BusinessMirror September 21, 2021 by BusinessMirror

Senate ratifies bicam report on RTL bill By Butch Fernandez

@butchfBM

HE Senate ratified on Monday a bicameral conference committee report endorsing amendments to the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, seeking to lower the capitalization requirement for foreign retailers from $2.5 million to $500,000 or from P125 million to P25 million. Passing the remedial legislation for the 1991 Act, said Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, was intended to attract more foreign direct investments into the country, “thereby fostering competition, lowering market prices, and creating more local jobs.”

“While we gladly welcome foreign investors, we must always prioritize the interests of our local business sector, particularly our MSMEs who make up 99 percent of our corporate taxpayers.”—Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri

As one of its principal authors, Zubiri had batted for keeping the capitalization level at P25 million, against the House version’s much lower proposal of P10 million. “We did this to protect our micro, small, and medium enterprises,” Zubiri explained. “Because while we gladly welcome foreign investors,” he added, “we must always prioritize the interests of our local business sector, particularly our MSMEs who make up 99 percent of our corporate taxpayers. Lalo na ngayong patuloy pa rin and pandemya at marami pa sa kanila ang hindi nakaka-recover mula dito [Especially now that the pandemic still rages and many of them have not recovered].” Zubiri affirmed the ratified bicameral conference report also mandates

a per-store amount requirement of P10 million for foreign retailers with more than one physical store. This is seen to prevent foreign retailers from breaking up their investment to create smaller shops that will compete with MSMEs. “We really had to find a balance bet ween attracting foreig n investors and also protecting our local sectors,” Zubiri added. “And overall I think we have hit a good compromise. I think this is a landmark bill that will do wonders for our economy, particularly as we recover from the pandemic. I am especially hopeful about all the employment opportunities that this will open up for our people,” the Majority Leader added.

GO SLOW ON UTILITY TAG IN PSA, SENATORS TOLD

Tuesday, September 21, 2021 Vol. 16 No. 342

P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 20 pages |

House OKs bill creating Boracay devt agency

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

@Tyronepiad

OREIGN business groups have cautioned against placing foreign ownership restrictions on the services sector, particularly citing transportation and telecommunication, in order to liberalize the economy.

In a joint statement on Monday, several foreign chambers welcomed the Senate’s bill amending the Public Services Act (PSA), which is still under deliberation. The business groups warned the Senate about tagging many sectors as a public utility because these will be subject to 40-percent foreign equity restrictions. “Any moves to retain 60-40 foreign equity restrictions, specifically for the major transportation and telecommunications sectors, and add legislative franchise requirements where none existed, will thwart the intention of the bill and the positive impact it can bring to the business community and consumers,” the foreign chambers said. “By opening up key economic sectors and limiting the definition of public utilities to natural monopolies, we believe this reform will be one of the most important reforms of President Rodrigo Duterte and the 18th Congress,” they said. The bill is expected to encourage investments that can generate jobs, support infrastructure and boost economic recovery of the country amid the pandemic. The current bill identifies the distribution of electricity; transmission of electricity; and water pipeline distribution systems and sewerage pipeline systems as public utility. But other public services may be considered as public utility given certain criteria, including them being a natural monopoly. The foreign business groups stressed that transportation and telecommunications are not natural monopolies. “There are numerous transportation companies and three telecommunications companies that operate viably in the country. It is crucial to apply the proposed definition consistently in identifying the sectors that should be considered public utilities to maintain the internal integrity of the bill,” they explained.

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

@joveemarie

METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority Chairman Benhur Abalos, Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez inspect business establishments at the Rockwell Center, a high-end mixed-use area in Makati City, to check compliance with health guidelines being implemented under Alert Level 4, the highest level in the new Covid alert system. Story in Companies, page B1. ROY DOMINGO

ADB: FOCUS ON QUALITY OF LIFE FOR YOUNG, OLD By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

AVING smaller populations may allow countries to attain a more sustainable recovery from Covid-19, according to experts from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). In an Asian Development Blog, Honorary Senior Research Fellow Jane O’Sullivan and Advisor and Chief of Knowledge Advisory Services Center Susann Roth said slowing population growth can lead to better quality of lives not only for young people but also seniors. If there are fewer babies born, countries can ensure that they are taken cared of through proper nutrition and education while seniors can extend their years of productivity, allowing them to continue providing for themselves and their families.

“It’s time to stop worrying about ‘getting old before getting rich.’ A lower proportion of working-age people will not impede getting rich, because it strengthens rather than shrinks the work force. More consistent and better employment will allow households to save for retirement,” O’Sullivan and Roth said. “Better health care means more people will choose and be able to work past 65, without it needing to be legislated. Easing pressures on housing and natural resources will improve community resilience,” they added. O’Sullivan and Roth said increasing populations is costly for economies. They said for every 1percent annual increase in population growth rate, governments need to spend 7 percent of GDP to address the needs of these citizens. This means spending for ad-

ditional houses, roads, hospitals, schools, power stations, sewage works and other durable items, which are needed for them to be able to enjoy the same or higher level of lifestyle of people currently in the population. If countries will spend less on these, O’Sullivan and Roth said, they can spend more for better health and education services. This will also allow governments to spend more for pensions. The authors said spending more for pensions of seniors will also be likened to an economic stimulus that provides a muchneeded boost for consumption and economic growth. “Good care at both ends of life should be part of the social contract between generations, provided proudly, not with miserly lamentations,” O’Sullivan and Roth said.

“Now is the time for them to roll out universal pension coverage and invest in preventive health care and better living conditions to allow for healthy aging. This spending will create industries around products and services for older people and boost local economies, helping to make the expanding program affordable,” they also said.

Contraceptive use

MEANWHILE, in the Philippines, telemedicine support platforms are helping more women get access to modern contraceptives amid the pandemic. In a statement, Bayer Philippines said it’s “Ask Mara” chatbot on Facebook is one such platform that has expanded its features to include access to teleconsultation services. See “ADB,” A2

HE House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading the Duterte administration’s priority bill creating the Boracay Island Development Authority (BIDA), a body that tourism stakeholders and island groups opposed because it was first tailored to become a powerful state corporation. Voting 192 affirmative, 7 negative, and 0 abstentions, lawmakers approved House Bill 9826 or the proposed BIDA Act.Under the bill, the proposed government-owned and -controlled corporation (GOCC) to be known as BIDA shall be created to ensure continuous development of the famous tourist area and carry on the gains from its earlier rehabilitation. The bill said BIDA shall manage, develop, operate, preserve, and rehabilitate the Boracay Island Development Zone, which shall include the entirety of Boracay Island and surrounding islets including Barangay Caticlan. It addded the development zone shall be transformed into a selfsustaining industrial, commercial, leisure, financial, and investment center to generate employment opportunities and attract and promote productive local and foreign investments, while strictly prioritizing the protection and preservation of the natural resources and biodiversity of Boracay Island. The bill also said a Boracay Action Plan geared towards investment sustainability and balanced development in the island shall be formulated and implemented. The measure said international standards of excellence in all tourism facilities and services shall be maintained with the end goal of promoting Boracay Island as an environmentally sustainable and safety-conscious tourism destination. It added programs and activities such as eco-farm tourism, lifestyle, medical and wellness, local arts and crafts, outdoor recreation, and other social activities like family reunions and celebrations, corporate conferences, and those with environmental preservation and conservation themes shall be promoted.

See “Go,” A2

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 49.9730

See “House,” A2

n JAPAN 0.4545 n UK 68.6429 n HK 6.4213 n CHINA 7.7408 n SINGAPORE 37.0692 n AUSTRALIA 36.2754 n EU 58.6183 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.3258

Source: BSP (September 20, 2021)

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Tuesday, September 21, 2021

DOLE sets new safeguards to ensure TUPAD integrity

By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla

O prevent further anomalies in the implementation of its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will adopt new security measures to ensure all beneficiaries of the program are qualified. DOLE’s Bureau of Workers with Special Concern (BWSC) announced on Monday it will be including a quick response (QR) code in the identification cards (ID) of its TUPAD beneficiaries, upon instructions of Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III.

BWSC Director Ma. K aren Trayvilla explained the ID is crucial since TUPAD beneficiaries are required to present it before claiming their pay from money remittance centers. “The security feature that we added should be immediately com-

“It is very sad that some public officials, government employees, and other entities, who have been tapped to partner with DOLE in the provision of programs and services and are supposed to take care of our clients, are the ones who are taking advantage for their personal gain.”—BELLO

plied with based on the memorandum of the [Labor] Secretary,” Trayvilla said. Under TUPAD, displaced informal workers are required to do emergency work, usually lasting from 10 to 15 days, in exchange for being paid the minimum wage.

Pending case

BELLO required the adoption of the new measure after the reported irregularities in the implementation of TUPAD in some districts in Quezon City. This resulted in the suspension of the program in the said areas pending a probe by DOLE and the

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Citing the results of the initial investigation, Trayvilla said some of the observed anomalies in the areas are collection of unauthorized fees, presence of ghost beneficiaries, and non-implementation of the project. They are waiting for submission of t he f ina l invest igat ion report of DOLE-National Capita l Reg ion (NCR) before f i l ing c ha rges aga inst t he per petrator. Currently, there is one suspect, who allegedly “deviated” from established guidelines by registering unqualified beneficiaries for the TUPAD program then making illegal deductions in the payout of the victims. Asked if DOLE will still push through with ecalling the payouts from the unqualified beneficiaries, Trayvilla said they are trying to consider other options to address the matter. “Because at this point of time, there is a pandemic and then we will ask them to return the money. So we are studying other recourse for those who received [the TUPAD wages] but are not entitled to it,” Trayvilla said.

Public complaints

IN a related development, DOLE also scored government officials who are wrongfully claiming TUPAD as their program, in an apparent bid to draw goodwill ahead of the 2022 elections. Bello said in a statement last Monday. Trayvilla said they are trying to address the matter by orienting beneficiaries that TUPAD is a program of DOLE. The DOLE cannot directly call out the usurping officials since such is beyond their mandate. It will be up to the public to file the complaint before the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) if they want these officials disciplined, according to Trayvilla.

‘Bayanihan 1 made deals with Pharmally legal’ Continued from A12

Tiny income, fast cars

MEANWHILE, at the Senate, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon asked for the income tax records of top officials of Pharmally, on being informed that these officials were driving around in luxury cars, estimated to add up to “over P60 million.” According to Drilon, they also intend to check with the Bureau of Internal Revenue to verify if Pharmally executives were paying proper taxes to the government in order to assess their capability to buy luxury vehicles even as the company declared low earnings in 2019. At Friday’s hearing, Sen. Richard Gordon also brought up information on the purchase of luxury cars including a Porsche, Lamborghini and a Lexus for Linconn Ong, Mohit Dargani and Twinkle Dargani. A lso raised at the hearing w a s i n for m at ion t h at Ph a r mally officials earned nearly P400 million in 2020 after the firm cornered the multibillionpeso contract with the government. Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz, Butch Fernandez

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Go…

Continued from A1

“Instead of keeping service sectors closed to foreign investment in the guise of national security, it is important to carefully balance the need to attract foreign investments while protecting national security,” the statement read. The Philippines should take advantage of the foreign investors’ interest, they said, stressing the need for the economy to open up for foreign investments to “catch up.” “We must maximize this opportunity by sending a strong signal to the global community that the Philippines is open for business, to facilitate the entry of a wider range of investors and new technologies to help the country transition to a digital economy,” the groups said. The statement was signed by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, AustralianNew Zealand Commerce of the Philippines, Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the

House…

DURING the hearing on the bill, Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores expressed support for the creation of the BIDA as a regulatory body but not as a GOCC. Earlier, the BusinessMirror reported that several tourism stakeholders and island associations have expressed their opposition to the creation of the BIDA as a powerful GOCC. In a position paper, 17 multisectoral groups with nearly 20,000 members, along with barangay captains of Yapak, Manoc-Manoc and Balabag in Malay, Aklan, said, “We are one in our strong opposition to BIDA as a GOCC, clothed with powers and functions, which duplicate, and overlap with, those

IN a separate statement, the Makati Business Club (MBC), Foundation for Economic Freedom and UP School of Economics Alumni Association echoed the same sentiments. “Covid has damaged our economy so much that, more than ever, we need to send a signal that we are open to investment to create jobs. The competition will be good for consumers and small businesses. Even larger businesses are for this, even if it may mean more competition for them,” MBC Executive Director Francisco Alcuaz Jr. said. “Our priority is the jobs that will come from an expanded economy, and as long as local businesses are innovative and competitive, they will benefit from the liberalized, expanded economy too,” he added.

already vested upon and exercised by the national government’s line and attached agencies and violate the policy of devolution and decentralization, and repugnant to the very essence of federalism advocated and espoused by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte himself.” The groups added they were in “ardent opposition” to the BIDA GOCC “with powers and functions which encroach upon and divest local government units of their constitutionally granted [1987 Philippine Constitution] local autonomy and law-mandated powers and functions, rights and prerogatives,” as provided under Republic Act 7160 (Local Government Code of 1991).

Continued from A1

The Facebook chatbot can now also help one locate nearby Mercury Drug, Watsons, Southstar and Rose Pharmacy drugstores, or get more information soon on topics like androgen excess and endometriosis. “Mara is really your go-to-girl for relevant health choices and now she makes it easier for us to access our partner experts,” said Marie Michelle Dado, a Fellow of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society. “In this pandemic where it can be difficult to get in touch with doctors and find options

Bato…

MBC, FEF, UPSE alumni

Continued from A1

Not as GOCC

ADB…

Philippines, Korean Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters Inc.

for contraceptive and reproductive health, these new features help take some of the worry out of women and let us focus on ourselves, on work and our family,” she added. The Commission on Population and Development (Popcom) has also set up hotlines for remote medical consultations and doorto-door delivery of birth control supplies. Popcom earlier said family planning services in government-run reproductive health clinics saw the reduction of over 50 percent due to mobility restrictions.

Continued from A12

The CHR chief reported that “about 3,000” cases from parties alleging rights violations in the war on drugs have reached his agency and are being investigated. However, he said, they did not receive any request from ICC requesting their help, and they will not offer such. Gascon stressed the need is “for us to show our legal system operates in a way that is consistent with national and international standards.” Dela Rosa countered, “there’s no need for us to show that our system is not working. Problem is, the ICC keeps believing” biased sources. “Chances are, he added, they will just be dictating the words from... those that alleged crimes against humanity.” Before moving to have Dela Rosa’s subcommittee endorse CHR’s P867.251-million budget for plenary, Binay sought details of the Human Rights Victims Memorial Commission. Gascon said this was

to be a memorial, museum and archive, and funds for construction have partly been released by the Treasury. Also at the hearing, Sen. Francis Tolentino urged Gascon to make sure CHR weighs in on vital constitutional issues in the way the government, especially the IATF, crafts policies in pandemic. The workers’ rights to make a living have been infringed for so long on account of the lockdowns, and it’s time to revisit that, said Tolentino. Same with the freedom to worship in churches, and the right to a sound educational system via faceto-face learning. Tolentino reminded Gascon that “Undas,” or the annual observance of All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day, will soon be coming, and CHR should take up the cudgels for people who want to exercise their right to pay respects to their dead, while observing health protocols.

The Nation

A4 Tuesday, September 21, 2021 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

DepEd sets pilot launch of F-to-F classes in 120 schools By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

T least 100 public and 20 private schools are expected to participate in the pilot

implementation of face-to-face (F-to-F) classes in low-risk areas following the approval of President Duterte, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced on Monday. These schools, according to DepEd, are located in minimalrisk areas based on the criteria set by the Department of Health

(DOH), and must have passed the safety assessment using the school safety assessment tool of DepEd, and have the support of the local government unit in the form of a resolution or letter of support. However, DepEd said that while the public schools have already undergone a selection process, the private school participants would still undergo selection. The DepEd have yet to release the list of participating schools.

This developed as Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque confirmed that President Duterte has approved the proposal of DepEd to finally start the pilot of F-to-F classes in the ongoing school year. He said the President made the decision in consideration of not only the quality of education and mental health of students, but also of the economy, particularly the education sector. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) earlier warned of the negative effects of the long suspension of face-toface classes to the education and mental well-being of children. The DepEd stressed that participating schools must have the written support and consent of parents of students who shall participate in the pilot. “No learner shall be forced to attend the pilot implementation of face-toface classes,” DepEd emphasized. The pilot will be conducted with a combination of F to F classes in school and distance learning modalities for two months.

Likewise, the planned F-to-F classes shall be conducted at least of half of the day every other week, with participating schools ensuring that class schedules are arranged equitably so that all qualified learners have the opportunity to the classes. Prepared by DOH and DepEd and with the support of the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and other organizations specializing in children’s health, the operational guidelines on the pilot implementation of F-to-F learning modality provide health and safety standards in terms of personal protective equipment, sanitation, detection and referral, ventilation, contact tracing, and quarantine, coordination, and contingency measures. It also lists steps to prepare school personnel, learners, and the community before the school reopening. “As we made a step towards Ligtas na Balik Eskwela, we encourage our stakeholders to continue the Bayanihan for the success of this endeavor and the safety of our teachers and learners,” DepEd stressed. With Sam P. Medenilla

Group to LGUs: ‘Defy’ fish cage demolition order in Manila Bay By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

HE Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Monday urged local officials in four coastal towns in Cavite to stand their ground and defy the order of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to dismantle mussel and oyster farms in their areas of jurisdiction. According to Pamalakaya, LGUs from Cavite City, Bacoor City, Noveleta and Kawit have jurisdiction over mussel and oyster farm operations, and not the DENR. The group said the local officials should “stand alongside their coastal constituents” in their fight against what the group described as “unjust order” of the DENR to demolish the “illegal structures” in Manila Bay. The group insisted that the national government, through the DENR, is carrying out a massive destruction campaign against the livelihood and fishing rights of tens of thousands in Manila Bay in the guise of rehabilitating the historic bay’s waters. The group said fishing structures in Manila Bay do not contribute to pollution, but rather boost ecological productivity by catering the food needs of the fish-eating population across Manila Bay. Citing the Section 16 of the Local Government Code of 1991, Pamalakaya argued that LGUs are mandated to promote the general welfare of their constituents and

ensure support, among other things, the preservation and enrichment of culture and enhance the right of the people to a balanced ecology within their respective territorial jurisdiction. “The local executives in Cavite are morally, politically, and constitutionally obliged to protect the welfare of tens of thousands of fisherfolk who are deemed to lose their source of livelihood courtesy of the national government’s directive against fishing structures in Manila Bay,” Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya national chairman said in a news statement. The group earlier raised its suspicion that the dismantling order is a “prelude to massive reclamation projects that are meant to wipe out not only the fishing structures but also the fishing villages along Manila Bay.” “The DENR deserves nothing but defiance from the coastal population for using the rehabilitation program against us. We will continue to oppose this undertaking in various legal institutions such as the Supreme Court and the Philippine Congress, and through mass actions in the parliament of the streets and in the court of public opinion,” Hicap, former Anakpawis Party-list representative added. The schedule of the fishing structures dismantling in Manila Bay has been reset from September 7 to September 25. The group said it will continue to monitor and protest the demolition order.

RITM probes ‘inaccurate’ Covid-19 test results of hospital staff in Subic By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

HE Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said that the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) is now investigating the complaint on the alleged “inaccurate” Covid-19 test results of hospital personnel in Subic. During the continuation of the moto propio inquiry into the questionable purchase of Covid-19 supplies, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III confirmed they received a complaint on the incident involving the Philippine Red Cross in Subic. “I have with me the actual communication coming from a complainant, but who has requested for anonymity. But, I do confirm that there is that complaint which is being investigated now by the Lab Network, headed by Assistant Secretary Nestor Santiago, whom I believe has already relayed to the RITM to do an evaluation or assessment of this complaint,” Duque said. In the same hearing, Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta, citing reports submitted to his office, said

49 hospital personnel have tested positive for Covid-19 in the tests conducted by the PRC laboratory last September 3. “Staff of a certain hospital in Subic were tested positive by the PRC laboratory in Subic. They are all vaccinated staff of the hospital because they doubt the result that they become positive, they have themselves retested on September 6,” he added. He said 44 of the 49 hospital staff were tested negative in the second test, which was conducted three days later. “After three days, they have themselves retested in another facility and 44 out of 49 false positive, and they tested negative,” the House leader added. Meanwhile, Marcoleta also wants the DOH to look into the price of the RTPCR test of the PRC. “They started P4,000 [price of the RT-PCR] and now P2,800. We want to see whether or not the costing is based on reasonable terms. I know PRC is nonprofit, but P6 billion has been funneled to PRC,” he said. He said PhilHealth already paid P6 billion to the PRC in conducting RTPCR tests.

Economy BusinessMirror

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Meat import approvals more than double from Jan to Aug to 1.717 MMT By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

HE Philippines has approved the importation of 1.717 million metric tons (MMT) of meat products as of end-August— more than double than last year’s volume—driven by the country’s dire need for pork supply. The volume was based on the total number of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPS-ICs) approved and issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) for meat imports from January to August. The volume, based on latest BAI data, was 107 percent higher than the 828,892.915 MT approved for importation in the same period of last year. BAI data showed that pork imports accounted for half of the approved SPS-ICs during the eight-month period or about 837,955.337 MT, which was triple from the 276,424.228 MT approved volume in the January-toAugust period of last year. Chicken meat imports accounted for 35 percent of the total SPS-ICs for meat products as traders and importers were allowed to import 599,860.987 MT of chicken meat, which was 67 percent higher than last year’s 359,861.712 MT. The BAI, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA), also approved the importation of

237,164.714 MT of beef products, which was 48 percent more than the 159,945.948 MT it approved last year. Industry sources told the BusinessMirror that the increase in approved SPS-IC reflects the country’s need for meat products, particularly for pork as the country grapples with a shortfall due to the devastation of African swine fever (ASF) to domestic hog farms. The government earlier lowered pork tariffs and increased the minimum access volume (MAV) for the commodity by 200,000 MT in a bid to boost domestic supply and pulldown sky-rocketing pork prices.

Only half arrived

HOWEVER, BAI data showed that total meat imports arrival during the January-to-August period was only half than what the agency approved or about 800,152.239 MT. Nonetheless, total meat import arrival was 45 percent higher than the 552,590.826 MT volume recorded in the eight-month period of last year, based on BAI data. BAI data showed that pork imports alone almost tripled to 389,556.863 MT from last year’s 137,131.271 MT, while chicken meat imports declined slightly to 260,881.849 MT from 267,937.066 MT. The BusinessMirror earlier reported that the National Economic

and Development Authority (Neda) urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to fast-track the issuance of the necessary importation documents to avert food supply problems during the holiday season. Neda Undersecretary for Regional Development Mercedita A. Sombilla told the BusinessMirror that this would allow the Philippines to boost its food stocks amid the global logistics crisis. “We just have to push the DA to issue SPS-IC [sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance and] CNI [certificates of necessity to import] early so traders can have shipments early. We already informed the DA [regarding] that problem,” Sombilla said. Last month, the DA heeded the call of importers to extend the validity of SPS-IC for imported meat to ensure the much-needed supply would arrive in the country in time for the holidays. The DA issued Administrative Order (AO) 21 that authorized the temporary extension of SPS-IC validity by 30 days from 60 days to 90 days. The BusinessMirror first broke the story that industry stakeholders have proposed to Dar the extension of the SPS-IC validity to avert additional costs in the retail price of certain food items.

DICT sets natl fiber backbone target for ’21 By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

HE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is aiming to complete 28 nodes under the National Fiber Backbone (NFB) Phase 1 within the year, a ranking official said. DICT Undersecretary Emmanuel R. Caintic said during a Senate committee hearing that the agency is set to upgrade the digital infrastructure in the northern and central parts of Luzon towards the end of 2021. “We are targeting to activate 28 nodes under the NFB Phase1 starting from Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Bulacan, Zambales all the way to NCR

[National Capital Region],” he told senators on Monday. NFB Phase 1 involves the lighting up of fiber on national electrical transmission systems to provide Internet connectivity to people within the area of transmission. It is part of the larger National Broadband Plan, which in a nutshell will help democratize access to the Internet, especially in far-flung and underserved areas. Aside from the NFB Phase 1, the agency, according to Caintic, is also targeting to deploy 4,463 free Wi-fi sites across the country towards the end of 2021. “Similarly, we shall continue to pursue the provision of free wifi sites to more than 4,000 public places most especially vaccinate centers,” he said.

In the same hearing, senators approved the P34.63-billion proposed budget of the DICT for plenary discussion. The said proposal includes the unused P8.4 billion in spectrum users fee, a special account in its general fund. DICT Secretary Gregorio B. Honasan II said the government ought to better “appreciate” the value and importance of digital transformation initiatives today, as they play a key role in helping people navigate through the pandemic. “We have observed that the entire ecosystem is limited in the appreciation for ICT-driven connectivity that will allow us to manage effectively and proactively. The government has yet to fully understand that ICT is the future especially during the pandemic,” he said.

Oil firms hike gas, diesel, kerosene pump prices today By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

NOTHER round of oil-price increase is set to take effect this week. In separate announcements, oil firms said they would hike gasoline products by a P0.80 per liter, diesel by P0.80 per liter and kerosene by P0.85 per liter. This is the fourth consecutive week of oil-price hike. Seaoil, Caltex, Total, Phoenix, PTT, Shell said Monday afternoon that they will implement their price adjustment at 6 a.m. of Tuesday, September 21. Cleanfuel, meanwhile, will adjust its prices at 4:01 p.m. Other oil companies are expected to implement the same price increase on Tuesday morning. The latest price increase resulted to the year-to-date adjustments to stand at a total net increase of P14.55 per liter for gasoline, P12.05 per liter for diesel, and P9.7 per liter for kerosene. Oil firms adjust their pump prices weekly to reflect movements in the world oil market.

Last week, gasoline prices increased by P0.40 per liter, diesel by P0.35 per liter and kerosene by P0.15 per liter. Last September 7, oil firms raised gasoline prices by P0.50 per liter, diesel by P0.95 per liter, and kerosene by P0.60 per liter. Last August 31, they implemented a P0.40 per liter hike in gasoline, P0.60 per liter for diesel, and P0.70 per liter for kerosene. Meanwhile, Phoenix said it vaccinated 97 percent of its entire work force, with 60 percent fully inoculated. The third-largest oil company in the country also said that there are 15 service stations served by fully vaccinated staff. The remaining purchased vaccines have been extended to dependents and families and even to third-party service providers, it added. Phoenix has 680 service stations in all. The oil firm said in a news statement that it has been proactive in promoting the country’s vaccination campaign among employees

even before the arrival of its own procured vaccines. In June, the company partnered with the Davao City government and the Department of Health Region 11 to host a five-day vaccination drive. Meanwhile, last month, the company’s retail team led an internal vaccination drive to encourage more Phoenix frontliners to register for their local government unit’s vaccination drive. “As employers of a nationwide work force of five thousand, we have the responsibility to educate and share accurate and understandable information on the proven facts and benefits of vaccines,” said Phoenix’s Corporate Health, Safety and Environment head Ronaldo Ulep. “Moving forward, Phoenix will remain vigilant. While there is still no way to predict the case of Covid-19 in the country, we will strive to maintain communications with our employees and support the government and the nationwide Covid-19 response any way we can,” he added.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Tuesday, September 21, 2021 A5

Artificial intelligence: The road to data privacy and ethics usages of AI technology is facial recognition software. Facial recognition software is advancing far more quickly than regulation can handle it. The usage of AI is increasing and transforming industries such as law enforcement, retail, hospitality, marketing and advertising, events, social media and entertainment. The primary motivation for businesses to use AI is to provide greater convenience and a seamless experience for consumers.

By Henry J. Schumacher

RTIFICIAL intelligence (AI) is increasingly adopted in many industries and our day-to-day lives. The concept of AI is what drives intelligent robots, self-driving cars, facial recognition technology, smart assistants like Siri or Alexa, chatbots, as well as machine learning algorithms. A lthough the exponential growth of AI technology is exceeding the speed at which regulations can keep up, there have been frameworks, including the EU guidelines on AI ethics, OECD Principles on AI and Singapore’s Model AI Governance Framework It cannot be reiterated enough: personal information is property that belongs to the consumer, which companies must handle with a certain duty of care. That makes privacy compliance a much more complex challenge. Companies need to think more about what’s best for the consumer as we handle personal data, as well as how to accommodate the consumer and the rights he or she might exercise under various privacy regulations.

Artificial intelligence

THE AI is not something new to the public. We have seen it in sci-fi movies and increasingly in our daily lives as well. One of the most prevalent

How to optimize the GRC management framework for the success of the company

THE hallmark of a successful organization is one that is focused on achieving its objectives, able to keep its eye on the complex uncertainties and opportunities that surround it, and at the same time, act with integrity. You can imagine it would be quite challenging to manage this as it has to be done at every level, from the top management to every business function unit. It is like having a rowing team—all the effort focused in one direction, with every rower rowing in unison to maximize the momentum of each pull. However, unlike rowing, each unit in the organization has to be attuned to the “undulation of the water and adjusted accordingly:” that is how intricate and challenging managing an organization is. What are the areas that an organization should take care of? The “culture of privacy.” Again it cannot be reiterated enough: personal information is property that belongs to the consumer, which companies must handle with a certain duty of care. That makes privacy compliance a much more complex challenge. Companies need to think more about what’s best for the consumer as we handle personal data, as well as how to accommodate the consumer and the rights he or she might exercise under various privacy regulations.

In short, businesses need to make a “culture of privacy” more of a priority, in much the same way anti-corruption activists like the Integrity Initiative and partners stressed the importance of a culture of compliance in the 2010s. A culture of privacy and security will be the watchword for the 2020s. The boom of big data management and analytical data simulations has served businesses well, but the data ethics in business and privacy aspects of such work are still in question. With Data Privacy Acts and the introduction of GDPR, and the US wanting similar regulations, as the GDPR has had a positive worldwide impact. Organizations must now look at their data through an ethical lens, making sure that all guidelines are followed, and understand the ethical responsibilities of managing such large streams of data.

NPC tells online lenders to stop excessive collection of data

COMPANIES need to think more about what’s best for the consumer as they handle personal data, as well as how to accommodate the consumer and the rights he or she might exercise under various privacy regulations. It’s important to note that cyber attacks in the Philippines almost doubled to 4.88 million cases from January to June this year compared to the same period of 2020. Honestly, hackers are no match for human error. A company’s employees are its biggest risk and greatest assets. This means that a major component of reducing data breach risks is training your employees. Extensive training for employees is readily available. Excellent automation of data protection processes for Data Protection Officers is available too. Let me know whether you need assistance. Feedback and requests for support can be directed to hjschumacher59@ gmail.com

Arta to launch 2 digital platforms to improve regulatory management, ease red tape this year By Tyrone Jasper Piad @TyronePiad

HE Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta) is eyeing a full system launch of two digital platforms aimed at improving regulatory management and easing government transaction processing this year. ArtaDeputyDirectorGeneralErnesto V. Perez said in an event on Monday that the completed versions of PhilippineBusinessRegulationsInformation System (PBRIS) and the Anti-Red Tape Electronic Management Information System (Artemis) are slated for inauguration by December. Both electronic platforms are in phase 1 stage. Arta is working with University of the Philippines Public Administration Research and Extension Services Foundation Inc. (UPPAF) in developing the systems.

PBRIS is a web-based platform whereby information about the Philippine Regulatory Management System laws and regulations relevant to the public may be accessed. Among the functionalities are uploading of structured existing regulations; and uploading and processing of structured proposed regulations and regulatory impact assessment. The platform, in relation to this, will notify the users on the proposed and existing regulation through their registered accounts. In addition, the registered account users will also be allowed to comment on proposed and existing regulations through consultations. PBRIS will also feature tagging and categorization of regulations per sector, case-use and locality. Meanwhile, Artemis is the channel dedicated to creation, submis-

sion and updating of government agencies’ Citizen Charters; these contain the information about services offered by the government, including the procedures, fees and requirements. “It provides real-time on-demand database and mapping of all government services to the citizens,” the agency noted. The platform is also a monitoring tool with report generation capacity. Perez said they are prioritizing the onboarding of critical government agencies on the said platforms, which include those related to food and pharmaceutical,logistics,socializedhousing and energy, among others. Next year, the Arta official said the agency aims to roll out the system to all agencies. The launch of PBRIS and Artemis is in line with Arta’s mandate to streamline and automate processes.

RE irrigation project benefits Baras farmers

GROUP of farmers in Rizal province are about to experience firsthand the benefit of renewable enenergy (RE). The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has recently turned over to the Baliksaka Farmers Association Inc. based in Barangay Pinugay, Baras, Rizal a solar pump irrigation project worth P20 million. Implemented under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Irrigation-Component of DAR, which focuses on the development of agricultural productivity and the improvement of the living condi-

tions of farmers, the project was made possible with the collaboration of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA). DAR Secretary John Castriciones said the project will benefit mainly members of the Irrigators Association of Barangay Pinugay, Baras town. It will address the water problem of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and non-ARBs living in Baras. “The use of solar-powered pumps reduces the expenses of farmers in irrigating their fields. It, therefore, promotes poverty alleviation and

income increase in irrigators associations,” he said. Assistant Secretary and concur rent Ca labarzon Reg iona l Director Rene Colocar said the technology is composed of solar panels, pumps, electronic controls to operate the pump, concrete canals, water tank, conveyance structures, and a pump house. He said the system is more cost-efficient than the gas or diesel-powered irrigation pumps due to the rising cost of fuel. The P20 million worth of irrigation system can irrigate 72 hectares of farmlands. Jonathan L. Mayuga

BusinessMirror

A6 Tuesday, September 21, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

8 STONE BUSINESS OUTSOURCING OPC 5/f To 10/f, Tower 4 Pitx #01 Kennedy Road Tambo Parañaque City WANG, LI Mandarin Customer Service Representative 1.

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written.

LORD, KEITH Client Financial Mgmt Associate Director 2.

Brief Job Description: Requires development and execution of strategy to achieve key business objectives in area of responsibility NSEUFU, OMER KETCHA SW/APP/Cloud Tech Support Analyst

Brief Job Description: Communicate with the clients functional design in charge about the requirement details ALVES DA NOBREGA, RICARDO SW/APP/Cloud Tech Support SR Analyst

Brief Job Description: Act as the point of contact of the client of IT-related concerns

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) or Master’s in Accounting, Finance, MIS or related field Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: Can communicate effectively in both oral and written English and Japanese Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: Good knowledge level on multiple IT technologies

Brief Job Description: Administer the initiation and adjudication of background check and provide additional support

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Thai Language and with Good communication skills both in written and verbal prior experience of at least 2 years in a similar role in HR shared services or work in a BPO Industry catering to customer need Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

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

GU, LICHUAN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Responsible for inbound and outbound calls LIU, BING Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Responsible for inbound and outbound calls ZHU, XIANGWEI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Responsible for inbound and outbound calls

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

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

10.

11.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires BAI, HAOZE Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires ZHANG, NAIYUAN Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

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

12.

Brief Job Description: Conducts customer support to Korean speaking customers by online chat email and telephone.

18.

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

YANG, TIANYU Chinese IT Support Specialist 19.

13.

14.

15.

CHAE, JAE HYUN Customer Service Associate Brief Job Description: Provides support to customers in processing orders

CHUMJIT, ACHIRAYA Customer Service Associate Brief Job Description: Provides support to customers in processing orders

LEE, SAEYOUNG Customer Service Associate Brief Job Description: Provides support to customers in processing orders

BOWENHILLS TECH INC. 19/f Lepanto Bldg. 8747 Paseo De Roxas Bel-air Makati City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 1-year customer service associate experience, basic to advance MS application skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

20.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Strong English and mandarin communication skills(both oral and written)

No.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Strong English and mandarin communication skills(both oral and written)

NAKAO, AYUMI Executive Coordinator 33.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Strong English and mandarin communication skills(both oral and written) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Shall answer incoming phone calls from chinese clients and troubleshoot customer technical problems with computer software and hardware.

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking)

XUE, MENGMENG Mandarin Speaking Marketing Specialist 21.

Brief Job Description: Develop and create marketing materials and collaborate with the internal teams.

22.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for managing and growing key customers of fiberhome in the Philippines JIANG, YI Account Director

23.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for managing and growing key customers of fiberhome in the Philippines ZHANG, LONG Account Director

24.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for managing and growing key customers of fiberhome in the Philippines LI, KUNRAN Account Manager

25.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for managing and growing key customers of fiberhome in the Philippines

Brief Job Description: Coordinate with the President and directors of the company in managing the corporation

AARON YONG JIA JUN Mandarin Accounts Staff 34.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in answering customer questions about products and services of the company. CHIU, CHIH-WEI Mandarin Accounts Staff

35.

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking)

XU, MIN-XIANG Mandarin Customer Service 36.

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

Brief Job Description: Responsible in answering customer questions about products and services of the company. LA THU THANH Mandarin Operations Specialist

37.

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

Brief Job Description: Responsible in assisting day to day operations with the company. LIN, YING-SIOU Mandarin Team Leader

26.

Brief Job Description: Studying company profile and operations to understand its marketing needs. Implementing a marketing strategy according to objectives and budget.

MA, JUANJUAN Marketing Consultant (Mandarin Speaking Clients) 27.

Brief Job Description: Studying company profile and operations to understand its marketing needs. Implementing a marketing strategy according to objectives and budget.

28.

29.

30.

31.

32.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service LEE CHEE HONG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service MONG DUC MANH Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service QU, WU Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

SUN, DIANJUN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English, Mandarin and other multilingual language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English, Mandarin and other multilingual language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English, Mandarin and other multilingual language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English, Mandarin and other multilingual language.

38.

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

GLOBAL PACIFIC KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANCY INC. Unit 905 9/f The Pearlbank Centre, 146 Valero St. Bel-air Makati City

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and college graduate Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and college graduate Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and college graduate

Brief Job Description: Responsible in answering customer questions about products and services of the company.

LI, QIANG Customer Service Representative (Mandarin Speaking) 39.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for producing information, transcribing, formatting, inputting, editing retrieving, copying, and transmitting data and graphics from English to Mandarin

Basic Qualification: Preferably 6 months experience with the above position. Can multi-task and keen to details. Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently.

FENG, GE Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 40.

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

LI, RUO Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 41.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Preferably 6 months experience with the above position. Can multi-task and keen to details. Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/level and fluent in mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English

PAN, PENGHUI Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 42.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/level and fluent in mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/level and fluent in mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Extensive through and Fluency in Mandarin language and characters Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

HEIGH IT SOLUTIONS AND SERVICES CORP. 20/f Zuellig Bldg. Makati Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas Urdaneta Makati City TANG THI HUONG Multilingual Customer Service Representative 43.

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

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English, Mandarin, and other multilingual language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

HIKVISION SINGAPORE PTE. LTD. PHILIPPINES BRANCH 37th/f Joy Nostalg Center Adb Avenue, Ortigas Center San Antonio Pasig City JIANG, FULIANG Channel Account Manager 44.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/level and fluent in mandarin / Basic English

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

GLOBALLGA BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING Ground Level, Level 2-5 Floor Silver City 4, Ortigas East Ugong Pasig City

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

FLYING DRAGON NETWORK PHILIPPINES INC. 4th-11th Floor Aseana 3 Building Aseana Avenue Corner Diosdado Macapagal Tambo Parañaque City CHEN, KETING Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English, Mandarin and other multilingual language.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and college graduate

FLY ASIAN INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION Eighty One Newport Blvd. Newport City Va, Brgy. 183 Pasay City HAN, HONGLI Marketing Consultant (Mandarin Speaking Clients)

Basic Qualification: College Graduate; preferable 5 years experience in dealing with executive level documents, transactions, and scheduling for Japanese Directors,

FRONTIER POINT MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS INC. 29/f Techzone Bldg. Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. San Antonio Makati City

Brief Job Description: Responsible in answering customer questions about products and services of the company.

Basic Qualification: Expertise in marketing and fluent in mandarin speaking

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

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

FIBERHOME PHILS., INC. U-19d 19/f Rufino Pacific Tower 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St. San Lorenzo Makati City HUANG, MIN Account Director

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

FREAKOUT PHILIPPINES INC. 26th Floor Menarco Tower 32nd Street Bonifacio Global City Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

DA SUCCESS BUSINESS TRADING INCORPORATED 2503 The Finance Centre 26th Street Corner 9th Avenue Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

Basic Qualification: 1-year customer service associate experience, basic to advance MS application skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Shall answer incoming phone calls from Chinese clients and troubleshoot customer technical problems with computer software and hardware. STEPHEN YIN SENG KONG IT Support Specialist

BOSCH SERVICE SOLUTIONS, INC. 23rd Floor, W Fifth Avenue Building 32nd Street Corner 5th Avenue Bonifacio Global City Taguig City Basic Qualification: 1-year customer service associate experience, basic to advance MS application skills

Brief Job Description: Delivers day to day operational marketing activities to the Chinese-speaking markets

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

CAPSLOCK INC. 7th & 8th Flr. Y Tower Bldg. Coral Way Drive Cor. Macapagal Ave. Brgy. 076 Pasay City

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

Basic Qualification: Must be a Korean National/ Fluent in English and Korean language with at least 1 yr experience in customer service.

Brief Job Description: Delivers day to day operational marketing activities to the Chinese-speaking markets JING, NI Chinese Speaking Marketing Officer

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

BAYVIEW TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 43/f Yuchengco Tower Rcbc Plaza Ayala Ave. Cor. Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Bel-air Makati City LEE, SEUNGHAK Customer Support (Multi-lingual)

17.

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

Brief Job Description: Serve as the first point of contact for Chinese speakingcustomers JIANG, HAILONG Chinese Speaking Marketing Officer

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

ANOC99 CORPORATION 5/f To 10/f Ayala Malls Manila Bay Building D. Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Aseana Street Tambo Parañaque City WU, DI Chinese Customer Service

16.

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

AMAZON OPERATION SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. B21 Three E-com Moa Complex Harbour Drive Cor. Bay Shore Brgy. 076 Pasay City

CHANKLA, WITCHUDA HR Assistant II-Thai

CHEN, TENG Chinese Speaking Customer Service Officer

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

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Brief Job Description: Develop local customer and expand distribution channels

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and college graduate 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 HONG, CANLONG Mandarin Customer Support Representative 45.

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

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

JDB MANAGEMENT AND CONSULTANCY CORP. 107 T & D House Magallanes St. 069, Bgy. 655 Intramuros Manila QIU, FENNYU Strategic And Facilitation Officer 46.

Brief Job Description: Your primary function is to help the company and its Chinese clients to generate more income for the company

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION YU, JIAN Strategic And Facilitation Officer

47.

Brief Job Description: Your primary function is to help the company and its Chinese clients to generate more income for the company ZHAN, MINGSHA Strategic And Facilitation Officer

48.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

Brief Job Description: Your primary function is to help the company and its Chinese clients to generate more income for the company

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language

49.

Brief Job Description: Customer Support Representative are responsible for managing various customer issues depending on account assignment, transactions.

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language

50.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

51.

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

52.

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

53.

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

54.

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

55.

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

56.

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

57.

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

Basic Qualification: Must be Bachelor’s / college degree in any fields, at least 1-2 years of working experience in the related position, ability to maintain high level of confidentiality.

58.

Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer system,

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

59.

60.

61.

62.

63.

64.

65.

66.

67.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries CAI, YANQI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HUANG, LI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries KANG, YI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries KANG, LEI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIN, JIANLONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries MA, LUHUI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries MU, FUJUN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries PENG, DIBO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

71.

72.

73.

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

74.

ZHOU, GUISHUN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHOU, TING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LI, JIAHAO Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HE, XING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service SUN, LEI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service ZHANG, MINGXIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

Brief Job Description: In charge of overseeing overall daily operations of the organization

CAO, LEI Chinese Customer Service 75.

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

CHAI, XIAOJUN Chinese Customer Service 76.

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

CHEN, ZHONGHUA Chinese Customer Service 77.

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

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

DING, ZELONG Chinese Customer Service 78.

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

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

GENG, HAN Chinese Customer Service 79.

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

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

HAN, HUAILIANG Chinese Customer Service 80.

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

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

HUANG, CHANGLING Chinese Customer Service 81.

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

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

LI, TIANCI Chinese Customer Service 82.

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

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

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

LI, BOLIN Chinese Customer Service 83.

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

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

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

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

85.

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

86.

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English 87.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 88.

89.

LIANG, ZONGZHU Chinese Customer Service 84.

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

90.

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

91.

92.

CHANG, HUNG-CHUN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 93.

94.

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

Brief Job Description: Performing in-person and phone interviews with candidates. Completing timely reports on employment activity. HERY ENDRAWAN Mandarin Speaking HR Specialist

95.

Brief Job Description: Report to the Mandarin Speaking HR Manager directly. Processes personnel action forms and assures proper approvals - disseminates approved forms. TIET PHUOC CUONG Mandarin Speaking Operations Specialist

96.

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

Brief Job Description: Provides services relating to products, promotion, website connection issues, and others via chat, email or QQ. Supports day to day operation needs. Helps gain the customers loyalty to the company and its services. CHENG, I-WEN Mandarin Speaking Hr Recruiter

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

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College Graduate, Preferably 1 year experience in similar field, Speaks and write fluently (Native Language & English). Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, Preferably 1 year experience in similar field, Speaks and write fluently (Native Language & English). Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, Preferably 1 year experience in similar field, Speaks and write fluently (Native Language & English). Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, Preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, Speaks and write fluently (native Language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, Preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, Speaks and write fluently (native Language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, Preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, Speaks and write fluently (native Language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, Preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, Speaks and write fluently (native Language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate , Preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, Speaks and write fluently (native Language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

OUTWIT, INC. 2/f Marvin Plaza 2153 Chino Roces Ave. Pio

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

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

KOH PAI SHU Malaysian Customer Service

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

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

SHI, WENWEI Chinese Customer Service

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

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

SHEN, CHONG Chinese Customer Service

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

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

QIAO, JUN Chinese Customer Service

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

Basic Qualification: College Graduate , Preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, Speaks and write fluently (native Language & English)

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

PENG, XINLIN Chinese Customer Service

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

Basic Qualification: With college degree and can speak fluently in Japanese and English

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

MIN, XIAOQIN Chinese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin /Basic English

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

LUO, CHENGHUI Chinese Customer Service

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LUO, CAILING Chinese Customer Service

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th/f Pearl Marina Building Pacific Drive Don Galo Parañaque City

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

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

IZUMI, YUICHI General Manager And Corp. Treasurer

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

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NEUN FARBEN CORPORATION Unit 1906 7 1908 Tycoon Centre Ortigas Center San Antonio Pasig City

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

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

70.

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 HUANG, JIACHUAN Mandarin Technical Support

69.

Salary Range: 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 CHEN, JIAN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider

68.

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

MAGKING SERVICES CORPORATION Unit 5d Rose Industries Bldg. #11, Pioneer Street Kapitolyo Pasig City KIM, MYEONG SIK Customer Support Representative

No.

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

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

YOU KING Mandarin Speaking Operations Specialist 97.

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

Basic Qualification: Good oral and written communication skills in Mandarin. At least 6 month related experience in this field. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Good oral and written communication skills in Mandarin. t least 6 months work related experience. Knowledge in computer applications. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Good oral and written communication skills. At least 6 months of related experience in this field. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Good oral and written communication skills in Mandarin. At least 6 months work related experience. Knowledge in computer applications. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Good oral and written communication skills in Mandarin. At least 6 months work related experience. Knowledge in computer applications. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

PHILCORYOU TRADING CORP. L10 Impex Compd. Alabang-zapote Rd. Pamplona Tres Las Piñas City NAM, DUCKHYUN Enterprise Resource Planning Programmer 98.

Brief Job Description: Develop, review, analyze, and modifies the (ERP) programming systems HAN, KWANGWOO International Trade Specialist

99.

Brief Job Description: Multilingual person who established connection with Korean and Japanese govt and possessed latest information in foreign market trends

Basic Qualification: certified erp programmer w/ 10yrs experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: established connection in foreign trade Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

PROCTER & GAMBLE PHILIPPINES, INC. 10f Seven/neo 5th Ave., Crescent Park West Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

100.

RIZVI, ALI ABBAS Commercial Leader, Babycare And Femcare Philippines

Basic Qualification: International Profound

Brief Job Description: Shall be leader for the Philippines

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

QINGJIAN GROUP CO., LTD. PHILIPPINE BRANCH 1046 U500 Puso Ng Maynila Bldg. A Mabini St. 072, Bgy. 666 Ermita Manila

BusinessMirror

A8 Tuesday, September 21, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

101.

102.

103.

104.

105.

106.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

CHEN, XIANGBAO Chinese Installation Manager

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese Mandarin

Brief Job Description: Chinese Project Manager on Site

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

SHI, BOHAN Chinese Purchasing Specialist

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese Mandarin

Brief Job Description: Chinese Purchasing Supervisor

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

DU, JIANGUO Chinese Technical Specialist

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese Mandarin

Brief Job Description: Chinese Project Supervisor on Site

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

ZHANG, SHUBIN Chinese Technical Specialist

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese Mandarin

Brief Job Description: Chinese Project Supervisor on Site

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

ZHANG, WENXIANG Chinese Technical Specialist

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese Mandarin

Brief Job Description: Chinese Project Supervisor on Site

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

ZHAO, YANGPI Chinese Technical Specialist

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese Mandarin

Brief Job Description: Chinese Project Supervisor on Site

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

RED DOT MARKETING AND BRANDING INC. Unit 1514 Burgundy Transpacific Place Taft Ave. 079, Bgy. 727 Malate Manila

107.

108.

LUO, GANGYI Foreign Language Customer Service Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls CHAN LEE MAY Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin

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

109.

Brief Job Description: Handle service support calls, Emails and chats related to inquiry from clients and/or Customers through mandarin to English translation

Basic Qualification: Through extensive & Fluency in Mandarin language and characters Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

TAISEI PHILIPPINE CONSTRUCTION, INC. Equitable Bank Tower 23/f P. De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City OGURA, TADASHI Japanese Project Manager 110.

Brief Job Description: Manage projects with subcontractors; communicate with clients & subcontractors; assist in estimating project costs; provide on-site management of construction projects.

Basic Qualification: BS Architecture Graduate with 17 years of experience in construction industry Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

TRIVES TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION Tower 4 Bayport West Naia Garden Residence, Naia Road Tambo Parañaque City ZHAO, YU Mandarin Customer Support Representative 111.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. CHI NHIT MUI Vietnamese Customer Support Representative

112.

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

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

113.

Brief Job Description: Negotiate, prepare, and sign contracts with foreign clients

VPC CORPORATE SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 11/f 100 West, Sen Gil Puyat Ave. Cor. Washington St. Pio Del Pilar Makati City FU, YEWEI Bilingual Technical Support Specialist 114.

Brief Job Description: Evaluates expansion or enhancements by studying workload capacity

121.

122.

123.

CHEOH YUT SIANG Malaysian Customer Service Representative 115.

Brief Job Description: Maintains financial account; recommend potential products and services; attracts potential customers

LIANG, QICHAO Business Development Manager 124.

CHAU YEN TINH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 116.

Brief Job Description: Maintains financial account; recommend potential products and services; attracts potential customers

NGUYEN THI HONG HUYEN Vietnamese Marketing Specialist 117.

Brief Job Description: Maintains financial account; recommend potential products and services; attracts potential customers

NGUYEN THI MINH PHUONG Vietnamese Marketing Specialist 118.

Brief Job Description: Maintains financial account; recommend potential products and services; attracts potential customers

NGUYEN THI NGOC MAI Vietnamese Marketing Specialist 119.

Brief Job Description: Maintains financial account; recommend potential products and services; attracts potential customers

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

125.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Chinese Mandarin, English and their respective native language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Chinese Mandarin, English and their respective native language

Brief Job Description: Develop and sustain level of professionalism among staff and client

No.

138.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Chinese Mandarin, English and their respective native language

139.

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

Basic Qualification: Minimum of 2 years relevant experience and can speak and understand Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

140.

ZHENG, DEZHI Sales Manager 126.

Brief Job Description: Sales managers lead a sales team by providing guidance, training and mentorship, setting sales quotas and goals, creating sales plans, analyzing data, assigning sales territories and building their team.

Basic Qualification: Able to communicate comfortably with Chinese employees

141.

142.

127.

Brief Job Description: Professionally handle incoming request from customers and ensure that issues are resolve both promptly and thoroughly ANDY Bahasa Language Customer Service Representative

GREVIN Chinese Language Customer Service Representative 143.

128.

Brief Job Description: Professionally handle incoming request from customers and ensure that issues are resolve both promptly and thoroughly ANDY JAYA PERKASA Bahasa Language Customer Service Representative

144.

129.

Brief Job Description: Professionally handle incoming request from customers and ensure that issues are resolve both promptly and thoroughly BEN AURIC GOVIRUTAMA Bahasa Language Customer Service Representative

145.

130.

Brief Job Description: Professionally handle incoming request from customers and ensure that issues are resolve both promptly and thoroughly CHANDRA Bahasa Language Customer Service Representative

131.

Brief Job Description: Professionally handle incoming request from customers and ensure that issues are resolve both promptly and thoroughly DEWI MARIA Bahasa Language Customer Service Representative

132.

Brief Job Description: Professionally handle incoming request from customers and ensure that issues are resolve both promptly and thoroughly EDBERT CHANDRA Bahasa Language Customer Service Representative

133.

Brief Job Description: Professionally handle incoming request from customers and ensure that issues are resolve both promptly and thoroughly FELIX ROY Bahasa Language Customer Service Representative

134.

Brief Job Description: Professionally handle incoming request from customers and ensure that issues are resolve both promptly and thoroughly FERDINAND CHANDRA Bahasa Language Customer Service Representative

135.

Brief Job Description: Professionally handle incoming request from customers and ensure that issues are resolve both promptly and thoroughly FRANSISKA YAPRYADI Bahasa Language Customer Service Representative

136.

Brief Job Description: Professionally handle incoming request from customers and ensure that issues are resolve both promptly and thoroughly HANSEN HIMAWAN Bahasa Language Customer Service Representative

137.

Brief Job Description: Professionally handle incoming request from customers and ensure that issues are resolve both promptly and thoroughly

146.

147.

148.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking in both English and Koran/ Bahasa/Chinese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

149.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking in both English and Korean/ Bahasa/Chinese. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking in both English and Korean/ Bahasa/Chinese. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customer’s needs to achieve satisfaction YACUB IRWANTO Chinese Language Customer Service Representative

150.

Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customer’s needs to achieve satisfaction ZHAO, XILONG Chinese Speaking It Officer

151.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the smooth running of computer system, routers , switches, internet and ensure users get maximum benefit from them LUONG GIA BUU Finance Officer

152.

153.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in maintaining the balance between spreadsheet and bank accounts LIM WEI CHEN General Manager Assistant Brief Job Description: Cooperating and assisting general manager in daily task LAI ZI HUI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

154.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking in both English and Korean/ Bahasa/Chinese. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customer’s needs to achieve satisfaction TIMBUL KURNIAWAN TAN Chinese Language Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking in both English and Koran/ Bahasa/Chinese

Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customer’s needs to achieve satisfaction SURIANTO Chinese Language Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking in both English and Korean/ Bahasa/Chinese.

Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customer’s needs to achieve satisfaction SETIAWAN Chinese Language Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking in both English and Korean/ Bahasa/Chinese.

Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customer’s needs to achieve satisfaction KERVIN Chinese Language Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking in both English and Koran/ Bahasa/Chinese

Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customer’s needs to achieve satisfaction JONI Chinese Language Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking in both English and Koran/ Bahasa/Chinese

Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customer’s needs to achieve satisfaction HENDRA YONO Chinese Language Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking in both English and Korean/ Bahasa/Chinese.

Brief Job Description: Professionally handle incoming request from customers and ensure that issues are resolve both promptly and thoroughly

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking in both English and Korean/ Bahasa/Chinese. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking in both English and Korean/ Bahasa/Chinese. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking in both English and Koran/ Bahasa/Chinese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking in both English and Koran/ Bahasa/Chinese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking in both English and Koran/ Bahasa/Chinese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking in both English and Korean/ Bahasa/Chinese.

Brief Job Description: Professionally handle incoming request from customers and ensure that issues are resolve both promptly and thoroughly LIM, SUNGTAEK Korean Language Customer Service Representative

ZIMI TECH, INC. 29th/f Burgundy Corporate Tower Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Pio Del Pilar Makati City ALWI VANDO Bahasa Language Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Professionally handle incoming request from customers and ensure that issues are resolve both promptly and thoroughly KANG, INJA Korean Language Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Ability to multitask and prioritize tasks Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Professionally handle incoming request from customers and ensure that issues are resolve both promptly and thoroughly YUKI NOFA Bahasa Language Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Chinese Mandarin, English and their respective native language

Brief Job Description: Professionally handle incoming request from customers and ensure that issues are resolve both promptly and thoroughly SUWANDY Bahasa Language Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Chinese Mandarin, English and their respective native language

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION STEVEN HENDARMAN Bahasa Language Customer Service Representative

YOFC INTERNATIONAL (PHILIPPINES) CORPORATION U-307-309, #99 Reliance It Center Bldg. E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave. Ugong Pasig City

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Chinese Mandarin, English and their respective native language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Reporting to Chinese executives at headquarters in Changhai China

HUANG, YUCHEN Executive Assistant

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Chinese Mandarin, English and their respective native language

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

WORLD MEDICAL RELIEF-PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BUSINESS AND COORDINATION CENTER FOUNDATION, INC. 14-d 14/f Ocean Tower Condo. Roxas Blvd. 077, Bgy. 701 Malate Manila

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Chinese Mandarin, English and their respective native language

Brief Job Description: Maintains financial account; recommend potential products and services; attracts potential customers

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

WEFUND LENDING CORP. Unit 3001,3002,3005 Discovery Center 25 Adb Avenue, Ortigas Center San Antonio Pasig City

WANFANG TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT, INC. 6-9/f Double Dragon Plaza Edsa Cor. Macapagal Ave. Brgy. 076 Pasay City Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Chinese Mandarin, English and their respective native language

Brief Job Description: Maintains financial account; recommend potential products and services; attracts potential customers

VU NGOC DUYEN Vietnamese Marketing Specialist

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

Brief Job Description: Maintains financial account; recommend potential products and services; attracts potential customers

PHAM THUY LINH Vietnamese Marketing Specialist

Basic Qualification: With good oral and written communications; must be fluent in English Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

Brief Job Description: Maintains financial account; recommend potential products and services; attracts potential customers

NGUYEN THI PHUONG THAO Vietnamese Marketing Specialist

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

VERTEX PROJECTS MANILA INC. Unit B & C 21/f Strata 100 Building Don F Don F. Ortigas, Jr., Road, Ortigas Center San Antonio Pasig City ANDERSON, CHRISTOPHER COLIN Business Development Manager

120.

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION NGUYEN THI PHI YEN Vietnamese Marketing Specialist

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

SEEKTOP SERVICE MANAGEMENT INC. 25/f Alphaland Corporate Tower 7232 Ayala Ave. Extn. Cor. Malugay St. Bel-air Makati City LEE JUN HUNG Customer Relation Representative (Mandarin Speaking)

No.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Brief Job Description: Responsible in answering customer questions about product and services of the company LIU, CHANGLONG Production Officer

155.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in testing and enhancements production system

Basic Qualification: Great communication skills and must be fluent in Chinese and English language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Great communication skills and must be fluent in Chinese and English language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Great communication skills and must be fluent in Chinese and English language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Great communication skills and must be fluent in Chinese and English language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Great communication skills and must be fluent in Chinese and English language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Great communication skills and must be fluent in Chinese and English language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Great communication skills and must be fluent in Chinese and English language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Great communication skills and must be fluent in chinese and english language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English mandarin and other multilingual language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English mandarin and other multilingual Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English Mandarin and other multilingual language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English mandarin and other multilingual language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English mandarin and other multilingual language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 *Date Generated: Sep 20, 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

News BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Esperon defends budget allocation for NTF-ELCAC By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

S some lawmakers continuously oppose the budget allocation for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), the National Security Adviser on Monday said an estimated 5.2 million Filipinos are expected to benefit from the Barangay Development Program (BDP) for this year and next year. In defending the budget of the BDP, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., in a news statement, said the BDP became instrumental in addressing the conditions of conflict-affected communities in far-flung areas, and in realizing the long-sought development in rural areas. For 2022, about 1,406 barangays will be included in the BDP program to which each will be given P20 million worth of various projects that include farm-to-market road, barangay health centers, potable water system, school buildings and livelihood. The proposed budget for the BDP in 2022 is pegged at P28.2 billion. “Through the BDP, we at the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict see that this batch of 1,406 barangays will be emancipated from the influence of the Communist Terrorists and become peaceful and productive societies Testimonies abound from the youth, barangay captains, and local residents on the efficacy and effectiveness of the BDP,” said Esperon, vice chairman of the NTF-ELCAC. The first batch of 822 barangays was funded from the General Appropriations Act of 2021 at P20 million each, or a total of P16.44 billion. Esperon said the second batch of BDP beneficiaries or the 1,406 barangays went through the Community Support Program, initiated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, from 2020 to the first quarter of 2021. The funds for these projects are now included in the National Expenditure Program being deliberated by Congress. For 2022, in terms of region, most of the beneficiaries will be from, Region 5 (Bicol); Region 11 (Davao Region); Region 13 (Caraga); Region 10 (Northern Mindanao); Region 8 (Eastern Visayas); Region 6 (Western Visayas) and others. While in terms of provinces, most barangays that were already free from New People’s Army (NPA) threat and influence are from Sorsogon, Bukidnon, Davao de Oro, North Cotabato, Agusan del Sur, Davao City, Camarines Sur, Surigao del Sur and others. As of September 9, he said, about 99.03 percent or P16.289 billion of the P16.44 billion funds for the BDP implementation in 2021 had already been released to the provincial and city governments. “On the status of project implementation, I am pleased to report that despite the challenges of the pandemic, regional task forces are already facilitating the pre-procurement stage of 1,244 projects, the procurement process of 823 projects, and the implementation of 211 projects,” Esperon said. The Makabayan bloc is calling for the abolition of the task force and demanding that the funding given to NTF-ELC AC be rechanneled to education and pandemic response in 2022.

Tuesday, September 21, 2021 A9

OECD calls for competitive neutrality in small-package delivery services By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @TyronePiad

N intergovernmental agency called on Asean memberstates to make sure that state-owned enterprises (SOEs) do not have undue advantage over private companies in the smallpackage delivery services sector for the sake of consumer welfare and cross-border trade. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), in a recent report, said that the regional bloc should enhance the competitive neutrality in the small-package delivery services sector amid the increasing e-commerce transactions. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development defines competitive neutrality as “the recognition that significant government business activities which are in competition with the private sector should not have a competitive

advantage or disadvantage simply by virtue of government ownership and control.” Leveraging on extensive networks, OECD noted that SOEs comprise a big bite of the small-package delivery services market in their respective countries, particularly the business-to-consumer segments. Some are even the top 10 players in the region in 2019. “In most instances, these SOEs are the incumbent postal operators that prior to the sector’s full or partial liberalization held monopoly rights,” the group said. The local postal operator is the Philippine Postal Corporation. OECD said there has been a “clear trend towards liberalization” across the region. But, it noted, that the SOEs still account for a “significant portion of small-package delivery services in several Asean member-states.” Better competitive neutrality, OECD said, can lead to lower prices for the consumers.

A 1-percent decrease in the price of delivery services can mean a financial benefit of EUR 93 million annually for the Asean economy, it explained. “As the market for small-package delivery services is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate [CAGR] of 12 percent between 2020 and 2025, this benefit could increase to EUR 141 million a year for each 1-percent price decrease by 2025,” OECD said. Meanwhile, the group explained that a 5-percent decline would result in a benefit of between EUR 464 million and EUR 699 million a year. In addition, enhancing competitive neutrality for the sector can boost foreign direct investments, small and medium enterprises and employment, among others, OECD said.

Recommendations

OECD proposed several recommendations to the Asean bloc to improve competitive neutrality, including the

separation of regulatory functions and commercial activities of SOEs. “Where state-owned enterprises are in the form of ministerial departments, corporatization plans should be implemented by establishing separate entities subject to generally applicable corporate laws and operating small-package delivery services on a commercial basis,” the group explained. It is also helpful if there would be limited government intervention in the daily management of SOEs, OECD noted. OECD said the governments should implement acts specifying the compliance of SOEs to applicable competition laws. This, as it enjoined the competition authorities to have advocacy initiatives about competitive neutrality. At the same time, the organization said the SOE’s commercial activities should be subject to the same licensing requirements for other small-package delivery players.

“Alternatively, they should consider lowering the burden on licensees by simplifying licensing procedures and introducing measures to neutralize SOE’s potential cost advantage,” it added.

Growing e-commerce

THE surge in e-commerce resulted in “unprecedented increase in demand” for small-package delivery services in the region, OECD said. In 2019, total revenues for courier, express and parcel delivery were estimated at $7.92 billion; the figure is expected to rise to $16.91 billion by 2025. “Cross-border e-commerce transactions have introduced new dynamics to international trade, while transforming value chains and requiring logistics companies to shift their business models,” OECD said. “This shift is even more relevant in Asean, where member-states are moving from export-oriented to consumer-driven economies,” it added.

Government to train Bilibid Pandemic may have worsened stunting of children in BARMM, WFP and WB say inmates in ‘agripreneurship’ By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

HE pandemic may have worsened stunting in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) where many children are already malnourished, according to the World Food Program (WFP) and World Bank (WB). In a briefing on Monday, WFP Officer-in-Charge/Head of Program Giorgi Dolidze said back in 2018, around 40 percent of children under five years old were already stunted in BARMM. Dolidze said this was based on the survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI). The data, he said, showed already high levels of food insecurity in the BARMM. “In BARMM, 40 percent of children under 5 are stunted, hindering their ability to reach their full mental and physical potential. The Covid-19 pandemic has surely far aggravated the situation,” Dolidze said. WB Operations Manager for the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Brunei Achim Fock agreed and said BARMM is not alone in its food and nutrition challenges. Fock said hunger and food in-

security is especially common in areas of conflict. He added that the situation in these parts of the world have also been aggravated by the pandemic. Currently, the WFP and WB are working with the BARMM to ensure food security in the region amid the pandemic. Through the help of WFP and WB, BARMM had already piloted food security programs in eight areas in the region. These areas, Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority Director General Mohajirin T. Ali said, are located in Maguindanao and Lanao, provinces that have high potential for agriculture. The WFP is working with the BARMM on projects related to food security and nutrition; disaster resilience; and agricultural development, among others. The WB, Fock said, is also financing several projects in the pipeline on food, nutrition, and education.

WB pipeline

BASED on WB data, there were 12 projects included in its pipeline in 2021. These projects amount to a total of $2.51 billion, composed mainly of loans and one grant. The pipeline includes the food and nutrition project, the Philip-

pines Multisectoral Nutrition Project, which will be financed through a $200-million loan. Some education projects include the Strengthening Alternative Learning System for All which will be financed through a $100 million worth loan and the Teacher Effectiveness and Competencies Enhancement Project, which may be financed by a $110-million loan. The largest loan worth $600 million is for the Philippines Promoting Competitiveness and Enhancing Resilience to Natural Disasters SubProgram 3 followed by the $500-million loan for the Fourth Disaster Risk Management Development Policy Loan with a Catastrophe-Deferred Drawdown Option. A loan of $100 million will each go to the Strengthening Alternative Learning System for All project; Agus-Pulangi Hydropower Complex Rehabilitation Series of Project 1; and Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project. The project set to receive a $0.74 million worth grant is the Philippines Conflict Monitoring Project. It aims to provide useful, timely, and reliable conflict data and analysis, briefing key stakeholders to inform their programming and actions.

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

HE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) is set to train Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) on urban agriculture at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City after a partnership was sealed by the agency with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) to implement the “Bagong Buhay sa Gulay” project. “This training will not only teach them about crops planting but they will also be able to help our government’s food security program as they produce their own food,” Tesda Secretary Isidro Lapeña said during the signing on September 15. Lapeña said that the partnership is part of Tesda’s mandate to provide skills training to PDLs to uplift their economic status and facilitate reintegration to their respective communities. Under the project, Tesda will conduct training for PDLs who will tend and sustain the vegetable gardens, while DA and DAR will provide quality seeds, planting

materials, and other inputs. Lapeña emphasized that while PDLs are under custody, they should not be deprived of opportunities and should also be entitled to develop their well being by honing their skills and enhancing their potentials. He assured the beneficiaries that Tesda would fully support them until they are reintegrated back to society. The MuntiParLasTaPat (Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Taguig, Pateros) District Training and Assessment Center (MDTAC) will be the training provider of the Urban Farming with Agripreneurship Project for the PDLs. Also, the Regional Training Center-National Capital Region (RTC-NCR) will conduct a training for the BuCor Employees in Agricultural Crops Production NC II for them to be certified trainers in the future. Present during the memorandum of agreement (MoA) signing were Tesda NCR Regional Director Florencio Sunico Jr., DA Secretary William Dar, DAR Mimaropa Regional Director Marvin Bernal, and BuCor Assistant Secretary Gabriel Chaclag.

SC opens application, nomination for another associate justice post By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

HE Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has opened the nomination and application for the post of associate justice which would be left vacant upon the compulsory retirement of Associate Justice Rosmari D. Carandang on January 9, 2022. The JBC, likewise, said it would start accepting applicants and nominees for five posts of associate justice of the Court of Appeals (CA) and more than 70 judgeship posts in four

judicial regions in Mindanao. The JBC, the constitutional body that screens applicants and nominates appointments to the judiciary, said the deadline for the application or recommendation is on November 2, 2021. Currently, there is still an existing vacancy in the SC owing to the early retirement last June 30 of Associate Justice Edgardo L. delos Santos due to health reasons. The JBC has come up with a shortlist of nominees for the said post, which include CA Associate Justices Ramon R. Cruz and Maria Filomena

D. Singh; Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo M. Cabotaje Tang and Associate Justice Geraldine Faith A. Econg; and Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez and Deputy Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva. The list was submitted by the JBC to President Duterte last August 27. The 69-year-old Justice Carandang was appointed by Duterte to the SC on November 26, 2018. Prior to this, Carandang served as an associate justice of the Court of Appeals for 15 years. Her career in the judiciary started

in December 1993 when she was appointed as presiding judge of Branch 12 of the Regional Trial Court of Manila City. Meanwhile, vacant posts in the CA were those left by Associate Justices Jhosep Y. Lopez ,who was promoted to the SC on January 25, 2021; Danton Q. Bueser who retired on March 14, 2021; Franchito N. Diamante who passed away May 4, 2021; Edgardo T. Lloren who retired August 8, 2021; and Elihu A. Ybanez who will retire on November 2, 2021. For Judicial Regions 9, 10, 11, and

12, vacant judgeship posts are for the regional trial court, municipal trial courts, municipal circuit trial courts, and Shari’a district court. TheseareintheprovincesofBasilan, Agusan del Sur, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Bukidnon, Sulu, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, DavaodelSur,DavaoOccidental,Davao Oriental, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat.

Govt workers in NCR no longer entitled to hazard pay under ALS–CSC exec By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

OVERNMENT workers in the National Capital Region (NCR) will no longer qualify for a hazard pay, according to the Civil Service Commission (CSC). In a television interview on

Monday, CSC Commissioner Aileen Lizada disclosed she was informed by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) that under the Alert Level System (ALS), NCR is no longer under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ ) or modified ECQ (MECQ ).

Under existing government guidelines, only public servants in ECQ and MECQ areas are entitled to hazard pay due to the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. Since the ALS was piloted last Thursday, NCR was placed under Alert Level 4. “Alert Levels 1 to 4 is

equivalent to GCQ [general community quarantine] and Alert Level 5 is ECQ. So hazard pay may be paid once the area is placed under Alert Level 5 po in NCR,” Lizada said, citing the explanation of DBM. Lizada said DBM would come out with an updated circular on the implementation of hazard

pay once the ALS is rolled out nationwide. Lizada also said CSC is currently conducting an online job fair as part of its celebration of the 121st Philippine Civil Service Anniversary. She sa id 2,660 job vaca nc ies nat ionw ide f rom 127 gover nment agenc ies

w i l l be made ava i l able in t he v ir t u a l event, wh ic h w i l l r u n f rom September 20 to 24, 2021. The CSC official said interested applicants may fill up a Personal Data Sheet on their JobStreet account, which she said could both be filed for free.

A10 Tuesday, September 21, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Govt needs private sector help vs Covid

he government was a bit slow in rolling out its vaccine program. Many countries, including our Asean neighbors Singapore and Indonesia, started vaccinating their people months ahead of us. By the time the first batch of vaccines arrived in the Philippines—1 million doses procured by the state, 1 million donated by China, and 500,000 via the Covax initiative—in March, more than half of Israel’s population had been fully vaccinated. We all know that the vaccines were meant for the virus first discovered in Wuhan, China. Studies have shown that the protection provided by two doses wanes after six months. Procuring booster shots should be the country’s next priority for us to recover socially and economically from the lingering effects of the pandemic. Inoculated countries in Europe, North America and the Middle East are now eyeing booster shots, especially those that are experiencing another wave of infections caused by the Delta variant. The Philippines is in a tight race between infections and vaccinations. We are now in the seventh month of our vaccination program, which means those that received the first jabs—our medical frontliners, elderly people, and friends and relatives with comorbidities—are now seeing waning protection and could be vulnerable to Delta and other variants. We don’t want to risk breakthrough infections to these vaccinated citizens. Are we going to dilly-dally in providing them extra protection? In a BusinessMirror report on September 10, Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin said the government should prioritize giving the third dose over herd immunity. “The third dose is what’s available now, therefore we should allow LGUs and the private sector to procure [vaccines]. They might be able to save us. Because if you talk about herd immunity—I’m sorry, even if 100 percent [of the people] are vaccinated for two doses there’s no herd immunity to talk about because of the Delta variant.” We agree with Rep. Garin, a former Health secretary, that the government should let the LGUs and private sector procure Covid vaccines, not just for the first two doses but also for the booster shots. And this should be done immediately. Other countries are already moving to secure additional vaccines for booster administration, which is expected to make supply availability a major issue. We have experienced delays in past government-initiated procurement of vaccines. On top of that, as Rep. Garin noted, the budget proposal of the Department of Health for next year only categorized the P45-billion Covid-19 booster program under unprogrammed funds, which means it can be funded only if government’s revenue collection exceeds the target. If the government does not have the money to procure booster shots, the private sector does. Corporations also have a faster turnaround in their procurement systems—they are willing and able. The government only needs to enable them through a policy shift—by allowing corporations to buy vaccines without the need for multi-party agreements. National Task Force Against Covid-19 Chief Implementer and Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said this is the direction that the country is taking. However, he did not say when this will happen, and if this will also include the procurement of booster shots. At a media forum on September 15, Rep. Garin and Senator Nancy Binay said the Vaccination Act of 2021, or Republic Act 11525, already covers procurement of vaccines by the private sector and local government units (LGU) for booster shots. They said the government can find ways and employ flexibilities to allow such vaccine purchases once Malacañang decides to do it. “There is such a thing as Mature Regulatory Agencies with actual trials for booster shots. If Pfizer already has full authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration, this can be used as the basis of the Philippine FDA to give access to the LGUs and the private sector. The Department of Health can serve as the consolidator,” Garin said. She said the government should not be swayed by the World Health Organization’s guidance against the administration of booster shots. “We are a small country. [The volume of] our third shot for health-care workers and persons with comorbidity is small. This is survival mode and the responsibility of our government is not to the WHO but to our people.” We sincerely hope that Galvez and the IATF, with continuous prodding from Rep. Garin, Sen. Binay and other like-minded policy-makers and experts will make this policy change fast. With the full and unhindered participation of the private sector, the program for booster shot administration will have a better success rate.

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ovid-19 is an evolving pandemic that demands a periodic calibration of responses. The current quarantine rules should not be set in stone because they can be fine-tuned to address a specific concern and effectively bring down the country’s infection rate. The current granular lockdowns being enforced in certain parts, streets or households in Metro Manila, for instance, could be modified or adjusted at once to allow uninfected or vaccinated neighbors to go out and participate in the economic recovery. There is no sensible reason to confine or lock down an individual or worker residing near an infected cluster if he is healthy or already vaccinated. Eighteen months into the pandemic, we should focus our attention to beefing up our health-care system and expanding the testing of the population to contain the spread of the virus and heal the sick. The enhanced community quarantine imposed in Metro Manila and nearby provinces did not stem the rise of Covid cases. The strict lockdown measure, instead, shut down the economy and did not provide the cure or the relief to alleviate virus cases. Thus, there is no reason to impose the ECQ again simply because the health crisis requires a medical remedy, not

a military-style lockdown response. We can reopen the economy safely, of course, as we vaccinate more people. But pending the achievement of herd immunity, like what has been done in Singapore or even Chile, we should take care of our health sector. What the nation needs are more bed facilities and health-care workers, increased isolation centers and widespread testing for the unvaccinated. Reports of Covid-19 infected patients being transported from the provinces to Metro Manila hospitals due to lack of facilities there are disheartening. Perhaps, we can also re-allocate part of our Covid funds to free mass testing to accurately identify the infected ones. The poorer population cannot afford the price of a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test if they go to a private hospital given the budgetary limits of a public health center. The maximum price charged by private laboratories is P5,000 and

‘Orcs’ and Evergrande

Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug Lorenzo M. Lomibao Jr., Gerard S. Ramos Lyn B. Resurreccion, Dennis D. Estopace Angel R. Calso

Chairman of the Board President Advertising Sales Manager Group Circulation Manager

Manny B. Villar

Lourdes M. Fernandez

Senior Editors

Creative Director Chief Photographer

Fine-tuning the lockdown measures

John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

mericans, in general, and some US politicians, in particular, are the most ignorant people on planet Earth when it comes to being aware let alone understanding what is going on outside of their own country. I am probably being too harsh, but so much of what they know is from reading local newspapers that are not the pinnacle of accurate information.

China and Philippine government-to-government relations are a “critical” election issue, according to at least one presidential candidate. Certainly, foreign relations should be a part of the discussion. However, if this discussion is going to be more than a meaningless and emotional campaign issue rather than substantive, it might be well for candidates to know current events vis-a-vis China. My China questions: “Sir [or Madame as the case may be], how do

you think that the new AUKUS pact is going to affect Southeast Asian relations with China and particularly as regards the Philippines?” “With Evergrande share price down 90 percent and its bonds nearly worthless, what is the Philippines exposure to this problem?” The Pharmally Pharmaceutical issue is a domestic matter, unless you might include its connections to Taiwan and not Big China. However, AUKUS (best pronounced ‘Orcs’?)

Alert Level 4 allows the reopening of dine-in restaurants and personal care services such as barbershops, beauty salons and nail spas in the capital region at 30 percent capacity for outdoor and 10 percent indoor. Authorities should raise the capacity of these establishments to encourage more people to join the economic recovery process. P3,800 for public laboratories. The poor and those with meager income can infect more people and spread the virus if they skip the costly RT-PCR test. But I am pleased to learn that the government is moving to increase the health-care budget for next year. President Rodrigo Duterte has promised to look for funds that will enable the government to hire more health-care workers, given the stressed condition of our medical frontliners. This same manpower lack in hospitals and inadequate medical facilities have triggered the strict lockdown measures that impaired economic activities. The substantial reopening of the economy, meanwhile, should receive equal priority from our authorities. We cannot afford to shut down the economy anymore and always link its fate to the number of Covid cases. The World Health Organization has already considered Covid-19 endemic, or one that will live with us even in a herd immunity scenario.

is both a huge regional and international concern. Orcs is the recently announced trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Under the pact, the US and UK agree to help Australia to develop and deploy nuclearpowered submarines, adding to the Western military presence in the Pacific region. France had a firm deal—at least they thought—to sell some $40 billion of conventional submarines to Australia. While both the US and Australia say that the French knew the deal was in jeopardy for some time, France is so angry from betrayal that it withdrew its ambassadors from both the US and Australia. This is unprecedented, particularly as concerns the US. France was the first ally of the new United States in 1778 and that treaty and military support proved decisive in the victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War. Further, Orcs is a direct challenge to China and its power in the Western Pacific. New Aussie Nuke subs

As I’ve written in this column before, the Philippines must live with the virus from hereon. We can reopen the economy and fight the virus at the same time, as long as the people comply strictly with the health protocols of wearing a face mask and shield, social distancing and frequent washing of hands. The granular or isolated lockdowns being enforced in certain households or streets, and the return to the modified general community quarantine (Alert Level 4) are a step in the right direction. However, certain restrictions should be finetuned to enable more Filipinos to rejoin the labor force. Alert Level 4 allows the reopening of dine-in restaurants and personal care services such as barbershops, beauty salons and nail spas in the capital region at 30 percent capacity for outdoor and 10 percent indoor. Authorities should raise the capacity of these establishments to encourage more people to join the economic recovery process. Business establishments will be hard-pressed to operate under these conditions. Very few of these outlets will break even, much less hire more people. The current GCQ with Alert Level 4 in Metro Manila is on an experimental basis. But our authorities just the same should be quick to react and calibrate some features of the experimental lockdown mode. For comments, send e-mail to mbv_secretariat@vistaland.com.ph or visit www.mannyvillar. com.ph

are not going to just be sailing the Antarctic Ocean. The mainstream press said that the Chinese government response to Orcs was “predictable.” Nothing to see here or worry about. In truth, the Chinese are Wuhan Bat Soup crazy about Orcs. Not so long ago, Australia abandoned plans for a free trade agreement with Taiwan at Beijing’s insistence. The Great Game in Southeast Asia just changed substantially, and the Philippines is definitely a player in that game. Evergrande Group is China’s second-largest property developer by sales and in 2018 became the world’s most valuable real estate company. That was then. Now it is ready to go out of business, unless the Chinese government bails it out. It is estimated that around 1,500,000 customers could lose deposits on Evergrande homes that have yet to be built. In 2020, its revenue was $79 billion. The firm says it has 200,000 employees, but indirectly creates more than 3.8 million jobs every year. But See “Mangun,” A11

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Local tax assessments and refund

Great crises produce great men Manny F. Dooc

TELLTALES

Atty. Rodel C. Unciano

Tax Law for Business

ection 195 of the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991 provides a remedy for protesting an assessment of local taxes. Under this provision:

1. A taxpayer may file a written protest with the local treasurer within a period of 60 days from the receipt of the notice of assessment. Otherwise, the assessment shall become final and executory. 2. The local treasurer will then decide the protest within 60 days from the time of its filing. 3. If the local treasurer finds the protest to be wholly or partly meritorious, he will issue a notice cancelling wholly or partially the assessment. 4. If the local treasurer finds the assessment to be wholly or partly correct, he shall deny the protest wholly or partly. 5. The taxpayer will have 30 days from the receipt of the denial of the protest or from the lapse of the 60-day period within which to appeal with the court of competent jurisdiction, otherwise the assessment becomes conclusive and unappealable. On the other hand, under Section 196 of the same code, a taxpayer may claim for the refund or credit of any tax, fee, or charge erroneously or illegally collected within two years from the date of the payment of such tax, fee, or charge. The twoyear prescriptive period applies to both administrative claims with the local treasurer and before the courts. Oftentimes, in local tax assessment cases, taxpayers are constrained in paying the taxes as assessed just for the sake of being able to secure their business permits before the relevant local government unit (LGU). So, what happens if there is payment of tax on the basis of the assessment issued by the LGU? Can the taxpayer seek a refund of the payments made? In one case, the Supreme Court had the occasion to rule that a taxpayer who had protested and paid an assessment is not precluded from subsequently instituting an action for refund or credit. However, the taxpayer cannot choose to pay the assessment and seek a refund at any time within the full period of two years as provided under Section 196 of the LGC. The Court ruled that in case of assessment, the taxpayer may proceed (a) without payment, or (b) with payment of the assessed tax, fee or charge. Whether there is payment of the assessed tax or not, the protest must be made within 60 days from receipt of the notice of assessment, otherwise, the assessment will become final and conclusive. Additionally, the subsequent court action must be initiated within 30 days from denial or inaction by the local treasurer, otherwise, the assessment becomes conclusive and unappealable. Where no payment is made, the taxpayer’s procedural remedy is governed strictly by Section 195. Thus, the protest must be made within 60 days from receipt of the

Mangun. . .

Continued from A10

it also cannot pay its bond debt of over $300 billion, and additionally has $38 billion owed to suppliers and contractors. Fitch Ratings—the experts on the Philippine economy—ranked Evergrande below investment-grade and “affirmed” the company’s “Highly Speculative B+ rating credit with a limited margin of safety” in September 2020. Now it’s “CC; Very high

In one case, the Supreme Court had the occasion to rule that a taxpayer who had protested and paid an assessment is not precluded from subsequently instituting an action for refund or credit. However, the taxpayer cannot choose to pay the assessment and seek a refund at any time within the full period of two years as provided under Section 196 of the LGC. notice of assessment, otherwise, the assessment will become final and conclusive. In case of whole or partial denial of the protest, or inaction by the local treasurer, the taxpayer’s only recourse is to appeal the assessment with the court of competent jurisdiction. The appeal before the court does not seek a refund but only questions the validity or correctness of the assessment. Where payment was made, the taxpayer may maintain an action in court to question the validity and correctness of the assessment under Section 195 of the LGC and at the same time seek a refund of the taxes. However, the taxpayer cannot choose to pay the assessment and seek a refund at any time within the full period of two years from the date of payment as provided under Section 196. If refund is pursued, the taxpayer must administratively question the validity or correctness of the assessment within 60 days from receipt of the notice of assessment, and then bring suit in court within 30 days from either decision or inaction by the local treasurer. Thus, there are two conditions that must be satisfied in order to successfully prosecute an action for refund in case the taxpayer had received an assessment: 1. Pay the tax and administratively assail the assessment before the local treasurer within 60 days from receipt thereof. The taxpayer cannot choose to pay the assessment and seek a refund at any time within the full period of two years from the date of payment. 2. Bring an action in court within 30 days from decision or inaction by the local treasurer, whether such action is denominated as an appeal from assessment and/or claim for refund of erroneously or illegally collected tax. The author is a partner of Du-Baladad and Associates Law Offices (BDB Law), a member-firm of WTS Global. The article is for general information only and is not intended, nor should be construed as a substitute for tax, legal or financial advice on any specific matter. Applicability of this article to any actual or particular tax or legal issue should be supported therefore by a professional study or advice. If you have any comments or questions concerning the article, you may e-mail the author at rodel.unciano@ bdblaw.com.ph or call 8403-2001 local 140.

levels of credit risk, Default of some kind appears probable.” When Evergrande goes belly up and depending on the Chinese government response, the regional fallout will be felt. And when the Chinese government is facing a domestic problem, it is guaranteed that it turns to making loud noises internationally. 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.

Tuesday, September 21, 2021 A11

T was US President John F. Kennedy who said more than six decades ago that “great crises produce great men and great deeds of courage.” That was my thought while I was watching Senator Richard Gordon as he opened up the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing last Friday on the alleged irregularities in the purchases of face masks and shields, Covid-19 medical test kits and PPEs. Thrust into the sensitive role as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations, more commonly known as the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Senator Gordon handles the unenviable task of investigating alleged anomalies in the government, its officials, including the President, and its attached agencies, in aid of legislation. Given its functions, the Blue Ribbon Committee is considered as the most powerful committee in the Upper Chamber, if not in the entire Congress. Since its creation in the 1950s, the Blue Ribbon was conceived to investigate wrongdoing of the Executive branch. It was the brainchild of Senator Justiniano Montano of Cavite who was one of the severest critics of then-President Elpidio Quirino, a fellow Liberal. Montano and his faction formed a group known as the “Little Senate” and spearheaded the formation of the Blue Ribbon Committee to effectively fiscalize the administration, and conduct investigation of the excesses and questionable transactions of the Executive branch, if warranted. Thus, the Blue Ribbon has been the bane of every president as head of the Executive department. From the time

of President Quirino up to President Rodrigo Duterte, the Blue Ribbon Committee, true to its mandate, has looked into alleged scandals hounding the administration. Under President Duterte’s presidency since 2016, the Blue Ribbon Committee has conducted investigations of at least half a dozen alleged anomalies. Notable among them are the reported Bureau of Immigration Bribery scandal in 2016, the Dengvaxia controversy in 2017, the Bureau of Customs drug smuggling scandal in 2017, the Bureau of Prisons good conduct time allowance irregularity in 2019 and the various PhilHealth controversies. There’s no denying that the Gordon-led inquiries have resulted in eventual prosecution and even conviction of the accused in some cases. In most of them, involved officials have been removed from their office although a favored few have been recycled and appointed to other positions. The prosecution and conviction belong to the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice and the proper courts after the Blue Ribbon Committee has completed its probe. While others may not be satisfied with the performance of the present Blue Ribbon Committee under Senator Gordon, like former

Senator Antonio Trillanes who has labeled it as the “Committee de Absuelto,” overall the Committee has done its job. And now, the Blue Ribbon Committee is facing its acid test. Investigating the alleged anomalous purchases of the pandemic supplies has now reached the doors of Malacañang. The video of President Duterte receiving Michael Yang accompanied by the alleged executives of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, which bagged the biggest supply deal on March 17, 2017 in Davao City, suggested a connection between the President’s economic adviser and the Chinese suppliers. The video that was procured and shown by Senator Gordon during the hearing created a perception to the public, rightly or wrongly, of influence peddling at the very least. This definitely miffed the President who has been adamantly denying that he would not tolerate even a whiff of corruption in his government. Later, subsequent admission by Pharmally Chairperson Huang Tzu Yen that Yang lent money to his firm to finance the transaction only thickened the plot. Throughout history, no sitting president has been so actively involved in preventing, if not obstructing the investigation of the Blue Ribbon Committee, an adjunct of an independent and co-equal branch of government. In the past, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo prevented her cabinet officials from attending Senate hearings without her prior approval. President Duterte has declared that he would adopt this but he has done much more to undermine the work of the Blue Ribbon Committee. At the onset, President Duterte has assailed the report of the Commission on Audit and attacked COA. Then he lambasted the Senate for playing politics and hurled personal attacks against Senator Gordon

and the leading members of the Committee, Senators Franklin Drilon and Panfilo Lacson. He virtually called Gordon corrupt and for using the Philippine Red Cross as his milking cow to fund his political activities. He likewise called for the audit of both the PRC and COA. President Duterte instructed his people to ignore the Blue Ribbon Committee. Stung by the derogatory name-calling hurled at him by the President and the aspersion against the institution which he reveres, Gordon minced no words and called the President “a cheap politician” who does not deserve the support of his people. “It’s hard to support you because you don’t act like a president.… Today, I tell you, you are not the president the Filipino people can respect.” Gordon’s courage and audacity have earned him the respect and appreciation not only of his fellow senators but also the audience watching the hearing. We have not seen the same daring and boldness made against the President who is known for his rudeness and coarse talks. Gordon might have used intemperate language but sometimes using harsh words will deliver the message. He knows the risks he is taking personally and politically but he is determined to pursue the truth though heavens may fall. President Duterte declared that he would campaign personally against Gordon if he runs for public office in 2022. Given the President’s popularity and clout, a man of lesser stuff would rather kiss his political plan goodbye. But not Gordon. He’s a maverick and not easily daunted. He fought an incumbent president before to defend his rights and the interests of the SBMA workers. He’s been there before and survived. Filipinos love an underdog. This ongoing hearing, if he plays his cards well, will make him a hero before the eyes of his countrymen.

‘My account, my rules. If you don’t like it, just don’t watch’ Lyca Balita

Onwards

ne day, you hear about a trending issue, maybe an interview of a dictator’s son, so you pull up Twitter, Facebook, Tiktok, or another social media platform to learn what happened. Maybe the issue is political, religious, scientific, whatever. What matters is that your timeline says there are only two general opposing sides : the pro and the anti. You keep scrolling, and one side dominates your timeline, and, most likely, you agree with this group. You follow these people for a reason anyway—you probably share the same principles. Still, the issue is fresh, so you try to read all sides of the debate. Eventually, you have a stand. The pack says you’re either pro or anti, so you have to pick a side depending on your pack’s ideals. Inevitably, you see a post you don’t agree with, so you unfriend or unfollow whoever made it. Maybe you warn your friends to do the same because that person’s views do not align with your own. You keep doing this—unfriend, unfollow, repeat— until your network is just people who share the same principles. I mean, if you don’t like it, just don’t

watch, right? Eventually, the issue will die down. In the meantime, new issues arise, as they always do, and it’s the same cycle: new debates, pick a side, timeline cleanse. Your group becomes more defined, more firm with its views. But here’s the danger with this cycle: a few months or years later, the opposing groups will become immovably firm with their stand. There has been no discourse because groups have cut off one another, so the misinformed will never be educated. Ideas never improve. By this time, minds can’t be changed anymore. To each group, its view is correct, and the opposite is evil. All this, because these people have spent months or years in echo

chambers where they confirm their biases, so any facts, statistics, and solid pieces of evidence just bounce off. What’s wrong with that? First, the wrong never change their minds despite new evidence. History, data, and indisputable facts just won’t work. “If you don’t agree with me, you can unfollow me.” Second, and more dangerously, echo chambers are great breeding grounds for dangerously radical ideas. Some beliefs can be subject to acceptance—some people won’t agree, and that’s okay. But sometimes, ideas evolve and develop factions with extreme beliefs they would literally kill for. They become unacceptable because they actually harm others already. Groups reach this point because no one educates, calls them out, or challenges their beliefs, so they become more certain that their view is the only correct one and everyone else must go. The safest example to state: violent extremist religious groups. But ideas don’t need to kill to get dangerous enough to be beyond the realm of acceptance or tolerance. Some ideas encourage physical violence, spread illnesses, disrespect victims, or take away rights, just to name a few. They can bring real harm to real people. And most of the time, their minds can’t be changed anymore, so the danger never ceases.

They didn’t start out that way: it was just a “personal opinion” once upon a time. But the culture of timeline cleansing (i.e., if you don’t like it, just unfollow me) led to radicalism, intellectual pride, false dichotomies, and actual harm to real people. Objective discourse became exhausting. Everyone got tired of trying to educate one another, so we chose to resort to ad hominem and unfollowing instead. It’s a lot easier to simply clean our timelines so we are surrounded by people who affirm our beliefs, but the consequences of this convenience can bring real harm to people in the real world. So, maybe “if you don’t like it, just don’t watch it,” isn’t the brilliant take that we thought it was. Of course, sometimes, we have to clean our timelines for our own mental health, especially those with trauma. This is understandable. But in other instances, we can help prevent these ideas from reaching dangerous levels through humble, objective discourse. Surprisingly, many people we’ve branded stubborn or unreasonable actually listen when facts are presented patiently and humbly, if only we step out of our echo chambers. Who knows? We might even learn something new. For feedback, send an e-mail to lyca.balita@ gmail.com

France and Australia agree submarines won’t stop trade deal By Rod McGuirk The Associated Press

A NBE R R A , Australi a— French and Australian officials said Monday that France’s anger over a canceled submarine contract will not derail negotiations on an Australia-European Union free trade deal. France withdrew its ambassadors to the United States and Australia after President Joe Biden revealed last week a new alliance including

Australia and Britain that would deliver an Australian fleet of at least eight nuclear-powered submarines. The deal sunk a 90 billion Australian dollar ($66 billion) contract for French majority state-owned Naval Group to build 12 conventional diesel-electric submarines for Australia. The money would have been spent over 35 years. French Ambassador to Australia Jean-Pierre Thebault denied media reports that France was lobbying the European Union not to sign the

trade deal with Australia that has been under negotiation since 2018. “At this stage, negotiations do continue and there is a strong interest... for Australia to have a free trade agreement with the EU,” Thebault told Australian Broadcasting Corp. from Paris. Such a deal “has the potential to deliver a huge amount of benefits for Australia,” Thebault added. Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan said he would travel to Paris within weeks for trade negations and

was “very keen to touch base with my French counterpart,” Franck Riester. “There’s a strong understanding from my recent trip to Europe to discuss the EU free trade agreement this is in the mutual interests of both Australia and of Europe,” Tehan said, referring to an April visit. “I see no reason why those discussions won’t continue,” Tehan added. French President Emmanuel Macron will speak in the coming days with Biden in their first contact since the diplomatic crisis erupted.

A12 Tuesday, September 21, 2021

‘BAYANIHAN 1 MADE DEALS WITH PHARMALLY LEGAL’

OR M ER of f ic i a l s of the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PSDBM) and a leader of the House of Representatives on Monday said Republic Act 11469 or Bayanihan 1 gave the government the legal basis to purchase “readily available” face shields and face masks last year. At the hearing of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on alleged overpriced Covid-19 supplies, Lloyd Christopher Lao, former head of the PSDBM, said the government will always choose the supplies that are immediately available in a crisis. “Based on the judgment call, I would choose the items that are present,” said Lao as he reiterated that there was no anomaly in the procurement of emergency supplies last year. For his part, Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta said the procurement made by the PS-DBM was legal under Bayanihan 1, saying, “who will you choose: the supplier with a higher price but can deliver immediately the needed supplies or a supplier with lower price but cannot deliver immediately?” Marcoleta also cited anew the RA 11469 or Bayanihan 1 or the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act, which authorizes the Presi-

dent to adopt and implement measures needed to respond to the crisis brought by Covid-19 as the need arises, in the most expeditious manner, as exemptions from the provisions of RA9184 and other relevant laws. The controversial Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. secured P8.6 billion worth of the government contracts for the PPEs in 2020 and P2.9 billion in 2021. Pharmally was registered in September 2019 with the Securities and Exchange Commission with a paid-up capital of P625,000. Deputy Ombudsman Warren Liong, a former director of the PS-DBM, said Bayanihan 1 law allows the government to negotiate directly for the Cov id-19 supplies. With Bayanihan 1, he reiterated that Congress recognized the need to give the President the power to procure in the most expeditious manner given the emergency. Liong claimed the purchase of Covid-19 supplies from Pharmally was not overpriced. Last week, COA Chairman Michael Aguinaldo also said the Palace had the power to ignore Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act because of the passage of Bayanihan 1. Continued on A2

Ex-PNP chief ‘Bato’ endorses ’22 budget of human-rights body By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

EN. Ronald “Bato”dela Rosa, heading a Finance subcommittee examining the 2022 budget, on Monday endorsed to the Senate plenary the P867.251million proposed outlay for the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), whose head he had often engaged during his time as chief of the National Police tasked to lead the war on drugs. At the end of the subcommittee hearing that had Chairman Jose Luis Martin “Chito” Gascon defending his agency’s budget, Sen. Nancy Binay moved to endorse the appropriation, to cover both the CHR and a proposed Human Rights Victims Memorial Commission. The dynamic between dela Rosa and Gascon was cordial all throughout, with the senator noting toward the end that in his three years at the Senate, he had always supported full endorsement of the CHR budget, even though, as then-PNP chief, he tangled occasionally with Gascon. The CHR was swamped since 2016 by families alleging the extrajudicial killings of relatives tagged as drug suspects. Gascon confirmed that, yes, Dela Rosa, when he became senator, never tried to block their budget. An interesting sidelight was a long exchange between the former top policeman and the humanrights advocate regarding the looming International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into alleged EJKs in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, where dela Rosa is implicated along with the President. The senator told Gascon he has never shirked any investigation on his accountability, and had

supported all inquiries into cases where policemen were accused of violating rights while fighting drug suspects. However, he stressed, “I’d rather be tried, convicted, even hanged before a Filipino court rather than be tried, convicted and hanged by a foreign court. Siguro naman [I would think], it’s part of my human right.” Gascon responded by reminding Dela Rosa, “we don’t have the death penalty here. Nor does ICC have a death penalty.” So, Dela Rosa said, “okay, incarcerated forever after being convicted of crimes under ICC.” That, he said, is acceptable if it’s a judgment by a local court. However, Gascon explained that a “core fundamental principle of ICC is complementarity—it is deferential [to states].” He elaborated: “If it believes under its own assessment, that a state itself has a workable justice system” or “is able, willing . . . to hold accountable the perpetrators of serious crime, then its approach is not to proceed.” A pillar of ICC principles is also to uphold both the rights of alleged victims and of the accused, he added. The important thing, Gascon added, “is for us to show that the Philippine government is serious . . .And the unique opportunity we have is this agreement,” referring to the Rome Statute which the Philippines ratified, signalling its membership in the ICC. T h e D ut e r t e g o v e r n m e nt pulled out of the ICC in 2019, but a recent order by an ICC pretrial unit gave clearance to proceed with an investigation into EJK allegations in the Philippines, covering incidents between 2016 when Duterte was elected, and 2019, up till the time the Philippines’s pullout became effective. See “Bato,” A2

House opens deliberations on ₧5-T budget for 2022

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

@joveemarie

HE House of Representatives starts today (September 21) the plenary deliberations on the P5.024-trillion national budget for 2022, with the target approval by end of the month.

House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Eric Go Yap said he will now ask the Office of the President to issue an urgent certification to expedite the approval of the 2022 budget. With this certification, the Congress dispenses with the threeday rule for the passage of a measure. “We will start the plenary deliberations on September 21. There are no amendments [to the budget proposal] at the committee level,” he said. “After the committee report [reaches the plenary] I will make a formal request to the Office of the President so the budget bill can be certified as urgent so we can approve it on third reading by September 30,” Yap said. Yap, along with House Committee on Appropriations senior vice chairmen Joey Sarte Salceda and Teodorico Haresco Jr. will sponsor

the budget bill at the plenary. The Congress will go on a break from October 1 to November 7 as candidates for all national and local positions are expected to file their certificates of candidacy. With the theme, “Sustaining the Legacy of Real Change for Future Generations,” the P5.024trillion NEP for 2022 is equivalent to 22.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and is higher by 11.5 percent than the 2021 national budget. For 2022, the government expects to generate P3.290 trillion in total revenues, representing 14.9 percent of the GDP. Also, deficit as a share of GDP will reach 7.5 percent next year, lower than the 9.3 percent of GDP program this year.

Covid, growth, infra

IN a statement, the Department of

Budget and Management (DBM) said the NEP was carefully crafted to provide the necessary funding requirements to support the country’s resilience amid the Covid-19 pandemic, to sustain the trajectory of economic growth, and to continue the legacy of infrastructure development. The DBM said bulk of the budget —P1.456 trillion or 29.0 percent of the FY 2022 NEP—will go to Personnel Services expenditures to cover the hiring of healthcare workers and teaching personnel, the implementation of the third tranche of the Salary Standardization Law V, and the requirements of the 2018 Military and Uniformed Personnel pension arrears, among others. Capital Outlays are pegged at P939.8 billion while Maintenance and Other Operating Expenditures will reach P777.9 billion next year, it said. The agency added that debt burden amounts to P541.3 billion, and corners 10.8 percent of the 2022 NEP and is lower by 3.4 percent year-on-year. It said the support to Government- Ow ned and - Controlled Corporations, composed of national government subsidies and equity, sums up to P178.0 billion while tax expenditures remain the same as this year’s level at P14.5 billion. The DBM said the allocation to local government units (LGUs)

will amount to P1.116 trillion. This includes the P959-billion National Tax Allotment share of LGUs, consistent with the Supreme Court ruling on the Mandanas-Garcia case. The DBM said the education sector covering the Department of Education (DepEd), State Universities and Colleges and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), shall receive the highest allocation with P773.6 billion, higher by P21.9 billion or 2.9 percent compared to its share from the 2021 budget. This is followed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with P686.1 billion, Department of the Interior and Local Government with P250.4 billion, Department of Health and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation with P242.0 billion, Department of National Defense with P222.0 billion, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with P191.4 billion, Department of Transportation (DOTr) with P151.3 billion, Department of Agriculture (DA) and National Irrigation Administration (NIA) with P103.5 billion, The Judiciary with P45.0 billion, and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) with P44.9 billion. In total, the budget of the top 1-departments amounts to P2.71 trillion and comprises 53.9 percent of the FY 2022 NEP.

A YOUNG boy takes a photo of a mural celebrating the 45th anniversary of the animated TV series Voltes V, in Barangay 677, Paco, Manila. The mural was done by Team Mr. Mark and Angelo Agoo. NONIE REYES

It’s official: Delta is now dominant virus strain in PHL By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Correspondent

HE Department of Health (DOH) on Monday reported the detection of an additional 319 Delta (B.1.617.2) variant cases, 9 Beta (B.1.351) variant cases, 13 Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant cases, in the latest batch of whole genome sequencing conducted by the University of the Philippines - Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC). Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that of the latest (September 18) run comprising 374 samples, 85.3 percent were Delta;

Beta, 2.4 percent, Alpha, 3.5 percent. Vergeire said this makes the Delta variant now the most common lineage (24.2 percent) among the 12,530 samples with lineage that were sequenced nationally. T he Beta var iant compr ises 21.8 percent among all samples sequenced, making it the second most common lineage. “The Alpha variant comprises of 19.6 percent or 2,461 samples positive for the Alpha variant while 0.02 percent or 2 samples were positive for the Gamma variant,” Vergeire said. Vergeire explained the fewer numbers in the samples sequenced: some

of the staff at PGC have contracted Covid-19. Meanwhile, she said that all regions and all National Capital Region (NCR) city/municipality either have Alpha or Beta variants detected. “The Delta variant, initially detected from returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs), is now detected in all 17 regions and all NCR city/municipality as well. The P.3 variant, while initially observed in only one region, is now detected in all regions,” she said. Local cases of Alpha and Beta, she added, can be directly linked to an introduction by an incoming international traveler. Of 916 ROF samples

sequenced, 601 (65.6 percent) were positive for a variant of concern. Vergeire reminded the public that as cases with the Delta variant and other variants of concern comprised the largest percentage of cases included for sequencing on this latest run, the DOH strongly reminds everyone to continue its enhanced PDITR (Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate) plus vaccination strategies, ramped up active case finding, contact tracing and testing, and strict adherence to the minimum public health standards across all settings to prevent the transmission of the Covid-19 and its variants.

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Companies BusinessMirror

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

AboitizPower to offer ₧12B in fixed-rate retail bonds

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

he board of Aboitiz Power Corp. has approved the company’s issuance of up to P12 billion in fixed-rate retail bonds in the fourth quarter. The amount represents the second tranche of the P30-billion bonds registered last March under the shelf registration program of the Securities Exchange Commission. The first tranche—P8 billion, including oversubscription—was issued last March 1. “Subject to market conditions, the Second Tranche Bonds is expected to be offered to the general public in the fourth quarter of 2021 and shall be listed with the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corporation

(PDEx) as and when issued,” it said in a disclosure Monday. The company’s board also delegated management to determine the final issue amount, interest rate, offer price, tenors, and other terms and conditions of the bonds, including the parties that will manage the offer. Proceeds of the second tranche will be used for refinancing, general corporate purposes and future renewable projects. The power firm’s goal is to end

with 9,200megawatts (MW) of total attributable net sellable capacity in the next decade. Of which, 4,600MW will come from various renewable energy (RE) sources. To meet the 4,600MW RE capacity target, AboitizPower needs to build around 3,700 MW of additional RE capacity under its Cleanergy portfolio. The company has said it is ready to spend P190 billion to add 3,700MW in its RE portfolio. As of July this year, AboitizPower has already identified 2,364 MW of new RE projects, all in varying stages of development and located primarily in Luzon. “We are committed to seeing through our 10-year strategy and this is only the beginning. There will be more beyond this pipeline in order for us to reach our target,” AboitizPower President Emmanuel V. Rubio said. The company’s pipeline RE projects are currently 60 percent solar, 32 percent wind, and 9 percent hydro.

Since all of these projects are still in the development stage, specific details on size and cost are still being finalized. “We look forward to making further announcements in the coming months as we progress with these projects,” Rubio added. The power firm is optimistic that it can hit its 2030 goal without building any new coal-fired power plant facilities. The company reported in July that its net income in the first half reached P10.1 billion. In the second quarter alone, its net income reached P4 billion. AboitizPower reported strong financial results in the second quarter as its newest power facility—GNPower Dinginin 1—was commissioned. It also recognized higher water inflow, higher demand, and higher WESM dispatch in compliance with the must-offer rule as among the factors that boosted earnings.

Firms vow to go carbon neutral A

group of companies that have committed to take immediate action toward achieving carbon neutrality on Monday forged an alliance to be an enabler for each other and be the “prime movers” in decarbonizing their respective industries. Dubbed the Net Zero Carbon Alliance, Energy Development Corp. (EDC) is spearheading the movement for the country to become carbon neutral, in line with the Department of Energy’s goal to reduce carbon emissions by as much as 75 percent as part of the government’s Nationally Determined Contributions to the landmark global COP 21 Paris climate change agreement. “We are putting into action our revitalized mission in the Lopez Group to ‘forge collaborative pathways for a decarbonized and regenerative future’ by seeking partnerships and synergies with fellow enterprises

in the country,” said EDC President and COO Richard Tantoco during a webinar. Other members of the alliance include property developer ArthaLand; Lopez Group affiliate First Balfour; Drink Sustainability Communications; Silliman University in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental; and the local operations of multinational firms Analog Devices, Coca-Cola, Knowles Electronics, and Unilever. The Net Zero Carbon program is strategically developed to provide partners with a roadmap to attain carbon neutrality through the sharing of best practices and scaling up of carbon emission offsetting and tracking, as well as assistance in obtaining third-party certification of carbon emissions and offsets, and even access to “green” financing, among many other capacitybuilding tools. EDC’s guidance will be primarily

‘SFEX served 1.3M motorists since February’

Tour operators group projects tourism ‘takeoff’ before year-end

lex Corp. said on Monday that the Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEX) has served more than 1.3 million motorists since it was opened in February, helping spur economic activities in the area. Luigi L. Bautista, the company’s president, said the new road will continue helping businesses “recover from the economic impact of the global health crisis.” “Infrastructure developments like the recently expanded SFEX offer a breath of fresh air amid the Covid-19 pandemic as they enable access and improve mobility in the Central Luzon region thus offer opportunities for people and businesses alike,” he said. Nlex Corp. completed the expansion of SFEX in February, spending P1.6 billion to add one lane for each direction. A total of 16.4 new lane kilometers, two new bridges in Jadjad and Argonaut, and a new tunnel were constructed as part of the expansion project. The company also installed LED lights, raised the elevation of the Maritan Highway-Rizal Highway-Tipo Road junction, and improved the area’s drainage system. Lorenz S. Marasigan

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo @akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

OMESTIC tourism is expected to surge before the end of the year, as more Filipinos hopefully deal with less Covid-19 lockdowns and spend more money on vacations. This was the brave forecast of Cesar Cruz, president of the Philippine Tour Operators Association (Philtoa) on Monday, in a news briefing at the Subic Bay Freeport, the site of the ongoing Philippine Travel Exchange (Phitex) 2021. “In Boracay, for example, when it reopened in June, you can really see the profile of the visitors [was] across the social status. Many said, it would be difficult for them to recover because people had no more money and only the highend [guests] would visit.” At the hotel where he stayed, for example, occupancy was 50 percent, and it caters to the middle-income market. He observed that domestic tourists have already “embraced the challenge” of traveling during the pandemic such as the difficulty in getting their QR codes, or paying for the RT-PCR tests. “Given the mind-

based on its experience as a carbon negative company through its 100 percent RE operations and protection and restoration of the forests within its geothermal projects sites. With EDC’s established decarbonization mechanisms, partners can adopt these practices and leverage them toward carbon offsetting and sequestration. “We are extremely excited with the enthusiastic participation of our partners and we are looking forward to working with more and more enterprises in the local business sector as we move toward our common goal of mitigating the global challenge of climate change,” said Tantoco. He said about 55 percent of the energy in the Philippines is produced from coal-fired power plants. Businesses, he said, can elect to buy their energy from clean sources at about the same cost. “It doesn’t have to be expen-

set now of our domestic traveler, we are very optimistic that before the end of the year, depending on the restrictions, we [tourism] can already take off.” While he could not predict when tourism will recover to pre-pandemic times, Cruz said, “If only we could bring back half of the P3-trillion tourism receipts of domestic tourism in 2019, it’s more than enough.” Phitex is an annual event that gathers local travel trade sellers and foreign buyers in a series of businessto-business meetings. Held for the second year as a hybrid event from September 19 to 23, this time at the Acea Hotel at the Subic Bay Freeport, participants include 122 buyers from 33 countries and 156 sellers, 33 of whom are onsite and 123 online.

Projected deals

Tour ism Promot ions Board (TPB) Chief Operating Officer Ma. Anthonette Velasco-Allones said they are projecting revenue from the closed business deals to reach some P108 million. As of 10 a.m. on Monday, there were 1,258 approved business-to-business engagements. TPB, the marketing arm of the Department of Tour-

sive. There’s a regulation already that allows businesses that have a demand of P350,000 or more per month to buy clean energy. If businesses band together to create the demand side for clean energy, other businesses will create the supply side for clean energy. I think it’s possible and not necessarily going to hurt the bottomline,” said Tantoco. EDC is the country’s biggest 100-percent RE company which accounts for over 40 percent of the Philippines’s RE output and serves about 10 percent of the country’s overall electricity demand with its installed capacity of almost 1,500MW. Its 1,181MW geothermal portfolio accounts for 62 percent of the country’s total installed geothermal capacity and has put the Philippines on the map as the world’s third largest geothermal power producer. Lenie Lectura

ism (DOT), is the lead organizer of Phitex. Last year’s Phitex held on Panglao Island, Bohol generated P42 million in revenue, with international buyers reaching 122 from 34 countries, and 345 local sellers. For her part, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chair and administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the occupancy levels of some hotels in the freeport “are better than others” because they are operating as quarantine facilities. “It’s also very important for us to have leisure hotels because business continues, not just for tourism but there are many arriving for business meetings that will need hotel accommodation here. I won’t say we are back to the same pre-pandemic times [for leisure tourism], but things 2021 is so much better than 2020.” There are 205 hotels and other tourism establishments currently operating in the freeport as of August, of the 254 registered prior to the pandemic, according to data from the SBMA. Tourism workers are around 8,680, but Eisma said most of the quarantine hotels’ staff will be “100-percent vaccinated by this Friday.”

AllDay is PHL’s leading player in mid-premium segment–GlobalData

By VG Cabuag @villygc

llDay Supermarket, the grocery chain owned by Villar-led AllDay Marts Inc., is the country’s leading player in the mid-premium market segment, according to London-based independent analytics and consulting firm GlobalData plc. In its Philippines Grocery Industry Report, GlobalData said the supermarkets under this category mostly cater to the rising middle class because they offer a wide variety of products and brands at competitive prices. “Most of these players also offer regular deals and promotions both instore and online, helping them to appeal to a wider spectrum of shoppers,” it said. It defines mid-premium supermarkets as those which place more emphasis on quality and service. While competitively priced, the services include a solid selection of premium items. At the other end of the spectrum are value and value-mid cover players which put more focus on price and less of an emphasis on service and quality. Players in-between these two, with a balanced proposition and fairly standard range in terms of price and quality, are in the mid-market, GlobalData said. While three major players corner the supermarket segment, GlobalData sees significant scope for AllDay and other players to grow into an expanding market as they open more stores. According to the GlobalData report, AllDay is the fastest-growing supermarket operator in the Philippines, with a compounded annual market growth of 62.5 percent from 2015 to 2020. AllDay said it hopes to further boost its position in the supermarket segment as it plans to triple the number of its branches to 100 by 2026. GlobalData notes the compa-

ny’s innovative solutions, such as its AllDay service in which customers send in their grocery lists via Viber with a personal shopper doing the work for them. Such effort helps fuel growth because this strategy gives customers multiple options to buy online, it said. GlobalData said online grocery spending grew 153 percent last year due to the impact of Covid-19, with numerous grocers partnering with third-party delivery providers to expand their delivery capacities. “The approach of using their own web or app platform plus a partnership with marketplaces helps supermarkets reach more customers and fuels the growth of online,” it said. The analytics firm noted that while online penetration will remain relatively low in the Philippines, the online grocery market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32.5 percent between 2020 and 2025 to become a P50.6 billion market. This follows the CAGR of 62.3 percent recorded between 2015 and 2020 when the then nascent market expanded from a very low base. As of end-June, AllDay has a portfolio of 33 stores nationwide, with 24 stores in Mega Manila, six in Luzon outside Mega Manila, and three in Visayas, with an aggregate net selling space of approximately 55,881 square meters. “We plan to continue to increase our number of stores in 2021 to up to 36 stores,” AllDay said in a statement. It intends to have up to 45 stores by the end of 2022, and 100 stores by the end of 2026. AllDay is awaiting the approval of regulatory agencies for its initial public offering later this year, in which it plans to sell up to 6.85 billion common shares with an over-allotment option for another 685.7 million shares at a price of up to P0.80 per share.

Companies BusinessMirror

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Megaworld to spend ₧40B to develop Palawan assets

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

roperty developer Megaworld Corp. on Monday said it is spending some P40 billion to develop its huge properties in San Vicente, Palawan in the next 10 to 15 years. The company said it is developing a total of 462 hectares of beachfront and inland properties in San Vicente into what it called an eco-tourism township, as the company remains optimistic on the fast recovery of the country’s tourism industry after the pandemic. To be named Paragua Coastown, this 27th Megaworld township will feature some of the most beautiful beaches along the coastline of San Vicente, including Port Barton, one

of the most famous tourist attractions of the town known for its 22 small islands. It is also strategically located within a few minutes away from the San Vicente Airport, which serves regular flights to and from Manila and Clark. The development will have hotels and resorts, health and wellness sanctuaries, cultural center, educational institutions, a boutique hotel district, a shophouse district, as well as residential developments, such as

private villas, serviced apartments, themed residential villages, and a mangrove reserve park. “As we grow our sustainable developments portfolio, this new township in the beautiful town of San Vicente in Palawan will showcase the best of sustainable tourism and green living. While we transform it into a world-class development, we also commit to the preservation of the island’s biodiversity,” Kevin Andrew L. Tan, the company’s executive vice president, said. The first area to be developed is around 83-hectares of land in Kemdeng, which has its own beach line. “More than just sustainable tourism, our vision for this expansive Palawan property is to provide an opportunity to those who want the island-life to live and even raise their families here. Aside from the preserved natural surroundings of the beach, mountains and cliffs of San Vicente, we will also provide

the facilities and amenities for holistic wellness for our future residents,” Tan said. Paragua used to be the name of Palawan when the Americans established civil rule in the northern part of the province after the Philippine-American war of 1902. A year after, the province was re-organized to include the southern part and re-named it Palawan with Puerto Princesa as its capital. The town of San Vicente is known to have the longest white-sand beach in the Philippines, and the second longest beach in Southeast Asia, which is called the Long Beach, covering almost 15-kilometers of coastline – three times longer than Boracay’s White Beach. During the last few years, some of the largest property developers in the country began purchasing hectares of land in the area, which currently have small to medium-sized resort operators as the town became famous to foreign tourists.

Rockwell cited for safety protocols A

uthorities expressed satisfaction with the measures put in place by management at Rockwell commercial complex in Makati City, which officials deem a good template for the steady but cautious reopening of businesses in a pandemic. Officials made the statement after they inspected some establishments in Makati City to check their compliance with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATFEID) guidelines under Alert Level 4. “I would like to congratulate Makati and Rockwell President Nestor Padilla as they are trying their best to comply with the safety protocols to protect their customers amid the pandemic,” said Metropolitan Manila Development Authority

Chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. Abalos was joined by Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez and Makati City Mayor Abigail S. Binay, who inspected al fresco dine-in services at the Rockwell Center. As far as Rockwell is concerned, Binay said the commercial complex is ready to accommodate 30 percent of its customers. “We also conduct random checks in establishments that have failed to comply with the IATF guidelines. In [Makati] city, we mean business.” Under Alert Level 4, outdoor or al fresco dine-in services in restaurants are allowed to operate at 30 percent capacity, regardless of customers’ vaccination status while indoor dine-in services may be allowed at 10 percent capacity, only for fully vaccinated individuals.

Abalos and Lopez also inspected the Anytime Fitness gym at South Park Plaza in Magallanes, Makati City. Miguel Gutierrez, co-founder of Anytime Fitness Philippines, appealed to the national government and IATF to allow them to operate at 10 percent capacity, similar to what it allows for restaurants and personal care services.

mutual funds

nfrawatch, an infrastructure-oriented think tank, has questioned the legitimacy of the technical audit of Dito Telecommunity Corp.’s network, filing for a freedom of information (FOI) request from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). In its filing to the NTC, Infrawatch sought for the publication of the results of the technical audit conducted by RG Manabat & KPMG including the annexes, saying that the findings of the evaluation were inconsistent with “actual real-world experiences.”

Terry Ridon, the group’s convenor, said the FOI request will be “able to determine whether the audit has been reasonable and fair, and based on sector-accepted criteria and parameters.” “If Dito hopes to credibly deliver on challenging the telco duopoly, its audit performance should closely mirror actual performance on the ground,” he said. To recall, RG Manabat & KPMG found that Dito has reached its national population coverage commitment of 51 percent, recording total coverage of 52.75 percent during the audit period. Lorenz S. Marasigan

September 20, 2021

NAV

One Year Three Year Five Year

per share

Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

221.91

13.44%

-3.31%

-3.4%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.5414

43.23%

2.94%

1.8%

17.4%

16.02%

-7.25%

-6.35%

-2.76%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.0465

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7365 10.14%

-2.33%

-5.6% n.a.

-8.38%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7731 14.03%

-1.44% n.a.

4.25%

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

18.85%

-0.49%

-1.41%

1.2%

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

0.7431

13.12%

-2.96%

-5.38%

MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

17.05%

-5.27% n.a.

-4.96% -2.89%

5.0005

96.82

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

45.488

16.03%

-1.64%

-2.12%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

477.22

13.23%

-1.47%

-2.56%

-2.4%

25.14% n.a. n.a.

-0.76%

Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d

‘Publish results of Dito audit’

Lopez said the government will evaluate the request of gyms and fitness centers to allow them to reopen as exercise boosts immunity. “We will study this carefully so that the health and well-being of our kababayans will be protected thru all forms of exercise. The gyms must ensure safe distancing and install air purifiers for additional ventilation,” Lopez said. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

1.089

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.2095

20.78%

-0.39%

-1.09%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

34.7008

18.28%

-0.9%

-1.03%

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.8886

3.54% -0.2%

15.22% n.a. n.a.

-2.67%

16.77%

-0.93%

-1.45%

-2.45%

781.54

16.8%

-0.87%

-1.48%

-2.5%

0.7061

16.58%

-5.39%

-4.7%

-1.78%

17.3%

-2.84%

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.674

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.6258

-2.48%

0.05%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8921 16.34%

-1.22%

-1.65%

-2.79%

United Fund, Inc. -a

-1.36%

-0.69%

-1.44%

-0.73%

-0.99%

3.2708

16.82%

-4.29%

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

104.9645

16.8%

-2.41%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities $1.1758

10.08%

5.42%

5.49%

-2.25%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.8361

ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

21.31%

12.36%

12.24%

9.76%

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

1.6758

6.98%

0.9%

-1.34%

0.43%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.2134

8.41%

0.48%

-1.17%

-3.15%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.635

10.34%

2.13%

0.21%

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.1946 NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a

0.31%

12.81% n.a. n.a.

1.9631

7.39%

2.62%

0.74%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.687

6.89%

1.89%

-0.58%

-2.72%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.5025

7.28%

1.95%

-0.54%

-2.58%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.0611

8.29%

0.57%

-0.37%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.5811 10.36%

-0.08%

-1.43%

-1.06%

0.22%

6.24% n.a. n.a.

-3.47%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.9071

9.63% n.a. n.a.

-4.44%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.8942

11.32% n.a. n.a.

-4.17%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

13.55%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9871

0.9035

-0.5%

-1.39%

-1.77%

-0.05%

1.78%

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

$0.03849

-1.56%

3.18%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

$1.0875

3.12%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.8019 15.72% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a $1.227

7.11%

1.38%

-1.56%

3.93%

3.3%

-3.76%

9.4%

8.64%

6.41%

5.46%

4.65%

2.06%

0.65%

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

373.52

1.55%

3.05%

2.43%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.9295

-0.99%

1.22%

0.23%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2405

1.28%

3.4%

4.19%

0.78%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.2652

-1.16%

2.22%

1.31%

-1.44%

1.54%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.441

-0.22%

3.27%

1.77%

-0.5%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

-3.08%

4.62%

1.25%

-3.22%

4.4808

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a

0.79%

4.02%

2.69%

-0.15%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9813

0.81%

4.78%

2.12%

-0.49%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0386

1.3193

0.59%

5.12%

1.66%

-0.47%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.2196

1.58%

5.32%

2.6%

0.42%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

0.96%

4.61%

1.9%

-0.25%

1.7506

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

$488.54

3.16%

2.14%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є220.69

1.59%

1.17%

0.82%

0.67%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.2086

-2.38%

2.56%

1.41%

-5.56%

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0262 - 0.76%

1.85%

0.94%

-1.5%

PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

$1.051

2.08%

-3.54%

0.93%

0.67%

-0.95%

-3.58%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$2.5318

1.38%

5.37%

2.18%

-0.32%

Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a

$0.0630169

2.87%

3.49%

2.11%

1.15%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.2032 -0.21%

3.47%

0.99%

-0.63%

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

130.72

1.29%

2.97%

2.54%

First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0551 1.01% n.a. n.a. Sun Life Prosperity Peso Starter Fund, Inc. -a,1

1.3098

1.54%

2.76%

2.55%

0.69% 0.67% 0.99%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0586

0.95%

1.57% n.a.

0.47%

Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d 1.3268

28.53% n.a. n.a.

17.46%

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

$0.99

4.21% n.a. n.a.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

September 20, 2021

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

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

43.6 111.7 82.35 24.05 9.03 44.7 9.63 20 55.4 18.92 108 83.05 1 4.25 3.2 0.33 0.66 227.4 2,450 0.86

44 112 82.4 24.1 9.05 44.8 9.74 20.05 56.25 19.5 108.2 83.4 1.04 4.26 3.4 0.35 0.69 228.4 2,500 0.9

44 114.4 82.95 24.2 9.02 45.15 9.74 20.1 56.25 19.5 109 84.2 1.04 4.32 3.25 0.34 0.65 230.4 2,450 0.9

44 114.4 83.15 24.2 9.07 45.5 9.74 20.1 56.25 19.5 110.2 84.5 1.09 4.32 3.25 0.36 0.66 230.4 2,450 0.9

43.5 111.7 82.1 24 9.02 44.6 9.74 19.98 56.25 18.92 107.4 83 1 4.27 3.18 0.335 0.65 227.4 2,450 0.9

43.55 112 82.4 24.05 9.05 44.8 9.74 20 56.25 18.92 108 83.05 1 4.27 3.2 0.35 0.66 227.4 2,450 0.9

2,000 870,280 651,170 72,100 102,900 1,792,700 200 600,700 60 57,700 313,550 41,930 611,000 41,000 17,000 150,000 65,000 3,060 40 10,000

87,145 97,673,219 53,745,603.50 1,734,630 929,443 80,455,765 1,948 12,014,942 3,375 1,104,756 33,952,031 3,503,895 625,900 175,230 54,480 51,450 42,530 699,264 98,000 9,000

-17,787,599 -4,311,753 4,800 -41,534 11,897,890 -1,948 -4,171,815 61,320 -2,767,955 939,754.50 -42,730 -17,820 98,000 -

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 10.38 10.4 10.36 10.56 10.16 10.4 23,134,800 240,089,502 ALSONS CONS 1.15 1.18 1.16 1.18 1.15 1.18 2,349,000 2,701,630 ABOITIZ POWER 33 33.45 32.5 33.45 31.85 33.45 7,995,700 260,170,400 BASIC ENERGY 0.52 0.53 0.55 0.55 0.51 0.53 15,769,000 8,251,420 31.55 31.6 31.7 31.7 31.6 31.6 191,400 6,050,865 FIRST GEN 77 77.45 77.6 77.65 77 77 114,530 8,849,827.50 FIRST PHIL HLDG 288.8 289 294 294.4 289 289 113,690 33,051,632 MERALCO MANILA WATER 17.4 17.46 17.58 17.58 17.1 17.46 1,344,500 23,336,000 PETRON 3.06 3.07 3.09 3.11 3.05 3.06 2,685,000 8,234,160 PHX PETROLEUM 12.52 12.7 12.52 12.7 12.52 12.7 41,200 522,446 19.9 19.98 20 20 19.6 19.98 183,400 3,634,170 PILIPINAS SHELL 13.6 13.64 13.74 13.76 13.5 13.64 33,600 458,198 SPC POWER 15 16 15 15 15 15 1,900 28,500 VIVANT AGRINURTURE 4.95 5.05 5.1 5.1 4.9 5.05 463,200 2,307,572 AXELUM 2.6 2.65 2.65 2.68 2.58 2.6 614,000 1,609,010 CNTRL AZUCARERA 13.72 14.4 13.62 13.62 13.6 13.6 1,700 23,132 27.9 28.05 28.5 29 27.25 28.05 1,109,800 31,157,030 CENTURY FOOD 14.64 14.66 15.28 15.28 14.58 14.66 444,000 6,570,748 DEL MONTE 7.81 7.83 8.05 8.05 7.81 7.81 2,061,900 16,207,865 DNL INDUS EMPERADOR 18.26 18.28 18.32 18.32 17.7 18.26 5,073,400 91,399,212 SMC FOODANDBEV 77.95 78 78.1 78.8 78 78 270,900 21,148,879 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.63 0.65 0.64 0.64 0.63 0.63 395,000 250,570 1.26 1.28 1.31 1.32 1.26 1.28 11,314,000 14,528,990 FRUITAS HLDG 99.8 100 104.9 106 98.65 100 118,120 11,914,900 GINEBRA 194 194.1 198 201 193.1 194 680,020 133,113,576 JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR 27.25 30.35 27.3 27.3 27.25 27.25 400 10,915 MACAY HLDG 6.32 7.64 6.51 7 6.2 7 7,900 51,027 MAXS GROUP 6.4 6.49 6.57 6.57 6.35 6.4 533,100 3,417,071 0.2 0.202 0.206 0.206 0.202 0.202 1,770,000 359,530 MG HLDG MONDE NISSIN 19.24 19.3 19.3 19.7 18.6 19.3 23,077,800 441,447,430 7.6 7.82 7.92 8 7.6 7.6 476,600 3,732,837 SHAKEYS PIZZA ROXAS AND CO 0.87 0.88 0.87 0.9 0.87 0.89 2,311,000 2,034,770 RFM CORP 4.53 4.65 4.52 4.52 4.51 4.51 3,000 13,550 SWIFT FOODS 0.123 0.127 0.129 0.129 0.121 0.123 13,450,000 1,676,370 133.6 135 135.9 137.9 133.6 133.6 637,390 86,123,288 UNIV ROBINA 0.78 0.79 0.79 0.8 0.78 0.79 1,647,000 1,301,430 VITARICH CONCRETE A 48.1 49 49 49 48.1 48.1 6,210 299,488 CEMEX HLDG 1.22 1.23 1.25 1.25 1.22 1.22 3,322,000 4,076,640 EAGLE CEMENT 14 14.06 14.12 14.14 14 14 248,100 3,481,888 EEI CORP 7.48 7.5 7.5 7.58 7.5 7.5 192,700 1,452,860 6.23 6.24 6.34 6.42 6.21 6.24 673,300 4,227,304 HOLCIM 6.06 6.09 6.1 6.16 6 6.06 1,089,500 6,591,475 MEGAWIDE 14.08 14.38 14.4 14.4 14.36 14.38 43,300 622,822 PHINMA TKC METALS 0.96 0.97 0.96 0.98 0.95 0.96 248,000 237,260 VULCAN INDL 1.1 1.11 1.15 1.18 1.1 1.11 8,459,000 9,526,500 CHEMPHIL 160.1 199 160.3 160.3 160 160.1 260 41,650 1.68 1.69 1.69 1.69 1.68 1.68 25,000 42,170 CROWN ASIA 1.59 1.6 1.64 1.65 1.6 1.6 304,000 487,380 EUROMED 5.35 5.45 5.45 5.45 5.45 5.45 100 545 MABUHAY VINYL PRYCE CORP 5.45 5.46 5.41 5.46 5.4 5.4 33,200 179,295 GREENERGY 2.53 2.56 2.62 2.67 2.46 2.56 15,233,000 39,317,940 INTEGRATED MICR 8.28 8.3 8.5 8.5 8.23 8.3 585,600 4,865,900 0.9 0.92 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 70,000 63,000 IONICS PANASONIC 5.93 6 6 6 6 6 3,700 22,200 SFA SEMICON 1.17 1.18 1.18 1.18 1.16 1.17 457,000 533,870 CIRTEK HLDG 4.48 4.5 4.71 4.73 4.41 4.48 3,669,000 16,599,330

119,309,278 -2,482,145 -311,010 -3,689,745 184,757.00 -6,375,750 2,998,172.00 -836,470 770,216 -35,724 -548,845.00 1,853,165 246,600 -126,424 -1,272,522 -2,668,236 -15,400 -4,858,427 -26,403,151 2,882,353 65,833,570 -312,498 372,030 -21,329,855 587,650 -105,731 -186,987 14,400 -242,270.00 -5,040 8,000 -4,212,790 -785,387 -69,020 -2,577,270.00

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL 1.02 1.03 1.02 1.03 1.01 1.03 5,614,000 5,708,430 ASIABEST GROUP 6.05 6.15 6.07 6.07 6.07 6.07 800 4,856 AYALA CORP 800 801 811.5 814 792 800 329,600 263,472,990 ABOITIZ EQUITY 50.55 50.8 49.5 50.55 47.9 50.55 4,436,340 221,719,099 10.22 10.26 10.88 10.88 9.99 10.22 10,307,600 105,796,976 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 5.02 5.07 5.24 5.27 4.8 5.02 9,384,600 47,061,464 AYALA LAND LOG 7.21 7.49 7.15 7.5 7.13 7.49 91,000 662,940 ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.93 0.95 0.97 0.97 0.92 0.95 2,093,000 1,973,570 ATN HLDG A 0.54 0.56 0.56 0.57 0.53 0.56 102,000 56,460 ATN HLDG B 0.55 0.57 0.58 0.58 0.58 0.58 1,000 580 4.97 4.98 5.05 5.05 4.96 4.98 1,665,300 8,307,027 COSCO CAPITAL 6.85 6.86 7.09 7.21 6.79 6.85 23,098,100 159,760,914 DMCI HLDG 7.54 7.55 7.79 7.79 7.55 7.55 217,900 1,647,156 FILINVEST DEV FORUM PACIFIC 0.285 0.295 0.29 0.3 0.285 0.3 80,000 23,200 GT CAPITAL 526.5 535.5 535 540 523 535.5 163,870 86,665,855 HOUSE OF INV 3.61 4 3.73 3.73 3.61 3.61 50,000 183,590 63.1 63.8 64.55 64.95 62.45 63.8 6,491,340 418,931,093.50 JG SUMMIT 5.34 5.69 5.32 5.4 5.32 5.4 6,100 32,572 JOLLIVILLE HLDG 5.95 6.06 5.95 5.95 5.95 5.95 100 595 KEPPEL HLDG A LODESTAR 0.7 0.71 0.72 0.77 0.69 0.71 930,000 669,770 LOPEZ HLDG 3.27 3.3 3.26 3.3 3.26 3.27 589,000 1,940,170 LT GROUP 9.52 9.53 9.3 9.55 9.18 9.52 16,538,800 154,859,039 3.74 3.75 3.86 3.86 3.72 3.74 13,571,000 51,102,850 METRO PAC INV 1.91 1.92 1.96 1.96 1.84 1.92 469,000 886,320 PRIME MEDIA SM INVESTMENTS 986 986.5 994.5 999 983 986 58,860 58,054,770 SAN MIGUEL CORP 111.7 112 111 112.9 110.2 112 214,080 23,845,980 TOP FRONTIER 130 135.8 130.3 135.8 130 135.8 290 37,993 WELLEX INDUS 0.255 0.27 0.255 0.255 0.25 0.25 70,000 17,800 0.191 0.199 0.191 0.191 0.191 0.191 110,000 21,010 ZEUS HLDG

3,865,980 102,189,635 -5,846,210 -6,858,152.00 804,972 183,962 -141,000 -3,540,140 -7,657,132 -31,152,290 -7,266,238.50 -32,572 76,000 6,505,874 -8,304,910 -7,998,530 -5,772,605 3,900 -

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.63 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.63 0.63 1,886,000 1,209,600 AYALA LAND 32.9 32.95 33.5 33.5 32.7 32.95 3,340,000 109,817,200 ARANETA PROP 1.07 1.09 1.06 1.09 1.06 1.09 87,000 93,140 AREIT RT 38.05 38.1 36.85 38.15 36.85 38.1 725,700 27,480,275 1.33 1.35 1.35 1.35 1.34 1.34 670,000 899,610 BELLE CORP 0.8 0.82 0.83 0.84 0.79 0.8 2,769,000 2,220,770 A BROWN 0.78 0.79 0.78 0.79 0.77 0.78 989,000 762,310 CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES 0.118 0.121 0.119 0.121 0.119 0.121 18,380,000 2,187,830 CEB LANDMASTERS 2.91 2.92 3.01 3.02 2.9 2.92 2,764,000 8,145,820 CENTURY PROP 0.455 0.46 0.465 0.47 0.46 0.46 14,830,000 6,867,200 10.06 10.12 10.18 10.18 9.81 10.12 1,216,300 12,180,334 DOUBLEDRAGON 1.78 1.79 1.8 1.8 1.78 1.78 5,422,000 9,682,610 DDMP RT 6.68 6.69 6.69 6.69 6.64 6.68 36,600 244,256 DM WENCESLAO EMPIRE EAST 0.27 0.275 0.275 0.28 0.27 0.27 260,000 71,100 EVER GOTESCO 0.425 0.43 0.41 0.44 0.41 0.43 47,400,000 20,229,750 FILINVEST RT 7.19 7.21 7.22 7.23 7.17 7.19 14,463,200 103,999,188 1.09 1.1 1.1 1.11 1.09 1.1 5,404,000 5,949,020 FILINVEST LAND 0.95 0.97 0.99 1.02 0.93 0.97 2,966,000 2,883,200 GLOBAL ESTATE 8990 HLDG 8.21 8.5 7.55 9 7.54 8.5 1,928,600 15,591,380 PHIL INFRADEV 1.21 1.22 1.2 1.22 1.2 1.22 827,000 995,770 CITY AND LAND 1.08 1.09 1.11 1.12 1.08 1.08 469,000 514,430 MEGAWORLD 2.86 2.87 2.92 2.96 2.84 2.87 34,381,000 99,034,720 0.29 0.295 0.305 0.305 0.285 0.295 12,520,000 3,644,700 MRC ALLIED 0.495 0.5 0.52 0.52 0.485 0.495 12,551,000 6,275,825 PHIL ESTATES 1.82 1.83 1.85 1.94 1.81 1.82 127,000 235,450 PRIMEX CORP RL COMM RT 6.46 6.47 6.46 6.48 6.45 6.46 16,327,100 105,451,404 ROBINSONS LAND 15.68 15.72 15.94 15.98 15.6 15.72 2,277,100 35,852,930 PHIL REALTY 0.25 0.26 0.25 0.26 0.25 0.25 750,000 189,600 1.51 1.53 1.5 1.54 1.5 1.54 262,000 401,700 ROCKWELL 2.65 2.67 2.68 2.68 2.64 2.67 181,000 480,910 SHANG PROP 2.81 2.86 2.88 2.88 2.8 2.86 326,000 934,240 STA LUCIA LAND SM PRIME HLDG 32.6 32.95 33.05 33.15 32.55 32.6 3,091,000 101,055,515 VISTAMALLS 3.66 3.79 3.66 3.79 3.66 3.79 8,000 29,410 SUNTRUST HOME 1.51 1.54 1.52 1.55 1.51 1.51 889,000 1,346,880 3.49 3.5 3.61 3.61 3.47 3.49 1,450,000 5,076,510 VISTA LAND SERVICES ABS CBN 12.04 12.06 11.9 12.1 11.9 12.06 221,400 2,664,366 GMA NETWORK 13.4 13.42 14.1 14.3 13.02 13.4 6,581,000 89,641,626 MANILA BULLETIN 0.395 0.425 0.405 0.405 0.395 0.395 760,000 304,100 MLA BRDCASTING 8.5 10.5 9 9 9 9 3,000 27,000 2,972 2,974 3,006 3,046 2,940 2,972 59,310 176,577,780 GLOBE TELECOM 1,509 1,510 1,499 1,544 1,494 1,510 361,010 546,184,805 PLDT 0.092 0.093 0.101 0.101 0.09 0.093 763,420,000 72,587,430 APOLLO GLOBAL CONVERGE 34.05 34.45 34.4 34.5 33.6 34.45 18,148,500 619,369,020 DFNN INC 4.02 4.16 4 4.2 3.83 4.18 527,000 2,104,680 DITO CME HLDG 7.8 7.81 8.2 8.25 7.51 7.81 16,919,900 132,390,241 1.42 1.64 1.45 1.45 1.42 1.42 140,000 198,970 IMPERIAL NOW CORP 1.94 1.95 2.02 2.02 1.94 1.94 3,889,000 7,712,070 0.35 0.355 0.36 0.365 0.345 0.35 9,730,000 3,424,150 TRANSPACIFIC BR PHILWEB 2.2 2.22 2.25 2.25 2.19 2.2 141,000 310,690 2GO GROUP 8.15 8.26 8.2 8.3 8.03 8.26 79,900 645,397 ASIAN TERMINALS 13.8 14 14 14 14 14 1,800 25,200 2.34 2.37 2.4 2.4 2.34 2.37 708,000 1,672,580 CHELSEA CEBU AIR 39.2 39.25 40 40.5 38.8 39.25 577,500 22,734,525 190.9 191 191 191.7 189 190.9 930,060 177,362,013 INTL CONTAINER LBC EXPRESS 16.2 16.76 16.2 16.2 16.2 16.2 41,100 665,820 MACROASIA 4.21 4.22 4.32 4.47 4.15 4.21 2,125,000 9,009,480 METROALLIANCE A 1.56 1.6 1.59 1.59 1.58 1.58 21,000 33,250 1.7 1.97 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1,000 1,700 METROALLIANCE B HARBOR STAR 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.04 1.04 116,000 122,170 ACESITE HOTEL 1.57 1.6 1.6 1.63 1.56 1.6 402,000 631,840 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.073 0.074 0.08 0.08 0.071 0.074 193,600,000 14,511,260 DISCOVERY WORLD 2.17 2.27 2.2 2.2 2.18 2.18 38,000 83,090 WATERFRONT 0.52 0.53 0.53 0.53 0.52 0.52 147,000 76,650 550 593.5 550 550.5 550 550.5 480 264,005 FAR EASTERN U STI HLDG 0.36 0.37 0.37 0.375 0.36 0.37 2,470,000 910,000 5.38 5.66 5.7 5.72 5.35 5.69 149,700 817,084 BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY 5.78 5.8 5.96 5.96 5.77 5.78 2,593,300 15,092,502 PACIFIC ONLINE 2.01 2.09 2.03 2.03 2 2 36,000 72,400 LEISURE AND RES 1.77 1.79 1.76 1.79 1.73 1.79 340,000 599,400 2.01 2.2 2 2 2 2 9,000 18,000 MANILA JOCKEY PH RESORTS GRP 1.28 1.32 1.37 1.37 1.27 1.28 5,325,000 6,965,260 0.415 0.425 0.415 0.42 0.415 0.415 3,660,000 1,520,000 PREMIUM LEISURE ALLHOME 8.61 8.65 8.7 8.89 8.59 8.61 451,400 3,912,684 METRO RETAIL 1.26 1.27 1.25 1.29 1.25 1.27 177,000 223,690 PUREGOLD 41 41.2 42.05 42.05 40 41 2,587,900 107,080,890 49.65 49.75 50 50 49.4 49.75 645,300 32,085,140 ROBINSONS RTL 85.35 88.75 85 90 85 88.75 3,960 346,492.50 PHIL SEVEN CORP 1.1 1.11 1.14 1.14 1.09 1.1 2,337,000 2,575,390 SSI GROUP WILCON DEPOT 28 28.2 27.6 28 27.55 28 4,780,100 132,848,040 APC GROUP 0.295 0.3 0.3 0.325 0.295 0.3 2,390,000 717,250 EASYCALL 5.05 5.12 5.12 5.12 5.05 5.05 21,700 110,369 471 486 470 489.6 470 486 710 340,696 GOLDEN MV 7.05 7.1 7.03 7.05 7.03 7.05 8,500 59,825 IPM HLDG PAXYS 2.3 2.49 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 1,000 2,300 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.95 0.96 0.98 1.01 0.93 0.96 17,909,000 17,192,080 MINING & OIL ATOK 6.51 6.75 7.1 7.1 6.7 6.7 183,200 1,234,051 APEX MINING 1.42 1.43 1.43 1.43 1.4 1.43 1,536,000 2,170,560 ATLAS MINING 5.96 5.97 6.15 6.18 5.92 5.96 2,394,200 14,454,215 5.07 5.14 5.3 5.3 5.01 5.14 85,800 439,705 BENGUET A COAL ASIA HLDG 0.27 0.3 0.29 0.295 0.27 0.295 2,810,000 790,450 CENTURY PEAK 2.7 2.75 2.75 2.75 2.7 2.75 42,000 114,400 DIZON MINES 6.02 6.24 6.24 6.25 6.02 6.02 2,800 17,388 FERRONICKEL 2.23 2.25 2.27 2.3 2.18 2.25 5,256,000 11,810,810 GEOGRACE 0.25 0.255 0.25 0.255 0.25 0.255 60,000 15,150 0.133 0.135 0.134 0.135 0.132 0.134 11,830,000 1,579,030 LEPANTO A LEPANTO B 0.142 0.153 0.143 0.143 0.141 0.141 1,000,000 141,380 MANILA MINING A 0.0098 0.0099 0.01 0.01 0.0099 0.0099 512,700,000 5,106,790 MANILA MINING B 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 4,600,000 46,100 MARCVENTURES 0.93 0.96 0.97 0.97 0.91 0.96 1,099,000 1,019,020 NIHAO 1.1 1.13 1.15 1.16 1.1 1.11 314,000 354,340 5.48 5.51 5.61 5.75 5.4 5.51 10,789,800 59,655,925 NICKEL ASIA 0.37 0.39 0.38 0.38 0.37 0.37 150,000 56,050 OMICO CORP ORNTL PENINSULA 0.87 0.88 0.88 0.89 0.87 0.87 815,000 713,570 PX MINING 5 5.07 5.32 5.32 5 5 4,363,300 22,303,262 SEMIRARA MINING 18.48 18.5 19.2 19.38 18.3 18.5 4,803,000 89,866,298 ACE ENEXOR 14.8 15.18 15.2 15.2 15 15.18 57,300 863,074 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 3,700,000 37,100 ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 20,200,000 222,200 PHILODRILL 0.0099 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 99,900,000 999,000 PXP ENERGY 6.14 6.15 6.1 6.25 6.06 6.14 520,200 3,171,905 PREFFERED HOUSE PREF B 100.5 101.7 100.2 100.2 100.2 100.2 20 2,004 HOUSE PREF A 100.8 102 101.9 102 101.9 102 20 2,039 AC PREF B1 506 520 525 525 525 525 10 5,250 ALCO PREF B 101.3 102.6 101.2 101.2 101.2 101.2 2,240 226,688 520.5 522 520.5 520.5 520.5 520.5 3,850 2,003,925 AC PREF B2R CEB PREF 38.55 39 40.4 40.4 38.55 38.6 231,500 9,039,500 101.6 103.5 102.9 103.5 102.9 103.5 3,120 321,078 CPG PREF A DD PREF 101.1 102 101 102 101 101 3,060 310,040 GTCAP PREF A 1,002 1,020 1,024 1,024 1,024 1,024 10 10,240 MWIDE PREF 100.6 101.1 100.6 101.1 100.6 101.1 1,830 184,148 1,007 1,010 1,007 1,010 1,005 1,010 2,360 2,382,650 PNX PREF 4 PCOR PREF 2B 1,010 1,021 1,022 1,022 1,015 1,021 325 331,295 PCOR PREF 3A 1,085 1,089 1,085 1,090 1,085 1,085 2,145 2,328,905 PCOR PREF 3B 1,135 1,155 1,135 1,135 1,135 1,135 3,010 3,416,350 SMC PREF 2F 78.35 79.5 78.4 78.5 78.3 78.35 22,920 1,797,635 SMC PREF 2I 78 79 78 79 78 79 20 1,570 75.5 76 76 76 76 76 13,430 1,020,680 SMC PREF 2J SMC PREF 2K 75.15 76.45 75.15 75.15 75.15 75.15 1,500 112,725 PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 11.24 11.5 10.9 11.8 10.9 11.24 21,300 237,764 GMA HLDG PDR 12.44 12.76 13 13.1 12.38 12.44 270,500 3,496,352 WARRANTS TECH WARRANT 1.5 1.52 1.66 1.68 1.46 1.5 16,149,000 25,112,210

-22,624,720.00 7,417,360 67,500 8,800 643,720 -86,580 -1,008,450 -2,724,919 481,950 -40,504 -111,550 -85,134,837 -1,097,810 1,092,244 241,000 -6,771,610 -164,300 -24,840 -29,370 -43,249,986 -3,423,636 -106,680 -417,230 -31,742,470 -30,200 -922,540 -213,990 1,693,375 2,000,760 67,484,955 589,430 3,327,927 191,140.00 -59,500 24,210 504,295 65,337,777 -114,690 -85,940 -284,740 13,080 413,300 -5 -4,982,280 -1,395,910 1,660,223 -39,168,370 1,423,965 -17,860 -573,040.00 19,159,210 -94,000 568,260 -254,495 -229,850 -836,614 106,300 486,350.00 -10,350 23,732,242 -4,299,688 28,100,672 -147,548 -4,992,075.00 -1,702,500 - 10,050 33,950 31,500

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES 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."

ALTUS PROP ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MERRYMART

16.8 1.93 4.14 3.87

16.82 1.94 4.15 3.88

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

104.3

105.1

17.64 1.99 4.17 4.13

18.48 1.99 4.17 4.2

16.7 1.93 4.14 3.81

16.82 1.94 4.15 3.87

421,500 386,000 10,000 11,843,000

7,171,814 756,360 41,530 46,794,310

332,568 -31,050 -4,160 -3,987,980

105.8 105.8 103.6 104.3 23,350 2,441,271 474,622

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Rules vs redundant vehicle insurance issued

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

LL motorized-vehicle insurers are now required to ensure that the period of coverage of policies issued with Compulsory Third Party Liability Insurance (CTPL) cover shall be coterminous with the month that the insured vehicle was registered, the Insurance Commission (IC) said. In Circular Letter 2021-54, Insurance Commissioner Dennis B.

Funa said this move was done in a bid to avoid redundancy in the

How to build your Emergency Fund this pandemic?

HIS pandemic, we all experienced disruptions in our businesses. And some our countrymen lost their jobs; some had salary cuts. We are also seeing the rise of cases, especially of the Delta variant. Lockdown measures have affected finances, savings are being depleted because of lesser income and healthrelated expenses. The question now for all of us is how we can re-build or maintain our emergency funds. Setting up an emergency fund is an essential way to protect our family members from unforeseen events. We have seen that as Filipinos, our resiliency and spirit of “bayanihan” can make us thrive even in the midst of this financial and health crisis. Here are some tips on how you can grow your funds. 1. Reduce unnecessary expenses. Before the pandemic, majority of us are spending on non-essential consumption because that’s how our lifestyle is moving at that point in time. Dining out with friend, colleagues and family members are the usual routine of every Filipino during payday or holidays, which can be around 20 percent to 30 percent of average household income per month. Eating out is a good bonding together but then this pandemic gave us another perspective of home-cooked food and how it can help us reduce expenses. We are not saying that we should deprive ourselves from enjoying our income but then if we will really analyse where our money is going, we can see that we can still prevent a leak from the boat by keeping an eye on small holes. 2. Set aside 10 percent of your income regularly. Saving a portion of your income can be difficult at times if it is not your habit. But then once you developed a consistent allocation of savings in your income, you will see the power of starting small in building your emergency fund. We also call this principle by “paying yourself first.” Imagine if you can set aside P100 per day, which is P3,000 per month or P36,000 a year. 3. Invest in yourself. When I graduated from college, I am always curious on how the rich people grew their income over time. I learned from successful business owners that increasing your knowledge, developing your skills and executing business principles can help us create more value. The value that we can give will multiply also our earning capacity may it be in employment or in business. The question for us right now is: Are we investing in ourselves? Attending online seminars, certifications or even listening in value giving channels in social media are just some of the ways on how we can

Karlo Biglang-Awa

personal finance improve our craft. This information age can be an advantage to us if we will learn to maximize our time and translate it to something productive. 4. Monetizing your skills. Have you tried doing a “side-line” job aside from your full time job? Or maybe you have a certain business but you discovered another way to earn through your inherent skill? This season, freelancing has been a norm because of the various opportunities to earn through the internet. It could be servicing other people as an accountant, copy writer, social media brand manager, online tutorial for dancing, singing, and many more. Many of us realized that we can really earn from our hobbies as long as we can create a system and process on how we can market our services online. 5. Ask for help. Many of us tried our best to earn a decent income after losing a job but then because of the quarantine measures, we still experienced a lot of drastic changes that aren’t in accordance with our plans. While it is good to monetize our skills, reduce spending, save a portion of our income and invest in ourselves, sometimes it is really impossible to do it. Asking for help from people can help us to navigate our season. In life, there will be storms but one thing is for sure, we can all surpass the storms with the grace of our Lord and the help of our community. If you have relatives or family members who can extend help for you to rebuild your savings, it will be a good approach because it will give us time to recharge our recalibrate business strategies or maybe if you’re an employee, while waiting for your new job, you have someone who can at least help you with your basic needs. Our government has a lot of initiatives also to help small-scale and medium enterprises by providing financial aids to heavily affected individuals specially the daily-wage earners. Having said the five tips, always remember that in every crisis, there’s an opportunity. We need to go back to our creator who will give us the ability to produce wealth. I hope this article can give you hope in this challenging times. Karlo Biglang-Awa is a registered financial planner of RFP Philippines. To learn more about personal-financial planning, attend the 92nd RFP program this October 2021. To inquire, e-mail info@ rfp.ph or text at 0917-6248110.

motor-car insurance coverage and to provide convenience for the insuring public. The synchronization of the period of coverage of comprehensive motor car insurance policies with the month the insured vehicle was registered—as indicated by the last digit of the plate number—shall apply regardless whether such policies are stand-alone CTPL policies or comprehensive motor car insurance policies with CTPL provisions. The latest circular letter was issued after a consultation-meeting between the IC and officials of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association Inc. (PIRA). “This Circular Letter aims to ad-

dress the concern of the ARTA as regards the perceived redundancy of the requirement of getting CTPL insurance when a motor vehicle is already covered by a comprehensive motor-car insurance policy,” Funa was quoted in a statement as saying. The Arta has recommended last July the removal of the CTPL as part of vehicle registration process for vehicles already covered by a comprehensive motor insurance policy, pointing out that this “appeared to be redundant and inflicting expense to the public.” Sought for clarification on why the CTPL was not waived as requested by Arta, Funa told the BusinessMirror that the “IC and LTO both noted that the CTPL requirement cannot be dispense as this is needed for motor-vehicle

registration.” Funa said the ARTA is, likewise, aware of this need. “The concern is with regard to the CTPL cover, which is included in a comprehensive motor policy where, in some instances, do not coincide with the dates and expiration date [of] motor vehicle registration,” Funa told the BusinessMirror. “Thus, such CTPL cover is not honored by the LTO; and the motor-vehicle owner will now secure a stand-alone CTPL cover for purposes of vehicle registration. This is the redundancy which the circular addresses.” Nonetheless, the circular letter provides that insurers and their agents are also obliged to inform the insured that the respective periods of their comprehensive motor

car policies with CTPL cover may be extended at the latter’s option, as well as the terms of such extension. Moreover, insurers issuing motor-car policies—whether comprehensive motor car policies with CTPL provisions or stand-alone CTPL policies—shall issue a Confirmation of Cover for motor-vehicle registration with the LTO. Likewise, the insurer shall also ensure real time-authentication of of the issued COC. Prior to the issuance of the new Circular Letter, the ARTA expressed its gratitude to the IC “for its immediate action on the matter and for supporting ARTA’s continued efforts towards ease of doing business and the efficient delivery of government services to the public.”

T-bill rates dip on expectations BSP policy kept steady

ATES for Treasury Bills (Tbills) slightly declined across the board as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is expected to keep policy rates unchanged. The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) easily raised P15-billion in T-bills during Monday’s auction, which was met with robust investor demand. Total submitted bids for the tenors reached P72.5 billion, making the auction almost five-times oversubscribed. National Treasurer Rosalia V. De

Leon told reporters the slight dip in the rates was due to the expectations that BSP will keep the current policy rate. De Leon added the redemption of P20-billion worth of government securities also had an impact on the how the rates turned out. The tenors fetched average rates that are all lower than the previous auction results. The 91-day T-bills’ average rate slid to 1.07 percent, a 0.9 basis point difference from 1.079 percent previously. Tenders for the security

amounted to P21.62 billion, more than quadruple the P5-billion offer. Meanwhile, the 182-day T-bills recorded an average rate of 1.389 percent, down by 1.3 basis points from 1.402 percent. Bids for the tenor reached P26.47 billion, five times the P5-billion program. For the 364-day T-bills, the average rate settled at P1.597 percent, lower by 0.7 basis points from 1.604 percent. Tenders for the debt paper hit P24.4 billion, almost five times the P5-billion 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. This year, the national government programmed to borrow a total of P3.1-trillion, most of which is expected to be raised through domestic sources. Bernadette D. Nicolas

Despite drop in removals, govt rakes in tobacco tax PNB project

ESPITE suffering a decline in its volume of removals, cigarette manufacturer Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Co. Inc. (PMFTC) still paid the highest-cumulative tobacco excise tax to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) from January to July this year. Based on finance officials’ analysis of the BIR data, the PMFTC paid a total of P42.04 billion, up by 6.9 percent from P39.3 billion in the same period last year. However, Finance Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa S. Habitan said PMFTC’s volume of removals (removed tobacco products or cigarette papers or tubes, or any processed tobacco, from the factory) as of July slid by 3.8 percent year-on-year to 841 million packs from 874 million packs. Of the P2.7-billion increase in the tax collections from PMFTC, Habitan said P4.2 billion was due to the increase in the tax rate, while there was a revenue loss of P1.5 billion from the decline in volume. Trailing PMFTC in terms of tobacco excise tax payments is Japan Tobacco International (Philippines) Inc. (JTI), which notched the highest year-on-year excise tax payment increase of 73.1 percent to P38.8 billion from P22.4 billion

in the same period a year ago. Of the P16.4-billion increase in taxes collected from JTI, P3.9 billion was the result of the increase in the tax rate while P12.5 billion was because of the increase in volume, Habitan said. JTI’s volume of removals jumped by 55.8 percent to reach 777 million packs as of July this year from only 498 million packs in the comparable period in 2020. “This is equivalent to an increase of 278 million packs for the first seven months of the year,” Habitan said in her report during a recent executive committee meeting of the Department of Finance. The PMFTC still cornered 50.7 percent of the market during the 7-month period, bigger than JTI’s share of 46.8 percent. Based on the actual volume as of July this year, total cigarette excise tax collections by the BIR reached P82.97 billion pesos, a 31 percent-increase than last year’s P63.3 billion. The remaining P2.13 billion of the total P82.97 billion in excise tax collections for the January-July this year was paid by other cigarette manufacturers, such as the Associated Anglo American Tobacco

Corp. and Kenstand Philippines Inc. The BusinessMirror earlier reported that sin tax collection of the BIR and Bureau of Customs from January to July this year grew 25.5 percent to P173.1 billion from P138 billion the same period in 2020 as lockdown restrictions were eased. Most of the excise taxes collected during the seven-month period came from tobacco products at P104.2 billion, reflecting a 34-percent spike from last year’s P77.7 billion. It was only under the Duterte administration that excise taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products were increased thrice to raise more funds for the Universal Health Care program and the government’s other priority initiatives. The first instance was under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law (Republic Act 10963) in 2018. This was followed by RA 11346, or the Tobacco Tax Law of 2019, and RA 11467. The former hiked cigarette taxes to a uniform rate of P45 per pack starting last year while the latter imposed another round of tax hikes on e-cigarettes, along with alcohol products, also starting in 2020. Bernadette D. Nicolas

PayMaya is 6th fintech firm to receive BSP approval to establish digital bank By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

INANCIAL technology firm PayMaya Philippines Inc. announced on Monday that it has obtained the approval of the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to establish a digital bank. The bank will be known as Maya Bank. This approval is the sixth that the BSP has given out since the establishment of a digital bank framework in the country. In particular, the MB has given approval to UNObank, UnionDigital Bank, GoTyme, Overseas Filipino Bank Inc. and Tonik Bank. PayMaya said the primary focus of the approval will largely be towards the unbanked and underserved population of consumers and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). The firm also said they intend to promote digital financial services among the youth, women, senior citizens, and other underbanked segments. “The digital transformation of our country is at the top of the PLDT group’s agenda, and this development is a big step forward for Voyager and PayMaya. Maya

Bank will be a key vehicle in hastening digital adoption among Filipinos through inclusive financial services,” PLDT, Voyager and PayMaya Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said. As a neo bank, the firm said it will provide mobile-first digital banking services on the back of PayMaya’s widely trusted e-wallet and proven technology platforms. It will also seek to maximize PayMaya’s Smart Padala agent network and leading merchant payments processing business to serve customers and grow the digital financial ecosystem. “We are very excited to work with the BSP to leapfrog the Philippine financial ecosystem by speedily developing and launching innovative digital banking services, especially for the underserved segments. With Maya Bank and PayMaya, we will provide a powerhouse suite of intuitive, transparent, and readily accessible digital financial services relevant to Filipinos, in support of the country’s financial inclusion goals,” Voyager and PayMaya President Shailesh Baidwan said. In June 2021, Voyager, which operates PayMaya, raised $167 million to accelerate the growth of PayMaya’s digital payments business and expand to new and inclusive products, such as credit, insur-

ance, savings, and investments, through the soon-to-be-established digital bank. Voyager counts PLDT Inc.; KKR, a global investment firm; Tencent, a leading technology company in China; and, World Bank’s IFC Asset Management Co. (IFC AMC) through its IFC Emerging Asia Fund and IFC Financial Growth Fund, among its shareholders. The BSP announced earlier this year that it has closed their window for the application of new digital banks in the country starting September 1 this year. The BSP said digital bank applications that are received by the BSP until August 31, 2021, will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis and will be assessed for completeness and sufficiency of documentation, information and compliance with the licensing criteria on the establishment of digital banks. After August 31, the BSP no longer entertained nor accepted new or returned applications. “The closure of the application window will allow the BSP to monitor the performance and impact of digital banks on the banking system and their contribution to the financial inclusion agenda,” BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno earlier said.

honored by Singaporean nonprofit

HE Philippine National Bank (PSE: PNB) announced it recently won the “Green Leadership Award” in the 2021 Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA) of Singaporean nonprofit group Enterprise Asia Association Pte. Ltd. “The AREA Green Leadership Award is a major milestone for PNB as this is the first recognition that we received for our environmental and sustainability efforts,” PNB President and CEO Jose Arnulfo A. Veloso was quoted in a statement as saying. “At PNB, we do not only aim to cultivate an inclusive and collaborative work culture, but to also provide our employees equal access to opportunities to help develop their skills and capabilities, regardless of gender and background. We want to help educate and encourage them to do their part, no matter how small, in caring for the environment and helping their own communities,” Veloso added. PNB was honored for its for its “Project Planet” (protect, love and nurture the environment together) in a virtual ceremony held last September 3. The project is PNB’s banner environmental and sustainability program. The bank said it developed the project to raise environmental and sustainability awareness among the bank employees, encourage them to reduce their environmental footprint at work and in their own homes and provide them with eco-friendly, healthy and sustainable alternatives. The PNB said a major component of the project is a 6-month long campaign piloted at the PNB Financial Center head office in Pasay and at the PNB Makati Center. The campaign aims to reduce the bank’s consumption of single-use plastics as their commitment to mitigate the effects of climate change, protect the seas and oceans, and preserve underwater wildlife. PNB said the project is aligned with its sustainability thrusts on the efficient use and management of resources and reduction of environmental footprint of the bank and their employees.

Art

BusinessMirror

Tuesday, September 21, 2021 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

www.businessmirror.com.ph

2021 Metrobank Art & Design Excellence judges on PHL art: ‘We’re looking into a bright future’

Today’s Horoscope By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Alfonso Ribeiro, 50; Nancy Travis, 60; Bill Murray, 71; Stephen King, 74. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Put your energy where it counts. Stay focused on what’s important to you. Make adjustments that favor good health and better relationships. Find ways to ease stress and spend more time doing good things for you and those you love. Don’t let the tension build when a couple of adjustments are all you need to make your life better. Your numbers are 4, 12, 23, 28, 31, 39, 48.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Emotions will be difficult to control. A positive attitude will make a difference in the outcome of a personal situation. Be mindful of others before you share your thoughts. Getting along will be necessary if you want to get things done. ★★★

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You’ll have a change of heart. Look at what you are up against, and weigh the pros and cons before agreeing to something questionable. Leave nothing unfinished that might put your position, status or reputation in jeopardy. Use your energy strategically. ★★★

BUNGKAG, Kathleen Sareena Dagum, 2021, 57x53 cm, wood

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Prepare to question everything and everyone before you agree to something that will disrupt your life. Put your energy into fact-finding, organizing and expanding your chances to advance. Don’t limit yourself; be fearless. ★★★★

HE panel of judges at the recently concluded 2021 Metrobank Art and Design Excellence (MADE) of the Metrobank Foundation Inc. (MBFI) expressed their high hopes on the future of the Philippine art scene. Comprised of artists and other established personalities in related fields, the judges for this year’s competition sifted through 701 entries, the highest tally in the past decade. The judges then identified eight Filipino painters and sculptors as awardees. “With the current crop of young artists trailblazing new ways of seeing and doing, we’re looking into a bright future,” says the chair of the final board of judges Toym Imao, award-winning multi-media artist and faculty member of UP College of Fine Arts. The awardees in this year’s MADE are as follows:

SCULPTURE RECOGNITION PROGRAM ■ Grand Awardee: Bungkag by Kathleen Sareena Dagum ■ Special Citation: Nakakabinging Katahimikan by Tyrone Dave Espinosa, and Isang Pangarap ang Managinip by Carlo de Laza PAINTING RECOGNITION PROGRAM ■ Oil/Acrylic on Canvas Category Grand Awardee: Between Heaven and Earth by Ariosto Dale Bagtas ■ Special Citation: Uncensored Fallacy of Faith by

array of styles and themes depicted,” shares juror Rica Estrada, who is also the curator of the exhibit. “We see paintings that show sophisticated use of color, and works that require a high degree of technical skill. Figurative works still dominate much of the selection, as do works that present social plights and the harsh realities of daily life. The paintings and sculptures speak of anxieties, loss of livelihood, worries about the future, depression, stress, difficult home situations, and the act of keeping afloat.” The rest of the jurors for 2021 MADE were intermedia artist Mark Salvatus and interdisciplinary artist Josephine Turalba. The late visual artist Leo Abaya also served as a part of the board of jurors until his passing in May. “Even though we may be in the darkest of times right now, I would often quote Bertolt Brecht: ‘Will there be singing in dark times?’ I believe yes,” Imao said. “I’ve seen these kinds of artworks of young people right now. That is the important role that we have to fulfill. We need to sing about the dark times. And once we’ve conquered it, we have to sing about the victory, and sing future narratives that are essential to be shared within a larger audience.” “It’s all really a moral responsibility of every artist to respond to these times, being given a gift,” he added, “a very powerful gift of imaging that can touch hearts, can reach a wider audience from the learned to the unlearned. We have a very powerful medium and we should use it so that we can help our countrymen survive this pandemic, survive the kakistocracy that we have right now in our country.” ■

Clark Manalo, and Binyag sa Landas-apoy by Mark Anthony Laza ■ Watermedia on Paper Category Grand Awardee: Haunting Wail of Chaos by Lymuel Bautista ■ Special Citation: Lucas 21:11 by Crispo Mantiquilla The Grand Awardees each received a prize of P500,000, while those conferred with the Special Citation were given P100,000. All awardees received the Mula glass trophy as well, designed by 2009 Metrobank Prize for Achievement in Sculpture awardee Noell El Farol. The awardees were likewise welcomed as members of the MADE-Network of Winners, the alumni organization of past awardees, implementing pay-itforward projects that cater to marginalized sectors. To date, more than 400 visual artists and design professionals have been recognized. Past awardees include Elmer Borlongan, Mark Justiniani, Jan Leeroy New, Alfredo Esquillo, Andres Barrioquinto, Yeo Kaa, and Cedrick dela Paz. According to 2021 MADE juror Daniel dela Cruz, sculptor and founding member of the Visual Arts Helping Hands Foundation Inc., he looked at the general uniqueness of an artwork, aside from its technical aspects. For juror Dindin Araneta, Art Fair Philippines co-founder, examining the influences of the artist was equally important. The artworks are presented in an ongoing virtual exhibit, titled Spectrum: The Art of Possibilities. The show runs until today, September 21, at www.madeartdepot. ph. “This year’s selection does not disappoint in the

‘The Crown,’ ‘Ted Lasso,’ ‘Queen’s Gambit’ top Emmy Awards CONTINUED FROM B5 Hannah Waddingham, winner of the best supporting actress award for a comedy, said Sudeikis “changed my life with this, and more importantly my baby girl’s.” Brett Goldstein, who won the counterpart award for supporting actor for playing a retired soccer star, said he had promised not to swear and either mimed or was muted for a few seconds, then called the show the “privilege and pleasure” of his life. Gillian Anderson and Tobias Menzies were honored for their supporting performances on The Crown. Anderson, who played British political leader Margaret Thatcher, was one of numerous cast members to accept from a Crown gathering in London.

Kate Winslet, who played the title character in Mare of Easttown, and Ewan McGregor, who starred in the fashion biopic Halston, were honored as top actors for a limited series. Winslet saluted her sister nominees in “this decade that has to be about women having each other’s back.” Julianne Nicholson and Evan Peters claimed best supporting acting honors for Mare of Easttown, about crime and family dysfunction. Both she and Peters saluted star Winslet. “Man, you’re good at acting. But turns out you’re good at caring for a whole production,” Nicholson said. The ultimate goal of the producers of the awards show was a ceremony that is upbeat and acknowledges how much TV’s importance grew during the pandemic and its lockdowns. ■

Menzies who plays Prince Philip, didn’t attend either ceremony. Before announcing the winner in his category, presenter Kerry Washington saluted another nominee, Michael K. Williams of Lovecraft Country. Williams died on September 6 at age 54. “Michael was a brilliantly talented actor and a generous human being who has left us far too soon,” Washington said. Another lost star was remembered by John Oliver of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. “No one was funnier in the last 20 years than Norm Macdonald on late-night comedy,” Oliver said in accepting the Emmy for best variety talk show, suggesting people spend time checking out clips of Macdonald, as he did after Macdonald died on September 14 at age 61.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Mood swings will slow down productivity and cause problems at home and work. Getting along will be half the battle if you plan to get things done on time. Alone time will give you a chance to work through sensitive issues. ★★

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Stay in touch with people who challenge and motivate you. Getting together with an old friend or relative will spark your imagination and help you confirm what you can do to make your life better. Don’t let anyone hold you back. ★★★★★

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Put more thought into what you want to accomplish, and press forward without giving in to interruptions. A unique approach to handling meaningful relationships will give you the edge you need to get your way. Romance is encouraged. ★★★

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Pour your energy into things that make you happy. Expand your interests, and you’ll meet people who stimulate your mind and push you to be your best. Share your feelings and thoughts, and you’ll improve your relationships with others. ★★★

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Dig in, and don’t stop until you are satisfied with what you accomplish. Give whatever you do your special touch, and you’ll gain recognition. An enthusiastic attitude will lead to a lifestyle change that promotes better health. ★★★

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Focus on home, family and finishing what you start. A change of pace will spark your imagination and encourage you to consider a new and exciting way to use your skills and experience. Find an affordable pick-me-up, and enjoy the moment. ★★★★★

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Avoid getting in the middle of someone’s dilemma. Distance yourself from family feuds and taking sides. Make personal changes that will encourage fitness, health and appealing to someone you love. Don’t restrict your plans to please someone who is being unreasonable. ★★

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): A chance to partner with someone will grab your interest and motivate you to act. Crunch the numbers to figure out the best way to utilize your cash and come out ahead. Don’t take a risk with your health or physical well-being. ★★★★

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Listen to what others have to say before you make a decision that will alter your financial situation. Pay more attention to the consequences you’ll face if you make a move that others do not favor. Do sufficient research before you proceed. ★★★ BIRTHDAY BABY: You are vibrant, open-minded and responsive. You are chic and amicable.

‘runback’ BY GEORGE JASPER The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Criticize harshly 7 In ___ of 11 Pizzazz 14 Musketeer of note 15 Shows for wannabe performers 17 Blonde author (In this clue’s answer, notice letters 8 to 5) 19 Donkey 20 Revealed 21 Weight-loss plan 22 Dad 23 Significant span 25 “Go ahead, say it’s my fault!” (... letters 5 to 2) 31 Microwaves 32 Paintballs or snowballs 33 Gift for a new employee, maybe 36 Drink made with ice cream 37 Iota follower 39 Bird last seen in 1662 40 Where to get a salt scrub 41 Steady boyfriend 42 Type of mustard 43 1990s Star Trek spinoff (...letters 5 to 1)

47 48 49 52 54 57

Down ___ (memorized) Wheels of fortune, perhaps? Pastrami place Put on, as a protest Boxing ref’s call Timely response time, and a theme hint 61 Like an Etch A Sketch or a whiteboard 62 Cleaned in a finger bowl, say 63 ___ Perignon 64 Point of view 65 Fuels, as a fire DOWN 1 ___ California 2 Son of Ares 3 Fish with flat bodies 4 Better Call Saul network 5 Neckwear clasps 6 Daydreaming, for some 7 Oral history 8 2001 Apple release 9 Symbol of slipperiness 10 Number one card game? 11 Tubular pasta 12 Drink with a Tropical Fusion flavor

13 16 18 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 34 35 37 38 39 41 42 44 45 46 49 50 51

(Listen up!) Respectful address Medina resident, most likely Get the ball rolling? Avenger Peel ___ Speedwagon Resistor measures Proverbial bucket of bolts The jackfruit dish tam khanun, for instance Accept eagerly Volume-boosting box Vulcan Salute symbol, e.g. Thick Japanese noodle No longer there Held on to Certain batteries Jurassic beast, for short “Come on, ___ pal!” Negative aspect Films with large casts Mathematician Turing Humidor items Barred from competing, informally Capital of Italy? Actor Hemsworth

52 53 54 55 56 58 59 60

Wear a pouty face Shade “thrower” Mammoth growth Joint with a cap Long ones are unfavorable Fox’s Call Me ___ Up in the air, briefly “The Coda Collection” cofounder Yoko

Solution to today’s puzzle:

Show BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Tuesday, September 21, 2021

DINGDONG, MARIAN AND BEA BANNER GMA PINOY TV ANNIVERSARY WITH FILIPINOS ABROAD

OLIVIA COLMAN (left) accepting the Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for The Crown. PHOTOS: AP

JASON SUDEIKIS, winner of the award for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series for Ted Lasso.

‘The Crown,’ ‘Ted Lasso,’ ‘Queen’s Gambit’ top Emmy Awards

By Lynn Elber The Associated Press

OS ANGELES—Netflix’s The Crown and The Queen’s Gambit combined with Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso to win top series honors at the Sunday’s Emmy Awards, a first for streaming services that cemented their rise to prominence in the television industry. “I’m at a loss for words,” said Peter Morgan, the creator and writer of the British royal saga The Crown, which collected acting, writing and directing awards in addition to four acting honors. His comment may also apply to the premium cable channels that once dominated the Emmy Awards and to the broadcast networks—including Sunday’s ceremony host, CBS—that have long grown accustomed to being largely also-rans. Netflix won a leading total of 44 awards, equaling the broadcast network record set back in 1974, by CBS. There was a bright spot for HBO with its limited series Mare of Easttown, the crime drama that earned four Emmys, including a lead acting award for star Kate Winslet. For broadcaster NBC, Saturday Night Live again came through with variety honors. The ceremony proved disappointing as well to those scrutinizing diversity in Hollywood. The record

number of nominees of color yielded only two Black winners, including RuPaul for RuPaul’s Drag Race and Michaela Coel for I May Destroy You. Cedric the Entertainer proved a game host, moving from a hip-hop opening number to gags and sketches, but the relatively small crowd—a result of pandemic precautions—was fairly muted in their response to him and others’ one-liners. There was a feeling of personal loss that pervaded the night, with a number of winners recounting the loss of loved ones. The Crown stars Olivia Colman and Josh O’Connor won the top drama acting honors on Sunday, with Jason Sudeikis, star of the warm-hearted Ted Lasso, and Jean Smart of the generation-gap story Hacks, winners on the comedy side. Colman and O’Connor were a winning fictional mother-son duo: She plays Queen Elizabeth II, with O’Connor as Prince Charles in the British royal family saga that combines gravitas and soap opera. “I’d have put money on that not happening,” Colman said of the award, calling it “a lovely end to the most extraordinary journey” with the show’s cast and creators. She cut her remarks short, explaining why she was growing tearful. “I lost my daddy during Covid, and he would have loved all of this.” she said.

O’Connor gave a shoutout to Emma Corwin, who played opposite him as Princess Diana and was also a nominee Sunday, as a “force of nature.” He also offered thanks to his grandparents, including his grandmother who died a few months ago, and his grandfather, Peter O’Connor, for the “greatest gifts” of kindness and loyalty. Sudeikis, who cocreated the series that many viewers found a balm for tough pandemic times, gave a speech that evoked the chipper, upbeat character he plays in the series about a UK soccer team and its unlikely American coach. “This show’s about families and mentors and teammates, and I wouldn’t be here without those things in my life,” said Sudeikis. He also thanked his fellow castmates, saying “I’m only as good as you guys make me look.” Smart, who received a standing ovation, began her acceptance speech on a somber note: Her husband actor, Richard Gilliland, died six months ago. “I would not be here without him” and his willingness to put her career first, said Smart. She also praised their two children as “courageous individuals in their own right.” Earlier in the evening, ebullient Ted Lasso castmate

Continued on B4

Adrian Alandy shifts to the fast lane

FOR actor Adrian Alandy, staying healthy has become top priority during these extraordinary times. “We are definitely living in very strange times, sometimes even tiptoe-ing on the edge of the unknown as we try to bring some sense of normality back into our lives and our work,” he said, adding, “Being an actor these days is so different from being an actor before the onset of this pandemic, where you go home after each work day, recharge your energies the following day before going to work again the day after. These days, we get an initial swab test before we go into a compulsory 10-day quarantine where another swab test is administered before we are transported to our locked-in location to start shooting our scenes. We have to stay inside the bubble for two to three weeks before we can go home to our families.” It is the new normal that Alandy and all his coactors and production people are getting used to nowadays. “It is for the safety of everyone who works in a production, whether for television, film or other related platforms. That’s why I have to keep fit and healthy not only physically but also mentally to be able to stay on course.” Since gyms are not fully operational for more than a year now, Alandy makes sure that he exercises regularly. “I do a lot of basic workout routines at home—push-ups, sit-ups, jump ropes, and any routine that I fancy that fits the available space at home. Sometimes I get ideas from videos I find on

the Internet.” Alandy also shared that he has rediscovered his passion for cooking. “I realized that aside from exercise and workout, food intake is very important. Even prior to the pandemic, I already like to cook and whip up dishes for me and my wife Joselle, but the many lockdown periods elevated my fondness for cooking. I research on ways to prepare meat, fish and vegetables dishes. Cooking also becomes an outlet for me— on a psychological level and it can even ignite my creativity.” Alandy loves steak and he has mastered the art of cooking it. When he needs fresh air, he rides his motorbike around the city or to nearby provinces. “I didn’t really learn how to ride motorbikes until I reached 40,” he volunteered, adding, “I enrolled in a motor school where I learned about riding and the features of different motorbikes. I aways keep in mind that safety is always the priority when enjoying one’s passion for the outdoors.” Alandy is more than happy that he is now with GMA with a new show that just started to air last week. He plays an important role in Loving Miss Bridgette, topbilled by former ABS-CBN actress Beauty Gonzales. “I play Beauty’s faculty colleague who makes things difficult for the controversial teacher-student love affair her character is involved in. It’s a good role and I am thankful that GMA welcomed me back with open arms again this year.” Alandy was a leading man in the GMA show Onanay in 2018 before he accepted a role in ABS-CBN’s hit series Kadenang Ginto. He worked on this new GMA afternoon series for a month. Not many know that during the course of working on this new series, Alandy lost a very dear family member, but he stayed on until the production wrapped up its locked-in shoot. He only told select key production heads and continued to perform his best despite the grief in his heart. When the executives of the network learned about this, they couldn’t help but admire and respect Alandy’s level of professionalism. A new movie with Mac Alejandre is also in the offing for Alandy, from a script by the esteemed Ricky Lee. Then he

looks forward to his next TV series, still with GMA, where he feels most at home. After months of patiently waiting for good roles, Adrian Alandy has now shifted to the fast lane, like how he likes to drive his favorite motorbike.

IN celebration of GMA’s flagship international channel’s 16th anniversary, GMA Pinoy TV gave the sweetest treat to the fans abroad through back-to-back events bannered by the network’s biggest and most sought-after stars. While ensuring everyone’s safety in the comfort of their homes, GMA Pinoy TV successfully held another string of Pinoy Abroad Fun Connect events (FunCons) with Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera-Dantes last August 25, followed by new GMA star Bea Alonzo on September 1. Coming from their highly-successful FunCon last April, Dingdong and Marian once again gladly heeded the fans’ request to bond with them through the virtual event, fittingly dubbed “DongYan #StrongerTogether: GMA Pinoy TV 16th Anniversary FunCon.” Hosted by top comedienne and The Clash judge Ai-Ai de las Alas, the FunCon was a triple celebration since the month of August marked GMA Pinoy TV’s anniversary as well as both Dingdong and Marian’s respective birthdays. Dingdong and Marian were happy to answer the fans’ questions from the shows they have recently binge-watched, their fitness routines, Marian’s dream role where Dingdong even revealed that she is secretly crushing on Korean actor Hyun Bin, up to the serious ones about how they keep their marriage strong especially in this pandemic which has affected every aspect of people’s lives. When asked about how GMA Pinoy TV impacted their lives as a couple and as artists, the couple expressed nothing but words of gratitude to both GMA Pinoy TV and the parent network. “Halos kasabay ng growth namin as actor and actress ’yung GMA Pinoy TV, pati ’yung GMA na rin. And very privileged kami na kami ay Kapuso kasi bukod sa GMA ko nakilala ’yung napangasawa ko, lahat ng mga milestones sa buhay namin ay may kinalaman ang GMA. That’s why very grateful kami. The network is already part of our lives and we really see ourselves growing old with the network. Kung anuman ang gawin namin, mapa-negosyo man, acting, producing, or directing, talagang nandyan sila to empower us, support us, and always be there for us. Talagang true to their word na Kapuso sila dahil ’yung pagmamahal nila sa amin ay obvious na obvious at talagang impactful sa buhay namin,” Dingdong said. Marian, on the other hand, shared how thankful she is to GMA for trusting her with big projects even when she was still starting in showbiz. “Bilang naging unang sabak ko sa GMA eh, laking pasasalamat ko na nagtiwala agad sila sa akin na ibinigay nila ang pinakamalalaking roles para sa akin na parang kahit ako, na-shock ako pero nang dahil sa pagkakataon na yun, nabigyan ako ng maraming oportunidad na gampanan at gawin ang mga hindi ko nagagawa. At sila ang nagbigay sa akin ng lakas ng loob na kayanin ko lahat ng ibibigay nila sa aking characters. Very thankful. At syempre ang pinaka-bonus dyan ay matupad ko ang pinaka-isa sa mga pinapangarap ko, ’yung mag-asawa at magkaroon ng anak nang dahil sa nakilala ko sa GMA si Dong.” The couple was also treated to several surprise video messages where their closest family and friends revealed some of their secrets from when they were still starting as a love team until they eventually became husband and wife. Marian, who got teary-eyed at some point from the surprises, thanked GMA Pinoy TV for organizing the virtual reunion with fans abroad: “Sa GMA Pinoy TV at GMA, salamat sa effort ninyo sa mga video greetings na ito. Malaking bagay sa amin ito. At nagpapasalamat kami na binigyan ninyo kami ng pagkakataon na makasama kayo at maging parte ng inyong 16th anniversary.” GMA Pinoy TV continued the anniversary celebrations and opened the so-called ber months with no less than the network’s newest star Bea Alonzo with “A Beautiful Day with Bea Alonzo FunCon,” which was hosted by GMA comedienne and Bea’s friend, Kakai Bautista. Thanks to the fans’ overwhelming support, Bea’s FunCon was quick to become the trending online event on September 1. In the opening game “How to BEA you?,” the chat boxes on Zoom and on the livestream pages were quickly flooded by the fans as they eagerly answered the trivia questions that tested how much they know about the well-loved star. In the following activity, Bea candidly played in the “Dugtungan Na!” game where she finished the sentences using titles of GMA shows. Bea also got to watch surprise video messages from DongYan, Derek Ramsay, Iya Villania, Camille Prats, Xian Lim, as well as her brother James and sister-in-law. One of the highlights of the FunCon was GMA Pinoy TV’s sweet gesture for Bea where GMA International first vice president and head Joseph Francia presented their early Christmas gift—an oil on canvas portrait of her by visual artist Isaac Sion. Delighted by their touching surprise, Bea was all smiles and said that the artwork already has a special place in her heart and in her house. “My hope is that this pandemic would end para makalibot din ako sa iba’t ibang bansa to represent GMA Pinoy TV because that would be an honor,” Bea said. “Salamat dahil talagang sinamahan nila tayong lahat ngayong hapong ito. Maraming-maraming salamat po again for making it trend in the Philippines today. I’m very very excited to create a show for GMA so you can watch me sa GMA Pinoy TV. Sana hindi ko kayo mabigo. I will do my best to create a good show for all of you to watch and be entertained,” Bea concluded. TV specials on both FunCons were aired earlier this month on GMA Pinoy TV. Program schedules are available at www. gmapinoytv.com/programguide.

MARIAN RIVERA and Dingdong Dantes (left) and Bea Alonzo

B6 Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Stock up and save on your essentials with Pandamart

Shop for a cause: Homegrown social enterprises to support via ‘Buyanihan’

HE current pandemic has affected many businesses as the shutdowns swept the country, but it also opened up the door for them to explore new markets. Some are even launching at breakneck speed like the brands under Project Buyanihan in BGC! In partnership with the Fort Bonifacio Development Foundation (FBDFI), Buyanihan is a passion project which offers free retail spaces for selected social enterprises along Bonifacio High Street. Eight social enterprises participated and will be back as soon as the quarantine protocols permit.

Fresh market goods

BENGUET Collective Producers allows the community to shop all sorts of market goods fresh from Benguet. The group is composed of upland farmers from Sablan whose livelihoods were affected during the pandemic. With the community’s support every weekend, the partner farmers shared how the project enabled them to send their kids to school and provide for their families.

Curated and handwoven finds

MASK For A Cause PH supports women weavers all around the country by providing additional income opportunities. They curate and promote Filipino handwoven masks and other cultural products from various ethnic communities in the Philippines like Iloilo, Zamboanga, and more. Each item, design, markings and symbols from their masks and other collections are unique and one of a kind. In just one weekend in BGC, they were able to surpass their regular month’s sales and further strengthen the support for local weavers.

Cultural and unique items

WITH a vision of addressing the cultural disconnect we have with our cultural heritage, Abra Indigo Manila is an all-Filipino social enterprise

showcasing local and indigenous cultures through various products like face masks, accessories, apparel, and home essentials.

Made for Pinoys skincare

DIWATANG Maria, on the other hand, is a skincare brand that aims to address the need of Pinoys when it comes to skincare. They produce only organic and natural products using plant derivatives to help local communities. Each variant serves as a declaration of Filipino ingenuity as they promote the brave, compassionate, and fearless stories of Diwatas Filipinos grew up to.

Farm fresh produce

YOU can also find a group of farmers from San Antonio, Quezon, who bring lowland crops and produce. San Antonio Natural Farmers (SANFA) work towards making agriculture a profitable and sustainable endeavor for the community.

Must have finds made by former inmates

MANY people lost their jobs during the pandemic, and finding a source of income is even more difficult for former inmates. BJMP’s Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) Livelihood Program aims to provide livelihood projects to past offenders by training them with skills, which do not only help provide them with sustainable

earnings for their families, but can also aid them in making their reintegration to society a bit easier. This includes crafting mandala pots made of clay, stylish bayong bags, lampshades, and even acrylic paintings.

OLANE, through long-time distributor, Quickway Gas Center, donated LPG tanks and accessories to The Philippine Red Cross’ “Hot Meals on Wheels” program in Cebu to cook meals for 600 medical frontliners. Along with the feeding of health workers in Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, “Hot Meals on Wheels” fed those affected by COVID-19 in towns, municipalities, and cities across Cebu. As the country grapples with the new wave of more contagious coronavirus

variants, the local healthcare system, especially the medical frontliners, are faced with the challenge of containing the daily surge of COVID-19 cases. Keeping medical workers’ hard work in mind, the country’s most trusted LPG brand Solane powered “Hot Meals On Wheels”, a feeding program led by humanitarian organization, The Philippine Red Cross (PRC). Through the initiative of Quickway Gas Center, a Cebu-based distributor that has been a partner of Solane for 50 years, the company donated

over-the-counter medication. pandamart doesn’t charge a shopper fee which is a major delighter for me,” Dette Zulueta said. “Hesitant to go outside to buy your essentials because of this pandemic? Don't worry mare @foodpanda_ph got your back. All your essentials like snacks, beverages, and dairy products are just a tap away at pandamart,” quipped Jean Musa. You can also save as you shop by using pandamart’s vouchers that you can add upon checkout. Key in STOCKUP100 to get P100 off with a minimum order of P1000, STOCKUP150 for P150 off with a minimum spend of P1500, and STOCKUP200 to get P200 off for a minimum spend of P2000. The promos are valid until September 30, so stock up now! “We are always looking for ways to make grocery shopping more convenient for our customers. By offering our promo codes for bulk buying, we want to help them make sure that they don’t miss out on anything from their essentials list while they shop safely from their homes,” says Daniel Marogy, foodpanda Managing Director. For more information, visit foodpanda Instagram and Facebook accounts.

Satisfy Taho cravings

WITH stricter community quarantine protocols, taho producers and vendors are not allowed to roam around the village streets. Bacoor Collective Producers, through Project Buyanihan, has found a new market where they can also sell other soy products.

Organic Plantito / Plantita needs

AND last, Homegrown Harvest, makes it easy for everyone to grow their own food at home while helping a local community. They offer pre-planted containers, raised beds, and even monthly maintenance check-ins and other services. This is just the start of BGC’s venture towards helping local communities. These products are not only supported by #BGCitizens, but because their advocacies are being known by many, it helps expand their reach and achieve a more significant social impact. For other news and updates, visit https:// www.facebook.com/bonifacioglobalcityph and https://www.facebook.com/BoniHighStreet/ on Facebook!

Solane LPG powers PRC’s Hot Meals on Wheels program in Cebu

SOLANE, through long-time distributor, Quickway Gas Center, donated LPG tanks and accessories to The Philippine Red Cross’ “Hot Meals on Wheels” program in Cebu to cook meals for 600 medical frontliners. Along with the feeding of health workers in Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, the program also fed those affected by COVID-19 in towns, municipalities, and cities across Cebu.

ANTRY staples, fresh & frozen items, household products, and your favorite snacks are just a click away. Stay safe at home and stock up on your essentials by ordering your groceries and having them delivered in as fast as twenty minutes to your doorstep with pandamart. Get your fresh items and other ingredients without any hassle so you can plan your daily meals ahead or when you suddenly run out. You can also order your stash of snacks for the weekend or make sure that you don’t run out of cleaning and disinfecting products to keep your home clean and safe. Of course, you can also add in your cravings of the moment such as chocolates, cold drinks, and ice cream. “I don't remember the last time I went to a grocery ‘cause I've been too scared. Thankfully @foodpanda_ph has pandamart. They offer on-demand delivery for daily essentials like my grocery It's pretty quick too, got here in 30 minutes,” said smart shopper Ava Daza (https:// www.instagram.com/p/CSyH1nHLtns/) ”Foodpanda's pandamart offers quick, on-demand delivery service of daily essentials such as groceries, fresh produce, household essentials, beauty products, and

LPG tanks and accessories that were used to cook the meals distributed to 600 medical frontliners in Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in August. “Our medical practitioners are at the forefront of our fight against COVID-19, and Solane is always ready to support their efforts,” said Valeri Villano, Marketing Manager of Isla LPG. “It’s our first year joining this initiative with the Philippine Red Cross and we look forward to more years where we can join hands in giving back to the society and the community we belong in.” PRC’s “Hot Meals On Wheels” is a feeding program that started in 2005 for the purpose of providing meals to those affected by disasters, calamities, and other adversities like the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, two vehicles running all across Cebu’s towns and cities served those who are currently affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The drive is expected to deploy two more food trucks to extend the service to the community in the coming days. “As PRC focused on feeding the most vulnerable, our donation reached the frontliners to altogether provide aid during the implementation of strict lockdowns. While we all look forward for this pandemic to be over, we in Solane are ready to extend our help in any way possible, to genuinely contribute in promoting the welfare of Filipinos,” Villano concluded.

Cathay Land raises bar on sustainability in the ‘new normal’

NCHORED on what truly matters to the Filipino in the new normal: a space that offers a taste of city escape without leaving any of the most convenient urban amenities behind, veteran property developer Cathay Land designed Ananda Square located in the progressive Las Piñas. The first tower, a 20-storey mixed-use building, will feature about 700 units, comprising mainly of studio units and 1-bedroom suites. Three more towers are planned in the next few years to complete the entire development. Ananda Square will offer recreational amenities to help foster strong communal bonds among residents as they indulge in healthy and active lifestyles. Future residents will enjoy The AQUATRIUM at the building’s center with a lap pool and kiddie pool, pocket gardens on every floor, courtyard, social hall, and student lounge. There will also be a strip mall at the ground level up to the third floor that will provide

them added convenience. The project is targeted towards young professionals and starting families, given the indicative price of P128,500 per square meter. A 24-sq.m. studio unit starts at P11,000 per month, whereas a 32.63-sq.m. 1-bedroom unit goes for up to P21,000 per month. Families that require bigger spaces can combine adjacent units at the two penthouse floors. Conveniently located along AlabangZapote road, Ananda Square is proximate to road networks such as SLEX, MCX, and Daang Hari, as well as critical transport hubs like the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Cathay Land President Jeffrey T. Ng describes a move into Ananda Square as “upliving,” not downsizing. Residents, he said, will “have bigger units, great amenities, you’re still in the city and you’re surrounded by lots of greenery.” To know more, you can visit www. anandasquare.com or call 0917-635-3333.

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

The World

UN chief warns China, US to avoid new Cold War

NITED NATIONS—Warning of a potential new Cold War, the head of the United Nations implored China and the United States to repair their “completely dysfunctional” relationship before problems between the two large and deeply influential countries spill over even further into the rest of the planet. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke to The Associated Press this weekend ahead of this week’s annual United Nations gathering of world leaders—a convening blemished by Covid, climate concerns and contentiousness across the planet. Guterres said the world’s two major economic powers should be cooperating on climate and negotiating more robustly on trade and technology even given persisting political fissures about human rights, economics, online security and sovereignty in the South China Sea. “Unfortunately, today we only have confrontation,” Guterres said Saturday in the AP interview. “We need to re-establish a functional relationship between the two powers,” he said, calling that “essential to address the problems of vaccination, the problems of climate change and many other global challenges that cannot be solved without constructive relations within the international community and mainly among the superpowers.” Two years ago, Guterres warned global leaders of the risk of the world splitting in two, with the United States and China creating rival Internets, currency, trade, financial rules “and their own zero-sum geopolitical and military strategies.” He reiterated that warning in the AP interview, adding that two rival geopolitical and military strategies would pose “dangers” and divide the world. Thus, he said, the foundering relationship must be repaired—and soon. “We need to avoid at all cost a Cold War that would be different from the past one, and probably more dangerous and more difficult to manage,” Guterres said. The so-called Cold War between the Soviet Union and its East bloc allies and the United States and its Western allies began immediately after World War II and ended with the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. It was a clash of two nuclear-armed superpowers with rival ideologies—communism and authoritarianism on one side, capitalism and democracy on the other. The UN chief said a new Cold War could be more perilous because the Soviet-US antipathy created clear rules, and both sides were conscious of the risk of nuclear destruction. That produced back channels and forums “to guarantee that things would not get out of control,” he said. “Now, today, everything is more fluid, and even the experience that existed in the past to manage crisis is no longer there,” Guterres said. He said the US-Britain deal to give Australia nuclear-powered submarines so it could operate undetected in Asia “is just one small piece of a more complex puzzle...this completely dysfunctional relationship between China and the United States.” The secretly negotiated deal angered China and France, which had signed a contract with Australia worth at least $66 billion for a dozen French conventional diesel-electric submarines. In the wide-ranging AP interview, the secretary-general also addressed three major issues that world leaders will be confronting this week: the worsening climate crisis, the still-raging pandemic and Afghanistan’s uncertain future under its new Taliban rulers. They took power August 15 without a fight from the government’s US-trained army as American forces were in the final stage of withdrawing from the country after 20 years. What role will the United Nations have in the new Afghanistan? Guterres called it “a fantasy” to believe that UN involvement “will be able all of a sudden to produce an inclusive government, to guarantee that all human rights are respected, to guarantee that no terrorists will ever exist in Afghanistan, that drug trafficking will stop.” After all, he said, the United States and many other countries had thousands of soldiers in Afghanistan and spent trillions of dollars and weren’t able to solve the country’s problems—and, some say, made them worse. Though the United Nations has “limited capacity and limited leverage,” he said, it is playing a key role in leading efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Afghans. The U.N. is also drawing the Taliban’s attention to the importance of an inclusive government that respects human rights, especially for women and girls, he said. “There is clearly a fight for power within different groups in the Taliban leadership. The situation is not yet clarified,” he said, calling it one more reason why the international community should engage with the Taliban. While former US president Donald Trump was wedded to an “America First” policy, President Joe Biden—who will make his first appearance as chief executive at the General Assembly’s high-level meeting Tuesday—has reaffirmed US commitment to multilateral institutions. Guterres said Biden’s commitment to global action on climate, including rejoining the 2015 Paris climate agreement that Trump withdrew from, is “probably the most important of them all.” He said there is “a completely different environment in the relationship” between the United Nations and the United States under Biden. But, Guterres said, “I did everything—and I’m proud of it—in order to make sure that we would keep a functional relationship with the United States in the past administration.” Guterres also lamented the failure of countries to work together to tackle global warming and ensure that people in every country are vaccinated. Of the past year of Covid-19 struggles, he said: “We were not able to make any real progress in relation to effective coordination of global efforts.” And of climate: “One year ago, we were seeing a more clear movement in the right direction, and that movement has slowed down in the recent past. So we need to re-accelerate again if we are not going into disaster.” Guterres called it “totally unacceptable” that 80 percent of the population in his native Portugal has been vaccinated while in many African countries, less than 2 percent of the population is vaccinated. “It’s completely stupid from the point of view of defeating the virus, but if the virus goes on spreading like wildfire in the global south, there will be more mutations,” he said. “And we know that mutations are making it more transmissible, more dangerous.” He again urged the world’s 20 major economic powers in the G-20, who failed to take united action against Covid-19 in early 2020, to create the conditions for a global vaccination plan. Such a plan, he said, must bring together vaccine-producing countries with international financial institutions and pharmaceutical companies to double production and ensure equitable distribution. “I think this is possible,” Guterres said. “It depends on political will.” The secretary-general said rich, developed countries are spending about 20 percent of their GDP on recovery problems, middle-income countries about 6 percent and the least developed countries 2 percent of a small GDP. That, he says, has produced frustration and mistrust in parts of the developing world that have received neither vaccines nor recovery assistance. The divide between developed countries in the north and developing countries in the south “is very dangerous for global security,” Guterres said, “and it’s very dangerous for the capacity to bring the world together to fight climate change.” AP

BusinessMirror

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Singapore cases hit 2021 high; ICU capacity constraints noted

ingapore recorded more than 1,000 infections on Saturday for the second straight day, marking a 17-month high and prompting concern about capacity constraints in the citystate’s intensive care facilities.

Singapore’s leaders are closely watching the intensive care unit situation to make sure its hospital system won’t be overwhelmed, as reported Covid-19 cases breached the 1,000 mark for a second consecutive day, cabinet ministers said. The next one to two weeks “will be critical,” Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said in a Facebook post late Sunday. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said in a separate post that while ICU capacity is “still holding up,” accident and emergency departments and general wards in hospitals are coming “under pressure.” Both sit on the task force that handles the virus situation. Singapore’s plan to shift away from a Covid-zero elimination strategy, toward living with endemic Covid, relies on limiting serious cases through mass vaccination. The current increase could test that strategy. The number of serious cases in ICU or in need of oxygen supplementation more than doubled to 139 as of Sunday, from 61 a week ago. “There is no doubt that if our people had not come forward in big numbers to vaccinate ourselves, our health-care system would have been overwhelmed by now,” Ong said. Singapore’s public acute hospitals had more than 9,600 beds for in-patient care as of 2020. Among hospitals tracked by the health ministry, the beds occupancy rate ranged between 76 percent and 88 percent as of September 11. Singapore’s vaccination rate

of 82 percent is among the highest in the world according to data compiled by Bloomberg. About 0.2 percent of infected cases here are at risk of needing ICU care, Wong said, citing data from the Ministry of Health. While that’s far lower than many western nations that have opened up faster than Singapore, government leaders say they need to ensure ICU cases don’t spike alongside rising overall cases. “Some have told me that based on our high vaccine coverage, and the current ICU figure...we don’t have to worry,” Wong said. “But in fact the ICU numbers can change very quickly and we cannot afford to be complacent.” Ong said in July that Singapore can open up to about 1,000 ICU beds if needed for critically ill Covid-19 patients. The city-state has 873 patients currently warded in hospitals, 118 of which are serious illness requiring oxygen supplementation, and 21 are in the ICU, according to a statement from the ministry. At its peak, early in the pandemic, Singapore had as many as 32 ICU Covid patients. Of the 1,009 new cases of locally transmitted infections on September 19, 321 were seniors above 60 years old. Those 18 or below made up 88 cases. Singapore has urged younger vaccinated people to recover at home. More community care facilities will be set up to provide clinical care to patients with mild symptoms or who have underlying

conditions that require a closer monitoring, the health ministry said in a separate statement. “Our hospitals and health-care workers cannot be over burdened,” Ong said, adding that it’s currently the Ministry of Health’s “biggest challenge and we are doing our best to solve this.” Key developments:

of Japan’s 47 prefectures including Tokyo and Osaka, had been extended through the end of September after the Delta variant fueled a surge in infections. Japan’s daily Covid-19 cases fell to 4,692 on Saturday, compared with more than 25,000 in mid-August. More than half of the population is fully vaccinated.

New South Wales cases dip

Trudeau closes campaign on Covid record

Pediatricians sent to Fujian to assist in outbreak

Biden’s booster and export plans to collide at UN

Reported cases in New South Wales dropped to 935 on Monday, the first daily tally below 1,000 since August 27. About 82 percent of eligible people in the state have had a first vaccine, and almost 53 percent of the population is now fully vaccinated. The rural town of Cowra will be locked down from 5 p.m. Monday after a confirmed local area. Victoria reported 567 new cases in 24 hours. The state is also rolling out hundreds of thousands of Moderna doses to be administered at pharmacies this week.

China’s current outbreak remains confined to Fujian Province, which reported 28 new local infections Sunday. Children make up a higher proportion of the Fujian cases relative to other recent hot spots, Vice premier Sun Chunlan said Saturday during a visit, adding that pediatricians from elsewhere in China will be deployed to the province to assist.

Japan eyes September end to state of emergency

Japan’s government is considering ending its latest state of emergency at the end of this month, broadcaster TBS reported. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is expected to make the decision when he returns from his trip to the US this week to meet with President Joe Biden. The restrictions, which cover 19

C ana dian P r i me M i n i s t e r Justin Trudeau closed out his re-election campaign by casting himself as the leader best able to protect the nation as the coronavirus pandemic moves toward a third year. Voting is on Monday. Trudeau’s Liberals are expected to win but fall short of the outright majority Trudeau sought when he called the elections two years early. Trudeau supports vaccine mandates, as well as more aggressive Covid-control measures compared with the opposition Conservatives.

President Joe Biden will set a new course for global vaccine allocation this week. As world leaders gather for the UN General Assembly, Biden will host a virtual summit on the shortage of shots in poorer countries even as the US moves to give booster doses to millions of fully inoculated Americans. The US plan for boosters has angered nations where many have yet to get a first shot. Biden aims to mollify the critics with a proposal to target a 70-percent global vaccination rate by September 2022. His administration is negotiating with Pfizer Inc. to buy an additional 500 million Covid-19 vaccines to donate globally, doubling the government’s commitment to helping less-wealthy countries. A deal is expected to be announced in the coming days. Bloomberg News

Taiwan FM condemns ‘hostile’ fruit import ban from China

EIJING—Taiwan’s foreign minister said Sunday that a new tropical fruit import ban by China was a “hostile move,” amid souring relations between the two governments. Chinese customs authorities announced earlier Saturday that they would stop the import of custard and wax apples from Taiwan, citing pest concerns. “Following a series of military threats, the #PRC is weaponizing trade by announcing an immediate ban on #Taiwan’s custard & wax apples,” Taiwanese foreign minister Joseph Wu said on Twitter, referring to the mainland People’s Republic of China by its common acronym. He added that the trade ban

was a “hostile move” that violates international trade norms. China has recently hardened its stance toward Taiwan, which it views as a renegade province that should be united with the mainland. The Chinese General Administration of Customs said in its statement that it detected pests called Planococcus minor—commonly known as the citrus mealybug—in imports of Taiwanese custard and wax apples. The statement said that suspending the import of the two fruits was “to prevent the risk of plant epidemics.” The mealybugs tend to feed on a wide variety of agricultural crops and may affect yield and fruit quality.

In a news conference Sunday, Taiwan’s agriculture minister Chen Chi-chung said that Taiwanese authorities have urged Beiji ng to prov ide sc ient i f ic evidence for its ban. “We cannot accept this,” said Chen. If China does not respond to Taiwan’s request for a resolution under the current bilateral framework by September 30, Taiwan will take the issue to the World Trade Organization for dispute resolution, Chen said. China is the largest importer of Taiwan’s agricultural products, and imported over $1 billion worth of agricultural goods last year, according to government data. China in February banned im-

ports of pineapples from Taiwa n over similar concer ns, and Taiwa n at t he t ime a lso protested what it sa id was a v iol at ion of g loba l t r ade r u les. Si nce t he ba n, Ta iw a n’s pi neapple e x por ts to Japa n have su rged more t ha n eight fold. Chinese relations with Taiwan have soured since the election of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, who is from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party that advocates Taiwan’s formal independence. Beijing has cut ties with Tsai’s government over her refusal to accept its demand that she recognize the island as a part of China to be unified with it eventually under the “one country, two systems” policy enacted in Hong Kong. AP

UN, US, UK condemn Houthi rebels’ execution of 9 Yemenis

ANAA, Yemen—The United Nations, the United States and the United Kingdom on Sunday condemned the executions of nine Yemenis by the country’s Houthi rebels over allegations that they were involved in the killing of a senior Houthi official in an air strike by the Saudi-led coalition more than three years ago. The Iranian-backed Houthis on Saturday publicly executed the nine by firing squad. Hundreds of people, mostly Houthis and their supporters, attended the execution in the infamous Tahrir square in the rebel-held capital of Sanaa.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the trial in which the nine were convicted and sentenced to death did not meet “the requirements of fair trial and due process,” according to a statement from Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN chief. Dujarric said the secretary-general “deeply regrets” the executions, which caused outrage across Yemen including in Sanaa, where people usually refrain from criticizing the Houthis for fear of reprisals. Rebel leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of the Houthis’ Supreme Revolutionary Council, tweeted that they have rejected

the UN’s challenge to the rebelcontrolled judiciary. The nine were among more than 60 people the Houthis accused of involvement in the targeted killing of Saleh al-Samad in April 2018. They were charged with spying for the Saudi-led coalition, which has been waging war against the rebels for years in an effort to bring back Yemen’s internationally recognized government to power. Al-Samad, who held the post of president in the Houthi-backed political body, was killed along with six companions in an airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition

in the coastal city of Hodeida. The US’s top diplomat in Yemen, Cathy Westley, called the trial “sham” that followed “years of torture and abuse” of the executed people. “ T his outrageous action is another example of the Houthi ind if ference to basic hu ma n rights... This barbarism must end,” Westley said in a message posted on the embassy’s Twitter account. The British embassy in Yemen also condemned “the brutal Houthi execution,” which showed “blatant disregard” for a fair trial and due process. AP

Sports

ARUM TO PACQUIAO: FOCUS ON ELECTIONS

BusinessMirror

| Tuesday, September 21, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

BIADO REKINDLES INTEREST IN POOL

CARLO BIADO and his wife Niecky pose with the US Open trophy.

By Josef Ramos

FTER etching his name as one of pool’s immortals, all that newly-crowned US Open champion Carlo Biado wanted to do is go home to Muntinlupa City, hug his five kids and take a long, relaxing rest. “I’m really, really tired and I miss my family so much,” the 37-year-old Biado told BusinessMirror in a virtual interview on Monday. “I’ve been here [US] for four months so it’s time to go home.” Biado booked one of the most, if not the most, amazing comebacks in US Open history—or in any other major world tournaments for that matter—by stringing 10

straight racks to beat Singapore’s Aloysius Yapp, 13-8, at dawn Sunday at the Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey. At the moment, Biado and vlogger wife Niecky, are enjoying the fruits of victory while billeted at a posh 23rd-floor room of the Times Square Hotel in New York City. After all, the US Open trophy and green jacket went with a $50,000 (roughly P2.5 million) prize money. They already booked a flight and are expected to arrive on Tuesday and waiting for the champion couple at their Soldiers Hills home are 15-year-old son John Carlo, Ralph Steven (14), Rain Patrick (13), Prince Raven (10) and Serena Angela (5). Biado’s mom Lolita took care of all five

while their parents were away. “This [US Open title] is absolutely big, really, really big,” Biado said, adding that he is hopeful his victory will rekindle interest in pool the way the legendary Efren “Bata” Reyes gave the sport a major boost when he won the world 9-ball crown in Cardiff, Wales in 1999. “I hope I can inspire the young players to dream big, the way I dreamt big,” said Biado, only the second Filipino to wear the green jacket after also after Reyes, who won in 1994. Biado started playing pool at 13 in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City. He thanked Barangay Tunasan (also in. Muntinlupa) Chairman Walter Arcilla for allowing him to practice on his Brunswick table before his departure for the US in May as the entire country remained under quarantine restrictions because of Covid-19. “If there’s no Covid-19, my training would have been at the Philippine Sports Commission at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila,” said Biado, originally from Rosario, La Union, who also owns a 9-ball gold medal from the 2017 World Games in Wroclaw, Poland. His conquest of the US Open didn’t come easy. Biado survived two grueling matches against compatriot Johann Chua, 11-10, in the quarterfinals and Japanese Naoyuki Oi, 11-9, in the semifinals to barge to the championship match. Against Yapp, he stared at a 3-8 hole before summoning the gods of pool to again smile at a Filipino on the final table. Biado arrived in the US last May 16 and pocketed two other titles earlier in his four-month sortie—

the Cajun Cost Open in South Carolina against fellow Dennis Orcollo and the Texas Big Tyme Classic against Josh Roberts in June. He was runner-up at the Hard Times Sacramento 10-ball Open championship and the Arizona Open Championship both in August. He made the semifinals of the Texas Buffalo 9-ball Open also in August. “Those tournaments, those money games, boosted my confidence level very well heading to the US Open. I was able to train with those competitions,” said Biado, who clarified that he was a former tee boy in a military golf club, and not a caddie. “I am just very fortunate because I am with my wife beside me during those competitions.” Biado owned a Shawarma Shack franchise near his home at the Soldiers Hills subdivision since 2019. But the pandemic shut it down, like many other businesses. “Niecky encouraged and motivated me to focus on ‘happy thoughts,’ to achieve my dream on the billiard table,” he said. “Now, we can start all over again with our family business.” “But we have to pay the bills at home first,” he said, laughing, then turned serious. “We’ll save most of it [prize money] and decide what to do next.” “What’s important is for us to go home,” added Biado, who continued to stick with his Predator P3 for the last six years.

Biado in PSA Forum

‘Angas ng Tondo’ picked week’s top player

HE Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum will have as a special guest on Tuesday the newest toast of Philippine sports, US Open champion Carlo Biado. The former caddie turned pool hero will talk and look back to his journey in becoming the first Filipino to win the US Open after the legendary Efren “Bata” Reyes who last won the crown in 1994. Billiards Sports Confederation of the Philippines Secretary General Robert Mananquil will join Biado in the weekly online forum presented by San Miguel Corp., Milo, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. Philippine Racing Commission Chairman Reli De Leon will appear in the first part of the 10 a.m. session also powered by Smart with Upstream Media as official webcast partner. De Leon’s Executive Director Andrew Buencamino and Deputy Executive Director Ronald Corpuz are also guesting in the forum livestreamed via the PSA Facebook page fb.com/PhilippineSportswritersAssociation and also officially shared by Radyo Pilipinas 2 Facebook page.

HE swagger in Paul Lee that earned him the moniker “Angas ng Tondo” was in full display again in a Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup game Sunday where the stakes were high between two title contending teams. The Tondo-born guard erupted for 18 big points in the fourth quarter in spearheading Magnolia’s huge 100-90 win over San Miguel Beer that gave the Hotshots a crack at clinching the remaining twice-to-beat advantage in the playoffs. In all, the 32-year-old Lee torched the Beermen for 32 points, spiked by a 3-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc, four rebounds and five assists to help his team end its elimination round campaign on a high note after winning back-to-back games at the Don Honorio Ventura State University gym. Magnolia finished the eliminations with an 8-3 record for solo third place and in a good position to notch the No. 2 seed entering the quarterfinals. It was Lee’s fifth career 30-point plus game, according to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III, and the 18 points in the fourth period is the most scored in a quarter by a player this season. Lee earned the reputation as the

Bianca ties for 30th in Oregon

IANCA PAGDANGANAN carded a final round 73 to wind up joint 30th in the rain-shortened Cambia Portland Classic Jin Young Ko won on Sunday. Pagdanganan, 23 and a veteran of the Tokyo Olympics, had a three-day 217, one-over for the tournament staged at the Oregon Golf Club in West Linn, Oregon. Pagdanganan tied Caroline Inglis with each player pocketing $10,823 (P541,000). They finished 12 shots Jin, who booked her second victory in her last three Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour starts. Dottie Ardina, on the other hand, finished tied for 54th to 56th places with American Austin Ernst and Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum with similar scores of 222. They each bagged $4,217 (P211,000). Making her first start since the Tokyo Olympics, the second-round South Korean player closed with a bogey-free three-under 69 for a four-stroke victory over Jeongeun Lee and Su Oh. Ko finished at 11-under 205. Play was washed out Saturday because of rain and the event was cut from 72 to 54 holes. Ko took the lead Friday with a 67. Ko also won the Volunteers of America Classic in Texas in early July. The two-time major champion has nine LPGA Tour victories.

Cignal-Play PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period September 15 to 19. The Magnolia guard out of University of the East edged TnT Tropang Giga rookie Mikey Williams in a close voting for the weekly award handed out by the men and women regularly covering the PBA beat. Also considered for the honor were the Meralco trio of Allein Maliksi, Raymond Almazan and Bong Quinto, Lee’s Magnolia teammate Ian Sangalang and veteran NLEX big man JR Quinahan. Lee said he’s just getting started again after being slowed down by a minor hamstring injury earlier in Magnolia’s campaign. “I want to be in my right physical condition. My game was like a rollercoaster from the time I was injured,” he said. “There are days that my body weighed down on me. But I continued to work hard.”

PAUL LEE’S swagger on the court is back.

Tara Cebu! THE air was rife with excitement, enthusiasm, and anticipation as I conversed last Friday with Cebu Football Club owner Ugur Tasci, head coach Oliver “Bing” Colina, team manager Hannah Wong and captain Evren Tasci. It was so palpable you could see it in the faces of the

SENATOR Manny Pacquiao announces his intention to run for president.

OP RANK chief Bob Arum reiterated his call to Senator Manny Pacquiao—a day after declaring his intention to run in the election next year as the country’s next President—to finally forget fighting by early January for his potential fitting farewell bout. Arum, the longtime promoter of Pacquiao from 2006 to 2017, spoke to BUSINESSMIRROR on Monday through an overseas call from his Las Vegas home, expressing his all-out support to the eight-division world champion to convince his people to vote for him. “Forget the [boxing] fights. I think that becoming the President of the Philippines is more important than doing another fight,” Arum, 89, said, although the fighting senator hasn’t come out yet with a formal

announcement whether to go for a last fight before retiring for good in professional boxing. Arum added that he watched Pacquiao’s declaration last Sunday when he accepted the PDP [Partido Demokratiko Pilipino] Laban nomination under Senator Koko Pimentel’s wing as its standard bearer for the presidential election next year. Arum said, Pacquiao, 42, who lost to World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion Yordenis Ugás last August 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada, could consider fighting if ever he loses the Presidential election next year. “He [Pacquiao] should run for the presidency and hopefully he wins. He can’t fight anymore. I think he should concentrate on getting elected president,” Arum added. “And if unfortunately he loses, then he could consider one more fight. But if he wins, obviously he would be a great president.” Arum said he would support Pacquiao’s bid of winning the biggest fight of his life—the Philippine Presidency. “Manny is not like any other politicians. Manny believes in the people, loves the people, and wants to do what’s right for the people. He would be a splendid President of the Philippines—and he has all my support, moral and otherwise,” Arum explained. “I am absolutely 100 percent in his corner. I hope he is successful and wins the presidency. It would be great to the Filipino people,” Arum said, adding that US President Joe Biden and Pacquiao would definitely have a great relationship. “I think they are both decent,” he said. “I will be behind him.” Josef Ramos

Vietnam gets until October to decide on 31st SEA Games

HE 31st Southeast Asian Games that Vietnam was supposed to host this December is in a deep quandary— no thanks to the unabated Covid-19 pandemic. The SEA Games Federation, according to Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, gave Vietnam an ultimatum in October to decide whether to hold the Games in 2022 or cancel them outright. “The consensus was for Vietnam to make a decision, otherwise, the 31st SEA Games would be canceled,” Tolentino said. The federation met online last Friday and Tolentino said that a late May 2022 schedule was decided as the most convenient and logical for all 11 member countries. “There are three major Asian and two international competitions in 2022,” Tolentino said. “That leaves Vietnam a very small window to hold the SEA Games.” The Thailand Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games are scheduled from March 10 to 20, Hangzhou Asian Games from September 10 to 25 and Shantou Asian Youth Games from December 20 to 28. The Beijing Winter

players who were training and practicing literally right behind where the interview was taking place. The team will be led by Tasci and former University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s MVP Kintaro Miyagi. The players are mostly homegrown— born and raised in Cebu. On Mr. Tasci, an article on Sunstar Philippines dated September 12, 2021, said, “Actually, this is not new… This has been planned for a long time...once we came to Cebu and started Leylam FC, things went on a roll, and everything just fell into place, so there was no reason that we couldn’t be in the PFL [Philippine Football League]. With Leylam FC’s success representing Cebu, this was the next level for us.” According to another Sunstar article written by Edri Aznar, Coach Bing said, “It’s an honor to represent our city and I know it’s a big challenge for me, but I’ll try my very best to strengthen the team. “I know we can challenge these teams,” said Colina, who was the previous head coach of Kaya FC. “Kaya and United City FC are the top clubs in our country. They’re

Olympics are set from February 4 to 20 and the International Olympic Committee-sanctioned World Games are from July 7 to 22 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Newly-crowned US Open champion Carlo Biado won the 9-ball gold medal at the 2017 World Games in Wroclaw, Poland. “All these five competitions are major events, they are staged once every four years,” Tolentino said. The schedule for the Hanoi 31st SEA Games is as crucial as the Vietnamese government’s decision on holding the games in May. “Cambodia, the host of the 32nd SEA Games, decided to hold the competitions in February 2023, after the Chinese New Year for that year,” Tolentino said. “And that’s the reason why Vietnam could only have until the latter part of May to host.” Cambodia, Tolentino said, emphasized that it needs its own comfortable window—eight months if Vietnam hosts in May— to guarantee its successful first hosting of the games. “We understand the situation of Cambodia because as hosts in 2019, we had two years at least to prepare for our successful campaign and hosting,” Tolentino said. “Cambodia wants to excel in its hosting debut and, in fact, all infrastructure and collaterals for the 32nd SEA Games are ready.” If Hanoi is canceled, Tolentino said Vietnam could take its turn in 2027. “Thailand is host of the 33rd edition in 2025 and as of now, Laos or Brunei has yet to confirm for 2027,” he said. “If these two countries pull back, then Vietnam gets its turn back.”

both very strong teams. But we will try our best to match up with the best clubs in our country.” If the PFL decides to do another bubble, Mr. Tasci will bring his team wherever the bubble may be. The players will compete anytime and anywhere. Part of Mr. Tasci’s plans in the not so distant future is to establish a Cebu FC youth football system patterned after the programs set up by successful European football clubs like Barcelona. Another plan is to also form a Cebu FC women’s club. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the charismatic Turkish team owner’s goals is for Cebu FC to one day play in the Asian Football Confederation Cup, the qualifier for the Asian Champions League, the obvious Asian version of the Champions League. The team is a mixture of homegrown and experienced veterans. Coach Bing Colina got his players ready as soon as the PFL is ready. I am excited for these guys and hope they break a leg, not literally, when the season starts. Tara Cebu!