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Govt ramps up efforts to secure PHL’s dwindling water supply amid climate change, growing population

TOO LITTLE, O

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

N October 14, senators passed and approved on final reading Senate Bill 1844, which authorizes President Duterte to expedite the processing and issuance of national and local government permits, licenses and certifications in times of national emergency. The House of Representatives, however, has yet to come up with a counterpart measure. PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 48.5900

The bill, which covers all government agencies under the Executive branch, will give the President the power to remove bureaucratic red tape, accelerate and streamline regulatory processes for new or pending applications from businesses for government permits, licenses, clearances, certifications, or authorizations, or if the President deemed it necessary, suspend or waive the requirements for securing them. Such measure, once enacted into law, will pave the way for the Duterte administration to accelerate the implementation of flagship projects, notably, those involving

the water resource sector, a perennial problem that over the years has become grossly alarming. As of August 19, 2020, a Revised List of Infrastructure Projects of the National Economic and Development Authority identified a total of 104 priority projects, including 12 infrastructure projects that will boost the country’s water security—both for irrigation and domestic consumption. These are the Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project, National Irrigation Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project, Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project, Balog-Balog Multipurpose

Project Phase II, Tarlac, Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Stage II, Iloilo, Lower Agno River Irrigation System Improvement Project, Pangasinan, ADB Water District Development Sector Projects, Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project, New Centennial Water Source Kaliwa Dam Project, and Bohol Northeast Basin Multipurpose Dam Project. The P12-billion New Centennial Water Source Kaliwa Dam Project, a Marcos-era project revived by the Duterte administration, is currently being pushed by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to boost water supply for the estimated 15

ETIENNE HARTJES | DREAMSTIME.COM

TOO BIG

million water consumers in Metro Manila and nearby towns in Bulacan, Cavite, and Rizal provinces.

Climate-change factor

THE Philippines’s water security challenges are aggravated by its vulnerability to climate-change impacts to this very important economic resource, especially because of the threats of new and emerging infectious diseases such the Covid-19 pandemic. Aside from water shortage and severe flooding, climate-change impact on water may eventually cause a decline in food production Continued on A2

n JAPAN 0.4635 n UK 63.5752 n HK 6.2697 n CHINA 7.2685 n SINGAPORE 35.8122 n AUSTRALIA 34.5669 n EU 57.4528 n SAUDI ARABIA 12.9563

Source: BSP (October 23, 2020)

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A2 Saturday, October 24, 2020

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On Brexit’s front lines: Covid is dry run for upheaval By Megan Durisin, Viren Vaghela & Jennifer Ryan | Bloomberg News

EAVING the European Union was supposed to be the most challenging time for Britain’s chief executive officers. Then, of course, came the coronavirus pandemic.

The unprecedented upheaval tested the ability of many companies to keep customers, secure supply chains and recruit and retain workers. And these are precisely the flashpoints that have raised questions about the UK’s preparedness to exit the single market at the end of the year. Bloomberg got back in touch with company chiefs who have been sharing their views as Brexit unfolded. There were mixed opinions on what might happen next. But in one way or another, they’re all managing to navigate the pandemic and Brexit has been relegated to a lesser issue. Chicken and turkey farmer Traditional Norfolk Poultry is suffering from a shortage of workers after migrant labor dried up, but gained from a jump in demand as more people cooked at home during lockdown. Peer-to-peer lender Funding Circle Holdings Plc. had a revival in its business with small companies snuffed out by the pandemic, only to make up for it by being a distributor for the government’s rescue loan program. Ebac Ltd., a maker of dehumidifiers and washing machines in northeast England, mitigated a sixweek loss of production by boosting sales in the US. Business is now back

to about 90 percent of where it was, according to CEO John Elliott. He said the pandemic took up 60 percent of his time when it escalated in March and April. Now it’s about 15 percent, he said. Brexit, which he strongly supports, by comparison is “probably 0.0001 percent.” “2020 was going to be good but we’ve just been knocked on the head,” Elliott said. “We’re more inefficient because the supply chain’s out of joint. We can get through that. I’m very confident about the future.”

Deadlocked

WHILE that outlook suggests the floundering UK economy contains pockets of strength, another precarious period is on the horizon. Talks between Britain and the EU over a post-Brexit trade agreement remain deadlocked. The UK government, meanwhile, is warning businesses to get ready to leave the single market without a deal. On a call with industry leaders on Tuesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove acknowledged that businesses had been busy with the pandemic, though said they should be preparing for the changes Brexit will bring. For Traditional Norfolk Poultry’s managing director, Mark Gor-

ton, it’s a question of how to keep and recruit workers. His district in eastern England backed leaving the EU, partly due to concerns over immigration, while he wanted to remain. Some of his staff—many of whom hail from eastern Europe—departed within a week of the 2016 vote. When the pandemic spurred border closures throughout Europe, the agricultural industry put out a call to rally furloughed British workers to pick crops. Gorton said his company didn’t get a single application from locals for its meatpacking and farm jobs, despite constant posts in local newspapers and on social media. Covid-19 was a “sort of trial run for what’s going to happen as far as labor availability if we can’t get the Eastern Europeans workers we rely on,” said Gorton. “As much as we would love to employ local labor, it’s just not there.” Sales of its free-range and organic birds have climbed throughout the pandemic as Brits hunkered down. More UK farmers are also signing on to raise poultry in a bid to diversify their business on the back of Brexit. Raising and processing the extra chickens, though, requires more workers.

Far bigger problem

THE company is offering bonuses and extra training to keep current staff. Another extra cost is for feed after a poor harvest for wheat, which accounts for about 70 percent of the birds’ diet. The company also boosted stockpiles of packaging and fuel to a 10 to 12 week supply, instead of the usual 6 to 8 weeks to cope with any future disruption mainly from

MARK GORTON, managing director of Traditional Norfolk Poultry Ltd. LUKE MACGREGOR/BLOOMBERG

“2020 was going to be good but we’ve just been knocked on the head. We’re more inefficient because the supply chain’s out of joint. We can get through that. I’m very confident about the future.”—Elliot the pandemic. Gorton’s 250-person workforce is keeping operations running. But the firm could take on another 40 or 50 people. “We’re working really hard to embed our workforce to make them really want to stay and work here,” he said. “But inevitably we’ll lose some because they won’t feel comfortable working here in the poten-

tial political environment they’ll be in, which is a real shame.” At Funding Circle, that Brexit backdrop initially put a dampener on business. The Withdrawal Agreement that finally took the UK out of the EU in January and into a transition period led to an increase in activity, CEO Samir Desai said. The company listed on the London Stock Exchange in Septem-

ber 2018, betting that demand for loans would remain constant, even as Brexit slowed economic growth. Businesses that might have been putting plans on hold decided to then move forward, he said. “And then Covid happened,” said Desai. The effect of the pandemic dwarfs the effect of Brexit, he said. “The IPO raised significant funds to see us through a black swan event, we just didn’t anticipate the event being a global pandemic.” The company, though, has played a big role in the government’s virus aid plan. It had approved £1.2 billion ($1.6 billion) of loans for business interruption as of September 20, or 20 percent of the total nationwide. Even with a trade deal, the main issue is the effect on the economy and how that impacts demand for small-business loans, said Desai, who opposed leaving the EU at the referendum. At Ebac, Elliott said that such things as the potential for queues at the border, another hammering of the pound or soaring trade tariffs are just short-term issues that need to be navigated. One example in the pandemic was filter material for dehumidifiers, which became scarcer because of the demand for face masks. “These things sort themselves out,” Elliott said. “The coronavirus has been a far bigger problem.”

Too little, too big Continued from A1

and an increase in water-related diseases in the Philippines, an official of the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) said. Reporting on the Status of Philippine Water during a webinar held October 19 as part of the 31st National Statistics Month, Josephine R. Billones, head of the Water Resource Assessment Section of the NWRB, said the country’s water resource is under various threats. She said the Philippines has been experiencing water scarcity since 2007. While blessed with an abundant supply of freshwater that is replenished every time it rains, the Philippines may be facing severe water shortage due to increasing demand brought by population growth. During his talk, Billones presented the current water resource situation in Philippines. The Philippines’s total water potential is estimated at 146 billion cubic meters and it receives an average rainfall of 2,400 mm per year, says Billones.

Not enough despite abundance

RICH in both surface and groundwater, the Philippines boasts of having 421 rivers and 221 lakes. It also has 18 principal rivers. Its aggregate surface water supply with 85 percent dependability is estimated at 125.8 billion cubic meters. It also has a groundwater supply of approximately 20.2 billion cubic meters. However, Billones said around 58 percent of the country’s total water resource is already allocated for consumptive use for various purposes based on the water permits issued by the NWRB. “Irrigation accounts for more than 78 percent of allocated water both for surface and groundwater as of June 2020,” she said. Meanwhile, for non-consumptive use, around 60.43 percent goes to power and only 30.93 percent goes to irrigation. By purpose, municipal is a major water user for groundwater accounting for more than 53 percent of the total allocated groundwater. For surface water, irrigation is the major user of water, accounting for 81 percent of the total allocated surface water.

“Based on the water index threshold, the Philippines is already experiencing water scarcity since 2007. Water availability is 1,000 to 1,700 cubic meters per capita,” she reported. “Although theoretically, the country is assured of supply because of high precipitation, seasonal variation is considerable and geographic distribution is biased. Together with increasing demand, this often results in supply shortages especially during the dry season,” she said. Based on a study, she said, there are now 11 water-stressed rivers in the Philippines. These are Cagayan, Agno, Pampanga, Pasig, Laguna, Bicol, Jalaur, Cagayan de Oro, Tagoloan, Tagum, Ligubanon, Davao and Agus Rivers. “Water in these rivers is nearly, if not fully, allocated already,” she said.

‘Constraints’

ON top of these, she said nine highly urbanized areas identified in the 1998 Japan International Cooperation masterplan are already groundwater constraint areas, where extraction or use is exceeding the water recharging capacity. These are Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Baguio, Bacolod, Zamboanga, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Iloilo. Moreover, she said the NWRB also identified three other areas as water constraint areas—Cavite, Laguna and Batangas. “These water constraint areas are experiencing groundwater deficit,” she said. According to Billones, as a water regulatory body, the NWRB has issued a moratorium on groundwater development. “No permit will be given in these areas,” she said. The policy is now in effect for Metro Manila and Metro Cebu, she said. According to Billones, addressing water challenges becomes even more urgent under climate change. “Study revealed that there are certain areas in the country experiencing a decline in groundwater. In 1991 and 2004 studies show that there has been lowering of groundwater in Metro Manila and surrounding areas.” In 1991 the lowering of groundwater was observed only in

Metro Manila. However, she said, in a 2004 study, many areas in the Philippines are now below the mean sea level, which means the groundwater level is significantly lowered. She said this is detected in Bacolod, Bacoor and Tawi-Tawi. There is also some lowering of groundwater level in Dasmariñas, Cavite, she said. “Lowering of groundwater level increases chances of saltwater intrusion,” she warned. Saltwater intrusion, she said, affects groundwater supply. As more people use groundwater, the more an area becomes vulnerable to saltwater intrusion. “Population growth, increased economic demand and improved standards of living are placing tremendous pressures both on the resource supply and service delivery systems,” she said. During her talk, Billones said water systems, especially in highly urbanized areas, are polluted. “Solid waste management is a major concern. Declining water quality affects water quantity. It limits the usability of water,” she said. According to Billones, the Philippines is highly susceptible to typhoons, being situated in the typhoon belt. Moreover, the projected increase in temperature means much intense typhoons. “Even monsoon rains are pouring more water and causing rivers to overflow,” she said.

Shared responsibility

ACCORDING to Billones, the weather is becoming wild and rainfall pattern is becoming variable because of climate change, which impacts water resources. Either the Philippines will have a problem with “too much water or too little water.” A higher temperature is also affecting water quality, she said. As it triggers sea level rise, there will be a saltwater intrusion to groundwater in coastal areas and estuaries. In effect, she said, there will be a water shortage, a decrease in crop production, flooding, and increased water-related diseases. Billones appealed to the public to wisely use water, saying conserving this very important economic resource is “a shared responsibility.”

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Government relaxes entry rules for FNs By Samuel P. Medenilla

ore foreign nationals (FNs) will now be allowed entry into the country under the new issuance of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF). In Resolution 80, Series of 2020, the IATF decided to further relax its restrictions for the entry of FNs in the country. Presidentia l spokesman Ha r r y Roque sa id a mong t he FNs who w i l l now be a l lowed to ent r y in loca l a ir por ts a nd sea por ts a re t hose w it h v isas issued by t he Bu reau of Imm ig rat ion pu rsu a nt to E xec ut ive Order 226, or t he Omnibus Invest ments Code, as a mended a nd Republ ic Act 8756. A lso exempted from the entr y restrictions are those with 47(a)(2) visas issued by the Department of Justice, as well as those visas issued by the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. “The entry of these foreign nationals to the country, however, is subject to conditions, such as they must have valid and existing

visa at the time of the entry and must likewise have a pre-booked accredited quarantine facility,” Roque said. They will also be subject to maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry and must follow applicable immigration laws, rules and regulations. Roque stressed that some FNs, including those with tourist visa, will still not be allowed to travel in the country for now. Last March, the IATF ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to stop issuing visas to FNs as part of government efforts to limit the entry of possible Covid carriers into the country. However, it exempted FNs who are spouses and children of Filipino citizens, as well as employees of other countries and international organizations from the said restriction. In a related development, Roque said the IATF has also removed the antigen testing requirement for outbound Filipino travelers. To recall, the IATF required the said travelers to undergo antigen testing within 24 hours before departure as a pre-boarding requirement.

Susan Ople is first Filipino appointed as trustee of UN Trust Fund for Human Trafficking victims

ormer labor undersecretary and overseas Filipino workers (OFW ) advocate Susan “Toots” Ople has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking, according to Director General and Executive Director Ghada Fatha Waly of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Records obtained from the Department of Foreign Affairs show that Susan, youngest daughter of the late Foreign Affairs Secretary and Senate President Blas F. Ople, will be the first Filipino appointed to the said position. “We are very pleased to have a person of your caliber and experience partnering with UNODC in its endeavor top help those who suffer from injustice and violations of their rights,” the UN official said in her letter to Ople. “I am confident that with your invaluable support and guidance, many victims and survivors of human trafficking around the world will be able to receive much needed assistance,” Waly said. The Trust Fund is an integral element of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, adopted by the General Assembly in July 2010. Since its establishment, the Trust Fund has provided direct humanitarian, legal and financial assistance to thousands of victims through grassroots nongover nment organization (NGO) projects. Ople joins other members of the Board from Belgium, Armenia, Nigeria and Panama. “I look forward to bringing the Philippine experience in the fight against human trafficking with me as a trustee of the UN Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking. I am also eager to be of service not only to abused Filipino overseas workers but victims of slavery and human trafficking of all nationalities across the globe,” Ople said. The OFW advocate heads the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute, a nonprofit

organization that has been helping distressed OFWs for the last 16 years. The Ople Center represents the NGO Sector for Migrant Workers in the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT). It was the IACAT, through the Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs, that nominated Ople to the position. Accord ing to UNODC , t he role of the Board of Trustees is to provide strategic guidance on the Fund, to consider proposed projects for financing, and at this point, in particular, to support efforts to mobilize resources. Ople served as labor undersecretary during then Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas’s term under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In 2013, she was hailed by the US State Department as one of its Trafficking in Persons Heroes in the Annual Trafficking in Persons Report. In 2010, she was the first Filipino to receive the Alumni Achievement Award from the Kennedy School of Government Harvard University for her fight against human trafficking. Various OFW groups welcomed the appointment of Ople to the UN Trust Fund as this would enable her to bring the concerns of vulnerable and enslaved migrant workers all over the world. The Center for OFW Reintegration and Empowerment (CORE) headed by Capt. Gaudencio Morales lauded the appointment of Ople to the UN Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking. “She has been leading the fight against human trafficking for years. There is no better choice especially coming from the Philippines.” Luther Calderon of the Kabalikat ng Migranteng Pilipino (KAMPI) said Ople will be the voice of migrant workers in Southeast Asia that have suffered greatly at the hands of human traffickers and illegal recruiters. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that could only come from decades of hard work and dedication to the cause of m ig ra nt workers’ r ights,” Calderon said.

Saturday, October 24, 2020

Philippine stocks top the world this week as foreigners return By Ian Sayson

Bloomberg News

hilippine stocks are beating global peers this week after having spent much of the year in the company of the world’s worstperforming equity markets. T he t u r n a rou nd h a s been spurred by economic reopenings and a drop in the pace of Covid-19 cases, which saw foreign investors turning net buyers of local stocks on Wednesday after 28 days of selling. The Philippine

Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) climbed for a fifth straight day on Friday, taking its advance this week to almost 10 percent, the biggest among more than 90 global equity indexes tracked by Bloomberg.

Some market watchers had predicted a rebound in Philippine shares following their stark underperformance to regional peers, citing a potential rise in consumer spending and positive seasonal returns for local stocks in the fourth quarter. Yet given the concerns about a recovery in corporate earnings, this week’s sharp ascent is already making investors wary. “The market could still trend up from further economic reopening, slowing Covid cases and healthier earnings” but “valuation is a bit high,” according to Robert Ramos, head of trust and investments group at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. “These are exciting times but people are still on guard

with their money.” The PSEi gauge is now trading at 17.6 times its 12-month estimated earnings, the highest since March 2018, and versus a fiveyear average multiple of 16.7. It may be tough for the index to go too far beyond 6,400 this year unless a successful coronavirus vaccine is produced, Ramos said. The index jumped 2.2 percent on Friday to close at 6,484.06. “This bounce must be validated by earnings, for it’s primarily driven by expectations the economy will improve as it further opens up,” says Fitzgerald Aclan, CIO at United Coconut Planters Bank. “If numbers disappoint, we’d move downwards and sideways again.”

SMC expressways ready for cashless tolls but shift to RFID extended to November 30

o l lway s o f S a n M i g u e l Co r p. ( S M C ) — t h e S o u t h e r n Ta g a l o g Arterial Road (STAR), South Luzon Expressway (Slex), the Skyway System, Naia Expressway, and the Tarlac-PangasinanLa Union Expressway ( TPl ex)—are ready to implement full cashless toll collection on November 2, as mandated by the government, the company said in a statement. However, the surge in the number of motorists rushing to convert to the Autosweep RFID system have resulted in long queues at

the installation stations, particularly these past two weeks. As such, many motorists have yet to secure their RFID stickers, even as the date of implementation draws near. For this reason, the company said it would be extending the issuance of its free RFID stickers to November 30. “By November 2, all lanes at our toll plazas will be fully capable and converted to electronic toll collection, in full compliance with the government’s mandate. However, after careful study and deliberation, and especially in consideration of so many

motorists who have not been able to secure an Autosweep RFID account because of the volume of applications we have today, we have decided to extend the deadline to November 30,” the company said. “This means that from November 2 to 30, vehicles without RFID will still be allowed to enter the expressways. Hopefully, this will give more time for motorists to get their RFID stickers,” the company said. However, SMC emphasized that November 30 will be the absolute deadline. After which, vehicles without RFID stickers will not be

Save the Children PHL launches Christmas fund drive to support young learners’ needs

hristmas is the most awaited season for most Filipinos, especially children, but the Covid-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the way the upcoming holidays will be celebrated—it’s going digital! Save the Children Philippines is launching e-Save Natin ang Pasko, an online fund-raising campaign that encourages everyone to unite in saving the Christmas spirit through a series of joyous and meaningful activities to provide joy and hope to children. These include 22 million learners, who have been experiencing major challenges such as the lack of access to learning materials and Internet connection, as they struggle to learn from home. The proceeds of the Christmas fund-raising campaign will support the learning needs of children in poor households in Metro Manila, typhoon-stricken places in Eastern Visayas, and the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao. It will also support children with disabilities, those from indigenous communities and from

hard to reach areas. “Even if classes are conducted through distance learning, or will resume via face-toface, millions of children will still need our support as they continue to be deprived of their right to education since their families do not have the means to support their learning needs,” said Atty. Alberto Muyot, chief executive officer of Save the Children Philippines. e-Save Natin ang Pasko also promotes the importance of a nurturing home through the “Mapagkalingang Tahanan” advocacy—where every member of the family, especially children, receives the support they need so they learn, survive, and are protected. “Mapagkalingang Tahanan” emphasizes the critical role of parents, guardians, and caregivers in the continued learning of children and aims to provide them the knowledge and skills to facilitate their children’s learning. Also, in keeping with the tradition of Christmas caroling, e-Save Natin ang Pasko

f e at u re s “ N a m a m a s ko p o ! ” — a f u n g ro u p activity by schools, families, and companies showcasing their musical talent and creativity. e-Save Natin ang Pasko will be highlighted by a digital concert “Awit para sa mga Bata” in December where famous singers will serenade the audience in the Philippines and those living abroad with Christmas songs. The digital concert will be produced by prominent theater artists Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo and Michael Williams, together with Save the Children Philippines’ Bianca Elizalde. Donors and participants who will pledge their support to e-Save Natin ang Pasko will receive tokens of appreciation and a chance to be featured on the social-media pages of Save the Children and its Ambassadors Katarina Rodriguez, Xia Vigor, and Ria Atayde. “Education empowers children especially those in dire situations, and supporting their learning needs will save their lives and their future,” said Muyot.

Caritas Manila, Project Ugnayan distribute P1.7 billion worth of relief amid pandemic By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

a rita s M a n i l a , a l o n g w i t h P ro j e c t U gn aya n , ha s a n no u n ce d t h at a s o f September 2020, it has distributed P1.7 billion worth of assistance to those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Project Ugnayan is a fund- raising initiative led by the country’s leading corporations and business families in cooperation with the Philippine D isaster R esilience Foundation (PDRF). It is headed by Ayala Corp. President and Chief Operating Officer Fernando Zobel de Ayala. Projec t Ugnayan harnessed the huge net work of parishes and volunteers under Caritas Manila to distribute gift vouchers that can be redeemed in nearby groceries to challenged communities in Metro Manila and neighboring areas. A total of 1.37 million poor households in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna have so far benefited as of September 2020 with

over P1.37 billion worth of gift certificates. Moreover, the program has benefited some 1,909,153 families, or 9,611,835 individuals. Caritas Manila also gave out an additional P318 million worth of food and non-food items to those falling under the classifications of poorest families, vulnerable groups, service frontliners, poor dioceses and individuals in crisis. In just three days after the imposition of the lockdown, Caritas Manila launched its Contra Covid program that involved the immediate distribution of 143,624 Manna Food Bags, 16,893 Ligtas Covid Kits, assorted food and non-food items, as well as gift vouchers in Metro Manila and surrounding dioceses. “During this pandemic, we endeavor to provide immediate charity aid to the poor and marginalized. Covid-19 is not only a health crisis but more so a grave economic concern that affects almost everyone,” said Caritas Manila Executive Director Anton CT Pascual. Fr. Pascual cites the sentiment of a vendor

he talked to who said, “ Mas takot po kaming magutom ang pamilya naming ngayong quarantine.” Ca r i t a s M a n i l a re s p o n d s t o d i s a s t e r s through its Damayan program. For Covid-19, D a m a y a n c o o rd i n a t e d w i t h t h e I n s t i t u t e of Ser vant Leadership and Stewardship to mobilize volunteers for relief distribution and groundwork. At p re s e n t, Ca r i t a s M a n i l a c o n t i n u e s to address rising hunger and pover t y and i s n ow p rov i d i n g a s s i s t a n ce to d i s p l a ce d public-utilit y drivers. To support Caritas Manila, you can donate to Account Name: Caritas Manila Inc. to the following peso savings accounts: BDO 0005600-45905; BPI 3063-5357-01; and Metrobank 175-3-17506954-3. For dollar deposits, BPI savings account 3064-0033-55 or USHARE Unionbank savings account 3064-0033. Donations are also accepted via Paypal and all Cebuana Lhuillier branches.

allowed to enter SMC operated tollways including the Skyway, Slex, NaiaX, STAR Tollways and TPlex. Motorists who do not conform to the government mandate will have to be apprehended and issued a citation ticket, it said. To provide more convenience to motorists, SMC has set up installation and reloading lanes at toll plaza entry points, in addition to the installation and reloading stations already set up in strategic locations in Metro Manila and Luzon provinces.

DOLE seeks addl ₧3B for AKAP aid program

he Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is now eyeing an additional P3-billion funding for its Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) for next year. In a phone interview on Friday, International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) Director Alice Visperas said the new funding seeks to benefit an additional 300,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFW). The DOLE funding request came as labor officials and migration experts said they anticipate the novel coronavirus disease may displace OFWs from their jobs until next year. Under A K A P, OFWs, whose employ ment were affected by Cov id-19, w il l be g iven a onetime P10,000 cash aid. DOLE already submitted the proposed additional funding to Congress during its deliberations for the 2021 national budget last week. Visperas said they are hopeful it will be approved by lawmakers, who have expressed support for the said program. As of October 20, 2020, DOLE was already able to use P3.082 billion to 302,198 AKAP beneficiaries.

Chartered flight

Visperas also said DOLE will charter a flight for some 300 OFWs, who intend to fly back to China for employment. The OFWs sought the assistance of the government to secure a flight to China after they complained that third-party agents are charging P100,000 to P200,000 each for plane tickets. The affected OFWs are mostly teachers who went home during the Christmas holidays last year but were unable to return to China because of the pandemic. Visperas said they are targeting to arrange the chartered flight before the end of the month. “The OFWs will be ones shouldering their fare. We just helped them to get a good rate [for their flight],” Visperas said. Samuel P. Medenilla

Saturday, October 24, 2020

The World BusinessMirror

FDA okays first Covid-19 drug: antiviral remdesivir

S regulators on Thursday approved the first drug to treat Covid-19: remdesivir, an antiviral medicine given to hospitalized patients through an IV.

The drug, which Californiabased Gilead Sciences Inc. is calling Veklur y, cut the time to recover y by five days—from 15 days to 10 on average—in a large study led by the US National Institutes of Health. It had been authorized for use on an emergency basis since spring, and now becomes the first drug to win full Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for treating Covid-19. President

Donald Trump received it when he was sickened earlier this month. Veklury is approved for people at least 12 years old and weighing at least 88 pounds (40 kilograms) who are hospitalized for a coronavirus infection. For patients younger than 12, the FDA will still allow the drug’s use in certain cases under its previous emergency authorization. The drug works by inhibiting a substance the virus uses to make

copies of itself. Certain kidney and liver tests are required before starting patients on it to ensure it’s safe for them and to monitor for any possible side effects. And the label warns against using it with the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, because that can curb its effectiveness. “We now have enough knowledge and a growing set of tools to help fight Covid-19,” Gilead’s chief medical officer, Dr. Merdad Parsey, said in a statement. The drug is either approved or has temporary authorization in about 50 countries, he noted. Its price has been controversial, given that no studies have found it improves survival. Last week, a large study led by the World Health Organization found the drug did not help hospitalized Covid-19 patients, but that study did not include a placebo group and was

less rigorous than previous ones that found a benefit. The FDA’s approval statement noted that, besides the NIH-led one, two other studies found the drug beneficial. Gilead charges $2,340 for a typical treatment course for people covered by government health programs in the United States and other developed countries, and $3,120 for patients with private insurance. The amount that patients pay out of pocket depends on insurance, income and other factors. So far, on ly steroids such as dexamethasone have been shown to cut the risk of dying of Covid-19. The FDA also has given emergency authorization to using the blood of survivors, and two companies are currently seeking similar authorization for experimental antibody drugs. AP

Santa Claus won’t be coming to Macy’s NY store this year

EW YORK—Macy’s said Sa nt a C l au s won’t be greeting kids at its flagship New York store this year due to the coronavirus, interrupting a holiday tradition started nearly 160 years ago. More than a quarter of a million people come to see Santa at Macy’s in New York each year, the company said, making it hard to create a safe environment during a pandemic. Before taking a picture with the jolly old man, crowds walk in tight quarters through a maze-like Santaland t h at ’s f i l led w it h C hr ist m a s trees, running toy trains and elves in green costumes.

Santa also won’t be showing up at its Chicago and San Francisco stores too, which have similar Santalands. But he will still appear at the end of the televised Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, the company said. With the coronavirus still raging, stores and malls are having to rework their typical holiday strategy, which had been to pack as many people through its doors as possible. Walmart, for example, is holding its Black Friday deals over four weeks, instead of one day. But the decision by Macy’s differs from big mall owners, which will still go ahead with in-person

Huge cash piles poised to boost yuan should Biden win, Citi says

Joe Biden victory in November’s US presidential elections has the potential to put a fresh charge in the yuan, according to Citigroup Inc. strategists. That’s because Chinese exporters expect a more predictable USChina trade relationship under a Democrat government, and will start selling their dollar cash piles to buy yuan, the strategists wrote in a note dated Thursday. Chinese firms are currently converting just 46 percent of their monthly exports into local currency, far below the historical average of 56 percent in data going back to 2013, according to Citi calculations. Surging inflows into higheryielding yuan assets pushed the Chinese currency to its strongest since July 2018 this week, following its best quarter in 12 years. But Chinese exporters have largely stayed out of the rally, Citi says, having built up $225 billion worth of long dollar positions since trade tensions escalated in May 2018.

Chinese corporates “hold a cautious view on uncertainty regarding US election results, especially given the 2016 experience,” strategists Lu Sun and Gaurav Garg wrote in the note. “If a Biden win is confirmed, we expect the Chinese exporters to finally start offloading USD, which could drive the next leg of RMB appreciation.” The yuan has continued to rally this month even as Chinese authorities took steps to rein in currency strength. Officials will soon allow onshore institutional investors to buy more overseas assets, Caixin reported this week, in what could be the largest relaxation to capital controls since before the yuan’s shock devaluation five years ago. Chinese exporters could offload $22 billion of foreign exchange per month if they were to increase their conversion ratio to the historical average, Citi strategists wrote. Corporates are likely to speed up their dollar selling toward the end of the year and the Lunar New Year, they said. Bloomberg News

Santa visits by banning kids from sitting on his lap and making sure they stay 6 feet away from him. Macy’s has been using Santa Claus to draw crowds to its New York store since the early 1860s, calling itself “The Home of Santa Claus” for decades. And Macy’s had a starring role in the 1947 film Miracle on 34th Street, where a girl discovers the real Santa inside the store. Macy’s will be offering a free online experience on its web site at the end of November, where families can play games, get a virtual tour of Santa’s workshop and take a selfie with Santa. “Moving to a virtual engagement

will safely bring the magic of Santa Claus to children of all ages this year,” Macy’s said in a news statement to The Associated Press. The pandemic has forced Macy’s to tweak other holiday traditions. In order to deter crowds, its annual Thanksgiving Day parade won’t go through its usual route through Manhattan. Instead, floats, performers and giant cartoon balloons will be filmed for TV in front of the Herald Square store in New York. Macy’s also ditched a one-night firework spectacle on the Fourth of July, and held smaller unannounced firework shows to stop people from gathering to watch. AP

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

E.V. mania turns Asian battery makers into ‘power brokers’

utomakers are investing billions of dollars to bring new electric vehicles (EV) to consumers in the US and other global markets, but their success hinges on securing the most critical and expensive component: the battery. A handful of companies based in China, Japan and South Korea make automotive-grade battery cells, which has upset the traditional dynamic between carmakers and parts suppliers. These battery giants—though little known to the general public and relatively new to the auto industry’s sprawling supply chain—are key to manufacturers’ goals of bringing dozens of new EV models to US showrooms by 2025. “There are not enough batteries to fulfill the automakers’ near-term promises,” said Sam Jaffe, managing director of Cairn ERA, an energy-storage consulting firm in Boulder, Colorado. “A lot of new battery factories are being built. But there is a battery-supply problem in the near term. All of the incumbent automakers are scrambling at this point.” Strained logistics, production delays and battles over intellectual property have heightened tensions between carmakers and this new breed of supplier, which wields far greater leverage than suppliers of camshafts, mufflers and pistons. The auto industry’s sudden embrace of EVs also may result in more incidents like recent recalls of four different models for battery-fire risks. Ford Motor Co., one of the companies doing a recall, now has to team up with other automakers to meet European emissions regulations to avoid the prospect of fines.

‘Catastrophic supply disruption’

Shortages loom as an even larger problem, albeit one that may only be short-term as battery manufacturers ramp up output. Volkswagen AG unit Audi had to pause production in February of its e-Tron, and Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Plc of the Tata Group that same month reportedly suspended output of the I-Pace due to bottlenecks with battery supplier LG Chem Ltd. Ford and VW have warned that a US legal dispute between LG Chem and fellow South Korean producer SK Innovation Co. over trade secrets could lead to a “catastrophic supply disruption.”The US International Trade Commission is expected to issue a closely watched ruling on that dispute October 26. Suppliers of batteries are wary of overcommitting to any one automaker and eager to recoup the billions of dollars they have spent on production lines around the globe. Many are hedging their bets by crafting agreements with more than one partner. This small club includes the two South Korean rivals, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. of China and Japan’s Panasonic Corp. “Battery suppliers can be very picky with their OEMs [original equipment manufacturer],” said Nathalie Capati, a former battery engineer at General

Motors Co. and Apple Inc. who now runs the Battery Lab, a consulting firm in San Francisco. “There are only a few cell suppliers who can meet their quality and volume. The automakers are at the mercy of cell suppliers these days.”

Tesla cell production

Panasonic has long been joined at the hip with Tesla Inc. The two companies operate the massive battery plant known as the Gigafactory outside of Reno, Nevada. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has complained the Japanese company operates at a pace that constrains output of Tesla’s Model 3 sedan. Panasonic is adding a 14th battery-cell production line to the Nevada factory, a move that will increase output by 10 percent. But it’s not beholden to Tesla: It also has a joint venture with Toyota Motor Corp. “Today’s batteries can’t scale fast enough,” Musk said last month at Tesla’s “Battery Day” event outlining the company’s technology plans. “There’s a clear path to success but a ton of work to do.” Tesla also sources batteries from CATL and LG Chem. But the Palo Alto, California-based carmaker has an insatiable need for batteries and Musk is eager to wean the company of its dependence on outside suppliers. Tesla plans to make its own cells on a pilot line near its auto plant in Fremont, California, and at a new factory it is building in Austin, Texas. The EV push has taken on new urgency amid the dire climate crisis. European cities like Madrid and Paris and the Canadian province of British Columbia are among the jurisdictions phasing out the internalcombustion engine. And California, which has been choked with smoke from devastating wildfires, announced last month that it will ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars in 2035.

‘New arms race’

By 2022, more than 500 different electric models will be available globally, according to an EV forecast from BNEF, which estimates that over half of all passenger vehicles sold will be electric by 2040. A report issued last December by the Institute for Defense Analyses, a nonprofit that examines nationalsecurity issues, said battery manufacturers have taken on “outsized importance” in the auto industry and warned the US hasn’t coordinated domestic supplies on the scale that Europe has, which would be a disadvantage if there are major bottlenecks or interruptions in parts of the supply chain. Those sentiments were echoed recently by Mary Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board, during an event last month announcing the state’s plan to ban gasoline-powered cars. “A new arms race has begun,” she said. “It’s an electric race to get to cheaper and more powerful batteries, and it’s one that manufacturers around the world are competing in.” Bloomberg News

Huawei sales up, but growth slows under virus, US pressure

EIJING—Chinese tech giant Huawei, one of the biggest makers of smartphones and switching equipment, said Friday its revenue rose 9.9 percent in the first nine months of this year, but growth decelerated in the face of US sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic. Huawei Technolog ies Ltd., gave no sales figure for the most recent quarter ending in September, but growth for the first three quarters was down from the 13.1 percent reported for the first half of the year. Huawei is struggling with US sanctions that cut off its access to most American technology and components in a feud with Beijing over technology and security. The

White House says Huawei is a threat and might facilitate Chinese spying, which the company denies. Washington also is tightening curbs on access to US markets or technolog y for other Chinese tech companies including telecom equipment maker ZTE Corp., video service TikTok and messaging app WeChat. The conflict has fueled fears the global market might be dividing into competing US and Chinese technology spheres with incompatible standards. Industry analysts warn that would slow down innovation and raise costs. Executives have warned Huawei’s smartphone and network equipment sales would be affected. The company has launched

smartphones based on its own chips and other components and says it is removing US technology from its products. On Thursday, the company unveiled its latest smartphone, the Mate 40, based on Kirin 9000 chips developed by Huawei. Sales in the first nine months of 2020 rose to 671.3 billion yuan ($100.4 billion), Huawei reported. It said net profit was 8 percent, down from the first half ’s 9.2-percent margin. The company gave no details of its smartphone shipments. Sales outside China have weakened because its handsets no longer come pre loaded w it h Google’s popular music, maps and other features. But sales

growth in China, where Huawei phones already used local alternatives, have grown shar ply. Huawei’s global market share in smar t phones rose to 19.6 percent in the three months ending in June, up from 17.7 percent a year earlier, according to Canalys. That was driven by strength in its home market, where Huawei had a 51-percent market share and sales rose 32 percent to 14.5 million handsets. Huawei is owned by its Chinese employees who make up about 60 percent of its global work force of 194,000. It began reporting financial results a decade ago in an attempt to appear more transparent and mollify foreign security fears. AP

U.K. boosts business aid amid pressure to ease virus impact

ONDON—UK Treasur y chief Rishi Sunak is increasing subsidies for bars, pubs and restaurants hammered by strict new measures to slow the spread of Covid-19, amid criticism that the government has failed to protect small businesses and workers from the economic hardship caused by the pandemic. The new funding, which could cost 13 billion pounds ($17 billion) over the next six months, is aimed at businesses that are struggling to attract customers because of restrictions on social interactions, even if the government doesn’t order them to close. It comes just a month after Sunak unveiled his “job protection” plan, which business owners said was so inadequate that it gave them an incentive to lay off workers rather than keep them on the payroll. “There are difficult days and weeks ahead, but we will get through this together,” Sunak told the House of Commons on Thursday. “People are not on their own. We have an economic plan that will protect the jobs and livelihoods of the British people wherever they live and whatever their situation.” Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government is banking on a three-tiered, regional strategy

to control the coronavirus pandemic without resorting to a nationwide lockdown that it says would devastate the economy. Cities in northern England, where infection rates are highest, have resisted efforts to move them into the highest level of restrictions because they say government promises of financial support aren’t enough to protect businesses and individuals. Britain is facing Europe’s deadliest coronavirus outbreak, with more than 44,000 confirmed deaths. While the pandemic eased during the summer months, infection rates, hospitalizations and deaths are now rising across the country. At a news conference Thursday afternoon, Johnson thanked people for their “bravery” and “patience” in living under coronavirus restrictions and repeated his belief that another lockdown is “not the right course” for the UK. “Not when it has been suggested that we might have to perform the same sort of brutal lockdowns again and again in the months ahead,’’ he said. In the highest-risk areas of England, pubs have been ordered to close, people are barred from mixing with members of other households and travel in and out of

the area is discouraged. Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have implemented their own control measures under the UK’s system of devolved authority. Hospitality businesses are under particular pressure because the measures severely limit social gatherings, even under the lower levels of restrictions imposed on areas with less severe outbreaks. That reduces the number of people who go out for dinner or to meet up with friends, reducing income and forcing employers to lay off workers. But most had not been able to take advantage of the previous government aid program, which was focused on businesses that were ordered to close under the highest level of restrictions. The opposition Labour Party’s spokesman on fiscal issues, Anneliese Dodds, described Sunak’s plans as “a patchwork of poor ideas rushed out at the last minute.” She demanded to know how many jobs had been lost because the government hadn’t anticipated the impact of the new restrictions. “Will he apologize to those who have already lost their jobs, seen their businesses slip through their fingers in those areas which have not had

that support until now?” she asked. The changes announced Thursday expand the government’s job support program, which replaces the earlier furlough program that ends November 1. The program will now cover employees who work as little as one-fifth of their previous hours—or one day a week—rather than one-third of their hours. Employers will be required to cover the cost of just 5 percent of unworked hours, compared with 33 percent in the original program. Together, that means the government will now pay up to 75 percent of an employee’s wage cost, close to the 80 percent covered by the furlough program. In addition, the government is offering grants of up to 2,100 pounds ($2,700) a month for hospitality venues affected by the increased restrictions imposed on areas classified as “high risk,” or tier two. Additional support is already available for businesses in “very high risk areas,” or tier three. “I’ve always said that we must be ready to adapt our financial support as the situation evolves, and that is what we are doing today,’’ Sunak said. “These changes mean that our support will reach many more people and protect many more jobs.’’ AP

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Remittance slump to hurt but not derail PHL debt

HILIPPINE bond gains may be crimped by a surprising slump in remittances, but a raft of underlying positives should help the securities keep their place as the region’s best performers this year. Money sent home by overseas workers tumbled 4.1 percent in August, the monetary authority said earlier this month, fueling concern this will reduce bank deposits and trim demand for the nation’s sovereign debt. At least initially, the slide appeared to add another negative for Philippine Treasuries, which have struggled to maintain their momentum following a stellar rally in the second quarter. Philippine bonds have returned 17 percent for dollar-based investors this year, far outpacing second-placed Taiwan with 9 percent, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. No less than 15 percent of that was in the second quarter though, when the Central Bank cut its benchmark rate by a cumulative 100 basis points to combat the impact of the coronavirus. Since then, they have only returned about 2 percent. All things considered, the latest blow from remittances appears unlikely to prove the tipping point for a broader decline. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas bought P540 billion ($11 billion) of government promissory notes this month as part of measures to assist the state’s financing, reducing the need for additional debt issuance. The government may ask the Central

Bank to help with next year’s spending too, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said in mid-October. Although the Central Bank’s deficit financing has drawn some comparisons with Bank Indonesia’s debt-monetization program, there appears to be little concern in the wider market. “The Philippine Central Bank’s advances to the government are not deemed as risky as the limits are explicitly tied to past government revenues instead of current funding needs, and the window for repayment is relatively short,” according to Justin Jimenez at Bloomberg Economics in Hong Kong.

Christmas is coming

The decline in remittances may also be tempered as the festive season approaches, said Michael Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. in Manila. “Overseas Filipino worker remittances could still pick up towards the Christmas season, even some adversely affected OFWs could tap on their savings and some repatriated OFWs could tap on their separation or retirement pay,” he said. Still, a protracted slowdown in remittances would see a consequential decline in bank deposits and reduce demand for bonds, he said. Still, as far as the 2020 performance is concerned, Philippine sovereign bonds are likely to hang on to their top spot, with the slump in remittances unlikely to result in any stomachchurning losses. Bloomberg News

PHL to keep $26-B outsourcing engine humming despite crisis By Ditas Lopez Bloomberg News

HE Philippines’s $26-billion outsourcing industr y expec ts to continue growing despite the risks brought by the coronavirus pandemic, but sees a three-year government support plan as key to boosting its competitiveness. The industr y has shown a “tremendous resilience,” Rey Untal, head of the Philippine association of outsourcing companies, said in an interview in Manila. “We are cautiously optimistic of sustaining some level of growth for this industry in the near future.” With a h i g h l e ve l o f En g l i s h p ro f i c i e n c y, a young p o p u l at i o n a n d c h e a p l a b o r, t h e Philippines has been one of the global l e a d e r s i n b u s i n e s s - p ro ce s s o u t s o u rc i n g. But it continues to grapple with rising competit i o n , h av i n g s l i p p e d to s i x t h p l a ce i n a d v i s o r y f i r m Th o l o n s I n c .’s i n d e x o f attrac tive o u t s o u rc i n g d e s t i n at i o n s, d ow n one spot f ro m l a s t ye a r. Outsourcing revenue, a key pillar of the country’s economy, rose 7.1 percent in 2019, according to May data from Untal’s group, officially known as IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines. The association has penciled in 3.5 percent-7.5 percent annual growth through 2022, but expects to get the result of a commissioned study next month that will recalibrate targets and map out a strategy for the industry over the next few years.

BDO Foundation funds Covid-19 pooled testing in Mandaluyong

DO Foundation continues to collaborate with the public sector, the medical community and nongovernment organizations to help the country cope with Covid-19. As part of concerted efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank partnered with Go Negosyo, the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), the Philippine Society of Pathologists (PSP) and the local government of Mandaluyong to sponsor pooled testing in the city. The initiative was launched recently in an online event witnessed by BDO Unibank and BDO Foundation chairman Teresita Sy-Coson and BDO Unibank President and CEO Nestor V. Tan. According to Tan, who also serves as BDO Foundation trustee, “BDO Foundation remains committed to its advocacies despite the pandemic, and one of its advocacies is in health care.” “We are a big supporter of pooled testing as it will lower the costs and improve the timing of information, which will help greatly in our fight against this pandemic. This is how we can help our frontliners and our critical support staff that is necessary in the servicing of the economy. I hope that in our small way, BDO Foundation and BDO Unibank can help in our fight against this common difficulty,” he added. Also present at the virtual event were BDO Foundation President Mario Deriquito and BDO Foundation trustees Evelyn Salagubang, Lazaro Jerome Guevarra and Ma. Corazon Mallillin.

They were joined by Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion, PCMC Covid-19 laboratory head Dr. Raymundo Lo, PSP President Dr. Roberto Padua Jr., Iloilo first district representative and pooled testing consultant Dr. Janette Garin, and Mandaluyong City Mayor Menchie Abalos, who lauded the initiative as “a worthy undertaking.” The mayor said local government officials will prioritize the testing of the city’s medical frontliners, jeepney drivers, tricycle drivers and market vendors. Pooled testing combines swab samples from groups of five, 10 or 20 individuals and examines them together using a single reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test kit. Considered a game changer in efforts to contain the coronavirus, the method is highly touted by the medical community as a very effective and aggressive approach. The testing strategy is expected to boost capacities, expedite procedures and significantly reduce the cost of Covid-19 mass testing. Pooled RT-PCR testing in Mandaluyong City is the latest corporate citizenship initiative of BDO Foundation in response to Covid-19. The first corporate foundation to support pooled testing in the country, it also funded the pilot implementation of the method in Makati City and Cebu City. In recent weeks, BDO Foundation donated RT-PCR test kits to 10 hospitals across the country for frontliners and economically disadvantaged patients. It also provided food assistance to 8,000 underserved families in cities with high incidence of Covid-19.

Deficit swells to ₧879.2B in Jan-Sept as Covid cuts revenue, ups spending

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

HE budget deficit of the national government from January to September swelled to P879.2 billion, almost three times the shortfall a year ago, data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed.

Government expenditures exceeding its revenues resulted in a wider budget gap for the ninemonth period this year compared to only P299 billion as of endSeptember 2019. However, the Bureau of the Treasury said the January to September budget deficit is still 32.3 percent below the revised program

of P1.298 trillion for the period. For September alone, the national government narrowed its budget deficit to P138.5 billion, 22.42 percent lower than the fiscal gap of P178.6 billion in the same month last year. Year-to-date revenues fell by 7.92 percent to P2.143 trillion compared to P2.328 trillion in

the comparable period in 2019, although this is still 8.8 percent above the P1.97-trillion revised target. To date, 85 percent of the P2.52-trillion full-year program has been collected. On the other hand, cumulative government expenditures for January to September surged by 15.07 percent to P3.023 trillion from P2.627 trillion due to Covid-19 related expenses but was still 7.53 percent lower than the revised program of P3.269 trillion. The lag is mainly attributed to measures under Republic Act 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act which are still to be implemented following the signing of the law on September 11. For September, government revenues slid by 10.19 percent to P212.4 billion from P236.5 billion in the same period in 2019. Meanwhile, government expenditures for September de-

clined by 15.45 percent to P350.9 billion from P415.1 billion in the same month in 2019 due to the timing of subsidy releases and the base effect of higher infrastructure spending last year. As tax collections are down amid the pandemic, the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) projects the country’s budget deficit to more than double to 9.6 percent of GDP or P1.815 trillion this year, from only 3.4 percent of GDP or P660.2 billion last year. The DBCC also expects the economy to contract by 5.5 percent this year, potentially marking the country’s worst economic downturn in 35 years. But Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said earlier this week that DBCC’s possible revision of the GDP outlook to reflect the impact of the lockdown in August is “under discussion.”

Phinma Microtel slows timeline for opening new hotels, resorts By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

Digital cities

“With the accelerated pace by which companies have embraced digital transformation, the urgenc y of us effec ting digital upskilling became very critical also,” Untal said Thursday. “We will need to ensure that the Philippines is infrastructurally prepared for the changing landscape.” Th e i n d u s t r y ex p e c t s to b e n e f i t f ro m a joint government-private sector plan launched in June that targets 25 locations across the Philippines as “digital cities” to receive information-technology infrastructure development over the nex t three years. Covid-19 has created “new realities” in which a hybrid setup of work-from-home and physical office work will continue, Untal said. The Philippine Economic Zone Authority, a state agency that grants tax perks, has allowed outsourcing companies to continue having employees work from home until nex t September, he said. More than 90 percent of outsourcing employees in the Philippines have been enabled to work from home, though hurdles remain, including Internet availability and reliability, power and sufficient work space at home. “Strengthening the infrastructure and the talent in the countryside has become more urgent, so the Digital Cities 2025 program that we have is going to be a mainstay,” the association’s head said, referring to the joint plan with government to draw in investments outside the capital. “We’re trying to get ahead.”

Saturday, October 24, 2020

Special to the BusinessMirror

ICROTEL and TRYP by Wyndham hotels have slowed down their timetable in opening more local branches of their popular hotel brands due to the Covid-19, which has pushed many countries, including the Philippines, to impose inbound travel restrictions. “Yes, because of the pandemic, some of our projects are put on hold,” said Phinma Microtel Hotels Inc. President and CEO Jose Mari del Rosario in an e-mail interview with the B usiness M irror. “We put on hold two resort projects with 150 keys each [TRYP] and one with a business location with 250 rooms [Microtel]—owing to the fact that uncertainty prevails as to when tourism will pick up. That’s both domestic and international [tourism].” He added, “We are an archipelagic country and therefore rely on air travel to have guests in our rooms,” citing the three major carriers which have predicted a resumption of travel by 2024. The two TRYPs were to open in Batangas and Palawan, and the Microtel would have opened in Central Luzon. “But,” del Rosario stressed, “we are still on the lookout and are open for full franchise and management contracts.” Wyndham Hotels and Resorts is among the largest hospitality chains in the world, with 20 brands in more than 80 countries. (See, “World’s largest hotel group to expand presence in PHL,” in the B usiness M irror, March 26, 2018.) Looking back to 2019, he said their hotels “performed well with a chain-wide 67-percent

The pandemic has forced Phinma Microtel Hotels Inc. to slow down its timetable for opening new accommodations in the country. In photo is TRYP by Wyndham in Pasay City. From TRYP by Wyndham Facebook page

occupancy, which is almost the same as in 2018. As you know, we are in locations where we are the international hotel chain operating—we are happy with that performance for the 15 hotels we have.” So the brands were entering 2020 on a high note, like many tourism stakeholders in the country. He said, “2019 was a very good year for both Microtel and TRYP, and we had high hopes that 2020 would be even better. We initially forecasted a 20-percent increase in our revenues from new franchise contracts and improved performances of the hotels.”

AISL nixes plan to impose arrastre charges on ‘empties’

HE Association of International Shipping Lines (AISL) is opposing an unprecedented plan by the Philippine Por ts Authority ( P PA) to c h a rg e a r ra s t re rate s o n e m p t y containers, stressing that any addition to shipping costs will not augur well with the countr y’s effor ts to rebound from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. In a position paper sent to the PPA Board on October 8, AISL said that the imposition of arrastre charge on empty containers at the Manila and Batangas Ports would mean that international shipping lines will have to pay an estimated additional cost of P5.4 billion based on the 2019 container volume data. “Shipping lines have to recover the additional cost. Otherwise the option left for them is to reduce capacity in order to remain efficient. Hence, the need to pass on the estimated cost increase of P5.4 billion to customers becomes the viable option,” AISL told the PPA board. AISL also pointed out that passing additional cost to customers could “fur ther increase the cost of freight and logistics to the detriment, in par ticular, of small and medium-size enterprises.” And if the arrastre charges on empt y containers are imposed, this could adversely affect the country’s competitive edge in the

shipping industry compared to its Southeast Asian (SEA) neighbors. As it is, AISL pointed out, the Philippines already ranks highest in terms of handling costs for 20-footer and 40-footer containers among its SEA neighbors, including Singapore. “[That is why] applying arrastre on empties will only add to the overall cost for lines servicing the Philippines, and further skew comparison with the SEA countries,” he said. AISL said the imposition of arrastre charges on empty containers is so ill-timed, as the Philippine economy is already under severe stress from the coronavirus pandemic. “It strikes a big blow to the cost of doing business in the Philippines,” one of the directors said. AISL also emphasized that empty containers were never assessed any tariff, or arrastre charges, in the past because these were considered an extension of the ship’s equipment or gear. In fact, AISL pointed out, even the Bureau of Customs “has never departed from this principle.” “Unless manifested as importations, empty containers are exempt from the payment of duties and taxes, they being considered as part of the ship’s gear,” AISL argued. Moreover, AISL also noted that arrastre was a form of charge against cargo as defined by Republic Act 1371.

When the lockdowns were imposed all over the country starting in March, the company “immediately took steps to conserve cash and manage our expenses. Given the restrictions on land, air and sea travel worldwide, reduction in business travel, and health and safety concerns by travelers, we did a lot of scenario planning. We saw it was going to be a disappointing year—but didn’t foresee that it will be disastrous.”

The company adopted “process re-engineering” measures. “Our business model for Microtel and TRYP are both anchored on providing limited services, but we further limited what we offer in terms of housekeeping services, room set-up, and facilities. We also implemented leaner manning for all hotels— skeleton work force, workday reduction, forced leaves, eliminated/consolidated positions, and deferred hiring.” To conserve their financial position, the company temporarily closed some hotels, deferred capital expenditures, and restructured their loans. Seven months into the lockdown, fortunately most of their hotels are “surviving,” said del Rosario. “If not for the repatriated individuals coming in, we would have been in a deeper hole. Our Metro Manila and South Luzon properties accept overseas Filipino workers and returning overseas Filipinos.” He deigned to forecast when the hospitality sector would eventually recover, “given the changing restrictions and guidelines. It’s very frustrating that government pronouncements are not in sync with each other.” But, “In fairness, the DOT [Department of Tourism] has been very responsive to the hospitality industry. We see a slow recovery for the hospitality and it will take a few more years to go back to the same levels as in 2019.” He underscored, in the coming months, guests can expect all Microtel and TRYP by Wyndham hotels “are ready to welcome them. Guests can count on us to put safety first, and will continue to provide them with consistently clean, safe, secure and comfortable accommodations.”

A6 Saturday, October 24, 2020

ExportUnlimited BusinessMirror

PHL food delegation joins biggest import expo trade fair in China T

HE Philippines is looking to tap the growing demand for tropical food in the Chinese market with its upcoming participation in the 3rd China International Import Expo (CIIE) 2020 from November 5 to 10 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, China. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), is set to highlight 40 Philippine food brands and agricultural produce in CIIE. Food segments to be showcased in the Philippine pavilion include products from tropical fruits and vegetables, processed fruits and nuts, healthy snacks, seafood and marine products, and other premium food selections. “CIIE is one of the top trade shows to promote Philippine food products and ingredients since there is a rising demand for tropical food in China, on top of the growing purchasing power of its huge population,” said CITEM Executive

Director Pauline Suaco-Juan. CIIE is China’s first importthemed, national-level expo that features international exhibitors across various sectors intending to address the trade deficit of different countries to China and support trade liberalization. In 2019, CITEM and its exhibitor companies had a meaningful and productive experience in CIIE. The Philippine participation posted notable results with the highest recorded business leads of $430 million, around $162 million of which were export sales from the 32 participating food exhibitors. “With last year’s successful participation, CITEM is determined to continue its momentum by reinforcing the country’s food export potentials in the China market, especially now that China is receptive to Philippine food products and has growing trade relations with our country,” said Suaco-Juan. China is considered the world’s largest economy in terms of GDP based on purchasing power parity

THE Philippines is set to showcase a variety of mango products in CIIE 2020.

(PPP) and the world’s largest importer and consumer base. It is the Philippines’s top trading partner in the first semester of 2019 with total trade worth $16.43 billion, or 18.8 percent of the total trade. The Philippines’s total merchandise trade with China continues to rise and it has become the country’s top bilateral trading partner, surpassing Japan since 2016. Exports to China grew 8.4 percent, with

top exports mostly being electronic products at close to 50 percent.

PHL digitizes food showcase in China

IN this year’s participation, CITEM will put up interactive conference pods in the FOODPhilippines pavilion to enable virtual businessmatching activities. This will serve as an online touch point for buyers in China to meet with exhibitors

CHOCOLATES and other cacao-based products are also included in the roster of product selections from the Philippines in CIIE 2020.

from the Philippines. In lieu of actual Philippine exhibitors manning the booths, the Philippine commercial attaché will represent the government and exhibitors, promote exhibitor brands and products onsite, and relay all business leads and contacts generated during the show. The FOODPhilippines participation in CIIE 2020 was set in partnership with the Philippine Trade

& Investment Centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong, the Export Marketing Bureau, the Foreign Trade Services Corps, Department of Agriculture, through the Office of the Agricultural Counsellor in Beijing, Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc., and the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc.

DTI-EMB explores ‘vibrant’ processed Pinoy peanut brand Wow Mani now available in Walmart, USA food and beverage India export market By Myrtle Faye L. Solina

O leverage on the growing demand for processed food and beverages in India, the Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB), the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in New Delhi, and the Board of Investments (BOI) and Invest India recently conducted a webinar on Exploring Trade and Investment Opportunities with India for Philippine Processed Food and Beverages. India is a growing market for new products such as breakfast cereals, pasta, infant food, bakery products, foreign liquor, and diﬀerent types of oils and sauces, according to PTIC-New Delhi Commercial Counsellor Buster Elevado Jr. Further, he said that Covid-19 has changedthefoodhabitsoftheIndianpeople. Previously, most Indians still cooked their food at home. With the lockdowns and work from home arrangement, more peopleareorderingpreparedfoodonline. BoththePhilippinesandIndiaalsohavea largebusiness-processoutsourcing(BPO) industry that employs millions of young people who have no time to cook their food on their own. DTI Undersecretary Abdulgani Macatoman shared that the Philippines is positioning itself as a competitive source of processed food and beverages and sees India as a good opportunity for exporters. Meanwhile, DTI-EMB Assistant Director Agnes Perpetua Legaspi said that Philippine exporters enjoy reduced tariffs for 94 percent of exports to India.

The agency organized businessmatching sessions with Indian companies conducted in 2018 and 2019 for processed food, beverages and personal care products. On the other hand, BOI Director Raquel Echague emphasized the advantages of investing in the Philippines. Among these is the abundant land and fishery resources for agricultural and fishery production. Fortytwo percent of the total land area in the country can be developed for agriculture production and 4.4 million square kilometers of municipal and inland fishery resources for aquaculture and fish production. Assistant Secretary Bernardita Angara-Mathay of the Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC) said the Philippines welcomes the steady rise of trade and investment between the two countries while recognizing the growth potential. Likewise, Mathay mentioned that both countries work at the forefront of global information technology and business-process outsourcing industry. The Philippines and India recently concluded the virtual 13th Meeting of the Joint Working Group on Trade and Investments (JWGTI) on September 17, 2020, led by DTI Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo, and Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce of India Anant Swarup. The meeting focused on initiatives to foster synergies in various sectors, such as textiles, electronics, Information TechnologyBusiness Process Management, energy and agriculture. Myrtle Faye L. Solina

Food and Agri-Marine Division, DTI-EMB

HILIPPINE company RPO Fine Foods Corp., a Philippine company, closed a deal with Walmart for its Wow Mani product line in June 2020. Walmart is now offering RPO Fine Foods Corp.’s Wow Mani product line in their San Francisco, Mountain View, San Jose, San Leonardo, and Union City stores. Kathreen Ann Ocampo, marketing director for RPO Fine Foods Corp., cites the outbound business-matching missions (OBMMs) organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as one of the catalysts for their company’s success. “We are glad that we were able to join the OBMM in Korea for the Dessert and Snack Pavilion in 2017, which gave way in changing the look and packaging of our product. It really inspired us to achieve the modern, clean, and export quality packaging that will entice foreign markets,” said Ocampo. “The mission in Canada in 2018 also made a big impact since we were able to push and benchmark existing US peanut brands, flavor, pricing, and packaging of the Canadian market. DTIExport Marketing Bureau [EMB] and Foreign Trade Service Corps [FTSC] really exposed us to the possibility that there is a big global market opportunity waiting for us. We are so much grateful to your untiring support. Without your help and trust in our products, we won’t be able to achieve what we are today,” she continued.

RPO Fine Foods founders Santiago Lamberto Ocampo and Riclina Pamintuan-Ocampo

PINOY peanut brand Wow Mani now available in Walmart, USA

The company met a consolidator during the International Food Exhibition (IFEX) in 2009 that helped them supply to Walmart indirectly. A new proposal was sent in 2018 with Walmart but the listing process was stiff and strict. They checked and validated the credibility and marketability of Wow Mani Products by testing it through exposure in trade expositions and presence to mainstream supermarkets both in the Philippines and in the USA. For almost

two years, Walmart tested how Wow Mani products would be accepted by the consumers. Ocampo also mentioned that they closed a deal with Lulu Supermarket through the OBMM in Dubai last year. The supermarket is now carrying Wow Mani in their stores in Dubai and Oman. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said that “We’re now more focused on creating smarter, globally competitive micro, small and medium enterprises [MSME] that can really fight it out in the international market. With these interventions installed under the Duterte administration, we can help improve their competitiveness, business sustainability, and to mainstream their brands in international markets.” “We have several programs that help

MSMEs in all stages of their development. We are proud to be part of their development from budding start-ups to successful exporters,” said DTI Undersecretary Abdulgani Macatoman. DTI-EMB Director Senen Perlada stated that the EMB endeavors to provide the exporters the enabling environment to make them globally competitive through its various programs geared toward the internalization of Philippine products and services. “In collaboration with various DTI offices and industry stakeholders, the FTSC will continue to pursue initiatives for the expansion and diversification of trade with the objective to help generate employment and contribute to the country’s economic recovery” said FTSC Executive Director Anthony Rivera.

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This banker is a PBA legend

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

ASKETBALL players and other athletes could learn a lot from the life lessons of Rafael “Cho” Sison Jr., the current regional head of the Visayas-Mindanao area of East West Bank. The 65-year-old Sison is a living proof that there is life beyond basketball. Getting hooked on basketball

JUST like a typical Filipino youth, Sison and his older brothers got hooked playing hoop. Later, the 1.85 meter tall Sison tried out and got the go signal to join the Ateneo de Davao juniors team where he played for two years. Those two years were memorable for him as he experienced the joys of being a champion. After graduation, he joined the school’s varsity squad in 1973. At that time, his hardcourt heroes were the spitfire Rene Canent of the Yco Painters, the late Renato “Sonny” Reyes also of Yco, Yoyong Martirez of San Miguel, former senator Freddie Webb also of Yco and Tanduay, and the late Rogelio “Tembong” Melencio. He had a fruitful stint with the seniors team as they won four intercollegiate titles in Davao. At that time, some of the known players in the province were Cesar Ijares and Alberto Gutierrez. Later, Ijares played for Crispa in the amateur while Gutierrez saw action with Tanduay in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Sison also competed in the National Intercollegiate where he pitted his skills against the best dribblers from Manila. “I had the chance to play against the likes of the great Lim Eng Beng, Ateneo stalwarts Fritz Gaston, Steve Watson, Padim Israel and Maling Estrella,” Sison told the BusinessMirror in an e-mail interview. “I was amazed by the skills of the Manila-based cagers and I learned a lot playing against them. Fritz was a very crafty point guard,” he said. During his sophomore year at Ateneo de Davao, scouts noticed his basketball skills and tried to recruit him to play in the former Manila Industrial Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA). Sison got excited by the offer and informed his father about the opportunity waiting for him.

one who advised Sison to work at BPI. While working at the bank, he got an offer from CFC-Presto to join their amateur ball club. “This was a path my father wanted for me; to work for a prestigious bank and pursue a career in basketball at the same time,” he said. By practicing time management, Sison was able to juggle his time, performing his tasks at the bank and playing basketball with CFC-Presto. Luckily, Sison’s bosses gave their support by allowing him to avail himself of leaves to be able to play basketball during certain days of the week. Sison said he received P1,000 a month while working with BPI in 1980, and he had a salary of P2,000 a month playing for the Gokongwei ball club.

Career in the PBA

SISON

Father knows best

HIS father, however, advised him to go back to Davao and finish his studies. “When I was offered to play basketball in Manila during my second year in college at the Ateneo de Davao, I had to consult my father as I would when faced with major decisions in my life,” Sison explained. “My father was a strict man with military background and his advice was for me to continue my college education, graduate and then I could do whatever pleases me,” Sison added. Sison admitted it was a tough order to follow because his childhood dream was to play big time basketball. Nevertheless, he trusted his father’s judgement and accepted the decision with a heavy heart. However, he thought that was the big break he was waiting for in his basketball career. After graduation in 1977, Sison landed a job at the Bank of the Philippine Islands. Interestingly, his older brother, the father of former UAAP dribblers, Brian and Brandon, was the

IN 1980, Sison joined the PBA and was drafted by Presto Ice Cream. Turning professional enabled him to earn more than double his salary of P3,000 at that time. “After two conferences, my salary was doubled again. In addition, I received bonuses in recognition of good performance with my team and as an individual player,” he recalled. In 1981, he was named PBA Rookie of the Year. He said playing for Presto was a great experience because he was given a golden opportunity to play long minutes (average of 38 min/game) in most games and be mentored by former Olympian and Coach Jimmy Mariano. After almost three years playing in the PBA, Sison experienced the most dreaded moment for a basketball player—a career threatening injury. It was in a game against Toyota where Sison suffered a right knee injury, which required a major operation that later on proved to be a career ending injury. “This was when I realized how my father’s guidance helped me to pick up the pieces and turn to another option aside from basketball,” Sison said.

Fulfilling PBA career

ALTHOUGH Sison only had a threeyear stint in the PBA, he described it as “fulfilling and a very unique experience.” It was also memorable for him when he was named Rookie of the Year in 1981. The PBA gave Sison the honor to play beside and against the best players in Philippine basketball history, train under the best coaches and interact with the support staff. “Although a major knee injury marked

the end of my basketball career, the invaluable lessons of discipline, passion, hard work, perseverance and the winner instinct left their mark in my life forever. I have held on to them even in my career in banking,” he said. Sison said it was a memorable experience because basketball players also hog the limelight, like when he was featured in magazine and newspaper sports write-ups, and when he appeared on TV interviews. “Those three years are truly unforgettable.”

Beyond basketball

KISSING his basketball career goodbye, Sison started to grow his banking career. He said his basketball experience helped him become an effective bank executive. There’s no big difference between banking and basketball, according to Sison. In the banking world, like in basketball, you are required to strategize and analyze the competition, he said.

The value of education

SISON said young people should treat education as the greatest gift that parents could give to their children. “I am blessed that I have been given a chance to be molded by the best educators, the Jesuits. My Ateneo education instilled in me the meaning of the words ‘a man for others,’ and ‘Fortes et Fides’ [with fortitude and faith],” he said. Likewise, his Ateneo education imparted in him the value of perseverance in building the discipline needed to be an outstanding professional basketball player and, also, “the passion, focus and hard work when I pursued my career in banking.” He said the Jesuits also taught him to keep faith in God whether in facing the challenges in life or thanking the Lord for all the blessings bestowed upon you. Sison has always lived with the consciousness to help, especially those who have less in life. He said this was based on his experience when both his parents fell ill. He said the family was blessed to have generous relatives like his uncles and aunts who took care of them during those challenging times. Sison was a responsible family man and good provider. All his four children have a college degree and are all professionals. “I’m very grateful for where God has brought me as I face the next chapter of my life,” he said.

World War II heroes honored in Leyte Gulf Landing ceremony By Gerico Sabalza Philippine News Agency

ALO, Leyte—The 76th Leyte Gulf Landing commemoration on Tuesday highlighted the valor of World War II (WWII) heroes who fought for the liberation of the Philippines from the Japanese occupation. For the first time, the annual celebration of the historic event to honor the bravery of Filipino guerrilla fighters and Allied Forces 76 years ago was observed with utmost simplicity due to the ongoing health crisis. The traditional activities at the MacArthur Landing Memorial Park here were held with a limited audience, with no foreign and national officials physically present, including the WWII veterans, in strict compliance with health protocols. The commemoration program was live streamed on Facebook. In his video message, Capt. Noel Corpus, naval attaché to the United States Embassy, said both countries continue to stand side by side as allies and partners for peace and security as it was in WWII and during the decades since. “The event 76 years ago became a turning point for both of

us, as it was the beginning of any of the US campaign to liberate the Philippine islands, making good on a promise made by Gen. Douglas MacArthur several years prior to his return to the shores of this country. The iconic landing at the Red Beach was made possible by the brave efforts of the Filipino soldiers and US forces on the ground who became allies for freedom,” Corpus said. Australian Ambassador Steven Robinson thanked the Philippines for ensuring that their part in the allied victory here and throughout the Pacific continues to be respectfully and graciously acknowledged. “This year, we are unable to commemorate the anniversary at the place where it happened, but this in no way diminishes the sense of gratitude and honor that we have for the combatant of that momentous military encounter. Their selfishness, commitment, and valor serve as timeless examples to us all,” he said. Yasushi Yamamoto, deputy chief of Mission of Japan Embassy, expressed his deepest condolences to all the family members whose forefathers perished during the war. “I am proud to say that my country has been dedicated to promoting

peace and prosperity as well as enhancing cooperation with the US and the Philippines, particularly in this region, which once had been among our fiercest battlefield. I pray that the souls of the fallen heroes will find peace,” Yamamoto said in his solidarity message. Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) head, Lt. Gen. Ernesto Carolina, said Filipinos must not only pay tribute to the heroes of the resistance movement and all its allied comrades, but also the auxiliary support groups and numerous civilians who played a vital role for liberating the country and securing the freedom everyone now enjoys. “As we commemorate this activity, we may not only remember the events that unfolded during that time, but also honor the valiant efforts of all those who put their lives on the line in the name of our country and freedom today,” he said. Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said in his anniversary message that although the celebration this year is different due to the pandemic, he is thankful that Leyteños and the living veterans in the region continue the tradition of honoring their fallen comrades and fulfilling the promise of remembering their heroism.

“The lessons of Leyte Landing are clear that liberty and democracy are inseparable. We must remember these lessons in the time that our freedom is being threatened in many ways from pandemic to external forces. We will look to you, our dear veterans, to continue to fight what is right and what is ours even in seemingly impossible odds,” Petilla said. The region has 92 living WWII veterans—50 in Leyte, 21 in Samar, 13 in Biliran, and eight in Southern Leyte, according to the PVAO. Petilla said they will each receive P10,000 as cash incentive from the provincial government. It was on October 20, 1944, when MacArthur, together with President Sergio Osmeña and Gen. Carlos P. Romulo, again set foot on Philippine soil after leaving Corregidor in 1942. Their arrival started a battle that spanned 100,000 square miles of sea and was fought for three days, from October 23 to 25, during the invasion of Leyte by the Allied Forces. The battle signaled the fulfillment of MacArthur’s famous words, “I shall return,” after going to Australia to muster support from the Allied Forces in the quest to liberate the Philippines from Japanese occupation.

Editor: Angel R. Calso • Saturday, October 24, 2020 A7

The monkey trap By Nick Tayag

MY SIXTY-ZEN’S WORTH

HERE is a Filipino word for this: kapit-tuko. It is an affliction characterized by a great desire to cling on to power and entitlements being enjoyed. Our politicians are adept at this. Once they get elected or appointed to a position, they will devise all sorts of ways, legal or illegal, to hold on to their positions. As one columnist puts it, they will “readily renege on agreements, break promises and concoct excuses for refusing to step down.” Take for example the recent term sharing brouhaha in the House of Representatives. Or the case of one family wanting to gain all political power in their fiefdoms and keeping it all within the family forever. Once the head of the family gets himself entrenched, he never wants to relinquish power. Instead, he consolidates it, and to go around term restrictions, he enlists his wife and other family members to the cause of the dynasty’s rigodon. In turn they too get afflicted with “clingitis.” In one case, family members even run against each other. But let me warn them of the monkey trap, a cleverly made contraption to catch animals such as monkeys designed by animal hunters. The monkey trap is actually a bag that’s filled up with fruits that appeal to monkeys. There is a specially designed opening at the top of the bag. The opening allows the insertion of an empty hand to get hold of the succulent fruits inside. There is a catch though. Once the hand has grasped a fruit, the hand can’t be withdrawn out of the opening because it has become bigger than the hole. As long as the hand is clasping the fruit the monkey cannot get its hand out of the bag. So the only way is to let go of the fruit in the hand. Clever isn’t it? You know what? Many monkeys refuse to let go of the fruit. Instead they try to forcibly widen the opening to no avail. But the more they

force it, the more the noose tightens. So in the process of doing so they become easy prey to animal hunters. Their stubbornness and greed cause their own undoing. We’re all prone to falling into such attachment trap. We get too easily attached to material things, the pleasure of fame and power, to our pets and to people specially our loved ones that many times we stubbornly cling to them and refuse to let go. Consider our personal lives. Are there strings we need to let go? Are there possessions that we are too attached to that weigh us down? Are there relationships that we need to cut no matter how painful but which will eventually set us free? One time, there was a mammoth traffic build up and as I was watching and commiserating with the sullen looking drivers and passengers of the vehicles I was thinking there but for the grace of God go I. Then I noticed a lot of people walking—they must have decided to just walk rather than languish and agonize inside the slow moving public transport. That gave me an idea. Why not park your car somewhere and just walk? And so that’s what I did. I got ahead of the poor trapped commuters who did not want to alight from their vehicles even if that meant they would be wasting time and emotions. Sometimes it is better to leave behind the comfort and convenience of cars to get to where you want to go faster. So again letting go lightens the yoke you put on your neck through greed, selfishness, sense of entitlements, and other things that so appeal to the ego but have zero spiritual nourishment. Let it go, let it go, is the refrain of that Oscar award-winning song, which my young nieces loved to sing sometime last year. It’s not only a catchy little song but it’s one good advice we should heed for a healthier, more fulfilling life and spirit.

Belgium limits care home visits as coronavirus cases increase

RUSSELS—Authorities in Belgium fear another deadly wave of coronavirus cases could soon hit care homes as the country confronts the risk of seeing its hospitals overwhelmed by Covid-19 patients, leading them to restrict nursing home visits. The countr y of 11.5 million inhabitants recorded half of its Covid-19-related deaths in such homes during the spring wave of the pandemic. Amid a new surge in confirmed cases, new infections have been growing at an alarming rate in Belgian elder-care facilities. In the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders infections in care homes have risen by 51 percent and the number of deaths has doubled in the past week, according to local media quoting figures by the Flemish Agency for Care and Health. Care home employees worked during the pandemic’s earlier peak with a shortage of tests, masks and protective equipment. They are now better equipped, but to keep the virus at bay, nursing home visits will now be limited until the curve of the current outbreak in Belgium flattens. Vincent Frédéricq, the general secretary of the rest homes federation, said only the same two people will be allowed to visit a home resident for a 15-

day period. For the following two weeks, residents will be allowed to replace their visitors with two different people. The permitted visitors will be required to wear masks and to keep safe distance from the people they are visiting. “It can be a bad experience for some people, but the situation in the country is serious, and we have to be careful,” Frédéricq told RTL media. In the French-speaking Wallonia region of southern Belgium, nursing homes employees will be tested every week until the end of the year. The regional health minister, Christie Morreale, also announced more financial support for the homes and said extra staff will be recruited. Belgium has reported more than 240,000 confirmed virus cases and more than 10,000 deaths during the pandemic. After keeping infections in check over the summer, the Belgian government said the country’s health situation is now one of the worst in Europe. As of Wednesday, 2,969 Covid-19 patients were hospitalized, including 486 in intensive care. Authorities have warned that intensive care units will hit their capacity of 2,000 beds by mid-November if new cases continue to soar at the same pace. AP

Education BusinessMirror

A8 Saturday, October 24, 2020

Editor: Mike Policarpio

‘EDUCATION: BEST SOCIAL EQUALIZER’

Caritas produces professionals in face of Covid

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

ESPITE the bleak environment caused by the pandemic, Caritas Manila’s learning initiative for young people has managed to yield another batch of outstanding graduates for School Year 2019-2020. The religious organization’s Youth Servant Leadership and Education Program’s (YSLEP) graduates of college and

technical-vocational (tech-voc) courses hail from the poorest provinces nationwide, as well as urban-poor communities

in Metro Manila. Of the 488 coursefinishers, 28 received academic awards, with five Magna Cum Laudes, two Cum Laudes, 11 Dean’s Listers and 12 with special awards. There are about 1,000 youth-servant leaders who finish their courses under Caritas Manila’s YSLEP per year. Cur-

rently, there are about 4,200 active scholars. In the past 66 years, more than 10,000 scholars have benefited from Caritas Manila’s education program. The institution said that in 2019 alone, 98 percent of YSLEP scholars found employment six months after graduation. All YSLEP graduates automatically become members of the Caritas Manila Scholars Association, or Camasa. Last year, the association donated P1.6 million in cash and in kind to support its mother-organization’s projects. Caritas Manila said it strongly believes education is the best way for a student to

get out of the poverty trap, as a college or tech-voc degree enables an individual with a 98-percent chance of helping his family overcome financial challenges. At present, there are 3.8 million out-ofschool youth in the Philippines. According to Caritas Manila Executive Director Fr. Anton CT Pascual, “Education is the best social equalizer.” He also believes that “future servant leaders of the country will come from the poor.” To support its projects, Caritas Manila accepts donations through Banco de Oro and BPI Savings. Donations are also accepted via PayPal, Ushare and all Cebuana Lhuillier branches.

Office of the Vice President, USAID, PBEd team up Israel gifts handwashing facility to Makati HS for unemployed, out-of-school youth training

VICE President Ma. Leonor G. Robredo (from left), United States Agency for International Development Mission Director Lawrence Hardy II and Philippine Business for Education Chairman Ramon del Rosario Jr. EMBASSY OF THE US

HE United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) and the Office of the Vice President of the Philippines (OVP) on October 22 launched a partnership to provide free technical-vocational (techvoc) skills and employability training for over 1,000 unemployed and out-of-school Filipino youth. The OVP, through its TrabaHOPE program, will cosponsor training needs of youth aged 18 to 30 years old who qualify for YouthWorks PH, USAID’s private sector-driven employability initiative with PBEd. YouthWorks PH is a free tech-voc training program for youth who are currently not studying, in training, or employed. The combined P17-million ($340,000) commitment from the OVP, USAID and PBEd will cover the training costs for YouthWorks PH participants until the end of 2020. This is in addition to the support of the project’s private sector

partners: from food and beverage services, construction, manufacturing, to information-technology sectors which will provide daily training allowances and opportunities for eventual employment for the trainees. The OVP’s support, which will cover daily allowance for participants, along with a welcome kit, hands-on materials, mobile Internet allowance and preemployment support, complements the learning devices, online mentoring, online/blended tech-voc training, in-company training, and national certification of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, or Tesda, provided by YouthWorks. “We are grateful for this partnership with USAID and PBEd, which will allow us to open more doors for young people who may be supporting themselves and their families, especially during the [ongoing health] crisis,” said Vice President Ma. Leonor G. Robredo. “This collaboration is yet more proof that the spirit of

bayanihan continues to inspire our commitment to uplift the lives of those who are in need.” “The opportunities that this partnership will bring to participating youth will be an important boost toward a brighter future,” said USAID Philippines Mission Director Lawrence Hardy II. “USAID remains committed to work with our partners in government and the private sector to ensure economic growth is inclusive and sustainable for all.” PBEd Chairman Ramon del Rosario Jr. said the partnership will meaningfully impact the lives of underprivileged young Filipinos in dire need of learning and livelihood opportunities at this time: “We are still in the midst of the...pandemic. [The OVP’s and USAID’s commitments] to support our trainees will empower young Pinoys who are disproportionately affected by this crisis,” del Rosario affirmed. Visit https://youthworks.pbed.ph/trainee-registration/form to apply for YouthWorks PH.

CHED, Australian tech network ink MOU on higher education, research partnership

ANBERRA—At the sidelines of the Australian Technology Network (ATN) Education Summit, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman J. Prospero E. de Vera III and University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Vice ChancellorPresident and ATN Chairman Professor Attila Brungs led the ceremonial signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on higher education and research. The ATN is a consortium of four of the most innovative and enterprising universities in Australia, namely: UTS in New South Wales, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology-University in Melbourne, University of South Australia, and Curtin University in Western Australia. The MOU will facilitate cooperation between Philippine state universities and ATN member-universities, particularly on science and innovation in higher education and research. It also supports the longstanding education cooperation between the two countries. In his opening remarks, Brungs recognized the importance of the Philippines in Australia’s international education sector:

COMMISSION on Higher Education Chairman J. Prospero E. de Vera III (left) with University of Technology Sydney Vice ChancellorPresident and Australian Technology Network Chairman Professor Attila Brungs at the online ceremonial signing. CANBERRA PE/DFA

“On the ATN Global Engagement Plan, we want to expand this and make it richer and deeper, one of our core areas of focus now is on the Philippines.” He also added the ATN and CHED will develop a work plan to activate this collaboration with the objective of implementing activities by 2021. De Vera said both nations will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations in 2021, and higher education cooperation is an

important part of this milestone. He explained that the MOU is aligned with the priorities of the Philippines-Australia Comprehensive Partnership, and the national development plans of the country. “This important agreement...is crucial in pushing for stronger internationalization of Philippine higher education institutions,” de Vera confirmed. Presidents of state colleges and universities of the Philippines also viewed the event online. DFA

HE State of Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, or Mashav, through the Embassy of Israel in the Philippines, recently built a handwashing facility in Makati High School (MHS) to support the Brigada Eskwela program of the Department of Education (DepEd). “Access to sanitation facilities is essential for effective prevention and control of diseases, especially in the midst of the...pandemic,” Ambassador Rafael Harpaz said. “We value health and education, that’s why we decided to build this handwashing facility. Students and faculty members can use this to wash their hands once the [school reopens].” Joining Harpaz in the turnover ceremony held on October 20 at MHS were Mashav Officer Gladys Baniqued; Officer in Charge, Schools Division Superintendent and DepEd Makati School Division Office’s Carleen Sedilla, CESE; MHS’ Principal Felix Bunagan, Senior High School Assistant Principal Gizelle Laud, English Department OIC Bernardita Caduhada and faculty member Lilio Carreon Jr., Technology and Livelihood Education Department OIC Democrito Flores, Brigada Eskwela 2020 Faculty Coordinator Angelito Baloloy and Student Government President Kaye Joy Fule. Israe l recent ly don ated pr i nt i ng equipment to the DepEd to assist in

AMBASSADOR Rafael Harpaz (left) with a student leader of Makati High School. EMBASSY OF ISRAEL

the latter’s continuous efforts to cope up with the pandemic, and in providing distance learning to Filipino students. (See Envoys&Expats, August 20, 2020: “Israel aids distance, blended education for Pinoy students.”)

Artists spark creativity among students amid pandemic

INCE art has been proven by mental-health studies as instrumental in helping reduce stress or anxiety caused by uncertainties such as the ongoing pandemic, Pilipinas Shell, in partnership with Fringe Manila, recently launched “Virtual Art Interact,” a digital platform for established artists to share their views on the sector, as well as develop skills of budding artists and young Filipino creative talents from the grassroots level in the country. Themed “Hope In Our Art,” the online forum-cumworkshop, with its first leg held in Luzon, featured workshop demos and artist discussions. It forms part of the petroleum giant’s ongoing National Students Art Competition (NSAC). “We want the NSAC to become a platform to support and empower the community, so that they may, in turn, uplift more Filipinos through art because, despite this crisis, art and artists are resilient,” said Pilipinas Shell Country Social Performance and Investment Manager Sankie Simbulan. “Through programs such as Virtual Art Interact, Shell is able to amplify artists’ voices and give young artists a better chance to thrive—despite the difficult circumstances they are facing.” Like in other professions, the continued lockdown in Metro Manila and other areas in the country has challenged local artists. For instance, Manila-based street artist, painter and illustrator Jappy Agoncillo had to look for other platforms and sources of inspiration for his art and, at the same time, be of help to other people. Good thing the webinar had enabled him to do so. “[It has] been very difficult, because we can’t go out,” said Agoncillo, who performed a live demonstration of acrylic art during the cyber forum. “I’m a street artist, but doing street art is off-the-table right now. I overcame this by shifting toward trying to help others.” He added, “Many people have lost their livelihood and want to turn to art to create, express themselves,

and even earn a little more. I’ve been giving advice to younger, aspiring artists who are figuring out [ways to jump-start] their careers.” With a lot of creative spaces shuttering, Con Cabrera, curator and art director, agreed with Agoncillo that artists need new channels to showcase their work—and that’s where NSAC and Virtual Art Interact come in. She said: “We have this [wellspring] of information and platforms through the Internet. We can easily connect. It’s a very special time for artists.” In these trying times, when the art-longing public turn to cyber space for solace, expression and inspiration, technology has been breaking the glass ceiling for artists to bring their creative works to them, according to renowned sculptor and former NSAC winner Leeroy New. “Now, everyone can share their art online and have access to a global audience,” he said, while citing the important role that art plays beyond demonstrating individual creativity. “But with this crisis, art as a practice has to expand. It’s not just about creating artworks, but also figuring out how to use that selfexpression to be involved in the community—whether that’s converting your studio to design protective equipment for health-care workers, or creating art that informs. So, it’s also a matter of expanding our concepts of creativity with the times.” Sharing the same sentiment, Fringe Manila Festival Director Andrei Pamintuan opined that the artist’s role in society is to be of service in the community: “The NSAC is a good reminder for our young artists to not just hone their craft, but also think about how their art can change lives.” “Artists are the storytellers of the world, and our stories have the capacity to transform communities and society for the better by instilling progressive ideas into our work,” Pamintuan noted. Roderick L. Abad

Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror

Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

Saturday, October 24, 2020 A9

Beyond 100: The Bauhaus and Modernism

The birthplace of the Bauhaus (1919), the present-day Weimar University Main Arts Building.

An architectural landmark—the 1936 Bauhaus Building in Dessau

Story & photos by Bernard Joseph Esposo Guerrero

ftentimes, because we are surrounded by numerous modern buildings, we often simply turn a blind eye on them. This comes as no surprise as we were never truly taught in appreciating new structures in the same way we were trained to celebrate their older counterparts. But, let us look at it this way: There might be a reason why “modernism” has become so influential and enduring, so much so that it has been the most productive and widespread movement not only in building designs but also in the manufacture of everyday practical objects. Walter Gropius, one of the founding fathers of modernism, once conceded that what they wanted to achieve in the 20s was both unconventional and expensive for that time. He, nevertheless, also accurately predicted that those they created would eventually be the norm of the future. The Bauhaus started in 1919 when an arts and crafts school headed by Gropius was established in Weimar, the cultural heart of Germany. The goal was simple—to create a “unified work of art” that merges both the fine arts and the crafts, the beautiful and the practical. It highlighted the enduring philosophy that attaches greater importance to function over form, where keeping things simple and at a minimal was the way to go. My visit to Germany in 2019 was very timely: Bauhaus then celebrated its 100th year anniversary. I was able to trace back the evolution of this school of thought beginning with a visit to Weimar, then to Dessau, where Bauhaus reached its period of blossoming, and finally to Berlin where it was first applied for the much greater public good. I was also fortunate to see the largest ensemble of buildings following this style a few weeks later in Israel. All these modern-day wonders are now Unesco World Heritage Sites.

Weimar. The related sites in Weimar comprise the two school buildings where the budding school of thought was first taught, as well as the Haus am Horn, the first building to be constructed purely in Bauhaus terms. The school took pride in its faculty which was composed of the most talented artists of the period—Oskar Schlemmer, Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Breuer, Georg Muche, etc. The school in Weimar lasted until 1925 when it, due to political pressures, was evicted from the city. The school buildings still feature some of the earliest outputs of Bauhaus, clearly demonstrating its origin as a humble statefunded school. Some notable examples are Schlemmer’s staircase fresco and installation art in the Applied Arts Building, and the furniture adorning the Director’s Room. Dessau. The Bauhaus school’s move to

Dessau proved to be more beneficial as they were able to practice their mission more freely and productively. Architecture, as the final expression of all the arts, was eventually given attention here. The Bauhaus Building in Dessau (built in 1926) is a commanding classical modernist masterpiece of concrete, glass and steel. Even in today’s standards, it easily outshines many laterbuilt ones. Every detail inside, from the windows to the lamps to the door handles, was to be excited about. Nearby, Gropius also designed his house and three twin-houses for the other teachers. While those abodes look similar, residing artists-teachers were free to decorate their interiors in a manner consistent with their individual preferences. The “Masters’

The commemorative edition for the 100th year of Bauhaus.

Bauhaus style teaset.

A furniture designed by Walter Gropius

Houses” represent a more mature interpretation of a Bauhaus-style residence, which would later substantially resound in countless mid-century buildings that came afterwards. After seven years, however, the school had to close again, moving for the last time to Berlin, where it survived only for a few years.

Berlin & Tel Aviv. Siemensstadt’s Ring Settlement was one of the pioneering housing estates that gave rise to new approaches in urban planning and construction. It was, above all, geared toward providing affordable housing that still championed suitable living conditions for the capital’s growing lower-middle class. Among the six renowned architects, who worked on this project was Gropius who sported his Bauhaus principles in building one of the apartments.

Postcards of Bauhaus buildings in Tel Aviv

Built as a response to the most urgent social demands of the 1920s-30s, the Bauhaus apartment cemented its place as a potent solution to the pragmatic problems that confronted the 20th century and beyond. The Bauhaus buildings in Tel Aviv, on the other hand, came in 20 years later because of the Diaspora of Bauhaus students brought about by war-torn Germany. Young Jew architects who settled in Israel immediately applied Bauhaus teachings in developing the city. Tel Aviv, therefore, has the highest concentration of Bauhaus buildings in the world, totaling to around 4,000. Since then, there has been no stopping the school of thought in reaching wider and greater frontiers, especially when its top proponents like Gropius, Breuer, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe ended up practicing in the USA as well.

After 100 years. The influences of these modernist buildings and household items are still apparent today, and they are even more relevant now than they were ever before. Despite its troublesome beginnings, Bauhaus has left many marks around the world, including the Philippines. It also influenced the development of the Art Deco style. Some would even argue that IKEA is a product of Bauhaus philosophy. In Haifa in Israel, a modernist IKEA lamp was even on display in one of the most prominent art galleries, clearly hinting that it is indeed a work of art. Sometimes, however, we take these for granted and forget how they have made our lives more comfortable. If there is one tradition that perfectly embodies the spirit of a true “global heritage” and what it ought to be, the Bauhaus brand of modernism fits that without question.

Qatar Airways introduces vegan range of gourmet dishes Q

QATAR Airways vegan range

atar Airways has introduced its first range of fully vegan dishes to its à la carte menu for Business Class passengers on all flights, designed to cater to the increasing demand for plant-based food while elevating passengers’ culinary experience when they travel with the award-winning airline. The newly crafted vegan dishes use only the freshest locally and internationally sourced ingredients and are available to all Business Class passengers flying from the airline’s Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, and selected flights into Doha. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We always strive to provide our customers with authentic and indulgent experiences in the skies. We are delighted to incorporate a vegan main course choice to our onboard menu, offering our passengers

yet another lifestyle choice that redefines the expectations from a five-star airline.” Designed with sustainability and taste at its heart, Qatar Airways’ range of flavorful vegan dishes include smoked moutabel, spiral courgettes and arrabbiata sauce, tofu and spinach tortellini, asian barbecue tofu, noodles, scallions and shiitake, fried tofu with vegetable tajine, cauliflower couscous and kalamata bruschetta, and chickpea flour omelette. The airline also offers a wide selection of special meals to cater to different dietary requirements. Passengers can request a special meal up to 24 hours before their flight. These include young traveler meals, vegetarian or religious meals and medical or health-care meals. Qatar Aircraft Catering Company (QACC), the exclusive catering provider at Hamad International Airport, ensures that all in-flight meals are prepared to the

highest quality using the freshest ingredients. Spanning an extraordinary 69,000 square meters, QACC is one of the world’s largest self-contained catering facilities. Since the start of the Covid-19 crisis, the airline has applied necessary health and safety measures onboard its flights, including in the preparation and serving of food. Business Class meals are served covered on a tray instead of a table set up, and a cutlery wrap is offered to passengers as an alternative to individual cutlery service, in an effort to minimize contact between crew and passengers. Qatar Airways has also introduced single-use menu cards and sealed refreshing wipes. Economy Class meals and cutlery are served sealed as usual, and menu cards have been temporarily discontinued. All social areas onboard the aircraft have been closed adhering to the social distancing measures.

BusinessMirror

A10 Saturday, October 24, 2020 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

www.businessmirror.com.ph

VOLTE FOR SIMULTANEOUS BROWSING AND VOICE CALLS; IS YOUR DEVICE READY? THERE’S another acronym inching its way into the consciousness of Filipino consumers. After 3G, LTE, 4G and 5G, comes VoLTE—short for Voice over LTE, a technology designed to allow simultaneous mobile browsing and voice calls, as well as provide higher quality mobile phone calls. Prior to VoLTE technology, mobile phones connected to an LTE/4G or 5G signal needed to fall to a 3G or even 2G connection when receiving or making a phone call. This meant that browsing on your mobile would get interrupted as soon as you receive an incoming call and just resume browsing after the call has ended. But with VoLTE, mobile browsing on a LTE/4G/5G connection while on a voice call would now be possible. And the quality of the voice call would be even more crystal clear. The good news is that Globe has already fully enabled VoLTE in the National Capital Region, Rizal, Bulacan and Cavite, and is currently rolling out the technology in various parts of the country. For Globe customers in the VoLTE-ready areas, they may check if their mobile phone is VoLTEcapable at bit.ly/2Hkvf8v. They may also get in touch with a Globe representative through Globe Facebook Messenger and Twitter accounts once VoLTE is available commercially. Most of the newer smartphone models already support VoLTE. Setting up VoLTE is easy. On Samsung mobile phones, the VoLTE option can usually be found under Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks category. Just turn it on and the phone will use the LTE data networks for calls whenever possible. On an iPhone, it is under Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options. For Huawei, it can be done by going to Connections > Mobile Networks > VoLTE Calls. For areas with poor signal quality, Globe customers may use VoWiFi (also known as WiFi Calling), a complementary technology to VoLTE which also provides better call experience and allows simultaneous voice call and browsing. Instead of relying on the traditional cellular phone network, VoWiFi uses an available WiFi network without the need for any app. VoWiFi-capable phones can use VoWiFi to make and receive important calls as long as they have good WiFi connection. VoLTE and VoWiFi calls will be charged like a regular call. Consumers who are registered to Globe unli calls promo can also have unli VoLTE calls within Globe. Globe is continuously improving its network and upgrading to 4G LTE/5G for a better data experience. Since 3G is nearing its obsolescence, the company is encouraging customers to switch to a 4G LTE/5G-ready SIM for free by securing a Globe Store appointment via glbe.co/abs-queue or the GlobeOne app. They may also avail of affordable 4G LTE smartphones through shop.globe.com.ph, or get them as prepaid kits, a freebie with new postpaid lines, or for postpaid plan renewal.

SINGER Lee Hyo-ri and her husband Lee Sang-soon with Girls Generation’s Yoon-ah. JTBC

Why ‘Hyori’s Bed and Breakfast’ is a must-watch

NE of the shows on Netflix that I keep going back to is Hyori’s Bed and Breakfast or Hyori’s Homestay. As far as Korean shows are concerned, it’s on my Top 10 list. The variety show (a term that encompasses a Korean TV show that’s not a drama) is centered around singer Lee Hyo-ri, a first generation idol, and her husband Lee Sang-soon and their beautiful home in Jeju Island, which they turned into a bed and breakfast for purposes of the show. The first season opens with the couple tidying their house, wondering if the show will work. The house is like a modern farmhouse built from wood and stone. The house, which has a high ceiling, is situated in a sprawling compound. “Everything is so open in this house,” Lee Sangsoon tells his wife in the first episode. Except for the gate and front and back doors, the

house has an open layout. There are no bedrooms. There’s a second floor where the couple sleeps. There’s a washroom and shower room without any doors. Even the closets are open, some of them hidden from view by curtains. The first floor washroom is also open and so is the one in the studio where Hyo-ri and Sang-soon sleep when the house is full. The couple has a computer room on the first floor so they turn that, with the help if curtains, into a makeshift room. Hyo-ri and Sang-soon, a musician and DJ, are semi-retired in Jeju Island. They live a life that’s my retirement goal and this is one of the reasons why I love the show so much. One more thing that makes the show special for me is that the house seems to be part of the scenery. It does not stand out but looks so natural being there. I know the show, like most reality shows, are heavily edited to suit the aesthetic and feel sought by the producers and creators but it’s still a feel-good show. Another thing I love about the show is the guests at the “bed and breakfast” and their stories. My favorites are the three siblings from Season 1 and the engaged couple from Season 2. I love how the man, who doesn’t seem like the romantic type, describes his fiancé like she is the most beautiful person in the universe. I won’t go further about the guests and how the show runs so anyone who wants to watch it can. If

you’re a fan of IU, Yoon-ah of Girls Generation and/or Park Bo-gum, they’re in the show as staff members. To be honest, I love the first season more than the second but both are very relaxing to watch. There are two seasons of the show on Netflix. I had hoped for a third season but it seems that it’s not possible anymore. Hyo-ri and Sang-soon have sold the house to JTBC after their privacy was invaded by people who continually rang the doorbell and even entered the property. Meanwhile, the two seasons of Hyori’s Bed and Breakfast are still on Netflix so you can catch it there. Also, Hyori’s Bed and Breakfast is a good way to see the beauty of nature without going to Jeju Island. Now that we’re not allowed to travel, watching the variety show again brings me to Jeju Island even if I have never been there and will not likely be there anytime soon. Other shows I’m watching right now on Netflix are Record of Youth, Private Lives, Start-Up and Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol. Of the four, the last two seem promising although the first two aren’t too bad. Of course, Record of Youth stars Park Bo-gum in what is his last drama before he enlisted in the military. Also, this is not a press release from Netflix. These are my thoughts about what I’ve been watching. I have never been the sort to binge watch or spend my hours on Netflix but almost a year into quarantine, watching Korean variety shows and dramas somehow keeps me calm when I am anxious. ■

Younger generations to boost PHL mobile banking SERGEY SEDOV

BY RIZAL RAOUL S. REYES THERE is a huge potential for mobile banking in the Philippines as the younger generation are bound to prioritize digital services when choosing a bank. Sergey Sedov, CEO of Singapore-based fintech holding company UnaFinancial, told BUSINESSMIRRO� in an e-mail interview that the youth belonging to the 18 to 30 age bracket have a high level of confidence in using the Internet compared to the older generation. He added this group is always on the go and trying to save time as much as possible. “It is faster and more comfortable to pay bills, transfer funds and get loans online, especially via a mobile app, because a smartphone is always at hand,” Sedov explained. “It is worth mentioning that 93 percent of Internet users in the Philippines own smartphones whereas 67 percent of the population have a PC or a laptop,” Sedov added. At the same time, Sedov said the share of the young population using a PC (aged 18 to 30) is about 22 percent. Considering that only 32 percent of the Philippine population had a bank account in 2017,

Sedov pointed out there is a decent potential for demand for digital services. “Moreover, the younger population in the islands which do not have access to banking services, but they can access the Internet, they will primarily focus on services that can be received digitally,” he said. As as response, Sedov said Philippine banks will be definitely developing and improving their mobilebased services in response to the growing demand for digital banking services especially among young people. Sedov added factors such as the coronavirus pandemic and demand for quicker services coming from digital natives will eventually push more banks to adopt digital transformation. Meanwhile, UnaFinancial revealed that from their recent survey, about half of Filipinos value saving options and security in banking apps. Moreover, the survey noted that Filipinos are also willing to have more opportunities to save money, and have extended functions in the apps in terms of basic financial transactions. “It turned out that mobile banking apps are used by two-thirds of the respondents [67.7 percent]. On the

one hand, such a high index does not fully correlate with GlobalWebIndex statistics which cite that only 37 percent of adults use the Internet,” UnaFinancial said. However, it should be noted that: ■ The online survey by UnaFinancial was conducted among the Filipinos who are interested in finance (192 respondents); ■ A significant share of the respondents were residents of metropolitan areas from the central regions Metro Manila (41.4 percent) and Calabarzon (13.6 percent); ■ The GlobalWebIndex data provided is from Q3 2019. Given the high penetration rate of financial services in the country, these figures would probably be higher now. Most of the respondents said that they were or had been quite satisfied with the use of banking applications, with 59.4 percent of the respondents rating them 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale. In general, the survey data confirmed that the Philippines has a solid base for the penetration of fintech solutions, and is ready to develop them further.

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Saturday, October 24, 2020 A11

Global identity solutions provider introduces new card printing machine BY RODERICK L. ABAD Contributor HID Global has unveiled its new offering globally, including the Philippines, targeting government entities, financial card issuers and service bureaus. The latest HID Element product line is the industry’s first heavy-duty, fully modular desktopbased card personalization portfolio that builds a new category for midrange and high-volume market segments. Craig Sandness, vice president and managing director of secure issuance for HID Global, told BUSINESSMIRRO� that this caters to customers that have unique card personalization and issuance requirements where traditional direct-to-card printers and large production machines may be too cost- or space-prohibitive. This portfolio delivers optimal card personalization and accommodates projects that require high-resolution ultraviolet (UV) ink printing, laser engraving or both. Its best-in-class features address the demand for greater print speed, higher resolution, larger card output and better cost-per-card economy. One of the key features of the HID Element product line that allow different configuration options is Precision UV-cured, Drop on Demand (DOD) inkjet card printing that span full-color over-the-edge or monochrome text and graphics printing, with as many as six configurable ink channels. With this, users have options for custom colors, fluorescents and color tactile effects. Also, it has laser engraving system for tamperproof, high-durability card personalization that delivers secure sub-surface or tactile effect black markings and precise greyscale imaging in a laser engraving-only system or combined with a color UV ink module. On the other hand, it boasts of HID Omnikey or third-party (Smartware) contact and contactless reader and programmer functionality and magstripe support. Meanwhile, its lenticular personalization feature refers to Multiple/Changeable Laser Image (MLI/CLI) engraved images or data shift with the viewing angle for convenient authentication. What’s more, it has optional modules or additional input/output card hopper for a total capacity of as many as 1,600 cards and a camera system for registration and verification. The HID Element, according to Sandness, is now available in the country through local partners. “The Philippines is one of the key markets for HID Global,” he said. “By bridging the gap between desktop printers and central issuance machines, the HID Element product line pioneers a new approach for delivering a host of highly configurable options that address current and evolving customer challenges.”

If Google’s a monopoly, who is harmed by its market power?

BY MATT O’BRIEN The Associated Press

OOGLE has long defended itself against charges of monopoly by stressing that its products are free and that no one has to use them. And it’s avoided tough government scrutiny for years based in part on the idea that people searching the Internet are not Google’s true customers. We’re its product. Advertisers are its real customers. That complicates the question of who, if anyone, is hurt by Google’s dominance in selling ads off the world’s search queries and through its array of affiliated businesses, from its Android phone software to its YouTube video platform and digital maps. The US Justice Department’s new antitrust lawsuit against Google argues that both advertisers and regular people are harmed by the tech giant’s position as “the unchallenged gateway to the Internet for billions of users worldwide.” “As a consequence, countless advertisers must

NEW SOLUTION FOR EASY, HIGH-QUALITY LIVE STREAMING AND VIDEO CALLS SONY Electronics Inc. has released a new desktop application, called Imaging Edge Webcam, which allows users to easily transform their Sony digital camera into a high-quality webcam by simply connecting it to a PC via USB, free of cost. The app allows users to live stream and videoconference in one easy step while also taking full advantage of Sony’s advanced imaging technology such as industry-leading autofocus, high resolution picture quality and additional unique features of each compatible camera. “We will continue to adapt and evolve to meet the needs of our customers. Their voice is critical to everything that we do in this industry” said Ryo Ochi, general manager for Digital Imaging Division,

Sony Electronics Asia Pacific. “Given the growing demand for live streaming and video communication, we’re excited to share a new application that gives so many loyal Sony’s customers the ability to quickly and easily transform their camera into a highly effective webcam for live streaming, video calls and so much more.” Imaging Edge Webcam is compatible with 35 Sony camera models including: Alpha 9 II, Alpha 9, Alpha 7R IV, Alpha 7R III, Alpha 7R II, Alpha 7S II, Alpha 7S, Alpha 7 III, Alpha 7 II, Alpha 6600, Alpha 6400, Alpha 6100, RX100 VII, RX100 VI, RX0 II, RX0, ZV-1 and more. The newly announced Alpha 7S III is compatible, as well.

pay a toll to Google’s search advertising and general search text advertising monopolies,” the government wrote in Tuesday’s landmark complaint, which asks a federal court to intervene to protect competition. “American consumers are forced to accept Google’s policies, privacy practices, and use of personal data; and new companies with innovative business models cannot emerge from Google’s long shadow.” The government argues that Google has abused its monopoly power through agreements with other companies that promote Google’s apps and place its “search access points” as a default on browsers, phones and other devices. All of this drives more searches of Google at the expense of its rivals, the complaint alleges. Google’s critics have been making similar arguments for years in calls to break up the tech giant or curtail its behavior, but US antitrust enforcers have long relied on a traditional standard of judging a monopoly by whether it’s making consumers pay too high a price for its products. Google controls about 90 percent of global web searches and dominates search-based advertising, but it holds a smaller share of the overall digital advertising market. “This is an argument we can expect Google to make a lot and make it loudly, that its customers are the advertisers,” said Rebecca Allensworth, a law professor at Vanderbilt University. “But there are a lot of antitrust law professors who would say that consumers pay a real price for something like a search engine,” Allensworth said. “There’s a real cost to us, in terms of privacy, attention and data. It may not be dollars and cents. But it’s that price we should be concerned about.” Google’s business works by scooping up personal data from billions of people who are searching online, watching YouTube videos, following digital map routes, talking to its voice assistant or using its phone software. That data helps feed the advertising machine that has turned Google into a behemoth. The assistant US attorney general in charge of antitrust enforcement, Makan Delrahim, has repeatedly said that zero-price business models— Google and Facebook are the best-known examples— should not get “a free pass” from antitrust scrutiny because it’s not just about ensuring price competition. It’s about promoting “consumer welfare in all its forms, including consumer choice, quality, and innovation,” he said in a speech at Harvard Law School last November. Delrahim recused himself from the Google probe because he represented the company as a lobbyist in 2007 when it faced antitrust scrutiny over its acquisition of DoubleClick, then a competitor in digital advertising. Google has long denied claims of unfair competition and is expected to fiercely oppose any

attempt to force it to spin off its services into separate businesses. The company argues that although its businesses are large, they are useful and beneficial to consumers. “People use Google because they choose to—not because they’re forced to or because they can’t find alternatives,” the company said in a Tuesday tweet that called the lawsuit “deeply flawed.” But the Justice Department argues that Google “deprives rivals of the quality, reach, and financial position necessary to mount any meaningful competition to Google’s longstanding monopolies,” and that foreclosing competition has reduced the quality of search services. The complaint mentions loss of privacy and the use of consumers’ data as quality issues, although without elaborating. While Google dominates search advertising, it’s likely to point to tighter competition in the broader market for online advertising. Google takes in about 29 percent of all digital ad spending, according to a June report from eMarketer, and faces growing competition from rivals such as Facebook and Amazon—each of which holds about 23 percent of the digital ad market and is also under antitrust scrutiny. Rivals that run more specialized search businesses, such as Yelp, Expedia and Tripadvisor, have been among the most vocal in arguing that they’re harmed by Google’s business practices. Seth Kalvert, Tripadvisor’s senior vice president and general counsel, said that the antitrust charges are good for consumers and could help preserve a vision of the Internet as a place of transparency, “the wisdom of crowds” and vibrant competition. “They provide the framework for meaningful action to stop Google from leveraging its gatekeeper position to benefit its owned services and increase its profits at the expense of competition and consumers,” Kalvert said in a statement. At the same time, it’s never been certain how much the average American cares about the impacts of Google’s market dominance and the way it uses people’s information. The company has historically ranked high in surveys of user trust, though growing public awareness about the loss of digital privacy and President Donald Trump’s repeated and unfounded claims of tech industry bias have left some dents in its reputation. The lawsuit is in some ways a repeat of the Justice Department’s last big antitrust case against a tech giant. The government sued Microsoft more than 20 years ago accusing it of leveraging a monopoly position to lock customers into its products so they wouldn’t be tempted by potentially superior options from smaller rivals. ■ AP technology writers Frank Bajak and Michael Liedtke contributed to this report.

Sports BusinessMirror

A12 Saturday, October 24, 2020

Cesafi eyes resumption in August 2021

HE Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) will not adopt a bubble environment when it holds its postponed 21st season tentatively in August next year. Long-time Commissioner Felix Tiukinhuy said the league is hopeful that the Covid-19 pandemic would significantly ease late next year, thus there would be no need for a bubble. “It’s very hard to use the bubble and we can’t risk anyone. At the same time, the bubble is very expensive. We will just have to wait for next year,”Tiukinhuy told BusinessMirror in a phone interview. “Besides, we want the fans to be present during the games,” he added. Tiukinhuy said the country’s third most popular collegiate league—after the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and National Collegiate Athletic Association—is conducting sports webinars to coaches and athletes. “We don’t have the money. For now, we just have to follow

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

ALASKA big man Vic Manuel (right) in action against Rain or Shine’s Jewel Ponferada.

guidelines and protocols,” he said. Tiukinhuy added the member schools will establish training guidelines for their student athletes. The Cesafi is composed of defending men’s basketball champion Southwestern University (SWU), University of the Visayas, University of Cebu, University of Southern Philippine Foundation, University of San Carlos, University of San Jose Recoletos and Cebu Institute of Technology University. The seven schools also maintain high school teams except for SWU. Sacred Heart School Ateneo de Cebu is the reigning juniors basketball champion. Also in the high school roster are Don Bosco Technological College and Cebu Eastern College. The Cesafi holds competitions in athletics, basketball, swimming, indoor and beach volleyball, dancesport, taekwondo, karatedo, tennis, weightlifting table tennis, badminton and chess. Josef Ramos

‘MUSCLE MAN’

GETTING JOB DONE FOR ACES By Josef Ramos

ITH Vic “Muscle Man” Manuel playing inspired inside the Clark bubble, the Alaska Aces strung three consecutive victories to make a statement in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup. Manuel has been carrying the Aces on his broad shoulders to piece averages of 15.2 points and 6.6 rebounds in five games for one of his best starts in the league. Alaska fell to TNT Tropang Giga (95-100) and Meralco (81-93), but sprang to life in its

next three assignments—Magnolia (87-81), Blackwater (120-82) and a close one over Rain or Shine (89-88) only last Thursday. “We didn’t lose hope because we just returned to the game and everybody was still adjusting. But we’re so motivated with the trust and confidence given us by Coach Jeffrey Cariaso,” the former Philippine School of Business Administration center told BusinessMirror on Friday before heading to the team’s early afternoon practice at the Angeles University Foundation gym. “We follow coach’s instructions—even the small details—and the results are good,” Manuel said. “I am very inspired to play hard and sacrifice a lot for my family,

for the team and management.” Manuel, 33, draws inspiration from his lovely daughters, 10-year-old Kesha and eight-month old Francine. Like everybody else in the close to 400 PBA entourage, he won’t be home for at the most two-and-a-half months in Alaska makes it all the way to the Finals. He said they also have to work extra after Kevin Racal left the bubble with a heavy heart on Friday to undergo surgery for his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his right knee. Racal earlier asked Alaska management to stay and cheer the team on. On Saturday at 6:45 p.m., Alaska will be up against defending champion San Miguel Beer,

the very same team trailed the Aces ,0-3, in the Finals only to rally and win the all-Filipino crown four years ago. That experience, Manuel said, really hurt the team. “But we have moved on and tomorrow [Saturday] is another game day,” he said. A lot of changes have occurred on the Alaska bench—from the coaching staff to the players— and in Saturday’s matchup, the Aces will be facing an SMB crew hobbled by the injuries of six-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo and most recently, Terrence Romeo. Fajardo is recovering from a leg fracture while Romeo sustained a dislocated shoulder

PAGDANGANAN IN THE MIX IN DRIVE ON CHAMPIONSHIP

ianca Pagdanganan wielded her booming driver anew but the rookie pro had to offset a shaky backside start with a huge frontside rally to stay in the hunt in the Ladies Professional Golf Association Drive On Championship-Reynolds Lake Oconee in Georgia Thursday. Pagdanganan tamed the par-72 layout’s front nine with five birdies against a bogey for a 68 at the Great Waters course to share sixth place with former Major winner Pernila Lindberg of Sweden and Marissa Steen of the US.

The trio were three shots behind the hotstarting pair of world No. 5 Daniella Kang and fellow American Jennifer Song at the start of the $1.3-million event in Greensboro. Pagdanganan had a three-birdie run from No. 1 and rebounded from a bogey on No. 5 with birdies on Nos. 6 and 8 for her best start in her first six tournaments in the Tour. She was at it again with her driver and dominated the field with a 300-yard norm that even surpassed her Tour leading average of 286 yards.

Skateboarding champ Didal gets 3 dogs as pets

“I just gave myself good birdie chances,” said the International Container Terminal Services Inc.-backed Pagdanganan, who appeared headed for another lackluster start with a bogey on No. 13 against a birdie on No. 15. But with her driver in full swing, Pagdanganan got into the groove in the last nine holes, kicking off a hot start that beat her opening 69 in the Marathon LPGA Classic in Ohio last July. Flashing an awesome display of power in a windy afternoon, she firmed up her claim

as the Tour’s premier ball-crusher. But Pagdanganan said she has yet to go to full potential. “Maybe off the tee was great today but my irons and putting were pretty solid,” Pagdanganan said.

Bianca Pagdanganan pulls out her booming drive in Georgia.

and has left the bubble. SMB Coach Leo Austria is wary of Alaska’s streak and at the same time of his team’s struggle early in the conference. “We have to find ways and try our best [to win] because it’s our pride is at stake here as Philippine Cup champions for many years,” said Austria, who coached the Beermen to five straight all-Filipino crowns. Austria said he cautioned his players about the Aces “playing really well and are considered a real title contender now.” The first game at 4 p.m. is a battle of winless teams Terrafirma (0-3 win-loss record) and Northport (0-4). Coming off a joint ninth finish in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in Pennsylvania two weeks ago, Pagdanganan missed five fairways and failed to reach regulation four times but bucked the unreceptive greens and finished with 29 putts. Kang, who swept the first two legs of the pandemic-shortened season, including the Drive On Championship, also last July in Ohio, took charge again with a solid seven-under 65, which Song tied with a sizzling backside start that featured four straight birdies from No. 12. Kang, who turned 28 Monday, yielded some 46 yards off the tee to Pagdanganan but had been so consistent with her all around game, finishing with just one missed fairway and green and wound up with 29 putts. She gunned down four birdies at the back then added three more in the last nine holes. Song, only the second player in history to sweep the US Women’s Amateur Public Links and US Women’s Amateur in 2009, seized control with two more birdies on Nos. 18 and 1 but reeled back with a bogey on the tough No. 5 before closing out with birdies on

Rise Up! Shape Up! for women sports

HE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will present Rise Up! Shape Up! to motivate women and girls to integrate simple movement and workouts into their day-to-day living especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. “We encourage our women and girls to rise above the situation while shaping up an active lifestyle adaptive to the so-called new normal,” PSC Chairman William Ramirez said. The program is set on October 28 at 10:30 a.m. “Even the simplest physical activities such as walking can help people combat fear and the feelings of unproductivity and stagnancy that result from the lockdown,” said Ramirez, as he reminded the public that there are simple and safe ways to get up and move around.

The PSC Women in Sports program underscores the importance of having an active body and a sound mind in dealing with the changes and challenges brought about by the pandemic. The campaign also recognizes the important role of women in sports in leading the movement toward a better active living in the new normal. According to Celia Kiram, the PSC’s oversight commissioner for the Women in Sports program, the campaign serves as a platform for women athletes and sports icons to connect with the audience—particularly the youth—and influence them to overcome the stifling fear caused by the pandemic and

Delta shoot for 2-0 series lead

ampanga goes for a 2-0 lead in the National Basketball League (NBL) Season 3 President’s Cup when the Delta clash with the La Union PAOwer on Saturday at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga. The Delta and the PAOwer play Game Two at 6 p.m. inside the NBL bubble.

Pampanga drew first blood of the bestof-five championship series after an 88-83 win over La Union on Thursday night with Levi Hernandez leading the way for the Delta. The Mexico (Pampanga) native scored 24 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter, after the Delta trailed, 59-58, at

By Annie Abad

ARGIELYN DIDAL has made herself scarce these days. Especially to media. “That’s Margie, she’s shy to interviews especially when she’s not competing,” veteran Cebu sports editor Caecent No-ot Magsumbol of the DIDAL Freeman told the BusinessMirror. “And even when she’s competing, she hardly, if not at all, grants an interview before she competes.” “Margie often tells me ‘why interview me, I have nothing to say or talk about,” No-ot Magsumbol added. “But after her event, and of course, after she wins, she’s very available.” So the BusinessMirror sought Didal’s coach, Dani Bautista, instead. “Margie’s a dog lover now,” Bautista said. “In fact, she has three dogs.” Didal has two Shi Tzu and one Labrador, more than enough to keep her busy during the lockdown. Bautista said Didal stayed home during the entire Covid-19 pandemic quarantine, but built herself a mini ramp at the front yard of her family’s house in Barangay Lahug. “She didn’t really do much during the lockdown. She was just at home,” Bautista said. “As you know, skating should be played in public, and because we weren’t allowed to go out, she stayed home with her family.” Didal is the fourth in a brood of five in the Lito and Julie Didal family, whose kwek-kwek business gained popularity as fast as the skateboarder did when she won a gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia. In fact, the family’s special kwek-kwek—quail eggs bathed in flour and deep-fried—is being sold online in Cebu and one of their most popular customers is Philippine Basketball Association Legend Ramon Fernandez, now a Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner, who has made Cebu his home. “Her family cooks the most delicious ‘kwek-kwek,” Fernandez said. “I am very proud of her because she knows to find a way to survive the lockdown.” Red Bull built a skatepark in Cebu primarily because of Didal and Bautista said the double gold medalist in the 30th Southeast Asian Games would be back in training soon for her bid to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics next year. “Hopefully next month, we can have two more of our athletes to join her in training,” Bautista said. Olympic qualifying tournaments in the US, Japan, Peru and London were postponed for early next year because of the pandemic. “Margie will surely shoot for those qualifiers. She’s focused on the Tokyo Olympics,” he said. Nos. 6 and 9 to gain a shared view of the top. American Ally McDonald also turned in a bogey-free card of 66 to trail the joint leaders by one while former world No. 1 and two-time Major winner Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand missed forcing a tie at third with a wet bogey on the closing par-5 18th, settling for a 67 with Lindsey Weaver, also of the US. Pagdanganan, who honed her short game, including putting, during the break, outshot last week’s Symetra Tour leg runaway winner Matilda Castren of Finland, who carded a 69, with the former hoping to duplicate her blistering frontside stint in Friday’s second round where they will switch nines starting at 9:06 a.m. live in the new normal with a healthy mind and body. “I see women, especially those who balance work and the household, who are overwhelmed by this pandemic. They need to handle two or more responsibilities simultaneously while working from home. Aside from the anxiety and fear caused by the virus, they are also weighed down by work and household responsibilities,” Kiram said. Kiram said the inaugural episode will feature Mindful Lifestyle for Women, centering on restoring calm and balance in time of pandemic. It will be headlined by Asian Games equestrian gold medalist and Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski and volleyball star Alyssa Valdez. More information on the campaign are available at https://www.facebook.com/ riseupshapeup. the end of the third period. Pampanga team manager Alan Trinidad said the coaching staff is still looking for more teamwork heading into Game Two. “We were disappointed with their game especially our holdovers. They were thinking about the new players. I also told the new players that what we need is teamwork,” Trinidad said. La Union nearly stunned Pampanga after Erven Silverie led the PAOwer’s comeback. He scored a game-high 29 points.