projects should help miti gate the country’s power situa tion,” said ACEN President Eric Francia in an interview.

ACEN has about 4,000 MW of attributable capacity in the Philip pines, Vietnam, Indonesia, India and Australia, with a renewable share of 87 percent, among the highest in the region.

Its aspiration is to be the larg est listed renewables platform in Southeast Asia, with a goal of reaching 20 gigawatts in renew ables capacity by 2030.

A boitiz Power Corp., which has been at the forefront of fast-track ing economic activity, is well on

its way to achieving 50-50 growth aspirations to triple its current RE capacity. To date, the company has about 1,000 MW of disclosed re newable energy projects, including solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the pipeline.

It plans to build an additional 3,700 MW of RE, growing its exist ing Cleanergy capacity threefold by 2030.

Dependable power supply will be vital to ensuring we not only survive in the post-pandemic environment, but thrive in it,” said Aboitiz Power President Emmanu el Rubio via e-mail.

The power firm’s GNPD Unit 1 started commercial operations in January. Together with Unit 2, which is currently under commis sioning, Rubio said this will help address supply issues in Luzon and will be crucial to ensuring stability across the grid.

First Gen Power Corp. has also lined up a number of hydro and geothermal projects, on top of its existing ones. These include the 120-MW Aya pump storage project in Nueva Ecija; the Bubunawan, San Isidro, Tagolo-an and Puyo run-of-river hydros in Mindanao (with additional 140 to 150 MW in estimated capacity); as well as the 20-MW Tanawon and 29-MW Pa layan geothermal plants in Bicol.

Progressive andresponsive policies

THE Philippine Independent Power Producers Association Inc. (PIPPA) said the road to economic recovery greatly relies on energy stability and supply. It stressed that power is an essential resource, just like food and water.

A country cannot progress if it is riddled with power interrup tions because the most expensive electricity is no electricity. We are currently working hand in hand with our policy makers and regu lators to put together progressive and responsive policies such as the energy derivatives market, RE market, reserves market, WESM Mindanao, removal of the sec ondary price cap, removal of the reliability indices, transmission network improvement and decon gestion, among others,” said PIPPA President Atty. Anne Estorco Mon telibano via text message.

These mechanisms, she said, will greatly boost investor confi dence and will signal that the Phil ippines is on its way to achieving economic recovery.

“ We are hopeful that the new

administration will place great im portance on encouraging both lo cal and foreign investors to build and operate generation plants to ensure energy security,” added Montelibano.

Gas as transition fuel

ACCORDING to First Gen, RE power plants have their own limi tations. For instance, the country does not have enough geothermal and hydro resources and sites, while solar and wind have inter mittency issues. A BESS may com plement a solar or wind farm, but a BESS can operate for only three to four hours a day—meaning, in sufficient to complement the over night downtime of solar.

In short, these alternatives cannot match the sizable role be ing played right now by coal-fired, baseload power facilities, First Gen Vice President and head of corpo rate communications Ricky Caran dang said via email.

But as more solar and wind

projects enter the grid, the Lopezled power firm sees the urgency for more counterpart power facilities that can quickly respond to the intermittent character of the RE power plants.

Coal plant is not the solution, according to Carandang, because the cost is volatile and they spew a lot of CO2 to the atmosphere. These also lack flexibility to match the sudden surge or sudden drop in output of solar and wind.

Natural gas

NUCLEAR is an option, but gov ernment is still ironing out the policies. One immediate solution actually is available: natural gas.

A mong local power compa nies, First Gen owns the largest platform of natural gas-fired pow er plants with close to 2,000MW in capacity. First Gen believes that shifting to natural gas will sub stantially reduce emissions from the energy sector without sacrific ing reliability of the grid.

“Natural gas is acknowledged as the cleanest form of fossil fuel because its CO2 emission represents only a fraction of its coal counterpart when burned. Aside from their low carbon emission, natural gas-fired plants can operate 24/7 with flex ibility to easily ramp up and down output in response to the intermit tency of solar and wind,” Carandang pointed out.

W hile First Gen considers natural gas power plants as re placement for coal counterparts, the company shares with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the position that natural gas, including LNG, is a transition fuel.

“First Gen also draws inspira tion from the statement of His Ex cellency, President Ferdinand Mar cos Jr., that he considers natural gas as transition fuel. We believe that with the right kind of policies and regulations, natural gas can keep the lights on at competitive prices and at lower levels of carbon emissions,” he added.

the journey in a pandemic world

PHL leans heavily on RE to tweak power mix

tional investments in renewable energy and in new baseload capaci ties utilizing natural gas to ensure that we’re able to meet the grow ing power needs of our developing economy over the medium term.

“ The immediate challenge for us now is to help create an econo my that is profitable and growing responsibly, socially and environ mentally,” he said.

The power arm of SMC, SMC Global Power Holdings, Corp., said it remains focused on maximizing its existing power assets to help sustain the economy’s recovery, while investing in technologies that will facilitate the transition to cleaner energy.

‘Baseload’ powerstill the cheapest WHILE everyone is focused on re newables, Consunji-led Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC) said it will pursue expansion projects to continue delivering reliable and affordable power, amidst a tighten ing domestic power supply situation.

SMPC has always been mind ful of its unique role in the coun try’s power mix. We are, and will always strive to be, a low-cost fuel and baseload power producer because our communities and in dustries cannot afford runaway electricity prices like what is hap pening in some parts of the world,” SMPC Chairman Isidro Consunji pointed out via email.

He said the company plans to

open new mines within its conces sion area. It also intends to apply for a contract extension so SMPC can continue investing in its opera tions and expand production.

Energy security is central to economic recovery. We’ve seen how elevated fuel and electricity prices can significantly impact the cost of living and doing business. Reduc ing our country’s dependence on imported, expensive fuel is key to stabilizing and growing our econo my,” added Consunji.

Indigenous resources

IN a bid to develop the country’s indigenous resources, the DOE has moved to address uncertainties on investment incentives in the up stream oil and gas sector.

The President has directed that we address the uncertainties over investments in the upstream so that we can we can mobilize the natural gas around Malampaya and with other fields for our needs at the soonest time possible,” Lo tilla said.

In 2021, he said the country’s energy supply stood at 56.8 per cent imported and 43.2 percent indigenous. Indigenous sources include geothermal, natural gas, hydro, and other renewable energy sources like solar.

Of the imported energy sup ply, coal accounts for 37.1 percent, of which 98 percent is sourced from Indonesia.

Oil, on the other hand, ac

counts for 34.6 percent of the en ergy supply. It also accounts for 89 percent of power sources in offgrid areas.

The numbers, Lotilla said, show the country’s vulnerability to volatil ities in global prices. “We need to be more energy-secure. And that means that we have to develop our indig enous resources. This is a top priority for us,” he said.

Clarifying legal, policy issues

THESE uncertainties include the interpretation of Presidential De cree 87, or the Oil Exploration and Development Act of 1972, which allows the service contractor’s corporate taxes to form part of the government’s 60-percent net share. This move, oil and gas ex ploration firms said, has hindered investments.

We will do that through a number of measures, like through executive action clarifying the policy. Second, in order to stabilize the investment regime, to have the clarification by Congress as well,” he said.

I ndeed, the long-term solu tion is to move from overdepen dence on imported sources and to go for more indigenous sources. But as has been seen in the past few years, there should be sound policies in order to encourage the private sector to mobilize more investments to achieve this goal as the country rises from the ef fects of the pandemic.

Course correction

THE disruption resulting from the pandemic has given conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC), which has interest in energy, among others, an opportunity to course-correct, particularly in regard to issues of sustainability, including decarbon izing energy infrastructure.

“ We will do our share to re build the economy, our projects can help achieve energy sufficien cy and help create sustainable value for not just San Miguel but also for the Philippines and the Filipino people,” said SMC Presi dent Ramon Ang.

A ng could not stress enough how important the role of the pri vate sector in our economy’s re covery post-Covid is. “If prior to the pandemic we played our part in stepping up economic activ ity, it’s even more critical that we participate in the recovery, not only by providing jobs, creating competitive advantage, and get ting the economy humming again

but by making sure the shape of that recovery is an economy that is stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive,” he said.

SMC is scaling up investments in cleaner and renewable technolo gies even as it redoubles efforts to reduce emissions, and shift to low-

carbon production models.

We’ve invested heavily in battery energy storage systems totaling 1,000 megawatts to help facilitate our transition from coal to renewable energy and liquefied natural gas.

“ We also have planned addi

ENERGY SECRETARY RAPHAEL P.M. LOTILLA:

“A

if it

with

— PIPPA President Atty. Anne Estorco Montelibano

Navigating @17: Continuing the journey

From greatest crisis to a game-changing opportunity, telcos keep driving recovery

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

AS Filipinos shift from the “new normal” to the “now normal,” telecommunications services have become more and more indispensable to consumers, with digital services helping them navigate their daily lives—from work and school to gaining access to basic necessities and even luxuries.

With the easing of mobility restrictions and the reopening of the economy, Filipino workers and learners are now embracing hybrid setups—with days spread for onsite and online work and school.

Th is presents a larger oppor tunity for telco players, as after roughly two years of focusing on at-home Internet services, demand for wireless connectivity is rapidly revitalizing.

Connectivity remains necessary currency

THE ongoing pandemic, albeit more manageable, shook the Phil ippines like a perfect storm—emp

ty roads, closed stores, and almost desolate streets became the norm.

A nd cliché as it may sound, the Filipino character of resilience also came into play. Pinoys adapted to the new normal by embracing digi tal solutions that brought them closer to things that matter: work, school and necessities.

However, connectivity was a key factor to making this new digi tal way of life work. The Internet became the lifeblood for many.

Today, even with the now-nor mal of hybrid life setups, Internet connectivity remains a necessary currency to function well. It is even called the new “oxygen.”

It has become so essential that all major players in the telecom munications industry—PLDT Inc., Smart Communications Inc., Globe Telecom Inc., Dito Telecommunity Corp. and Converge ICT Solutions Inc.—have been competing to pro vide the best service in the market.

PLDT and Smart President Al fredo S. Panlilio even described the industry as entering into “hyper competition” mode.

Faster evolution, growth

FOR Globe Vice President Yolanda C. Crisanto, the pandemic acceler ated Globe’s transformation from a pure telco player into a digital ser vices provider.

With the changing and ex panding needs of customers and advancement of ICT, the industry today has evolved to deliver more than telecommunications services.

In the Philippines, Globe has been leading this shift to going beyond telco as we strive to drive the coun try’s digital transformation in re sponse to the various pain points Filipinos confront day to day, max imizing digital technology to uplift their lives,” she said.

Crisanto added that Globe’s suite of digital services had “served as a lifeline to millions of Filipinos locked down in their homes.”

She cited, for example, Globe’s e-wallet GCash and telehealth ver tical KonsultaMD, both of which, she said, became “indispensable tools” for personal finances and helped in supporting the country’s healthcare systems.

“ With the digital shift accel erated by the pandemic and its aftermath, Globe sees the coun try’s digital transformation only expanding, as more Filipinos are adopting a more digital life. There will be further growth in the “phy gital” realm—the combined digital and physical planes fast becoming the norm in this post-pandemic

era,” Crisanto said.

For his part, Panlilio said PLDT’s fixed-line business led his toric group-wide growth through out the pandemic, while people were confined to their homes.

We expect our revenue mo mentum to accelerate as we pay particular attention to customer satisfaction. We are doing this through quicker response times and proactive communication, and by driving installations in highpotential provincial areas,” he said.

Its wireless unit Smart is also seen to benefit from the easing of pandemic restrictions, with people now more mobile. Panlilio said the group plans to add more value to loyalty, encouraging retention and driving utilization.

The Pangilinan-led group’s en terprise business is also shifting with new technologies available.

According to Dito Chief Admin istrative Officer Adel A. Tamano, Dito’s foray during the height of the pandemic has helped drive stronger competition and forced other players to provide better services.

“Definitely in terms of down load speeds and network coverage, Dito’s entry into the market has improved these metrics signifi cantly. The consumers feel and see that competition has been good for the telco sector,” he said.

Converge CEO Dennis An thony H. Uy, for his part, said the sudden uptick in demand for home broadband during the early and middle parts of the pandemic re quired the group to quickly expand its presence.

We are also seeing robust up take in our newly operating areas, particularly in North Luzon, Vi sayas and Mindanao. This supports our position that there are still a lot of underserved and unserved areas in the country,” he said.

Connectivity drives recovery AND with Internet connectivity serving as the bedrock of the digi tal economy, the Philippines ought to give a premium to ensuring that every Filipino is connected.

“ We are aligned with the gov ernment to achieve the goal of meaningful universal connectivity, and to bridge the digital divide in the country—the goal of more in clusive economic recovery through digitalization,” Uy said.

He added that performancebased incentives, especially for projects that are missionary in na ture, will help provide players more compelling reasons to further ex pand their networks.

For her part, Crisanto said Globe’s suite of digital services con tinues to help drive the economy on its road to recovery and support institutions, businesses and indi viduals on their day-to-day needs.

The continuing expansion of the Globe Group also means the generation of more jobs, as portfo lio companies grow and new ones are hatched. Its relentless innova tions, which lead to new digital so lutions, also redound to a healthier digital economy as they lead to in clusion,” she said.

She added that through Globe’s platforms, the unbanked get access to financial services, remote areas receive medical services, and more Filipinos get access to training and growth opportunities.

Panlilio noted that the PLDT Group has been actively collaborat ing with the government to con nect more Filipinos nationwide, particularly through the recently formed Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC)-Digital Infrastruc ture Group.

As a PSAC member, PLDT’s recommendations include the streamlining of permitting guidelines for telecommunica tions infrastructure. We believe that this will greatly help PLDT and Smart in our continued na tionwide network buildout to support the connectivity needs of Filipinos,” he said.

Globe is also a party to the PSAC.

“ Through collaboration with government and stakeholders, its advocacies have gained ground, including the call to amend the In tellectual Property Code to better protect creators of original content and advance the country’s creative industry. This was echoed by the President’s call for an e-commerce law that aims to protect consumer rights, data privacy and intellec tual property,” Crisanto said.

Tamano noted that Dito will continue to honor its commitments to the government, citing the first few years of his group’s operations as proof that the company is firm on delivering on its promises to the Filipino people.

“Dito has brought in P200 billion so far in terms of building our network and our operations. We have created 1,000 direct jobs and thousands of jobs in our sales channels. This is our way of sup porting the current administration and our continued push to building the nation through investments in the latest technology and in peo ple,” he said.

WITH the easing of mobility restrictions and the reopening of the economy, Filipino learners are now embracing hybrid setups— with days spread for on-site and online schooling. NONIE REYES

NAVIGATING @17:

Continuing the journey in a pandemic world

8 is a lucky number, but PHL needs more than luck to go well beyond pandemic era

By Cai U. Ordinario

THEnumber 8 is believed to be a lucky number.  This is especially the case when the number is flipped because it becomes the symbol for infinity or forever.

The current administration may have had this in mind when it chose its eight-point Socioeconom ic Agenda. The aim of the agenda is

to institute reforms that will not only be good for the near and me dium term but also pave the way for the long term.

The agenda is said to be this ad ministration’s strategy in achiev ing economic transformation in the country. This transformation aims to turn the Philippines into a prosperous, inclusive and resilient society.

The 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda of the Marcos adminis tration identifies both the shortterm and medium-term priorities in order for the country to return to its high-growth trajectory and reinvigorate high-quality job cre ation and rapid poverty reduction,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said.

This agenda, Balisacan said, will be fleshed out in the Philippine De velopment Plan (PDP), the country’s development blueprint. The PDP, a crucial document in the country’s socioeconomic planning efforts, has been the bible of every administration.

One crucial difference this year, apart from the agenda, is the timeline for the PDP. The National Economic and Development Au thority (Neda) is “moving moun tains” to get a PDP completed and published by the end of the year. This has not been done before.

Balisacan said this is being done to allow the new administration to

have a plan even before projects and programs are implemented. Previ ously, PDPs arrived too late and only get published after many of the proj ects have already begun.

Th is dilemma is something Balisacan wants to address. He said having a PDP by yearend will give the current administration the boost it needs to perform a herculean task to recover from the pandemic and get back on track to a higher growth path.

Lofty goals

THE eight-point agenda’s focus is on both near-term and medium-

term issues. Foremost of these are efforts to protect the purchasing power of families.

Balisacan said agriculture re mains a key factor in bringing down commodity prices, particularly food. Food and non-alcoholic beverages account for 37.75 percent of the con sumer price index (CPI).

Th is is why, he explained, the government is committed to en suring sufficient food supply and sustained subsidies to help Filipi nos access affordable goods and services as inflation persists due to domestic and global pressures.

Navigating @17: Continuing the

8 is a lucky number, but PHL needs more than

spend an additional P14 or a total of P114 in today’s money.

The Neda attributes the ero sion of Filipinos’ purchasing power to problems linked to the agricul ture sector. Food prices have risen on the back of supply constraints as well as the most recent deprecia tion of the peso.

The Philippines is also a net food importer, which means the country imports more of its food needs than it can produce on its own. The weak peso is pushing up the cost of these items and eroding the purchasing power of Filipinos.

Jobs data

Agriculture has a big role in ensuring a steady supply of food for every Filipino family, and ac cessible and affordable basic goods. That’s why we make sure there’s enough resources for our farmers and fishermen so that the supply of rice, corn, meat and fish is stable,” he recently said.

Apart from agriculture, Bali sacan said the national government is also cognizant of the challenges posed by rising transportation, lo gistics and energy costs.

Transportation and logistics costs feed into prices of food and other commodities. Based on the CPI, transportation accounts for 9.03 percent of the basket. This means 9.03 percent of the income of Filipinos is usually spent on transportation.

Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels is also one of the

major causes of inflation as it ac counts for 21.38 percent of the CPI.

This is second in terms of weight to food and non-alcoholic beverages in terms of weight.

Apart from protecting the pur chasing power of families, the eightpoint agenda also aims to reduce vulnerability and mitigate scarring from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Th is includes ensuring the ca pacity of healthcare in case there are Covid-19 surges; addressing learning losses; and strengthening social protection.

Fu rther, ensuring sound macroeconomic fundamentals and government processes is es sential in the near and medium term. This agenda aims to en hance bureaucratic efficiency and sound fiscal management in the national government as well as ensuring a resilient and innova tive financial sector.

“Socioeconomic scarring in health and education—made worse by the poor’s limited access to ade quate healthcare as well as tools for remote learning—is expected to linger if it is not remedied. This is compounded by the poor’s vulnera bility to environmental shocks and the lack of social protection that can cushion the impact of such shocks,” Balisacan earlier said.

But these agenda are just for the short term. The government said the rest of the eight-point agenda will be dedicated to ad dressing the medium-term con straints to the country’s economic transformation.

Th is includes efforts to cre ate more jobs through an increase in investments; improving infra structure; and ensuring energy se curity. A twin agenda to this is to create quality jobs.

The government aims to do this by increasing employability of workers; advancing research and development and innovation; and enhancing the digital economy.

The eight-point agenda was also specific in terms of what kind of jobs needs to be created. The agenda in cludes the creation of green jobs by establishing livable and sustainable communities as well as pursuing a green and blue economy.

The last two agenda items aim to ensure a level playing field and

uphold public order and safety, peace and security in the country. These aim to ensure that Filipinos enjoy equal opportunities and the businesses that seek to invest in the country would be able to do so without fear.

We must further strengthen our policy interventions so we can generate more jobs, green jobs, and high-quality jobs that provide ad equate income for Filipino work ers and to attain significant pov erty reduction. These are necessary steps towards achieving economic transformation,” Balisacan said in a recent statement.

We need to make sure that we are effectively implementing our disaster risk management mea sures, including social protection programs for communities affect ed by the recent calamities. Lever aging technology will improve pre ventive and responsive measures and mitigate possible labor market downturns in times of disasters,” he also said.

Reality bites

THE scarring brought by the lock downs on the economy continues to be felt. And this is no surprise as the country’s former Socioeconom ic Planning Secretary Karl Kend rick T. Chua said the pandemic and the lockdowns imposed by the gov ernment are expected to cost the Philippine economy a total of P41.4 trillion in the next 40 years.

Neda estimated that in 2020, the economy lost P4.3 trillion and is expected to continue to lose an other P37 trillion in the next 10 to 40 years.

The total losses are P4.5 trillion in consumption; P21.34 trillion in private investment and returns; and P15.528 trillion in human cap ital investment and returns. (Full story: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2021/09/25/neda-pandemic-tocost-phl-economy-p41-4-trillion-intotal-losses-over-next-40-years/)

Fu rther, more recently, com modity prices have been increas ing. The spike in inflation has brought down the purchasing power of Filipinos to only 0.86 cen tavos for every peso.

Th is means, in order to buy P100 worth of goods and services in 2018, every Filipino needs to

ON the jobs front, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) an nounced that the country’s un employment rate significantly declined to 5.3 percent in August 2022 from 8.1 percent in the same period last year.

Th is translates to a decrease of unemployed workers to 2.7 million in August 2022 from 3.9 million in August 2021.

However, the underemploy ment rate remained at 14.7 percent or 548,000 more employed individu als seeking additional hours of work.

PSA data also showed that in visible underemployment posted a 35-percent increase year-on-year and 11 percent on a month-onmonth basis in August 2022.

The 35-percent increase trans lated to an addition of 654,000 Fil ipinos who are invisibly underem ployed compared to August 2021, while the 11 percent translated to 253,000 more under this classifica tion compared to July this year.

It can be noted that under employed persons are employed persons who expressed a desire to have additional hours of work in their present job or to have an ad ditional job, or to have a new job with longer hours of work.

Invisible underemployment is experienced by underemployed persons working at least 40 hours in a week. The PSA data includes a number of underemployed persons but with unreported hours worked under invisibly underemployed.

Poverty

THESE realities compound other deep-seated problems such as pov erty. The pandemic has worsened poverty nationwide. Balisacan, citing PSA data, said poverty inci dence increased to 18.1 percent in 2021 from 16.7 percent in 2018.

Th is, he said, is equivalent to around 2.3 million additional Fili pinos being pushed into poverty compared to 2018. According to Balisacan, the unprecedented scale of the health and economic crisis, coupled with policy response chal lenges, caused such an increase.

The blueprint

IN a recent televised briefing, Neda Assistant Secretary for Planning and Policy Sarah-Lynne DawayDucanes said the focus of the Phil ippine Development Plan is to flesh out the eight-point agenda in order to address the many challenges the country faces in the near and me dium term.

In the 2023 to 2028 PDP, the focus will be job creation and pov erty reduction. This PDP is based on the Ambisyon Natin 2040, which is the aspiration for a stable, prosperous and secure life for ev ery Filipino,” Daway-Ducanes said.

A mBisyon 2040 was the brain child of Balisacan during his first stint at the Neda under the admin istration of the late former Presi dent Benigno Simeon Aquino.

Th e AmBisyon Natin 2040 is the long-term visioning project of Neda. It articulated the longterm aspirations of Filipinos, and will serve to frame future devel opment plans.

Based on the results of the longterm vision, AmBisyon2040, data showed Filipinos want a simple and comfortable life. This means own ing a medium-sized home; earning enough to support everyday needs; owning at least one car/vehicle; pro viding for their children’s college

RESIDENTS buy their needs at a market along the PNR railway line in Taguig City in this November 9, 2021, file photo. The spike in inflation has brought down the purchasing power of Filipinos to only 0.86 centavos for every peso. NONIE REYES

the journey in a pandemic world

than luck to go well beyond pandemic era

education; and traveling around the country for vacation.

These cannot be achieved with out the availability of jobs. “We will focus on creating a vibrant innova tion system that can generate new ideas, products and processes in order [for the country] to undergo economic transformation,” DawayDucanes said.

The PDP 2023-2028  will, ac cording to Neda Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Rosemarie G. Edillon, also be a roadmap to wards improving the investment climate in the country with the objective of generating more and higher-quality employment in the medium term.

The blueprint also aims to transform the economy and make it more inclusive and resilient to unexpected shocks. The Plan will also be drafted with short-term is sues in mind.

E dillon said that the gamechanging reforms and policies passed or initiated in the previ ous administration shall serve as a strong foundation for these strategies.

Th ese include the National Competition Policy, the Corpo rate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE Law), and the amendments to the Pub lic Service Act, Foreign Invest ments Act, and the Retail Trade Liberalization Act.

More than these lofty goals and ideals, the Neda said, the PDP

is grounded on what Filipinos think should be prioritized and what should be done to achieve not only the admin istration’s goals for the next six years but also of Filipinos who want a better life.

B ased on surveys done during PDP consultations, Neda said the ob jectives of the plan that resonated the most among the private sector were transforming production sectors to generate more quality jobs.

The private sector also identified with the goals of having competitive products followed by developing and protecting capabilities of individuals and families, as well as practicing good governance and improving bureaucratic efficiency.

A lso included is ensuring macro economic stability and accelerating cli mate action and strengthening disaster resilience.

For a nation of over 110 million people, a unified and cohesive develop ment plan enables all of us in the public sector to work collaboratively so that our efforts are concerted and geared towards common goals. Importantly, a common understanding of where we are headed, how we will get there, and what role each of us will play is crucial to delivering results efficiently so that public resources do not go to waste,” Balisacan said.

Indeed, the goals may seem ambi tious. But the hurdle has been rendered more challenging by the crisis of the past three pandemic years, and any ef fort to attain growth beyond simply re covering to prepandemic levels must set high goals.

Navigating @17: Continuing the journey

Navigating ‘new normal’ means facing pre-pandemic transportation woes

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

TWO years ago, the silence of the streets was almost deafening. Only a few cars and people were moving about and the skylines of Metro Manila were nearly crystal clear.

The lockdowns forced almost everyone to stay put and people navigated through the pandemic using digital solutions. But with the continuous vaccination initia tives and the declining number of severe cases day after day, the roads are now back to normal.

Normal simply means conges tion—with commuters suffering from long queues at terminals, ex hausted even before coming to work and more worn out coming home.

Edsa at night has returned back to donning a 24-kilometer stream of red lights from standstill cars, almost reminiscent of a giant Christmas tree.

Disconnect

“UNTIL today, we are seeing enor mous queues during rush hours and rainy days in particular seg ments in our transport system, such as the Edsa busway and sec ondary routes serviced by buses and jeepneys,” infrastructure think tank Infrawatch Convener Terry Ridon said.

He added that the unprecedented expansion of motorcycle taxis “is a symptom of the state of our public mass transport system, as commut ers opt for less safer yet more efficient alternative modes of transportation to ferry them to their destinations.”

Simply put, these are symp toms of a problem that the govern ment must navigate to improve the state of the transport sector in the “new normal.”

The transport sector, despite massive gains in infrastructure in the last few years, remains discon nected to its most important stake holder—the commuting public,” Ridon said. “Had there been a clear focus on commuters, the public should have seen a more palpable change in the quality of their commutes.”

Too late?

PRIMO MORILLO, the convener of commuter group The Passenger Fo rum (TPF), added that this should have been addressed even before the pandemic erupted in 2020.

“ The public transportation sys tem in the Philippines was in crisis even before the pandemic. The pan demic further worsened the situa tion as the government suspended all public transportation during the longest Covid 19-related lock down in the world and used it as an opportunity to further force their jeepney modernization program without just transition,” he said.

Th is caused many jeepney drivers to seek other ways to finan cially support their families.

When the government even tually allowed several jeepney fran chises to ply routes, it was already too late as some drivers were already committed to other jobs. Some of those who heeded the government’s call eventually opted out again due to the rising cost of fuel that made them and their operators lose mon ey,” Morillo explained.

This is why commuters are still waiting too long to get a ride and why they choose to ride jam packed buses and jeepneys even with the continuing threat of Co vid-19. They do not have a choice,” he added.

Understanding commuters TRANSPORT executives should be able to get an end-to-end un derstanding of the daily travails of the ordinary commuter in order to create a pathway in which in frastructure and programs take in

commuter interests at the core of government policy, Ridon said.

Morillo, for his part, said his group considers the lack of public transport options the top commut er concern right now.  “ The lack of public utility ve hicles, a limited train network, and an unimaginative transport department all contribute to this issue,” he said.

The Department of Transporta tion (DOTr), Morillo added, should release its fleet rationalization plan “as soon as possible and allow com muter groups to scrutinize and sug gest revisions and additions to it.”

“Our problems are obvious but it looks like our transport agencies continue to turn a blind eye to it. That, or they are not really con cerned about the plight of Filipino commuters,” he said.

Some interim solutions that Ridon proposed to help the industry navigate through the challenges in clude the development of motorcycle taxis, the hastening of the construc tion of the subway, as well as the im provement of the Edsa Busway.

At the interim, the govern ment should reinstate the motor cycle taxi technical working group to provide a policy backbone for this emerging sector while the pub lic awaits an actual law regulating the sector,” he said.

R idon added that work on the Metro Manila subway should pro ceed unimpeded with right-of-way and permitting issues resolved without delay.

The government, he noted, must also improve the Edsa Bus way infrastructure to provide safer facilities to commuters, notwith standing deploying more buses during critical time periods.

“Active transport infrastruc ture should be improved, as much of the bike lanes being built were made to merely adjust to the cur rent road network. Lastly, the gov ernment should determine which areas in the transport sector can be subjected to public-private part nerships, to help ease the burden to improve the public mass trans port system at this time of limited fiscal space,” Ridon said.

Morillo added: “We hope the government will act in the soonest possible time. Because we cannot fully recover without addressing the public transport crisis, without solving the daily problems of our commuters.”

‘Accelerate and enlarge’

TRANSPORTATION Secretary

Jaime Bautista admitted that the Philippines has a long way to go to provide commuters the transpor tation industry that they deserve.

“The Philippine transport in dustry still has a lot of room for im

provement. We still need to improve transportation safety, comfort, ac cessibility and efficiency,” he said.

Bautista lamented that infra structure investment is “still con centrated in a few urban areas; a lot more needs to be done.”

These include the expansion and upgrading of airports, the re duction of costs in transporting goods, extension of active mobil ity corridors, development of more rails, and the modernization of transport modes.

The department intends to further accelerate and enlarge transport infrastructure invest ment,” he said.

Equitable distribution of growth BAUTISTA said the industry faces immediate challenges in terms of high transport costs, which are driven by external global factors, as well as “poor road safety.”

“Besides these immediate challenges, as mentioned, the longterm challenges include improving transportation safety, comfort, ac cessibility and efficiency,” he said.

Th is, he said, means that the government needs to invest in transport infrastructure in all re gions and provinces to promote more equitable economic growth.

“Doing so will also help reduce logistics costs, bringing down pric

es all consumers face in markets,” he said.

Bautista added that the indus try must be prepared to welcome more domestic and international tourism, hence the government has to expand and improve the air ports, as well as ensure that their operations and maintenance are considered “world-class.”

Fu rthermore, the department intends to enhance the quality and safety of active mobility us ers, giving commuters alternative means of travel which lower costs and promote healthy lifestyles, as “most Filipinos do not own cars.”

Bautista also pointed out that the department is integrating cli mate change adaptation and miti gation plans in its projects and pro grams to ensure that the industry is contributing to the larger battle against climate change.

“Further, as the country con tinues to commit and ensure social inclusion of the transport sector, and recognizing the possible im pacts of crisis such as the pandemic to the vulnerable sector, the depart ment shall also focus on how it can mainstream gender and accessibility considerations in its standards, pro grams and projects,” he said.

A ll these are geared towards im proving the industry and contribut ing to the growth and recovery of the

larger Philippine economy.

Fast-track economic recovery

IN order to fast-track economic recovery, Bautista and the depart ment has implemented programs and projects that are anchored on the Marcos administration’s eightpoint socioeconomic agenda.

“We hope to protect our pur chasing power by ensuring unham pered delivery of goods and ser vices to people, by implementing programs that aim to reduce trans port and logistics costs such as pro vision of free rides and discounts, among others,” Bautista said.

He added that the department continues to enhance bureaucratic efficiency by bringing services closer to the citizens through more streamlined processes and digiti zation efforts.

We also facilitate the timely release and utilization of resources to ensure immediate implementa tion of our programs and projects,” the transport chief said.

The agency also supports the national employment recovery cam paign, considering the adverse impact of the pandemic to the labor force.

He said the DOTr targets to “enhance access of employment, livelihood and training opportu nities, improve employability and productivity of workers and take

advantage of the opportunities in the labor market under the new normal; and provide support to stakeholders.”

Expectedly, our massive in frastructure projects will require sourcing manpower and employing more people to smoothly imple ment the projects. We also encour age private-sector participation in investing in various initiatives of the department, involving, among others, mainstreaming low-carbon transport, various operation and maintenance schemes, and pro moting the development of trans port industries,” Bautista said.

Active transport will also be a key ingredient to economic recov ery, playing a “crucial role in the current administration’s eightpoint socioeconomic agenda.”

Its offer of reduced cost of transport is expected to contrib ute in protecting the purchasing power and mitigate socioeconomic scarring. Active transport has also been a key player in reducing the vulnerability of transport-users through social protection, earning a lot of attention at the peak of the pandemic. Further to this, its pro motion can be a big step towards building sustainable communi ties for a greener economy, and in the long run, generate more green jobs,” Bautista said.

STANDSTILL traffic on Edsa, June 16, 2020. The empty lane at right is reserved for the Edsa Busway. At upper right is the MRT-3 rail line. “The lack of public utility vehicles, a limited train network, and an unimaginative transport department all contribute” to the lack of public transport options, Primo Morillo, convener of commuter group The Passenger Forum. BERNARD TESTA

NAVIGATING @17:

Continuing the journey in a pandemic world

‘Indispensable’ IT-BPM sector remains on course despite economic headwinds

By Andrea E. San Juan

THE information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) industry has proven to be “indispensable” to the Philippine economy—not succumbing to uncertainty such as the pandemic and the global economic headwinds.

Indispensable” was the word Jack Madrid, the Presi dent and CEO of IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), used in one of his recent inter views to describe the IT-BPM sector as a pillar of the Phil ippine economy.

Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual has always included the country’s business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in his pitch to foreign investors. The IT-BPM sector, along side hyperscale data centers, digital economy activities and products using artificial intelligence (AI), has been filed un der the Second Industrial cluster of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)’s industrialization strategy.

“ The next decade will witness the BPO industry seg ment as a competitive contributor to our participation in the global value chains of technology, media, and telecommuni cations cluster,” said Pascual in his speech at the Philippine Economic Briefing in New York.

We are leveraging the fact that 82 percent of BPOs and shared services centers in the Philippines are serving the global markets. When it comes to the IT-BPM segment, we like investments that prioritize value addition over cost sav ings,” the Trade chief added.

Pascual also noted that the country’s “strong” BPO record is drawing the attention of hyperscalers. “We con sider hyperscalers as an important engine of growth for our country.”

Further, at the post-State of the Nation Address (Sona) Economic briefing, the Trade chief highlighted that the IT-BPM industry’s potential is even greater now with the heightened use of digitalization and online ser vices as a result of the pandemic. Pascual emphasized, “so that’s one of the sectors we’re focusing on in DTI so that we encourage more locators here to set up their IT-BPM backroom operation.”

Even amid the pandemic, particularly in 2021, the ITBPM industry has remained resilient as it recorded increases in revenue and employment. In fact, according to a state ment released by IBPAP in August, the IT-BPM sector con tributed 7.5 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Prod uct (GDP) in 2021.

Navigating @17: Continuing the

‘Indispensable’ IT-BPM sector remains

It posted a 10.6-percent growth in revenue from 2020 lev els to $29.49 billion in 2021, eclips ing its recalibrated target for 2022. As for employment, the number of full-time employees (FTEs) in the country increased by 120,000 in 2021, bringing the sector’s to tal headcount to 1.44 million and recording a growth of 9.1 percent compared to 2020.

Madrid described such robust growth in both employment and revenues as “beyond recovery,” noting that this “marks a resur gence for the Philippine IT-BPM sector.”

IBPAP, the flagship organiza tion of the IT-BPM sector, attribut ed the growth to pent-up demand from global customers; higher con fidence in work-from-home (WFH) setups by clients in contact centers and business process services; and

growth in subsegments like ecommerce, fintech, health care and technology.  Global perspective

MEANWHILE, on a global scale, the executive summary of Philip pine IT-BPM Sector Roadmap 2022 shows that India and the Philip pines share the same spot as global leaders in the IT-BPM sector and remain at the forefront of voice and non-voice BPM as well as IT services.

The executive summary noted that India has Good IT infrastruc ture and service capabilities and a large talent pool while the Phil ippines has high adaptability to Western culture and has language and service orientation as its com petitive advantage.

A s for the economic head winds, Madrid stressed that “at the base level,” the depreciation of the local currency would ap pear to be in favor of the cost optimization of the Philippine IT-BPM players. However, he emphasized that the strength of the US dollar also affected other currencies, including those of the emerging IT-BPM locations.

It’s a volatile situation and we’ve seen the recent strength of the US dollar affect other curren cies as well; and many of those currencies are also the currencies of other emerging IT-BPM loca tions. So we have to analyze it in that light. So at an immediate level, it would appear that this would favor the cost competitive ness of Philippine IT-BPM players but it’s not the only factor,” the IBPAP head said in a virtual press conference last week.

With this, he shifted to the more “critical” component in driv ing investments into the local ITBPM industry.

I think the experience of the past two years has really highlight ed the more critical, in my opinion, component of talent and the qual ity of talent and the employability of talent as an investment consid eration,” Madrid noted.

Madrid said cost optimiza tion from investors and employers in the industry and its customers is “always an important consider ation in growing the offshoring business.”

The head of IBPAP also noted that over the past decade, a lion’s share of the industry’s global cus

tomer and the unceasing demand for Filipino talent has come from North America.

In fact, Madrid said, “our es timate is that 70 percent of our current business emanates from North America and I believe that share will continue to be main tained.”

However, he added, the fast est-growing percentage of busi ness has come from the Asia-Pa cific region. “It will remain North America but we have seen demand for Filipino talent from our APAC neighbors.”

“I believe our Filipino employ ees will continue to be our main competitive edge. We have a prov en history of resolving customer queries,” Madrid said.

Notably, according to an ar ticle by Outsource Accelerator, the global BPO market is projected to reach $513 billion by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5 percent.

“

The rise and growth of the BPO industry will also be fueled by innovation, global rivalry, and new technologies as outsourcing gives companies the ability to enhance earnings while reducing costs,” read the article which was pub lished on July 15.

Meanwhile, region-wise, the article stated, “Asia Pacific will re

main the fastest-growing with an estimated value of $148 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 10.3 percent.

Leading vendors such as HCL Tech nologies Ltd., Infosys Ltd., Accen ture and Wipro are driving market expansion by increasing demand for talented workers, lowering la bor costs, and making significant digital investments.”  Work-from-home

ALONGSIDE the criticality of the Filipino talent is the preferred work arrangement that has been the talk of the town as Filipino em ployees continue to transition from the pandemic to the “new normal.”

Prior to ironing out the issue on the work-from-home arrange ment of IT-BPM firms, these enter prises had to go through regulatory adjustments such as complying with the work-from-home thresh old set by the Fiscal Incentives Re view Board (FIRB).

In March, the Bureau of In ternal Revenue (BIR) warned that income tax incentives granted to registered business enterprises (RBEs) in the IT-BPM sector will be suspended if they violated the said threshold. The IBPAP stood firm in its position on the WFH/hybrid work and the legal basis of the let ters of authority (LOAs) granted by the Philippine Economic Zone Au thority (PEZA) to allow 30 percent

‘The

next decade will witness the BPO industry segment as a competitive contributor to our participation in the global value chains of technology, media, and telecommunications cluster.”

—Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual

THE Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City MDVEDWARDS DREAMSTIME.COM

journey in a pandemic world

on course despite economic headwinds

WFH arrangement until Septem ber 12 of this year.

O n September 6, a week be fore the WFH threshold expired, the IBPAP disputed the FIRB’s claim that the extension of the work-from-home (WFH) set-up has no legal basis. Madrid ear lier stressed that this is “incon sistent” with the objective of at tracting and retaining investors in the country’s “biggest job-gen erating industry and contributor of foreign exchange revenue.”

The IBPAP chief asserted that the flagship organization of the IT-BPM industry’s push to have WFH/hybrid work set-up goes be yond business continuity plans (BCP). Madrid pointed out that this is more to adapt to global work trends for business flexibility that investors look for and to strength en Philippines’s competitiveness in retaining existing and attracting new IT-BPM investors.

For its part, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) also earlier called on the government to encourage produc tivity improvement by supporting flexible work arrangements.

To create an environment that will encourage more inflows of investments, remove red tape, allow ease and flexibility of doing business, protect employers’ rights to manage their business and their workforce, and encourage produc tivity improvement by supporting alternative and flexible work ar rangements,” read the Conference resolutions document that the business group released in August.

Just last month, a week af ter the much-awaited decision on the WFH arrangement, the FIRB put an end to the rift by allowing the transfer of registration of ITBPM enterprises from PEZA to the Board of Investments (BOI), since BOI is the only investment promotion agency (IPA) not af fected by the boundary con straints or zone limits.

The DTI noted that with the transfer, IT-BPM firms can become eligible for increased WFH setup.

W ith this transfer, these firms can continue accessing fis cal incentives without violating Section 309 of the National In ternal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended by the Corporate Recov ery and Tax Incentives for Enter prises (CREATE) law.

The IBPAP chief hailed this decision, noting that the WFH/hy brid setup is a “game-changer” for the Philippines and the sustain ability of the IT-BPM sector. Fur ther, Madrid said this will be a con tributing factor to the industry’s ability to create 1.1 million new direct jobs for Filipinos, generate billions more in annual investment revenues and foreign exchange, and increase the sector’s country side footprint by 2028. Of the 1.1 million direct jobs it is expected to create, the IBPAP said 54 percent of these will be in the countryside.

A good indicator that, beyond sim ply boosting aggregate growth, the sector can help disperse develop ment and create jobs more evenly.

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The FTSE4Good Index Series is a set of global sustainability in dices against which companies are measured to determine quality of performance in key ESG areas such as climate change, labor standards, and anti-corruption.

To be a FTSE4Good constituent, a company in an emerging market must achieve an overall ESG rat ing of 2.9 or higher. With Meralco’s ESG rating of 3.2, it not only man aged to qualify for inclusion but also topped the Philippines’ and the global energy sector’s averages.

Multi-awarded Sustainability Report

MERALCO has also been consis tently recognized for its excellence in sustainability communication.

Its 2020 Sustainability Report (SR), entitled Live Life, received a total of six (6) citations from various award-giving bodies, both here in the Philippines and abroad.

Live Life won a Silver Stevie at the 2021 International Business Awards in the Best Annual Report category. It also won a Gold Ste vie at the 2022 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards in the Innovation in An nual Reports category.

INrecent years, sustainability has become a key imperative for businesses worldwide, with the private sector shifting towards striking a healthy balance between generating income and caring for people and the environment.

In 2019, the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) embarked on its own journey, placing sustain ability atop its corporate agenda and at the core of its strategy and operations. Through the leader ship of Meralco President and CEO, Atty. Ray C. Espinosa, the Company established its sustain ability agenda called Powering the Good Life, which is deeply rooted in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is marked by a distinctive focus on four pillars—Power, Planet, People, and Prosperity.

In support of this agenda, Meralco has launched various groundbreaking initiatives, in cluding drawing 1,500 megawatts (MW) of the Distribution Util

ity’s power requirements through 2025 from clean energy sources; building 1,500 MW of renew able energy capacity in the next five years through its power gen eration arm, Meralco PowerGen (MGen); electrifying 25% of its vehicle fleet by 2030; planting and nurturing five (5) million trees by 2025 with the help of lo cal communities to help protect and preserve Philippine forests and watersheds; and achieving 40% women representation in its workforce by the end of this decade.

In only three years, Meralco’s array of initiatives has not gone un noticed as it earned wide recogni tion from various local and interna tional award-giving bodies, as well as high marks from global ESG rat

ing bodies, signifying that Meralco is indeed on the right track.

All-time best ESG rating fromMSCI and inclusion in World Alliance’sBenchmarkingSDG2000

IN March 2022, Meralco’s envi ronmental, social, and governance (ESG) rating was upgraded by MS CI—a multinational investment research firm which assesses over 8,500 companies around the world

on ESG parameters—to an all‐time best BBB. This follows the Company’s BB rating from 2019 to 2021. MSCI uses a scale with AAA as the high est rating and CCC as the lowest. In granting the upgrade, the rating firm cited Meralco’s strong performance in renewable energy opportunities and human capital development.

Earlier this year, Meralco was likewise included in the World Benchmarking Alliance’s (WBA) SDG2000, a collection of the most

influential companies globally that are well-positioned to drive the world towards the fulfillment of the SDGs. As a result, Meralco will be included in two of the WBA’s seven benchmarks, particularly on social and urban transformation.

Constituent of FTSE4Good indices

IN December 2021, Meralco was recognized as one of the most so cially and environmentally respon

Furthermore, the SR was con ferred a Gold Rank in the Interna tional Companies category at the 2021 Asia Sustainability Report Rating (ASRRAT) Forum.

Rounding out its international recognitions, Live Life earned an Award of Excellence at the 2022 Gold Quill Awards in the Publica tions category.

Among its local accolades, Live Life won was a Silver Anvil at the 57th Anvil Awards in the Public Relations Tool category. It also re ceived a Merit Award at the 19th Philippine Quill Awards alongside Meralco’s Annual Report (Power On) and One Meralco Foundation’s (OMF) Annual Report (Give Hope).

Live Life underscores the Com pany’s steadfast commitment to embedding sustainability into its strategy and operations by providing accessible, affordable, reliable, and clean power to its customers while protecting and preserving the planet and bringing prosperity to its stake holders. Also highlighted in the SR are Meralco’s long-term sustainabili ty aspirations and strategies through 2030 and beyond.

Meanwhile, Meralco’s latest Sustainability Report entitled Ka linga—together with its 2021 An nual Report (Bayanihan) and One Meralco Foundation’s Annual Re port (Malasakit)—clinched anoth er Silver Stevie at the 2022 Interna tional Business Awards in August this year.

“Such recognition from our stakeholders and award-giving bod ies gives us great pride as it reflects our earnest commitment to sustain ability,” said Meralco Chief Sustain ability Officer Raymond B. Ravelo.

“Inspired by these achieve ments, and more so by the positive transformation and impact our ef forts have had on all we serve, we will continue placing sustainability at the core of all we do as a company as we help bring forth a better normal and a brighter future for all,” he added.

For his part, Meralco Presi dent and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Ray C. Espinosa said, “We, in Meralco, will continue to advance our drive towards sustainability, not only by heightening our efforts to keep the lights on for our cus tomers and communities but also by intensifying our initiatives to protect and preserve the planet.”

“As we forge ahead, we are committed to accelerating our sus tainability transformation while meeting the needs of our recover ing nation and providing and pow ering more life to sustain the Fili pino,” he added.

IT HEIGHTENS ITS

THE GOOD LIFE,

signifying that Meralco is indeed on the right track.

Meralco’s latest Sustainability Report entitled Kalinga—together with its 2021 Annual Report (Bayanihan) and One Meralco Foundation’s Annual Report (Malasakit)—clinched a Silver Stevie at the 2022 International Business Awards in August this year.

Meralco’s sustainability agenda also includes planting and nurturing five (5) million trees by 2025 with the help of local communities to help protect and preserve Philippine forests and watersheds.

Meralco’s

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is marked by a distinctive focus on four pillars—Power, Planet, People, and Prosperity.

NAVIGATING

Continuing the journey in a pandemic world

Health industry’s road to digital transformation is long, winding

By Anne Ruth P. Dela Cruz

WHILE the Covid-19 pandemic was a wake-up call for hospitals to drum up their digitalization efforts, two IT (information technology) experts believe that health institutions still have a long way to go in their digital transformation.

Dr. Mike Muin, Chief Infor mation Officer (CIO) of Metro Pa cific Health Tech, a telemedicine services company of Metro Pacific Investments Co., noted that many hospitals continue to struggle to meet the digitalization efforts dur ing the Covid-19 pandemic.

But the good news is that

many hospitals are already aware of this call for change and have started working on their digital transformation initiatives,” Dr. Muin said.

The same view was shared by Brett Medel, CIO of Asian Insti tute of Management (AIM), who said the pandemic forced hospitals

and the rest of the health-care eco system to step up their digitaliza tion efforts. He noted that the IT departments of the various hospi tals had to scramble for technology solutions and raise funds for their digitalization efforts.

Navigating @17: Continuing the journey

Health industry’s road to digital transformation is long, winding

Catalyst fordigital transformation

“IN the IT world, we have an anec dote that the pandemic is the best catalyst for digital transformation. No hospital was ready for the digi talization and online requirements that were in demand during the period,” said Medel, who, prior to joining AIM, was CIO of a leading tertiary hospital and a telecommu nications company.

Everything contactless is the name of the game so the use of the Internet for payment gateways and online consultation was at an all-time high. Doctors had to learn how to use Zoom and other online conference call platforms in order to communicate with the medical staff and their patients. IT became a fundamental necessity to con nect,” he added.

According to Dr. Muin, hospi tals face three main challenges in their journey towards digitaliza tion. The first challenge is to deter mine whether the hospital is ready to take up this journey since it will require a lot of changes in process. Second, this will entail a budget.

IT projects have cost. The first

two years of the pandemic greatly reduced the census of patients, and thus, the cash flow of hospitals.

Hospital owners now need to bal ance between the need to modern ize versus the need to keep run ning,” he said.

The third challenge that hospi tals face is the availability of solu tions in the market.

The sad state of our healthcare IT ecosystem is that even if there is a clear need, there are few or no locally available products

that meet the demand. Some times, hospitals need to go out of the country to get the solutions for their problems,” Dr. Muin said.

Resistance to change

ANOTHER challenge Medel noted is the need to address “the organi zation’s resistance to change and employee pushback.”

“ The hospital’s current pro cesses and culture need to be shak en in order to welcome innovations that may even change the business models in order to accommodate the demands of the situation. Digi tal DNA must be injected in every blood stream of the hospital, but this is a painful process. It is not about technology; it is about the people, culture and process,” he said.

Medel also pointed out the need to put in place air-tight se curity programs and solutions because the healthcare industry is very particular about data pri vacy.

“Since hospitals are dealing with sensitive personal informa tion, it is important that an airtight security program and solu tions are implemented across the organization, not to mention the information security campaigns that have to be conducted on a reg ular basis,” he said.

Better appreciation of dataand technology

IN addition to realizing the need to digitalize, Dr. Muin said there is a better appreciation of data and technology.

“More specifically, hospitals now understand the value of hav ing access to data and harness ing the convergence of technolo

The almost overnight adoption of telemedicine is a testament to that, where we are able to talk to patients via video, while accessing their medical records electronical ly and also working together with partners through collaboration tools,” he said.

He added that if a hospital is focused on efficiency, the hospital would be a better candidate for digital transformation.

“Also, technical solutions to problems do not need to be ex pensive. They just need to be well thought out and available to the local market. There are free and affordable open-source solutions that can work together and provide value to the clinical care process,” Dr. Muin said.

The need to digitalize is more pressing now more than ever be cause of the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act, which requires a patient’s medical records to be available from the primary to the tertiary care level.

The bad news is that we are not 100 percent ready but the good news is that everyone is working together to get there. There are al ready pockets of innovation among primary health care centers, among local government units and partner health-care providers to make sure that the goals and objec tive of the UHC are met. Everyone now sees the value of electronic medical records from primary care up to tertiary care. Even patients now see the value of having access to their medical records online,” Dr. Muin said.

Internet infrastructure

MEDEL emphasized the need to make sure that internet infrastruc ture should be made available even in the remotest regions in the Phil ippines to ensure that the goals of

“ The integration of the health systems and electronic health re cords of every Filipino must be made accessible at the barangay level. The lack of medical resources in the rural areas will force the use of technology to reach every Filipi no in the far-flung area to the Phil ippines. But how can that happen if the Internet infrastructure is not readily available in those areas?” Medel said.

A s to how hospitals can move forward in their digital trans formation journey, both experts agreed on the need to create a core group that will spearhead the program. This team should be composed of members with multidisciplinary functions across the organization—IT, Operations, Ad ministration, Medical.

“ They have to define what they want to achieve, what business model they want to offer or trans form in this digital and virtual world,” Medel said.

Transformation strategy

DR. MUIN added that it is impor tant that hospitals come up with a digital transformation strategy that fits into the culture, values and budget of the hospital.

It’s important to do it right the first time. If you can do it right and fast the first time, that would be ideal. There are many options but there are no short cuts to effec tive digital transformation. Aside from technical solutions, focus on having effective leadership in place and getting the buy in and full sup port of key stakeholders in the hos pital,” he said.

Despite what health IT ven dors would say, you cannot buy suc cess through expensive software. It takes strategy, leadership, and collaboration to make it work,” he added.

DR. Mike Muin, Chief Information Officer, Metro Pacific Health Tech

BRETT MEDEL , Chief Information Officer, Asian Institute of Management gies to deliver better patient care.

UHC are met.

SHAO-CHUN

Special Feature

InLife commits to the financial protection and transformation of the lives of Filipino consumers

COVID-19 is a health, economic and humanitarian crisis that continues to affect people around the world. But while it has brought immeasurable loss to most, it has also contributed to an increase in the awareness for life and health insurance especially among Filipinos.

For many businesses, it was an opportunity to reinvent themselves, reassess what they stand for, and institute the needed changes to keep thriving in a difficult business environment. Insular Life (InLife), the first and largest Filipino life insurance company is no stranger to this. It has withstood wars, economic upheavals, natural calamities, and yes, pandemics. Its secret is in its future-proofing, as it started to invest on technology and its digital transformation in 2016 with its acquisition of its Automated Underwriting System (AUS). AUS is

a rules-based underwriting engine, integrated with InLife’s online proposal and application tools, which enables the company to quickly render an underwriting decision during the policy application process.

W hen the pandemic struck, one of the biggest problems it had to solve was

how to sell its products knowing life insurance depended on face-to-face transactions between Financial Advisors and potential and current policyholders. It was able to solve this by launching the InLife Virtual Business Enabler, or the InLife ViBE, a multiplatform, fully-digital insurance selling system hinged on digital tools and innovative procedures. Among its features is allowing clients to sign their

policies electronically and pay for their dues digitally or through online bank transfers.

I nLife still looks at beefing up its digital transformation strategies through the following: building intuitive digital platforms and applications for its products, services, and onboarding processes; forging strategic partnerships with financial institutions in a spirit of “coopetition;” and exploring new technologies that will consistently improve interaction and deliver personalized experiences to its customers. “The last 3 years of the pandemic has caused many companies to adjust their game plan, including InLife. We went on overdrive on our digital transformation, and we continue to iterate as new conditions and scenarios unfold. We continue to partner and cooperate with both incumbents and start-ups to address a wider base,” said InLife Executive Chairperson Nina D. Aguas.

M oving forward, InLife will continue instituting changes, not just on the digital front, but also to support its objective of becoming the Leader in Protection and

Digitalization through strategic partnerships that promote a thorough understanding of its customers. With Total Experience Management Platform ALIDA and its Voice of Customer Programs, InLife believes it is on the right path toward adding value to its customers’ lives by developing empathic solutions to their specific needs. “Feedback is a gift from the giver. Proactively listening helps us understand better the customers’ sentiments. They tell us they are as invested in the company by taking the time to give us feedback, both positive and negative,” said Aguas

A guas also said that InLife is building a community that will serve as a vehicle for InLife to directly engage with its customers, and where the latter may share their ideas.

“We are building a community of customers that can collectively or individually support or challenge our business strategies and initiatives. We want to let them know their voice matters, that they are making a difference, so they can help craft solutions for unmet expectations.”

A s InLife continues its 112 years of unbroken service, it vows to continue applying its expertise in financial protection and remain committed to serving its fellow Filipinos so they can have a Lifetime for Good.

Navigating @17: Continuing the journey

Protecting patients’ health is also about protecting their data privacy

By Rory Visco

THERE is much concern about data privacy these days because of the numerous scams that are highlighted on social media.

But why is data privacy impor tant? Because maintaining data privacy is a right by all as it pre vents people’s identity from falling into the wrong hands and being disclosed and used for the wrong— criminal—purposes.

Globally, the Philippines is still considered the social-media capital of the world with a high average number of hours spent on the In ternet and social media. However, Filipinos are one of the most vul nerable to data and information breaches online. Why so? Just browse Facebook. People post their personal details like mobile phone numbers, even email addresses, for everyone to see, which is a dan gerous scenario. Who knows how much damage cybercriminals can make on the person, stealing his/ her identity and using it for Godknows-what felonious intention?

Sadly, despite the presence of Republic Act 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012, data privacy in the Philippines remains to be

largely unobserved by many. Fortunately, this is not the case in the healthcare sector. Be cause of the strict observance of

the confidentiality of information in a doctor-patient relationship, patients’ identity and other per sonal information such as medical history and ailments are protected.

Even in the emergence of “Telemedicine” or “Teleconsult” online patient consultation plat form during the Covid-19 pan demic, doctor-patient interaction was shielded from any breaches by cybercriminals.

Commitment to protect data privacy

THE National Privacy Commission (NPC), the agency committed to protect and respect Filipinos’ per sonal data privacy, dealt with the issue of protecting patient infor mation privacy in a telemedicine session by establishing solid coor dination with the Department of Health (DOH). The two agencies collaborated and issued guidelines on the use of this online platform and addressed its privacy-related issues, according to Atty. John Henry Naga, Privacy Commission er and Chairman.

Th rough an effective partner ship, Naga said the NPC and DOH released two circulars, such as the DOH-NPC Joint Memorandum Circular 2020-0001, or the “Guide lines on the Use of Telemedicine in Covid-19 Response,” and DOHNPC Joint Memorandum Circu lar 2020-003, or the “Guidelines on the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) of the Use of Telemedicine in Covid-19 Response.”

In relation to privacy, these circulars emphasized the need to uphold data privacy, patient confidentiality, and data security through a framework of account ability and monitoring,” according to Naga.

W hen asked if there was a time when the privacy of the data pro vided between doctor and patient was ever compromised during the pandemic, Naga pointed out that the NPC recognizes that due to Covid-19, there was a heightened importance of data privacy since personal and sensitive personal information were being processed. He cited that during these times, there were reports involving pos sible unauthorized disclosure of health information, including per sonal data of suspected, probable, or confirmed Covid-19 patients.

“ To address this, the NPC released a Public Health Bul letin on this matter (NPC PHE Bulletin 10: Protecting Patient Data from Unauthorized Disclo sure), calling on all data protec tion officers to strengthen the patient data security.”

Th e bulletin, Naga said, pro vides information on the appro priate organizational, physical

and technical security measures for health institutions, health professionals and personnel to uphold data privacy. “These in cluded increasing awareness measures on data privacy, estab lishing access controls for patient data, disclosing patient data only to proper authorities, and en crypting patient data.”

Furthermore, if the NPC re ceives complaints from the public or concerned stakeholders, it acts on these matters based on its investiga tive mandate as provided in the Data Privacy Act of 2012, he added.

To guarantee that hospital data remains safe and that these comply with NPC guidelines, Naga said the NPC and the DOH, through policy formulation, en couraged telemedicine partners to offer their services for free for a limited timeframe, and participate in the program evaluation of the DOH to scale up telemedicine prac tice in the Philippines as part of the pandemic response.

A s the agency strives to be a responsive regulator, the NPC continues to provide assistance to any personal information control ler on their data privacy concerns, through policy, advice, informa tion, dialogue and standards. Naga said this includes assisting hospi tals and other healthcare institu tions in their data privacy vis-à-vis telemedicine concerns, if any.

We have also released 22 Public Health Emergency (PHE) bulletins that focused on uphold ing data privacy in the time of Co vid-19. These helped various stake holders, like hospitals and health professionals, to comply with the

DPA and relevant NPC guidelines.”

Patients’ data remain safe

FOR one of the country’s Top 10 tertiary hospitals, the Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) made sure that it complies with the country’s data privacy laws in protecting the privacy of their pa tients’ data by promoting and com plying with the NPC’s five pillars of compliance. These include having a certified Data Protection Officer, a Privacy Manual and Privacy Man agement Program, Data Privacy Training, Privacy Impact Assess ment, plus other data protection measures, according to Dr. Rose marie Serrano, CSMC’s Senior As sistant Chief Medical Officer and Data Privacy Officer.

Until now, she said, CSMC has not experienced any data breaches, except for a few security incidents that they report to the NPC an nually as part of the reporting re quirements. “But more than that, we implement measures to prevent the recurrence of these incidents by retraining the staff involved and implementing technical security measures,” says Dr. Serrano.

A lso being implemented at the CSMC, she said, are organizational (obtaining patient consent before data processing), physical (restric tion of access points for data serv ers and storage area of medical records) and technical (password protection and encryption of ex ternal storage devices) security measures. “These measures were designed to protect the data that patients entrusted to CSMC and make sure that they remain safe,” concluded Dr. Serrano.

THOMAGUERY

SPORTS GETTING CLOSER TO BEATING COVID-19

SPORTS GETTING CLOSER TO BEATING COVID-19

By Jun Lomibao

ONE quick glance at how Philippine sports were played just over the weekend could compel one to surmise that Covid’s been beaten—if not, about to be beat.

Six leagues played at least two games each Saturday and Sunday—the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) on both days, and so did the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

A dd the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), Super League Preseason tournament and the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) that’s been making the rounds of the provinces for months now.

N oli Eala, chairman for two months now of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), hit the jampacked weekend program right on the head.

“There are so many sports leagues going on at the same time this week end. PBA, UAAP, NCAA, PVL, Super League and MPBL. Venues are hard to find,” Eala said on Tweeter.

L et’s dismiss notions that Eala, a former commissioner of

the PBA and sports broadcaster, saw the heavy weekend sports activities as a glass half-empty of water when he added on Twitter: “Consequently fans are dispersed and ad money divided. Wish there was more coordination among leagues for better scheduling.”

L ooking at the glass as half full, that heavy weekend schedule could warrant as proof that the pandemic’s waned and sports have been making gigantic steps toward full recovery from months of struggle that coined “bubble” as a remedy to keep sports going amid the deaths and suffering wrought by Covid-19.

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), the overseer of elite sports program in the country, has also shrugged off the complications that weighed down on national teams and athletes.

“ We have a very busy calendar next year and as early as now, preparations are in high gear,” said

SPORTS FACILITIES’ DOORS WIDE OPEN FOR NATL ATHLETES

FOR more than two years, major sports facilities supervised by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) were put under the control of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the

Philippine National Police (PNP).

The AFP set up camp at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila, where the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and the Ninoy Aquino Stadium were utilized as quarantine facilities.

Over in Pasig City, no one could get past a phalanx of PNP personnel who’s manning the PhilSports Arena and part of the dormitories that were similarly used to quarantine Covid-19 patients and returning Filipinos from abroad.

Two weeks ago, the barbed wires and sand bags, so to speak, were torn down.

MARIANO “NONONG”

ARANETA will seek reelection as one of five council members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) hoping to clinch the post to maintain his advocacy in the organization as the “voice of the smaller nations.”

T he Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Araneta will vie against six candidates from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan and China.

The elections are set February next year in Bahrain with AFC chief Sheik Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, also the FIFA vice president, running unopposed for a fresh four-year mandate. Forty-seven AFC members are casting their votes.

“ I’ll be the voice of the Southeast Asian nations there and I will be there to push the welfare of the not so powerful nations,” Araneta told BusinessMirror Monday. “As

It’s full steam ahead,” said PSC chairman Noli Eala as he guaranteed that the agency would deliver services to the national teams and grassroots partners by opening these facilities for training and competitions.

We’re excited to see the national athletes back in training in these facilities,” he said.

Repairs and rehabilitation were undertaken on both complexes and national athletes have taken turns in returning to barracks as they gear up for at least five major international competitions in 2023.

The Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, in fact, hosted the Asian Football Federation Women’s Championship last July and the Rizal Memorial Coliseum is catering to preseason volleyball matches. The PhilSports Arena,

which like its Malate counterparts were spruced up for the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019, is serving venue to the PBA and UAAP—the Asian Volleyball Confederation Women’s Cup was played there in August with fans showing up to almost full capacity.

I n June, Quezon City also hosted at the Smart Araneta Coliseum a men and women leg of the Volleyball Nations League, a top-tier tournament featuring the top 16 teams in the world.

Still, Eala assured everyone that health and safety protocols remain a priority.

It’s vital that we remain vigilant and protected against Covid-19,” said Eala, during a booster vaccination activity for national athletes and coaches two weeks ago at the Rizal Memorial

‘Nonong’s’ AFC mission: Voice of smaller nations

a member of the council, I will always check the interest of the other nations.”

H e was elected to the post in 2019.

“ In terms of integrity check, I am okay. At the same time, we are always doing our job there,” he added.

A raneta said Al Khalifa running unchallenged is proof of his effective and beneficial leadership for Asian nations and specially the Philippines.

Our country and our federation have a very good relationship with him,” said Araneta, an Al Khalifa’s confidante since 2013.

He appointed me as chairman of AFC Finance Committee five years ago up to now,” he said. “He has been given other responsibilities such as chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee that guided the administration of the renegotiation process with our commercial partners.”

FIFA–awash with cash–to give clubs $209M from World Cup fund

FIFA said more than 400 clubs playing in 63 different member countries were paid shares from the $209 million fund allocated from the 2018 World Cup commercial revenues.

THE FIFA is undoubtedly the wealthiest international federation with most of its funds drawn from the well-attended World Cup. AP

The “Club Benefits Program” was cre ated in a 2008 deal for FIFA to recognize the newly launched ECA as a more demo cratic representative of teams’ interests.

tournament played last year.

C helsea got the biggest share of €5.1 million ($5 million) from the Euro 2020 fund, which also rewarded clubs whose players were called up for qualifying games.

SITES FOR VIEWING PARTIES FOR FIFA WORLD CUP BARED

GENEVA—Soccer

clubs around the world were invited by FIFA on Tuesday to apply for money from a fund of $209 million set aside for teams that release players for this year’s World Cup in Qatar.

Clubs get paid a daily rate—which FIFA estimates at about $10,000—for as long as 832 players selected for the 32 rosters are on national team duty ahead of and during the tournament.The prepara tion period starts November 14 and the tournament ends on December 18.

The $209 million fund, agreed to by FIFA and the European Club Association in 2015, also rewards clubs who helped develop World Cup players. Each player’s share of the fund is distributed among the clubs he played for in the past two years.

European teams typically employ about 75 percent of the players who go to the World Cup.

FIFA paid $40 million into the fund for players who went to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and it was $70 million four years later for the tournament in Brazil.

C lubs are set to get a bigger share from the 2026 World Cup, which will have about 50 percent more players in an expanded 48-team tournament.

FIFA’s revenue from sponsorship, ticket sales and corporate hospitality is also set to rise sharply for the 2026 edition, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

A s imilar payment scheme is run by UEFA for the European Championship, which was worth €200 million ($194 million) for the

THE Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro and Dubai Harbour in the United Arab Emirates are among six locations worldwide that stage fan festivals during the World Cup in Qatar.

Mexico City’s Plaza de la República, São Paulo’s Anhangabaú Valley, and downtown nightclub venues in London and Seoul, South Korea, also will host official game viewing parties and music events.

O rganizers have also hired electronic music events from Saudi Arabia and England to perform dur ing the tournament.

The events will “only be open to consumers of legal drinking age” at the venues co-organized by FIFA and long-time World Cup sponsor AB InBev, which brews the Budweiser, Corona and Brahma brands. AP

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino stand beside men’s pole vault gold medalist Ernest John “EJ” Obiena for the national anthem at the Hanoi 31st Southeast Asian Games.

PHILIPPINE Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta seeks reelection as one of five council members of the Asian Football Confederation.

PHILIPPINE Basketball Association Commissioner Willie Marcial and co. wear masks while watching a game from courtside.

Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, whose concerns on health and safety protocols as president of the POC revolves around International Olympic Committee- and international federation-certified health and safety protocols.

Sports

Coliseum. “Our athletes, coaches, and employees who serve them need to be secured, protected and cared for as we begin transition and the return of our sports activities and events.”

FILIPINO ATHLETES

FACE CHALLENGES OF BUSY 2023 SKED

WITH protocols down to bare levels, it’s also all systems go for Filipino athletes competing abroad.

Our athletes have to continually train and stay in shape.... Next year’s a packed calendar for all of them,” POC president Tolentino said.

The SEA Games are going to Cambodia for their 32nd edition in May, and to China in Huangzhou for the 19th Asian Games in September.

The Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games are in Bangkok and Chonburi in November and the World Beach Games in Bali in August.

At home, the Philippine Sports Commission’s reviving the Batang Pinoy National Finals this December in Ilocos Sur and next year, hosting is up for grabs as the Department of Education is also bent on pushing through with the Palarong Pambansa.

The Commission on Higher Education’s joining the fun with the revival of its National Tertiary Games next summer at a still-tobe-determined venue.

the knockout stages, semifinals and finals at the MOA Arena, Smart Araneta Coliseum and the Philippine Arena.

‘BUBBLE’ A STRUGGLE, COSTLY FOR LEAGUES AND ORGANIZERS, TOO

THE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is believed to have spent P80 million to hold just one conference—Philippine Cup—in a “bubble” environment in Clark, Pampanga, in late 2020. The tournament lasted a little more than two months.

“

I won’t say exactly but I guarantee you, it was very, very expensive,” PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said.

Several other sports held their own “bubble” tournaments, all costly. Ormoc City had its fencing nationals and cycling was lucky enough to be encouraged during the pandemic and staged a two-day national trials in July last year in Clark—but that came with a cost as race officials and participants had to undergo RT-PCR test each day of the competitions and officials were quartered in one hotel.

no face-to-face, no contact sports.

Volleyball had its own bubble in Subic, Pagudpud and Lipa City but officials of the national federation are hoping and praying that never again should Covid control the community.

It was one expensive experience, to hold bubbles, what with all the cost of quarantined hotel accommodation and regular tests,” volleyball federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara said.

QUARANTINE DOWN TO ONLY THREE DAYS BRINGS BIG RELIEF

THE Tokyo Olympics in July-August 2021 had the entire world watching. It was one big and expensive guinea pig for an absolute “bubble” environment where close to 10,000 athletes and officials converged for more than two weeks.

O nly 400 infections were recorded but almost all of them were local infections and none of the 19 Filipino athlete who competed—including gold

medalist weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz Naranjo—caught the virus.

I n Tokyo, once infected you’re out, and it takes 10 days to quarantine. You enter Japan and you’re confined to your rooms for three days. Filipino athletes, officials and journalists also had to be quarantined 10 days before getting their freedom.

Now? It only takes three days to quarantine or self-quarantine.

At the 31st SEA Games in Vietnam last May, the protocols were more relaxed and a three-day quarantine for those who showed symptoms of Covid was imposed.

Luckily, no one from Team Philippines got infected and the country finished a fighting fourth.

The protocols are softer now and that’s good for all athletes and coaches,” said Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who as president of the Philippine Olympic Committee adheres to health and safety protocols certified by the International Olympic Committee and international federations.

SILVER LINING APPEARS IN GOLDEN HORIZON FOR PHILIPPINE SPORTS

FILIPINO athletes have endured —and prevailed—during the pandemic. Many of them were frontliners, too, being members of the military establishment.

I nstead of their dri-fit jerseys and shorts, they donned their military outfits’ combat uniforms as they manned outposts and checkpoints to guarantee protocols are imposed.

It’s been one struggle for me, but I know in my heart that as a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, I have this duty to contribute to my country—may it be in my sport or in any task that I’m assigned to,” said Jermyn Prado, a Navy personnel who won gold in individual time trial and silver in road in the cycling competitions of the 2019 SEA Games in Tagaytay City.

P rado was only one of hundreds of athlete frontliners who looked forward to return to normalcy so they could go back to the field, gym and in her case, road, to resume training as national athletes.

A nd still at home, the country would be the primary host in August-October of one of the most prestigious global sporting events, the FIBA 2023 World Cup that features the top 32 teams with the Philippines hosting 16 teams and at least 20 matches, including A NATIONAL athlete gets his booster shot against Covid-19 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The same “bubble” setup was utilized for its two-conference 2021 season and one could just imagine the losses in revenues from gate receipts, not to mention daily tests and disinfection of facilities.

The school leagues—University Athletic Association of the Philippines and National Collegiate Athletic Association—were as hostaged by the virus and went virtual with their competitions—

“ It’s the Filipino heart and determination that we saw in our athletes,” POC President Tolentino said. “Our athletes persevered, they trained at home, in their rooms, garage or wherever they could sweat out and stay in shape.”

“ Now with Covid waning, it’s almost back to normalcy and our athletes are back to the same mind set and determination to go for that gold medal,” Tolentino added.

PHILIPPINE Sports Commission chairman Noli Eala inspects the swimming pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Draymond Green fined but not suspended

SAN FRANCISCO—Draymond

Green has been fined but won’t be suspended by the Golden State Warriors for a violent punch to the face of teammate Jordan Poole last week.

Coach Steve Kerr said after Tuesday’s preseason win against Portland that Green would return to practice Thursday, then play for the defending National Basketball Association (NBA) champions against Denver on Friday night and again in the season opener Tuesday against the Lakers. Kerr, general manager Bob Myers and players have met to decide how to best proceed—including Green and Poole talking to each other.

We feel like we have a great feel for our team. We’ve got a lot of continuity on this team, so Bob and I know our players extremely well,” Kerr said. “We feel like this is the best way after assessing everything for us to move forward. It’s never easy no matter what decision you make in a situation like this. It’s not going to be perfect. This is the biggest crisis that we’ve ever had since I’ve been coach here. It’s really serious stuff.”

Green and Poole met in recent days about the fight and everyone involved has taken part in exhaustive discussions since the incident last Wednesday in practice, Kerr said. Two-time MVP Stephen Curry has led some of those talks.

We have spent the last week in deep discussions with all of our key figures in the organization, including Jordan and Draymond of course,

Steph, all of our players, Bob, myself, and I can tell you there have been a lot of conversations, individual, one-on-one discussions, players-only discussions,” Kerr said. “Everything that you can think of, all the different combinations that are possible to have in a conversation, we’ve had them. It’s been an exhaustive process.”

Green has been away from the team since the altercation and has been working out on his own every day.

Neither player was injured. The fiery Green has been a key veteran presence, defensive leader and part of Golden State’s four championships in eight seasons.

Any criticism that we face here is fair,” Kerr added about the team’s decisions, noting “everything was on the table” regarding punishment.

I support their decision,” secondyear guard Moses Moody said, ready to welcome Green back.

V ideo of the punch leaked to TMZ was published Friday. The footage shows Green approaching Poole near the baseline and them coming chest to chest. Poole used both hands to push Green away, then Green punched Poole in the face and sent the fourth-year guard into the wall behind the baseline.

“ He broke our trust with this incident but I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt because I think he’s earned that, and I think our team feels the same way,” Kerr said.

K err said an investigation is ongoing into the leak. AP

PATH FROM KOREA TO NBA ISN’T EASY Sports

By Tim Reynolds The Associated Press

INTAE

HWANG wanted to play basketball. His parents wouldn’t allow it.

H e reached the National Basketball Association (NBA) anyway.

Hwang took the ultimate leap of faith nearly three years ago: Move his family halfway across the world, from their native South Korea to a new home in New Jersey, to follow his dream of becoming an NBA referee. He’s getting closer to making that a reality, after working some preseason games this month—including Monday’s Washington-Charlotte contest— and is expected to get some assignments as a non-staff official during the regular season.

“ The NBA was just my dream,” Hwang said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I watched it on TV, right? That’s it. I never, ever tried to get into the NBA by myself.”

I nstead, the NBA found him.

Hwang has been an official for nearly 20 years, and it wasn’t always easy; he got head-butted by a coach in 2014, and he said that left him evaluating his future. But he stayed in the game and was selected by FIBA— the sport’s international governing

body—to be part of the referee corps for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Much in the same way that NBA teams scout internationally for player talent, the NBA also scouts all over the globe for refereeing talent.

A nd from those Rio Games came an invitation from the NBA to come to Las Vegas for Summer League in 2017. With that, Hwang’s journey really began. The league continued following his career after he returned to South Korea, building a relationship, and he eventually had a decision to make.

“Intae showed an enormous amount of capacity for quick learning, quick application,” said Monty McCutchen, the NBA’s senior vice president overseeing referees. “He had a dream to be a part of our program. He came over here and was part of our referee development program, which we used as a way in which he could learn language and culture. He entered our pipeline through merit, not with any promise. He moved over here without any promise.”

Hwang and his family moved to the US in January 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic struck weeks later. Hwang, who exudes optimism, looked at that as an

opportunity—and during all those months without basketball studied the G League and NBA games, plus continued working on his command of English.

H e’s been a G League official, now has some NBA preseason experience, and that trajectory has him on a path toward becoming a full-fledged NBA ref.

“All he did was put in the work, day in and day out,” McCutchen said.

R eferees have to make splitsecond decisions. That’s why, once the invitation from the NBA came, Hwang didn’t need long to make up his mind.

“

I just worried about my family, my wife and my son and daughter,” Hwang said. “My wife sacrificed a lot, because she couldn’t speak English at all. Now she can (say) ‘thank you, hi,’ those kinds of things.”

But his family loves it here. He’s thankful for the chance.

And even though his dream of becoming a basketball player never materialized—both his parents were athletes and they wanted more from their son—he’s found his way into the top league in the world anyway.

I love basketball,” he said.

KOREAN Intae Hwang’s National Basketball Association dream is within reach. AP

SBP SEEKS P1.5B GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR FIBA WORLD CUP

By Josef Ramos

BRINGING many of the world’s best players to local soil before hoopscrazy Filipino fans entails an enormous budget—P3.7 billion to be close to being exact—and the host Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) expressed the need for government support.

The SBP joined on Monday a Senate Committee on Sports and Finance hearing to secure a P1.5-billion financial assistance from government for the country’s primary hosting of the Fiba 2023 World Cup from August 25 to September 10.

The Philippines is the main host with Japan and Indonesia as co-host. As main host, the SBP would be catering to 16 of the 32 countries in the World Cup and would be

By Rick Olivares

staging group matches as well as the knockout, semifinals and final stages.

The SBP’s pitch, executive director Renauld “Sonny” Barrios told BusinessMirror, is on the return-on-investment the World Cup would bring to the country, principally in terms of tourism.

Hosting is more of a great investment for the country,” Barrios said. “The returns in our economy will be three to four times better than that those of previous hosts Spain (2014) and China (2019),” Barrios said.

A Sports Business Journal report in 2014, Barrios said, showed that Spain generated an economic impact of 408 million euros—more than P23 billion—after hosting the spectacle in Seville, Madrid, Granada and Barcelona.

B arrios, however, didn’t provide data for China’s hosting.

B arrios said that P1.5 billion represents

40 percent of their targeted overall budget. He said that the other 60 percent or P2.2 billion would be culled from the private sector.

“ We don’t want to get embarrassed because we took the responsibility [to host] and we’re thankful to our Senators that they support the hosting,” Barrios said. “If we want an unforgettable and beautiful hosting, we must raise that amount.”

B arrios said that the SBP has already spent P1.2 billion from private sponsors for the World Cup hosting preparation this year— mostly for operations.

I ndonesia, he said, has its national government’s 100 percent while co-host Japan would be drawing funding from the city of Okinawa. They, however, would be hosting only eight teams each in the group stages.

The SBP has already received P65 million from

Kampeon Cup kicks off Friday in Bacolod City

the government but Barrios said these were spent for the qualifiers and not for hosting chores.

M ore than 3,000 athletes, coaches, FIBA officials and guests are expected during the World Cup, according to a latest count by the local organizing committee.

T he hosting would also include the FIBA World Congress that will be attended by leaders from the federation’s 212 member countries.

Padrigao, Blue Eagles bounce back with big win over Growling Tigers

A

TENEO routed University of Santo Tomas (UST), 79-52, on Wednesday as the Blue Eagles vented their ire on the Growling Tigers after a tough loss to archrival De La Salle Green Archers in University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 men’s basketball action at the Mall of Asia Arena.

A ll the Blue Eagles needed was an explosive third quarter to bounce back from their 83-78 loss to the Green Archers last Wednesday.

Ateneo led by only one, 33-32, at the half, but went on a 24-11 tear for a 57-43 spread heading into the fourth quarter.

The Blue Eagles weren’t done and outscored the Growling Tigers by 11 to lead by as many as 29 points in the match.

The players didn’t feel great at halftime but the coaching staff felt that it wasn’t really that bad and if we stuck to the job, we have good players they’re going to hit good shots and in the second half, we finally started to hit shots,” Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin said.

B

ACOLOD City—The AIA Vitality Kampeon Cup kicks off Friday at the La Provincia Polo Field here to usher in perhaps the biggest football grassroots program in the country.

The best seven-a-side selection squads from six cities are entered in the event that ends Sunday. They were drawn into two groups.

D efending champion Cebu leads Group B that includes Bonifacio Global City and Iloilo. Bacolod, Pampanga and San Carlos are in Group A.

The AIA Vitality Kampeon Cup is a tournament that seeks to bring the best football players all over the country in a festival-type atmosphere where there

are games for kids, a tournament for the youth, women’s, and men’s with the

Kampeon Cup in between,” said Kampeon Cup founder and former national player Anton del Rosario.

D el Rosario will be suiting up for the BGC team, while his former Azkals teammate and captain Stephan Schrock will be a guest player for Bacolod. Schrock will miss this weekend’s match for the Azkals Development Team because of accumulation of yellow cards.

“ We are happy the league has continued to make strides in the local football scene by expanding its scope from Pampanga, Manila and Palawan all the way to Cebu, Iloilo and Bacolod, giving even more Filipinos a chance to showcase their skills on a nationwide scale,” said Kats Cajucom, AIA Philippines’s Head of Health and Wellness. “We are excited for Kampeon’s kick off in Bacolod, and look forward to helping Filipinos—young and old alike—live healthier, longer, better lives through our continued support of football.”

Forthsky Padrigao bounced back from his woeful 2-of-18 shooting against De La Salle with 20 points, eight assists and five steals.

Dave Ildefonso chipped in 10 points, nine rebounds and six assists, while Kai Ballungay got 10 points for Ateneo, which made 27 field goals from assists.

Ateneo rose to 3-1 won-lost for solo second while UST, which lost Adama Faye with three minutes left in the third quarter to fouls, absorbed its third straight defeat to fall to 1-3.

Nic Cabañero had 12 points for UST, while Ivan Lazarte chalked up 11 points and five rebounds.

Riveting stories

JUST less than two weeks into Season 85, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) has already succeeded at amusing us with riveting stories. It’s Tales of the Unexpected all over again with a little New World Order thrown in for good measure. What’s so interesting about Season 85 so far?

second round of Season 84. But Season 85 is a different story. The Archers were fierce, kinetic, warlike and unstoppable in their first battle. Undaunted by Ateneo’s early leads, they came back, again and again and aimed for demolition. Led by Schonny Winston’s arrows, the other Archers aimed their arrows at the sky too and got bird. The long wait is over. It is Green over Blue this time.

3. On the warpath

I f you think the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors are the UAAP’s current whipping boys because they constantly finish at the bottom in recent seasons, erase that thought now. The Recto-based Warriors are a different team this season and have been on the warpath since Day 1. On October 5, UE finally broke ground with a decisive victory over the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, 76-66. The win snapped the team’s 15-game drought and served notice to all that these UE Warriors are definitely no pushovers. They are ferocious, skilled, determined and above all, together. With the way they played on October 5, looks like that victory won’t be the last for UE this season. Let all teams be warned.

1.Longest wait, shortest reign                                                                          T he University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons are in an unfamiliar position. They haven’t had a feel of being called “the defending champs” since 1987. After erasing 36 title-less years in Season 84 with a fairytale like conquest of Ateneo in Game 3 of the Finals, the Maroons—called the Miracle Maroons by some because of their mind-boggling come from behind wins—went on to celebrate their achievement. With hardly any stops. Theirs is a unique reign. It is the shortest in UAAP history, what with the league holding two seasons in the same year (2022) for the very first time because of the pandemic. Where other champions held on to their crowns for one full year, the Maroons have at most only seven months to enjoy theirs. As they maneuver their way through the new season, they still have the best record so far at 3-0. Will they get to extend their reign?

Again, Destiny will answer.

2. Five years in the making G ood things come to those who wait … and claw, and scratch, and do everything possible to disturb the world order. That’s exactly what the De La Salle Green Archers did last Sunday, October 9, when they faced their erstwhile rivals, the Ateneo Blue Eagles in their first encounter of the season. The Green Archers had last lorded it over the Blue Eagles in November 2017 when Ben Mbala was Chief Archer and Aldin Ayo rode the bench. Since then, the Men In Blue have frustrated their Green rivals time and again with a bitter drubbing of

the first round and a more merciful 75-68 in the

4. Playing possum?

Strange but true. The FEU Tamaraws are currently at the bottom of the UAAP men’s basketball standings at 3-0. This is highly uncharacteristic of the Morayta squad that has always been at the top of the charts since time immemorial. Not that the team is weak. The Tams are tough and brave as usual. They charge and compete to the very end. Players like LJ Gonzales, Xyrus Torres, Ximone Sandagon, Chiolo Añonuevo and rookie Patrick Sleat are outstanding. But what gives? Are the Tams just passing through a rough patch? Or getting the shorter end of the stick? Those who believe in FEU think they’re just playing possum and will stir back to life. Watch out when the Tams get their breaks and bearings. They will charge.

5. The road to 100

T he last time the National University Lady Bulldogs lost a ballgame was in October 5, 2013. Since then they have never lost. As we write this, the Lady Bulldogs are on the verge of making history in UAAP women’s basketball, and probably, Philippine basketball in general. If NU won over the UP Fighting Maroons yesterday, October 12, that would have been be their 100 th consecutive win. That’s an achievement hard to equal as the Lady Bulldogs have been conquering everyone in the league for the past nine years. Kudos to their longtime coach Patrick Henry Aquino who is the architect of their multi-year dominance, and to current coach Aris Dimaunahan who took over the reins in June this year. Anyway we look at it, 100 is a rare and perfect score. Did NU get it? We hope so.

SAMAHANG Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Renauld “Sonny” Barrios says hosting the FIBA 2023 World Cup would help the country’s economy in terms of tourism.

FORTHSKY PADRIGAO has his own fightback game of 20 points, eight assists and five steals for Ateneo.

THE Kampeon Cup is launched through a press conference graced by (from left) Paola Lepatan of Team BGC, AIA Head of Health and Fitness Kats Cajucom and Branding and Commu nications Bernadette Chincuanco, Anton del Rosario, Palaro Managing Director Ethan Lee and Cebu coach Bing Colina.

Creating a better-shared future: Coca-Cola World Without Waste programs and partnerships since 2018

Through Coca-Cola Foundation Philip pines, the company has partnered with Peace Pond Famers Association for the Blastik Project operating in Negros Occidental. The project provides training to communities on the im portance of recycling and upcycling, and aims to create positive change and strengthen solid waste management practices through work shops and technological support needed for collection and upcycling systems.

Coca-Cola Philippines, together with over 30 partner organizations, also mobilized 430 as sociates and volunteers to join the International Coastal Cleanup at Subic Bay last September 17, 2022. The activity was able to divert over 730 kilos of marine debris, helping deliver the com pany’s ongoing commitment to create partner ships that promote a debris-free environment and raise awareness on marine pollution and the importance of proper waste segregation and disposal. The company’s local bottling part ner, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. (CCB PI), also activated 20 of its sites to participate in the cleanup in other parts of the country.

Partnering for impact

Tackling the plastic waste issue requires crosssector collaboration.

In a quest to give its bottles a second life, CCBPI has entered into a joint venture with In dorama Ventures, a global leader in recycling and green technologies, to establish PETValue Philippines, the biggest state-of-the-art, bot tle-to-bottle PET recycling facility in the coun try, which started operating this 2022 in Cavite.

The 2.28-billion-peso multi-phased joint venture investment will significantly expand domestic recycling capabilities and accelerate the development of a circular economy for recy clable clear PET plastic bottles in the Philippines, by processing approximately 2 billion PET bot tles per year. The facility’s operations will also generate around 200 direct jobs for Filipinos.

IN the Philippines and around the world, plastic waste pollution continues to be a pressing issue.

As a beverage company, Coca-Cola recog nizes its role in helping tackle the global plastic waste issue and helping drive a sustainable, efficient circular economy for packaging. Com mitted to providing solutions towards a more sustainable future, Coca-Cola Philippines is working with partner communities to contrib ute to The Coca-Cola Company’s global vision of a World Without Waste. It is a vision anchored in the company’s ambition to help collect and recycle the equivalent of every single can and bottle they sell by 2030.

This sustainable packaging initiative en compasses three fundamental goals: Design, Collect, and Partner. It re-envisions everything from the design of packaging of Coca-Cola prod ucts to new collaborations to improve packag ing collection and recycling initiatives in the community.

Innovative design solutionsfor less waste Design solutions are a key area in Coca-Cola’s waste management efforts. By 2025, the com pany aims to make 100% of its packaging re cyclable globally and use at least 50% recycled material in packaging by 2030. Coca-Cola also aims to help collect and recycle the equivalent of every can or bottle they sell by 2030.

At the same time, Coca-Cola’s programs under its World Without Waste initiative em power communities in the Philippines through collaborations that enable positive change and support a debris-free environment.

“As a global beverage company, we are focused on our entire packaging lifecycle and we recognize our role and responsibility to help tackle the plastic packaging waste issue,” said Tony del Rosario, President, Coca-Cola Philip pines and Vice President, East Franchise Opera tions of Coca-Cola ASEAN & South Pacific. “This takes collaboration, innovation and continued effort and we are making progress, with much more to do.”

All of Coca-Cola’s primary packaging in the Philippines—from returnable glass bottles to PET plastic bottles, and aluminum cans— are recyclable. Coca-Cola glass bottles still rep resent approximately 50% of the company’s

total business in the country. These glass bottles are continuously collected, washed, and reused.

Coca-Cola Philippines has also been introducing brands whose bottles are made from 100% recycled plastic (excluding caps and labels). In 2018, the company launched a new packaging format for Viva! – the new bottles were the first in the Philippines to be made from 100% recycled plastic. In 2019, the com pany transitioned from its iconic green Sprite packaging to clear PET to make the bottles easier to recycle. At the same time, the company introduced 100% recycled plastic for its Sprite bottles in the Philippines.

In 2020, Coca-Cola Philippines also start ed to include a bold “Recycle Me” message on packaging labels across all its brands—inviting people to help collect and recycle their bottles after they enjoyed the drink.

In 2021, the company phased out unre cyclable sachets from its packaging portfolio in the Philippines, while paper straws were intro duced for juice and dairy products.

The company has also overhauled its PET plastic packaging by lightweighting products to reduce the overall impact of its carbon foot print—resulting in the removal of approxi mately 10,000 metric tons of new or virgin plastic materials from its packaging in the Philippines. Consequently, Coca-Cola’s pack aging for single-serve (500ml and 330ml) Wilkins and Viva! is now approximately 20-25% lighter, while its 500ml bottle for carbonated drinks in the Philippines is now approximately 23% lighter.

Coca-Cola continues to innovate toward its vision of a World Without Waste.

Collecting for a circular economy

Proper collection and recycling is crucial for a circular economy for packaging. With this, Coca-Cola Philippines has partnered with com munities and has set up over 800 collection points all over the country where people can drop off their empty PET plastic bottles. These collection hubs can be viewed on the Coca-Cola Philippines website.

Plastic picking is also a key component of Coca-Cola’s collection drive. To this end,

Coca-Cola also aims to empower MSMEs as it pursues its vision. In partnership with Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies and the Philippine Association of Stores and Carin deria Owners, the company formally started last July collection efforts under Tindahan Extra Mile Balik PET Bottle program. The program is a PET collection for recycling initiative that aims to establish sari-sari stores as collection points, bringing collection closer to consumers, while also providing additional income or items to sell from the exchange of recyclable plastics.

CCBPI has also been working with dif ferent local government units to help improve collection rates in their respective cities and municipalities. Its project, Tapon to Ipon: Basta Klaro, Panalo!, encourages people in the com munities to practice proper waste segregation and bring their empty clear PET plastic bottles to the participating collection hubs..

The Foundation supports projects with World Wildlife Fund, SPECTRUM- Sarangani, Philippine Business for Social Progress, and the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, and Pure Oceans, which empower workers in the solid waste management sector. The Pure Oceans: Pure Islands project, for instance, has recovered over 30,000 kilos of marine waste and provided its volunteers with opportuni ties to earn an individual income of Php 3,000 per month, while a community development program with PBSP in Sitio Pintor, Rizal, has col lected 500 kilos of plastic and provided personal protective equipment for 100 families relying on waste picking.

To fight against marine plastic waste, Coca-Cola Philippines has partnered with Plas tic Bank®, a social enterprise that is helping the world tackle ocean plastic while improving the lives of collector communities. Through this partnership, Plastic Bank collectors in General Trias, Cavite were able to gather around five mil lion plastic bottles in 2021. These community collectors received a premium for the materials they collected, providing a source of income to help them cover basic family necessities such as groceries and cooking fuel.

“With these ongoing collaborations with partners across the country, we are optimistic that we shall soon see the impact of our work in communities,” said Cecile Alcantara, President, Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines Inc. “We have much to do together and we are looking for ward to the journey ahead.”

As it walks on this path, Coca-Cola Philip pines remains committed to creating a greater positive impact through its vision and goals.

On October 14, 2022, Coca-Cola Philip pines will share the four-year progress it has made towards its World Without Waste goals at an event for stakeholders and the media. The event will put a spotlight on the partner ships made during the four-year World Without Waste journey and provide an update on PET Value Philippines.

To learn more about Coca-Cola’s World With out Waste initiative, stay tuned for announcements in the coming days or visit coca-cola.com.ph/news/ our-world-without-waste-progress.

Coca-Cola, in line with its vision of a World Without Waste, partners with organizations such as the Philippine Business for Social Progress and Plastic Flamingo to help improve the collection and recycling of plastic PET packaging at the community level

The Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines aims to improve capabilities and spur positive behavior change in waste collection through projects with NGOs and local communities such as the Blastik Project in Negros Occidental, implemented together with the Peacepond Farmers Association.

Through Coca-Cola Philippines’ partnership with Plastic Bank, collectors like Ronilo Cirujano, can earn a premium for the plastic bottles that they collect, which provides additional income to help cover basic necessities.

By Doug Ferguson The Associated Press

IN this contentious year of disruption and hyperbole, the raw numbers would suggest the global golf space is big enough to share.

T he Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour had 12 of the top 50 players in the world ranking competing last week in Las Vegas. LIV Golf also had 12 of the top 50 in the world playing in Bangkok.

T he difference, aside from LIV Golf providing triple the prize money, is that only one of those circuits received credit from the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).

Th at needs to change. The question is how quickly.

Greg Norman, the CEO, commissioner and chief evangelist for Saudi-funded LIV Golf, applied in early July to be part of the OWGR system. The process historically takes about a year, which even by golf standards seems slow.

B esides, there has never been a tour in history like LIV Golf.

R egardless of how it attracted so many players—seemingly limitless money from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund— find another “start-up” tour that started out with Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed and Cameron Smith. They have combined to win 11 majors in the last decade.

The OWGR leadership would be foolish not to bring LIV Golf into the ranking system, and it should make it a priority. Just not this year. There’s only one event left, this week in Saudi Arabia. And while LIV Golf is not a typical newcomer to world golf, points never have been awarded retroactively.

There’s no need to start now.

These guys knew what they were getting when they signed up: money. If they thought world ranking points would come easily—or even quickly—that would be the same misguided thinking as Norman texting Sergio Garcia in February that the PGA Tour couldn’t ban players “for one day let alone life.”

PGA Tour suspensions, backed preliminarily by a federal court, are in their fourth month.

LIV GOLF: JUST NOT THIS YEAR

Sports

L4 | Thursday, OcTOber 13, 2022 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

A s much as Norman talks about wanting to be part of golf’s ecosystem, LIV Golf doesn’t look like the other tours the OWGR tries to measure.

L IV Golf has only 48-man fields that play 54 holes with no cut and with a guarantee of $120,000 for finishing in last place (roughly the equivalent of 18th place in Las Vegas). There is a team element, and whether that affects a player’s

performance when he’s out of contention is irrelevant. No other tour has that.

“ We’ve hit every mark in their criteria, so for us not to get points is kind of crazy,” Bryson DeChambeau said last week. Remarkably, or maybe not, no one challenged his statement because LIV Golf misses more marks than it hits.

The six main tours that are part of the OWGR’s technical

committee—which ultimately will review the LIV Golf application—all have primarily 72-hole events.

There is room for 54-hole events, but that typically is for developmental tours, like the Mena Tour, which few people knew existed until last week. Even when the previous OWGR formula was used and such tours awarded minimal points (four) to the winner, the minimum was raised slightly when

it was a 72-hole event.

W hy it has to be 72 holes is a separate debate, though the British Open has been that way since 1892 and the US Open since 1898. Some might call that precedent.

H owever, it’s worth noting that since 1983—when the PGA Tour was able to keep complete records—players who had at least a share of the 54-hole lead went on to win 39 percent of the time. The

same percentage applies to majors.

Norman, of all people, would not be surprised by that.

A nd so the question becomes: Is it equitable to treat LIV Golf the same way the OWGR measures all the other tours that predominantly have 72-hole events with a cut?

T his is what should take time—maybe not a year, but certainly not overnight.

Norman isn’t doing himself any favors with a not-so-clever attempt to expedite the process by aligning with the Mena Tour (an acronym for Middle East and North Africa).

The Mena Tour entered the OWGR family in 2016 as a developmental tour with 54-hole events. It’s so far down the ladder that its leading players now have access to the Asian Development Tour.

Norman gave the players an update in August in which he claimed the OWGR is inaccurate without including LIV Golf. He had the players sign a letter in September to the OWGR saying that for it to maintain trust, it should award points retroactively.

A nd in October, the LIV golfers became official members of the Mena Tour. Norman thought they should get world ranking points immediately. The OWGR said it would need more than a 48-hour notice.

When they keep holding it back, they’re going to just keep playing a waiting game where we’re going to keep dropping down in the rankings to where our points won’t ever matter,” DeChambeau said.

Th at much is true. There could be as few as six LIV Golf players left in the top 50 by the end of the year, and the number will shrink when it starts up its 14-event schedule in 2023. Still to be determined is if LIV Golf will adjust its format (perhaps by introducing a cut).

Even then, the new formula is not favorable to smaller fields. The PGA Tour not only has most of the top players, it has depth. LIV Golf players will still be at a disadvantage when it gets world ranking points.

The only thing that will grow at a rapid rate is their bank accounts.

SPAIN’S Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra (right) is sprayed in champagne by teammates after winning the LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok 2022 at Stonehill Golf Club in Pathum Thani, Thailand, over the weekend. AP

NAVIGATING 17:

the journey in a

A tale of two hospitals: Pushing forward in their digital journey

EVEN

before the Covid-19 pandemic dealt a big blow to the health-care industry, some of the big hospitals in Metro Manila had already started their journey towards digital transformation. For these hospitals, the ultimate goal of going digital is to provide the best quality of care to their patients.

The pandemic did have an affect on that digital journey. For Asian Hospital and Medical Center, the pandemic served as a wake-up call

for them to look into how they could provide physicians with a platform to enable them to continue caring for their patients. For The Medical

City, the pandemic was an opportu nity for them to assess where they were in their digital transformation journey and what modifications they needed to undertake.

Here are their stories:

BACK in 2017, Asian Hospital and Medical Center started its digitali zation journey with the adoption of the HIMSS EMRAM as its core road map. HIMSS or Healthcare Infor mation and Management Systems Society is a global advisor, thought leader and member-based society committed to reforming the global health ecosystem through the pow er of information and technology.

RONALD YATCO JR. JOSE XAVIER B. GONZALES ANDRES LICAROS

Navigating @17: Continuing the More public hospitals going digital to benefit patients beyond pandemic

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Covid-19 global pandemic has seen the increased use of telemedicine to provide medical care to patients.

Peachy Velasco did not imag ine that it would make the regular check-up of her 80-year-old father, who has a heart condition and con trolled diabetes, much easier.

Velasco, who is based in Hawaii, said that telemedicine is a big help to her younger sister here in the Philippines as she and their retired police o cer father no longer need to endure the heavy tra c going to the hospital. Velasco said her father has his check-up at the hos pital every three months.

“ e patient stays at home and it is much safer for he will not be exposed to other patients. No long queue. No long wait,” Velasco said, adding that requests for laboratory tests and results and reading can be done online. However, among the disadvantages, she said, is that her father is not that “techie.”

“Also, the time is limited and you have to pay more doctor’s fee,” she said.

Rose Peralta, a mother of four, agrees that telemedicine is help ful and convenient as she no longer needs to bring her children to the hospital or clinic for check-up if one of them is sick.

“Okay lang din sa amin ang tele medicine, lalo na kung sa time na umpisa pa lang ng sakit at least makausap na ang doctor. Ma-rese

tahan at mapa lab test na at iwas na din sa crowded sa clinic at hospital," [Telemedicine is good for us espe cially when the symptoms start showing and at least we can already consult with a doctor. We can get a prescription and have lab tests and we can avoid the crowds in the clin ic and hospital],” Rose said, adding that the doctor will also advise if she really needs to bring her child for a face-to-face checkup.

Paradigm shift

MAKATI City Mayor Abigail Binay said that as early as 2011, the Ospi

tal ng Makati (OsMak) started the electronic documentation of medi cal records for patients under am bulatory or outpatient care.

“However, the pandemic has created a paradigm shift in how we handle patients at OsMak. We have implemented OsMak e-Con sult at the height of the pandemic to attend to the medical needs of patients and prevent crowding at OsMak,” Binay said.

Moreover, she said, they were able to improve OsMak’s hospital information management sys tem (HIMS), which gives doctors instant access to patients’ medi

cal and diagnostic records during checkups and peer consultations to review cases.

is technological initiative, she pointed out, has complemented the OsMak e-Consult, where over 51,000 residents in 2020 consulted with their doctors without going to the hospital.

“With the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, harnessing technology in gov ernance will certainly improve the delivery and quality of services and, at the same time, promote transparency. It will also remove the traditional boundaries be

tween the government and the people and bring government ser vices closer to the intended recipi ents,” she said.

She added: “Just like my fellow local leaders, I envision my city as a Smart City that is future-ready, with its sustained prosperity shared by all citizens and empow ering them to attain their full po tential.”

Challenges

“WHEN we started the digitali zation of services at OsMak, we encountered two minor problems that governments and hospitals encounter when using new digital tools,” Binay recalled.

First, she said, is the adoption of new technologies.

“Our hospital sta had to un dergo training and provide userfriendly health solutions to ageing employees to make it easier for them to do their work,” she said.

Cybersecurity, she also cited, is a major concern for governments, hospitals, and all organizations that store sensitive information.

“Since digitalization is related to data privacy, we ensure that medical records and patient infor mation are safe and secure to pre vent cyber attackers from hacking the system,” the mayor explained.

Binay underscored the impor tance of cybersecurity in govern ment and hospital operations.

“ e healthcare industry is one of the most vulnerable areas when it comes to cybersecurity threats. With patients’ personal informa tion at stake, hospitals need to do everything they can to protect this data from hackers who would use it for their own purposes,” she said.

Safe and quality patient care

DR. Noel M. Laxamana, Depart ment Chair and Medical Special ist IV, Department of Family and Community Medicine of Bataan General Hospital and Medical Cen ter in Balanga, Bataan, believes that digitalization is the way to go, especially with the implementa tion of the UHC Act.

“ e immense contribution of health digitalization was palpably felt during the pandemic,” Dr. Lax amana said.

Examples of this, he said, in cluded the creation of digital health declaration apps, teleconsultation services, as well as the fast trans mission of health data such as RT PCR results, which swiftly assisted in isolating and navigating the pa tients through the referral system.

“Further, through electronic means, the mobilization of the

sta in the healthcare provider network (HCPN) was quick and responsive, thereby delivering safe and quality patient care for all,” he said.

Dr. Laxamana said they are also excited and fully anticipate the implementation of a standardized electronic health record (EHR) for all Filipinos which does not only serve as a “repository of the pa tients’ health information but will also transform paperless transac tions for nancing and reimburse ment of claims.”

“Some of our neighboring coun tries in Southeast Asia have em ployed the use of an EMV chip/ EMV card in storing the EHR, which digitally reads the patient’s records across all health facilities. Of course, for these situations, data privacy and con dentiality must be protected at all times,” the doctor said.

Integrated InformationLaboratory System for Ilocos MEANWHILE, o cials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) recently conducted an on-site visit to the Depart ment of Health Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (DOHITRMC) to assess and evaluate the existing laboratory information system and to provide for the es tablishment of an Integrated Labo ratory Information System for Ilo cos Region.

e visit was led by Miura Ta kashi, JICA Consultant for Labora tory Management.

Takashi said that laboratory information systems are critical to high-quality healthcare ser vice provision and the demand for these systems is growing fast and the healthcare system must be able to meet the resulting technological and workload demands.

“Moreover, lab tests provide the majority of information for clini cal decision-making which results in improved clinical outcomes for patients,” Takashi explained.

JICA through the technical co operation project entitled, “Project for Strengthening the Philippine National Health Laboratory Coop eration Network” currently pro vides technical assistance to DOH with the objective of strengthening the Philippine Health Laboratory System Surveillance including de tecting pathogens and response to emerging diseases.

DOH-Ilocos Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco said the fundamental role that a labora tory information system plays in a laboratory is to increase its op erational e ciency by automating the work ows and eliminating the need for manually maintaining the patient’s information.

“We are hoping that JICA can help us develop and institutional ize a framework for an integrated performance system speci cally for specimen referral, supplychain management and perfor mance management system to serve as the backbone for both public and private clinical labo ratories in the region in order to achieve the objectives of Univer sal Health Care (UHC).”

e regional o ce and ITRMC also presented to JICA the labora tory network situationer, the man ner of specimen transport and the current situation of the laboratory network in the Ilocos region.

During the site visit at the clinical laboratory in ITRMC, they were presented with the di erent laboratory process ow, includ ing supply-chain management of laboratory supplies and reagents, participation in the quality assur ance programs including labora tory assessment of water testing, and analytical toxicology sections.

the journey in a pandemic world

A tale of two hospitals: Pushing forward in their digital journey

The HIMSS EMRAM (Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model) measures clinical outcomes, pa tient engagement and clinician use of EMR (electronic medical record) technology to strengthen organiza tional performance and health out comes across patient populations.

According to Ronald Yatco, Jr., Asian Hospital’s Associate Director for Information Technology, and In novation, two questions arose when the pandemic struck: How can the hospital provide the physicians with a platform to provide care to their patients while at home? How can the hospital provide patients access to their required diagnostic examina tion in a safe and seamless process especially during enhance commu nity quarantine?

Wake-up call

“THESE questions were a wake-up call and we had to respond to them. Since we had already laid out our digitalization plan, which includes implementation of different clinical systems in parallel with projects, we shifted to the development of appli cations for telemedicine and online appointment system,” he said.

“Asian Hospital adapted to the challenges brought about by the pandemic through the adoption and implementation of digital platforms to ensure safe and efficient process for the community, which is com posed of employees, physicians and patients,” he said.

Andres M. Licaros Jr., President, and CEO of Asian Hospital, said digital transformation would be the hospital’s core strategy this 2022 even as it will remain focused “on making every patient feel better as we make them well.”

Smart EMR

IN terms of their digital transfor mation journey, Yatco related that Asian Hospital was in various stages of development in their priority IT projects. Currently, the hospital is in the progressive deployment of the Electrical Medical Records (EMR) Platform. This platform contains controlled medical vocabularies that provide structured data inputs for health-care professionals.

“This is what you can call a Smart EMR which can help doctors deter mine the right terminology to use in terms of diagnosis. One of the Joint Commission International’s standards that we must adhere to is to avoid using abbreviations and this will help achieve that,” Yatco explained, adding that the target for complete deployment of the plat form is the third quarter of 2023.

Another platform that is being developed is the Vendor Neutral Ar chive (VNA)/Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS)/Ra diology Information System (RIS) which will provide an enterprise archiving system for medial stud ies, for images to video recordings, among others.

“So far, the images that are stored in the system can already be viewed in computers at the hospital. We hope to make the system available offsite by the second quarter of next year,” he said. The Health Informa tion System Pharmacy Model focus es on compounding and progressive deployment of the EMAR which is currently being used in identified nursing units.

Additionally, Asian Hospital is also implementing the IntelliSpace Cardiovascular Information System at the Asian Cardiovascular Insti tute. The objective of the project is to integrate with the HIS and Ven dor Neutral Archive platform to pro vide seamless processes and service to the Institute patients.

As for Asian Hospital’s future plans in terms of the digital jour

ney, Yatco said the main goal is to implement more systems and at the same time making sure that secu rity measures for data privacy are in place,” Yatco said.

The Medical City

WHEN it comes to hospitals taking on the digital transformation jour ney, Jose Xavier B. Gonzales, Chair man of the Board of The Medical City (TMC) Enterprise, said the pa tient should be at center stage. That done, there are four elements that need to be consid ered before you start the journey.

The first ele ment to consider is better diagnostic tools for patients.

Gonzales pointed out that these diagnostic tools should have artifi cial intelligence or AI embedded into them so that it can better interpret the results of the diagnostic tools.

“Ultimately, we would want to have a data ware house so that we can standardize and integrate all our diagnostic machines. This will also include therapeutics, pa tient registration, electronic medical records or EMR in conjunction with these digitized fil ters that tell you what these might be,” he explained.

To help achieve this goal, Gonzales said TMC is put ting up a Center for Diagnostic Medicine which will offer second opinions “on how we want to better diagnose ailments and prescribe.

“That is a mani festation of where TMC is going,” he said.

Prescriptions

THE second ele ment is to look at prescriptions.

Gonzales ex plained that “cli nicians set the hypothesis and AI enables it to bet ter define the hy pothesis and get better conclusions on what ails the patient.”

“So the direc tion we want to go is that we want to be able to do real time assessment using AI on a pa tient’s condition in a holistic manner because we have everything from the data ware house and iden tity cohorts and groups so that you can understand patters and then come up with solu tions or protocols for handling cas es,” he said.

The third ele ment is safety and, Gonzales said, “we want to get into as many revolution

ary technologies as possible that minimize invasive surgical inter ventions.”

One such technology is to develop a digital twin of the pa tient and then perform a simulated surgery on the twin. Safety should also be incorporated in all aspects of patient care.

Better patient care

THE last element is how to mobi lize better care for the patient. The idea here is to monitor the patient journey “either through the hospital

or where they seek care and want to have so called digital call but tons who are the clinicians and the nurses who will help get the patient through the journey.”

“We want to organize the work flow around the patient so that we have interconnected delivery of care across channels and this is where digitalization can help,” Gonzales said.

Another digital promise that TMC wants to fulfill, according to Gonzales, is offer health-care out

side of the hospital’s four walls.

“We have this bias for digital de velopment anytime, anywhere and basically more ambulatory, more home care management so that our vision is that we will be able to set up a hospital bed in the home includ ing visual, sensory and customized medical device tools at the minia turized level of a hospital room with related telehealth interventions that can manifest this whole digital commitment to bring the patient outside of the hospital for care,” he

said. To move forward in this digital journey, Gonzales said the projects should have full operational sup port, enterprise connectivity and making sure the at the hospital nev er goes down.

“Instead of being a general hospi tal, we have focused specializations depend on the diagnosis. With that, you will be able to better mobilize care around these institutional spe cialties. I guess that is what frames our digital journey,” Gonzales add ed.

Filinvest Land leading the way in green real estate development

By Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

THE Covid-19 pandemic has changed our lives in so many ways. It has brought to the forefront the importance of our health, not only physically but mentally as well. The real estate industry has taken this to heart and is now creating green and sustainable living spaces that Filipinos can call their own.

W hile the increased focus on green developments only became a trend as of late, Filinvest Land President Tristan Las Marias said Filinvest has been creating green communities for decades.

“ The home is an important space for Filipino families. It is where bonds are strengthened, passions thrive, and families grow. This is the reason why here at Fil invest Land, we continuously strive to stay attuned to the changing needs and lifestyles of Filipinos as we grow our property portfolio to

include residential subdivisions, resort-style mid-rise communi ties, and dynamic high-rise con dominiums for a wide spectrum of the market from smart-value to high-end. Knowing that the way forward is green, Filinvest Land will continue crafting green com munities for the better normal and beyond,” said Las Marias.

Dreams Built Green

This is where “Dreams Built Green” comes in, what Filinvest Land calls its long-term commitment to building

green developments. This is where Filinvest champions sustainable, future-forward principles to ensure healthy and quality living for its communities as part of its mantra of building the Filipino dream.

I believe that as one of the country’s most trusted developers, it is our responsibility to lead the Philippine real estate industry into going green. Bringing nature closer to our communities, prioritizing health and safety, as well as empowering our homeowners to lead productive lives are quintessential steps for a better normal,” added Las Marias.

Green Filinvest Land’s development blueprint includes incorporating green spaces into its developments, bringing nature’s splendor closer to its communities. Most projects have parks with lush greens and breathtaking views among their priceless features. The property de veloper says it also honors the nat ural topography where its projects are built on such as rolling terrains, waterways, and forests.

One Oasis Cebu, an Asian-

Balinese-inspired mid-rise condo community at the heart of uptown Mabolo district in Cebu, allows res idents to enjoy a quiet respite amid verdant environs. This urban oasis boasts of lush greens and generous open spaces that promote a healthy lifestyle for those who choose to call it home. Some residents also get a visual treat with the refresh ing views of the Cebu Country Club golf course from the comfort of their balconies.

Health

The physical and mental health of Filinvest Land’s residents is also a top priority. All of its residential communities feature leisure ameni ties such as swimming pools, club houses, jogging trails, and outdoor playgrounds that allow homeown ers to lead an active lifestyle. With air quality being an important fac tor, all living spaces are built to allow cross-ventilation. Green and blue networks also form an integral part of the master plan such as tree-lined roads, bikeable or walkable sections, and carless streets. The company’s mid-rise buildings allot 60 to 70

percent open spaces and employ the Venti-lite technology which allows for natural light and fresh air to flow throughout the building.

Somerset Lane, an American New England themed community located in Tarlac City features mod ern and complete amenities that give residents the opportunity to indulge in healthy leisure activities.

Somerset Lane’s range of ameni ties include a swimming pool, club house, basketball court, gazebo, picnic hut, multi-purpose court, and children’s playground. These are complemented by gardens, parks, and play areas that dot the residential subdivision.

Life Tech Filinvest Land wants to empower its residents to achieve their dreams and lead productive lives with living spaces designed for the needs of to day and tomorrow. Its developments are work-from-home and wi-fi ready, equipped with fiber-optics, and telco serviced. Units are spacious, with no obstructive beams or columns, al lowing homeowners to fully utilize the area. Ease and convenience come unparalleled with developments that are centrally located and ac cessible to daily essentials. Transitoriented developments also promise easy comings and goings. The com pany’s mixed-use complexes com bine living, leisure, and commercial spaces to put everything just an el evator ride away.

Verde Spatial, a smart-value condo development that features spacious units, breathable open spaces, and a range of amenities, enjoys a convenient and strategic location along Commonwealth Ave nue in Quezon City where everyday essentials, like malls, universities, and business hubs are within easy reach.

Verde Spatial is also right along the path of the ongoing MRT7 line with only a short walk away

from the planned Doña Carmen station. With its name derived from the Spanish word for green, Verde Spatial features modern minimalist architecture with nature-inspired accents that reflect the fresh vibe of the nearby La Mesa Ecopark. It of fers smartly-designed studio units fit for students and yuppies as well as two-bedroom units apt for grow ing families.

Conscious long-term effort

Filinvest Land’s green development thrust is one of its long-term strate gies to continue growing as one of the country’s leading developers. This can be seen across Filinvest Land’s three residential brands – the smart-value Futura by Filin vest, the middle-income Aspire by Filinvest, and the high-end Prestige by Filinvest – totaling over 250 on going projects in over 50 key areas nationwide.

It is no wonder that Filinvest Land is a 10-time BCI Asia Awardee as one of the country’s top 10 de velopers. It was also recently recog nized by Dot Property Awards 2022 as the Best Developer in North Lu zon and Mindanao for two years in a row. Adding to its accolades is the Best Developer in Visayas Award. The property developer also received Highly Commended recognitions from The Outlook Property Awards 2022 by Lamudi for the Best Devel oper for Luzon and Best Developer for Visayas and Mindanao.

Las Marias adds, “Filinvest Land adapts to the changing times. In doing so, we always keep Filipino families in mind as we strive to create their dream homes nation wide. While we have made great strides in creating green communi ties throughout our over 50 years of experience, it is our goal to be at the forefront of this movement and bring Dreams Built Green to more Filipinos across the archipelago.”

One Oasis Cebu residents get to enjoy generous open spaces

NAVIGATING @17:

Continuing the journey in a pandemic world

Health industry’s road to digital transformation is long, winding

Demand for real estate to increase despite interest, inflation rate hikes

By Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

By Anne Ruth P. Dela Cruz

reservation fees, split or no down payments, and free furniture, gad gets, and appliances such as airconditioning units.

In our view, developers should continue to be aggressive in of fering innovative and attractive promos to re-capture residential demand. Some developers may opt to offer early move-in pro mos or rent-to-own schemes for their ready-for-occupancy (RFO) units,” Collier said.

WHILE the country has been experiencing interest and inflation rate hikes over the past few months, demand for real estate is expected to increase during the remaining months of 2022.

In their quarterly report, Col liers, a premier national real es tate research firm, noted that the economy usually picks up during the latter part of the year due to unexpected economic growth and remittances from Overseas Fili pino workers.

the Covid-19 pandemic was a wake-up call for hospitals to drum up their digitalization efforts, two IT (information technology) experts believe that health institutions still have a long way to go in their digital transformation.

WHILE

The pre-selling condominium market is seeing headwinds includ ing the imposition of higher inter est rates. Despite this, tailwinds

such as higher-than-expected economic growth, improving busi ness and consumer sentiment and sustained remittances from Fili pinos working abroad are likely to support residential demand for the remainder of the year,” said Joey Roi Bondoc, Collier’s Associate Di rector for Research.

Dr. Mike Muin, Chief Infor mation Officer (CIO) of Metro Pa cific Health Tech, a telemedicine services company of Metro Pacific Investments Co., noted that many hospitals continue to struggle to meet the digitalization efforts dur ing the Covid-19 pandemic.

for horizontal projects is likely to be sustained especially in major investment destinations such as CALABARZON and Central Lu zon,” Bondoc added.

Attractive promos, discounts

many hospitals are already aware of this call for change and have started working on their digital transformation initiatives,” Dr. Muin said.

“But the good news is that

We are projecting a gradual pick up in condominium launches in Metro Manila while demand

The same view was shared by Brett Medel, CIO of Asian Insti tute of Management (AIM), who said the pandemic forced hospitals

It has been noted that develop ers have been offering attractive promos and discounts to attract potential buyers and investors.

Common offerings included lower

For non-RFO units, develop ers may offer extended payment terms even beyond turnover. These promos should be highlighted es pecially for a client base wary of rising inflation and mortgage rates,” it added.

and the rest of the health-care eco system to step up their digitaliza tion efforts. He noted that the IT departments of the various hospi tals had to scramble for technology solutions and raise funds for their digitalization efforts.

It is also important that de velopers upgrade their amenities to differentiate themselves in the

Continued on N4

Navigating @17: Continuing

Best places to raise a family in Cebu

CEBU is undoubtedly a fan

tastic place to live in. It is vibrant, dynamic, and full of exciting activities and destinations. It is no surprise then that many are looking for the perfect home in Cebu, especially one that best fits their family. One of the crucial con siderations for homebuyers is the neighborhood’s suitability for rais ing and nurturing a household. For tunately, there are many choices for families to thrive and grow, includ ing Camella communities in Cebu.

There is no better place to ex perience modern luxuries without breaking the bank than Cebu City. A business district, world-class hospitals, renowned schools, and entertainment hubs are within minutes of each other. The Cebu IT Park is where multinational com panies have built offices and run large-scale operations. The illustri ous San Carlos University (USC) and the University of San JoseRecoletos are some of the places in Cebu where students from various regions in Visayas and Mindanao come to get an education.

Because of the work and edu cational opportunities it offers, Cebu City is a hotspot for the most sought-after family homes in the province, of which Camella prop erties are at the forefront. Camella has two family-friendly subdivi sions with breathtaking views of

sloping hills and the sea within Ta lamban in Cebu City: Riverdale and Riverfront.

Riverdale is a verdant 13-hect are community set against the pan oramic hills of Talamban featuring Southern American themed luxury homes amidst hundreds of pine trees.

With an expanse of almost 10 hectares, Riverfront is a residential enclave featuring Camella’s bestselling model homes. This pine community features homes built on gently undulating terrain that fus es the efficiency of modern archi tecture with the natural contours of the land.

For those preferring a more

laidback and relaxed atmosphere, yet still want the sensibilities of city living, a home in Talisay might be more to their taste. It lies im mediately to the south of Cebu City, allowing residents to move through back and forth either di rections seamlessly. Camella in Talisay makes the search for the ideal home in Cebu easier. Linked to Cebu City via the South Coastal Highway, Azienda sits atop the hills of Talisay and comprises five enclaves: Lombardi, Roma, Milan, Firenze, and Genova, each of which stays true to its Italian theme.

Lapu-Lapu City is on Mactan Island, where the abundance of

beach resorts and natural sites is what every family will appreciate. It is also where the Mactan-Cebu In ternational Airport is located, mak ing Lapu-Lapu City a good jump-off point for travel. Most house-andlot units are also in-demand since it is a popular spot for many expa triates, lending a fusion of food and activities.

Despite the spike in homebuy ers in Lapu-Lapu City, Camella still guarantees a relaxing family life style in the gated Camella Mont serrat and Vittoria. Either develop ment places families at the heart of a resort city, where beautiful beach es are just a stone’s throw away.

One of the frontrunners out side of Metro Cebu has to be Bogo City due to the rapid developments in the area. Located north of Cebu City, Bogo has impressive estab lishments, and a slew of schools to choose from. Bogo is one of the most livable and coveted cities for families who put a premium on a home in Cebu, offering sanctuary from the rush of city living. The best of modern and rustic living with the Spanish-Mediterranean archi tecture is found in the gated17-ha Camella Bogo. The homes are per fect for those looking at starter homes or a place to put down roots for generations.

Carcar City has a tight knit community, preserving traditional Cebuano cultures. From the food and delicacies that fill their homes down to the local artisanal goods promoted by the local government, Carcar City takes pride in its resi dents and what they can do. This type of culture and community is something most families seek. Ca mella Carcar ensures that residents settle into the area seamlessly.

A home in Camella Carcar situ ates homeowners in the middle of this vibrant community, close to transportation lines and major centers. The 40-ha Camella Car car offers homes of contemporary beauty with its Spanish-inspired architecture. This charming com munity, conveniently connected to the main city center via the South Road project, captivates prospec tive investors with its blend of the exciting city rush and longed-for respite.

A family home is more than just the physical structure and a roof over one’s head. It should pro vide opportunities for growth and strengthen family ties. Camella in Cebu ensures that you get that and more with its line-up of develop ments.

For more information on Ca mella communities in Cebu, visit www.camella.com.ph, like and share @CamellaOfficial.

Republic Cement partners with Pure Oceans in diverting marine plastic litter

of using alternative fuels in the ce ment manufacturing process in the country, having over 20 years of coprocessing experience. By using al ternative fuels in the manufacture of cement, Republic Cement is able to reduce dependence on fossil fu els, such as coal. Republic Cement’s plants are equipped with baghouse filters and electrostatic precipi tators as well as state-of-the-art Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (CEMS) to ensure strict compliance with emissions and en vironmental standards.

GLOBALLY,

around 4.8 to 12.7 million tons of plas tic wastes enter the oceans every year according to an article published by the World Bank 2021. The same article revealed that 40 to 50 percent of these marine plastic wastes are single-use con sumer packaging and 80% of the global plastic wastes leaking into the ocean comes from Asia. In fact, the Philippines is the third largest contributor of marine plastic waste with over 750,000 tons of plastics entering the ocean annually.

To combat marine plastic pollution, a social innovation en terprise is working tirelessly in the coastal areas in Batangas and Davao to promote and implement sustainable solutions that reduce marine plastic litter and transform residents into active agents of ma rine conservation.

Led by its founder and CEO, Pia Roxas Ocampo, Pure Oceans is making significant impact in coastal municipalities of Mabini and Tingloy, Batangas and Samal Island, Davao by working closely with the locals and fisherfolks to take out plastic wastes from coastal waters and beaches.

Pure Oceans works with coastal communities that must live amidst tons of plastic waste brought from wealthier cities or municipalities by the currents, waves and wind. We help the com munities develop, prototype, test

and sustain plastic waste solutions that allow them to live healthier and more dignified lives despite this plastic crisis that impacts them directly,” Pure Oceans founder Pia Roxas Ocampo shares.

Republic Cement, through ecoloop, its official resource recov ery group, partnered with Pure Oceans in diverting non-recyclable and single-use plastic wastes col lected from coastal waters and shores to a more viable and sustain able disposal method called cement kiln co-processing.

Co-processing involves the reuse or recovery of thermal and mineral properties of qualified waste materials, such as residual plastic or rice husk, as alternative fuels for cement manufacturing.

“Co-processing is preferred over other unsustainable disposal methods such as incineration and physical/chemical treatment,” shared ecoloop Director Atty. An gela Edralin-Valencia. “The byproducts of these two disposal methods, i.e. ashes and treated wastes, would eventually end up in landfills. In contrast, co-process ing, which optimally operates at 1,450 degrees Celsius, destroys re sidual waste completely; hence, no residual by-products such as ash is produced. Noxious gas emissions are controlled within the combus tion chamber through gas and ma terial counter flow.”

Republic Cement is the pioneer

Pia Roxas Ocampo shares that the partnership with ecoloop con tinues to help their overall pro gram. “Republic Cement's ecoloop, with its cement-exchange program, has helped our Tingloy communi ties rebuild from typhoons, and construct the much-needed Materi al Recovery Facilities. But of course, the biggest help from ecoloop is their providing an alternative end point for traditionally unrecyclable plastics. With the Philippines' lack ing waste management system, our marine ecosystems are the default endpoint of plastic waste - dealing immediate damage & susceptibility to disease for our corals and fish. The plastic waste are already out there in nature - every piece of wrapper, bro ken toy or coffee cup lid - are urgent, direct threats to our marine environ ment. I am personally glad that there is an option like ecoloop allowing us to divert these threats.”

Republic Cement is proud to partner with organizations such as Pure Oceans,” said Republic Ce ment CEO Roman Menz. “Their deep commitment towards safe guarding the environment while making significant contributions to the Philippine Plastic Waste crisis is an inspiration for us to continue doing what we do in order to make a tangible impact on our communi ties, towards building a greener and Stronger Republic.”

For more information on how your organization can partner with ecoloop or for support in complying with the EPR Law, contact ecoloop@ republiccement.com.

Linked to Cebu City via the South Coastal Highway, Azienda sits atop the hills of Talisay with five enclaves, each of which stays true to its Italian them.

Riverdale is a community set against the panoramic hills of Talamban in Cebu featuring Southern American-themed luxury homes.

A local of Tingloy, Batangas carrying collected plastic wastes.

Continuing the journey

San Fernando City of Pampanga Golden

Triangle seen as emerging real estate hotspot

‘L

OCATION, location, loca

tion.” This oft-repeated real estate mantra stresses how important a property’s location can be. Seasoned investors and even average homebuyers know that a house’s location is viewed as equal ly important—or even more so— than the actual home itself.

W hile a newly acquired dwell ing can be upgraded through renovation and enhancements, a property’s prime location offers im mediate strategic value that is right up there with size, architectural de sign, interior layout, and flexibility of living spaces.

“Get the location right” is thus an incredibly useful tip property seekers must heed. After all, fea tures that make for thriving resi dential communities include prox imity to essential destinations; the presence of transport hubs; mod ern infrastructure such as bridges or spans; and well-built roads and highways—all signs of unmistak able economic progress.

I n the Philippines, one of the fastest-growing provinces is Pampanga in Central Luzon. Hav ing made it to the list of top ten richest in the country, Pampanga is touted as the next megalopolis by no less than former president

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, one of its most prominent natives.

L ong known for its colorful festivals, giant kaleidoscopic lan terns, exquisite woodcrafts, and superbly fashioned home furni ture, Pampanga is also a quick tourist draw as the Culinary Capi tal of the Philippines.

To date, the province has cu rated the Pampanga Golden Tri angle, which consists of the cit ies of Angeles; San Fernando, the capital of Pampanga and home of

BRIA San Fernando; and Mabala cat, as well as the municipalities of Porac, Floridablanca, Lubao, Guagua, Santa Rita and Bacolor. According to the province’s web site, these “represent fast-grow ing and high-density settlements within Pampanga,” a veritable hotspot for both property inves tors and homebuyers.

It’s no surprise that leading property developer BRIA Homes is smack-dab in the middle of all this, with BRIA San Fernando of

fering the most viable housing op tions to prospective homeowners in the Pampanga Golden Triangle. Property investors are, in fact, eyeing BRIA San Fernando as an idyllic residential haven for office workers and families of migrant workers, especially when the province fulfills its potential as a hub for international business.

A side from being easily acces sible from Metro-Manila through the North Luzon and Subic-ClarkTarlac Expressways, BRIA San

Fernando is also near the Clark Freeport Zone and the new Clark International Airport (CRK), which is envisioned to be Asia’s next premier gateway.

“Choosing locations with po tential for growth and further development is how BRIA Homes ensures that their properties pro vide lasting value for buyers and investors,” says BRIA Division Head for Central Luzon, Neil Al monte. “Thanks to the Pampanga Golden Triangle, BRIA San Fer

nando is one such residential development in the outskirts of Manila that presents an incred ibly high potential for real estate investment,” Almonte affirms.

Interested homebuyers can im merse themselves through BRIA’s 360 Virtual Tours in www.bria. com.ph and inquire online through our Facebook page at www.face book.com/BRIAHomesIncOfficial.

They can also reserve a house online through https://www.bria. com.ph/online-reservation.

Property investors are, in fact, eyeing BRIA San Fernando as an idyllic residential haven for office workers and families of migrant workers.

BRIA San Fernando presents an incredibly high potential for real estate investment.

NAVIGATING @17:

Continuing the journey in a pandemic world

Demand for real estate to increase despite interest, inflation rate hikes

market. It can be noted that some developers have incorporated fea tures such as built-in fiber optic internet connections, videocon ferencing areas and flexible work spaces which are suited for work from home or hybrid working ar rangements.

Green certifications

Developers can also explore green building certifications such as Leadership in Energy and En vironmental Design (LEED) or Building for Ecologically Respon sive Design Excellence (BERDE) for their projects.

“We believe that adopting green and sustainable features will play a crucial role in futureproofing residential projects,” Colliers said.

Colliers noted the comple tion of 730 units during the sec ond quarter with the completion of properties in Capitol Commons

in Ortigas and in Alabang. An ad ditional 10,100 units is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The rising costs of building ma terials has adversely affected the launch of new projects. Colliers pointed out that data from the Philippine Statistics Authority indicated that the wholesale price index for construction materials in Meto Manila had increased by 8.3 percent in May 2022, a 10year high.

Vacancy slightly dropping

In terms of vacancy, Colliers record ed overall vacancy in Metro Ma nila’s secondary residential market slightly dropped to 17.5 percent in the second quarter from 17.8 percent the previous quarter. Vacancies were seen dropping across all submarkets except for the Bay Area which covers 21 percent of total secondary units in Metro Manila.

We expect vacancy to slightly ease to 17.3 percent by the end of

2022, partly due to the return of more local and foreign employees to their traditional offices in Metro Manila,” Colliers reported.

W hile consumer and business sentiments generally improved, this was partly stifled by the rising interest rates. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ latest Consumer Ex pectations Survey show that the percentage of households planning to buy real estate increased to 5.6 percent in the second quarter from three percent during the same pe riod last year.

BSP’s Business Expectations Survey revealed that the business outlook improved to 38.2 percent during the period from 35.8 per cent in the first quarter.

Monitor interest rates

Developers and investors were advised to monitor the interest rate as the BSP plans to increase it even further during the remaining months of 2022.

Rents in the secondary mar

ket started to pick up in the second quarter by 0.4 percent, the first increase recorded after eight con secutive quarters of decline. Col liers also recorded prices increasing by 0.8 percent. As such, rents and prices are expected to rebound by 1.2 percent and 3.2 percent respec tively due to the economic growth and office leasing recovery.

With more companies adopt ing hybrid working set-ups and co-working arrangements, Crown Asia, a Vista Land company, noted that more companies are looking for more flexible spaces that will act as satellite offices. Colliers predicts that co-working spaces will expand by 10 percent in the next three years.

Real estate growth is also ex pected in the provinces outside of the National Capital Region because of government infrastructure pro grams. Colliers said Bulacan is ex pected to be an attractive residential investment location because of the construction of new highways and the MRT-7. Laguna and Cavite will continue to be top real estate invest ment locations as well.

Colliers projected that the re laxed travel restrictions in major cities and mainstream vaccination rollout should increase consumer traffic and spending in malls and shopping centers. Because of this, Colliers said retail rates would in crease by one percent in the next few months and that more retail spaces would be taken up.