BusinessMirror September 14, 2021 by BusinessMirror

$400M eyed in retail onshore dollar bonds By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE Philippine government aims to raise at least $400 million (almost P20 billion) in its maiden sale of Retail Onshore Dollar Bonds to boost the state’s war chest for Covid-19 recovery and resilience programs. In its notice of offering on Monday, the Bureau of the Treasury said they will be offering five-year and 10-year Retail Onshore Dollar Bonds in US Dollar Denomination with a target aggregate minimum amount of $400 million. The minimum issue amount for each of the five-year and 10-year

Retail Dollar Bonds is set at $200 million. The pricing date for the two tenors is set for Wednesday, September 15. The start of the public offer period will also be on the same day and it will end on October 1. The Treasury will issue the debt papers on October 8. T he R et a i l O nshore Dol l a r Bonds shall be sold during the public period in minimum denominations of $300 and multiples of $100 dollars thereafter. The Treasury earlier said the offering is seen to be far more accessible than the traditional US dollar-denominated global bonds issued by

Tuesday, September 14, 2021 Vol. 16 No. 335

the Philippine government which require a minimum subscription of $200,000. Those interested to invest in Retail Onshore Dollar Bonds may purchase through the Treasury’s online ordering facility, Bonds.PH mobile app and the Overseas Filipino Bank mobile application. This year, the national government programmed to borrow a total of P3.1 trillion, most of which is set to be raised through domestic sources. The government borrows to meet its spending requirements as well as to finance its budget deficit. The economic team sees the national government’s budget deficit

this year to reach P1.86 trillion or 9.3 percent of GDP, even higher than the P1.37 trillion or 7.6 percent of GDP in 2020. In 2019, the budget deficit stood at P660.2 billion or 3.4 percent of GDP. The national government’s outstanding debt this year is also expected to balloon by the end of this year to P11.73 trillion, up by 19.8 percent from P9.795 trillion in 2020. This is also projected to further swell in 2022 to P13.42 trillion. As of end-July this year, the national government’s outstanding debt has already piled up to a new record-high of P11.61 trillion, swelling by 26.7 percent from P9.16 trillion a year ago.

PHL AUG GIR HITS $108.5B ON SDR ALLOCATION HIKE

P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 18 pages |

‘Typhoons could push Sept inflation above 5%’

By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

HE Philippines added another $900 million to its arsenal, as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported an increase in the country’s gross international reserves (GIR) as of end-August this year. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno told reporters on Monday that the country’s GIR hit $108.5 billion in August this year. This is $900 million higher than the previous month’s GIR and $9 billion higher than the August GIR in the previous year. The country’s GIR is the level of foreign exchange holdings being managed by the Central Bank during a given period. The GIR is a crucial component of the economy as it is often used to manage the country’s foreign exchange rate against excess volatility. The BSP attributed the increase in the country’s GIR to the additional allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDR) to the Philippines given the IMF’s efforts to increase global liquidity amid the pandemic. It could have been higher, but was partially offset by the national government’s (NG) foreign currency withdrawals from its deposits with the BSP as the NG settled its foreign currency debt obligations and paid for various expenditures, and the BSP’s net foreign exchange operations. At this level, the BSP said the GIR represents a “more than adequate external liquidity buffer” for the country, as it is equivalent to 12.3 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income. It is also about 7.8 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 5.4 times based on residual maturity. International analysts have lauded the country’s ability to shore up its dollar defenses during the pandemic. In its recent affirmation of the country’s credit rating, Japan Credit Rating Agency said the strong GIR of the country “demonstrate the robustness of the country’s foreign currency liquidity position.” Recently, Fitch Solutions also said the country’s substantial GIR level is expected to limit the country’s risks from running a current-account deficit through the medium term.

TEACHERS in protective gear distribute school supplies and uniforms to the parents of students studying at Taguig Integrated School in Barangay Santa Ana, as the academic year 2021-2022 opens on Monday, September 13, 2021, the second school year that the students are not having face-to-face education. The package includes a bag, pair of shoes, raincoats, modules and emergency kits. NONIE REYES

MOST PHL CEOS ‘DISSATISFIED’ WITH VAXX ROLLOUT By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @Tyronepiad

AJORITY of the Philippines’s top business executives are not happy with the Covid-19 vaccination rollout in the country, stressing that slow inoculation hampers the economic recovery. The joint study by the PwC ( P r i c e w a t e r h o u s e C o o p e r s) Philippines and Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) revealed that 66 percent of the respondents are “dissatisfied ” with how the country is implementing the vaccination program. On the other hand, 11 percent said they are “satisfied” while 1 percent are “very satisfied.” Some 22 percent are neutral. Citing data as of September 3, the PwC-MAP report showed that the Philippines is still lagging behind its neighbors in terms of the number of fully vaccinated population with 12.9 percent. Countries like Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore are ahead with

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 49.8970

above 45-percent vaccination rate. Amid the concerns with the vaccination rollout, 76 percent of the local business honchos said the slow pace of inoculation will delay the country’s economic recovery. The business groups, to recall, have been pushing for accelerated rollout of the Covid-19 vaccines to allow further mobility and economic activities. “Despite having several stimulus programs and fiscal incentives, one thing became clear—a faster and equitable vaccination rollout worldwide is critical for the global economy to recover and to prevent the further mutations of the Covid-19 virus,” the study stressed. More than 40 percent of the respondents also cited “reliance on lockdowns to manage Covid-19” as primary threat to the economy. Majority or 70 percent of the surveyed CEOs said they suffered at least 10-percent decline on average daily sales and profits every time a hard lockdown is imposed. Metro Manila was placed under

the strictest form of community quarantine protocol for three times already amid surging Covid-19 cases. It is currently subject to modified enhanced community quarantine. “According to most CEOs surveyed, their revenues, profits, productivity, employee and customer count, and utilization decline each time the government imposes a lockdown,” the report explained. “For a consumption-driven economy, the closure of establishments such as malls, restaurants and other businesses have an immediate direct negative impact on the economy,” it added. Other factors cited by the respondents that may slow down economic recovery include political uncertainty, threats of new variant, lack of fiscal support for the struggling industries, lower investment, lower quality of education, delayed government fund release and increasing government debt.

Optimism

STILL, CEOs are optimistic. Majority (74 percent) expressed

confidence on revenue growth for their companies in the next 12 months. More CEOs (91 percent) are also anticipating better topline figures in the next three years. “To adjust to the current environment, most businesses had to adopt a remote working environment, change their products and/ or services, and invest in digital solutions,” the report said. “Having adjusted to the current reality, majority of the CEOs feel confident about their growth prospects in the next 12 months, and an even greater number of CEOs believe that their company will experience growth in the next three years.” More than half of the respondents are also expecting an above-4 percent economic growth for the country next year. They cited infrastructure development (61 percent), domestic consumption (54 percent) and government spending (52 percent) as the top growth drivers for the economy. Continued on A2

FTER accelerating to 4.9 percent in August this year, inflation could quicken above 5 percent in September as the country enters its typhoon season, a private economist has warned. In its economic commentary on Monday, ING Bank senior economist Nicholas Mapa said the higher August inflation almost certainly puts the September inflation print of the country at a risk of breaching the 5-percent mark this month. “Inflation which recently peaked at 4.9 percent last month will likely see price pressures heat up anew in September. We expect inflation to move past 5 percent as recent and approaching storm systems will undoubtedly figure into this month’s fruit and vegetable inflation numbers,” Mapa said. “Fish and meat prices will also likely remain elevated at a time when energy costs rise as crude oil has stayed close to $70/barrel. Furthermore, utility companies and retail fuel distributors have recently announced additional rounds of price increases, all adding to the supply side pressure on headline,” the economist added. He also noted that the price pressures appear to be accelerating at the “worst possible time” with base effects unfavorable in September. While inflation in the country recently shot back up to 4.9 percent and hit its highest in more than two years, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno said he is keeping the BSP’s resolve to maintain low interest rates for as long as possible to support economic recovery. Mapa said the higher inflation and the current slow recovery of the country puts the BSP in a difficult position. “The current spike in inflation continues to be driven mainly by cost-push factors despite a modest pickup in mobility and economic activity. However, recent utility tariff adjustments have begun to surface and should this be followed by other signs of second round effects, such as transport or wage adjustments, the BSP may face even more pressure to resort to costly and deadly rate hikes at a time of economic hardship,” Mapa said. “A rate hike at this very delicate stage of recovery could be enough to push the economy into the tailspin that sends the Philippines deeper into recession and ultimately into a full-blown depression,” the economist said. Bianca Cuaresma

n JAPAN 0.4542 n UK 69.0525 n HK 6.4154 n CHINA 7.7432 n SINGAPORE 37.1866 n AUSTRALIA 36.6893 n EU 58.9533 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.3041

Source: BSP (September 13, 2021)

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A2 Tuesday, September 14, 2021

‘Galunggong’ too pricey? Try cheaper ‘bangus’ or tilapia

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

@joveemarie

ISH producers on Monday appealed to Filipino consumers to patronize local bangus and tilapia amid weak demand for locally grown fish. In a news statement, food security advocacy group Tugon Kabuhayan said two of the country’s biggest producers of bangus and tilapia in Batangas and Pampanga have reported a dramatic drop in demand for the local fish amid the Covid-19 pandemic. “Bangus and tilapia are much more affordable than galunggong. Retail prices of these aquaculture species are more stable as tilapia currently retails in our wet markets at P120 and bangus at P160 while galunggong sells at P240,” the group said. Meanwhile, the group assured the public of sufficient fish supply

despite the recent two typhoons, which affected thousands of fish cages. Mario Balazon, director of the Taal Lake Aquaculture Alliance Inc. (TLAAI) composed of 3,000 fish farmers, said the recent typhoons damaged over 1,000 fish cages but this doesn’t mean the fish are gone. “Nakawala sila, pero hindi nawala. We’re now in the process of putting the fish back to their cages. Those that can’t be recaptured will surely be caught by other fishermen and consumed by nearby communities,” he said. Philippine Tilapia Stakeholders

Association President Jon Juico is also confident that tilapia fishpond farmers in Pampanga can supply consumer protein needs. “Before the pandemic, we have two cycles of harvest a year. Unfortunately, we experienced a dramatic drop in demand for tilapia during the pandemic, which forced us to limit our harvest to one cycle a year. Even so, farm-gate prices are really low,” he said. Balazon added that prices of fish around the lake can be as low as P40 per kilo as artisanal fishers were able to catch part of the fish that escaped. However, Juico said that if the country needs more supply to fill perceived supply deficit during the closed season, ponds in Pampanga are ready to harvest anytime. “The tilapia in our ponds is already oversized because of the long wait for stronger demand. We’re more than ready and eager to answer government’s call for more fish supply,” he added. Earlier, the group said the Department of Agriculture’s decision to allow 60,000 metric tons (MT)

fish importation is “excessive,” as local production is enough to cover projected supply shortfalls in the upcoming closed fishing season. Instead of relying on imports and issuing more certificates of necessity to import (CNI) next year, DA must support domestic producers, Tugon Kabuhayan said. Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar has greenlighted the importation of small pelagic fishes, such as galunggong, for wet market sale to augment the country’s domestic supply in anticipation of the closed fishing season. DA will require the importers to sell the imported fish at a wholesale price of P88 per kilogram or lower “as a result of the cost unbundling for imported small pelagic fishes.” The CNI would be valid from September 2 until the end of December. The import volume will be allocated among eligible importers through an auction system, with the BFAR overseeing the processing of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPS-IC) for the winning auctioneers, which will be endorsed to Dar for approval.

DAVAO CITY ALLOTS P23M FOR OXYGEN PLANT, MORE TANKS

AVAO CITY—The city government proceeded with the plan of Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to construct an oxygen plant by al-

locating P11 million, along with accessories and a warehouse, the mayor reported Monday. She also disclosed in her regu-

lar Monday radio program here the sharp difference in the morbidity cases for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, showing a big difference

in numbers of affected cases. She said there were suppliers willing to give their price estimates as early as now “so that we can proceed with our plant design.” The city government is likely to construct it in Maa, near where the city slaughterhouse is located along Maa Road. Duterte-Carpio said there is still a government property nearby. She said the city has also separately allotted P12 million to purchase 1,000 oxygen tanks, along with regulators, as she disclosed a shortage already of oxygen in the Southern Philippines Medical Center, the sole hospital receiver of Covid-19 patients needing hospitalization. Both projects would get the funds from the city disaster fund. She has requested the city task force on Covid-19 to come up with a resolution requesting emergency purchase or any form of purchase to make it fast, to offset the “reality of government procurement that it takes long to proceed with any project.” “I would not set any target for this plant knowing how government procurement works. By our experience lately, it took us one year to construct the crematorium and 14 months to have that Covid-19 laboratory. “But we already lack oxygen supply,” she said. For now, getting an oxygen tank would need a doctor’s prescription to regulate the availability of the supply. She said the suppliers have told government agencies dealing with them that they need a particular ingredient to manufacture the medical grade oxygen and “they have to wait from supply outside to start manufacturing again.” “So don’t be surprised if there are announcements about oxygen supply from suppliers because of this situation. This oxygen challenge is not a joke. There’s no conspiracy why people are waiting in line for the oxygen,” she added. Manuel T. Cayon

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DepEd chief: Even in the time of Delta, there is love. And there is education By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Correspondent

‘W

E are as ready as can be!” Thus declared Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones after 24,603,822 million learners returned to schools on Monday for the start of School Year (SY) 2021-2022. Briones said that the number of learners is 93.4 percent of last year’s enrollment and that they expect “even more” to enlist for late enrollment. The DepEd will still accept late enrollees until September 30, 2021. In an online forum, Briones, when sought for reaction by the BusinessMirror on the claim of a teachers’ group that DepEd is not yet ready for the opening of classes, responded: “What is the state of readiness? When is one ready for whatever activity there is? It’s like asking, are you ready to get married? You are already getting married tomorrow but you are still asking yourself, are you ready? We are as ready as can be!” In her message during the Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) 2021 National School Opening Day Program, she recalled that last year, she declared “victory” with the opening of classes on October 5, 2020. “Today, September 13, 2021, DepEd celebrates with great joy its success in opening classes for the second year in the time of Covid. We opened classes last year. We successfully ended them. Now we are opening another school year. Isn’t that success worthy of celebration?” she asked. Briones noted that when victory was declared over Covid-19 last year, some people got angry. “How can one declare victory in the time of Covid-19? For them, it was the worst time to feel victorious. In October 2020, the fourth quarter of the year, the gross domestic product [GDP] plummeted to -8.3 percent and further went down to -9.5 percent for full-year 2020,” she added. Some 452 private schools informed DepEd that they were postponing the reopening of their schools. In the meantime, learners from private schools migrated to public schools in the wake of a similar migration of private school teachers. In five months’ time, the Learning Continuity Plan had to be crafted. Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs) had to be reduced from over 15,000 to 5,000. Modules had to be developed. In addition to Covid-19, Briones said that DepEd had to deal with the impacts of nature’s rage—intermittent rumbles from Taal Volcano and typhoons with accompanying floods that

swept away printed modules. “Nonetheless, we opened the school year in the midst of debates over printed versus digital learning material. The call to continue education triumphed over calls for lockdowns and closures.” She recognized that the amount of effort and hard work the entire department exerted to keep schools cannot be quantified, noting that technical staff lived in bubble arrangements. “We had to deal with infections, frequent swabs, isolation, and vaccinations. We had to deal with fear and death. We lost drivers, accountants, and clerks as we continued rendering timely and efficient service to our teachers and staff,” she said.

Smell of success

BRIONES reiterated that SY 2020-2021 had indeed ended in victory. The DepEd’s tentative graduation figures indicated that 98.13 percent or 2,055,499 of 2,115,040 Grade 6 learners made it; Grade 10 learners with 96.9 percent or 1,881,817 out of 1,940,578 completed their studies; Grade 11 learners made it at 97.2 percent or 1,489,164 of 1,531,718. “A s e x pected, cr it icism poured in, and ‘failures’ were pointed out. These are part of the process in the journey to victory and success. A famous personality has commented that ‘if you have no critics, you’ll likely have no success.’ In the words of Albert Einstein, ‘failure is success in progress.’” Briones said: “Today, we are opening the School Year 20212022 as we celebrate last year’s victory. The challenges we are facing now are even tougher than those we battled last year.” She recalled that President Duterte approved the conduct of a pilot study on face-to-face sessions in a limited number of schools last January. “His decision was supported unanimously by the entire Cabinet. Unfortunately, the UK variant of Covid-19 entered the country, and the President suspended the implementation of his decision,” she said adding, “On the health front, we are contending with the Delta variant which is considered more deadly than all other Covid-19 variants. The ordinary citizen cowers in fear at the prospect of still another variant entering the country.” Even in the time of Covid, with all its horrors terrors, she stressed, there is love. “Yes, even in the time of evil, there is always hope, as stated by Arwen in Lord of the Rings. Even in the time of the Delta variant, there is love. And there is education. Let our classes begin!”

MOST PHL CEOS ‘DISSATISFIED’ WITH VAXX ROLLOUT These, in addition to the business-process outsourcing and services sector (46 percent); overseas Filipino workers’ remittances (35 percent); foreign direct investments (25 percent); and manufacturing and industry (24 percent). Meanwhile, the CEOs urged the government to invest primarily more on the health-care system, infrastructure and education in the next two years to strengthen the country’s bid to recovery.

Supply chain

AMONG the long-term strategies

of the companies moving forward will focus on supply chain resilience. This, as 38 percent cited supply constraints as an impact of the pandemic-induced disruptions on business activities. “As a result of business disruptions, some companies had to cancel their orders and supply arrangements,” the report noted. “The logistical concerns due to lockdowns and travel restrictions also affected the availability of raw materials and prices.” Still, some of the respondents said they maintained regular orders

Continued from A1

and accepted the higher price tag. With this, the study noted the need to assess the supply chain’s stability during the post-pandemic recovery, in addition to monitoring the “changes in the revenue and profitability mix in key markets.” T he sur vey was conducted between July and August with 178 respondents coming from different sectors. These include financial services, professional and business services, manufacturing, technolog y, transport and logistics, and agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

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FLAG objects to nomination of Roque to ILC By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

HE Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) has registered its “strong objection” to the nomination of Presidential spokesman Harry Roque to the International Law Commission (ILC) due to his pronouncements defending President Duterte’s alleged humanrights violations and undermining the supremacy of international law. In a three-page letter dated September 12, 2021, FLAG said Roque does not have the qualifications for a seat at the ILC. “Mr. Roque does not possess the qualifications for a seat at the Commission. While he has degrees in law and has taught Public International Law, he is a political partisan who has actively demonstrated contempt for the rule of law and, with specific relevance to the Commission, has undermined the supremacy of human rights and international law,” FLAG said through its Chairman Jose Manuel Diokno. “FLAG respectfully asks the Commission to peremptorily disregard the nomination of Mr. Roque and remove him from consideration for a seat in the Commission,” it added. The FLAG noted that Roque’s documented pronouncements defending extrajudicial killings, belittling the competence and jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) disqualify him for the work of the commission. Roque has been the spokesman of President Duterte from October 2017 until 2018 and returned to the same position in April 2020. “His pronouncements have been made, alternately, with sneering contempt for the plight of victims or a callous attempt to justify the same with misplaced humor. He has used his knowledge of international law to undermine the protections that international law provides under a regime of human rights and the rule of law,” FLAG stressed. If he becomes a part of the ILC, the FLAG believes that Roque would “bring no honor to the post he seeks, instead he will tarnish the same irreparably.” They believe that Roque made such statements and actions in order to bolster his chances to win an elective position in the 2022 polls.

At least 29 Filipino nature defenders slain in 2020–Global Witness report By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

ILIPINOS opposing mining, illegal logging, and dam projects were among those killed defending forests last year, making the country one of the world’s most dangerous places for environmentalists in 2020. In it’s report titled Last Line of Defense, United Kingdom-based Global Witness said 29 Filipinos died defending forests. This is the third highest death recorded globally. The data showed that the country, which recorded the highest number of deaths, was Colombia, with 65 deaths followed by Mexico with 30. “In the Philippines, opposition to damaging industries is often met with violent crackdowns from the police and military. In our data over half of the lethal attacks were directly linked to defenders’ opposition to mining, logging, and dam

projects,” the report stated. The report noted that the logging sector was linked to the most murders totaling 23 cases. These were recorded in Brazil, Nicaragua, Peru and the Philippines. Other deaths were related to attacks against indigenous peoples (IP) accounting for over a third of all fatal attacks. These were documented in Mexico, Central and South America and the Philippines. Relatedly, the report noted that indigenous peoples were the targets of 5 to 7 mass killings in 2020 and the deadliest was recorded in the Philippines. “In the most shocking of these, nine Tumandok indigenous people were killed and a further 17 arrested in raids by the military and police on the 30th of December on the island of Panay in the Philippines. Numerous reports state that these communities were targeted for their opposition to a mega-dam project on the Jalaur River,” the report stated.

@butchfBM

RESIDENT Duterte’s former economic adviser Michael Yang was a no-show at Monday’s hearing of the Blue Ribbon committee, with his lawyer saying he was advised by a Davao-based doctor to rest “for five days” for elevated hypertension. But new testimony at the hearing indicated his financial involvement in Pharmally Pharmaceutical ’s Corp. was much bigger than earlier cited, as he had “lent” funds to bankroll Pharmally’s deliveries for nearly P5.7 billion in personal protective equipment (PPE) contracts, per senators’ estimates. Atty. Raymond Fortun told the committee, chaired by Sen. Richard J. Gordon, that a certain Dr. Jenny A. Agtoon from Davao—where Yang claimed he was in during the September 10 hearing—issued a medical certificate instructing Yang “to remain on bed rest for hypertension.” At the start of Monday’s hearing, Gordon had rejected Fortun’s explanation for Yang’s absence as a virtual resource person, and told him to go and instruct his client to catch up with the hearing. Towards the end of the over five-hour hearing, however, Fortun came back online and told senators Yang’s doctor had strict orders for

Apart from environmentalists and IPs, the report noted that 28 of the individuals were state officials or park rangers. These attacks, the report noted, were documented in Brazil, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Uganda. Based on the report, those killed in the Philippines included Artilito Katipunan; Bae Merlin Ansabu Celis; Eliseo Gayas Jr.; Emerito Pinza; Fernando Velarde; Garson Catamin; Glenn Bunda; Harold Tablazon; JayAr Mercado; Jennifer Tonag; and Jessie Golondrina. The list included Jobert Bercasio; John Farochilin; Jomar Vidal; Jory Parquia; Lorenzo Paña; Louie Tagapia; Mario Aguirre; Marlos Maldos; Maurito Diaz; Nora Apique; Pablo Mâtinons Jr.; Randy Echanis; Reynaldo Katipunan; Rolando Diaz; Romy Candor; Ronnie Villamore; Roy Giganto; and Zara Alvarez.

“President Duterte’s years in office have been marked by a dramatic increase in violence against defenders. From his election in 2016 until the end of 2020, 166 land and environment defenders have been killed —a shocking increase for a country which was already a dangerous place to stand up for the environment,” Global Witness said. The report recommended that governments should ensure national policies protect land and environmental defenders and scrap legislation used to criminalize them. Governments should also require companies to conduct human rights and environment due diligence in

US Marine commandant’s visit highlights cooperation and partnership with AFP

HE commandant of the United States Marine Corps was in the country for two days over the weekend where he underscored the importance of the US-Philippines alliance and discussed engagements with local military officials. General David Berger met with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Erickson Gloria, Navy chief Rear Admiral Adeluis Bordado and Philippines Marine Corps Commandant Maj. Gen. Ariel Caculitan. Berger is the third high-ranking American official to visit the country following the visit of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III more than a month ago as the two countries were observing the 70th year of the Mutual Defense Treaty. Last month, Adm. John C. Aquilino, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, was also in the country where he strengthened the defense relations between the two countries and reaffirmed the US commitment to the security agreement. A statement from the US Embassy said that Berger, during his meeting

with military officials, emphasized the importance of the alliance in maintaining peace and stability in the region while improving interoperability to respond to crisis and contingencies. Berger also discussed the “importance of realistic training between the US and Philippine Marine Corps” during his meeting with Caculitan, “highlighting future bilateral exercises such as Kamandag and Balikatan.” “This is a very important trip for me to visit leaders of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in person,” Berger said of his travel. “Our defense cooperation has been the cornerstone of 70 years of close and strengthening partnership.” Meanwhile, the Navy’s Philippine Fleet began its four-day exercise “PAGBUBUKLOD” on Monday in Sangley Point, Cavite, whose goal is to harmonize the capabilities of fleet units with those of the Philippine Marine Corps, Naval Special Operations Command, Naval Combat Engineering Brigade and Naval Reserve Command. “Specifically, the exercise will test and re-test the Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures [TTP] of our Fleet-Marine

‘Sick’ Michael Yang skips Blue Ribbon probe anew By Butch Fernandez

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Tuesday, September 14, 2021 A3

him to rest. However, Fortun added, “if the BRC [Blue Ribbon committee] sets a hearing within the 5-day period, I will instruct Mr. Yang, if he’s well enough, to of course appear, since he’s been very cooperative.” Gordon indirectly corrected him and noted that Yang actually evaded 2 subpoenas to appear before the Blue Ribbon—the first one issued at his listed office and the second, at his Forbes Park residence. The committee will resume its inquiry at 10:30 a.m. on Friday (September 17) morning, and senators expressed hope that Yang would appear then. Meanwhile, acting on a suggestion by Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon and as so moved by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the committee undertook to ask the Department of Justice to put Yang on a watchlist, so the panel will be notified if Yang, who is from China, tries to leave the country. The arrest warrant on Yang— for a contempt citation from the Senate —remains in force. He was first cited for evasion of the subpoena; and at Friday’s hearing, when he testified with an interpreter, the contempt citation was affirmed for his alleged attempt to mislead senators by saying his only link with Pharmally was hav-

ing introduced them to four Chinese suppliers of PPE. During Friday’s hearing, however, Singapore-based Pharmally executive Huang Tzu Yen admitted that their start-up borrowed, through the firm’s director Lincoln Ong, an unspecified sum from Yang to bankroll their first delivery to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM). At Monday’s hearing, after a series of grilling, senators noted that in all, the total value of contracts where Yang’s name surfaced as a financier amount to P5.697 billion, prompting Gordon to tell Ong that Yang seemed involved “practically in most big-ticket items, right?” Duterte had described Yang as a Chinese investor who had been doing business in Davao before, and accused senators of bullying him. Senate probers said their only interest in Pharmally arises from the fact that it cornered—under questionable circumstances that even state auditors flagged—some P8 billion in PPE contracts early on in the pandemic in 2020, despite being newly incorporated and with a paidup capital of only P625,000. The “lack of due diligence” on its background by PS-DBM has drawn senators’ curiosity.

Doctrine in addressing traditional and non-traditional threats affecting the naval operating environment,” said Commodore Renato David, deputy commander of the Philippine Fleet. David said one of the goals of the exercise is also “the formulation and assessment of a Surface Action Group’s proficiency in conducting naval operations.” Philippine Fleet spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Luna said that among the major exercises that will be held are the Maritime Interdiction Operation (MIO with High Angle Sniping), Amphibious Air Support (AAS), Maritime Air Surveillance (MAS)/ Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Maritime Search and Rescue (MSAR), and High Risk Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (HRVBSS), Amphibious Assault/Raid, Insertion/ Extraction, Amphibious Sealift, Tactical Sealift, Force Protection Capability, Support and Sustainment, Afloat Command and Control, Gunnery Exercise, Shipboard Helicopter Operations (HELOPS) and Casualty Evacuation Operation (CASEVAC). Rene Acosta

Eleazar orders police station chiefs to update drug watch list

ATIONAL Police chief General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar ordered on Monday all chiefs of police to update the list of priority targets in their areas following the order of President Duterte to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to further step up the campaign against illegal drugs. “Based on the order of President Duterte through our SILG [Secretary, Interior and Local Government] Eduardo Año, I have ordered all chiefs of police to update their priority targets, especially on those selling illegal drugs in their areas,” he said. Eleazar said the confiscation of some 809 kilos of shabu last week in Zambales, Bataan and Cavite indicated that illegal drugs syndicates are still operating in the country, and this means they are getting help from drug pushers in the communities. “The confiscation of more or less 809 kilos of shabu last week is proof that illegal drug syndicates still have a market in the country and that is the reason why we need to further step up our campaign down to the community level, with the distributors or the sellers as the priority targets,” he said. Rene Acosta

their global operations, and investigate and prosecute all actors involved in violence and other threats against defenders. Global Witness also said companies and investors must publish and implement effective due diligence systems to identify and prevent human rights and environmental harms throughout their supply chains and operations. The organization said companies should also adopt and implement a zero-tolerance stance on reprisals and attacks on land and environmental defenders and provide effective remedy when adverse human rights and environmental impacts and harms occur.

A4 Tuesday, September 14, 2021 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

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Asean backs measures for better integration, recovery initiatives By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @TyronePiad

HE economic ministers of the Asean bloc endorsed the key measures seen to further regional integration and strengthen post-pandemic recovery efforts, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reported on Monday.

In a news statement, the Trade department said that the economic bloc recently met for the 53rd Asean Economic Ministers’ Meeting, proposing policies in line with the Asean Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF). “The Philippines joins the Asean Community in highlighting the importance of taking a collective course of action to strengthen and enhance economic cooperation to ensure suc-

cessful implementation of recovery efforts against Covid-19, which has affected our peoples’ health and livelihood, and economic activities in the region,” said Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez. “As we further implement the ACRF, we call on increased focus on key deliverables that we believe will significantly support economic recovery efforts,” he added.

Among the initiatives endorsed include the finalization of Non-Tariff Measures (NTM) Cost-Effectiveness Toolkit, which seeks to aid government in assessing NTMs; Asean Investment Facilitation Framework, which eyes to boost transparency and cooperation on investment facilitation in the region; and the Work Plan to Facilitate the Implementation of the Asean Agreement on E-Commerce, which details guidelines for the e-commerce advancement over the next five years. Meanwhile, the Asean community also welcomed the Bandar Seri Begawan Roadmap on Asean Digital Transformation, Consolidated Strategy on the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Framework for the Circular Economy. These provide strategic framework for Asean’s digital trade and sustainable economic development.

“We are pleased to endorse Brunei Darussalam’s PEDs [Priority Economic Deliverables] and commend our senior officials for ensuring that Asean is on track with the completion of the other remaining PEDs within the year notwithstanding the challenges we are facing due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” Lopez said. Last month, the DTI said that the Asean bloc finalized two trade facilitation initiatives with the United States: 2021-2022 Asean-US Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA) and Expanded Economic Engagement (E3) Work Plan. These cover the facilitation of initiatives supporting the region’s economic recovery initiatives in different fields, including digital economy; micro, small and medium enterprises; sustainable development and labor, among others.

Passage of transport safety board bill pressed By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

AFE Travel Alliance, a coalition of public and private stakeholders that seeks to elevate the safety standards in transportation and travel in the Philippines, said on Monday that the long-delayed Philippine Transportation Safety Board (PTSB) is “ripe for immediate passage.” As both houses of Congress have passed their respective bills for the creation of the said non-regulatory body, what needs to be done now, according to the coalition, is the immediate manifestation of a bicameral meeting (bicam) for the quick passage of the legislation. “Both houses have approved the bills on third and final reading, what is merely lack-

ing is a bicam to reconcile the disagreeing views of some provisions of the two bills. Once reconciled and ratified by both houses the bill can finally be endorsed for enactment by the President,” the group said. The measure also seeks to create a non-regulatory and independent agency attached to the Office of the President to be the primary agency responsible for the conduct of “impartial investigation” into transportation-related accidents and incidents. The PTSB will be tasked to improve transportation safety measures that will help in the prevention of transportation accidents and mitigation of dangers to human lives and property; and to ensure the implementation of transportation safety standards.

Impunity and corruption: Going hand in hand!

By Henry J. Schumacher

NFORTUNATELY, that’s the truth. Powerful perpetrators involved in corruption can too often stymie enforcement against them by interfering with the justice system. Furthermore, investigations are complex, take “ages,” and are expensive. Unfortunately, this country is No. 1 in the world when it comes to impunity. In corruption, the Philippines is Number? You tell me your estimate. To tackle this “impunity problem,” members of the international anticorruption community are thinking about reforms to international justice institutions. We must think about local reforms to the local justice system also. I don’t see any proposals; everybody is complaining about the severe backlogs in cases in all courts only. The proposal for a stand-alone court deserves careful study. …but do we understand the problem? As a first step in that discussion, it would be important to analyze and discuss the problem of corruption and its precise manifestations and challenges. This means first analyzing the type of criminal activity, the negative impact, and the reason for impunity. Transparency International has been working with a group of experts to develop a new legal definition of grand corruption: “a definition that captures the problem we are trying to deal with when discussing new infrastructure. We

define grand corruption as having three main features: • a corruption scheme; • involvement of a high-level public official; and • serious harm caused, which may take the form of large-scale misappropriation of public resources or gross violations of human rights.” I am missing the need to involve private sector officials who are involved in corruption to be included in the issue also. This kind of definition could be used to trigger the jurisdiction of an international anti-corruption court or another specialized body or mechanism. Another option that I would prefer—would be to introduce the specialized body at the national level, in association with special procedural measures relating to jurisdiction, statutes of limitation, immunities, sanctions, standing for victims and the like. If this were to be supported by the Philippine government and both Houses of Congress, the two main issues could be addressed: Corruption and impunity could be fought. It is good to hear that policymakers should institutionalize public participation in government supply deals to deter corruption. The Integrity Initiative has pushed this for years and succeeded in convincing quite a number of local governments to accept NGO participation in the procurement process. As mentioned above, we should not only focus on government officials involved in corruption, private sector officials are often drivers in the corruption environment also. The options need to be evaluated, and possible combinations of options, according to a range of criteria, including political feasibility, effectiveness and cost—criteria that are to some extent interconnected. One benefit of the proposal for an international anticorruption court is to draw attention to key questions and help catalyze muchneeded discussions. Let’s also be clear that corruption has devastating impacts on people worldwide, blocking achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, which the Philippines is committed to. Feedback is welcome; you can reach me at hjschumacher59@gmail.com

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ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION 24/7 BUSINESS PROCESSING INC. 5th-6th-7th Flr. 81 Newport Bl Newport City Brgy. 183 Pasay City 9/f Capella Bldg. L-3&4 B2, Filinvest Alabang Muntinlupa City.

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GUO, YANPING Customer Service Representative (chinese Accounts) Brief Job Description: Assists clients with all their concerns.

QI, GANGNING Customer Service Representative (chinese Accounts) Brief Job Description: Assists clients with all their concerns.

ZHANG, YANJIE Customer Service Representative (chinese Accounts) Brief Job Description: Assists clients with all their concerns.

CHEN, HONGJUN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 4.

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

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

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

24/7 CUSTOMER PHILIPPINES, INC. Bm-7/f Mj Plaza Bldg. 106 Valero St. Bel-air Makati City GUJJAR, ROHITH SATYA Director-finance/treasurer/chief Financial Officer 7.

Brief Job Description: Primarily responsible for partnering with country manager in all financial impacting issues of the company

66 A-IDEA CONSULTING INC. Rm. 404 Caeg Building Dela Rosa St. Pio Del Pilar Makati City

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BAN WEI HANN Chinese Customer Officer Brief Job Description: Handling inbound and outbound service support calls CHEN, HAO Chinese Customer Officer Brief Job Description: Handling inbound and outbound service support calls DUAN, AILING Chinese Customer Officer Brief Job Description: Handling inbound and outbound service support calls HUO, LIANHUA Chinese Customer Officer Brief Job Description: Handling inbound and outbound service support calls XU, JIWEN Chinese Customer Officer Brief Job Description: Handling inbound and outbound service support calls YANG, YUSONG Chinese Customer Officer Brief Job Description: Handling inbound and outbound service support calls YU, YI Chinese Customer Officer Brief Job Description: Handling inbound and outbound service support calls ZENG, WEIZHI Chinese Customer Officer Brief Job Description: Handling inbound and outbound service support calls ZHU, MING Chinese Customer Officer Brief Job Description: Handling inbound and outbound service support calls

ALLSECTECH MANILA, INC. 3rd Floor Market! Market! Mall Bonifacio Global City Taguig City ANDRIANOMENJANAHARY RASOANAIVO, MIKAHERILALA Bilingual French Analyst 17.

Brief Job Description: Provides customer service in foreign language, taking phone calls, answering to customer inquiries through emails, and solving customer issues

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

Basic Qualification: Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently; Preferably 6 months to 1 year customer service experience; Detailoriented and has the ability to multi-task. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently; Preferably 6 months to 1 year customer service experience; Detail-oriented and has the ability to multi-task. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently; Preferably 6 months to 1 year customer service experience; Detail-oriented and has the ability to multi-task. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: A bachelor of Science in Accounting or Finance or a post-graduation course in finance/accounting, having requisite experience in a global leadership role

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

24.

Basic Qualification: Excellent writing, reading, listening, and talking in Spanish language. Preferably with prior experience of at least 1 yr in similar BPO outfit Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

Brief Job Description: Assisting the manager in organizing, planning and implementing strategy MA, YU Cs Assistant Manager

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Brief Job Description: Responsible for employee development, direct reporting of customer support associate and shift supervisor PANYAPHOL, ANUPONG Customer Support (Multi-lingual)

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Brief Job Description: Conducts customer support to Thai speaking customers by online chat, email & telephone SEETI, TUANGTONG Customer Support (Multi-lingual)

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Brief Job Description: Conducts customer support to Thai speaking customers by online chat, email & telephone

Basic Qualification: Fluent in English & Korean, expertise in handling payments transaction Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: fluent in native Mandarin and English with at least 2 years related experience in managing and supporting the team Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in English ad Thai language with at least 1year experience on customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in English ad Thai language with at least 1year experience on customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BIG EMPEROR TECHNOLOGY CORP. 5f-13f, Jiaxing Tower Building Aseana Avenue, Aseana Business Park Tambo Parañaque City Basic Qualification: LUO, ZUHONG Has excellent problemMandarin Customer Relations Officer solving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with 28. Brief Job Description: related BPO experience Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: YUAN, FENG Has excellent problemMandarin Customer Relations Officer solving and communication skills in Mandarin, with 29. Brief Job Description: related BPO experience Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: ZHANG, ENPENG Has excellent problemMandarin Customer Relations Officer solving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with 30. Brief Job Description: related BPO experience. Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s product or services. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 ZHANG, PEI Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 31.

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

BAYVIEW TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 43/f Yuchengco Tower Rcbc Plaza Ayala Ave. Cor. Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Bel-air Makati City PARK, EUN JOO Assistant Payments Manager (multi-lingual)

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

LU, LIHONG Mandarin Customer Service 32.

Brief Job Description: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients. WU, SHAOHONG Mandarin Customer Service

33.

Brief Job Description: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

AMDOCS PHILIPPINES INC. 23rd, 25th, And 26th Floors Eco Tower 32nd St. Cor. 9th Ave. Bonifacio Global City Fort Bonifacio Taguig City Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in it WAKADE, TEJASHRI VAIBHAV or any related courses, Functional Test Engineer proven experienced in 18. programming test tools and Brief Job Description: testing methodologies Focuses mainly on test execution and hands on validation and certification of the software Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 AMOS AND MARK INTERNATIONAL SERVICES INC. 4/f Unit 2c One Ecom Bldg. Ocean Drive St. Mall Of Asia Complex Subd. Zone 10, Barangay 076, District 1 Pasay City Basic Qualification: MU, SONG Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative reading and writing in 19. Mandarin Brief Job Description: Responsible for inbound and outband calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 ANOC99 CORPORATION 5/f To 10/f Ayala Malls Manila Bay Building D. Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Aseana Street Tambo Parañaque City Basic Qualification: LI, MANMAN Able to speak, read, and Chinese Customer Service write Chinese language 20. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 ASIAN TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, INC. 11/f Tower 2 Double Dragon, Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City JEONG, JIWON Basic Qualification: Customer Service Representative 21 years old and above, fluent in Korean language 21. Brief Job Description: To assist customers regarding their queries and Salary Range: promotions Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 LEE, GYEONGMIN Basic Qualification: Customer Service Representative 21 years old and above, fluent in Korean language 22. Brief Job Description: To assist customers regarding their queries and Salary Range: promotions Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 BAYER PHILIPPINES, INC. 29th Floor Menarco Tower 32nd St. Bonifacio Global City Fort Bonifacio Taguig City Basic Qualification: Master’s degree in finance MULDERS, MARCEL responsible for financial Chief Financial Officer operations of Bayer 23. master’s degree in finance Brief Job Description: Responsible for financial operations of Bayer Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in reading, writing and speaking in mandarin

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience

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NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION ZHOU, LILI Mandarin Customer Service

34.

Brief Job Description: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients. CHO CHO OO Myanmari Customer Service

35.

Brief Job Description: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients. NGUYEN TUAN DUC Vietnamese Customer Service

36.

Brief Job Description: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in MANDARIN language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in MANDARIN language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in BURMESE language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read, write and type fluently in Vietnamese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

CRONYX INC. No. 4th-10th Flr. Yinhope Bldg. Dela Rama Cor. Zoili Hilario St. Seascape Village, Ccp Complex Subd. Zone 10, Barangay 076, District 1 Pasay City Basic Qualification: GAO, WENBO With at least 6 months Chinese Speaking Admin Associate customer service experience/good in oral 37. Brief Job Description: communication and written Assist/help customers; give customers information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: QU, WEICHENG With at least 6 months Chinese Speaking Admin Associate customer service experience/good in oral 38. Brief Job Description: communication and written Assist/help customers; give customers information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: HUANG, XIAONING With atleast 6 months Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer customer service experience/good in oral 39. Brief Job Description: communication and written Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: YE, JINSHI With at least 6 months Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer customer service experience/good in oral 40. Brief Job Description: communication and written Assist/help customers; give customers information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: CAO, JIBIN With Atleast 6 Months Chinese Speaking Program Designer Customer Service Experience/ Good in Oral 41. Brief Job Description: and Written Communication Assist/Help Customers, Give Customers Information about Products and Services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: CHEN, XIAOBIN With atleast 6 months Chinese Speaking Program Designer customer service experience/good in oral 42. Brief Job Description: communication and written Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: HAN, YANG With at least 6 months Chinese Speaking Program Designer customer service experience/good in oral 43. Brief Job Description: communication and written Assist/help customers; give customers information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LIN, YE With atleast 6 Months Chinese Speaking Program Designer Customer Service Experience/ Good in Oral 44. Brief Job Description: and Written Communication Assist/Help Customers, Give Customers Information about Products and Services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LIU, HUILIN With Atleast 6 Months Chinese Speaking Program Designer Customer Service Experience/ Good in Oral 45. Brief Job Description: and Written Communication Assist/Help Customers, Give Customers Information about Products and Services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LUU THI THUY With Atleast 6 Months Chinese Speaking Program Designer Customer Service Experience/ Good in Oral 46. Brief Job Description: and Written Communication Assist/Help Customers, Give Customers Information about Products and Services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: NGUYEN THI HONG NGA With atleast 6 months Chinese Speaking Program Designer customer service experience/good in oral 47. Brief Job Description: communication and written Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 YANG, ZHI Chinese Speaking Program Designer 48.

Brief Job Description: Assist/Help Customers, Give Customers Information about Products and Services

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in MANDARIN language.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

YU, JUNQIANG Chinese Speaking Program Designer 49.

Brief Job Description: Assist/Help Customers, Give Customers Information about Products and Services

Basic Qualification: With Atleast 6 Months Customer Service Experience/ Good in Oral and Written Communication Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With Atleast 6 Months Customer Service Experience/ Good in Oral and Written Communication Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

DAXIFA CORPORATION Mpire Center 93 West Avenue Project 7 Bungad 1 Quezon City DING, RUIJIE Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 50.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails.

Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese with customers. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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A6 Tuesday, September 14, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION HE, JIAXIN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

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Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails. HUANG, DEFENG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

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Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails. LIN, SENRONG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

53.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails. LIU, ZHIXING Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

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Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails. LIU, YUEJUN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

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Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails. OU, YIFENG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

56.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails. WANG, JIANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

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Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails. WU, WEI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

58.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails. YANG, YANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

59.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails. ZHAO, CONG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

60.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails. ZHU, LIMING Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

61.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails.

FJ GROUP HOLDING CORP. Greenhills Shopping Center Ortigas Ave. Greenhills San Juan City HAN, ZHONGFENG Dimsum Head Chef 62.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese with customers. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese with customers.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese with customers. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese with customers. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese with customers. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese with customers. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese with customers. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese with customers. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese with customers. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese with customers. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate; Business Course

66.

Brief Job Description: Strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the mos profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as Mandarin Project Supervisor; Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company; Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

TANG, BIN Core Network Technical Director For Core Program 67.

Brief Job Description: In charge of core network delivery that includes network design hardware ( HW ) Installation software commissioning, integration and service migration, manage network delivery and assurance scope and ensure that safety and successful project delivery

LI, CHAO Huawei Handsets Go-to-market Project Manager 68.

Brief Job Description: Set up quantitative standard of brand awareness consideration and push to achieve the branding target; monitor the key actions of other brands to understand the basic situation and gain further insights of competitors strategies

Basic Qualification: With atleast 5 years of overseas experience as core network technical director, experience in global support management in core network and with relevant training on GTS management

69.

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

Brief Job Description: In charge of business operations, process and planning management. Solve technical issues and making sure that the product offered have a high quality signal. Reports to a headquarters for the progress and risk of local test.

WANG, HONGLONG Pre-sales Wireless Products Manager For 5g Expedite Project 70.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in formulating design software and hardware capacity expansion solutions based on existing sites configuration and spectrums features of clients understand the existing network from high level design ( HLD ) and low level design

WANG, ZI Procurement Manager For New Full Turnkey Project 71.

Brief Job Description: In charge of departments operation key performance indicators (KPI) and key task management according to the company arrangement . to establish the plan. Target and person in charge yearly for each KPI and key task.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: With experience in working as a test and product manager; have technical skills in eye diagram analyzing in RF signal analyzing; have skills in test software usage such as allegro and HFSS ( software for original analyzing ) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Have a good command in wireless network principles, 4g and 5g base station commissioning and maintenance tools. must have a masters degree in vehicle engineering and highly proficient in english and chinese language Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: With atlleast 5 years overseas work experience in procurement management in telecoms industry. Experience in telecom installation. commissioning and testing with familiarity on network optimization technology. Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

INFOVINE INC. 8th, 9th, 10th/f Aspire Corporate Plaza Bldg. Macapagal Blvd. St., Zone 10 Barangay 076, District 1 Pasay City

JIANG, JUN Chinese Speaking Program Designer 72.

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

INQUICK SERVICES INC. Unit 606 6/f Itc Bldg. 337 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Bel-air Makati City WANG, YANAN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 73.

Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customers needs to achieve satisfaction

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

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

INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION Ground, 2nd, 3rd And 4th Floor Eight West Campus Mckinley West Fort Bonifacio Taguig City Basic Qualification: CHEN, BAOPENG Able to speak and write in Mandarin Customer Support Representative MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with 74. Brief Job Description: related BPO experience. Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: CHENG, BINGYI Able to speak and write in Mandarin Customer Support Representative MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with 75. Brief Job Description: related BPO experience. Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: DONG, SHUAISHUAI Able to speak and write in Mandarin Customer Support Representative MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with 76. Brief Job Description: related BPO experience. Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: WANG, HAOTIAN Able to speak and write in Mandarin Customer Support Representative MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with 77. Brief Job Description: related BPO experience. Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: XIA, HAIBIN Able to speak and write in Mandarin Customer Support Representative MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with 78. Brief Job Description: related BPO experience. Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: YANG, QUAN Able to speak and write in Mandarin Customer Support Representative MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with 79. Brief Job Description: related BPO experience. Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 JACOBS PROJECTS (PHILIPPINES), INC. 16/f South Tower Rockwell Business Center Sheridan Highway Hills Mandaluyong City VINCENT, STEVEN ALEXANDER Chairman Of The Board/president And Country Basic Qualification: Manager Bachelor’s Degree 80. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Leadership and Health and Safety Planning, project Php 500,000 and above management KINDOSAR PROCESS SOLUTIONS INC. Unit 5d, Rose Industries Bldg. Pioneer St. Kapitolyo Pasig City Basic Qualification: CHOI, PILKYU Proficient in speaking, It Specialist reading and writing Korean 81. and English Brief Job Description: Develop new strategies in IT procedures to improve Salary Range: customer satisfaction Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 KING-MERCHANT BUSINESS TRADING INCORPORATED Unit 2505-f The Finance Centre 26th St. Fort Bonifacio Taguig City Basic Qualification: LONG, GUI Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Speaking Marketing Specialist reading and writing in 82. Mandarin Brief Job Description: Conducting research and marketing strategies to Salary Range: develop areas of the business Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 KWONG YUAN TRADING CORP. 16/f Tower 6789 Ayala Ave. Cor. H.v Dela Costa St. Bel-air Makati City HUANG, JIAOJIAO Basic Qualification: Bilingual Speaking Customer Service Representative Excellent in reading, writing and speaking in mandarin. 83. Brief Job Description: Prepares product or service reports by collecting and Salary Range: analyzing customer. Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 MEGA-WEB TECHNOLOGIES INC. 6,7,8,9,10,11/f Met Live Bldg. Edsa Cor. Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: With work experience as go to market project manage. Has experience in managing risk of product launch and ensuring business success

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION QIAN, LONG Huawei Nova 8 And 8i Product Test Project Manager

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese with customers.

Brief Job Description: Controlling and directing the dimsum preparation Salary Range: process. Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 FLASH EXPRESS SOFTWARE (PH) CO., LTD. INC. 9th Flr. Arthaland Century Pacific Tower 5th Avenue 30th Street Cor. 4th Avenue Fort Bonifacio Taguig City Basic Qualification: LI, JUN 5-10 years’ work experience Network Director in supervisory position, job-relevant degree, multiBrief Job Description: 63. lingual Responsible for designing, installation, monitoring, maintaining, and performance tuning production, test/ Salary Range: development, and QA database environments Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 FUBON INSURANCE BROKER (PHILIPPINES) CORPORATION 2/f Pioneer House-makati 108 Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City Basic Qualification: Excellent language skills HU, HUNG-JIE in English and Mandarin; Marketing Manager Extensive experience 64. in delivering marketing Brief Job Description: strategies. Overall supervision- Marketing Department. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 HECTECHURE CORP. Units A&b 20/f Rufino Pacific Tower 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St. San Lorenzo Makati City Basic Qualification: TAN, HUACAO Proven experience as Mandarin IT Project Supervisor Mandarin IT Project Supervisor excellent Brief Job Description: communication, 65. The Mandarin IT Project Supervisor will be a strategist interpersonal and and a leader able to steer the company to the most presentation skills. profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 HENGTONGPH INC. Units A&b 20/f Rufino Pacific Tower 6784 Ayala Cor. V.a. Rufino St. San Lorenzo Makati City

SHENG, XUEDONG Mandarin Project Supervisor

No.

84.

FU, SHUN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

85.

HU, JINHAI Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

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

No.

86.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION ZHANG, DECUN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

87.

ZHOU, JIAWEN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

MIGHTY-MERCHANT BUSINESS TRADING INCORPORATED Unit 2505- E The Finance Centre 26th St. Fort Bonifacio Taguig City HE, JUN Mandarin Speaking Marketing Specialist 88.

Brief Job Description: Conducting research and marketing strategies to develop areas of the business opportunities LEE, YI-TING Mandarin Speaking Marketing Specialist

89.

Brief Job Description: Conducting research and marketing strategies to develop areas of the business opportunities SHIRIKHINA, ALEKSANDRA Mandarin Speaking Marketing Specialist

90.

Brief Job Description: Conducting research and marketing strategies to develop areas of the business opportunities

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

MINDSCAPE CREATIVES INC. Unit 19-o, Burgundy Corporate Tower 252 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Pio Del Pilar Makati City Basic Qualification: BAI, DONGPING Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Operation Specialist reading and writing in 91. Mandarin Brief Job Description: Committed to improving customer experience and Salary Range: operational efficiency Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower C4 Rd. Edsa Ext. Brgy. 076 Pasay City Basic Qualification: GONG, XIAOLONG Able to speak, read, and Chinese Customer Service write Chinese language 92. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: HONG, LI Able to speak, read, and Chinese Customer Service write Chinese language 93. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: KONG LOONG ANN Able to speak, read, and Chinese Customer Service write Chinese language 94. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LUAN, TIANHAO Able to speak, read, and Chinese Customer Service write Chinese language 95. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: TEO CHEE SEONG Able to speak, Read, and Chinese Customer Service Write chinese language 96. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: VONG THAM HIN LIEN Able to speak, Read, and Chinese Customer Service Write chinese language 97. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 NEO INCORPORATED North Tower Centrum Bldg. Aseana Avenue, Entertainment City Baclaran Parañaque City Basic Qualification: SONG, GANG With at least 6 months Chinese Speaking Business Analyst customer service experience/good in oral 98. Brief Job Description: communication and written Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: ZHANG, WEI With at least 6 months Chinese Speaking Business Analyst customer service experience/good in oral 99. Brief Job Description: communication and written Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 1331 Pearl Plaza Bldg. Quirino Ave. Tambo Parañaque City Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer CHEN, LIE application with good oral Chinese Customer Service and written communication 100. skills Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer CHEN, SU application with good oral Chinese Customer Service and written communication 101. skills Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer GE, ZHONGYING application with good oral Chinese Customer Service and written communication 102. skills Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer HUA, RUI application with good oral Chinese Customer Service and written communication 103. skills Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 HUANG, SHENGHONG Basic Qualification: Chinese Customer Service Customer support and data base services 104. Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral Salary Range: and written communication skills Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer JIAO, JIAWEI application with good oral Chinese Customer Service and written communication 105. skills Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 LI, ZHOU Basic Qualification: Chinese Customer Service Customer support and data base services 106. Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral Salary Range: and written communication skills Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer LIU, BIAO application with good oral Chinese Customer Service and written communication 107. skills Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION WEI, BAO Chinese Customer Service

108.

109.

110.

111.

112.

113.

114.

115.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills XIN, YONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills YU, LEI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills ZHANG, YU Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills ZHANG, HUARI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills ZHOU, GUOQIANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

DAO TUAN VU Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LE THI NGOC TRAM Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services

No.

XU, ZIQI Mandarin Technical Support 131.

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

NOCMAKATI, INC. 8,9,10,11,12,14,15,16,17,18 & 19 Floors Century Diamond Center Kalayaan Ave. Cor. Salamanca St. Poblacion Makati City Basic Qualification: IM, SOOYEON Fluent in Mandarin and Chinese Customer Service Representative English 116. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing calls and customer services Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 KWON, JAESEOK Basic Qualification: Chinese Customer Service Representative Fluently speaking in Mandarin and English. 117. Brief Job Description: Managing calls and customer services inquiries; Salary Range: identifying and assessing customer’s needs. Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: NGUYEN VAN TUAN Fluent in Mandarin and Chinese Customer Service Representative English 118. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing calls and customer services Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 PHILIPPINE SEVEN CORPORATION 7/f Columbia Tower Ortigas Avenue Brgy. Wack Wack Mandaluyong City LEE, CHIA-FANG Basic Qualification: Assistant Treasurer Must be elected/appointed by the board 119. Brief Job Description: Assist the Treasurer on planning and strategy on Salary Range: financial systems & structure of the company Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 PRIME MERIDIAN HR CONSULTANCY, INC. U-1022 Cityland Herrera Tower 98 V.a Rufino Cor. Valero Sts. Bel-air Makati City Basic Qualification: Graduate of any 4 year LARSEN, PETER KRISTOFFER WIELANDT course; Able to manage Project Manager multiple projects at the 120. same time. Brief Job Description: Responsible to develop and improve learning center. Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 RED DOT MARKETING AND BRANDING INC. Unit 1514 Burgundy Transpacific Place Taft Ave. 079, Bgy. 727 Malate Manila Basic Qualification: DENG, ZONGTAO Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Technical Support reading and writing in 121. mandarin Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer Salary Range: system Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 SKY DRAGON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES CORP. 2f-5f Unit 710 Shaw Blvd. Global Link Center, Brgy. Wack Wack Mandaluyong City Basic Qualification: DENG, LIANGMEI Fluent in Mandarin, both Customer Service Representative oral and written 122. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Customer relations service provider Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: FANG, QINZHENG Fluent in Mandarin, both Customer Service Representative oral and written 123. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Customer relations service provider Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: NYI NYI AUNG Fluent in Mandarin, both Customer Service Representative oral and written 124. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Customer relations service provider Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: XIAO, WEI Fluent in Mandarin, both Customer Service Representative oral and written 125. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Customer relations service provider Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: ZHONG, JINLAN Fluent in Mandarin, both Customer Service Representative oral and written 126. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Customer relations service provider Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 SOLIDLEISURE SOLUTIONS INC. Unit 2602-d & 2603-a West Tower Psec Exchange Road, Ortigas Center San Antonio Pasig City Basic Qualification: HE, JUNWEN Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Team Leader reading and writing in 127. mandarin Brief Job Description: Maintain and drive program knowledge for self and Salary Range: team Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LIN, SHU-CHENG Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Team Leader reading and writing in 128. mandarin Brief Job Description: Maintain and drive program knowledge for self and Salary Range: team Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: ZENG, CHEN proficient in speaking, Mandarin Team Leader reading and writing in 129. mandarin Brief Job Description: maintain and drive program knowledge for self and Salary Range: team Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: HUANG, JUNBIN proficient in speaking, Mandarin Technical Support reading and writing in 130. mandarin Brief Job Description: monitoring and maintaining computer systems and Salary Range: networks Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: maintain and drive program knowledge for self and team

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

HII AI SING Computer System Analyst 133.

Brief Job Description: Analyze and Evaluate present computer business systems, procedures and processes.

WU, DENGE Computer System Analyst 134.

Brief Job Description: Analyze and evaluate present computer business systems, procedures and processes

HONG, RONGCHENG IT Technical Support Officer 135.

Brief Job Description: Installing and configuring computer systems, diagnosing hardware and software faults and solving technical and applications problems

TELFA OUTSOURCING SERVICES INC. Unit 3b Mrb 1160 J. Bocobo St., 072 Bgy. 670 Ermita Manila DONG, ANYING Mandarin Technical Support 136.

Brief Job Description: Installing and configuring computer hardware operating systems and applications SHIH, YU-I Mandarin Technical Support

137.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in a computer- related field or business; Minimum of 3 years of working experience as a computer system analyst; Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in computer-related field or business, minimum of 3 years of working experience as a computer system analyst; fluent in mandarin/ Basic English. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree or ITRelated field with atleast 6 months to 1 year of working experience; Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English

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

144.

Brief Job Description: Oversees the day to day operations and protecting its assets by monitoring transactions and ensuring compliance with internal controls

Basic Qualification: Must have lived, studied and worked in singapore for at least 10 years and is accustomed to its culture; must naturally speak and write Singaporean language

CHEN, BING Mandarin Customer Support Representative 145.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. DU, RUNYAO Mandarin Customer Support Representative

146.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. XIANG, YUQIANG Mandarin Customer Support Representative

147.

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

148.

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

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

ZHANG, CHENZHENG Mandarin Customer Support Representative 149.

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in Mandarin/Fukien and at least college level with related BPO experience. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in Mandarin/Fukien and at least college level with related BPO experience. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

VPC CORPORATE SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 11/f 100 West, Sen Gil Puyat Ave. Cor. Washington St. Pio Del Pilar Makati City SUN, FAN Bilingual Admin Support Specialist 150.

Brief Job Description: Handles administrative requests and queries from senior managers/officers. DENG, LILI Bilingual Finance Support Specialist

151.

Brief Job Description: Process and prepare financial business forms for the purpose of checking. YA, ZHENGTAO Bilingual Finance Support Specialist

152.

Brief Job Description: Process and prepare financial business forms for the purpose of checking. YANG, XIANLI Bilingual Finance Support Specialist

153.

Brief Job Description: Process and prepare financial business forms for the purpose of checking. ZHENG, SHAOBO Bilingual Finance Support Specialist

154.

Brief Job Description: Process and prepare financial business forms for the purpose of checking. HUANG, SHULI Bilingual Technical Support Specialist

155.

Brief Job Description: Evaluates expansions or enhancements by studying work load capacity LIN, GUANGLONG Bilingual Technical Support Specialist

156.

Brief Job Description: Evaluates expansions or enhancements by studying work load capacity LUO, YU Bilingual Technical Support Specialist

157.

Brief Job Description: Evaluates expansions or enhancements by studying work load capacity NONG, ZUOXIN Bilingual Technical Support Specialist

158.

Brief Job Description: Evaluates expansions or enhancements by studying work load capacity WANG, SONG Bilingual Technical Support Specialist

159.

Brief Job Description: Evaluates expansions or enhancements by studying work load capacity DINH THI BICH VAN Vietnam-speaking Customer Service Officer

160.

Brief Job Description: Responsible to resolve queries of the Malay customers through email and chats. LE PHAN HUY HOANG Vietnam-speaking Customer Service Officer

161.

Brief Job Description: Recommends potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs. NGUYEN DO THU THUY Vietnam-speaking Customer Service Officer

162.

Brief Job Description: Responsible to resolve queries of the Malay customers through email and chats.

Basic Qualification: Excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent in reading, writing and speaking Vietnamese. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Foreign language speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Excellent in reading, writing and speaking Vietnamese. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

WANFANG TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT, INC. 6-9/f Double Dragon Plaza Edsa Cor. Macapagal Ave. Brgy. 076 Pasay City NGUYEN THI YEN PHUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 163.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering products and service questions; suggesting information about other product and service.

Basic Qualification: Atleast 19 yrs old. Ability to speak and communicate in chinese mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

WTNBD INC. 8270 Dr. A Santos Avenue San Isidro Parañaque City

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

TRIVES TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION Tower 4 Bayport West Naia Garden Residence, Naia Road Tambo Parañaque City

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION YAN, HUIPENG Mandarin Customer Support Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Monitor and maintaining computer systems and Salary Range: networks Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 TELOQUET OUTSOURCING SERVICES INC. Upper 2/f Unit B 2444-a Burgundy Transpacific Place Taft Ave. 079, Bgy 727 Malate Manila GAO, DANGDANG Basic Qualification: Mandarin Operation Specialist Project mgmt. Experience 138. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Optimizing operational procedures Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 TIGER RESORT, LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT, INC. Okada Manila, New Seaside Drive Entertainment City Barangay Tambo Parañaque City Basic Qualification: Must have lived, studied KISHIMOTO, SEIYA ANDY and worked in united states Analyst, Strategic Marketing or japan for at least 10 years and is accustomed to Brief Job Description: its culture; must naturally 139. Monitor the competitive environment both in the speak and write english or local market as well as regionally and provide weekly japanese languages management updates Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: Must have lived, studied CHISHIMA, NORIHIRO and worked in japan for Director, International Travel Services at least 10 years and is accustomed to its culture; 140. Brief Job Description: must naturally speak and Research destination and travel prices, customs and write Japanese language weather conditions Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: Must have lived, studied ISHIDA, AZUMI and worked in japan or Host, Premium Marketing Business Development Taiwan for at least 10 years; can speak mandarin/ 141. Brief Job Description: Japanese/Korean or any To develop mass patrons to premium patrons in other foreign language ensuring a positive experience of patrons Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: Must have lived, studied KANG, YU-HSUAN and worked in japan or Host, Premium Marketing Business Development Taiwan for at least 10 years; can speak Mandarin/ 142. Brief Job Description: Japanese/Korean or any To develop mass patrons to premium patrons in other foreign language ensuring a positive experience of patrons Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: Must have lived, studied SAKUHARA, KUMIKO and worked in japan for Officer, Administration And Training at least 10 years and is accustomed to its culture; 143. Brief Job Description: must naturally speak and Act as the point of contact for any casino systems write Japanese language trouble shooting and inquiry for several divisions, understand the structure and functions of all casinos Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 SHERMAN LIM Senior Manager - Credit And Collections

No.

Basic Qualification: proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin

SUPREME CHENGHAO MANAGEMENT OPC Level 26-a Rufino Pacific Tower 6784 Ayala Ave. San Lorenzo Makati City Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree in a computer-related field CHEN, HUAQIONG or business; Minimum of Computer System Analyst 3 years of working as a 132. computer system analyst; Brief Job Description: Fluent in Mandarin/Basic Analyze and Evaluate present computer business English. systems, procedures and processes.

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

164.

KIM, KANG JUN Marketing Supervisor Brief Job Description: Supervise the promotion and merchandising

Basic Qualification: College graduate and fluent in English and Korean languages Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 *Date Generated: Sep 13, 2021

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

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

A8 Tuesday, September 14, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

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editorial

LGUs, private sector can’t buy vaccines

accine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. told the House of Representatives on Thursday that the government is raising its target Covid-19 vaccination coverage to 90 percent of the country’s population after the highly contagious Delta variant ramped up herd immunity thresholds for Covid. This is higher than the original 70 percent target, which Galvez said would be attained in 2022 at the earliest. As of September 11, 2021, the Philippines has already administered 38.6 million Covid-19 vaccine doses, according to the DOH. More than 16.7 million Filipinos or about 14 percent of the population have been fully vaccinated, and 28.1 million have received their first jab. With the Delta variant spreading much faster than the original virus, Covid infection rates have been breaching the 20,000-mark in recent weeks. On Sunday, the country added 21,411 new cases, bringing total infections to 2,227,367. We need to speed up our vaccination rate if we want to bring Covid infections under control. Despite his pronouncements that government wants to ramp up nationwide inoculations, Galvez is being accused of “sitting” on private sector and local governments’ orders for 10 million vaccine doses. Lawmakers on Thursday hit the National Task Force against Covid-19 for sitting on multi-party agreements (MPA) of local government units and the private sector for the procurement of vaccines. House Committee on Economic Affairs Chairperson Sharon Garin of AAMBIS-OWA and House Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez questioned the delays in the signing of MPAs by the vaccine czar and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III for the purchase of Covid-19 vaccines. “I am really concerned, there are pending MPAs with you and you have not signed them. The cities, the provinces have already given them to you. They’re getting no answer from your office,” Rodriguez told Galvez. “These are money of the private entities and of the LGUs. We also have local autonomy. The MPAs should be signed, and help them be able to get good pricing and get the supply,” he added. Garin said there are LGUs and 300 private sector companies that signed the MPAs through the DOH and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) to procure Covid-19 vaccines with an estimated 10 million doses for their constituencies as provided for in Republic Act 11525. The lady solon said RA 11525 or the Covid-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021 was enacted to address the adverse impact of Covid-19 through the procurement and administration of safe and effective vaccines by the national government. The law also provides the legal mechanism for LGUs and the private sector to source and procure, through the DOH and the task force, safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines, she said. “Considering the recent surge of Covid cases attributed to the more transmissible Delta variant and the confirmation of the first local case of the Lambda variant, all efforts to ramp-up vaccination against Covid-19 should be welcomed and acted upon promptly by the concerned government agencies,” Garin said. In fact, part of that alloptions approach that merits consideration is the proposal in some quarters to allow those in the private sector who, this early, are ready to set aside resources and preorder vaccines for possible booster shots for their workers/workers’ families, if only to ensure their protection is sustained.. Garin also questioned the DOH’s budget proposal for next year, particularly the categorization of the P45-billion Covid-19 booster program under unprogrammed funds. Unprogrammed items are only funded if the revenue collection of the government exceeds the target. The DOH said it was the DBM’s decision to place the Covid-19 booster program under the unprogrammed funds pending the approval of the government’s technical panel on the use of Covid-19 booster shots. Galvez said they could not sign MPAs without a contract and date of delivery from vaccine manufacturers. “One, you cannot sign an MPA without a direct contract and no definite supply because this is included in the payment of terms; that is due diligence. Second, even if we have signed our contract, no supply will come to vaccinate because the supply will come in 2022. There will be no supply because there’s domestic problem in India,” Galvez said. From all indications, the MPAs will not be signed until God knows when. Unfortunately, the funds are parked—money that could be used for other priority pandemic response programs. In the time of the pandemic, government officials should act with dispatch. The national government can’t win this protracted battle against the virus alone. It needs all the help it can get, and the LGUs and the private sector are willing to help through the MPAs. But they are being held back for mysterious reasons. Meanwhile, time is quickly passing, Delta is surging, and people are getting sick and dying.

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eopening the economy and keeping Covid-19 at bay have been done before. The past one-and-a-half years have taught us that we can live with the virus and at the same time continue working by gradually reopening the economy to be able to feed our families. Such coexistence is exemplified by the latest results of the Labor Force Survey, where the unemployment rate dropped to 6.9 percent in July—the lowest since the start of the pandemic last year. The encouraging labor figures support our growth prospects, along with the accelerated deployment of vaccines, aggressive infrastructure development and the continued push for vital economic reforms. Other indicators strongly suggest the economy has turned a corner, with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas citing the improvement in the purchasing manager’s index, which is a barometer of the manufacturing sector. The re-imposition of lockdown measures in March, April and August, however, could ultimately dampen overall growth in 2021. We should note that the improvement in the labor statistics took place before the government placed Metro Manila in August under the enhanced community quarantine— the strictest form of lockdown. This

John Mangun

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only shows how a general lockdown affects the economy and the lives of millions of Filipino workers. We need to survive the health and economic crises, and try to live with the virus because it is not going to dissipate soon. Time and again, we have to recalibrate our strategy in dealing with the problem and protecting the economy as well. There is no question about the widespread infection, with Covid-19 cases in the Philippines exceeding 2.1 million as of last week, resulting in more than 34,000 deaths. Active cases were in excess of 150,000. The Philippines reached these alarming numbers despite repeated lockdowns of the economy and the closure of schools for more than a year. In an ideal situation, the pandemic can be contained if most of our population are fully vaccinated, if we have an effective anti-viral drug aside from the vaccine, if reliable home-based Covid-19 test kits are available and if everyone strictly observes health protocols.

In reality, we should learn to treat everyone else as a potential carrier of the virus by putting our face mask and face shield on whenever we leave our homes to work, go to school or buy necessities. We should also aim for a faster pace of vaccination, like a rate of a million doses a day. So far, less than 15 percent of our population is fully vaccinated, and most of them are in Metro Manila. About 52.3 percent of the 9.8 million target population in Metro Manila have received two doses of the vaccine as of September 8, per the report of vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. Around 81.7 percent or 8 million individuals got their first dose. Meanwhile, we should encourage pharmaceutical and technology companies to develop products such as reliable home-based test kits for Covid-19, an anti-viral drug on top of vaccines and medical-grade face masks that are affordable. This should be our proactive way of adjusting to the crisis. We should not address the health problem by creating another serious dilemma—which is locking down the economy and depriving millions of uninfected Filipinos of their rightful access to work, business and income. Unless the government has enough money to support all their needs, we should allow them to contribute to the economy and pay taxes to the government. It is the labor force and the economy that should provide revenues to the government—ideally representing a fifth of the gross domestic product. A general lockdown transfers the burden of supporting the economy

What really changed since 9/11

Lorenzo M. Lomibao Jr., Gerard S. Ramos Lyn B. Resurreccion, Dennis D. Estopace Angel R. Calso

BusinessMirror is published daily by the Philippine Business Daily Mirror

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Surviving the health crisis

he world stopped on a morning in New York City 20 years ago. It does not matter if you were an old man or even not yet born. The world has not been the same since then and every life has been affected in the ensuing time.

There have been several defining events like 9/11 that signaled a “forever change.” The British television series Downton Abbey captures such a moment. At a garden party, Lord Grantham speaks out, “Ladies and gentlemen, I very much regret to announce that we are at war with Germany.” Nothing is the same after that. On August 4, 1914 “the world” was effectively at war. Almost everything that happened

—geo-politically, technologically, and economically—had some roots back to that date. Remember that the “First man on the moon” event was part of the “Space Race” between the USSR and the US. A major reason that there was a USSR was because of the overthrow of Tsar Nicholas II and the Romanov family because the Imperial Russian Army suffered disastrous defeats on the Eastern Front of World War I.

Every “crisis” since was an opportunity to borrow and spend. Currently, the total US government debt is 10 times larger than in 2001. Global government debt has soared to 356 percent of GDP from 60 percent in 2001. Worstcase scenario? What happens if the “Third World” decides, as it did in the 1970s, to borrow the same way that the “First World” is now doing? And don’t be ignorant and say it already has. The Philippine government debt to GDP is 63 percent and the budget deficit is 7.4 percent. So what has changed? On October 26, 2001, the US congress passed the “Patriot Act.” The law allowed the US government to have unprecedented power in the name of national security. The act included three main

and the population to the government, which is being forced to borrow money. The borrowing option has already expanded the public debt to P11.6 trillion as of July this year.

Better alternative

The government announced that Metro Manila will remain under the modified enhanced community quarantine until September 15, before shifting to general community quarantine with an alert level system. Metro Manila mayors are threshing out the details of the pilot GCQ with an alert level system, including the criteria and threshold levels for declaring a specific area under the granular lockdown. The alternative system is expected to handle the coronavirus problem better and support the economy at the same time. The government hopes that granular lockdowns, along with the heightened implementation of Prevent, Detect, Isolate, Treat, and Reintegrate + Vaccinate, or the PDITR+V strategy, will stop the spread of the virus, while bringing back jobs lost to blanket restrictions. With some experts now convinced that Covid-19 may become endemic, we need to adjust our strategy and focus on how to manage the risks and live with the coronavirus. We owe it to the next generation. Our youth, especially the young children, should not experience hunger—and should have access to proper education and health care. They deserve better. For comments, send e-mail to mbv_secretariat@vistaland.com.ph or visit www.mannyvillar. com.ph

provisions: expanded surveillance abilities of law enforcement, more interagency communication to use all available resources in counterterrorism efforts, and an expanded list of activities which would qualify for terrorism charges. In violation—at least before the law—of the US Constitution, the government had authorization for indefinite detention without trial of immigrants, and gave permission to law enforcement to search property and records without a warrant. Some provisions have been changed but the “spirit” of the Patriot Act is firmly in place. Spoken by US politician Barry Goldwater: “Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice.” We must be extremely vigilant to ensure those liberties associated with freedom of speech are not constrained. Yet that has changed since 9/11. Remember those pictures last year of certain Filipino public officials violating See “Mangun,” A9

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Premature warrant

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TELLTALES

ince businesses are struggling with the prolonged pandemic, the Bureau of Internal Revenue has no source of revenue. There is no income tax nor value-added tax collection since there are no sales of goods and services during lockdown. However, the government cannot stop operating, especially during this difficult time as many families also depend on it for financial aid. The BIR is pressured to look for funds on the fly. As expected, it is now targeting tax assessments that are ripe for the picking.

E cannot overemphasize the significance of next year’s elections in the life of every Filipino. Elections allow the people to choose their leaders and hold them accountable for their conduct in office. Through the constitutional processes of recall and impeachment, incumbent officials may be removed from office before they can serve out their terms. Otherwise, which is often the case, if these officials underperformed or failed their constituents, they could be voted out of office in the next election.

Unfortunately, there are cases when warrants of distraint and levy/ garnishment are prematurely issued. When is the issuance of WDL premature? Can the BIR issue WDL and instigate enforcement proceedings when the assessment process is still in the Final Assessment Notice (FAN) or Final Decision on Disputed Assessment (FDDA) stage? Under Revenue Memorandum 392007, revenue officers are instructed to start enforcement proceedings in the following instances: 1. Disputed assessments finally decided by the Commissioner or Regional Director, as the case may be, against the taxpayer; 2. Assessments upheld by the CTA in Division whether or not appealed to the CTA En Banc, or upheld by the CTA En Banc whether or not appealed to the Supreme Court. Based on this RMO, upon issuance by the Commissioner or Regional Director of the FDDA against the taxpayer or upon issuance by the CTA in Division or En Banc of its decision upholding the assessment, Warrants of Distraint and Garnishment, and/ or Levy shall be immediately issued and served. This was reiterated in RMO 42-2010. So, the BIR may enforce collection proceedings only when the Commissioner or the Regional Director has issued the FDDA or when the CTA has promulgated a decision. The BIR need not wait for the assessment to become final and executory. These RMOs, however, were superseded by RMO No. 35-2019. Now, collection cannot be pursued just because the Commissioner or Regional Director has issued a final decision of disputed assessment. WDL can only be issued in the following instances: 1. Unpaid Revenues—these are self-assessed taxes arising from dishonored check, unpaid second installment of income tax due of individual taxpayers and duly validated unpaid tax due per tax returns; and 2. List of Unpaid Tax Assessments: (1) Unprotested Final Assessment Notice; (2) Unappealed FDDA; (3) Unappealed Decision of the Commissioner; and (4) Final and Executory Decision by the Court—these are tax assessments arising from investigation which have become

Our electoral process is competitive, which behooves that the office should go to the most suitable and qualified candidate. Political parties and their candidates that offer the best platform and program of government should get the support of the voting public. But such ideals do not exist in realpolitik. The sad fact is that candidates or political groups that have unlimited resources and logistics and the best organization end up the runaway winner. Thus, the likes of Jose P. Laurel, Claro M. Recto, Raul Roco, Jovito Salonga and Raul Manglapus never became the official tenant of Malacañang Palace. They were not only cerebral but men of probity and integrity who could have brought honor and respect to the presidency.

Mangun. . .

Continued from A8

Covid health protocols? The Daily Mail: “Journalists could face up to 14 years in prison for stories embarrassing the Government under proposed changes to the UK Official Secrets Act that would treat them like foreign spies.” However, the major transformation since 9/11 is economic. There used to be a time when governments and the politicians that run them cared about financial responsibility. While Keynesian economics calls for governments borrowing money to stimulate an economy during “bad times,” the other side was to pay back the loans during “good times.” To recover from the economic damage caused by the 9/11 event, governments needed to borrow. Note the word “needed” in the sense that if the typhoon destroys your house or business, you need to borrow to rebuild. But since then, fiscal restraint no longer exists.

“final and executory.” Clearly, revenue officers are only authorized to issue WDL when an assessment is “unappealed” or the decision of the CTA becomes “final and executory.” They cannot enforce collection when the assessment is still under protest or is still being appealed at the CTA. RMOs 39-2007 and 42-2010 are no longer controlling. Revenue officers must observe the guidelines of RMO 35-2019 which defines what are considered “unappealed” or “final and executory” assessments that can be subjected to enforcement proceedings. When WDL is issued, it has farreaching implications as far as taxpayer remedy is concerned. It is only the Court of Tax Appeals that can stop its execution. No appeal taken to the CTA from the decision of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue on a disputed assessment shall suspend the payment, levy, distraint, and/or sale of any property of the taxpayer for the satisfaction of his tax liability, unless the CTA suspends the collection after payment of bond. So, a taxpayer has no choice but to spend for litigation if he wants to protect his interest. It is important that revenue officers restrain themselves from issuing untimely WDLs. They will not only trample upon taxpayer’s right to due process, but they might also jeopardize the collection efforts of the government. It is understandable that revenue officers need to reach their collection targets. But they must take note that when taxpayer’s rights are violated, the assessment and collection process of the BIR will be declared void by the courts. If this happens, the government will fall on its own sword, with an empty purse. The author is a senior partner of Du-Baladad and Associates Law Offices, a member-firm of WTS Global.  The article is for general information only and is not intended, nor should be construed as a substitute for tax, legal or financial advice on any specific matter. Applicability of this article to any actual or particular tax or legal issue should be supported therefore by a professional study or advice. If you have any comments or questions concerning the article, you may e-mail the author at irwin.c.nideajr@bdblaw.com.ph or call 84032001 local 330.

Even in the five years after 9/11, US government debt increased by about 50 percent. However, as percentage of gross domestic product, it went from 55 percent to over 110 percent of GDP. US government spending increased by about 20 percent. In 2006, the budget deficit was 1.8 percent of GDP; currently it’s at 13 percent. Every “crisis” since was an opportunity to borrow and spend. Currently, the total US government debt is 10 times larger than in 2001. Global government debt has soared to 356 percent of GDP from 60 percent in 2001. Worst-case scenario? What happens if the “Third World” decides, as it did in the 1970s, to borrow the same way that the “First World” is now doing? And don’t be ignorant and say it already has. The Philippine government debt to GDP is 63 percent and the budget deficit is 7.4 percent. E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.

nnn

The kind of politics that we have is reflected in the quality of public discourse taking place in the political space. We know that our politics have gone to the dogs when, instead of substantial public issues, candidates speak of mundane things that pander to our worldly nature and the pedestrians. For instance, misogyny and sexism should not form part of a presidential discourse. When gutter and prurient language permeate the political atmosphere, relevant issues are relegated to the background. The “masa” adore the sexist candidates who bragged about their sexual conquest and flaunt their adulterous relationships. Candidates seeking our support should take the high moral ground in conducting their campaign. Aspirants for public of-

fice should present genuine issues that will have meaningful impact on the electorates. They should tackle how they can fight Covid-19, trigger economic recovery, promote employment opportunities to the workers displaced by the pandemic, return to face-to-face education, and strengthen our health-care system, among others. nnn

Stopping corruption and the illegal drug menace have been the flagship campaigns of the present administration. It has even set a deadline to wipe them out, only to admit later that it could not be done. The fact that they remain to be the major headaches of the present administration betrays its dismal failure in dealing with them. Alternative candidates with proven track record in combating corruption and illegal drugs may be given the crack to resolve them by installing them into office. nnn

Voter education is critical in every election. Advocates for clean and honest elections do not overlook this aspect, but it seems that the task is overwhelming. As I have pointed out in my earlier column, many voters, particularly those from the marginalized sector, see elections as an opportunity to extract money from the unscrupulous candidates. Scarcity breeds corruption and this is a tragic reality accepted by the corrupt candidates and the needy voters. I acknowledge the efforts of many sectors to overhaul this anomalous system but this will be an awesome

Tuesday, September 14, 2021 A9

What we need is another Jaime N. Ferrer who will preside over the Comelec in the coming elections. We need his courage, integrity and decisiveness to guard and protect our votes—sterling attributes which he consistently applied while he was in the service of our people as the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government. Even at the cost of his life. Ferrer was assassinated on August 2, 1987 and on his tombstone is written: “The fight for democracy is a continuing struggle.” job. In every election, NAMFREL, PPCRV, LENTE and other election watchdogs actively participate in the electoral process to ensure a truthful and clean election. Other volunteer individuals and groups also lend their support. For instance, Fr. Tito Caluag leads the faithful in praying for the participation of competent and qualified candidates in the forthcoming 2022 polls, particularly those who will seek the presidency. He also admonishes the people to vote wisely. He recites the prayer in his daily mass, together with his parishioners. Let’s hope that our collective prayers will not go unanswered and get a good harvest of eligible candidates who will deserve our trust. Only last Saturday, 3 dioceses in Northern Luzon issued a joint pastoral letter to guide their flocks in making their choice of candidates. We are holding next year’s election at a crucial junction in our history amidst this dreaded pandemic and divine guidance will be indispensable. nnn

There is real danger when spineless leaders consort with the party in power to preserve, if not promote, their position. It reeks of betrayal of public trust when supposed principled public servants prostrate themselves before powerful public figures to ride with the latter’s popularity and capture a higher office. They become witting tools for abusive officials to perpetrate themselves in power and continue their demagoguery. They

have totally lost their scruples and are willing to bargain their soul to survive the rough-and-tumble game of politics. They subscribe to the position that in politics there is no substitute for victory even at the cost of entering a pact with the devil. This is normally the case when one party becomes so dominant that it would be suicidal to present oneself as an independent and alternative candidate. The lesson of the Otso Diretso senatorial slate in the 2019 election is a case in point. So the prudent rule is: If you can’t beat them, join them. nnn

Holding an honest, orderly, and peaceful election has always been a formidable challenge to the Comelec. Upholding the will of the people and preventing the distortion of the people’s choice as expressed in the ballots is the ultimate test of a democratic state. I wonder how the 2022 elections will be conducted under the Duterte administration. Atty. Rowena Guanzon, the only nonDuterte appointee in the Comelec, is set to retire in February 2022, on the cusp of the elections. Can we expect an impartial electoral body that will objectively administer the 2022 polls? I’m not insinuating that the Comelec is incapable of conducting an election, which will deserves our people’s trust. A conscientious and courageous Comelec Chairman, Jaime N. Ferrer, was able to conduct an honest counting of votes in the 1969 and 1971 elections under President Ferdinand E. Marcos. While he was a Cabinet member of President Cory Aquino, he led the prayer during a cabinet meeting by saying: “Lord, keep reminding us that talent and ability without integrity are meaningless…” What we need is another Jaime N. Ferrer who will preside over the Comelec in the coming elections. We need his courage, integrity and decisiveness to guard and protect our votes—sterling attributes which he consistently applied while he was in the service of our people as the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government. Even at the cost of his life. Ferrer was assassinated on August 2, 1987 and on his tombstone is written: “The fight for democracy is a continuing struggle.”

As Dubai’s food delivery booms, dangers and casualties mount

By Isabel Debre | The Associated Press

UBAI, United Arab Emirates—Running late, the delivery driver threaded his motorcycle around lurching cars, speeding against time and traffic to satisfy a customer’s burger craving—the day’s last delivery in Dubai. Moments later, a car sideswiped him. The collision catapulted Mohammed Ifran off his bike and smashed him into the street, instantly killing the 21-year-old as he was delivering a meal worth some $8. After giving up farming in Pakistan, he had been working in Dubai as a contractor for Talabat, an online food delivery app popular in the United Arab Emirates. “His family’s only source of happiness, gone,” said a fellow courier in the working-class district of Deira, who declined to give his name for fear of reprisals. Ifran’s June death represents just one in a growing number of casualties among food delivery riders in Dubai, workers and advocates say, as the pandemic pushed millions of people indoors and accelerated a surge in app-based orders. The boom has transformed Dubai’s streets and stores and drawn thousands of desperate riders, predominantly Pakistanis, into the high-risk, lightly regulated and sometimes-fatal work. With most paid between $2 to $3 per delivery rather than a fixed salary, riders race in the scorching heat to keep pace with a relentless rush of orders. The conditions of couriers worldwide, long perilous, worsened during the pandemic as riders became essential to feeding cities and faced new risks of coronavirus exposure. But

in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates’s glimmering sheikhdom that runs on low-paid migrant labor from Africa and Asia, the job can be particularly precarious. At the mercy of visa sponsors, workers in Dubai have few protections. To reduce cost, companies like London-based Deliveroo outsource bikes, logistics and responsibility to contracting agencies—a labor pipeline that prevails across Gulf Arab states and can lead to mistreatment. “For food delivery riders in the UAE, the issue of exploitation is usually on the part of the sponsor. That’s where people feel they’re unable to change jobs or even to complain about working conditions,” said Karen Young, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Middle East Institute. On Dubai’s streets, more than a dozen delivery riders interviewed said they knew of two or three coworkers killed every month. Memories of colleagues sprawled on the street in shredded uniforms and bloodied helmets remain vivid as they mount their bikes each morning, many said. Dubai police have not yet released a road crash count for 2020. Past tallies did not offer breakdowns for motorcycle deaths. Authorities declined to offer recent figures or comment on crash cases like Ifran’s. Without an official number, advocates have scoured local media to

gauge the work’s hidden toll. One road safety activist, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, collected press reports of at least 70 delivery riders hospitalized last year in Dubai, including 24 who died. The figure, although likely an undercount, “is intense” for Dubai during a year that kept most residents off the roads, he said. The entire country recorded 448 crash deaths in 2019. State-linked Emirati newspaper The National reported that 12 delivery drivers were killed during the city’s lockdown in April alone, quoting a police official as saying, “When money comes into the equation, safety is put aside.” Couriers in Dubai often lack protective gear and adequate safety training, industry experts said, with riders uneducated about critical motorcycle maneuvers like the blindspot check. Helmets are often worn incorrectly. Contractors allocate just $27 a month for bike servicing—a small sum for a bike’s necessary oil changes and brake, tire and plug maintenance. In response to questions from The Associated Press, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority said safety remains the government’s “top priority” as it supports the delivery market’s explosive growth. Authorities referred to recently announced regulations, including penalizing riders’ use of the fast lane, requiring cooling towels and reducing riding radius. Riders for two main companies, Deliveroo and Talabat described receiving limited insurance coverage from third-party contractors, with payouts often capped at a few hundred dollars with no death benefits

or crash compensation. Several riders struck by cars on delivery trips said their contractors refused to foot hefty Dubai hospital bills, instead forcing them to fly back to Pakistan to pay for cheaper surgery. UAE-based Talabat, which saw its deliveries increase by 100 percent in the first half of the year, said the platform has “a very high standard” for rider training and ensures contractors provide insurance for medical care as required by law. The company, owned by Germany-based Delivery Hero, has introduced a taskforce of the best riders, it said, “who help to ensure that our fleet across the UAE continue to adhere to the safety rules.” Deliveroo said it has adjusted working hours “to meet particularly high customer demand,” and stressed that all riders provide their contractors with documentation, including insurance. “Our agency operators in each market work with Deliveroo to ensure quality standards,” it said. Neither Deliveroo nor Talabat offered crash or fatality data for their contractors. London-based Deliveroo is valued at over $8 billion, while Talabat-owner Delivery Hero is valued at over $35 billion. Authorities transfer all riders injured in crashes to government-run hospitals, where doctors declined to comment. But workers at private hospitals said even they have seen a growing stream of food couriers with fractured limbs who fell from their bikes. “Of course they’re getting injured. They’re overworked, dehydrated, exhausted,” said Dr. Taimoor Tung at Dubai’s Orthopedics and Spine Hospital.

A10 Tuesday, September 14, 2021

ADB EXPERTS PITCH REGL COOPERATION TO DRAW MIGRATION’S BENEFITS By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

N order for countries to maximize the benefits of migration, experts from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said there is a need to address the needs of migrants through greater regional cooperation. In an Asian Development Blog, ADB experts led by Social Development Thematic Group Chief Wendy Walker said the needs of migrants are diverse, enduring, and cannot be addressed by a single country alone. Regional cooperation is needed in facilitating the free flow of productive labor across labor through a mutual recognition of skills as well as social protection, especially for forcibly displaced persons. “Migration in the Asia-Pacific region is not a temporary, infrequent, or episodic phenomena requiring only crisis and wellmeaning palliative responses,” the authors said. “It is bigger than that. It is more diverse and enduring. It is not an issue that one country can handle alone. It requires regional cooperation,” they added. T he authors said migration benefits sending countries through remittances while host countries benefit through the steady supply of labor which helps them attract foreign investments. They said cooperation can also mitigate human trafficking and reduce the prevalence of abuses and health risks moving across borders. “As the region transitions from the Covid-19 emergency to a sustainable and inclusive recovery, there are a number of particular migration opportunities and challenges that would benefit from cross-border collective action,” they said.

To reap migration benefits, they said a mutual recognition of skills as included in regional trade and investment agreements should be reached in the Asia-Pacific region. This means expanding the mutual recognition of industry skills and professional qualifications. An important aspect of this is to avoid “a complex ‘web’ of bilateral agreements” on skills and professional qualifications through a regional agreement that can be applied to all. They also cited a need to strengthen social protection for both economic migrants and those who were forcibly displaced from their homes. The authors said all migrants face major legal and practical obstacles in accessing social protection benefits. This means governments must do better to ensure they receive equal treatment. “Governments should ensure equality of treatment or establishment of national social protection benefits for migrant workers. Also needed are streamlined procedures to acquire portability of social protection or access to new sources,” the authors said. Further, there is a need to address policy gaps or strengthen enforcement of existing worker protection frameworks in destination countries. This can prevent an economic migrant from being caught in a contracted labor arrangement where he/she is forced to work. Other efforts include widening the impact of remittances. One way to do this is to use remittance receipts to assess a low-income household’s creditworthiness. The authors also said there is a need to promote micro savings and microinsurance which will enhance financial inclusion for the poor.

Solons push review of IATF work, quarantine measures

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

@joveemarie

O spur economic recovery while protecting the health of the Filipino people, two lawmakers on Monday filed a resolution urging the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID) and the Executive to recalibrate their quarantine measures by implementing a more targeted response, including granular lockdowns, and bakuna and business bubbles.

In House Resolution 2209, Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo and House Committee on Economic Affairs Chairperson Sharon Garin said there is a need for a more consultative pandemic response and recovery policymaking amid this pandemic. The two lawmakers said the government should immediately implement the granular lockdowns, bakuna and business bubbles in Metro Manila and other metropolitan areas in the country to create a more targeted response in arresting the rapid spread of the virus and avert the losses that the country incur from reliance on enhanced mobility restrictions. “There is an urgent necessity to lift the IATF-EID’s current policy

on quarantine classifications and in lieu thereof, impose granular lockdowns on high-risk areas on the basis of, and automatically triggered by, epidemiologically determined thresholds on the number of active Covid-19 cases and Covid-19 infection growth rates,” the resolution said. “Granular lockdowns are necessary to arrest the rapid rise of Covid-19 cases, and must be implemented through government-led efforts in tracing, isolating, and treating infected individuals,” it added. Also, the solons noted that tourism bubbles have likewise proven to be effective as travel for leisure has been generally safely practiced, thus showing that business bubbles

could likewise be successful to attain desired economic outcomes while ensuring protection against any threat to public health by enforcing minimum health standards and ramping up the Covid-19 vaccination program.

Ad hoc committee

MEANWHILE, they also called on the leadership of the House of Representatives to create the Bayanihan Para sa Pagbangon Ad Hoc Committee to review the powers, composition, and functions of the IATF-EID as well as oversee its economic recovery programs and policies. “[We] need to execute policy reforms to review and enhance the powers, composition, and performance of IATF-EID, including the revision of the enabling law creating IATF-EID by possibly converting it from an Executive task orce to an Executive and Legislative task force,” the resolution said. Since the declaration of the State of Public Health Emergency, the solons said the National Capital Region has been placed under the strictest lockdown or the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in three different occasions—once

in 2020 and twice in 2021. “Since March 2020, no area in the Philippines has been allowed to completely open up as different jurisdictions have been routinely placed under varying levels of community quarantine ranging from ECQ as the hardest to modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), thus making the country’s lockdown as one of the longest lockdowns in the world,” the resolution added. Also, the lawmakers said stricter lockdown measures would mean the closure, temporary or permanent, or the reduction of workforce of businesses deemed non-essential, which translates to decrease in workers’ wages or worse, retrenchment of employees. “As a result of the protracted lockdown, the economy experienced the worst contraction on record at 9.5 percent in 2020 while the same year also saw the unemployment rate peak at 17.7 percent in April,” the resolution said. “The devastating effects of strict lockdowns on the economy directly translate to the loss of jobs, shutdown of livelihoods, and hunger for vulnerable workers and their families,” it added.

Senate checks out other ‘suppliers’ of supplier Pharmally

ENATE probers are poised to dig deeper into the records of medical suppliers that provided personal protective equipment (PPE) sold to Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, the low-capitalized startup that cornered over P8 billion in PPE contracts from government. This, as senators expanded their inquiry to cover other companies that initially supplied Pharmally with face masks and other medical supplies, which some senators deem overpriced. Senate sources indicated this include Tiger Phil Marketing, said to be run by “Brother Tiger” and one “Wang Jie.” Testifying at the Senate inquiry, Pharmally supply chain manager Lincoln Ong tagged the two among the suppliers that delivered the medical supplies to Pharmally to enable it to deliver on its commitment to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management. The PS-DBM is the unit to which the Department of Health had transferred P42 billion of its pandemic funds, in a move flagged by state auditors. During Monday’s hearing, presided by Blue Ribbon chairman Richard

J. Gordon, Sen. Imee Marcos asked Senate probers to also obtain the suppliers’ records at the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Bureau of Internal Revenue. This, as Marcos uncovered a “P2billion variance” between Pharmally’s total contract value and tax returns filed with BIR. Citing a COA report, Marcos noted that from April to June 2020, Pharmally was awarded P9.06-billion in contracts, but records show Pharmally listed only P7.485 billion in sales in its ITR. “Why was not the full amount of all contracts awarded, or P9B, declared in ITR,” she asked adding: “But there was P2 billion in underdeclaration?” Told by Pharmally officials that the nearly P2-billion variance stemmed from the fact that not all of the contracted items had been delivered as of the time of ITR filing, Marcos asked why. When told that Pharmally received a “letter from PS-DBM” telling it to delay deliveries, the senator was aghast, and pointed out that these PPE items were supposedly urgently needed last year, so why should an order to “delay deliveries” be issued? Butch Fernandez

DEVOTEES pray outside the Saint Anne Parish Church in Taguig City. Saint Anne is patroness of unmarried women, housewives, women in labor or who want to be pregnant, grandmothers, mothers and educators. ROY DOMINGO

DOJ: No need to sue PRC to get yearly audit report

HE Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday said there is no need for the government to go to court just to compel the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to submit an annual audit report to President Duterte as its honorary president. Justice Secretar y Menardo Guevarra issued the statement as he maintained that the PRC is obliged to submit an annual audit report to the Office of the President. “The PRC admits that it receives funds from the government. The PRC is a highly-reputable organization that is expected to manage its funds, whether private or public, in accordance with standard accounting methods and in pursuit solely of its statutory objectives,” Guevarra

explained. “It is duty-bound to submit an annual report of its activities and financial condition to the President of the Philippines as its honorary president,” Guevarra added. Likewise, the justice chief also said the Commission on Audit (COA) is required under the Constitution to fulfill its mandate to audit accounts pertaining to the use of government funds. “The Constitution is clear on the scope of the mandate of the COA. This mandate includes the audit accounts pertaining to the use of funds received as subsidy or equity, directly or indirectly by non-governmental entities from the government,” Guevarra pointed out. “The COA is an independent

constitutional commission that is expected to perform its mandate objectively and impartially,” he added. Guevarra’s statement came as the PRC has yet to respond directly to the call of Duterte for it to comply with its obligation to submit to the President an annual audit report. On Sunday, the PRC issued a statement insisting that its funds were “faithfully accounted” and that there was no “adverse finding” on any transactions using government funds. The PRC said reports on the donations may be acquired by the OP directly from the government agencies and that audits on government agencies may be obtained from the COA.

The President earlier warned COA Chairman Michael Aguinaldo of a “long legal battle” if it refuses to perform its duty to audit government funds given to PRC. He added that if Aguinaldo refuses to perform his constitutional mandate, this would be tantamount to a “dereliction of duty.” However, Guevarra expressed belief that the standoff between the Palace, PRC and COA would be eventually resolved without the need for a legal action. “I do not expect that these issues will necessitate any legal action,” Guevarra said. “I believe that the personalities concerned will resolve these issues in a most cordial and professional manner,” he added. Joel R. San Juan

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Companies BusinessMirror

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

‘PPA surpasses growth goal despite mobility restrictions’

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

he Philippine Ports Authority’s (PPA) growth in the Januaryto-July period has exceeded its target despite the limitations brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

by 7 percent, and ship calls down by 27.5 percent.” Santiago noted that the PPA will continue to implement more port projects this year beyond the 451 completed port projects since 2016. “We anticipate to complete 110 to 120 more projects before the term of the president ends in June 2020,” he said. The PPA will also be auctioning off port operation contracts in the last few months of this administration. “We still have about five or six more that we’re working on. Government needs the funds and based on our assessment, revenues that will be generated out of the terminals that we will bid out will increase by [more than a thousandfold] in the 15 years that they are operating. We should be able to bid out a total of about 25 by June 30, 2022 including the 9 already bid out,” he said. The port authority also hopes to award three unsolicited proposals for port development within the term of President Duterte. These are the modernization propos-

als for the Iloilo Commercial Port Complex of International Container Terminal Services Inc., the development of the Davao-Sana Port by Chelsea Logistics and Infrastructure Holdings Corp., and the upgrade of the General Santos Port by Kudos Trucking Corp. “A ll of those are currently pending with the National Economic and Development Authority [NEDA] for evaluation. We are in continuous communication for additional documents and requirements that they are requiring,” Santiago said. He is hopeful that the NEDA and the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) will be able to process the proposal before the start of the ban on public works. “Of course we’re hopeful that the government should be able to approve and award those three projects to the winning proponents later on, but we are all dependent on the actions of the NEDA and the ICC, as to whether or not they will approve it or give due course to those unsolicited proposals,” Santiago said.

PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago said the state-owned port operator and regulatory body has “already surpassed” its target “for this year despite the pandemic based on recent performance highlights as of end-July.” Santiago said the port authority recorded cargo throughput growth of 20.27 percent, 15.35 percent for container throughput, and 5.66 percent for ship calls as of July 31. This pushed revenues to P9.7 billion for the said period, an 8.58-percent increase from P8.9 billion the year prior. PPA has set a revenue growth

target of 6 to 7 percent for the year. “We have been able to surpass last year’s milestones. We were able to increase our throughput, increase our cargo traffic by about 15 percent year-on-year, but of course, we’re still a little bit lagging behind prepandemic levels,” Santiago said in a news briefing. “But as the economy slowly opens up, we are able to contend with these challenges and make do with the challenges facing us.” Compared to the pre-pandemic levels, the cargo throughput was “barely 2 percent higher than 2019, while container throughput is behind

Cicero cites ANI’s green practices

PSALM aims to sell more assets

griNurture Inc. (ANI), the listed agro-commercial enterprise led by businessman Antonio Tiu, was one of the companies cited in the 2021 Cicero Shades of Green Best Practices paper, a report that focuses on best practices among global green bond issuers. In its 2021 listing, AgriNurture was one of only two agriculture firms highlighted in Cicero’s report. It was cited alongside Lantmännen, a Swedish agricultural cooperative. The Oslo-based climate research institute Cicero provides independent, research-based evaluations of green bond investment frameworks to determine their environmental strength. Its annual Shades of Green Best Practices report helps investors by providing green, sustainabilitylinked financing frameworks and climate risk assessments of companies. “AgriNurture is a Philippine agro-commercial business focusing on sustainable environmental practices. The most significant investments are expected in the environmentally sustainable management of living natural resources category by investing in organic/sustainable plantations, using a combination of proven organic technologies and methods and without the use of new agricultural land,” the report read. “AgriNurture recently received a Cicero Medium Green shading with a governance score of ‘Good.’” Cicero considered AgriNurture’s certified organic agriculture practices aimed at improving land fertility, reducing and eliminating chemical fertilizers as well as the integration of climate resilience and adaptation strategies to climate risks. It also took into consideration the company’s practices with potential impacts on expansion of agricultural roads as well as the involvement of fossil fuel equipment in agriculture activities. The Tiu-led company exports local fruits and vegetables to the Asia Pacific region, Europe and North America. The company also has commercial activities in China, Hong Kong and Australia with gross revenues of close to $100 million in 2020. VG Cabuag

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

& Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

he Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) has set its sights on selling more assets to reduce the debts incurred by the National Power Corp. (NPC) to P358 billion by the end of 2021. As of end-June, PSALM’s financial obligations stood at P368.08 billion, the state firm’s president Irene Joy Garcia said in an online press briefing Monday. “We hope to bring down the obligations to P358.72 billion this year.” PSALM had just completed the successful bidding of its property in Paco, Manila. The Manila Electric Co. submitted the highest offer amounting to P632,162,185.00. “Next in line is the Pampanga property. Hopefully, that should happen in the next month. Also, we have some assets in Limay and in Baguio. Casecnan will be bid out by mid-September this year and, hopefully, we will award it in November,” said Garcia. PSALM has set a minimum bid price of P741.327 million for its 50,447-square meter real estate property in Mexico, Pampanga. For the real estate assets in Baguio and Limay, Bataan, Garcia said her office is coordinating with the local government in Baguio City and is “finishing up the study in Bataan for a possible public bidding.”

For the privatization of the 150-megawatt Casecnan hydropower plant in Nueva Ecija, PSALM will immediately begin the bidding process to secure an operation and maintenance service contract (OMSC) for the project to ensure continuous operations upon its turnover to the government. The OMSC will be effective until PSALM completes the plant’s privatization via public bidding by the end of 2022. Garcia said proceeds from a successful privatization of the Casecnan power plant would be divided between the National Irrigation Administration and PSALM in accordance with their ownership interest—40 percent and 60 percent, respectively. At end-2020, PSALM’s debt stood at P381.91 billion. It had reduced its debts by P40.103 billion, bigger than its target of P10.18 billion for 2020. PSALM sources funds for debt payment from privatization proceeds, which include payments from independent power producer administrators and from the concession payments from the transmission business. The state-run firm has disposed of a total of 10 real estate assets in Agusan in Bukidnon, Maco in Davao de Oro, Nasipit in Agusan del Norte, Loboc in Bohol and Camalaniugan in Cagayan, raising revenues of P51.65 million. Other disposable assets from retired equipment and scrap materials were sold by PSALM for P26.45 million.

To generate additional income, PSALM entered into short-term lease agreements with government offices over certain assets that are not yet scheduled for privatization, raising additional revenues of P29.50 million.

Backpay

PSALM also said it has transferred a total of P4.31 billion to the NPC to cover the backpay and other benefits due to nearly 2,000 former employees retrenched in 2003 as part of NPC’s downsizing as mandated under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA). It was only in February this year when the NPC started paying an estimated 1,958 claimants entitled to backwages and other benefits following a Supreme Court (SC) ruling in 2017 ordering the state-run power firm to pay its retrenched employees, and the 2019 decision by the Commission on Audit (COA) giving the go-signal for the settlement of such claims. As of August 10 this year, NPC has already released P3.79 billion to the claimants. To recall, many employees were terminated as part of the firm’s reorganization and were given separation benefits when the EPIRA was implemented almost two decades ago. Some of the laid-off workers were rehired by either the NPC, National Transmission Corp. (Transco), or PSALM.

AllDay sets sights on expanding store network By VG Cabuag @villygc

llDay Marts Inc., the Villarled grocery chain under the AllDay brand, is planning to open an average of 15 branches per year in the next 5 years to expand its store network to 100 by 2026. The company said AllDay will be expanding its presence in Metro Manila with new locations in Mandaluyong and Sucat this year. These stores are in addition to the four stores the company has opened in Talisay, Bacolod, Cauayan and Sto.Tomas. Currently, the company has a total of 33 branches. Next year, the company said it will have 10 new stores and will end 2022—an election year—with a total of 45 branches. “We have always been proud to provide a global standard in our thrust of bringing Allday to the local supermarket landscape,” said Manuel B. Villar Jr., chairman of AllValue Holdings Inc., AllDay’s parent firm. “We have always believed that the Filipino deserves to be able to access a global standard of grocery shopping experience across the country. Given our synergy with the entire Villar group of companies, we are confident in our ability to maximize this synergy as we implement our strategy to grow the Allday store network to 100 locations by 2026,” he said. To complement its premium store experience, the supermarket chain operates its own e-commerce platform through its website. The same e-commerce platform utilizes the full AllDay Supermarket

physical store network as “last-mile fulfillment centers,” expanding each store’s catchment area and capability to serve customers. This e-commerce capability is fully-integrated into the new generation of branches. “AllDay will always place importance on innovation especially in our objective of transforming the local supermarket landscape,” said Camille Villar, president of AllValue and vice chairman of AllDay Marts. “Digital transformation is of utmost importance, especially in the retail industry. With the increasing adoption of online shopping among Filipinos, we have integrated e-commerce as part and parcel of how we expand our store network. We have already established an elevated in-store customer experience for the brand. Now, we want to ensure that the same experience translates to our online grocery shopping—especially to our new areas of expansion.” AllDay recently launched the “dark store” concept which acts as last-mile fulfillment centers for its e-commerce site, www.allday.com.ph. AllDay Marts has recently filed its registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for its initial public offering from which it hopes to raise as much as P6.02 billion. The company said it is selling some 6.85 billion unissued shares to be offered by way of primary sale, while the over-allotment option shares will comprise up to 685.71 million issued shares in secondary offering. The shares will be sold at an indicative price of P0.80 apiece.

Govt orders Hitachi elevators, escalators for railway project

Continued on B2 External view of the North-South Commuter Railway. Contributed Photo

Firms get nod to conduct grid impact studies

he Department of Energy (DOE) has given 11 firms the go-signal to conduct grid impact studies (GIS) for their power projects which will have an installed capacity of 1,797.17 megawatts (MW). The GIS is necessary in determining if the electricity to be generated by a power project can be absorbed by the country’s transmission system. For the months of July and August, the DOE cleared the projects of Converge Power Generation Corp. for the 2x71.95MW Cebu LNG power plant, Total Power Inc. for 151.2 MWp San Isidro solar power, PV Sinag Power Inc.’s 159.71MWp Laoag solar power projects, and Belgrove Power Corp.’s rehabilitation plans for

the 650MW Malaya Thermal Power Plant (MTTP). Universal Power Solution’s 20MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), SPC Island Power Corp.’s 9.35MW Panay diesel power plant, SPC Power Corp.’s 2MW BESS, PH Renewables Inc.’s 80MW solar power project, Gritstone Lead Power Corp.’s 40MW BESS, San Miguel Consolidated Power Corp.’s 41MW Sangali diesel project, and Itbayat Island UPC Asia Corp.’s 500MW wind power project also secured the DOE’s nod. Based on the list, the biggest power project is the improvement of the MTTP. The power facility has two units—300MW unit 1 and 350MW unit 2--which could not be utilized due due to damage

to their turbine and air pre-heater. The MTTP was recently sold to Belgrove Power via a negotiated sale. The company is embarking on a rebuilding program for MTTP to bring back its reliable capacity to 650 MW. Belgrove has informed the DOE about its intent on the MTPP which is to “immediately repair Unit 2 of Malaya with a rated capacity of 350 MW and bring in two new modular aeroderivative gas engines for an additional capacity of 60 MW” by end-2021. The company has yet to decide if it will rehabilitate or replace Unit 1. “We plan to keep that position of MTTP as the premier back-up power for the country’s main grid,” company officials said. Lenie Lectura

itachi Elevator Philippines Corp. is supplying the government with 67 units of elevators and escalators for the NorthSouth Commuter Railway (NSCR) Phase 1, the largest single order for its business in the Philippines. In a statement, the company said it received the order for the 38-kilometer Malolos-Tutuban line, which will have seven stations that will serve approximately 200,000 commuters per day. Broken down, Hitachi will be supplying 21 elevators and 46 escalators for the whole project. The units, which will be manufactured in factories in Thailand and China, will be installed by May 2023. “This is the first elevator and escalator order received in railway project for Hitachi in the Philippines. However, Hitachi got many orders in Japan and China when the

railway expansion project launched. Hitachi appealed its products actively and met customer’s needs finely. The customers seem to evaluate these points,” the company said. The company noted that even with the pandemic, it remains bullish in the elevator and escalator market as it is expected to “expand significantly on account of increasing urbanization and rapid expansion of [the] construction sector in the coming years.” “Hitachi will continue to broadly use cutting-edge digital technology, including the Internet of Things, to develop products and services, and globally provide safe, secure and comfortable elevators and escalators as well as services that help resolve customers’ issues in urban spaces to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.” Lorenz S. Marasigan

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Companies BusinessMirror

Megaworld to inject prime office assets into MREIT By VG Cabuag

@villygc

REIT Inc., the Megaworld Corp.-sponsored real estate investment trust, is planning to expand its office assets size to 1 million square meters within the next 5 to 10 years after the company decided to reduce the size and price of its initial public offering (IPO). Next year, Megaworld is targeting to inject an additional 100,000 square meters of prime office assets into MREIT which will increase its portfolio to around 324,000 square meters by end-2022. “We are committed to reaching half a million square meters by 2024, and are highly confident of our ability to reach one million square meters in the near future so that we can be the largest office REIT in Southeast Asia. Our goal is to put the Philippines and MREIT on the global REIT map because of the size and quality of our REIT portfolio and our world-class tenant base,” said Kevin Andrew L. Tan, MREIT president and CEO. “We believe we can easily achieve this because Megaworld already has 1.2 million square meters of existing office buildings and has a robust pipeline of new office development spread across 26 business parks across the country. We remain bullish about the prospects of the Philippine BPO [business process outsourcing] sector and Megaworld expects to maintain its undisputed leadership position as the Philippine office landlord of choice for the world’s leading IT and BPO companies.” MREIT’s initial portfolio, pegged at 224,431 square meters, consists of 10 prime office buildings in three of Megaworld’s most established township locations that are popular among

the biggest BPO companies operating in the Philippines. These include 1800 Eastwood Avenue, 1880 East Avenue, E-commerce Plaza, One World Square, Two World Square, Three World Square, 8/10 Upper McKinley Building, 18/20 Upper McKinley Building, One Techno Place Iloilo, Richmonde Tower and Richmonde Hotel Iloilo. “Our current portfolio has been carefully curated to include only Grade A PEZA-accredited buildings with mainly BPO and multinational tenants. MREIT’s strategy is to be very focused on high quality office buildings with high quality tenants that are located inside an already established township,” Tan said. MREIT’s initial public offering price was set at P16.10 per share, which translates to a projected fiscal year ending June 30, 2022 dividend yield of 5.7 percent. The estimated net IPO proceeds of P14.7 billion, assuming full exercise of the over-allotment option, together with the expected cash proceeds from the impending asset injection into MREIT by Megaworld, will be reinvested by Megaworld in 15 projects over the next 12 months. Megaworld will continue to own a stake of approximately 62.1 percent in MREIT after its IPO. MREIT slashed the number of shares it will sell for its IPO and the price. The company said it will sell some 844.3 million in base offer shares, down from the previous 1.07 billion common shares, and an over-allotment option of 105.53 million shares, also down from the previously announced 161.7 million shares. The final price of the said shares was placed at P16.10 apiece, or 27 percent lower than its earlier indicative price of up to P22 per share.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

‘Fort Pilar to produce 3,000 MW in 5 years’

back-up power for the country’s main grid.” The BESS, meanwhile, is scheduled for commissioning in February next year. Castillo said Fort Pilar will be taking a look at the other assets that the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) will be selling soon. These include the 5.195-hectare Diliman property in Quezon City and the Operation and Maintenance Service Contract (OMSC) for the Casecnan Multi-Purpose Project (CMPP). Also, he added, the company is looking at “a couple of assets in Visayas, but nothing specific yet.” Fort Pilar’s subsidiary, Belgrove Power Corp., is the entity that bought MTTP and its underlying land from PSALM for P4,185,656,423.99. The proceeds will be used to settle the remaining financial obligations that PSALM absorbed from the National Power Corp. Castillo said Belgrove has informed the Department of Energy about its plans for the MTTP. Belgrove is still conducting a feasibility study on whether to repair or replace the 300MW-MTTP Unit 1. Lenie Lectura

ort Pilar Energy Inc. wants to produce as much as 3,000 megawatts (MW) in power generating capacity in five years after it bought the Malaya Thermal Power Plant (MTPP) from the government recently. “We want to be a major player in the industry so we can capture a good market share of 2,000 to 3,000 megawatts in the next five years. But in terms of energy source, renewable energy (RE) will be our focus and baseload capacity is also a consideration,” said Fort Pilar Energy Chief Executive Officer Joseph Omar Castillo during a virtual press briefing of the company’s payment and handover of documents for the MTTP sale. Fort Pilar Energy Chairperson Shiela Romero said the company can achieve its target capacity by acquiring more power plants in the future. “Malaya is the first in Luzon and, last month, we also completed the acquisition of ADSI [Alterpower Digos Solar Inc.]. We’re also constructing a constructing a battery energy storage system (BESS) in Zamboanga,” said Romero, adding that Fort Pilar envisions MTTP as “the premier

mutual funds

September 13, 2021

NAV

One Year Three Year Five Year

per share Return*

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

224.18

15.21%

-3.95%

-3.24%

-1.34%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.5557

42.95%

2.6%

1.99%

18.48%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.076

17.92%

-7.88%

-6.25%

-1.82%

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7394 10.72%

-6.25% n.a.

-8.02%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7751 12.3%

-2.32% n.a.

4.52%

First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a

19.49%

-1.45%

-1.36%

1.31%

0.7497

14.81%

-3.52%

-5.17%

-5.01% n.a.

-3.31% -2.07%

5.006

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

98.57

18.02%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

45.8793

17.8%

-2.35%

-2.01%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

482.11

14.94%

-2.01%

-2.43%

-1.4%

Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d

1.1103

26.95% n.a. n.a.

1.18%

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.2134

21.47%

-1.17%

-1.06%

3.87%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

34.9242

19.5%

-1.6%

-0.96%

0.44%

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.8971

16.76% n.a. n.a.

-1.74%

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.7158

18.61%

-1.57%

788.18

18.57%

-1.61%

-1.33%

-1.68%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.7136

18.52%

-5.78%

-4.57%

-0.74%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.632

18.05%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8999 18.14%

PSALM aims to sell more assets Continued from B1

Among the terminated NPC employees are members of the Drivers and Mechanics Association (DAMA), who then contested before the SC the decision of the National Power Board (NPB) to terminate their services. PSALM is not a party to the case but became involved in this issue because the EPIRA had mandated PSALM to take over NPC’s assets and liabilities. Garcia said after COA’s final approval of the claims settlement and the validation of the list of claimants, PSALM immediately raised the funds needed to settle DAMA claims in support of the plight of claimants who have waited for many years to be compensated. PSALM transferred to NPC an initial amount of P500 million in November last year to enable NPC to start complying with the SC and COA rulings, even though it still has a pending petition before the high court seeking to clarify several legal aspects of the COA’s 2019 decision, Garcia added. “We already transferred substantial amounts to NPC to pay for the DAMA claims. The latest remittance was in July this year. So far, PSALM has transferred a total of P4,310,037,838.68 to NPC for the payment of the DAMA claims.” Based on NPC’s records, 893 claimants have already received their checks representing their monetary claims for backwages and other benefits. However, there are still some retrenched NPC employees who are entitled to backwages and other benefits that have yet to receive their payments because they or their representatives have yet to submit the necessary documents to substantiate their standing as claimants. PSALM and NPC have so far joint-

ly endorsed to the COA the payment of 1,062 claims of which 1,056 were validated by COA as qualified claimants. According to NPC, there are still 718 claimants with incomplete documents. “There are delays in the compliance with the basic documentary requirements by some claimants. Furthermore, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and with some claimants residing outside Metro Manila or outside the country, there are mobility restrictions preventing them from submitting the required documentation especially considering that most claimants are of old age,” Garcia said. To fully fund the DAMA claims, Garcia said PSALM estimates that it will still need about P4.8 billion for 2022. “The P4.8 billion cash requirement will be covered by the balance of the 2021 approved supplemental budget amounting to P1 billion more or less, and prospectively by a P3.8 billion proposed DAMA budget for 2022.” In September 2006, the SC declared as void and without legal effect the decision of the National Power Board on the termination of the DAMA claimants. The High Tribunal issued a resolution in September 2008 stating that the separated NPC employees have the right to be reinstated or entitled to separation pay in lieu of reinstatement, along with backwages, wage adjustments, and other benefits. The SC issued another resolution in November 2017 ordering the payment of the backwages and other benefits of those that were not reinstated, and directing the terminated workers to file their claims before the COA, which subsequently issued a decision in 2019 approving the release of their claims.

Y-T-D Return

United Fund, Inc. -a

3.3041

18.96%

-1.66%

-1.29%

-3.8%

-2.47%

0.23%

-1.96%

-1.5%

-1.94%

-2.1%

-0.58%

-0.45%

-1.45%

-0.83%

-1.33%

Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 105.8482

18.58%

-1.59%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities $1.2048

14.6%

6.84%

5.43%

0.16%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.8527

ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

23.65%

12.98%

11.84%

10.75%

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

1.6815

7.46%

0.45%

-1.35%

0.77%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.2235

8.88%

0.04%

-1.16%

-2.71%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.6372

10.51%

1.47%

0.13%

0.39%

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.1939

12.6% n.a. n.a.

NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a 1.9704

0.73%

0.33%

8.69%

2.29%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.7132

7.66%

1.7%

-0.52%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.6137

1.71%

-0.5%

-1.91%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.0712

8.92%

0.2%

-0.27%

-1.09%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.5871 10.73%

-0.74%

-1.14%

0.39%

6.79% n.a. n.a.

-3.07%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9912

-1.98%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.9133

10.53% n.a. n.a.

-3.78%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.901

12.53% n.a. n.a.

-3.44%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

13.61%

0.9057

-1.16%

-1.43%

-2.37%

2.03%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03851

-1.41%

3.24%

1.3%

$1.1043

6.72%

4.72%

3.03%

-3.99%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.8347 17.64%

9.88%

8.33%

7.13%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a $1.231

5.75%

4.38%

2.4%

0.59%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

8.16%

-1.56%

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

373.26

1.35%

3.05%

2.4%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.9294

-1.01%

1.23%

0.24%

1.53%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2396

1.24%

3.44%

4.21%

0.77%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.263

-1.63%

2.2%

1.19%

-1.44%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4412 -0.49%

3.25%

1.68%

-0.49%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.4807

-3.88%

4.77%

1.11%

-3.32%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a

1.3204

0.79%

4.02%

2.71%

-0.06%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9851

0.69%

4.64%

-0.4%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0387

0.18%

5.19%

1.6%

-0.32%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.2224

1.31%

5.23%

2.37%

0.51%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

0.57%

4.51%

1.69%

-0.15%

1.7524

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

$488.47

2.11%

3.17%

2.12%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є220.72

1.66%

1.18%

0.81%

0.95% 0.7%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.2103

-2.23%

2.63%

1.44%

-5.47%

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0262 - 0.38%

1.85%

0.86%

-1.5%

PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

$1.0526

-3.37%

0.65%

-1.1%

-3.67%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$2.5372

1.56%

5.49%

0.06%

Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0631089 3.34%

3.55%

2.1%

1.27%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.2099 -0.14%

3.47%

0.8%

-0.42%

2.54%

0.66%

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

130.67

1.29%

2.96%

First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0549 1.02% n.a. n.a.

0.65%

Sun Life Prosperity Peso Starter Fund, Inc. -a,1 1.3093

0.98%

1.54%

2.76%

2.55%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0585

0.97%

1.58% n.a.

0.58%

Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d 1.3409

31.27% n.a. n.a.

18.71%

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

$0.99

4.21% n.a. n.a.

1.02%

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

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

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Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Tuesday, September 14, 2021

BTr borrows ₧15B via Treasury bills auction

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE Bureau of the Treasury borrowed P15 billion from the local debt market through its successful auction of Treasury bills (T-bills) last Monday.

Averages rates also moved sideways during the auction, with the 182-day and 364-day tenors slipping from the previous levels while the 91-day debt paper fetched a slightly higher rate. Robust investor demand also marked the auction, which was four times oversubscribed as total bids reached P63.27 billion. National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon

said the market is “taking its cue” from the statement of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin E. Diokno that monetary authorities will support the economy’s accelerated and sustained recovery and that the Central Bank is willing to extend direct advances to government along this line. In July, the BSP extended a P540-billion

Finance tips for OFWs

knowing that interest rates VER the years, many are piling up. of our talented counThis will be a downfall trymen are working for a person because he or outside the country to find she will have a hard time in greener pastures. OpportuniKarlo Biglang-Awa paying the bills with high ties to earn a decent income interest rates. may vary depending on the personal finance 4. Look for a business profession that you are in. Still, community abroad. many of our kababayan, after I have seen a lot of OFWs who are able to build working for a lot of years abroad, was not able their wealth outside the country, too. As they to save and invest money to have a comfortable say: “Tell me who your friends are and I will tell retirement once they return to their homeland. you who you are.” On the other hand, most overseas Filipino Being surrounded by business-minded indiworkers also would like to go back home and reviduals can help us to be motivated to take actire here with their loved ones. tions towards our financial goals. The best way If you are a Millennial OFW and thinking of to succeed in our financial future is having acbuilding funds as early as now, we would like to countability partners who can encourage you in share with you the following tips. times like these. A very challenging season and, 1. Save a portion of your income. yet, together we can think of ideas how we can While many OFWs are helping their love ones monetize our skills and create opportunities. to sustain their needs in the Philippines, they 5. Invest in your future. should still allocate a portion of their income Aside from building your emergency funds, as their savings. I have seen stories of retiring investing will be a contributing factor for an OFWs who weren’t able to save a single cenOFW to achieve his or her goals. An investment tavo because they are helping their clan with is a way to build passive income streams. While all their needs. working in our day job, we also let our money Always remember that our goal is to empower work hard for us. our love ones also that they can also earn money One way is to invest in mutual funds. Doto ease the burden of providing alone. If the habit ing a peso-cost averaging method by allocating of savings will be developed early on, it will be an a portion of your income consistently will help advantage for them to prepare for a better future. in increasing your profit. As we always say, tak2. Establish your short-term and longing small steps with consistency will bring us term plans. somewhere in life. As a worker abroad, knowing your plans Aside from mutual fund, one favorite investcan help you in your day-to-day decisions. It’s ment type of OFWs is real estate. Nowadays, even like knowing where you are heading. If we are you’re outside the country you can buy a proptraveling, we need to know the route we will erty online. Because of this pandemic, developtake to arrive to our destination; this is the ers created seamless process for people outside same with our finances. the country to buy properties in the Philippines If our goals are clear to us, we will take small specially condominiums. actions that will bring us towards those goals. Many Pinoys abroad are looking for retireIt could be retiring back here in the Philippines, ment passive income, which can be achieved starting a business after 10 years of working or through rental properties. They just need to make maybe getting married in the next three years. sure that they are acquiring a property that has All of these examples will be relevant for a a potential for rental income. person to take actions that will be a factor in During this pandemic, there are unforeseen achieving a certain goal. events, especially to a lot of OFWs who went 3. Wise use of credit cards. home because of loss of jobs. This is the reason Having a credit card while working abroad why financial planning is important. can be an advantage or disadvantage dependWe are preparing for our future through fiing on the usage. There are emergencies that we nancial stewardship. Maximizing the resources might use this. But on a regular basis, it should that we have, protecting our income and multibe used with precaution and according to certain plying it for future needs. parameters. If we are using our credit card to earn points and avail promos, then it is to our advantage Karlo Biglang-Awa is a registered financial planner of RFP since we are also paying it on time. On the other Philippines. To learn more about personal-financial planning, hand, there are certain stories wherein people are attend the 92nd RFP program in October 2021. To inquire, eusing it excessively in buying luxury items not mail info@rfp.ph or text at 0917-6248110.

Bill giving discount for health workers get lawmakers’ nod

EMBERS of the House Committee on Ways and Means approved on Monday a substitute bill proposing a 20-percent discount for barangay health workers (BHWs). Committee Chairman Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda said the discount sought is higher than the original proposal of the House Committee on Local Government granting a 10-percent discount and a value-added tax (VAT) exemption to health workers; but only for their medical needs. The bill approved by the committee gives discounts other than for spending for health. Salceda said the bill seeks giving discounts to health workers for public transport fares, spending for hotels and restaurants, theaters and cinemas and burial and death care expenses. “This is a wider provision with more benefits, without disturbing the integrity of the VAT system,” the lawmaker said. Salceda noted that members of the House Committee on Local Government concurred with the amendments. The tax-discount proposal is included in the

proposed “Magna Carta for BHWs,” which was approved by the committee Salceda chairs. The lawmaker said that the provision “honors the social obligation that we owe BHWs, most of whom were not compensated for the risks they took during the pandemic and who were not included in the ‘Bayanihan to Recover as One Act.’” According to the lawmaker, Administrative Order 36, which implemented the Special Risk Allowance to health-care workers, only provided benefits “to BHWs assigned to hospitals, laboratories, or medical and quarantine facilities.” Salceda said AO 36 explicitly excluded BHWs “who are not assigned to hospitals, laboratories, or medical and quarantine facilities.” “The AO was extremely limiting. It’s not like the BHWs were not at risk when they were just doing contact-tracing work or serving those who were quarantined at home. That was not our intention in Congress, and we have to correct it somehow,” the gentleman representing the 2nd District of Albay said. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

short-term loan to the national government. This was the fourth time that the NG received support from the Central Bank since 2020. The 91-day T-bills’ average rate inched up to 1.079 percent, a tad higher than the previous auction’s 1.078 percent. Tenders for the security amounted to P17.645 billion, more than thrice the P5-billion offer. Unlike the 91-day T-bills, the 182-day

T-bills fetched a lower average rate at 1.402 percent, down by 0.3 basis points from 1.405 percent previously. Bids submitted for the tenor hit P25.31 billion, equivalent to five times the P5-billion program. As for the 364-day T-bills, the average rate settled at 1.604 percent, dropping by 0.5 basis points from 1.609 percent in the last auction. Tenders submitted for the debt paper stood at

P20.32 billion, more than four times the offer. For this month, the Treasury is set to borrow a total of P250 billion from the local debt market, higher than the P200-billion program in August. Broken down, P175 billion will be raised through auctioning off Treasury bonds while the remaining P75 billion will be generated via the sale of T-bills.

Tuesday, September 14, 2021 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

Art

BusinessMirror

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Arc de Triomphe to be wrapped for posthumous work by Christo CRANES operate at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on August 24, 2021. The L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped project by late artist Christo and Jeanne-Claude will be on view from September 18 to October 3, 2021. AP

❶ EMERALD

Waves by Seb Chua

❷ AN Anita

Magsaysay-Ho print

❶

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Emma Kenney, 22; Dilshad Vadsaria, 36; Kimberly Williams-Paisley, 50; Robert Herjavec, 59.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Stay on track. If you let your emotions interfere with your objective, you will lose time, money and confidence. Put your energy where it counts, and avoid getting into a debate with someone who will never see things your way. ★★

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take over and do your own thing. Change begins with you. Following in someone’s footsteps will not satisfy your needs. Take the initiative and see where it leads. You’ll never know what you can do if you don’t try. ★★★★★

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You are heading in the right direction. Don’t let anyone lead you astray or tempt you with something that will deter you from reaching your objective. Broaden your scope and push yourself until you reach your target. Today is about positive change. ★★★

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Consider what’s being said, and make decisions based on your needs. Anger will not solve a problem, but being rational and making preferences known will allow you to follow a path that beckons you to put your mind at ease. ★★★

Paris in 1958. The artists were known for elaborate, temporary creations that involved blanketing familiar public places with fabric, such as Berlin’s Reichstag and Paris’s Pont Neuf bridge, and creating giant sitespecific installations, such as a series of 7,503 gates in New York City’s Central Park and the 24.5-mile

“Running Fence” in California. Yavachev plans on completing another one of his uncle and aunt’s unfinished projects: a 150-meter-tall (492 feet) pyramid-like mastaba in Abu Dhabi. “We have the blueprints, we just have to do it,” he said. ARNO PEDRAM IN PARIS CONTRIBUTED REPORTING.

and its sister parishes. “SpectaculART 2” will feature fine jewelry, estate, artisan and an assortment of diamonds, pearls and colored stones. The homeware collection will feature European, Asian and locally-sourced pieces ranging from antique, vintage, and contemporary furniture and home décor. This year, the fundraiser will showcase a carefully curated selection of meaningful works created by such esteemed artist as National Artist for Visual Art Carlos “Botong” Francisco, Impy Pilapil, Romeo Tabuena and Anita Magsaysay Ho. Unique pieces by renowned Filipino visual artists Gus Albor, Ramon Diaz, Jojo Guingona, Noli Principe Manalang, Isabel Campa, Ivy Lim and Marivic Rufino will be pooled together in a celebration of Philippine art in the last few decades. Unique prints by Salvador Dali and John Lennon will also be for sale. “SpectaculART 2” also gathers numerous up-and-coming artists to give them an opportunity to reach a wider audience and also to showcase their work. They may just dominate the scene in the years to come. A bid on their work gives a

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Don’t let money slip through your fingers. Generosity will lead to trouble. Slow down; think before you promise the impossible. It’s OK to ponder over requests and to say no when you are not up to what someone asks of you. ★★★★★

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Count your blessings, and choose to be positive. Put your energy where it counts. Bring about changes that will make a difference. Don’t get involved in someone’s negativity or poor decisions. Think for yourself and do your own thing. ★★

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Think outside the box, and choose a plan that helps you overcome negativity brought on by someone who lacks vision. Don’t share your goals until you’ve worked out all the details. Discipline and hard work will pay off. ★★

‘SpectaculART 2’ to be held next month ART lovers and collectors will be thrilled that the Santuario de San Antonio Parish (SSAP) Francisfest will be holding “SpectaculART 2,” an auction of art, jewelry and homeware. Pristine and pre-loved pieces are up for grabs. The proceeds of the auction shall assist in the numerous social services and development ministries of SSAP

By Eugenia Last

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Look for opportunities, not trouble. Refuse to let your emotions take over and lead you in a direction that creates domestic problems. Do your best to put your energy toward making a difference and improving your life and the lives of those dear to you. Less anger, more compassion, and forgiveness will encourage an empowering, meaningful and fulfilling lifestyle. Your numbers are 3, 14, 21, 25, 36, 42, 47.

BY JEFFREY SCHAEFFE� The Associated Press

ARIS—The Arc de Triomphe has seen parades, protests and tourists galore, but never before has the war monument in Paris been wrapped in silver and blue recyclable polypropylene fabric. That’s about to happen this month in a posthumous art installation designed by artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. “Christo has wrapped museums, parliaments as in Germany, but a monument like this? Not really. This is the first time. This is the first monument of this importance and scale that he has done,” Vladimir Yavachev, the late collaborating couple’s nephew, told The Associated Press. Preparations have already started on the Napoleon-era arch, where workers are covering statues to protect them from the wrapping. The idea for L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped, was formed in 1961, when Christo and Jeanne-Claude lived in Paris. Jeanne-Claude died in 2009, and in spite of Christo’s death in May 2020, the project carried on. “He wanted to complete this project. He made us promise him that we will do it,” Yavachev told The Associated Press. It was to be realized last fall, but the Covid-19 pandemic delayed the installation. The €14 million ($16.4 million) project is being self-financed through the sale of Christo’s preparatory studies, drawings, scale models, and other pieces of work, Yavachev said. Visitors to the foot of the Arc de Triomphe during the installation, scheduled for September 18 to October 3, will be able to touch the fabric, and those climbing to the top will step on it when they reach the roof terrace, as intended by the artists. Born in Bulgaria in 1935, Christo Vladimirov Javacheff met Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon, born in Morocco on the exact same day as him, in

Today’s Horoscope

❷

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Peace and love prevail. Approach whatever and whoever comes into your presence with kindness and compassion. You will ward off negativity and encourage support. Don’t take a health risk or give in to someone putting unrealistic demands on you. ★★★★

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Keep your message clear. Refuse to let anyone twist your words or interfere with your plans. Discipline and hard work will lead to rewards. Trust only those who give you the freedom to follow the path that feels most comfortable. ★★★

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Put more time and effort into personal growth, learning and establishing what you want to do next. Refuse to let anyone stand in your way or interfere in your life. Take the road less traveled to discover what’s best for you. ★★★

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Talk to an expert. The information you receive will give insight into what’s possible. Take care of any health or financial issues that arise swiftly, and avoid the risk of future setbacks. Don’t let uncertainty lead to poor decisions. ★★★

heartwarming sense of validation and accomplishment, a ray of positivity and inspiration during these troubled times. The fundraiser kicked off its first edition last year in response to the pandemic and quarantine restrictions. Online viewing begins on

September 25 at www.spectaculartph. com, while a preview of selected items also starts on September 25 in the San Antonio Parish Center by appointment online. The online bidding will be held from October 1 to 3. More information is available via hello@spectaculartph.com.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Follow your heart, put your thoughts in motion and do what’s best for you. A chance to use your strengths to get ahead will unfold. It’s time to accept an opportunity to take on something new and exciting. Trust and believe in yourself. ★★★★ BIRTHDAY BABY: You are tenacious, persuasive and optimistic. You are innovative and consistent.

‘now i see’ BY JEFRREY WECHSLER The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Warm up on a treadmill 4 Most common volcanic rock 10 Obscene writing 14 Gibbon, for one 15 Is compatible (with) 16 “Please, please, please?” 17 Halloween critter 18 Result of an oil shortage at KFC? 20 What may give a burger crunch 22 Toucan’s pride 23 Sends forth 24 Buddhist spiritual leader 26 Certain medical fee 27 Fast-food outlet with excessive expenses? 32 Add on 33 Suburban street sights 34 Shakes, like a tail 35 Jurassic Park creations, informally 36 The ___ of the earth 40 Funny Viking 41 Drive to action 42 Something discussed during an

indoor cycling course? 45 Overcharge 46 Seeks information 47 Word before “coffee” or “stew” 48 Westernmost US territory 51 Dig into? 54 Euclid’s Elements, for example? 57 Grand ___ Opry 58 Dog in Garfield 59 Like Switzerland, topographically 60 Kick oneself for 61 Legendary loch 62 Turn a corner in Monopoly 63 Endangered fish DOWN 1 Vaccinations, informally 2 Multicolored gemstone 3 Be compatible (with) 4 Good buddy, for short 5 Device that a crash test tests 6 Eyelid affliction 7 Where the Mekong flows 8 Join together 9 1987-94 Star Trek series, briefly

10 11 12 13 19 21 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45

Buttery shrimp dish Song featured in Flashdance Cohesiveness Repetitive motions Low-level workers Uses the kiddie pool Cake recipe instruction Pros and ___ Hound’s “hand” Genetic messenger Set straight Hawaiian island near Maui Bound by oath Hamlet, nationality-wise Prepare, as Nova lox Marketplace with many free offerings Necklace on 30-Down Doting attention, briefly Impressive note for a soprano to hit “___ not fair!” “Looks like you’re right” Hypes, as a product Playing “Madden NFL,” perhaps Letter from a teacher?

47 48 49 50 52 53 55 56

“There’s my cue!” Big bash Org. challenged by e-mail Warts and all Hint for Holmes Dog walker’s command Track circuit Corp. leader

Solution to today’s puzzle:

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Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Marco Gallo takes two steps forward Bieber wins artist of the year at star-packed MTV VMAs By Jonathan Landrum Jr. The Associated Press THE MTV VMAs have embraced “Bieber fever.” Justin Bieber won artist of the year and kicked off on Sunday’s ceremony with an energetic performance that featured him rappelling from the ceiling of Barclays Center” and launching into “Stay” with Kid LAROI and his single “Ghost.” The leading nominee heading into Sunday’s show, Bieber also took home the best pop song honor with Giveon for “Peaches.” The VMAs celebrated MTV’s 40th anniversary, mixing moments between early network stars like Cyndi Lauper and show opener Madonna with high-octane performances by newer stars like Olivia Rodrigo, Camila Cabello and Chloe. But much of the evening, so far, belonged to Bieber. Sunday was his first VMAs performance in six years, and he was also competing for other top honors like video of the year for “POPSTAR.” Sporting baggy clothes and a hoodie, Bieber showed his appreciation for the awards being in-person and thanked his wife, Hailey, for supporting him. “As we know, there’s so much going on in the world,” Bieber said during his acceptance speech after winning artist of the year. “We are in unprecedented times with Covid. Music is an amazing outlet to reach people together. We’re all here together.” Opening the show, Madonna told the screaming crowd: “They said we wouldn’t last. But we’re still here.” Moments after Olivia Rodrigo performed her hit “good 4 u,” she collected the night’s first award for her massive hit song “Drivers License.” “This is the most magical year of my life,” said Rodrigo, a first-time nominee. Jennifer Lopez, who three days earlier made her rekindled romance with Ben Affleck official on the red carpet of his new film The Last Duel at the Venice International Film Festival, presented Rodrigo her trophy. Billie Eilish won the fan-voted video for good for her song “Your Power.” In her acceptance speech, she said Alicia Keys kissed her on the cheek before she spoke about the satisfaction of writing the song and women empowerment. “We need to protect our own women at all costs,” said Eilish, while her brother-producer Finneas applauded his sister from his seat. “We need to remember that we all have power. We have to remember not to abuse it.” Lauper, who presented Bieber with his first award, advocated for equal rights for women. “Girls still want to have fun,” said Lauper, known for classic melody “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” “But we also want to have funds, equal pay, control over our bodies, you know, fundamental rights.” Lil Nas X hit the stage with Jack Harlow, then he performed his controversial song “Montero [Call Me by Your Name].” Kacey Musgraves and Shawn Mendes also hit the stage. Olympic gymnastic champion Simone Biles introduced Doja Cat—the show’s host—who went aerial during her performance. With wires holding her up, Doja Cat glided over the crowd and landed onstage as she performed “Been Like This” and “You Right.” Megan Thee Stallion entered the show as the second-leading nominee with six nominations. BTS, Doja Cat, Drake, Giveon, Lil Nas X and Rodrigo each had five nods. The Foo Fighters performed and then accepted the Global Icon Award, an honor handed out for the first time at the VMAs. The award recognizes an artist or band “whose unparalleled career and continued impact and influence has maintained a unique level of global success in music and beyond.” The prestigious award was previously presented at the annual MTV Europe Music Awards. Past recipients include Queen, Eminem and Whitney Houston. The rock band—comprised of Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Pat Smear and Rami Jaffee—performed several of their hits including “Learn to Fly” and “Shame Shame.” It was their first performance at the VMAs since 2007. Eilish presented the Global Icon Award to the group, who thanked MTV veterans from Kurt Loder to Tabitha Soren. “Thank you very much for this award,” Grohl said. “We’ll see you in another 26 years.”

Marco Gallo

talian-Filipino newcomer actor Marco Gallo believes that one’s destiny will unravel by itself when the time is ripe and perfect. It has been five years since the the young Gallo first created some buzz in tinseltown when he was introduced as a housemate in the reality series Pinoy Big Brother, where he stayed for 12 weeks before he was booted out. He was quietly hoping that the exposure will lead to more projects but that wish didn’t happen. He waited for a while but decided to go back to Italy in 2018 to explore pursuing his studies and try out modelling on the side. After just a brief stay, he flew back to the Philippines the following year and signed up with Viva Entertainment. “I have learned that patience is indeed a virtue,” he opened up, adding, “It’s not like that I was in a rush but I wanted to at least feel that I was taking the right steps, and moving in the right direction. Dreaming to become an actor has remained in my core during those years when everything seemed unsure, and there were weeks when I felt like I was in limbo, but I am glad I am a patient person and I know that doors will eventually open for me.” So when his mother studio broke the news that he has been cast opposite controversial star Julia Barretto for the new TV series Di Na Muli for TV5, Gallo was dumbfounded for a few seconds. “The good news did not sink in immediately, but after some time, when I started to get the other details and the script, I knew that it is a big career break unfolding right before my eyes.” Like Barretto, Gallo also started his dreams in ABS-CBN but fate had other plans. “When we started work for the series, I have to admit that I had jitters, but Julia and the rest of the team made me feel at ease, that’s why things progressed smoothly. Come on, Julia is a big star and the other leading man, Marco Gumabao, has also done lead roles in his past projects, so I initially felt intimidated.” The good news is that big breaks seem to be falling

into Gallo’s lap one after another. He was also cast in the Vivamax movie Ang Manananggal na Nahahati ang Puso, which brought him to the mystical island of Siquijor. “My leading lady Aubrey [Caraan, another new Viva contract star] and I were not the original choices for the roles we played in the movie. These were supposed to be for James Reid and Nadine Lustre, so imagine how we felt when we ended up taking over the characters that were written for them.” Gallo added, “I am also very fortunate to have worked again with our director Darryl Yap, who guided me every step of the way in the movie. I had previously worked with him in the movie Gluta, where

Ella Cruz played the lead character.” Yap is the prized, outspoken, brave and current hotshot director of the giant Viva Entertainment empire. Gallo is thankful that he has a lot of work and is even more grateful that his breaks have started to come in during this time of pandemic. “You can never really predict when the big doors will open. I have been waiting for this for a long time now, and I am thankful to everyone who continues to give me these work opportunities. I just hope to continue taking the right steps and moving forward in the right direction” Indeed, the time is ripe and perfect for Marco Gallo. n

HBO ASIA’S ‘ON THE JOB’ FROM PHL WINS IN VENICE Brad Pitt, Ben Affleck, Adam Driver, Joaquin Phoenix...you can now add a Filipino to this list of Volpi Cup winners at the Venice Film Festival. John Arcilla, who plays the character of Sisoy Salas in HBO Asia’s On The Job, won Best Actor at the 78th Venice Film Festival, becoming the first Filipino to win the coveted award. In his acceptance speech, Arcilla said: “We come from different countries with different languages and cultures, and yet I can feel oneness tonight...that you understand me and we understand each other—all because of the arts and cinema. Thank you so much!” The HBO Asia crime thriller from the Philippines (#OTJobHBOGO) premiered exclusively on September 12 on HBO GO. Three episodes of the sixpart original series are now available to stream with new episodes every

Sunday. The long-form theatrical version— On the Job: The Missing 8—was the only title from Asia that was in-competition at the 78th Venice Film Festival. It received a five-minute standing ovation at the event. Inspired by true events, the series centers around crime syndicates that temporarily release contracted prison inmates to carry out political assassinations for those in power, except that the crime syndicates are run by politicians. Hitmen prisoners Tatang (Joel Torre), Daniel (Gerald Anderson), and Roman (Dennis Trillo) are occasionally released from jail to perform assassinations ordered by powerful mysterious clients. Meanwhile, law enforcers Joaquin (Joey Marquez) and Francis (Piolo Pascual), and corrupt newspaper reporter Sisoy (Arcilla) and journalist

JOHN ARCILLA in On The Job.

Arnel (Christopher de Leon) try to uncover the truth behind the killings and disappearances. The series puts a spotlight on the real-world predicament concerning fake news and how easily truth can be manufactured and disseminated to the

public in today’s age of information. On The Job was conceived and directed by Erik Matti, who was in Venice this weekend to accept the award on Arcilla’s behalf. It also stars Dante Rivero (Mayor Pedring Eusebio) and Lotlot de Leon (Weng).

Forbidden love story told in drama mini-series GMA brings the first installment of the drama mini-series Stories From the Heart: Loving Miss Bridgette, which premiered on September 13 in the afternoon block. Stories From the Heart is a unique drama mini-series of unusual love stories reflecting how social media affects the relationship of lovers and the people surrounding them. The drama mini-series begins with Loving Miss Bridgette, which introduces the fresh pairing of fast-rising heartthrob Kelvin Miranda as Marcus Villareal, a selfrighteous Biology student who is bent on pursuing his counselor; and, in her very first GMA series, character actress and the new contract star Beauty Gonzalez as Bridgette de Leon, an old-fashioned guidance counselor who is recently annulled and has a chance encounter with her student that will change both of their lives. Beauty shares her sentiments on her highly-anticipated debut series in the network: “Feeling ko ang tagal ko nang Kapuso kasi sobrang welcoming at bait nilang lahat sa akin. I feel so privileged that there is a good company that trusts and believes in me like GMA. Nakakaganang ibigay ko lahat ng best ko para sa kanila. I feel so happy about the show, the script is so beautiful kaya excited ako every day to go to

Stories From the Heart: Loving Miss Bridgette stars Beauty Gonzalez and Kelvin Miranda

work. Our director really helps us. ’Yung coactors ko, sobrang babait nilang lahat. Everyone really makes me feel at home and comfortable sa work.” Kelvin, in turn, expresses his utmost admiration for Beauty and his gratitude to the network for entrusting him the role: “Sobrang thankful ako na maging leading man niya. Talaga namang dekalibreng aktres si Beauty at kita naman iyon sa iba’t ibang karakter na ginampanan niya. Nakakainspire na everyday nakakatrabaho ko siya at panibagong knowledge sa acting ang natutunan ko. Hindi lang kay Beauty, pati na rin sa iba pang cast members and kay Direk Adolf [Alix, the director of the show].” Also in the cast are Lloyd Samartino, Bing Loyzaga, Polo Ravales, Adrian Alandy, Tart Carlos, Noel Colet, Nikki Co, Pamela Prinster and Shanicka Arganda. Loving Miss Bridgette is under the supervision of the GMA Entertainment Group headed by SVP for entertainment group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, FVP for drama Redgie A. Magno, with James Ryan Manabat as executive producer, with Adolf Alix Jr. directing. It airs weekdays in the afternoon. Viewers abroad can also catch the program via the network’s flagship international channel, GMA Pinoy TV.

B6 Tuesday, September 14, 2021

PLDT and Smart report group’s progress on UNGC commitments

PLDT and Smart President and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio gave a Statement of Continued Support in the company’s first UNGC Communication on Progress report.

LIGNED with their sustainability purpose of connecting and empowering Filipinos everywhere, the Philippines’ largest fully integrated telco provider PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) substantiated the Group’s commitment to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) in its first Communication on Progress (CoP) report. The report documents the two companies’ progress towards incorporating UNGC Principles and the UN Sustainable Goals in the business.

PLDT and Smart made their initial commitment to the UNGC in 2020, and are the only Philippine telco with Participant status under the world’s largest voluntary corporate sustainability initiative. A tier higher than Signatories limited to local engagement, PLDT and Smart’s Participant status allows them to actively engage with the UNGC at the global level. They join over 9,500 companies in over 160 countries which committed to support sustainable business practices in line with the Ten Principles of the UNGC. These Principles, which reflect universal sustainability values, cover human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. “Sustainability is one of our key business fulcrums. Thus, we reaffirm our support of the UNGC’s Ten Principles. We believe that a principles-based approach to sustainability is fundamental in taking a shared responsibility for building a better world,” said Al Panlilio, PLDT & Smart President and CEO. The UNGC developed the Principles to help guide companies in transforming the world we live in. They serve as a blueprint in shaping a global culture which aims to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. PLDT and Smart’s first CoPs describe the companies’ actions to continually improve the integration of the Global Compact and its Principles into the business strategy, culture and daily operations. It also outlined how PLDT and Smart are carrying out their fundamental business responsibilities in the areas of human rights, labor

relations, environmental protection and fighting corruption. PLDT and Smart included in their CoPs the various Covid-19 response efforts undertaken, as well as the Group’s Child Safeguarding Policy, aimed at protecting Filipino children online. The policy is a result of the Group’s continuing partnership with UNICEF and the corresponding implementation of the globally recognized Children's Rights and Business Principles framework. The Group also reported that the concept of sustainability was introduced to the fundamental supply chain requirements of competitive quality, cost, service, and delivery with the incorporation of Sustainability Guidelines in the Vendor Conforme Sheet. The CoP also mentioned the Group’s participation in the UNGC’s Statement from Business Leaders for Renewed Global Cooperation, which is an expression of the companies’ commitment to demonstrate ethical leadership and good governance. “We are in the process of undertaking a mapping of our sustainability targets and actions vis-a-vis the Ten Principles. We are proud of the accomplishments we documented in our first CoP and look forward to reporting continued progress in subsequent reports, underscoring our commitment to the UNGC,” said Melissa Vergel De Dios, head of PLDT’s Corporate Sustainability Office. For a copy of the CoP reports, please visit the sites: https://www. unglobalcompact.org/participation/ report/cop/create-and-submit/ active/454237

Eng Bee Tin, Lee Kum Kee partner to continue celebrating family, memories, and traditions for over a century now

emories are made around the dining table – the delicious food, the easy conversation, and the special moments shared with family. And it is these fond memories and celebrations which give heart to proud traditions that we happily carry over, generation to generation. Eng Bee Tin, the renowned 109-yearold Chinese pastry shop in Binondo, takes great pride in being part of these celebrations and traditions of hundreds of families around the country. “Many loyal patrons have come up to us and shared their stories of how, when they were growing up, Eng Bee Tin was always part of their family feasts,” says Geraldyn. “That really warms our heart knowing that they’ve grown along with us.” Eng Bee Tin is now led by fourthgeneration siblings - Gerik, Gerald, and Geraldyn, who are taking the family legacy to a new chapter of growth. When it comes to culinary innovation, Eng Bee Tin has always been top of mind and is a definite leader in this regard. Aside from introducing the soft, velvety hopia that they’ve become known for, Eng Bee Tin also pioneered other delicious food products and flavors such as Hopia Ube, Hopia Combi (2-in-1 flavor), Mochipia (Hopia with Tikoy at the center), Hopia Custard, and the vast, more exotic variants of each. From their hopias to their dimsum, mooncakes and beyond, they take the familiar flavors of the beloved classics and elevate them– like in their recent collaboration with another legendary,

MOWELFUND AND MARIS PURE CORP. CSR PARTNERSHIP. Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (MOWELFUND) and Maris Pure Corporation, known as manufacturer of Healthy & Pure Purified Water formed a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Partnership to help the movie workers such as cameramen, stuntmen, make-up artists, etc., who have lost their jobs due to challenges brought about the pandemic. Aptly dubbed as MowelCares - A Joy That Overflows, the campaign aims to build and provide sustainable solutions through Social Welfare, Skills Development and Major Livelihood Programs for the members of MowelFund. For every 5-gallon, 350 ml, 500 ml, and 1 Liter of Healthy and Pure Purified Water, a donation goes directly to MowelCares’s programs. Launched on September 8, 2021, via a virtual gathering, it was attended by MowelFund officers, Ms. Boots Anson Roa Rodrigo-Chairman, Res Cortez- President, Julius Topacio- Vice President, Emma Mon AlonDirector for Admin and Finance, Joey Roa, Director for Welfare, Marvin Da Silva - FSG Adviser and Consultant and other members and Maris Pure officers Mike Chanco-President and CEO, Dee Chanco-CSR Director, Grace Sumang- Sales Director, Mel Sumang- Operations Director and RJ De Vera– Creative Director. Register and be a contributor. For more details you can call hotline numbers, (Smart) 0949 8500 875, (Globe) 0956 7981 006, (Landline) 87271915 or 87271961 or email at mowelfund1974@yahoo.com or visit www.mowelfund.com

Fleek introduces the first Intelligent Bluetooth Audio Sunglasses

LEEK makes its way to the technology world with its Intelligent Bluetooth Audio Sunglasses, with its goal of providing easier audio access from your phone. The driving sunglasses will serve as Fleek’s first offering as it makes its debut as the Philippines’ brand new, high-end lifestyle technology company. This state-ofthe-art technology product allows users to call and listen to music with just a Bluetooth connection and a button press away.

Sleek product details and specifications

UPON first look, Fleek’s Intelligent Bluetooth Audio Driving Sunglasses catches attention with their acetate frames that are light and do not press onto the nose. It has an integrated nose pad that feels comfortable and fitting to the form of the nose, alleviating the red indentation usual sunglasses leaves upon being worn for a long time. The glasses’ temple length measures 167 mm, while the left and right eye size measure 55 mm and 53.4 mm, respectively. The bridge, on the other hand, measures 167.8 mm.

Fashion frontier precision technology

century-old food brand, Lee Kum Kee (LKK). Eng Bee Tin partnered with the 133-year-old Hong Kong food giant to create an amazing special edition mooncake that explodes with exciting flavor. This new savory treat, called the XO Floss Mooncake, puts a twist to the classic, bringing an unexpected (but delightful!) flavor profile to the traditional delicacy. This indulgent treat uses LKK’s Original XO Sauce, which is the secret ingredient that brings out the wonderful umami and sweet and savory flavors of this pastry. It perfectly highlights the richness of the XO Sauce mixed with floss filling, while lending to its smooth and velvety texture. The premium mooncake is also wrapped in a delicate and smooth crust which gives it that perfect contrast of texture. “It’s a proud tradition in the Eng Bee Tin family business to create delicacies that elevate flavors and which embody that spirit of innovation. My father, Gerry, first changed the game decades ago when he swapped the thick, hard crusts of our hopia with the thinner, buttery wrap that it’s known for today. It changed everything for us. Now, continuing that legacy, my siblings and I are introducing exciting, new flavors, combos, and culinary creations

that we have become known for!” says Gerik, Operations Head. Over the years, Eng Bee Tin has been able to roll out new products so successfully, because while they focus on perfecting taste and texture, “We never forget to pay respect to the culinary and cultural heritage that these food products are based on,” says Gerik. For your upcoming celebrations and gatherings, make it more memorable with a sweet treat from Eng Bee Tin. Order the limited edition Eng Bee Tin XO Floss Mooncake, now available at Eng Bee Tin Stores nationwide, including their newest branch at 662 Banawe Street, Barangay Sienna, Quezon City. Supplies are limited so customers are encouraged to place orders beforehand. Other available mooncake varieties include White Lotus, White Empress, Snow Rose, Black Mongo, White Mongo, Choco Banana, Durian, Mango Jam, Ube Cheese, Ube, Pandan, and Mixed Nuts. Order the Eng Bee Tin Limited Edition XO Floss Mooncake on Shopee via this link https://ongp.in/xofloss or call 8288-88-88 local 120 for pre-orders or inquiries. You may also order via www. ubedelivery.com for Next Day Delivery within Metro Manila.

THE driving sunglasses wows with a precise design with built-in touch control, containing many functions on the glasses’ temples. The functions include two power buttons on the left and right upper temples, a nylon lens with high hardness, strong scraping resistance that has a black glare or UVA/UVB irradiation. Also, when you charge it, you can insert the charger into its magnetic charging contact on the left and right temple, which easily connects and charges the glasses’ battery. Dual loudspeakers are placed inside the glasses, giving great oriented sound emission while maintaining privacy.

Enjoy quality sound and connection with Bluetooth 5.0

THE sunglasses comes with the latest Bluetooth 5.0. Take a listen or a call with

crystal clear audio and stable connections to your phone, providing you with zero interruptions and 100% perceptible sounds.

Take calls and listen to music with just a click

UPON connecting the Intelligent Bluetooth Audio Driving Sunglasses through your phone via Bluetooth, you can conveniently answer an incoming call with just one click. The glasses have power buttons on both the left and right temple which you can either click once to answer your call. For music, once you play your favorite song on your phone, you can efficiently pause it with one click and play the next song.

Be sensible of your surroundings with open ear audio

THE glasses do not block your ear, giving you sound from the dual loudspeakers implanted inside its temples, which makes you conscious of outside noise. At the same time, you can focus on your calls or blast your favorite song. Do workouts and water activities worryfree with its water and sweat-resistance quality. With a waterproof rating of IP67, you can exercise and do water activities while wearing FleekPH’s sunglasses as it is resistant to professional level water and sweat. With a built-in large-capacity dual battery in tow (220mAh), Fleek’s Intelligent Bluetooth Audio Driving Sunglasses can endure a total of 7 days on standby after being fully charged for only 2 hours. Overall, you can do 6 hours of continuous phone calls and have 4 hours of continuous music per day once it has been charged in full. Armed with a glare resistance of UV380 UV400 and a coating lens that blocks glare and strong light, the glasses effectively protect the eyes and represent colors effectively, especially when you are outdoors. For inquiries, email us at FleekPhilippines@gmail.com, info@fleek.ph or call us at (0977) 841- 6456 or (0999) 2277141

ARTIST & MISSIONARY KRISTINE LIM VISITS AND PRAYS FOR THE PRESIDENT. Artist Kristine Lim's artworks are now officially part of the National Archives of the Philippines and the Presidential Museum and Library of the Malacañan Palace. The “Artist on a Mission” was commissioned by a group of supporters of the Dutertes to paint portraits of the President and Senator Bong Go. The group is believers in the administration's initiatives, campaigns, programs, and leadership. The artworks were given to express the group's gratitude to the two leaders for all that they do, especially leading the country during these trying times. Lim, being not just an artist but also a missionary, took the opportunity to pray over the president and the senator.

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

The World BusinessMirror

North Korea tests new cruise missiles that can hit Japan

orth Korea said it succ e s s f u l l y t e s t - f i re d a new model of long-range cruise missile this weekend, in the latest sign that the regime is trying to bolster its capability for nuclear strikes against Japan and South Korea. The missiles flew in “pattern-8 flight orbits” for more than two hours on Saturday and Sunday, covering some 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) over land and waters off North Korea before hitting targets, the official Korea Central News Agency said Monday. That range would be sufficient to strike most of Japan, and the KCNA report called the new missile a “strategic weapon of great significance.” The tests, if confirmed, would be North Korea’s first known missile launches since firing off two short-range ballistic missiles in March. They were announced as US President Joe Biden’s nuclear envoy, Sung Kim, heads to Asia for talks with counterparts from Japan and South Korea aimed at bringing Pyongyang back to stalled disarmament talks. The United Nations nuclear watchdog said last month that the regime had from around July resumed plutonium-producing operations at its Yongbyon nuclear facility. North Korea also staged its first military parade since Biden became president last week, with Kim presiding over an event with scaled down displays of weaponry and no missiles. Jeffrey Lewis, the director of the East Asia nonproliferation program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, said cruise missiles’ ability to fly below the radar and evade defense systems fits with Kim’s goal of deterring a US-led attack. “North Korea’s war plan is to preemptively strike US forces in South Korea and Japan if an invasion appears imminent,” Lewis said. “Cruise missiles offer significant advantages in terms of surprise, penetration of defenses and accuracy.” There has been no confirmation of the details offered by North Korea. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it was analyzing the reports in cooperation with US intelligence. The US Indo-Pacific Command said: “We are aware of reports of DPRK cruise missile launches. We will continue to monitor the situation and are consulting closely with our allies and partners,” referring to North Korea by its formal name. Pyongyang has touted efforts to build up its tactical strike capability, with leader Kim Jong Un telling a top ruling party meeting before Biden came to office in January

that he was putting North Korea on a path to develop more advanced nuclear technologies and missiles. The plan included making smaller and lighter nuclear weapons and suggested a sweeping modernization of the country’s nuclear and conventional forces. North Korea’s description of the cruise missile as a “strategic weapon” implies nuclear capability, said Daniel Pinkston, an international relations lecturer at Troy University in Seoul and a former Korean linguist with the US Air Force. “With a range of 1,500 km, it can strike all of Japan including the US military bases on Okinawa, which certainly enhances Pyongyang’s ability to deter outside intervention for certain contingencies on the Korean Peninsula,” Pinkston said. While the US and its allies have systems to shoot down missiles, the new weapon could erode their ability to respond fast enough. Under Biden, Kim has refrained from engaging in the types of provocations like the nuclear tests and long-range-missile launches when Barack Obama and Donald Trump began their presidential terms. North Korea is barred from launching ballistic missiles under United Nations resolutions, but doesn’t have the same restrictions on its cruise-missile program. “The purpose of this system may be to further stress South Korean and Japanese missiledefense capabilities,” said Ankit Panda, the Stanton senior fellow in the nuclear policy program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He noted how cruise missiles present a different set of detection and interception challenges from their ballistic counterparts. North Korea showed off the new missiles in October 2020 during a military parade, Panda said, adding: “This missile is new, but its testing is unsurprising.” Kim is struggling with an economy that has only gotten smaller since he took power about a decade ago in large part from sanctions to punish him for tests of nuclear weapons and missiles to deliver warheads. The North Korean leader has so far shown no interest in sitting down with the Biden administration, which has said it’s open for discussions and indicated it could offer economic incentives in exchange for disarmament steps. “It’s North Korea’s way of yet again reminding us that pandemic and all notwithstanding, the regime will continue to hold on to its weapons capabilities for provocation and coercive purposes,” said Soo Kim, a Rand Corp. policy analyst who previously worked at the Central Intelligence Agency. Bloomberg News

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

China faces new Covid outbreak in Fujian caused by Delta variant

hina is experiencing another Covid-19 outbreak caused by the Delta variant, with dozens of infections detected in the southeastern province of Fujian less than a month after the nation’s last flare-up was contained. The cluster was detected thanks to routine testing in local schools, where two students tested positive on Friday. Their father, who returned from Singapore in early August, was also found to have been infected. The man did three weeks of quarantine and took 10 tests with no signs of infection before returning to the community, underscoring how difficult it can be to identify every case. China’s so-called Covid Zero policy relies on aggressive testing and contact tracing. Key developments:

Auckland lockdown extended

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern extended a strict lockdown in the largest city Auckland as an outbreak of the Delta variant proves difficult to vanquish. Auckland will remain at Alert Level 4, the strictest setting, for at least another week while the rest of the country, which exited lockdown last week, will remain at Level 2, Ardern said. She is persisting with an elimination strategy that has served New Zealand well to date, but numbers have picked up in recent days, with 33 new cases reported on Monday.

Delta stabilizes in Sydney

The Delta-strain outbreak centered in Sydney is showing signs of peaking as New South Wales state begins easing some restrictions and remains on track to inoculate more than 70 percent of its adult population by mid-next month. The state recorded seven deaths and 1,257 new infections overnight, pushing its seven-day moving average of daily cases to the lowest since Wednesday, according

to Bloomberg calculations. When 70 percent of the adult population is inoculated, NSW authorities plan to reopen the state more fully.

Tourist opening in Vietnam

Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island will be the country’s first tourist destination reopened to fully-vaccinated foreign visitors beginning in November, according to the government web site, which cited the tourism administration. Foreign travelers will be required to have received their second vaccine shot at least 14 days before traveling to the island in the southern province of Kien Giang and no more than 12 months ahead of arrival. This comes even as Ho Chi Minh City will extend its Covid-19 lockdown for most areas through the end of September as officials work to roll out green cards for vaccinated residents that will allow them more movement freedoms, Vietnam Television reported on its web site.

Cases drop in Thailand

Thailand reported 12,583 new Covid-19 cases, the lowest one-day tally since July 20, according to government data on Monday. The Southeast Asian nation reported 132 deaths in the past 24 hours, the lowest daily fatalities since July 30. The lower tally comes as Thailand keeps strict containment measures in 29 provinces considered as virus hot spots at least until the end of September to prevent a spike in infections.

West Virginia hot spot

West Virginia reported more than 2,200 new cases on Sunday, as the state endures its worst outbreak of the pandemic. As cases begin to

level off in hot spots like Florida and Missouri, West Virginia now has one of the worst per capita outbreaks in the US, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with intensive-care cases breaking pandemic records and hospitalizations almost even with previous highs. The outbreak, driven by the Delta variant, is expected to get worse. “The weather is going to get bad, and absolutely we’re going to be overrun in our hospitals, and there are going to be decisions that have to be made on who is going to live and who is going to die,” Governor Jim Justice said at a press briefing on Friday, the Charleston Gazette-Mail reported. “It’ll be terrible beyond belief.” T he R e pu bl ic a n go ve r nor strongly urged people to get vaccinated, though he added that he opposes vaccination mandates.

South Africa eases restrictions

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa eased coronavirus lockdown restrictions in a bid to revive an economy reeling from the effects of the pandemic and a week of deadly riots. The move to virus alert level 2 from level 3 comes as Covid-19 infections drop and will allow for greater activity in an economy seen contracting in the third quarter because of the unrest.

Europe a vaccine leader, Breton says

Europe has emerged as the biggest vaccine-producing continent in the world and makes enough doses in less than a month to administer third shots to its population, EU Commissioner Thierry Breton said. Europe “is the world’s pharmacy,” he said Sunday in an interview on CNews. The region and the US need to do more to get vaccines to Africa, he said, in part because of the importance of heading off new viral variants. Breton cited European initiatives to help Senegal, South Africa and Rwanda to manufacture vaccines. The fight against emerging Covid-19 variants is crucial, he said.

Pfizer for kids eyed by Halloween

Scott Gottlieb, a board member of the Pfizer Inc. and the former

head of the Food and Drug Administration, said Covid-19 vaccines for kids could arrive as soon as Halloween this year. Pfizer has said it will have data on Covid-19 vaccines for children by the end of September, and the FDA will take “weeks, not months,” to evaluate the data and make a decision, he said on CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday. “In a best-case scenario, given that timeline they’ve just laid out, you could potentially have a vaccine available to children age five to 11 by Halloween,” Gottlieb said. Parents should consult with pediatrician to decide the number of doses and dosage for vaccinating their kids, he added.

Murthy signal on global vaccine supply

President Joe Biden will announce his next steps to boost the global vaccine supply before this year’s United Nations General Assembly begins, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said. Biden is weighing a multilateral meeting ahead of the UN leaders’ sessions aimed at vaccine supply, and has said he will announce new vaccine measures this month. Murthy told CNN on Sunday that the announcement will precede the UN sessions. “The president will be making announcements ahead of the UN General Assembly about additional measures that we’re taking to help vaccinate the world,” Murthy said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” The session at which world leaders address the UN begins on September 21. Biden said on Thursday that he’d make the announcement, though hasn’t yet signaled what it will be.

Israel prepping for fourth dose

Israel is making preparations to ensure it has sufficient vaccine supply in case a fourth round of Covid-19 shots is needed, the country’s top health official said on Sunday. “We don’t know when it will happen; I hope very much that it won’t be within six months, like this time, and that the third dose will last for longer,” Health Ministry Director General Nachman Ash said in an inter view with R adio 103FM. Bloomberg News

Firefighters advance on blaze that shut California highway China’s FM Wang offers aid,

A S TA IC , C a l i f.— F i r e f i g ht e r s w e re m a k i n g prog ress on a w i ldf ire that jumped across a Southern California freeway and spread across dry hillsides while a new blaze forced residents of a Northern California communit y to evacuate. The fire broke out Saturday afternoon near Castaic in northern Los Angeles County. Pushed by 10-15mph (16-24 kph) winds, the blaze chewed through tinderdry brush and jumped across the busy freeway, spread across more than a half of a square mile. The California Highway Patrol closed a stretch of the interstate for several hours as air tankers dropped bright-orange retardant on the f lames. A large f lareup sent heavy smoke drifting toward freeway lanes Sunday afternoon, the CHP reported. Two firefighters were taken to the hospital to treat burn injuries, said Andrew Mitchell, a spokesman for the Angeles National Forest. Officials said the fire was

In this aerial photo released by the Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Operations traffic passes the Route fire, a brush wildfire off Interstate 5 north of Castaic, California on September 11, 2021. Los Angeles County Fire Air Operations via AP

a b out 6 3 p e rce nt cont a i ne d Sunday, adding that firefighters made progress overnight with the help of water-dropping aircraft and an aggressive ground attack, Mitchell said. He said crews would take advantage of the beginning of a cooling trend Sunday to build containment lines. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Meanwhile, a fire that erupt-

ed Sunday afternoon prompted Mendocino County authorities to evacuate parts of Calpella, a community on the Russian River about 6 miles (10 kilometers) north of Ukiah. Video footage posted on Twitter shows the fire pushing in the direction of Lake Mendocino. Further north, residents of a mountain town devastated by the huge Caldor Fire south of Lake Tahoe will be allowed back

Sunday to inspect the damage. Most of Grizzly Flat’s homes, as well as the school, post office, church and fire station were destroyed in the first days of the month-old fire. Evacuation orders were also lifted for homes along State Route 50 as containment of the 342-square-mile (886 square kilometer) wildfire increased to 65 percent. President Joe Biden issued a disaster declaration late Sunday for El Dorado County in an effort to provide federal funding to state, tribal and eligible local governments, plus certain private nonprofit organizations that have been affected by damage from the Caldor Fire. Firef ighters were d iver ted from battling the blaze to fight mu ltiple over night l ightning fires when thunderstorms swept across the state Thursday night into Friday. T he thunderstorms dropped light rain to slightly dampen t he d roug ht - st r ic ken nor t h , fire officials said. AP

friendship on Cambodia visit

HNOM PENH, Cambodia— Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Sunday that China has agreed to provide the Southeast Asian nation with grant aid of 1.75 billion yuan ($272 million), announcing the assistance during a visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Wang met with Hun Sen and other officials for bilateral talks on combating Covid-19, trade and investment, education and security issues. Cambodia’s foreign ministr y said earlier that Wa ng ’s meet i ngs on Su nd ay and Monday also would include discussions of regional and inter nat iona l issues of sha red interest. China is Cambodia’s biggest investor and closest political partner whose assistance largely underpins the Southeast Asian nation’s economy. Hun Sen did not detail what the aid from Beijing would be used for. Hun Sen spoke on a live television broadcast in which he praised China for its aid at a handover ceremony for a new 60,000 -person capacity stadi-

um built on the outskirts of the capital, Phnom Penh. The Chinese government provided the $160 -million funding for the project, Cambodia’s state news agency AKP reported Tourism Minister Thong Khon as saying. “Before, we could not imagine that Cambodia would have such a large stadium here, but China helps make it happen for us,” AKP quoted Hun Sen saying at the ceremony. He called the stadium “the fruit of the ironclad Cambodian-Chinese friendship.” Speaking to the press after meeting separately with Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, Wang made a similar point, saying, “Let Chinese-Cambodian friendship be steadier than iron and stronger than steel.” Hun Sen pointed out other assistance from China for the construction of more than 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) of roads and seven big bridges across the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac rivers. He noted as well that vaccines sold and donated by China had helped Cambodia battle the pandemic. AP

Sports

OBIENA FOURTH IN BERLIN MEET

RNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA ended the outdoor season with a fourth-place finish at the ISTAF Berlin Pole Vault Tournament on Monday at the historic Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany. After shattering the 28-year-old Asian pole vault record on Sunday, the 25-year-old Obiena jumped 5.81 meters but couldn’t make the podium after failing to clear 5.91 meters. Americans Sam Kendricks, Christopher Nilsen and KC Lightfoot booked a 1-2-3 finish. The two-time world champion Kendricks needed just one attempt to win the gold at 5.91 meters. Nilsen also cleared 5.91 meters on his second try to settle for the silver. Lightfoot also made 5.81 meters but got the bronze over Obiena after the countback. Obiena cleared 5.93 meters at the Golden Roof Challenge in Austria on Sunday to set a new Asian record. He erased the previous continental record of 5.92 meters Kazakhstan’s Igor Potapovich set in Dijon, France, in June 13, 1992. The Tokyo Olympian Obiena, winner of 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold, attempted thrice to clear 5.81 meters. The Berlin tournament was Obiena’s sixth and last after the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games where he finished 11th among 12 finalists with a 5.70-meter effort. Josef Ramos

Meralco wanting to get power back

By Josef Ramos

ERALCO is hoping to return to action this week after being forced to take a rest following issues concerning health and safety protocols that are strictly being implemented in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. The Bolts last played on September 3, losing to TNT, 76-91, at the Don Honorio Ventura State University gym in Bacolor, Pampanga. But a breach in protocols—which could either be a positive Covid-19 test or a violation of closed-circuit rules—forced them to exile. “We just returned to practice three days ago and we’re getting back in shape,” Meralco Head Coach Norman Black told BusinessMirror on Monday. “We’re hoping everybody will be healthy.” Everyone on the Bolts bench were again tested for the virus on Monday morning and Black is hoping no one yields a positive result. It’s not the league’s policy, however, to divulge information on what particular health and safety rule a team breached. Meralco sits at second place with a 5-2 win-loss record and are a victory shy of joining TNT KaTropa (8-1), Magnolia (6-3) and Rain or Shine (64) in the quarterfinals. The Bolts still have to play Terrafirma (3-6), Blackwater (0-9), NLEX (4-5) and defending champion Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (3-5). Black stressed that they couldn’t take any team for granted at this stage of the conference. “Ginebra is obviously Ginebra. They dropped a couple of games lately, but we know how talented they are with a good coach [Tim Cone],” he said. “They’re always a tough game for us mainly because of their size and their talent.” “NLEX is playing well, that’s going to be tough, while Terrafirma won three games in a row before it dropped two games in a row, and that’s not going to be easy,” he said. “Blackwater might be looking for a first win so we can’t take anybody for granted at this point.”

Tokyo Olympians products of PSC Batang Pinoy, PNG programs

BusinessMirror

| Tuesday, September 14, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

DJOKOVIC ‘RELIEVED’ DESPITE LOSS NEEDING one more victory—at the US Open final against Daniil Medvedev, to complete a season sweep of major titles and to claim the record 21st of his career, Novak Djokovic could not come through. AP

EW YORK—A game from the end of his bid for what would have been the first calendar-year Grand Slam in men’s tennis since 1969, Novak Djokovic covered his face with a towel, hiding his tears during a changeover. For 27 Grand Slam matches in 2021, on hard courts, clay courts and grass, Djokovic could not be deterred, could not be beaten. Needing one more victory, in the US Open final Sunday against Daniil Medvedev, to complete a season sweep of major titles and to claim the record 21st of his career, Djokovic could not come through. Outplayed by someone using a similar style to his own, Djokovic came up just short of those two historic milestones, losing 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to first-time major champion Medvedev at Arthur Ashe Stadium. What was in Djokovic’s thoughts as he sat there on the sideline, knowing full well that his quest was moments from its conclusion? “Relief. I was glad it was over, because the buildup for this tournament, and everything that

mentally, emotionally, I had to deal with throughout the tournament in the last couple of weeks, was just a lot. It was a lot to handle,” Djokovic said at his news conference. “I was just glad that, finally, the run is over. At the same time, I felt sadness, disappointment—and also gratitude for the crowd and for that special moment that they’ve created for me on the court.” Until Sunday, the No. 1-ranked Djokovic had been sublime at the sport’s four most important tournaments, enduring the burdens of expectations and pressure over the past seven months and, in New York, the past fortnight. He won the Australian Open in February, beating Medvedev in the final in straight sets, the French Open in June and Wimbledon in July, pulling even with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer at 20 Grand Slam titles, the most for a man in the history of a sport that dates to the 1800s.

The last man to complete a true Grand Slam by going 4 for 4 at the majors in a single season remains Rod Laver, who did it twice—in 1962 and 1969—and was in the stands Sunday. The last woman to accomplish the feat was Steffi Graf in 1988. Instead, Djokovic joins Jack Crawford in 1933 and Lew Hoad in 1956 as men who won a year’s first trio of Grand Slam tournaments and made it all the way to the US Open final before losing. “I do feel sorry for Novak, because I cannot imagine what he feels,” said Medvedev, a 25-yearold from Russia who had been 0-2 in major finals. “Knowing that I managed to stop him, it definitely makes it sweeter, and brings me confidence for what is to come.”

Djokovic, a 34-year-old from Serbia, simply was far from his best on this particular day. “Just energy-wise, I felt slow,” said Djokovic, who could not create the kind of comeback he had in each of his previous four matches—and six others in Grand Slam action this year—when he dropped the opening set. “I know I could have, and should have, done better,” he said. Djokovic made plenty of mistakes, 38 unforced errors in all. He wasn’t able to convert a break chance until it was too little, too late, going just 1 for 6. He showed frustration, too, destroying his racket by pounding it three times against the court after one point, drawing boos from the crowd of 25,703 and a code violation from chair umpire Damien Dumusois. A lot of Djokovic’s issues also had to do with the No. 2-ranked Medvedev, who used his 6-foot-6 frame to chase down everything and respond with seemingly effortless groundstrokes—much the way Djokovic wears down foes—and delivered pinpoint serving. “He was amazing. Just congratulate him, full credit from his mentality, his approach, his game, everything,” Djokovic said. “He absolutely was the better player and deserved to win, no doubt about it.” Medvedev won 20 of his first 23 service points, establishing a pattern. He finished with 16 aces and 38 winners in all, 11 more than Djokovic. And Medvedev employed a strategy his coach, Gilles Cervara, described as hitting more balls down the middle of the court, rather than trying to find angles that would Djokovic to pick up balls on the run. AP

US Open champ Raducanu shows poise at just 18

EW YORK—Emma Raducanu sat on her sideline chair at Arthur Ashe Stadium with her left knee, in her words, “gushing with blood.” OK, maybe a bit of hyperbole there. Still, the 18-year-old from Britain had just hurt herself on a fall behind the baseline at a most inopportune moment: serving for the US Open championship in only the second Grand Slam tournament of her nascent career. When play resumed after a trainer cleaned and bandaged Raducanu’s cut, she was about to face a break point in Saturday’s final against 19-year-old Filipino-Canadian Leylah Fernandez. This was after Raducanu already had wasted two match points in the previous game. Could have been a time to lose her focus, lose her way. To be overwhelmed by it all.

Nothing fishy with Mardy FOR the past two weekends, I’ve watched three of Untold’s Netflix documentaries, the first one, Untold: Malice at The Palace then came Untold: Deal with The Devil then last weekend was, Untold: Breaking Point, which was on former world No. 1 Mardy Fish of the US and how he dealt with mental health issue which was severe anxiety disorder. Fish tells it as it is and he doesn’t hold back neither does his family, his wife Stacey and his close friend, former world No. 1 and 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick. The documentary tells about Mardy’s journey from his

Instead, this is what Raducanu’s thought process was during that delay, a mindset that bodes well for the out-of-nowhere title winner at Flushing Meadows: “I guess I just went over and was really trying to think what my patterns of play were going to be, what I was going to try to execute. Going out there facing a break point after a two-, threeminute disruption isn’t easy. I think I managed for sure to really pull off the clutch plays when I needed to.” Just as she did throughout her impressive trip to New York. Her 6-4, 6-3 victory over Fernandez—who had been playing well enough to beat defending champion Naomi Osaka and three other seeded women over the past two weeks—made Raducanu a star. It also made her the first player in the professional era, which began

days at Saddlebrook Academy, which, according to its web site, Saddlebrook.com “The combination of tranquility, privacy and exclusivity on property coupled with the energy of the world’s top players training to reach their goals of ATP [Association of Tennis Professionals] and WTA [Women’s Tennis Association] success has made Saddlebrook a historic and legendary training ground. “In fact, guests have enjoyed watching some of the world’s best players during their training at Saddlebrook, including the likes of Jim Courier, Pete Sampras, Jennifer Capriati, Martina Hingis, James Blake, [Mardy] Fish, Andy Roddick, Jack Sock, Bob and Mike Bryan, Alexander Zverev, Mischa Zverev and John Isner,” until capping off his career playing doubles with buddy Andy Roddick. As Roddick retires after playing in his last US Open, everything came to a head for Fish when he decided not to push through with his fourth round match at the 2012 US Open against Roger Federer. The part of the documentary where Fish is curled up at home in a dark place makes you feel you’re right there with him like a ghost. You can see him but he can’t see you. He was seeing a child psychologist every week for seven days. He just kept battling and battling as if coming back from being down two sets to none in a five-setter in a Grand Slam final. I think he was on his way to recovery when he started playing doubles with Roddick. Fish came out with his

in 1968, to go from the qualifying rounds at a major to the person clutching the trophy at the end. And the youngest female champion at a Grand Slam tournament since Maria Sharapova was 17 in 2004. That doesn’t necessarily mean, of course, that Raducanu is destined to accumulate multiple major titles and climb to No. 1 in the Women’s Tennis Association rankings, the way Sharapova did. There’s a long way to go for both of those achievements, although Raducanu will rise to No. 23 on Monday after beginning the season at No. 345 and the US Open at No. 150. Still, there is no denying the shotmaking and the poise that allowed Raducanu to win 10 consecutive straightset matches, three in qualifying, seven in the main draw. She uses an attacking

HE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has again proven the effectiveness of its grassroots programs after most of its prodigies made history in the Tokyo Olympics. Hidilyn Diaz, the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist, is a proud product of the Batang Pinoy (BP) and Philippine National Games (PNG)—two youth programs that honed the weightlifting superstar and helped her become an Olympic champion under the management of the PSC. “These competitions and programs helped a lot in my training. They give awareness.” Diaz told a previous interview with the PSC Public Communications Group. “The Olympics are the dream of every athlete, but with it comes a big responsibility,” Diaz, who clinched silver at Rio 2016, said, adding “the responsibility of becoming an inspiration for the youth.” Tokyo Olympics boxing silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, and bronze medalist Eumir Marcial are also products of the PSC’s grassroots programs. They went through the PNG and BP regional meets before competing and winning on the world stage. All four athletes delivered the best-ever Olympic finish for the country with one gold, two silvers and one bronze, thus surpassing the 1932 Los Angeles Games haul of three bronze medals. “The Filipino youth will go a long way if we continue investing in our grassroots,” PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez said. “Taking care of Hidilyn Diaz since her first Olympic campaign [Beijing 2008] shows that developing athletes should be from the ground up.” Former world champion Carlos Edriel Yulo, weightlifting national record-holder Elreen Ando, taekwondo jin Kurt Barbosa and rower Cris Nievarez—who made their Olympic debut in Tokyo— were also discovered through the PSC’s youth programs. “The achievement of these young athletes has affirmed the vital role of strengthening grassroots sports alongside elite sports,” Ramirez said. “Working in unity as one nation will truly lead us to a more promising and brighter future for Philippine sports.” baseline style, built on speed and anticipation, helped by a superb

EMMA RADUCANU is a tennis sensation at 18. AP

vulnerability, acknowledging to the world that I’m not okay and I need to step back. At the time of Roddick and Fish, according to Graeme Tuckett of i.stuff.com.NZ, “American tennis, in those years, was coming off the back of two decade-run in which Americans had near-dominated the sport. Fish and Roddick’s generation were expected to carry on the grand tradition of at least one American featuring in all of the finals that mattered.” The article continues, “Like all sports, tennis attracts the driven and the perfectionists, but it also pits friend against friend in a winner-takes-all environment. In a team sport, or most track and field, if you don’t win, you have plenty of people around you to share your defeat, but in tennis, you die alone. Even among professional sports, tennis is notoriously tough on its players’ mental health.” These days, Fish and his wife Stacey live in Los Angeles and are blessed with two young children. Would he encourage his children to take up tennis? I don’t know, but I can imagine he’ll probably support his kids whichever path they choose. Fish established the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation (MFCF) which uses health and fitness programs to teach the same important lesson Tom taught Mardy all those years ago when Mardy picked up that first racquet—that every child has potential for greatness. Mardy and Tom are honored to celebrate their accomplishments by helping

backhand and a topspin-heavy forehand that produced downthe-line winners to close the first set and the break that put her up 4-2 in the second against Fernandez. Also propitious for Raducanu: the way she handled what happened at Wimbledon in her Grand Slam debut just a few months ago. AP

children discover the greatness in themselves. You can help Tom honor Mardy by pledging your support to Tom’s NYC Marathon run. In doing so, you help Mardy and Tom make important and lasting differences in the lives of others. Discover your own potential to be great by helping another child discover their own. Visit mffkids.org to learn more. No donation is too small. The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation works to provide children access to after-school fitness, nutritional and enrichment programs to prepare them for healthy, productive and successful lives. The MFCF kept open the doors of Pelican Island Elementary School in the fall of 2007 providing several enrichment and tennis programs. These programs provided a safe environment for children to go and participate in such activities as music, dance, art and sports. The foundation has since grown to 15 elementary schools and four middle schools currently serving more than 2,500 children in K-8th Grade. By seeing a psychologist, Fish knew the value of selfcare and self-love. By acknowledging his weakness and vulnerability, Fish showed strength and character. I think sports academies should reevaluate the part where they teach young athletes not to show weakness because there is strength in vulnerability. It’s okay not to be okay.