BusinessMirror April 30, 2021

BSP: Net outflow of FPI in Q1 hits $483M S HORT-TERM investments m ade by foreig n i nves tors to t he Ph i l ippi nes remained in the red in the first three months of the year, but h ave sig n i f ic a nt ly i mproved from its state in 2020.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Thursday a $483.45-million net outf low in foreign portfolio investments (FPI) in the first three months of the year.

W hile this is a reversal of t he net inf lows seen ea rl ier this year, especially in January, it is a recovery compared to the $1.48-billion net outf lows seen in the first three months

w

n

of last year.

FPI are known as “ hot” or “specu l at ive” money because they are easily pulled in and out of the local platforms in the slight change of global and local sentiment.

This type of foreign investment is usually a measure of the global economy’s investing sentiment on the Philippines i n shor t - ter m pros pec t s for yields, in contrast to foreign direct investments (FDI) which are placed in the Philippines in search of long-term yield.

BSP attributed the lower FPI net outf lows during the period to international and domestic

Friday, April 30, 2021 Vol. 16 No. 198

developments such as the new U S a d m i n i s t r at i o n , v a c c i n e rol lout and the reimposition of additional quarantine measures amid the surge in virus infection.

For Ma rc h a lone, t he hot money net outf lows hit $540.97 million, higher than the previous mont h ’s $40.41 mi l l ion.

Compared to last year however, it is an improvement from the $961.08-million net outf low.

The total FPI placed in the country during the month hit $824 million. However, these were more than offset by the withdrawals during the month at $1.37 million.

About 90.5 percent of investments registered were in PSEl i sted sec u r it ies, per t a i n i ng mainly to banks, property companies, holding firms, food, beverage and tobacco companies and transportation services firms.

The remaining 9.5 percent, meanwhile, went to investments in Peso government securities.

The United Kingdom, United States (US), Luxembourg, Switzerland and Hong Kong were the top 5 investor countries for the month, with combined share of 78.7 percent.

The US also received the bulk of the outf lows at 61.6 percent of the total. Bianca Cuaresma

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TRADE GAP, LOANS PUSH Q1 BOP DEFICIT TO $2.84B COVID LOCKDOWNS COST NCR ECONOMY P627.7B IN 2020–PSA

By Cai U. Ordinario

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ETRO Manila’s economic growth suffered under the weight of the pandemic which caused it to lose P627.7 billion last year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

In a briefing on the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) performance of Metro Manila on Thursday, PSA said the GRDP of NCR last year declined 10.1 percent to P5.6 trillion from P6.2 trillion recorded in 2019.

The agency said the lockdowns that had to be put in place to contain the spread of Covid-19 “greatly affected” the performance of Metro Manila last year.

“The economic loss is about P627.7 billion. We should take

A resident of Barangay Old Balara in Quezon City shows Ivermectin capsules and a prescription she received after Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor and Sagip Rep. Rodante Marcoleta distributed “humangrade” Ivermectin to residents. The Concerned Doctors and Citizens of the Philippines has endorsed the drug to help prevent Covid-19. The Department of Health said only hospitals are given compassionate special permits to administer it to Covid-19 patients, but the Food and Drug Administration’s qualifying statements leave a gray area. Meanwhile, local clinical trials start in May. Stories on A12. BERNARD TESTA

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By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

HE Philippines continued to bleed dollars in the first three months of the year, due largely to the country’s trade deficit and the national government’s dollar demand to repay foreign loans.

See “Trade,” A2

PESO exchange rates n US 48.4400

@caiordinario

note that the pandemic started in the latter part of the first quarter, in March, so this really affected the economic output of the region,” PSA NCR Director Paciano B. Dizon said in a briefing on Thursday.

Dizon explained that apart from the pandemic and lockdowns, Taal Volcano’s eruption in January 2020 and the supertyphoons affected NCR. National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Regional Development Group Assistant Secretary Greg L. Pineda added that mobility restrictions significantly affected the manufacturing sector.

Pineda said the NCR is a crucial part of the Philippine economy and plays an important role in the growth of two other regions—Central Luzon and Calabarzon—that also drive economic growth in the country.

See “Covid,” A2

DOT pins MICE recovery hope on summit

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

@akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

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HE Department of Tourism (DOT) underscored the importance of Meetings, Incentives, Conferences,

Exhibitions (MICE) events to hasten the recovery of the country’s travel trade industry.

This developed as the agency and its marketing arm, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), welcomed the announcement by the World Travel and Tourism

Council (WTTC) of the Philippines’s hosting of WTTC Global Summit f rom October 26 -28 this year.

WTTC President and Chief Executive Officer Gloria Guevara made the formal announcement on Wednesday at the closing

ceremony of the WTTC Global Summit in Cancun, Mexico. The Cancun summit was supposed to have been held last year, but was postponed due to the global Covid-19 lockdowns and travel restrictions.

n japan 0.4461 n UK 67.5302 n HK 6.2400 n CHINA 7.4766 n singapore 36.5668 n australia 37.7251 n EU 58.7432 n SAUDI arabia 12.9180

See “DOT,” A2

Source: BSP (April 29, 2021)

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Friday, April 30, 2021

DOT...

Continued from A1

“I would like to formally announce our next host, the Philippines, and I am inviting you all to continue with the recovery of our sector in Manila. We are very dedicated to ensure safety, and we will continue to monitor the situation carefully. I look forward to seeing you all,” Guevara announced.

In a news statement, Tourism Secretar y Bernadette Romulo Puyat extended a warm invitation to its partners, as the country looked forward to hosting the upcoming summit, which will help restart the tourism industry and further boost its strategies to position the country as the MICE hub in Asia.

“We, your Philippine partners in tourism, are eager to share our hopes, dreams and plans for our industry, [and are] ready to do our share in the global effort to overcome and break down barriers in this new dynamic, and unpredictable tourism landscape,” said Romulo Puyat after Guevara’s announcement.

In 2018, it launched an ambitious MICE Roadmap 2030 aimed at increasing the country’s MICE revenues to some P25 billion by 2030, from P4.6 billion in 2016.

Its targets have been somewhat derailed, however, by the Covid-19 travel restrictions around the world.

“The Philippines’s hosting of WTTC Global Summit will create an avenue for the private sector and local tourism industry stakeholders to consider bigger markets and present an immense opportunity to network and link up with international partners,” explained TPB Chief Operating Officer Anthonette C. VelascoAllones, separately.

It will also allow the Philippines to demonstrate its commitment to health and safety, environmental sustainability, and local community engagement in tourist destinations, she said.

The DOT chief added: “ T hrough our deter minat ion and dedication to this sector, tourism will once again be the driver of socioeconomic growth, and improve the lives of millions of people around the world while championing sustainability. We will recover as one, and we will travel once again.”

The WTTC Global Summit is an annual event that gathers some 1,000 participants composed of chief executive officers, presidents and chairpersons of the largest and most prominent international travel and tourism companies from airlines, hotels and resorts, travel agencies, tour companies, global distribution system, transportation, and allied enterprises; as well as Tourism Ministers and officials from international organizations, such as the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

The WTTC forecast that close to 198 million jobs in travel and tourism may have been lost last year, with world economies suffering a $5.34-trillion reduction in gross domestic product, due to Covid-19.

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Insurance sector’s 2020 net income dips 8.6% to ₧41.2B

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

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@BNicolasBM

HE Philippine insurance industry saw its net income falling by 8.6 percent to P41.24 billion last year as the sector had to grapple with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Based on the 2020 Industry Performance Report uploaded by the Insurance Commission, the insurance sector’s net income last year dropped from P45.12 billion in 2019.

Premium income of the insurance industry in 2020 inched up by 1.18 percent to P308.25 billion from previous year's P304.65 billion.

Benefit payments by the industry also sank by 12.38 percent to P98.49 billion from P112.4 billion a year ago.

Broken down, the life insurance sector suffered a double-digit drop of 16.41 percent in their net income to P30.2 billion from P36.13 billion in the previous year.

Meanwhile, the non-life insurance sector’s net income jumped by 65.81 percent to P5.64 billion from

P3.4 billion posted in 2019.

The Mutual Benefit Associations (MBA) sector’s net income in 2020 slid to P5.39 billion, a 3.42-percent decline from P5.59 billion a year ago.

In ter ms of tota l premiums earned, the life insurance sector recorded a 5.9-percent growth to P247.72 billion from P233.92 billion in 2019.

Bulk of premiums earned last year by the sector came from the sale of variable life insurance products which translated into premium income of P183.24 billion. This was up by 7.7 percent compared to P170.13 billion in 2019. Premiums collected by the life insurance industry came from traditional life insurance products also slightly rose by 1.09 percent to P64.48 billion from the previous year’s P63.79 billion.

For the non-life insurance industry, net premiums written slipped by 16.17 percent to P49.31 billion from P58.82 billion in 2019.

The Insurance Commission also reported that the MBA sector posted

Covid...

Trade...

Continued from A1

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Thursday that the country’s Balance of Payments (BoP) hit a deficit of $2.84 billion in the first three months of the year.

The first quarter BoP deficit of the country is larger than the $68- million deficit in the January-March period in 2020.

The BoP is usually considered as a n impor ta nt economic indicator in an economy as it shows the le ve l of ea r n i ngs or e xpenses of the Philippines with its transactions with the world. A deficit means that the country made more dol lar ex penses than its earnings during the period.

The BSP blamed the deficit on the national government’s net repayments of

its foreign loans and the country’s merchandise trade deficit.

In March alone, the country’s BoP deficit hit $73 million, a reversal of the $448-million surplus seen in March last year.

This March’s deficit, however, is significantly smaller compared to the $2.02-billion deficit seen in February 2021.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) economist Michael Ricafort said the country’s BoP position could improve in the coming months on the back of sustained remittances from Filipino migrant workers and improved inf low of foreign direct investments (FDI) after the passage of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) law.

R icafort also said continued growth in the country’s businessprocess outsourcing (BPO) sector amid the need for greater outsourcing worldwide during the pandemic

could also help boost the country’s external position.

He thinks the latest rating actions on the country could help boost sentiment and impact the BoP positively later this year.

“The latest credit rating upgrade on the Philippines to the first-ever A-credit ratings by Japan Credit Ratings Agency and the affirmation of the country’s credit ratings by R&I, Fitch, Moody’s, and S&P are signs of resilience and improved international investor confidence on the Philippines, somewhat defying the economic challenges brought about

by Covid-19,” Ricafort said.

“Thus, these reflect the Philippines’s improved economic and credit fundamentals, as well as improvements in fiscal performance in recent years that could help attract more and bigger roster of international investments and international loans at much lower cost and with better terms into the country,” he added.

Solons give out Ivermectin; doj weighs fda exceptions Continued from A12

They said Ivermectin has undergone invitro studies showing it effectively kills Covid-19 virus and was found to cure bacterial infection for pneumonia.

According to the FDA, the registered Ivermectin products in the country for human use are in topical formulations under prescription use only, and this is used to treat external parasites such as head lice and skin conditions such as rosacea.

T h e F DA s a i d t h e registered oral and intravenous preparations of Ivermectin are veterinary products approved

a 5.72-percent drop in total contributions/premiums to P11.23 billion from P11.91 billion in 2019.

The local insurance industry’s net worth also dipped by 3.88 percent to P366.8 billion from P381.6 billion in 2019.

Life insurance sector also recorded an 11.53-percent drop in its net worth to P214.1 billion from P241.99 billion in the previous year.

On the other hand, the non-life insurance industry managed to post a 7.66-percent uptick in its net worth to P105.66 billion from P98.14 billion in 2019.

The MBA’s total fund balance last year also hit P47.04 billion, a 13.4-percent increase from P41.48 billion in 2019.

Total assets of the insurance industry last year stood at P1.93 trillion, higher by 8.11 percent from P1.78 trillion a year ago.

Insurance penetration or premium volume as a share of GDP last year also went up to 1.71 percent from 1.64 percent in 2019.

for use in animals for the prevention of heartworm disease and treatment of internal and external parasites in certain animal species.

It reiterated that Ivermectin is not approved by the FDA for treatment of any viral infection.

However, the FDA said five hospitals have already secured a CSP to use antiparasitic drug Ivermectin on its Covid-19 patients as of Tuesday, April 27.

DOJ: No position yet

Meanwhile, Secretary Menardo Guevarra deferred making a position on the legality of the two conditions issued by FDA that paved the way for the use and distribution of Ivermectin as treatment against Covid-19.

“The legal basis for the two exceptional situations is not clear,” Guevarra told reporters when asked whether distribution of a prohibited drug such as Ivermectin can be a basis of a warrantless arrest.

Under the FDA law, the importation, sale, distribution or administration of unregistered drugs or vaccines are prohibited and punishable.

Ivermectin, according to Guevarra, is not registered for use by humans because it is intended to treat animals with known parasitic diseases.

Apparently, Guevarra said the distribution of Ivermectin as possible treatment for Covid-19 violates the FDA law.

However, FDA had earlier announced that Ivermectin may be allowed in certain situations such as when it is covered by a compassionate use authorization issued to specific hospitals, doctors or other entities and when Ivermectin is compounded by duly licensed pharmacies and supported by a doctor’s prescription.

These exceptions bolstered Defensor’s and Marcoleta’s decision to push through with the distribution of Ivermectin to QC residents with prescription.

The DOJ also said he would not blame Defensor and Marcoleta from proceeding with the distribution of Ivermectin despite existing law prohibiting distribution of unregistered drugs.

“So, if Representative Defensor and Representative Marcoleta’s act of distributing Ivermectin would fall under any of these two situations, it would appear that they can put this up as a defense just in case a complaint is filed against them,” Guevarra said in a separate interview over ANC. “But, personally I’m not too sure whether these two exemptions cited by the FDA director-general have a sound legal basis. So that is something that is for further study.

I’m not too sure about the soundness of the legal basis for the exemptions,” Guevarra pointed out.

The legal implications of Defensor and Marcoleta’s action, according to Guevarra, may be realized at a future time.

Continued from A1

“The interdependence of the three major regions and also the restrictions on physical movement of people created job losses and the income losses. Of course NCR is servicesled, its manufacturing [sector] is also crucial in terms of the value in its total economic output. So all these things contributed to the decline in the performance of the National Capital Region for 2020,” Pineda said.

In terms of regional performance for Services in 2020, the National Capital Region (NCR) registered the biggest share of 42.6 percent, followed by Calabarzon and Central Luzon at 10.7 percent and 8.2 percent, respectively.

In terms of each region’s share to the whole industry, Calabarzon constituted the largest share at 24.5 percent, trailed

by NCR, 20.8 percent, and Central Luzon, 14.7 percent.

For Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (AFF), Central Luzon topped the share at 14.3 percent, followed by Northern Mindanao at 10.0 percent, and Western Visayas at 9.2 percent.

Double-digit declines, too

Meanwhile, PSA data showed that NCR is not the only region in the Philippines that recorded double-digit declines in GDP last year.

Central Luzon or Region 3 actually posted the deepest contraction at 13.9 percent in 2020 while Calabarzon or Region 4-A followed with a decline of 10.5 percent.

Data showed four other regions posted greater contractions in economic growth relative to the national average of 9.6 percent in 2020.

Besides NCR, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon, the regions that posted significant declines in GDP, said PSA, are the Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Visayas which all posted a contraction of 9.9 percent. Western Visayas also posted a deep contraction of 9.7 percent in 2020.

Regions that posted the smallest contractions last year were the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with a decline of 1.9 percent; Soccsksargen, 4.3 percent; and Northern Mindanao and Zamboanga Peninsula both at 5.2 percent.

In terms of industry, the accommodation and food services sector posted the deepest contraction at 45.4 percent followed by other services with a decline of 41.1 percent.

Sectors that also posted a decline of above 20 percent were transportation and storage at 30.9 percent and construction, 25.7 percent.

Only three sectors posted growth in 2020.

These are the financial and insurance sector with a growth of 5.5 percent, followed by information and communication at 5 percent and public administration and defense and compulsory social activities, 4.6 percent.

DTI pushes to ease curbs for business under MECQ Continued from A12

Forty-six of these cases were endorsed to the local government units for further investigation and there rest, or 11, are awaiting corrective actions.

The violations observed include the lack of mandatory contact tracing, health declaration forms and thermal scanner upon entry.

O n Wed nesd ay, P resident Duterte approved the extension of MECQ in the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite until May 14.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said earlier the Philippine economy lost about P300 billion in all during the implementation of ECQ and MECQ this year to arrest the surging Covid-19 cases.

Basing on the labor force survey, Lopez said that some 1.5 million workers were displaced during ECQ but about 500,000 of them were expected to have returned to work when the country transitioned to MECQ.

PSMID not closing door, awaits trials on Ivermectin Continued from A12

A lejandr ia said the Liv ing CPG group of experts that includes members of medical societies and health institutions like the Department of Health (DOH) and the FDA think there i s “ i n s u f f ic ie nt e v id e nce at this time to recommend for or against the use of I vermectin” among mild to moderate Covid-19 patients.

In the same forum, Executive Director Jaime Montoya of the DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development said that they will conduct the six-month local clinical trials of Ivermectin starting in May in Metro Manila.

Montoya said they are eyeing to enroll 1,200 Covid-19 patients in some quarantine facilities.

“Results will be given to medical societies for consideration, and FDA if deemed necessary,” Montoya said.

On Thursday, Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta and Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor l au nc hed t hei r “ Ivermectin Pan-three,” giving away Ivermectin tablets to Quezon City residents, with the help of doctors who assess the recipients before giving prescriptions.

The DOH officials did not comment, when asked, regarding the initiative of the lawmakers.

Earlier, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that Ivermectin is still unregistered for human use.

Covid cases

The DOH, meanwhile logged 8,276 additional Covid-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 1,028,738.

There were 6,636 recoveries and 114 deaths.

Of the total number of cases, 6.7 percent (69,354) are active, 91.6 percent (942,239) have recovered, 1.67 percent (17,145) have died.

Moreover, 68 cases previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation.

All laboratories were operational on April 27, 2021 while one laboratory was not able to submit data to the Covid-19 Document Repository System.

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15 million workers in NCR plus receive P1,000 assistance–DILG

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VER 15 million workers displaced with the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the National Capital Region (NCR) and its surrounding provinces have already received their P1,000 worth of aid from the national government, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said of the P22.9-billion budget for the initiative, P15.5 billion has already been distributed to intended beneficiaries.

“So this is around 67 percent of the total [target beneficiaries],” Año said during the public address of President Duterte on Wednesday.

He said among the areas, which have the highest distribution rate are Laguna (76.08 percent) and Metro Manila (73.46 percent).

Those with lowest distribution rates are Cavite (53.24 percent); Bulacan (61.13 percent) and Rizal (67.60 percent).

Año said they received 23,292 complaints regarding the distribution of the assistance, which may be cash or in kind, from its intended beneficiaries.

Of which, only 3,824 have been resolved, while the

remaining 15,736 are still under deliberation.

Local government units (LGU) are required by the DILG to answer the complaints.

Concerned LGUs will have until May 15, 2021 to complete the distribution of the said aid.

The government placed NCR and the four provinces, namely, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna, collectively called NCR plus, under a two-week ECQ on March 29, 2021 to help slowdown the surge in Covid-19 cases in the country last month.

President Duterte said in televised remarks on Thursday night that the second-most restrictive lockdown level will now run through May 14 in NCR plus, a region of more than 25 million people. Mayors, however, cut a nine-hour night curfew in metropolitan Manila to six hours to help battered businesses.

Duterte is warning mayors and village chiefs that they face jail if they don’t prevent gatherings and other events that violate the pandemic restrictions.

Confirmed coronavirus infections in the Philippines soared past 1 million Monday, with deaths now at more than 17,000, the second highest in Southeast Asia. Samuel P. Medenilla and AP

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Friday, April 30, 2021 A3

ADB bares students’ losses with closure of PHL schools

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

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HE closure of schools in the Philippines are costing Filipino students billions in their lifetime earnings, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

In a special chapter of the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2021, the ADB estimated that loss in lifetime earnings of Filipino children could be as high as $36.138 billion under the “pessimistic” scenario.

The loss in lifetime earnings could reach $26.904 billion under the optimistic scenario and $30.696 billion in the intermediate scenario.

“The long-term effects of school closures on learning and earnings have been documented in previous settings, including World War II and the Chinese Cultural Revolution of 1966-1977,” the report stated.

“It will be many years from now before the precise effects of Covid-19 school closures on the actual earnings of today’s students will be fully observed. But current students can benefit from policy interventions that help abate their potential losses,” it added.

ADB said it has been established that a person’s earnings increase with more years of schooling. On average, the report stated that every additional year of schooling in-

creases a person’s annual earnings by 9.7 percent.

However, given the closure of schools, ADB estimates that loss in earnings per student per year using current prices could be $155 under the pessimistic; $131 in the intermediate; and $115 in the optimistic scenarios.

This represents a decline of 4.5 percent in the earnings per student per year under the pessimistic; 3.9 percent in the intermediate; and 3.4 percent in the optimistic scenarios.

The baseline earnings per worker per year used by ADB for the Philippines is $3,404.

The analysis, ADB said, only applies to pre-primary, primary, and secondary education. Tertiary students are excluded because they have already acquired basic skills at lower levels.

Some tertiary level students were already working while studying and the pandemic may have already cost them to lose their current incomes on top of future earnings.

“Unesco estimates that tertiary students are more likely to drop out of school during the pandemic than students in other education levels.

So, because tertiary students are excluded in this analysis, the learning and earning losses are likely to be underestimated,” the report stated.

Schools in the Philippines have

been closed for over 200 days, one of the longest recorded in the region.

Schools in Myanmar and Indonesia have been closed for over 300 days, the longest in Southeast Asia.

ADB said school closures “mean students lose opportunities to learn vital cognitive, social, physical, and emotional skills. Students also tend to forget part of what they have learned when they take a break from school.”

While many schools in developing Asia adopted remote learning, ADB said the effectiveness of distance learning is limited, especially since the shift was done “at a moment’s notice.”

“Three reasons point to why remote learning strategies taken during the Covid-19 pandemic could be less effective than pre-pandemic distance learning—their unplanned nature, the involvement of younger-age children, and distractions at home that keep children from being able to focus on studying,” ADB said.

ADB said access to remote learning is a major challenge because of the need for equipment. Computer ownership and Internet access at home varies in the region.

In the Philippines, ADB data showed 23.8 percent of households own computers but only 17.7 percent have Internet access at home. Mobile phone ownership is higher at over 80

percent, while TV ownership is just below 80 percent of households.

In low middle-income countries like the Philippines, only 18 percent of households have a computer and 41 percent have Internet access at home. Owning mobile phones and television sets are higher but less in some low middle-income countries.

“Because of this and the relatively low computer ownership, online learning is likely being mainly done by mobile phone. Ministries of education in 15 economies in developing Asia have implemented programs to make remote education accessible through mobile phones,” ADB said.

In an Asian Development Blog released on Thursday, Macroeconomic Research Division Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department Director Abdul Abiad and three other ADB economists said there are four ways to mitigate the damage from school closures.

The first is to bring Covid-19 under control to enable countries to return to in-person instruction and the second is to manage the reopening of schools to ensure that Covid-19 local transmission rates are sufficiently low.

The third is to ensure students catch up on lost learning such as through remedial lessons and the fourth, to improve the coverage and quality of remote instruction.

A4 Friday, April 30, 2021 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

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COMP lauds move to revise minerals reporting code

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

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HE Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) on Thursday welcomed the proposed revision of the 2007 Philippine Minerals Reporting Code (PMRC) that would elevate local minerals reporting at par with globally accepted standards.

Speaking in an online forum on the Philippine Minerals Reporting Code, COMP Chairman Gerard H. Brimo said the revision and the discussion by industry players are timely as it came two weeks after the lifting of the nine-year moratorium on new mining projects under Executive Order (EO) 130.

“We, in the industry and those dependent on it for livelihood, are of course most grateful for this move. The investment community and the business sector in general also welcome this development, as it is acknowledged that the largescale mining sector can contribute substantially to economic growth if allowed to do so. This is particularly critical at this time when our econo-

my has been badly clobbered by the pandemic, so many people have lost their jobs, and government needs additional revenues,” Brimo said in his welcome remarks.

Under the Philippine Stock Exchange’s (PSE) Consolidated Listing and Disclosure Rules, a public report is required in accordance with the PMRC if it includes a statement on Exploration Results (ER), Exploration Targets (ET), Mineral Resources or Mineral Reserves (MR).

Public reports are prepared for the purpose of informing investors or potential investors and their advisers on ERs, MRs, including annual and quarterly company reports; media releases, information memoranda, technical papers; web site postings, public presentations; and corporate disclosures to the PSE. Listed companies are obliged to update and disclose material information to the accredited competent person, or ACP, even after the submission of the public reports.

‘Major step’

MARTIN ANTONIO G. ZAMORA,

president and CEO of Nickel Asia Corp. agreed with Brimo that the webinar could not have come at a better time with the issuance of Executive Order 130, which the former described, as “a major step towards creating an atmosphere where mining can indeed flourish.”

“With PMRC 2020, our national mineral reporting standards will finally be on par with globally recognized reporting standards such as Australia’s JORC 2012 and Canada’s CIM 2014; hopefully, this will result in membership in CRIRSCO sometime in the near future,” he added.

According to Zamora, when national standards are seen to be on par with the best in the world, the investment community, in turn, begins to take greater interest.

He noted that PMRC 2020 would now feature performance indicators for Environment, Social and Governance or ESG requirements.

“This is a timely, game-changing enhancement, which will surely result in the elevation of our industry’s reputation and the widening of the

investor base for PSE-listed mining companies,” he said.

Brimo, however, believes that while the lifting of the moratorium has been noticed by foreign investors, their return to the country’s shores may take some time.

“In 2018, a survey conducted by the Canadian think tank, the Fraser Institute, ranked the Philippines in the bottom seven out of 91 mining jurisdictions in terms of attractiveness and stability of mining policies, and last in terms of investment attractiveness in the Australia/Oceania region. The Philippines was in fact not ranked at all in the 2019 and 2020 surveys as there was no interest from international mining investors that participate in the survey every year,” he lamented.

To revitalize the industry and set it on a growth path so that the government’s objective of increasing its contribution to the country’s economy can be achieved, Brimo said, foreign and even local investors must be assured that policies that will be put in place after EO 130 are proper, stable, and will not change in mid stream.

Lift ban on open-pit mining as well

Moreover, Brimo underscored the need to lift the ban on open-pit mining method as the lifting of the moratorium on new mining projects alone will not allow the industry to achieve its full potential.

“The ban on open-pit mining, a standard mining method practiced all over the mining world, needs to be lifted, as without this, the lifting of the moratorium on new mining projects alone will not allow the industry to achieve its full potential,” he said.

Brimo said that country’s competitiveness as a mining investment destination should also be a top priority.

“We want to be able to attract quality investors with substantial resources and expertise. We can only achieve that if the fiscal regime for mining is competitive, keeping in mind that we are competing with other mineralized countries for investments in this sector,” he said.

Meanwhile, Brimo expressed

concern over the illegal mining operations around the country whose destructive activities are blamed on responsible mining companies.

He said the public, in general, does not distinguish between the large-scale mining sector and the informal sector, which results in an industry with a poor image.

Moreover, accidents that sometimes occur in other large mining countries and in other industries as well should not be blamed on the large-scale miners, saying that when such accidents happen, remedial action is taken and companies find ways to avoid their recurrence.

“With respect to the large-scale sector, it is acknowledged that our country has one of the most stringent mining laws, rules, and regulations that are being enforced to mitigate the impact on the environment and host communities, including progressive and final mine rehabilitation in order to restore the environment and determine alternative uses of the land,” Brimo said.

Green IT PAYS TO BE

A BusinessMirror Special Feature

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Friday, April 30, 2021

A5

What’s good for the planet is good for its people, too

T

By Leony R. Garcia

HE Covid-19 pandemic may have resulted in a better environment with lesser air pollution and clearer skies largely due to restrictions on movement and travel. Climate change experts who attended the Climate Action: Net Zero by 2050 conference in November 2020 agreed that carbon dioxide has fallen sharply during the coronavirus pandemic. This is good news for Mother Earth.

Today more and more environmentalists and economic experts encourage countries to invest in what is called smart sectors – green infrastructure, green transportation, green communication, green production – in a bid to accelerate economic recovery plans to deal with the fall-out from Covid-19.

After all, going green could transform the long-term structure of society into something more sustainable and one that is more prepared to meet the challenges of climate change. As climate change worsens, dangerous weather events are becoming more frequent or severe.

Niclas Svenningsen, global climate

action manager at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), said that Covid-19 was a “test case for climate change” and that the unabated effects of global climate change would have dire social and economic consequences when compared with the current pandemic.

The Philippines is highly vulnerable to climate risks owing to its geographical location and high exposure to natural hazards, its dependence on climate-sensitive natural resources and vast coastlines.

These risks would have an almost certain and long-term impact on the economy, sustainable development, social equity, and national security throughout the country and across all sectors. Take the case of Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) which wreaked havoc in Tacloban City and nearby provinces in 2013.

According to a World Bank report, Typhoon Yolanda caused over 6,300 reported fatalities and an additional 2.3 million people were estimated to have fallen below the poverty line. The total damage and loss were estimated at PHP 571.1 billion (USD 12.9 billion). hampering economic growth by about 0.9 percent in 2013, and another 0.3 percent in 2014.

RA 9003

WHILE solid waste management remains a major challenge in the Philippines, its mismanagement also poses threats to environmental issues in the country causing air, land, and water pollution.

Even with the Ecological Solid

Waste Management Act or Republic Act 9003 in place, the Philippines has observed a steady increase in daily waste generated over the years with Metro Manila alone recording an average of over 9,000 tons of waste per day based on record available in 2018. Of this, 85 percent of the total solid waste was collected while the remaining 15 percent ended up in waterways and bodies of water.

Further, the annual waste generation was estimated at 10 million tons in 2010 and this was expected to rise by 40% in 2020 according to a published report by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES).

Enacted in Ja n ua r y 20 01, R A 9 0 03 p r ov i d e s t h e n e ce s s a r y p o li c y f r a m e wo r k , i n stitutional mechanisms, and mandate to the local government units (LGUs) to achieve 25 percent waste reduction through the establishment of an integrated solid waste management plan based on the 3Rs or reduce, reuse and recycle.

With RA 9003, individuals are responsible for solid waste management.

It enjoins all citizens, educational institutions, and commercial and industrial establishments to clean their own surroundings, as well as the canals, roads or streets in their immediate premises.

Unfortunately, the enforcement and compliance with the law remains a daunting task due to technical, political, and financial limitations of the concerned agencies and LGUs according to the Senate Economic Planning Office (SEPO).

PRIVATE INITIATIVES

TODAY giant corporations race to make their businesses green and sustainable in a bid to give back to the communities and to help create a better environment.

Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI), for one, uses 100 percent recyclable materials in its primary packaging, from returnable glass, to PET plastic bottles, and aluminum cans.

Mondelez Philippines, which had committed in 2018 to make 100 percent of its packaging recyclable by 2025, partnered in February 2021 with social enterprise, The Plastic Flamingo, to collect and recycle 40 metric tons (MT) of post-consumer plastic packaging this year. The recycled material was used to build disaster relief shelters for areas that are prone to typhoons as the company’s goal of contributing to a better future amid the pandemic.

As for Republic Cement, the company has been doing its part in providing alternative waste management solutions through the use of various qualified wastes as alternative fuel for its cement production. This is done through a method called cement kiln co-processing.

Co-processing is the reuse or recovery of thermal and mineral properties of qualified waste materials. Through co-processing and the use of qualified waste as alternative fuels, Republic can manufacture cement with reduced dependence on fossil fuels such as coal.

“Through Republic’s co-processing arm ecoloop, partnerships with organizations in the public and private

sectors are forged to divert these residual wastes away from landfills and waterways,” related Angela Edralin, ecoloop Director.

“More than 20 LGUs have started using co-processing as a means of waste management. In the private sector, Republic has also partnered with FMCGs or fast moving consumer goods to help address the plastic pollution crisis through capturing pre- and postconsumer waste.

According to Edralin, ecoloop’s main objective is to do its part in contributing to Sustainable Development Goal number 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities and Goal number 13 on Climate Action.

“Through ecoloop, Republic is able to truly embed sustainability in its manufacturing processes. It was also Republic’s response to the call to action to address the country’s ongoing plastic crisis and effectively divert plastic waste from landfills and waterways in the country,” she said.

When it was launched in December 2020, ecoloop’s goal was to process 10 million sachets per day for 2021. This was achieved the same month and the company has been able to achieve this goal every day since then.

“The success would not have been possible if not for the like-minded partners in both the public and private sector who fully support the mission and vision of the group. It take a village to address such a huge undertaking and it was only with their full partnership and cooperation that these goals were realized.”

BusinessMirror

A6 Friday, April 30, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS NO.

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS POSITION

24/7 BUSINESS PROCESSING INC. 10/f Capella Bldg. L-3&4 Asean Drive Filinvest Alabang Muntinlupa City 5th-6th-7th Flr. 81 Newport Bl Newport City Brgy. 183 Pasay City

NO.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

POSITION

NO.

40.

HU, YINGXIONG Chinese

CUSTOMER CARE ASSOCIATE (MANDARIN SPEAKING)

81.

41.

THONG THUONG PHAN Vietnamese

MARKETING SPECIALIST (MANDARIN SPEAKING)

1.

THINT PHYO LIN Myanmari

BURMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

2.

CHEN, WENLAN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CHINESE ACCOUNTS)

BIG EMPEROR TECHNOLOGY CORP. Eastfield Center Cbp1, Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City 5f-13f, Jiaxing Tower Building Aseana Avenue, Aseana Business Park Tambo Parañaque City

3.

CHU, CHENGDONG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CHINESE ACCOUNTS)

42.

CHEN, JUNLONG Chinese

COMPUTER TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST

43.

LE NGUYEN THI THU HUYEN Vietnamese

COMPUTER TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST

LI, JIE Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE

45.

WANG, GUOXING Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE

46.

ZENG, HUIMIN Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE

47.

ZHAO, RISHENG Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE

48.

CHEN, QIANQIAN Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

49.

DOU, ZHIYONG Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

50.

FAN, LINGLING Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

51.

FEI, FAN Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

52.

HE, SIJIE Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

53.

HONG, WEN Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

54.

HU, YUMING Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

55.

HUANG, GUANYU Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

56.

JIANG, YIN Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

57.

LIU, ZHIBAO Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

58.

PAN, JUNHUI Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

59.

QIN, YANPING Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

60.

WANG, YUANQING Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

61.

XIAN, JINSI Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

4.

CHU, PENGPENG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CHINESE ACCOUNTS)

5.

FAN, QINGXIANG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CHINESE ACCOUNTS)

6.

HUANG, YUANHANG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CHINESE ACCOUNTS)

HUANG, WENCHENG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CHINESE ACCOUNTS)

8.

JIANG, LANGLANG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CHINESE ACCOUNTS)

9.

LI, XINYUE Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CHINESE ACCOUNTS)

10.

LIANG, BINBIN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CHINESE ACCOUNTS)

11.

LIN, ZENGKUN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CHINESE ACCOUNTS)

MA, GUORUI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CHINESE ACCOUNTS)

13.

MOH JING HUA Malaysian

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CHINESE ACCOUNTS)

14.

ONG ZHI WEI Malaysian

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CHINESE ACCOUNTS)

QIU, YUNFEI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CHINESE ACCOUNTS)

7.

12.

15.

16.

TANG, LIKUN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CHINESE ACCOUNTS)

17.

WANG, TIANZHENG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CHINESE ACCOUNTS)

WU, XIAOFEI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CHINESE ACCOUNTS)

18.

19.

XIAO, YADONG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CHINESE ACCOUNTS)

8 STONE BUSINESS OUTSOURCING OPC 5-10/f Tower 1 Pitx Kennedy Road Tambo Parañaque City 20.

CHEN, XUE Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

21.

DANG, ZHICHAO Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

22.

DENG, BOCHENG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

GUO, YUTING Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

LI, SHUAI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

LI, JUCHENG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

LIANG, YUSHENG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

27.

LIN, JIE Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

28.

SHI, FANGFANG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

29.

SUN, MIAO Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

30.

TAO, JIAQI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

WANG, DONGFANG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

23.

24.

25.

26.

31.

32.

YANG, TAOTAO Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

44.

BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue Cor. Rufino Street Salcedo Vill.

Bel-air Makati City 62.

LYDIA NATASSIA Indonesian

BAHASA INDONESIAN LANGUAGE-OFFICER FUND MANAGEMENT

63.

EDY SYAHPUTRA Indonesian

BAHASA INDONESIAN LANGUAGE-SUPERVISOR WEB SUPPORT

64.

KUEK JEN Malaysian

MALAYSIAN LANGUAGECREATIVE MANAGER

65.

PHAM THI TUYEN Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE LANGUAGEOFFICER CUSTOMER SERVICE

66.

TO HUE BINH Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE LANGUAGEOFFICER FUND MANAGEMENT

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

076 Pasay City 67.

KE, SHUNTAO Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

CBS TOTAL CONSULTANCY CORP. 3f Ech Bldg. 100 Jupiter St., Cor. Makati Ave. Bel-air Makati City

75.

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

LIM WEN LONG Malaysian

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

YAO, XINTING Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

HA VAN LUYEN Vietnamese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

36.

LIU, ZHIQIANG Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

77.

37.

XU, YI Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

DAELIM MANILA BRANCH Unit 2204a West Tower Psec Exchange Road, Ortigas Center San Antonio Pasig City

CORPORATE RECRUITMENT MANAGER

BETCONSULT INTERNATIONAL CONSULTING, INC. Office #01 20a/b Rufino Pacific Tower 6784 Ayala Ave. San Lorenzo Makati City

76.

78.

KIM, KEOWEON South Korean

79.

YIN, DONGXU Chinese

MARKETING EXECUTIVE

FAST RETAILING PHILIPPINES, INC. Sm Corporate Offices Bldg. A. J. W. Diokno Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City 80.

OGA, TOSHIYUKI Japanese

BLOCK LEADER

XIA, GUOLIANG Chinese

ELECTRICAL AND INSTRUMENTATION CONSULTANT

132.

FANG, MAOLIN Chinese

PROJECT CONSULTANT

FLY ASIAN INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION Eighty One Newport Blvd. Newport City Va, Brgy. 183 Pasay City

133.

YAN, GENGLIANG Chinese

PROJECT MANAGER

88.

OUYANG, WEN Chinese

MARKETING CONSULTANT (MANDARIN SPEAKING CLIENTS)

134.

LI, LIANG Chinese

QUALITY ASSURANCE(QA)/ QUALITY CONTROL(QC) ADVISER

89.

ZHANG, YI Chinese

MARKETING CONSULTANT (MANDARIN SPEAKING CLIENTS)

135.

PI, FUGUI Chinese

QUALITY ASSURANCE(QA)/ QUALITY CONTROL(QC) ADVISER

FLYING DRAGON NETWORK PHILIPPINES INC. Malate Bayview Mansion 1781 M. Adriatico Street 076, Brgy. 699 Malate Manila 4th-11th Floor Aseana 3 Building Aseana Avenue Corner Diosdado Macapagal Tambo Parañaque City 90.

CAO, ZIYAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

91.

CHI, TIAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

92.

CAO, TIANYU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

93.

CHEN, LIYUAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

94.

CHEN, XU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

95.

CHENG, ZHUOJUN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

96.

FU, YONGJIAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

97.

GAO, CHAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

98.

HU, YIHAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

99.

HU, HUI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

100.

KE, WU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

101.

LIAO, YU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

102.

LIU, AIMING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

103.

MENG, QINGWEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

104.

MO, YANJIAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

105.

SUI, QIANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

106.

WANG, YUE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

107.

WANG, HUAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

108.

WANG, YANXIAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

109.

WU, QIJUN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

110.

XIA, QI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

HSBC ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING (PHILIPPINES) INC. Filinvest One Building Alabang Zapote Road, Northgate Cyberzone Filinvest City, Alabang Muntinlupa City 136.

VENABLES, RICHARD JAMES British

CHIEF ADMINISTRATION OFFICER, MARKETS & SECURITIES SERVICES GSC

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES PHILS. INC. U-5302, 53/f Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor., V.a. Rufino St. Bel-air Makati City 137.

YU, KE Chinese

ASIA PACIFIC SENIOR PROCUREMENT MANAGER

INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Floor Six West Campus Mckinley West Fort Bonifacio Taguig City 138.

YUNI SHARA Indonesian

COMPUTER TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST

139.

CHEN, HONGSHI Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

140.

DONG, XIAOYUE Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

141.

LU, ZHIWEI Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

142.

PANG, CONG Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

143.

ZHAO, CHAOZHENG Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

144.

LI, YAOXIANG Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

145.

HE, XIAOLIN Chinese

QA(QUALITY ASSURANCE) SPECIALIST

146.

MA, JIE Chinese

QA(QUALITY ASSURANCE) SPECIALIST

KING-MERCHANT BUSINESS TRADING INCORPORATED Unit 2505-f The Finance Centre 26th St. Fort Bonifacio Taguig City 147.

FU, YANG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING MARKETING SPECIALIST

148.

HON YONG SHENG Malaysian

MANDARIN SPEAKING MARKETING SPECIALIST

149.

WANG, FUYUN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING MARKETING SPECIALIST

150.

WEI, JIANGTAO Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING MARKETING SPECIALIST

151.

WU, ZHIXI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING MARKETING SPECIALIST

152.

ZOU, PING Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING MARKETING SPECIALIST

KONGANBUDDIES MARKETING INC. 48/f Lower Ground Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St. Bel-air Makati City 153.

LAI ZI XIN Malaysian

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

154.

XIA, SIYAN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

155.

XING, SHIHUI Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

156.

ZHANG, LIWAN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

FREEMOVED INC. 40/f Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a Rufino St. Bel-air Makati City

157.

ZHENG, KAI Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

158.

LI, ZHISEN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING ACCOUNT ASSOCIATE

159.

ZHAO, HUADING Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

160.

CHIEN, JO-TING Taiwanese

MANDARIN SPEAKING HELPDESK SUPPORT

161.

ZHANG, LAOPANG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING IT ANALYST

117.

TENG, JIEXIU Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

GLOBAL B2B CONSULTANCY, INC. 50/f Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Avenue Bel-air Makati City 118.

HO, TSUNG-HAN Taiwanese

CUSTOMER SERVICE CHINESE SPEAKING

GLOBALLGA BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING Ground Level, Level 2-5 Floor Silver City 4, Ortigas East Ugong Pasig City 119.

120.

121.

KOREAN CIVIL MANAGER

DIGISPARK TECH CORP. Unit 1618 High Street, South Corporate Plaza, Tower 2 26th St. Corner 9th Ave. Bgc Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

131.

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE

PHAM THI SON Vietnamese

CHEN, LINYU Chinese

CHINESE FINANCIAL MANAGER

TAN, SHA Chinese

116.

BAI, XIAOFAN Chinese

LIU, YAN Chinese

87.

115.

74.

130.

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE

DINH NGUYEN NHU NGUYEN Vietnamese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHINESE FINANCIAL CONTROLLER

PAN, LINXIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CRONYX INC. No. 4th-10th Flr. Yinhope Bldg. Dela Rama Cor. Zoili Hilario St. Seascape Village, Ccp Complex Subd. Zone 10, Barangay 076, District 1 Pasay City

ZHANG, XINGWU Chinese

86.

ZHAO, XI Chinese

73.

129.

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE

114.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHINESE FINANCIAL CONTROLLER

GONG, PENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

HUANG, TINGTING Chinese

HE, WEI Chinese

85.

YIN, JIUYI Chinese

COLDSTREAM MARKETING SOLUTION INC. 603-4 Eastfield Ctr. Moa Comp. Macapagal Ave. Brgy. 076 Pasay City

128.

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE

113.

72.

CHINESE EQUIPMENT SUPERVISOR

CHEN, GUANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

DATA ANALYST - MANDARIN SPEAKING III

LI, XUEHU Chinese

84.

YE, CHAO Chinese

ZHONG, HUANGJIE Chinese

127.

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

112.

CLOVERSENSE TECHNOLOGY INC. 29/f Robinsons Summit Center 6783 Ayala Center Bel-air Makati City

ASSISTANT PROJECT MANAGER

CHEN, YONG Chinese

SOFTWARE CONSULTANT (KOREAN MARKET)

COUNTRY BUSINESS HEAD SENIOR GROUP MANAGER

YIN, WEI Chinese

83.

LEE, HEE GEUN South Korean

CHAWLA, MANISH Indian

126.

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

70.

71.

POSITION

CHEN, RENYI Chinese

111.

CITIBANK N.A 16th Floor, Citi Plaza 34th St. Bgc Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

82.

69.

35.

RAFAEL, HAGAY Israeli

FIRST GREAT COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES INC. Lot 5 Sta. Agueda Cor. Queensway Pagcor Drive Sto. Niño Parañaque City

YANG, DEXIANG Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

39.

HAMMERTIME CONSTRUCTION INC. Unit 203-s3 2nd Flr. Fbr Arcade Bldg. #317 Katipunan Ave. Loyola Heights 3 Quezon City

CUSTOMER SUPPORT REPRESENTATIVE

KE, YAN Chinese

BEST RELIABLE RESOURCES CORP. Ub 111 Paseo De Roxas Bldg. Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City

CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

YU, YEONGMI South Korean

34.

INVESTIGATION SPECIALIST THAI LANGUAGE

NO.

68.

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

DOKPHUT, DARANEE Thai

NAKAMURA, MASAYOSHI Japanese

POSITION

CUSTOMER SUPPORT REPRESENTATIVE

CUI, JIWEI Chinese

38.

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

LEE, JIEUN South Korean

33.

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

www.businessmirror.com.ph

CHAI, JIAN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

HOANG THI NHUNG Vietnamese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

WONG SOON CHOY Malaysian

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

KYMCO PHILIPPINES INC. Tpi Bldg. Mañalac Ave. Cor. Sta. Maria Industrial Estate Bagumbayan Taguig City 162.

CHEN, CHIN-TE Taiwanese

GENERAL MANAGER OF PRODUCTION AND SPARE PARTS

LARKSPUR INC. 19/f Marco Polo Hotel Manila Sapphire Road Ortigas Center San Antonio Pasig City 163.

QIAO, JUN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

122.

ZHONG, JIANCHAO Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

123.

LIU, FUYI Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

164.

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

MANDARIN SPEAKING MARKETING SPECIALIST

124.

SONG, BINGBING Chinese

YIN, DANYA Chinese

165.

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

MANDARIN SPEAKING MARKETING SPECIALIST

125.

ZHAO, YIMING Chinese

ZHANG, CONG Chinese

166.

ZHAO, YU Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING MARKETING SPECIALIST

MIGHTY-MERCHANT BUSINESS TRADING INCORPORATED Unit 2505- E The Finance Centre 26th St. Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

News

BusinessMirror

Friday, April 30, 2021 A7

MICC audit to cover all quarry operations, 4 BARMM mine sites

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

T

HE interagency Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) will conduct its third round of audit in October that would cover quarry operations in the country and four mines in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Finance Undersecretary Bayani H. Agabin told the BusinessMirror that they are expecting the third round of audit to be finished by April next year. “Target is around April of next year, barring any unforeseen delays,” he said.

The Department of Finance (DOF) on Thursday said in a news statement that four mines within BARMM would also be covered under the third audit. But Agabin said the audit would also cover other quarry operations in the country.

“The [scope of this audit on] mining will be in BARMM. Quarrying covers all, even those outside BARMM,” he said.

Agabin explained that they have already covered mine sites outside BARMM in the two reviews that they have undertaken previously.

As for quarrying, Agabin said they have yet to still determine how many operations in the country will be covered under the third round of audit.

According to DOF, the evaluation will cover technical, legal, social, economic, and environmental aspects of the mining operations—the same

The [scope of this audit on] mining will be in BARMM. Quarrying covers all, even those outside BARMM. Finance Undersecretary Bayani H. Agabin

framework used in the first two audits done by the MICC on 50 mining operations across the country starting in 2018.

The first phase of the MICC review was done from February to August 2018, while the second was conducted from October 2019 to December last year.

Agabin also told the BusinessMIrror that the MICC found in its second round of audit that “mines audited were generally compliant.”

“We plan to have a road show to present findings,” he said.

The DOF said the Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) agreed that the MICC, together with the representatives and experts from the Bangsamoro Government, would conduct an audit on the operations of mines in BARMM. Co-chaired by Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III and BARMM Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal, the IGRB reached the decision during its 7th meeting held

BM

last March 26.

The Bangsamoro government agreed during that meeting that four mines in BARMM would be included in the third round of audit.

For its part, the IGRB said the participation of Bangsamoro government experts and representatives in the audit will provide the body with a baseline on the status of mining activities in the Bangsamoro region and allow the transfer of skills and technology in the evaluation of mining operations.

The IGRB also said experts from BARMM may also be included in future mining audits outside of the autonomous region to further develop their skills and technical capacity.

MICC was constituted in 2012 but it was only during the Duterte administration that the review or audit of mining operations was initiated by the council under the co-chairmanship of Dominguez and Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, the DOF said.

House panels okay seven bills for creation of more ecozones

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

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HE House Committee on Economic Affairs and the House Committee on Trade and Industry on Thursday approved seven bills creating special economic zones in several areas across the country.

In a meeting, the two committees, chaired by Aklan Rep. Teodorico Haresco Jr., and Navotas Rep. John Reynald Tiangco, endorsed for plenary approval the committee reports of the seven bills, which all seek to provide incentives and funds for the creation of the proposed special economic zones.

Iloilo Rep. Julienne Baronda said her HB 5794 proposes to create special economic and free port in City of

Iloilo to be known as Metro Iloilo Special Economic Zone (Miloecozone) and the Miloecozone Authority.

“Western Visayas certainly needs the Miloecozone and its corresponding authority in order to attract more investments and continue its present economic boom,” said Baronda.

“The Miloecozone is conceived to be a critical and vital economic hub that will bring in positive change for the City of Iloilo and for the entire Western Visayas through jobs generation and investments,” she added.

Also, Cavite Rep. Francis Geral Abaya said his HB 655 establishing the Sangley Point special economic zone in the City of Cavite, Province of Cavite, creating for this pur pose the Sangley Point

Development Authority.

Abaya said the bill mandates the establishment of a special zone in Sangley Point and hasten the industrial, economic and social development in the area.

The committee also approved substitute bill to House Bill (HB) 263, or an act establishing the special economic zone and free port in the Municipalities of San Jose and Magsaysay, Province of Occidental Mindoro, creating for this purpose the Occidental Mindoro Special Economic Zone Authority.

It endorsed for plenary approval HB 264 establishing the special economic zone and free port in the Municipality of Paluan, Province of Occidental Mindoro, creating for this purpose the Paluan Special Economic Zone Authority.

Murder suspect Sandra Cam yields, but stays in hospital

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

A

BOARD member of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) who was among the seven suspects charged by a Manila judge for their alleged complicity in the murder of a Masbate politician has surrendered to the police.

Sandra Cam yielded to members of the Philippine National PoliceCriminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) on Thursday after she was served with a warrant of arrest.

Cam was in a hospital where she had been confined for days when the warrant was served, according to CIDG Director Major Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro.

He said that Cam would stay at the hospital until she would be fit to be taken under custody at Camp Crame, or to a custodial facility, that will be ordered by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 42, which issued the warrant.

Prosecutors from the Department of Justice approved the filing of murder and two counts of frustrated murder charges against Cam and six others on April 16 over the killing of Batuan, Masbate Vice Mayor Charlie Yuson III. Yuson was killed while his two companions were wounded when they were shot in Sampaloc, Manila in October 2019 by armed men who emerged from a van.

The motive of the killing was

said to be politics. Cam’s son, Marco Martin Cam, ran against Yuson’s son, Charmax Jan Yuson, in the last elections for Batuan’s mayoralty post, but lost.

On Monday, the Manila court issued the warrant against Cam, her son, Batuan Vice Mayor Nelson Cambaya and alleged gunmen Junel Gomez, Bradford Solis, Juanito de Luna and Rigor dela Cruz.

The CIDG said Cam informed the police through her bodyguards about her wish to surrender.

PNP chief General Debold Sinas said the CIDG operatives based in Cavite served the warrant on Cam. “As a matter of procedure, the PNP will report Cam’s arrest to the court for proper disposition,” he said.

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The World BusinessMirror

Friday, April 30, 2021

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

Global infections top 150 million; India death toll exceeds 200,000

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ew virus cases rose globally for the ninth consecutive week, by a record 5.7 million, as India’s growing crisis outweighed declines in most regions, according to the World Health Organization.

The Worldometer Covid-19 data as of April 29 reported 150,242,628 global infections and 3,164,170 deaths.

India’s death toll surpassed 200,000 and the US government told its citizens to leave India as soon as possible as the country’s Covid-19 crisis worsens at an astonishing pace.

In a Level 4 travel advisory— the highest issued by the State Department—US citizens were told “not to travel to India or to leave as soon as it is safe to do so.” There are 14 direct daily flights between India and the US and other services that connect through Europe, the department said.

Indian authorities and hospitals are struggling to cope with record Cov id i nfec t ions a nd deaths. Official data on Wednesday showed new cases rose by a staggering 360,960 over the prior 24 hours, while 3,293 additional lives were lost. More than 201,000 people have died. The South Asian nation now has the world’s fastestgrowing caseload and the virus has gripped its populace with a severity not seen in its first wave.

Mass funeral pyres, lines of ambulances outside overcrowded hospitals and desperate pleas on social media for oxygen underscore how grossly unprepared India’s federal and state governments are to tackle the latest coronavirus wave.

T he u n fold i ng t r a gedy i s prompting some of the world’s biggest corporations to organize aid. Amazon.com Inc. is harnessing its global logistics supply chain to airlift 100 ICU ventilator units from the US, and the equipment will reach India in the next two weeks. Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella said he

was “heartbroken” by the situation and the tech behemoth is using its voice, resources and technology to aid relief efforts and help purchase oxygen concentrators.

B l a c k s t o n e G r o u p I n c .’s Chairman Stephen Schwarzman said his private equity firm is committing $5 million to support India’s Cov id relief and vaccination ser vices to “marginalized communities.” Local companies, too, are wading in, with the philanthropic arm of India’s most valuable company—Reliance Industries Ltd., controlled by Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani—pledging to create, commission and manage 100 ICU beds that will become operational in mid next month.

A s t hou s a nd s of do c tor s, nurses and non-medical professionals work around-the-clock to save what patients they can, the rest of the world is drawing up their bridges.

Australia earlier this week banned all flights from India to relieve pressure on the nation’s system of mainly quarantining returned residents from overseas in inner-city hotels, while the UK has barred any visitor who’s been in India in the previous 10 days from entering. British and Irish nationals arriving in England from India must quarantine in a hotel.

Key developments:

China tweaks airline policy

China will let airlines choose between halting flights to the country for two weeks or capping

their passenger load factor at 40 percent if there are instances where five to nine passengers test positive for Covid-19. The policy is effective from Saturday and replaces one that required a two-week route suspension.

Lost income for women

The pandemic has had a greater economic impact on women due to over-representation in industries hardest hit by the crisis, according to Oxfam International, which said women around the world lost at least $800 billion in income in 2020. That’s more than the combined gross domestic product of 98 countries.

“This conservative estimate doesn’t even include wages lost by the millions of women working in the informal economy—domestic workers, market vendors and garment workers—who have been sent home or whose hours and wages have been drastically cut,” Oxfam Executive Director Gabriela Bucher said.

Vaccinated nurse tests positive

A 46-year-old nurse in Singapore who was fully vaccinated earlier this year has tested positive for Covid-19, the Ministry of Health said. Tan Tock Seng Hospital locked down one of its wards and tested patients and staff who had been in it.

Four more cases have tested preliminarily positive—a doctor and three patients. All staff who treated infected patients at Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s Ward 9D, as well as all visitors, patients and people working in the ward, will be placed on quarantine.

Singapore’s community cases have risen slightly in recent days, up to 13 this past week from 9 last week.

Texas votes on takeaway alcohol

The Texas Senate passed a bill p e r m a ne nt l y a l lo w i n g b e e r, w i ne, m a rga r it a s, a nd ot her mixed drinks to be included in pickup and food delivery orders, securing a revenue stream to the restaurant industr y waylaid by the pandemic.

The legislation now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk following a 30-1 vote. Abbott signed a waiver in March 2020 allowing the sales as a boost to an industry that statewide generates $70 billion across more than 50,000

locations, according to the Texas Restaurant Association.

Kenya suspends flights to India

Kenya is suspending flights to India for 14 days “subject to review,” Health Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said in an e-mailed statement. The suspension will come into effect from midnight Saturday, though cargo flights will continue.

South Africa calls for end to vaccine monopoly

Countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America must engage the international human rights movement to ensure equitable access to vaccines, particularly for poor countries, South African Finance Minister Tito Mboweni said.

“All of us should be committed to opposing what we refer to as ‘vaccine narrow nationalism’, the tendency by rich countries to want to accumulate the vaccines unto themselves and by so doing making vulnerable, poor countries to be unable to access the vaccine,” Mboweni said at a virtual event hosted by the South African Jewish Report newspaper.

Mauritius donates oxygen devices to India

The Indian Ocean Island nation of Mauritius has donated 200 ox ygen concentrators to India to help its medical staff treat patients suffering from the coronavirus, Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth said on Twitter. Mauritius began its inoculation campaign in Januar y using 100,000 Covishield vaccines it received from India’s government.

Vaccines cut hospital use in older adults: CDC

Vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna reduced the risk of being hospitalized for Covid-19 among fully immunized older adults by 94 percent, and by 64 percent for those who received only one of the two-shot regimens, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. The study evaluated 417 hospitalized patients who were 65 and older between January and late March, 130 of whom had received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine. The results were in line with clinical trial findings. Bloomberg News

Myanmar airstrikes target ethnic forces on 2 fronts

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ANGKOK—Myanmar government forces launched airstrikes against ethnic minorit y guerrillas in t wo areas of the countr y on Wednesday, local repor ts said.

Fighting has been raging daily in northern Myanmar in territory controlled by the Kachin Independence Organization, representing the Kachin minority, and in the east by the Karen National Union, representing the Karen.

Both groups have struck alliances with the popular movement opposing the military junta that seized power in the country in February after ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Generally non-violent marches against military rule continue in many cities and towns, despite the security forces’ use of lethal force to stop them.

Th e K a c h i n a n d t h e K a re n h ave b e e n struggling for decades for greater autonomy from the central government and have their own well-armed and trained military units, whose help the protest movement has been seeking to counter the government’s armed might.

Col. Naw Bu, a Kachin spokesman, said fighting against the junta’s forces intensified Wednesday, reported 74 Media, an online news service in Kachin state.

It quoted him as saying that since Tuesday, the government has used heavy artillery and fighter jets to attack a Kachin position at the foot of Alaw Bum mountain. The position had

been a government outpost but was seized by the Kachin on March 25.

Naw B u said heav y fighting has been continuing in the area for five days, causing most civilians to flee.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, clashes between the two sides have escalated since mid-March, with almost 50 armed confrontations. It said both sides have used mortar shelling.

Details of the fighting in both the Kachin and Karen areas were not possible to independently verify.

In eastern Myanmar, government aircraft continued to carry out airstrikes in Karen state on Wednesday, according to aid groups active in the area, a day after Karen guerrillas overran an army base on the banks of the Salween River dividing Myanmar and Thailand.

Both the Karen Peace Support Network and the Free Burma Rangers confirmed a total of six air attacks involving jets and helicopters. They said there were no known casualties but the Peace Support Network said about 300 villagers fled across the border.

There also were air attacks on Tuesday just hours after the Karen seized the riverside base.

The latest wave of airstrikes increased fears that more villagers will abandon their homes in vulnerable areas, with many likely to try to cross into Thailand. AP

In this October 10, 2019 file photo, philanthropist and Co-Chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Bill Gates gestures as he speaks to the audience during the Global Fund to Fight AIDS event at the Lyon’s congress hall, central France. A new mass fundraising campaign, launched Wednesday, April 28, 2021, by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the WHO Foundation, and corporate, religious, and world leaders, aims to inspire 50 million people around the world to make small donations to Covax, the international effort to push for equitable global distribution of Covid-19 vaccinations. Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP

Gates aids fundraising drive for global vaccine distribution

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new mass fundraising campaign aims to inspire 50 million people around the world to make small donations to Covax, the international effort to push for equitable global distribution of Covid-19 vaccinations.

Called Go Give One, the campaign was launched Wednesday by the WHO Foundation and corporate, religious, and world leaders. Seed money for the effort was provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The campaign will contribute to the $3 billion in Covax funding needed to vaccinate almost 30 percent of people in 92 low-income countries sometime next year. That support will come from donors like those who contribute to the Go Give One campaign as well as cost-sharing agreements.

Meanwhile, the $6.3 billion that’s so far been committed to Covax has come primarily from global governments, in addition to the World Health Organization, Unicef, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Go Give One aims to mobilize small-dollar donors around the world to give roughly $10 each toward the cost of Covid-19 vaccines—which are priced at about $5 a shot. The specifics of the campaign are still being ironed out, organizers said. The global campaign will collaborate with public health-care systems and individual mass vaccination sites to advertise the campaign.

Organizers also plan to involve businesses through workplace giving campaigns and promotions on corporations’ social-media platforms. Facebook has also pledged to host a fundraising campaign for the effort and match as much as $5 million contributed through the platform.

Gavi and Unicef are already appealing for donations from individuals to support Covax, and some donors have launched their own campaigns on crowdfunding platforms. Go Give One, however,

aims to jump-start a unified effort that can be replicated around the world, said Anil Soni, chief executive of the WHO Foundation. It will aim to provide companies with a simple giving platform that they can share with employees and customers.

The approach is similar to previous cross-sector campaigns to fund HIV treatment, when donors contributed small sums to provide medication to HIV-positive individuals. Soni, who spent years working at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and later the Gates Foundation and the Clinton Health Access Initiative, says those campaigns showed the difference one person can make in a global crisis. “It was that individual engagement that caused collective action that caused governments to do their part,” he said.

Equitable access to the vaccine is essential to ending the pandemic, Soni stressed, and one of the goals of the Go Give One campaign is to remind people who are able to get vaccinated that others still lack access. While the pace of vaccination has slowed in the United States, Soni expects vaccinations to continue for some time.

“There is a bifurcation of the world in which there are privileged communities where people are getting vaccinated, particularly in wealthy countries, and then there’s low-income countries and low-income communities...where vaccine access is absolutely not available,” Soni said.

After a year of lockdown, loss, and disconnection, vaccination will be an emotional experience for many people—and they’ll have a 15-minute observation period to sit and drink that feeling in.

“What’s been generated from that moment so far is millions of selfies,” Soni said. “We haven’t given people the opportunity—while they’re sitting, waiting, and really basking in this moment of hope—to do something for someone else.” Go Give One aims to change that. AP

Prince Charles charity joins efforts to send aid to India

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ONDON—Prince Charles said Wednesday that he is “deeply saddened” by the surge in coronavirus deaths in India, as he urged the public to back an appeal to buy oxygen equipment for the stricken nation.

In a message to the people of India, the heir to the throne said: “Indian aid and ingenuity has been a support to other countries through this immensely difficult time. As India has helped others, so now must we help India.”

He added that he has a “great love for India” and that he wanted “those suffering the effects of this pandemic in India to know that they are in my thoughts and prayers.”

The British Asian Trust, a charity Charles founded in 2007, launched an emergency appeal called “Oxygen for India” to buy oxygen concentrators, which can extract oxygen from the air when hospital infrastructure struggles to cope. As of Wednesday, the charity had raised more than 270,000 pounds, and the funds will be sent to the charity’s local partners in India to procure oxygen equipment for the seriously ill in both cities and harder to reach rural areas.

“We’ve surpassed anything we thought we’re going raise before,” said Hitan Mehta, executive direc-

tor of the trust. “We’ve had lots of inquiries from people about what they’re able to do, and what we are suggesting is donating their funds so we can make a difference on the ground immediately.”

Britain is home to a large Indian diaspora community of about 1.4 million people, and many have sought ways to support their home country during this crisis. A separate online fundraiser on the GoFundMe web site has collected more than 380,000 pounds within days, and its organizers say the funds have enabled them to order hundreds of oxygen concentrators and ship them to India by the weekend.

A first British government shipment of 200 pieces of medical equipment, including ventilators and oxygen concentrators, arrived in Delhi Tuesday, and the rest is due to arrive by Friday. The equipment was sent in response to a request from India and will be transferred to Indian hospitals.

The Foreign Office said late Wednesday that the UK will also send three oxygen generation units to support India’s fight against the pandemic. The units, the size of shipping containers, can each produce 500 liters of oxygen per minute, enough for 50 people to use at a time, officials said. AP

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Friday, April 30, 2021

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Biden to US and world: ‘America is rising anew’ W

ASHINGTON—President Joe Biden declared Wednesday night in his first address to a joint session of Congress that “America is rising anew,” and pointed optimistically to the nation’s emergence from the pandemic as a vital moment to rebuild the US economy and fundamentally transform roles the government plays in American life.

Biden marked his first 100 days in office as the nation pushes out of a menacing mix of crises, making his case before a pared-down gathering of mask-wearing legislators because of pandemic restrictions. Speaking in highly personal terms while demanding massive structural changes, the president urged a $1.8 trillion investment in children, families and education to help rebuild an economy devastated by the virus and compete with rising global competitors.

His speech took place in a setting unlike any other presidential address in the familiar venue, the US Capitol still surrounded by fencing after insurrectionists in January protesting his election stormed to the doors of the House chamber where he gave his address. The nationally televised ritual of a president standing before Congress for the first time was one of the most watched moments of Biden’s presidency, raising the stakes for his ability to sell his plans to voters of both parties, even if Republican lawmakers prove resistant.

“America is ready for takeoff. We are working again.

Dreaming again. Discovering again. Leading the world again. We have shown each other and the world: There is no quit in America,” Biden said.

“I can report to the nation: America is on the move again,” he said. “Turning peril into possibility. Crisis into opportunity. Setback into strength.”

This year’s scene at the front of the House chamber had a historic look: For the first time, a female vice president, Kamala Harris, was seated behind the chief executive. And she was next to another woman, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, both clad in pastel.

The first ovation came as Biden greeted, “Madam Vice President.” He added “No president has ever said those words from this podium, and it’s about time.”

The scene was familiar yet strange, with members of Congress spread out, a sole Supreme Court justice in attendance and many Republicans citing “scheduling conflicts” to stay away. There was no need for a “designated survivor,” with so many Cabinet members not there, and the chamber was so sparsely populated that individual claps could be heard echoing off the walls.

“I have never been more confident or more optimistic about America,” Biden said. “We have stared into an abyss of insurrection and autocracy—of pandemic and pain—and ‘We the People’ did not flinch.”

Biden repeatedly hammered home how his plans would put Americans back to work, restoring the millions of jobs lost to the virus. He laid out a sweeping proposal for universal preschool, two years of free community college, $225 billion for childcare and monthly payments of at least $250 to parents. His ideas target frailties that were uncovered by the pandemic, and he argues that that economic growth will best come from taxing the rich to help the middle class and the poor.

For Biden, whose moment has been nearly a half century in the making, his speech also provided an update on combating the Covid-19 crisis he was elected to tame,

showcasing hundreds of millions of vaccinations and relief checks delivered to help offset the devastation wrought by a virus that has killed more than 573,000 people in the United States. He also championed his $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan, a staggering figure to be financed by higher taxes on corporations.

Seizing an opportunity born of calamity, Biden has embraced major action over incremental change. But he will be forced to thread a needle between Republicans who cry government overreach and some Democrats who fear he won’t go big enough.

The Democratic president’s strategy is to sidestep polarization and appeal directly to voters. His prime-time speech underscored a trio of central campaign promises: to manage the deadly pandemic, to turn down the tension in Washington in the aftermath of the insurrection and to restore faith in government as an effective force for good.

Biden also was addressing an issue rarely confronted by an American president, namely that in order to compete with autocracies like China, the nation needs “to prove that democracy still works” after his predecessor’s baseless claims of election fraud and the ensuing attack on the US Capitol.

Unimpressed, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina was to say in the Republicans’ designated response that Biden was claiming too much credit.

“This administration inherited a tide that had already turned,” Scott said in excerpts released in advance. “The coronavirus is on the run.”

No American politician has more familiarity with the presidential address to Congress than Biden. He spent three decades in the audience as a senator and eight years as vice president seated behind President Barack Obama during the annual address.

Yet the desire for swift action is born from political necessity. Biden understands that the time for passing his agenda could be perilously short given that presidents’ parties historically lose congressional seats in the midterm elections, less than two years away. The Democrats’ margins are already razor-thin.

He spoke against a backdrop of the weakening but still lethal pandemic, staggering unemployment and a roiling debate about police violence against Blacks. Biden also used his address to touch on the broader national reckoning over race in America, and to call on Congress to act on prescription drug pricing, gun control and modernizing the nation’s immigration system.

In his first three months in office, Biden has signed a $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill—passed without a single GOP vote—and has shepherded direct payments of $1,400 per person to more than 160 million households.

Hundreds of billions of dollars in aid will soon arrive for state and local governments, enough money that overall US growth this year could eclipse 6 percent—a level not seen since 1984. Administration officials are betting that it will be enough to bring back all 8.4 million jobs lost to the pandemic by next year.

A significant amount proposed Wednesday would ensure that eligible families receive at least $250 monthly per child through 2025, extending the enhanced tax credit that was part of Biden’s Covid-19 aid. There would be more than $400 billion for subsidized child care and free preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds.

Another combined $425 billion would go to

Fed keeps key rate near zero, sees inflation as ‘transitory’

W

ASHINGTON—The US economy is quickly strengthening, inflation is showing signs of picking up and the nation is making progress toward defeating the viral pandemic.

But on Wednesday, Chair Jerome Powell made clear that the Federal Reserve isn’t even close to beginning a pullback in its ultra-low interest rate policies.

In a statement after its latest policy meeting, the Fed said it would keep its benchmark short-term rate near zero, where it’s been pinned since the pandemic erupted nearly a year ago. The goal is to help keep loan rates down, for individuals and businesses, to encourage borrowing and spending. The Fed also said it would keep buying $120 billion in bonds each month to try to keep longer-term borrowing rates low, too.

At a news conference, Powell stressed that the Fed would need to see more evidence of sustained and substantial improvements in the job market and the overall economy before it would consider reducing its bond purchases. In the past, Powell has said that the Fed’s eventual pullback in its economic support would start with a reduction in its bond buying and only after that in a potential rate hike.

“We’re just going to need to see more data,” Powell said. “It’s not more complicated than that.”

Paul Ashworth, an economist at Capital Economics, noted that “although it took a more upbeat tone on the economic outlook and acknowledged that inflation has risen, the Fed offered no hints that it was considering slowing the pace of its asset purchases, let alone thinking about raising interest rates.”

Powell did highlight the economy’s improvement in recent months but said much more progress was necessary.

“Since the beginning of the year, indicators of economic activity and employment have strengthened,” the chairman said. “Household spending on goods has risen robustly.”

He also highlighted the striking progress the nation has made against the pandemic—a key point given that the chairman has often said that the economic recovery depends on the virus being brought under control.

“Continued vaccinations,” Powell said, “should allow for a return to more normal economic conditions later this year.”

The US economy has been posting unexpectedly strong gains in recent weeks, with barometers of hiring,

spending and manufacturing all surging. Most economists say they detect the early stages of what could be a robust and sustained recovery, with coronavirus case counts declining, vaccinations rising and Americans spending their stimulus-boosted savings.

In March, employers added nearly 1 million jobs—an unheard-of figure before the pandemic. And in April, consumer confidence jumped to its highest level since the pandemic flattened the economy in March of last year.

The quickening pace of growth, on top of additional large spending packages proposed by President Joe Biden, has raised fears among some analysts that inflation, long quiescent, could rise uncomfortably fast. Raw materials and parts, from lumber to copper to semiconductors, have spiked in price as demand has outstripped the ability of suppliers and shippers to keep up.

Some companies have recently said they plan to raise prices to offset the cost of more expensive supplies. They include the consumer products giants Procter & Gamble and 3M as well as Honeywell, which makes industrial and consumer goods.

Powell, however, downplayed concerns that these trends could trigger sustained high inflation. He said he expects supply bottlenecks to cause only temporary price increases.

“An episode of one-time price increase as the economy reopens is not likely to lead to persistent year-over-year inflation into the future,” he said.

Clogged supply chains won’t affect Fed policy, Powell said, because “they’re temporary and expected to resolve themselves.”

Under a new framework the Fed adopted last summer, it will no longer raise rates in anticipation of high inflation, which had been its policy for decades. Powell and other Fed officials have made clear they want to see inflation actually exceed their 2 percent annual inflation target—and not just briefly—before they’d consider raising rates.

They’ve set that goal so that inflation would average 2 percent over time, to offset the fact that it has been stuck below 2 percent for nearly the entire past decade.

Fed policymakers favor price gains at that level as a cushion against deflation—a prolonged drop in prices and wages that typically makes people and companies reluctant to spend. AP

permanently reduce health insurance premiums for people who receive coverage through the Affordable Care Act, as well a national paid family and medical leave program. Further spending would be directed toward Pell Grants, historically Black and tribal institutions and allow people to attend community college tuition-free for two years.

Funding all of this would be a series of

tax increases on the wealthy that would raise about $1.5 trillion over a decade.

Biden wants to raise the top tax rate on the most affluent families from 37 percent to 39.6 percent. People earning in excess of $1 million a year would see their rate on capital gains—the profits from a sale of a stock or home—nearly double from 20 percent to 39.6 percent, which would mean the wealthiest Americans could no

longer pay at a lower rate than many families who identify as middle class.

He took aim at a hallmark achievement of the Trump presidency, saying the 2017 tax cuts failed to deliver on Republicans’ promise of strong growth. It was a recognition of how narrow the common ground is between the two parties.

“When you hear someone say that they

don’t want to raise taxes on the wealthiest 1 percent and on corporate America—ask them: whose taxes are you going to raise instead, and whose are you going to cut?”

Biden said.

Republican lawmakers in Congress so far have balked at the price tags of Biden’s plans, complicating the chances of passage in a deeply divided Washington. AP

Opinion BusinessMirror

A10 Friday, April 30, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Not back to normal

‘N

ormal: the typical state or condition, characterized by that which is considered usual or routine under normal circumstances.”

As the total number of infections and active cases in the Philippines keep rising in the past three weeks, we saw comments on social media saying many countries are coming “back to normal,” while the Philippines is not. Apparently, some people have a problem understanding the definition of “normal.”

While we may give them the benefit of the doubt as to what the pandemic conditions are in other nations, the world is far from being normal by any measure. The US, for example, is still trying to decide whether people should continue wearing masks under certain situations such as being outside. More interestingly is whether or not people who have been vaccinated should wear masks. On that question, it might be asked if vaccinated people should wear a mask to protect themselves or to protect others.

New York Times, April 1, 2021: “Can Vaccinated People Spread the Virus?

We Don’t Know, Scientists Say.” Then again, “CDC: Evidence suggests fully vaccinated people do not transmit Covid-19.” “We don’t know.” “Evidence suggests.” Not completely reassuring.

There is no question that once enough people are vaccinated and we become closer to herd immunity, cases and hospitalizations will decrease dramatically. But we are far from “back to normal” economically even in those countries that have had low infection rates, are much farther along the vaccination road, and are bringing their national epidemics under control.

Thailand is a case in point. Many people pointed to Thailand as an example of what should have been done with government policies and action. Thailand has recorded more than 62,000 cases with only less than 200 deaths. The per capita numbers are very good with 880 cases per one million population and only three deaths.

However, Thailand is now experiencing a major outbreak. The country has reported an average of nearly 2,000 daily cases over the past week.

Because of these numbers—which seem almost insignificant in comparison to the Philippines—one European economic think tank writes this.

Capital Economics—“To contain the spread, the government has announced the closure of schools, bars and other entertainment venues.

These restrictions have led to a sharp drop in our Mobility Tracker and are likely to weigh heavily on consumer spending over the coming months.

The outbreak could also cause the government to put on hold plans to reopen the tourism sector. The authorities had been hoping to welcome fully vaccinated foreign tourists to the island of Phuket [which before the crisis attracted 14 percent of (total) international visitors] without a mandatory quarantine period, starting in July.”

To speak of India and their Covid situation is improper as the situation there is a humanitarian catastrophe. There are those in the Philippines that are saying that India has better per capita death toll than the Philippines.

That is a disgrace and only in support of a political narrative.

Initially, bodies are cremated within 24 hours of death. Further, The Straits Times: “Families allowed to bury dead in backyards as India’s Covid-19 surge overwhelms crematoriums.” Al Jazeera: “Non-stop cremations cast doubt on India’s counting of Covid dead. Several major cities are reporting far larger numbers of cremations and burials under coronavirus protocols than official death tolls.”

The world is a long way from normal, in part because we are all connected one way or the other. Yes, the Philippines is doing worse than some other countries. Yes, the Philippines is doing better than some other countries.

In the meantime, help your neighbor with concrete support and not merely words. For some people, that will be unusual and not normal.

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W

e, Filipinos, are not known to easily give up. And in the face of adversity, we as a community are able to overcome either by helping each other out or receiving help from our kapwa. We have witnessed this in the past week or so with the emergence of the viral idea of the “Community Pantry”—a collective effort that exemplifies the spirit of Bayanihan amid the sporadic lockdowns. The numerous carts and tables that have sprung in various parts of the archipelago provide for our kababayans’ immediate needs and help quell hunger during these trying times.

Hunger incidence has been on the rise globally and locally due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said there are nearly 690 million people who are currently hungry, or equivalent to 8.9 percent of the world’s population.

The FAO’s State of Food Security and Nutrition in World 2020 report projects that the number of individuals affected by hunger would go beyond 840 million by 2030, thus making it impossible to achieve the previously set Zero Hunger target for the same year. The same report also found that Covid-19’s health and socioeconomic effects exacerbate the malnutrition of the most vulnerable

population groups.

The Fourth Quarter 2020 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey confirms this worsening state of hunger throughout the country. SWS indicated that the Philippines’ average full-year hunger peaked at 21.1 percent, or about 5.2 million families.

That is double the 2019 average of 9.3 percent, and well beyond the high hunger rates recorded in 2010 and in 2011 of 19.9 percent. While the total hunger rate subsided to 16 percent in November 2020 from the record-high of 30.7 percent last September 2020, this still translates to about 4 million families experiencing involuntary hunger due to lack of food to eat “at least once in the past

three months.”

Compared to the rest of the world, the Philippines ranked 73rd out of 113 countries in the latest Global Food Security Index, which is lower from our previous rank of 64th in the 2019 report. Disruptions caused by the Covid-19 outbreak combined with climate change to aggravate the vulnerabilities of food systems worldwide. For the country, the report zeroed in on how the Philippines is also exposed to rising temperatures and erratic rainfall patterns resulting to land degradation and crop failures.

These findings only underscore the need to prioritize food security during and beyond this pandemic.

We should not overlook this issue as it is only becoming more severe due to the global health crisis.

We filed the Right to Adequate Food Framework Act (Senate Bill 138), which institutionalizes the view that providing adequate food is not a matter of charity, but of legal entitlement, and that hunger must be eliminated as it is inconsistent with human dignity and human rights.

This shall be done through the creation and implementation of a plan that would reduce hunger incidence to near-zero within 10 years. In addition, it adopts a whole-of-nation approach by ensuring public participation through the involvement of civil society organizations in the realization of the Zero Hunger plan.

The Community Pantry could

play a decisive role in realizing this overall Zero Hunger plan, if ever this measure is enacted to law. In the meantime, these pantries serve a vital role in the survival of our people amid the pandemic. One sociologist described the Community Pantry as the “ordinary citizen’s way of taking action in the face of crisis.”

As I recently mentioned, the National Government, Local Government Units, and the private sector should replicate this initiative to have an even greater impact on all Filipinos. Moreover, we cannot and should not alienate groups and individuals who have been joining the cause as these small efforts will have a better and faster outcome in arresting hunger, and providing for everyone’s needs if we put all our hands on deck.

From our end, we will constantly advocate for measures and push for initiatives that ensure adequate food for all, but this is only a part of the solution to eradicate hunger among Filipinos. While we may be fazed by the uncertainty and fear caused by this pandemic, we can certainly outdo this difficulty if we take a collective approach.

Sen. Sonny Angara has been in public service for 16 years—nine years as Representative of the Lone District of Aurora, and seven as Senator. He has authored and sponsored more than 200 laws. He is currently serving his second term in the Senate.

E-mail: sensonnyangara@yahoo.com| Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @sonnyangara

Feds raid Giuliani’s home, office, escalating criminal probe

By Michael R. Sisak, Michael Balsamo & Eric Tucker Associated Press

N

T. Anthony C. Cabangon

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

Chairman of the Board Ombudsman President Advertising Sales Manager Group Circulation Manager

Better Days

EW YORK—Federal agents raided Rudy Giuliani’s Manhattan home and office Wednesday, seizing computers and cellphones in a major escalation of the Justice Department’s investigation into the business dealings of former President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer.

Senior Editors

Creative Director Chief Photographer

Sonny M. Angara

Founder Publisher

Hunger alleviation through the community pantry

Giuliani, the 76-year-old former New York City mayor once celebrated for his leadership after 9/11, has been under federal scrutiny for several years over his ties to Ukraine. The dual searches sent the strongest signal yet that he could eventually face federal charges.

Agents searched Giuliani’s Madison Avenue apartment and Park Avenue office, people familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press. The warrants, which required approval from the top levels of the Justice Department, signify that prosecutors believe they have probable cause that Giuliani committed a federal crime—though they do not guarantee that charges will materialize.

A third search warrant was served on a phone belonging to Washington lawyer Victoria Toensing, a former federal prosecutor and close ally of Giuliani and Trump. Her law firm issued a statement saying she was informed that she is not a target of the investigation.

The full scope of the investigation is unclear, but it at least partly involves Giuliani’s dealings in Ukraine, law en-

forcement officials have told the AP. The people discussing the searches and Wednesday’s developments could not do so publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. News of the search was first reported by The New York Times.

In a statement issued through his lawyer, Giuliani accused federal authorities of a “corrupt double standard,” invoking allegations he’s pushed against prominent Democrats, and said that the Justice Department was “running rough shod over the constitutional rights of anyone involved in, or legally defending, former President Donald J. Trump.”

“Mr. Giuliani respects the law, and he can demonstrate that his conduct as a lawyer and a citizen was absolutely legal and ethical,” the statement said.

Bernie Kerik, who served as New York City’s police commissioner during the September 11 attacks and is a longtime Giuliani friend, said the former mayor called him as agents were searching his home on Wednesday morning.

Kerik, who was pardoned by Trump

for felony convictions that put him behind bars for three years, declined to describe his friend’s mood or reaction, but expressed alarm at the raid, saying agents “shouldn’t have been there in the first place.”

“I think it’s extremely concerning,” he said.

Giuliani’s son, Andrew Giuliani, told reporters the raids were “disgusting” and “absolutely absurd.”

A Justice Department spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The US Attorney’s office in Manhattan and the FBI’s New York office declined to comment.

The federal probe into Giuliani’s Ukraine dealings stalled last year because of a dispute over investigative tactics as Trump unsuccessfully sought a second term. Giuliani subsequently took on a leading role in disputing the election results on the Republican’s behalf.

Wednesday’s raids came months after Trump left office and lost his ability to pardon allies for federal crimes. The former president himself no longer enjoys the legal protections the Oval Office once provided him— though there is no indication Trump is eyed in this probe.

Trump’s spokesman did not immediately respond to questions about Wednesday’s events.

Many people in Trump’s orbit have been ensnared in previous federal investigations, including special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe of Russian election interference. Some, like former

Gen. Michael Flynn, Roger Stone and Paul Manafort, were pardoned. While there were discussions about a preemptive pardon for Giuliani, it did not materialize.

Trump, his aides and many prominent backers were silent on the action Wednesday, with no widespread denunciations or “witchhunt” claims. Trump, who remains barred from Twitter, issued a statement on an Arizona election recount, but steered clear of defending his longtime lawyer, whose loyalty he had long professed to admire.

Giuliani was central to the thenpresident’s efforts to dig up dirt against Democratic rival Joe Biden and to press Ukraine for an investigation into Biden and his son, Hunter—who himself now faces a criminal tax probe by the Justice Department.

Giuliani also sought to undermine former US ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, who was pushed out on Trump’s orders, and met several times with a Ukrainian lawmaker who released edited recordings of Biden in an effort to smear him before the election.

Giuliani’s lawyer, Robert Costello, said the warrants involved an allegation that Giuliani failed to register as a foreign agent and that investigative documents mentioned John Solomon, a former columnist and frequent Fox News commentator with close ties to Giuliani, who pushed baseless or unsubstantiated allegations involving

See “Feds,” A11

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

The years of lawyering dangerously

Friday, April 30, 2021 A11

We don’t really need another hero Tito Genova Valiente

annotations

Manny F. Dooc

TELLTALES

T

he National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers has claimed that there has been a steady increase in work-related attacks on lawyers since the advent of the current administration. The NUPL has reported to the Supreme Court “that there have been 176 work-related attacks on lawyers, including 73 killings, in the past 10 years.” This number has alarmingly surged under the Duterte regime. According to the NUPL, “the highest number was documented in 2019, with at least 39 prima facie professions or work-related attacks. A steady increase in the number of such attacks has been observed since 2016.”

Fifty-four reported killings of lawyers, including some judges and prosecutors, have taken place during the last five years coinciding with the Duterte presidency. Approximately, one lawyer was killed every month and many of them have been unsolved up to now.

A side from k i l lings, lawyers were also victims of other attacks—abduction, red-tagging, and intimidation. Many are subjected to threat, surveillance and stakeout. Actual cases of strafing, physical injuries and serious intimidation have occurred. Activist lawyers in the provinces who are away from media glare are most often the object of threat, nuisance action, vilifications and arbitrary detention. Most lawyer victims are human rights lawyers and legal practitioners who are advocates of public interest law who champion the cause of the poor and the disadvantaged. They have taken on powerful interests and stood up for the disenfranchised, the minorities, labor activists and other progressive groups. The list is getting longer. Atty. Rafael Atutubo was murdered in Bacolod City.

In November 2018, a co-founder of the NULP, Atty. Benjamin Ramos, was killed by unknown gunmen while leaving his law office. Last month, Atty. Angelo Karlo Guillen was stabbed in the head and back by two unidentified assailants.

Guillen is the Secretary General of NULP in Panay island, and the 4th NULP lawyer to survive an assassination attempt since PRRD took office. He had just finished working late on his cases, mostly involving human rights violations, when he was attacked while on his way back to his boarding house in Iloilo City. He represents Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Karapatan, Movement Against Tyranny and several other groups challenging the constitutionality of the AntiTerrorism Act of 2020. He survived by playing dead and the criminals fled with all his legal files contained in his laptop and discs inside his briefcase.

The dastardly killings and escalating attacks on the members of the legal profession send a chilling effect to the members of the bar and the bench. Lawyers are officers of the courts and are an indispensable part of our criminal justice system. If they are intimidated, if not prevented, from performing their critical tasks, then that will signal the end of the rule of law in our country. We need tough lawyers who are unafraid to prosecute the criminals and even challenge the authorities when they are wrong.

This is the essence of an adversarial system. Good lawyers inevitably create enmities as they pursue their profession. As the famous American lawyer, Alan Dershowitz, has once said, “lawyers are also judged by the enemies they keep.” But it is more dangerous when the state or its agents take offense. What for-

Feds. . .

continued from A10

Ukraine and Biden during the 2020 election.

Phone records published by House Democrats in 2019 in the wake of Trump’s first impeachment trial showed frequent contacts involving Giuliani, Solomon and Lev Parnas, a Giuliani

What former Congressman Neri Colmenares has said is deeply concerning when he described the President as “most intolerant of dissent.” On the other hand, former VP Jojo Binay has claimed that lawyers are more scared now than they were under President Ferdinand Marcos during the Martial Law years. mer Congressman Neri Colmenares has said is deeply concerning when he described the President as “most intolerant of dissent.” On the other hand, former VP Jojo Binay has claimed that lawyers are more scared now than they were under President Ferdinand Marcos during the Martial Law years. “I had thought all along that the years of Martial Law were the most dangerous years for lawyers. Sadly, I’m mistaken.” VP Leni Robredo shared the same observation when she declared in an earlier interview that the President should not be onion-skinned, rather he should welcome suggestions to improve governance. Notw ithstanding these disparaging comments, it’s a relief that there are still some lawyers who take up their job seriously and pick up the cudgels for the marginalized people. They continue to uphold the rule of law no matter what the cost is. They don’t betray their noble calling and surrender justice and truth by sucking up to power or cowing to tyrants.

Guillen’s case will not be the last.

Under a regime where the killing of perceived enemies of the state seems to be an accepted policy, many public interests lawyers may perish or get assaulted for their commitment to civil liberties and the rule of law. Some unprincipled agents of the state may take the extreme and blindly follow Shakespeare’s dictum, “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” Under this perilous time, we need idealistic lawyers who will not be daunted by the forces of darkness and who we can count on to protect our rights and freedom. Their rights to speak out against the authorities should be respected and shielded. As a lawyer and former prosecutor himself, the President is fully aware of the hazards of lawyering. As the head of our government, he can disprove the prevailing perception that there is a culture of immunity enjoyed by the perpetrators of these crimes. Offenses committed against the lawyers should be promptly and fully investigated, and those found guilty should be held accountable.

Reprisals against activist lawyers should end. Now. associate who is under indictment on charges of using foreign money to make illegal campaign contributions.

Contacted Wednesday, Solomon said it was news to him that the Justice Department was interested in any communications he had with Giuliani, though he said it was not entirely surprising given the issues raised in the impeachment trial.

“He was someone that tried to pass

T

here is a conflagration online, and it began with a young would-be politician from the Revilla clan praising Magellan as our hero.

Much as I would not conspire with his supporters to let go of an error from someone with a following, I like to think I know where this young man is coming from. In fact, if he has knowledgeable assistants, he could have been briefed by them about how our government has been spending so much time and effort celebrating the name of Magellan and a host of other foreigners who became part of the circumnavigation of the world that they are beginning to appear as our own heroes. Or that Magellan may not be a national hero but he is a global hero.

If so, does it become our responsibility to declare Magellan as such?

Count the symposia, conferences, and forums where the subject matter is about Magellan and you can understand the confusion about the obsession with the 500 years. While you are at it, count also the number of symposia, conferences, and forums dealing with Lapulapu. The fact of the matter is very few are excited to take up this Mactan man’s case.

I mean, listen to what the historians, Filipino academics included, are singing about the value of this circumnavigation.

After 500 years, this is all we can manage?

After 500 years, we cannot be brave and daring enough to confront a conjured past to the point of dismissing it?

Imagine this scenario: countries

approach the Philippines to ask that it participate in the commemoration of the circumnavigation of the globe. Imagine a response where we tell them that, with due respect, we cannot celebrate an event that initiated the enslavement of this country. I do not think these inviting countries will send armies to occupy our islands once more. That is a thinking that comes solely from this government, and we, citizens, know better.

So, here we are again, attempting to paint Lapulapu by using the archives written by his enemies then. I thought we have learned already the basic tenet of deconstruction: who said it? The identity of the speaker determines the value of the fact.

Can the subaltern ever speak? Not if we keep on using the language of those who caused the subaltern to be submerged. Not if we maintain the point-of-view of those who produced the images for the subaltern.

The point is after 500 years, all we can manage to talk about is where the First Mass was held, and where it really was. But, who cares?

People of faith—and this we have to respect—have their knowledge of a God not because the First Mass was held anywhere. All this obsession about where Limasawa was and what icon was given is part of this module symptom. After centuries, we are students learning the evils of colonialism and coming out of it

Worrying about growth?

wishy-washy about colonization. We need to memorize names of people and places because, at the back of our mind, we are convinced that is the only way to be a Filipino.

The fact again is: the arrival of Magellan, the circumnavigation, the First Mass and the First Baptism are empty records. They do not have anything to do with our identities; they provide the bulk of the colonizer’s bag of achievements. This Filipinoness shall come later and that search for identities will be a part of other histories and other circumstances.

The identities that we are linking to those events in the 16th century are connected by histories buffeted by archives that are not anywhere near us. In the distance between those days, which we can only imagine and mystify, and our present moments can be located something else—this notion that historicized, we do not necessarily become ideal and exciting race.

Here is the myth of the brave Lapulapu and a host of other brave heroes and all we do on days composing the 500 years is to scamper

all over to debunk their age, their presence in major battles and their vaunted bravery, leaving in the end, ghosts of warriors that may not have existed at all.

There is a statue of Lapulapu— muscled, proud, holding a mighty shield. Keep that. Keep the memory, we tell ourselves. They are good, potent symbols. They make us think of how there was in us this strength to turn back invaders.

Think about this: We are not questioning that Cross of Magellan not because of history but mainly because it is a cross, a symbol made intimidatingly sacred. Then there is the Sto. Niño who cannot be critiqued because he is the Child Jesus. And so what is left for this country of confused scholars and cultural leaders?

Attack its own. Scour all archives that will reveal how fake this Lapulapu we were raised to praise.

So, who needs another hero? No one. We cannot have our own hero because, right here, in our nation live ourselves who remain to be our own perfect enemies.

earlier said that 20 percent of those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic may no longer get them back.

What these information are telling us is that we should not be worried that much about growth. Our focus should be on how our economy is able to calibrate quickly and efficiently these elements into our new growth path. The structural change they have created will be the defining factor whether we can do a sustainable restart of the economy after this second surge. A growth that is not sustainable, however high, is not preferred over a slower but sustainable one. We should avoid going back to a contraction once growth resumes.

Whatever we are doing today to improve our response must be holistic and looks at the medium term.

Expanding a flexible health care capacity together with an effective vaccine roll out should be done efficiently. The roll out of the national ID registration is now online and can help improve formalization. This should be mapped out intelligently into a single database that can be used for any government service such as election, tax, business, licensing and financing. The inclusive innovation industrial strategy (i3S) of the Department of Trade and Industry should be made easily adaptable to firms and industries as this directly responds to the structural change brought by the pandemic. These initiatives must harmonize and coordinate well and then we can look forward to an economic restart that will not regress. cations, but officials in the Trump-era Justice Department would not sign off on the request, according to multiple people who insisted on anonymity to speak about the ongoing investigation with which they were familiar.

Getting good growth is desirable indeed especially after encountering the worst economic downturn after the second world war. However, we should also be realistic on how growth can be re-established and sustained over the medium term. Economists from the World Bank in November 2020 presented three key elements on how economies can restart sustained growth.

These are: health care system prioritization, formalization of the economy and global recovery. Health care system prioritization is essentially the capacity to respond to the pandemic and the underlying health conditions of the population. It is the combination of human, physical and

financial resources that should be flexible and not reactive. Formalization of the economy refers primarily to the structure of the economy prepandemic. The ability of the economy to adopt and use the digitalization process and how large is the informality of the economy impinges heavily on the response mechanism to restart the economy. Finally, global recovery refers to the interconnection of the economy to the global value chain.

Presently, the country is 40 percent dependent on external activities. The immediate and sustained recovery of our major trade partners could make a major impact on our internal recovery as well.

These elements affect the econo-

my at the same time and play critical roles on how growth can be restarted and sustained. They cannot also be addressed independently of one another as they interrelatedly impact one another. Above all, they are dependent on the behavioral patterns of consumers, firms and government on the protocols and processes that are being set in place. For instance, the calibration of quarantine restrictions can be fully maximized if the three elements are carefully prepared to respond and not to react.

Hospital systems are not a matter of physical capacities but primarily of health care professionals. Providing stimulus can be efficient and effective if they are electronically given.

Exports and import orders may be increasing as China and Vietnam’s manufacturing capacities expand.

Our collective capacities must be able to calibrate these elements as we calibrate the quarantine restrictions.

Otherwise, we will just fall into the cycle of loosening and restricting.

Note that countries that have largely been successful in minimizing the number of cases during the early part of the pandemic are now also facing surges. It is becoming clear that the virus plays into our behavioral desire to return to the normal way of life pre-pandemic. It may be necessary therefore to break the mindset of everyone to think that this new normal is the new normal. After the pandemic, many things will no longer go back to where they were before. ADB mentioned this as well in their report that many jobs are permanently lost. The World Bank

information to me. I didn’t use most of it,” Solomon said of Giuliani. “If they want to look at that, there’s not going to be anything surprising in it.”

Everything was sitting “in plain view,” Solomon said. He said he believed his reporting had “stood the test of time” and maintained that he was “unaware of a single factual error” in any of his stories.

Solomon’s former employer, The Hill newspaper, published a review last year

of some of his columns and determined they were lacking in context and missing key disclosures. Solomon previously worked for The Associated Press, departing the news organization in 2006.

The federal Foreign Agents Registration Act requires people who lobby on behalf of a foreign government or entity to register with the Justice Department.

The once-obscure law, aimed at improving transparency, has received a burst of

attention in recent years—particularly during Mueller’s probe, which revealed an array of foreign influence operations in the US. Federal prosecutors in the Manhattan office Giuliani himself once led—springing to prominence in the 1980s with high-profile prosecutions of Mafia figures—had pushed last year for a search warrant for records. Those included some of Giuliani’s communi-

Alvin Ang

EAGLE WATCH

T

he Asian Development Bank (ADB) released their updated forecast of the Philippine economy for 2021 on April 28. They cut their earlier forecast of a 6.5 percent in December 2020 to 4.5 percent. It was said that this forecast is a floor, meaning this is the lowest and it could be higher. They cited that the reimposition of stricter quarantines has caused them to adjust their forecasts downward, particularly in the first half of 2021. This forecast is much lower than the government target of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent growth.

Our own estimates at ACERD last January was already at the lowest range among those gathered by Consensus Economics at 2.9 percent.

Taking into consideration the reimposition of restrictions, it would definitely be lower since the affected areas effectively represent more than half of the economy’s source of output.

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

Tucker reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Larry Neumeister and Tom Hays in New York, and Colleen Long and Jill Colvin in Washington contributed reporting.

A12 Friday, April 30, 2021

PSMID not closing door, awaits trials on Ivermectin

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

N

Correspondent

OTING that clinical trials are still ongoing, Dr. Marissa Alejandria, president of the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID), on Thursday said they are not closing their door to the controversial anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin.

In a Kapihan session with health reporters, Alejandria, who is also the director of the Institute of Clinical Epidemiology of the UPNational Institutes of Health (NIH) and Professor at the UP College of Medicine, stressed that at the moment, there is still no sufficient evidence that Ivermectin can be used by humans.

“We are not closing the door on ivermectin. What we are saying is there is still insufficient evidence to give it to the general population,” she said, adding that doctors also should explain the current evidence of the drug before giving it to the patients. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted five hospitals in the country with compassionate special permit (CSP), which allows them to use Ivermectin for their patients.

Continued on A2

DTI pushes to ease curbs for business under MECQ

T

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @Tyronepiad

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is proposing to open up more business establishments to allow the return of around 500,000 workers following the extension of modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

During the Laging Handa briefing on Thursday, DTI Undersecretary Ruth B. Castelo said the Trade chief is recommending to the Inter-Agency Task Force to “ease up a little bit” on the restrictions for commercial establishments as long as they follow mandatory health protocols.

She explained that allowing more sectors to operate under MECQ, especially labor-intensive ones, will help improve employment figures.

For one, allowing personal care services to operate under MECQ will mean about 400,000 workers going back to work, Castelo said. This figure only accounts for the barbershops and beauty salons, excluding the nail salons and massage parlors, among others, she noted.

The personal care services are under Category III of the omnibus guidelines in the implementation of the community quarantine in the country.

This means the sector is not allowed to operate during ECQ and MECQ. But they can be open under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ (MGCQ) at the capacity of 50 percent and 100 percent, respectively.

Castelo said DTI is pushing to allow the personal care services to operate at 50 percent under the MECQ. In addition, the department suggests outdoor services for the personal care sector, like what restaurants are doing to allow more customers.

Meanwhile, the DTI official said they are proposing to allow indoor dine-in at 10-percent capacity under MECQ, which means 100,000 workers having their jobs back.

But she stressed that restaurants should strictly adhere to the health protocols such as diagonal seating, social distancing, sanitation and wearing of face masks and face shields, among others.

According to the omnibus guidelines, indoor dine-in services are not permitted both in ECQ and MECQ. Outdoor dine-in services for restaurants are not allowed under ECQ as well, but 50-percent capacity is allowed in MECQ. Under GCQ, 75-percent outdoor dine-in and 30 to 50 percent indoor dine-in are allowed. Full capacity for both dines-in services is permitted under MGCQ. Take-out and delivery in restaurants are allowed in all forms of community quarantine.

Castelo said the DTI has been monitoring business establishments allowed to operate under the community quarantine to make sure they follow strictly the health protocols in pandemic.

Majority compliant

IN the first quarter monitoring of the DTI Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB), some 94.7 percent were found compliant with the mandated health protocols in Metro Manila.

DTI-FTEB said it inspected 1,077 establishments, 931 of which were found complying with the health protocols.

It ordered 146 firms found to be in violation, to take corrective action; 89 have responded already within the prescribed period.

Continued on A2

SOLONS GIVE OUT IVERMECTIN; D.O.J. WEIGHS FDA EXCEPTIONS

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

& Joel R. San Juan

A

@jrsanjuan1573

MID a strong reminder from the Department of Health and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that only hospitals with compassionate special permit (CSP) may administer the controversial Ivermectin to Covid-19 patients, two lawmakers on Thursday distributed free tablets of the anti-parasitic drug in Quezon City.

At the launch of the “Ivermectin Pan-Three,” Anakalusugan Rep. Defensor together with Sagip Rep. Rodante Marcoleta distributed around 2,000 Ivermectin tablets to some 200 individuals in Barangay Matandang Balara in Quezon City.

He also said they will start house-to-house distribution of Ivermectin tablets on Friday or Saturday following several requests.

According to Defensor, they are not violating any law because the distribution complies with the regulations of the FDA and human-

grade Ivermectin tablets are allowed with doctor’s prescription.

Defensor has said FDA Director Er ic Domingo told lawmakers that licensed compounding pharmacies are allowed to compound Ivermectin, as long as it is made by a licensed compounding laboratory with a doctor’s prescription.

Defensor said people were required first to fill up a form before on site medical practioners prescribed them with the drug.

Earlier, Defensor warned he would seek legal action against the FDA if it blocks the distribution of Ivermectin.

From the experts’ colle c t ive te st i mony, t he lawmakers said, Ivermectin had been widely used to treat a variety of human parasites since its introduction in 1981 and since then, is being taken along with vitamins C and D, melatonin, zinc, among others, including steroids for the elderly and asthmatic patients.

Continued on A2

Companies BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Flexible work driving demand for small office spaces–Eton

E

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

ton Properties Philippines Inc., the property development arm of tycoon Lucio Tan, said it is seeing an uptick in demand for small office spaces from companies that are keen on moving out of their large headquarters.

Karlu Tan Say, Eton's COO, said the company received "significant" inquiries from customers who would like to transfer from their unused large headquarters to small office spaces given the need to cut cost and the government's recommendation to implement flexible work arrangements,

including working from home.

“Having a work-from-home business model for employees would mean saving office expenses like utilities, supplies, among others.

Shifting to a smaller office space can cut down costs without having to cut down on manpower,” Say said.

To keep up with demand, Eton

Properties said it is offering Blakes Tower, a mixed-use property development in Makati City which features small and flexible office spaces, dormitories and residential units that can be leased out. This 36-storey building has 11,000 square meters of leasable areas especially dedicated to offices.

“It is an ideal one-stop-shop for employers who would like to provide a safe residence for their employees within the same building of their workplace,” Eton Executive Vice President Charlie Carlos said.

“With the pandemic permanently changing people's perspective and forcing everyone to experience a ‘new normal,’ it is apparent how convenience and accessibility should not be a luxury but a necessity."

Blakes Tower is within the mixeduse complex of Eton WestEnd Square along Chino Roces in Makati. Within the development are business pro-

cess outsourcing and off-shore businesses hub, eWestPod, and commercial center, eWestMall.

Eton’s net income last year fell 11 percent to P802 million from the previous year's P900 million. The company had a leasing portfolio of approximately 181,000 square meters of office space and over 45,000 square meters of retail space by the end of 2020.

Projects in the pipeline include the 36-storey Blakes Tower in Makati City which will have 10,500 square meters of office space and 14,000 square meters of residential space.

Others are the 4.3-hectare Eton City Square in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, with the first phase having 6,900 square meters of commercial space and NXTower I, an office building along Emerald Avenue and Ruby Road in Ortigas with 21,000 square meters of gross leasable area.

this headwind. I am confident that we will again emerge stronger and wiser from the challenges that 2021 brings."

Wholly-owned businesses grew 22 percent year-on-year to $255 million due to the continued recovery of mobility and industrial end-markets.

The company said financial performance could have been better if not for longer supply lead times on certain critical components. IMI operations teams are in close coordination with customers and suppliers to recover deferred revenue opportunities. Meanwhile, non-wholly owned subsidiaries started the year with revenues of $73 million, a 55-percent growth versus the first quarter

of 2020. VIA optronics continues to transition its business towards the high-growth automotive and industrial customers. These segments had already accounted for 71 percent of display solutions revenue by the 4th quarter of 2020 and the company plans to invest in research and development to drive further growth and innovation.

STI Ltd.’s growth was driven mainly by the aerospace and defense segment. With significant project wins in previous years, and a Brexit framework now in place, STI will be able to focus on ushering new businesses through the mass production phase in 2021, the company said. VG Cabuag

gin grew to 8.8 percent compared to 7.6 percent in the previous year, IMI said.

“IMI team members across the globe continue to display the resilience that enables us to hurdle major upheavals throughout IMI’s 40-year history,” company president and CEO Arthur Tan said.

“As we continue to adapt to the market environment imposed by the pandemic, our entire industry is once again challenged by component shortages that have been impacting electronics companies worldwide.

IMI management teams have taken swift decisive actions to leverage our scale and global supply chain network to mitigate the impact of

Smart expands 5G network

Cebu Pacific airlifts vaccines from China

S

mart Communications Inc. said on Thursday it has expanded its 5G coverage in the country with over 2,600 sites fired up nationwide.

This means that the wireless services provider now has the “most extensive 5G network” in the country, according to Smart’s Head of Technology Mario G. Tamayo.

“We continue to upgrade and expand our network in order to deliver the best data experience to our customers, as fresh community quarantine measures require them to conduct most of their day-to-day tasks online in order to stay safe,” he said.

Tamayo added that as connectivity becomes more crucial today, Smart is continuously building its network and improving its offers to address the expected growth in demand.

“Connectivity is even more crucial now that many have turned to the Internet to keep updated with the latest news about the pandemic and the vaccines, as well as keep in touch with their families, and continue working and operating their businesses from the safety of their homes,” he said.

“With 5G, our customers can also take their favorite online activities, like streaming Ultra-HD videos, playing high-bandwidth games, making video calls, and uploading and downloading heavy files quickly, to the next level.”

Smart, which recently added Korean pop group BTS to its list of brand ambassadors, is also introducing a new 5G offer, which allows subscribers to enjoy 5G with no data caps or speed throttling. Lorenz S. Marasigan

By Recto L. Mercene @rectomercene

T

he Philippines’s largest low cost carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) delivered its first government-procured vaccine shipment from Beijing on Thursday, in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH).

CEB flight 5J 671 touched down at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at 7:18 a.m.

The airline noted that continuous arrival of vaccines underpins the Philippine government’s commitment to curb the cases of Covid-19 in the country as it paves the path to herd immunity.

“Our number one priority is to get the country back on track, and we are doing all we can to secure millions of vaccines from various sources all over the world. Collaborating with airlines in this endeavor is of utmost importance—the sooner we secure the vaccines and the faster these are distributed, the quicker we can finally get past this pandemic,” said Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force against Covid-19.

“We remain optimistic about the Philippines’s vaccine program and look forward to working even more closely with Cebu Pacific and our other Philippine carriers for future vaccine shipments.”

“This delivery marks our first international vaccine shipment and we are grateful for the trust and confidence of the DOH. More importantly, we remain steadfast in our commitment to support our country’s recovery efforts in every way possible,”

A total of 500,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Thursday. Contributed Photo

said Michael Ivan Shau, CEB Chief Operations Officer.

These vaccines, carried via a chartered A330 flight, were immediately released to the DOH upon arrival at the NAIA. The vaccines are expected to be strategically distributed to various Philippine provinces in the coming days, which CEB can fully support through its widest domestic network.

To date, Cebu Pacific has already transported more than 760,000 doses of vaccines, approximately 264,000 of which were delivered to 6 key cities in the Philippines—Bacolod, Cotabato, Puerto Princesa, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, and Zamboanga.

Vaccines via SkyJet

Sk yJet A irl ines became t he fourth airline authorized to deliver vaccines across the archipelago, after it was granted authority by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). The other three are Philippine Airlines, Cebu

Pacific and Air Asia. “SkyJet Airlines is glad to announce that we have secured our authorization today [April 28] from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to airlift Covid-19 vaccines across the country,” said Engr. Jose Amado E. Hofileña, Director-Logistics/ Vaccine Air Transport at SkyJet Airlines.

Utilizing the British Aerospace BAe 146-200 cargo aircraft, the plane has the capability to land on big and small airports.

“We target to transport vaccine to Masbate, Basco, Siargao, Catanduanes, Romblon, Catarman, Calbayog, Busuanga, San Jose, Mindoro, Tawi Tawi, Jolo,” Hofileña said.

Last year, SkyJet supported the government by mounting flights to General Santos, Davao and Iloilo for locally stranded individuals.

“With this vaccine transportation requirement, we are always ready to serve our fellow countrymen in healing our nation,” Hofileña added.

B1

No disconnection until May 14 due to MECQ–Meralco

BusinessMirror file photo

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

IMI posts income in Q1 on higher sales T A yala-led Integrated MicroElectronics Inc. (IMI) said it registered an income in the first three months of the year as sales grew, even as the pandemic wreaked havoc on the company’s main markets.

The company said it booked an income of $981,000 in the first quarter.

However, the figure is just a fraction of the $5.56-million loss it incurred in the same period last year.

Revenues from contracts with customers grew 28 percent to $327.54 million, from the previous year's $255.81 million.

Despite additional labor and freight costs spent to cover extended supply lead times, gross profit mar-

Friday, April 30, 2021

he Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is extending the suspension of disconnection activities in its franchise area until May 14 as government extended the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in National Capital Region, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal.

“Given the current situation and the extended MECQ, we continue to take into consideration the challenges our customers are facing amid these difficult times.

Thus, we will continue to put on hold all disconnection activities until May 14, 2021,” said Meralco First Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Ferdinand Geluz.

For those who have the ability to pay, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) strongly encouraged customers to settle their bills within the original due date “to help manage the cash flow in the energy supply chain and ensure the continuous supply of electricity.”

Geluz said Meralco will continue to be “very considerate” dur ing this period and vowed to assist its customers in need of help with their concerns. “ We hope this additional extension will help ease

the burden of our customers, while providing the necessary relief and additional time for them to settle their bills.”

Meralco reiterated that it will continue vital operations, such as meter reading, following the order of the ERC, and will also continue to work round the clock to serve its customers.

“Meralco business operations, including meter reading and bill delivery activities, will continue throughout the MECQ. Our continued operations will ensure that actual consumption for the month will be billed accordingly. But rest assured there will be strict implementation of health protocols in order to safeguard the health and safety of both customers and our personnel,” Geluz said.

Meralco business centers will remain open to accept payments, applications and customer assistance.

“Meralco crews will also continue to be on standby 24/7 to respond to any emergencies and reports,” Geluz added.

B2

Companies BusinessMirror

Friday, April 30, 2021

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS Stocks FINANCIALs

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April 29, 2021

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

43.35 105.7 83 23.95 9.95 45.05 28.7 55.1 18.1 114.8 72 1.46 3.94 0.59 3.17 1.47 0.7 160.1 2,340 0.97

43.4 106 83.5 24 9.97 45.1 28.9 56.35 18.2 115 72.5 1.48 3.96 0.64 3.31 1.54 0.72 160.9 2,346 1

43.35 104.5 83 23.6 9.84 45 29.9 56 18.26 114.9 73 1.57 3.94 0.59 3.18 1.55 0.71 157 2,340 1

43.35 106 83.5 24 9.97 45.05 29.9 56.35 18.26 115.3 73.15 1.57 3.96 0.59 3.18 1.55 0.72 163 2,340 1

43.35 104.1 82.95 23.6 9.75 44.75 28.3 54.5 18 114.7 71 1.47 3.94 0.59 3.16 1.48 0.7 157 2,340 1

43.35 106 83.5 24 9.97 45.05 28.7 56.35 18.2 115 72 1.48 3.95 0.59 3.17 1.54 0.7 161 2,340 1

5,500 1,554,380 1,143,940 104,100 352,100 911,000 1,859,000 2,070 18,900 309,860 9,420 286,000 358,000 3,000 115,000 111,000 303,000 18,660 100 8,000

238,425 164,094,951 95,290,912 2,484,175 3,460,211 40,973,930 53,766,120 113,931.50 342,502 35,632,753 680,637 425,470 1,413,800 1,770 364,570 168,050 215,400 2,965,117 234,000 8,000

-3,651,797 5,506,247.50 1,125,555 -2,740,510 -16,086,385 3,360 -20,866,538 -88,808 -999,500 2,618,550 0 -

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

6.75 1.37 23.1 0.92 31.05 67.15 275 14.9 3.3 3.75 12.2 21.65 10.4 6.62 3.22 13.04 20.15 14.08 7.35 9.89 67.05 0.62 1.37 57.9 176.6 5.9 0.315 7.4 1.02 0.14 136 0.85 2.32 54.6 1.19 2.83 12 7.43 5.49 6.67 12.2 1.15 2.7 1.81 1.98 4.61 5.3 22.4 3.77 10.28 1.08 5.54 1.33 6.07

6.76 1.38 23.15 0.93 31.1 67.9 275.8 14.96 3.31 3.98 12.3 21.7 10.44 6.68 3.24 13.08 20.4 14.1 7.36 9.9 67.5 0.64 1.39 58 177 6 0.32 7.47 1.03 0.142 137 0.86 2.41 57.95 1.2 2.84 12.16 7.44 5.5 6.68 12.38 1.16 2.71 1.88 2.02 4.69 5.39 22.8 3.78 10.3 1.1 5.87 1.34 6.1

6.88 1.35 23 0.96 31 69 273 14.7 3.21 3.76 11.7 21.8 10.46 6.7 3.22 13.08 20.1 12.3 7.2 10 67.7 0.65 1.36 58.5 175.8 5.88 0.315 7.4 1.03 0.147 137 0.85 2.41 54.4 1.18 2.81 12 7.42 5.5 6.62 12.36 1.15 2.8 1.88 1.97 4.69 5.3 22.4 3.79 10.3 1.09 5.87 1.33 6.18

6.95 1.39 23.7 0.96 31.55 69.5 275.8 14.9 3.33 4 12.3 22 10.46 6.84 3.27 13.08 20.7 16 7.48 10 67.8 0.65 1.39 59 177 5.92 0.32 7.4 1.03 0.154 137 0.85 2.41 54.4 1.21 2.94 12.06 7.43 5.65 6.7 12.36 1.17 2.83 1.88 2.03 4.69 5.31 22.4 3.83 10.46 1.09 5.87 1.36 6.18

6.74 1.33 23 0.91 31 67.15 271.2 14.7 3.21 3.76 11.7 21.7 10.32 6.6 3.21 13.08 19.66 12.3 7.15 9.9 66.5 0.62 1.36 58 175.3 5.88 0.31 7.4 1.01 0.14 135.5 0.83 2.41 54.4 1.18 2.81 12 7.4 5.48 6.62 12.34 1.13 2.68 1.88 1.97 4.69 5.25 22.4 3.74 10.24 1.08 5.53 1.33 6.05

6.75 1.38 23.15 0.93 31.05 67.15 275.8 14.9 3.3 3.9 12.2 21.7 10.44 6.68 3.24 13.08 20.15 14.08 7.35 9.9 67.05 0.62 1.39 58 177 5.92 0.315 7.4 1.02 0.142 137 0.85 2.41 54.4 1.19 2.84 12 7.43 5.5 6.68 12.36 1.16 2.71 1.88 2.03 4.69 5.3 22.4 3.78 10.3 1.08 5.87 1.34 6.08

36,865,300 2,923,000 2,281,400 19,698,000 1,818,600 310,170 201,160 805,500 1,923,000 329,000 118,400 513,500 26,100 1,017,400 117,000 1,900 2,048,900 4,841,700 5,415,500 4,441,700 11,040 304,000 2,641,000 72,720 632,770 126,800 4,980,000 7,600 1,198,000 56,690,000 861,340 4,077,000 2,000 100 1,246,000 699,000 37,200 27,400 175,000 306,700 49,200 285,000 8,716,000 500,000 54,000 6,000 174,800 18,700 9,881,000 491,200 109,000 2,100 203,000 1,162,600

251,253,331 4,005,000 53,259,535 18,372,770 56,527,285 20,964,196.50 54,940,626 11,953,554 6,331,760 1,284,170 1,443,084 11,189,600 272,436 6,902,644 378,180 24,852 41,549,407 70,383,492 39,839,396 44,056,578 744,033 190,390 3,646,750 4,254,935 111,865,109 749,268 1,564,750 56,240 1,220,670 8,255,410 117,630,792 3,462,960 4,820 5,440 1,486,820 2,000,850 446,500 203,086 963,158 2,040,454 608,012 327,960 23,920,320 940,000 106,580 28,140 926,290 418,880 37,497,450 5,082,782 118,200 12,021 270,820 7,113,417

-1,586,709 1,388,355 -6,580 -8,245,970 -6,946,754.50 -1,600,412 -5,246,226 -62,100 3,097,245 6,204 -8,326 3,270 -28,823,175 -5,396,928 -20,321,576 -36,801 -109,929.50 -52,460.00 1,086,480.50 -5,380,145 -318,608 -535,500 -567,960 -208,820.00 1,475,803 -852,810 54,560 -1,204 -22,290 -426,454 -485,473 -210,120 311,740 940,000 163,520 -191,110 -1,165,126 -307,382

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL ASIABEST GROUP AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL AYALA LAND LOG ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT KEPPEL HLDG A LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MJC INVESTMENTS METRO PAC INV PACIFICA HLDG PRIME MEDIA SOLID GROUP SYNERGY GRID SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP SOC RESOURCES TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

1.12 7.21 760 36.2 10.5 3.04 6.61 0.87 0.7 0.7 5.03 5.33 8.03 0.28 535.5 54.55 4.65 1 3.31 13.38 1.73 4.1 3.54 2.9 1.23 375 966.5 114.6 0.69 131 0.255 0.255

1.13 7.39 768 36.25 10.54 3.05 6.88 0.88 0.72 0.75 5.04 5.35 8.39 0.3 544 54.95 5 1.01 3.4 13.44 1.88 4.12 3.69 2.91 1.29 391.8 968 114.8 0.72 133.4 0.265 0.26

1.15 7.35 770 35.65 10.5 2.99 6.71 0.82 0.72 0.72 5.04 5.31 8.01 0.275 542 53.7 5 1.03 3.37 13.4 1.8 4.02 3.69 2.85 1.29 385 980 115 0.72 131.4 0.265 0.243

1.15 7.48 771 36.75 10.54 3.07 6.71 0.89 0.72 0.75 5.13 5.37 8.2 0.31 544 54.95 5 1.03 3.37 13.64 1.8 4.14 3.69 2.92 1.29 391.8 980 115 0.72 133.4 0.265 0.26

1.12 7.35 752.5 35.65 10.36 2.99 6.7 0.82 0.7 0.71 5 5.28 8.01 0.27 530 53.35 5 1 3.31 13.36 1.8 4 3.54 2.85 1.23 385 961 114.2 0.72 131 0.265 0.24

1.12 7.39 768 36.25 10.54 3.04 6.7 0.87 0.72 0.75 5.04 5.35 8.2 0.31 544 54.95 5 1.01 3.31 13.44 1.8 4.12 3.54 2.9 1.23 391.8 968 114.8 0.72 133.4 0.265 0.255

8,225,000 9,400 206,690 2,618,100 2,142,500 1,197,000 9,900 19,529,000 1,283,000 192,000 4,711,300 3,280,700 5,300 10,660,000 65,250 2,112,860 4,100 1,144,000 297,000 704,500 1,000 15,318,000 21,000 853,000 16,000 200 211,670 165,180 27,000 15,280 80,000 18,120,000

9,310,750 69,579 157,692,250 95,025,625 22,441,242 3,631,680 66,385 16,858,040 915,600 136,370 23,710,594 17,527,296 43,294 3,109,850 35,289,300 114,797,025 20,500 1,148,570 984,030 9,450,278 1,800 62,596,620 75,090 2,456,480 19,740 78,244 204,892,030 18,963,964 19,440 2,003,480 21,200 4,566,910

-45,370.00 -23,751 -43,920,550 14,408,750 -10,912,394 11,830 52,400 21,300 -16,304,379 6,682,146 -35,260 -8,143,765 22,900,423.50 -692,690 -5,533,286 8,383,590.00 447,000 -65,586,590 -777,509 10,080 49,000

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP ANCHOR LAND AYALA LAND AREIT RT BELLE CORP A BROWN CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CEBU HLDG CEB LANDMASTERS CENTURY PROP CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON DDMP RT DM WENCESLAO EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE 8990 HLDG PHIL INFRADEV CITY AND LAND MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND PHIL REALTY ROCKWELL SHANG PROP STA LUCIA LAND SM PRIME HLDG VISTAMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

0.63 7.58 32.85 34.55 1.48 0.92 0.95 0.132 6.5 5.76 0.39 0.33 12.8 2.1 6.92 0.28 0.175 1.11 0.84 7.13 1.35 1.9 3.14 0.435 0.64 3.27 16.36 0.255 1.52 2.62 2.24 35.7 3.75 1.46 3.56

0.64 8.12 32.9 34.6 1.49 0.93 0.97 0.133 6.64 5.77 0.405 0.335 12.82 2.11 6.93 0.285 0.176 1.12 0.86 7.39 1.37 1.91 3.15 0.44 0.65 3.28 16.38 0.265 1.56 2.69 2.35 35.9 3.9 1.47 3.59

0.64 7.58 32.8 34.5 1.52 0.95 0.94 0.131 6.61 5.85 0.4 0.33 12.98 2.11 6.92 0.29 0.19 1.12 0.83 7.4 1.39 1.99 3.15 0.46 0.66 3.2 17 0.27 1.58 2.69 2.22 34.95 3.9 1.48 3.58

0.65 7.58 33.1 34.6 1.52 0.95 0.97 0.134 6.64 5.85 0.405 0.33 12.98 2.12 6.97 0.29 0.206 1.12 0.86 7.47 1.39 2 3.2 0.46 0.67 3.55 17 0.27 1.58 2.69 2.35 35.9 3.9 1.5 3.59

0.63 7.58 32.65 34.4 1.48 0.91 0.92 0.13 6.5 5.77 0.39 0.325 12.7 2.09 6.7 0.28 0.173 1.1 0.82 7.13 1.34 1.89 3.13 0.435 0.63 3.02 16.28 0.26 1.56 2.63 2.22 34.95 3.9 1.45 3.53

0.64 7.58 32.9 34.55 1.48 0.92 0.95 0.133 6.64 5.77 0.405 0.325 12.82 2.1 6.93 0.285 0.175 1.12 0.84 7.13 1.34 1.9 3.14 0.44 0.65 3.27 16.38 0.26 1.56 2.63 2.35 35.9 3.9 1.48 3.56

301,000 800 8,910,200 816,200 745,000 4,065,000 1,308,000 6,800,000 13,500 593,700 3,950,000 430,000 448,400 17,118,000 2,942,600 300,000 153,130,000 2,212,000 67,000 26,200 833,000 4,832,000 51,949,000 59,310,000 10,181,000 26,338,000 4,061,000 140,000 59,000 12,000 120,000 3,876,000 6,000 236,000 1,811,000

192,320 6,064 293,052,315 28,183,545 1,115,200 3,773,910 1,245,800 887,740 88,146 3,441,923 1,579,700 140,700 5,760,182 36,003,030 19,725,653 84,900 29,450,190 2,466,370 57,050 194,250 1,121,470 9,288,860 163,774,180 26,394,550 6,528,830 87,291,660 67,036,756 36,500 92,640 32,100 277,340 138,339,800 23,400 343,780 6,472,030

9,620 -48,902,625 4,727,510 -682,450 400,180 9,500 26,600 -181,161 -97,900 -2,600,696 325,600 -1,452,270 -577,440 94,990 63,040 7,933,170 -182,800 -1,280 3,290,370.00 -14,499,178 5,362,490.00 -5,245,360

SERVICES ABS CBN GMA NETWORK MANILA BULLETIN GLOBE TELECOM PLDT APOLLO GLOBAL CONVERGE DFNN INC DITO CME HLDG IMPERIAL JACKSTONES NOW CORP TRANSPACIFIC BR PHILWEB 2GO GROUP ASIAN TERMINALS CHELSEA CEBU AIR INTL CONTAINER LBC EXPRESS MACROASIA METROALLIANCE A PAL HLDG HARBOR STAR ACESITE HOTEL BOULEVARD HLDG DISCOVERY WORLD WATERFRONT STI HLDG BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY PACIFIC ONLINE LEISURE AND RES PH RESORTS GRP PREMIUM LEISURE PHIL RACING ALLHOME METRO RETAIL PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL PHIL SEVEN CORP SSI GROUP WILCON DEPOT APC GROUP EASYCALL GOLDEN MV PAXYS PRMIERE HORIZON SBS PHIL CORP

10.9 7.72 0.46 1,880 1,296 0.204 18.8 4.02 10.16 1.68 2.25 2.75 0.425 2.65 8.28 15.56 2.96 48.25 130 16.02 4.75 2.26 6.1 1.19 1.8 0.1 3.2 0.6 0.37 4.53 6.5 2.04 1.62 2.06 0.405 6.03 7.81 1.3 37 51.85 107.4 1.19 17.5 0.39 6.21 390.4 2.32 2.13 4.13

11.06 7.73 0.47 1,886 1,298 0.205 18.82 4.08 10.18 1.84 2.27 2.78 0.43 2.69 8.38 15.8 3.01 48.4 131 16.36 4.78 2.29 6.13 1.2 1.88 0.101 3.24 0.61 0.375 4.76 6.55 2.11 1.63 2.08 0.415 6.2 8.15 1.31 37.5 51.9 107.6 1.2 17.58 0.395 6.4 412.6 2.45 2.14 4.3

11.04 7.79 0.46 1,900 1,269 0.214 18.82 4.05 10.46 1.86 2.25 2.76 0.425 2.7 8.28 15.8 2.98 47.7 129.5 16 4.89 2.29 6.1 1.23 1.88 0.116 3.34 0.6 0.37 4.76 6.7 2.05 1.69 2.1 0.415 6.03 7.92 1.3 37 52 106.6 1.18 17.3 0.4 6.4 390 2.31 2.19 4.13

11.04 7.8 0.46 1,900 1,298 0.214 18.84 4.12 10.48 1.86 2.28 2.8 0.435 2.7 8.4 15.8 3.03 48.4 131 16.88 5.08 2.33 6.1 1.23 1.89 0.119 3.34 0.61 0.37 4.76 6.78 2.05 1.69 2.1 0.415 6.04 8.15 1.32 37.6 53.45 107.6 1.21 17.58 0.4 6.4 413.2 2.31 2.19 4.3

10.9 7.73 0.46 1,871 1,267 0.203 18.54 4.05 10.14 1.84 2.21 2.72 0.42 2.61 8.26 15.56 2.96 47.5 127.6 16 4.75 2.25 6.1 1.19 1.8 0.1 3.19 0.59 0.365 4.76 6.49 2.03 1.62 2.05 0.41 6.03 7.89 1.29 36.8 51.5 100.1 1.18 17.3 0.39 6.4 390 2.31 2.11 4.13

10.9 7.73 0.46 1,886 1,298 0.205 18.8 4.08 10.16 1.84 2.22 2.78 0.43 2.65 8.27 15.56 2.97 48.25 131 16.36 4.78 2.29 6.1 1.2 1.88 0.1 3.24 0.6 0.365 4.76 6.55 2.03 1.62 2.06 0.41 6.04 8.15 1.31 37 51.9 107.4 1.2 17.5 0.395 6.4 412.8 2.31 2.13 4.3

124,100 1,356,414 827,800 6,421,046 80,000 36,800 28,735 54,019,970 44,515 57,047,575 319,580,000 66,037,500 2,980,500 55,775,252 402,000 1,640,260 7,338,000 75,401,816 31,000 57,350 60,000 133,440 1,568,000 4,321,510 3,000,000 1,275,550 602,000 1,603,350 7,200 59,716 4,800 75,548 915,000 2,727,750 209,500 10,085,655 929,180 120,834,736 2,700 43,978 1,983,000 9,711,460 106,000 242,620 6,800 41,480 204,000 245,030 15,000 27,970 899,060,000 96,178,710 460,000 1,497,820 1,508,000 905,760 220,000 80,800 2,000 9,520 3,177,700 20,763,188 33,000 67,250 1,462,000 2,418,270 1,289,000 2,660,920 3,970,000 1,634,300 3,100 18,723 277,200 2,253,049 197,000 256,650 1,732,500 64,371,130 3,007,130 156,423,556.50 25,270 2,700,665 327,000 387,190 149,800 2,612,506 1,230,000 482,000 100 640 40 16,060 15,000 34,650 6,453,000 13,831,590 20,000 84,640

-29,686,110 3,960,715 946,690 -3,192,340 282,250 -2,194,256 13,770 53,200 65,700 3,301,400 13,927,025 -1,853,530 -9,150 -32,260 2,152,530 32,200 -11,685,382 -1,134,690 292,220 410,000 18,120 -7,890 26,200 2,849,705 -21,088,974 2,017,061 17,660 531,496 -16,060 -241,370 8,260

ATOK APEX MINING ATLAS MINING BENGUET A BENGUET B COAL ASIA HLDG CENTURY PEAK DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO A LEPANTO B MANILA MINING A MANILA MINING B MARCVENTURES NIHAO NICKEL ASIA OMICO CORP ORNTL PENINSULA PX MINING SEMIRARA MINING UNITED PARAGON ACE ENEXOR ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL PXP ENERGY

8.9 1.73 8.79 3 3.02 0.32 2.8 7.77 2.68 0.345 0.183 0.181 0.014 0.014 1.4 1.61 5.46 0.405 1.04 6.35 12.24 0.01 18.8 0.011 0.012 0.012 8

8.97 1.74 8.8 3.19 3.2 0.335 2.87 7.8 2.69 0.36 0.184 0.185 0.015 0.015 1.41 1.66 5.49 0.425 1.06 6.37 12.26 0.011 18.94 0.012 0.013 0.013 8.02

8.9 1.7 8.3 3.28 3.15 0.325 2.87 7.85 2.65 0.345 0.171 0.17 0.014 0.014 1.39 1.72 5.5 0.4 1.06 6.06 12.18 0.01 19.3 0.012 0.012 0.013 7.62

9.08 1.75 8.83 3.3 3.2 0.34 2.87 8.14 2.7 0.365 0.187 0.19 0.015 0.016 1.43 1.72 5.68 0.415 1.07 6.37 12.28 0.01 19.3 0.013 0.013 0.013 8.04

8.83 1.7 8.3 2.95 2.73 0.315 2.87 7.8 2.63 0.34 0.17 0.17 0.013 0.014 1.37 1.6 5.45 0.4 1.04 6.03 12.1 0.0099 18.8 0.011 0.012 0.012 7.62

8.97 1.73 8.8 3.26 3.19 0.335 2.87 7.8 2.69 0.36 0.183 0.185 0.014 0.015 1.4 1.66 5.46 0.415 1.06 6.35 12.24 0.01 18.96 0.013 0.013 0.012 8

497,900 10,319,000 6,180,600 887,000 631,000 1,990,000 57,000 52,100 7,890,000 3,950,000 335,810,000 11,200,000 811,000,000 296,600,000 3,483,000 1,093,000 12,319,800 140,000 1,465,000 10,316,100 573,200 132,100,000 161,200 280,700,000 346,300,000 23,200,000 697,100

4,462,105 17,885,390 53,539,490 2,754,660 1,872,830 649,050 163,590 407,227 21,100,930 1,393,500 61,000,620 2,060,080 11,612,400 4,458,200 4,887,780 1,782,410 68,482,693 57,250 1,549,940 64,607,756 6,997,828 1,318,510 3,064,884 3,201,200 4,160,300 279,400 5,510,068

85,558 -429,420 2,519,304 58,200 26,000 137,760 39,000 -9,255,390 94,300 -289,600 16,500 -55,800 5,183,323 -1,069,816 505,600 147,440 90,326

PREFFERED ALCO PREF C CEB PREF DD PREF GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B MWIDE PREF MWIDE PREF 2B PNX PREF 3B PNX PREF 4 PCOR PREF 3B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I SMC PREF 2J SMC PREF 2K

102.4 44.4 101 1,004 1,036 100.6 100 102.5 1,000 1,129 78.05 76.35 78 78 78 76.9 76

105 44.95 101.6 1,028 1,048 101 101.8 104 1,002 1,155 79.85 77.4 79.15 78.5 79 77 77

103 43.65 101 1,002 1,048 101.7 98 102.5 1,000 1,129 79.85 76.5 79.2 77 78 77 76

103 45.9 101 1,028 1,048 101.7 101.8 104 1,000 1,129 79.85 77.45 79.2 77.1 78 77 76

103 43.65 101 1,002 1,048 101 98 102.5 1,000 1,129 79.85 76.5 79.2 77 78 76.9 76

103 44.4 101 1,028 1,048 101 101.8 104 1,000 1,129 79.85 77.45 79.2 77.1 78 76.9 76

2,000 112,900 70 2,605 1,000 630 7,120 20 500 695 870 2,500 4,190 14,700 11,000 27,600 500

206,000 5,070,310 7,070 2,610,340 1,048,000 63,637 721,127 2,065 500,000 784,655 69,469.50 191,725 331,848 1,132,700 858,000 2,125,150 38,000

-13,255 16,745 -

MINING & OIL

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS GMA HLDG PDR

WARRANTS

LR WARRANT

7.34

7.36

7.35

7.4

7.34

7.34

143,500

1,055,260

-110,250

1.91

1.93

1.98

2

1.87

1.93

2,010,000

3,865,460

-

18.04 2.44 5.25 5.06

18.36 2.49 5.3 5.07

18.5 2.35 5.4 5.08

19.02 2.53 5.4 5.19

18.04 2.35 5.3 5.03

18.36 2.49 5.3 5.06

72,700 415,000 9,100 3,919,000

1,325,948 1,030,930 48,684 20,001,715

-42,804 -71,480 403,432

98.3

98.4

98.25

98.5

97.8

98.2

16,380

1,606,657.50

237,057

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

ALTUS PROP ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MERRYMART

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Robinsons Retail posts flat Q1 income as revenues fall

R

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

obinsons Retail Holdings Inc., the retail arm of the Gokongwei Group, said its income in the first quarter came in flat at P1.02 million, as revenues plummeted due to the high base from the previous year.

Net sales fell 11 percent to P35.61 billion for the 3-month period, from the previous year's P40.06 billion.

“We remain agile as we accelerate the growth of our e-commerce programs while ensuring that necessary cost controls are in place. We

are rising to the challenges brought about by the pandemic. Amid the present volatility of the business environment, we are strengthening our strategies to constantly adapt to our customers’ needs and create shared value for our stakeholders,”

Robina Gokongwei-Pe, the company's president and CEO, said.

Same-store sales growth (SSSG) fell 16.1 percent, with the supermarket and drugstore segments coming off from high bases induced by panic buying for essential goods, such as food and medicines in the same period last year, when the pandemic started.

The SSSG of these essential formats hit a record high of 42.1 percent and 34.7 percent, respectively, for March 2020.

Sales performance of discretionary formats in the first quarter was also weighed down by three months of varying levels of lockdowns versus only 15 days of lockdowns in 2020.

The company reduced operating expenses by 6.8 percent year-on-

year, which was the main reason it was able to post an income despite the fall in revenues.

Rose Pharmacy, which was acquired in October 2020, contributed to the operating income in the first quarter, faster than targeted, due to the synergies with Southstar Drug.

Total e-commerce sales grew significantly by 7 times from the first quarter last year, with the most significant growth seen in GoRobinsons, the company's own e-commerce website. GoRobinsons currently houses Robinsons Supermarket, The Marketplace, Shopwise, Handyman, True Value, Toys ‘R’ Us, and No Brand, with other banners scheduled for onboarding within the year.

Drugstore and appliances segments also have their own e-commerce websites.

Aboitiz sets up data unit in Singapore T

he Aboitiz Group on Thursday launched its new Singapore-based unit called Aboitiz Data Innovation (ADI), which will transform its collected data science and artificial intelligence into tangible outcomes for the conglomerate.

“Embracing data science and AI [artificial intelligence] opens us to new and bigger opportunities to accelerate productivity, drive business value, and generate new revenue streams. At the same time, it is a crucial step in preparing our team members for the future of work by equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to be highly valued contributors to the fourth industrial revolution,” Sabin M. Aboitiz, the company's president and CEO, said.

Aboitiz this year introduced data science, AI and machine learning courses to its groupwide learning and development curriculum with the goal of helping its people across all its strategic business units gain a better understanding of how these can move them closer to achieving set goals.

“Aboitiz Data Innovation’s key focus is to create competitive advantages for Aboitiz Group’s various business units through the adoption and application of data science and AI solutions,” David R. Hardoon, ADI managing director, said.

“The team is uniquely placed as we have access to and are already building solutions across the various

industries that the group operates in, such as banking and financial services, manufacturing, power generation and distribution among others.”

Through the support of Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB), ADI will also deepen the group’s footprint in Southeast Asia by leveraging the diverse network of multinational businesses and organizations located in what is widely considered as the center of innovation in Asia.

“The Aboitiz Group’s decision to site ADI in Singapore is testament to our position as a hub for innovation in Asia, and deepens our talent and innovation linkages with the Philippines,” said Dino Tan, vice president and head (Family Businesses) at EDB. “ADI will create opportunities for our local talent and research ecosystem to collaborate with Aboitiz in developing innovative solutions that will contribute to the growth of their businesses in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia."

“By being located in Singapore, we also hope to tap on the local ecosystem and talent, seek out prospective partners, and become a major asset in the data science community,” Hardoon added.

The next phase in ADI’s development is to serve as a single contracting entity for collaborations with local and Singapore-based counterparts and, over the long-term, handle

Group applauds RP Energy decision to scrap coal plant

E

nergy consumer advocate Power for People Coalition (P4P) welcomed the decision of Redondo Peninsula Energy Corp. (RP Energy) to no longer pursue its coal power project in Subic, Zambales.

The planned 2x300-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant has been strongly opposed by the green energy coalition for years. The project construction could not move forward because of geological issues, particularly stability of the site, and the delay in the approval of the PSA (Power Supply Agreement) by the Energy Regulatory Commission.

Instead, RP Energy is seriously considering converting the stalled coal project into a liquefied natural gas (LNG) venture.

“While the cancellation of the Subic coal plant is a welcome development, we no longer find it surprising given the many triumphs that groups advocating for clean energy have won over it. With years and

years of delays, we can only imagine the losses it has had to deal with. We hope the shelving of the Subic project means Meralco is finally starting to see sense and would soon have more coal cancellations to announce,” said Gerry Arances, Convenor of P4P. RP Energy is joint venture among Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGEN), Aboitiz Power Corp., and Taiwan Cogeneration Corp. The Subic Bay Freeport Chamber for Health and Environment Conservation (SBFCHEC) said the cancellation of the Subic coal plant is built on the decade-long resistance of local communities.

“With this news, we are able to face the youth and future generations of Subic residents with pride knowing we won the fight. The cancellation of RP Energy’s coal plant is an encouragement for us to continue working to free Subic from the threat of dirty energy,” said SBFCHEC President Jen Velarmino Van der Heijde. Lenie Lectura

external products and services. For now, the company will take the lead in building the group's capacity in data science.

Aboitiz said it is optimistic

mutual funds

that data science solutions will empower communities towards achieving optimal business outcomes that will drive change for a better world. VG Cabuag

April 29, 2021

NAV One Year Three Year Five Year Y-T-D Return per share Return* Stock Funds -3.72% -8.45% ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a 208.03 12.98% -7.3% 1.263 31.74% -6.51% -3.81% ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 1.09% -11.7% ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 2.8493 15.53% -5.97% -9.06% -7.32% n.a.

-9.17% Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7302 14.24% First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.6798 3.36% -6.71% n.a.

-8.33% -2.83% -7.63% First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a 4.5645 13.86% -4.96% -7.51% First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,4 0.6566 5.49% -8.94% MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a 95.65 27.77% -5.83% n.a.

-6.17% PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a 42.608 15.76% -5.13% -2.45% -9.05% Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 447.39 13% -5.15% -2.95% -8.51% Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d,5 1.0218 22.78% n.a. n.a.

-6.88% -1.91% -6.77% Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a 1.0891 15.22% -4.79% -1.5% -8.1% Philequity Fund, Inc. -a 31.9519 15.36% -4.88% Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8276 13.43% n.a. n.a.

-9.35% Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a 4.3644 16.43% -4.82% -1.69% -8.91% Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a 730.12 16.53% -4.71% -1.83% -8.92% -5.32% -8.18% Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 0.6601 15.73% -8.98% -3.22% -8.62% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.3115 12.83% -6.91% -1.96% -9.12% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.834 15.98% -5.08% United Fund, Inc. -a 3.0707 15.02% -4.38% -0.66% -7.48% Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 97.9635 16.59% -4.52% -1.16% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b $1.2786 43.34% 5.62% 8.64% 6.29% Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.7821 45.09% 12.24% n.a.

6.53% Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a 1.6304 9.35% -1.45% -1.23% -2.29% ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 2.1474 10.19% -2.27% -0.64% -6.04% -1.28% -5.04% First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.4946 7.84% -0.95% First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,1 0.1875 2.29% n.a. n.a.

NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a 1.8938 7.25% 0.69% 0.66% -3.57% PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a 3.5415 7.72% -0.54% -0.65% -6.51% Philam Fund, Inc. -a 15.8758 8.03% -0.45% -0.63% -6.26% Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a 1.9886 8.98% -1.68% -0.44% -5.04% -1.69% -5.72% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.3689 8.64% -2.98% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9577 7.47% n.a. n.a.

-6.35% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.8644 10.48% n.a. n.a.

-8.93% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.8477 11.66% n.a. n.a.

-9.15% Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.8308 9.03% -4.06% -2.35% -6.41% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03804 0.53% 2.9% 1.31% -2.76% PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b $1.1483 25.01% 3.3% 5.16% -0.17% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.7201 32.59% 9.16% 8.72% 4.59% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,3 $1.2121 17.1% 4.82% n.a.

0.83% Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 370.82 2.39% 3.11% 2.53% -0.07% 0.82% ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.9107 -0.91% 0.18% 0.55% Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 3.2216 1.7% 3.98% 4.45% 0.21% 2.3% Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a 2.2585 -0.45% 1.59% -1.63% First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4307 0.59% 3.14% 1.73% -0.92% Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a 4.4606 -0.35% 1.72% -3.75% 4.09% Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a,6 3.36% 4.22% 2.7% -0.22% 1.3183 Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.9592 2.38% 4.24% 2.52% -1.05% Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.0253 0.76% 4.19% 1.77% -1.6% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1832 2.23% 4.99% 2.78% -0.71% Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a 1.7365 0.8% 4.28% 2.11% -1.05% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $483.18 3.37% 3.04% 2.33% -0.14% ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є219.75 2.86% 1.08% 1.19% 0.26% 1.78% ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.1752 -0.25% 1.15% -8.22% First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0258 0.78% 1.46% 0.88% -3.01% PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b $1.054 1.09% 0.68% -0.52% -3.54% Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.4765 4.18% 4.75% 2.11% -2.33% Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0626582 5.32% 3.45% 2.19% 0.55% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.1275 -0.19% 2.51% 0.93% -2.98% Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 129.97 2.09% 3.15% 2.52% 0.12% First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0507 1.33% n.a. n.a.

0.25% Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.3024 1.96% 2.89% 2.57% 0.45% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0565 1.47% 1.74% n.a.

0.39% Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d,7 1.2437 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -b,d,2 $1 11.11% n.a. n.a.

2.04%

-13.58%

-8.92%

-5.59%

10.1%

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 - Launch date is September 28, 2019. 2 - Launch date is November 15, 2019. 3 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last October 9, 2019.

4 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last October 12, 2018 (formerly, One Wealthy Nation Fund, Inc.). 5 - Launch date is December 09, 2019.

6 - Re-classified into a Bond Fund starting February 21, 2020 (Formerly a Money Market Fund). 7 - Launch date is July 6, 2020.

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

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance

China Bank Q1 profits mark double-digit rise

By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

C

HINA Banking Corp. (China Bank) reported a double-digit rise in its net profit in the first three months of the year, owing largely to higher net interest and fee-based income.

The bank reported that its net income reached P3.6 billion in the first quarter of the year, 61 percent higher than the P2.2 billion seen in the first quarter of 2020.

This translated to an improved return on equity of 13.4 percent and return on assets of 1.4 percent.

In particular, its net interest income rose 16 percent year-on-year to reach P9.2 billion, mainly due to the 52 percent drop in interest expense.

This led to a higher net interest margin of 4.2 percent from 3.8 percent

in the same period last year.

Their fee-based income also grew strongly during the period to hit P3.6 billion, driven by strong trading and securities gains of P2.2 billion.

The bank also expanded its credit provisioning to P2.2 billion, more than five times the level seen in the same three-month period last year at P412 million.

Consolidated non-performing loan (NPL) coverage was at 86 percent, with a corresponding NPLcoverage ratio of 100 percent for the parent bank.

The bank’s gross loans declined 3 percent to P572 billion as loan demand remained weak due to the lingering economic uncertainties.

Its gross NPL ratio, meanwhile, rose to 3.8 percent year-on-year from 1.7 percent in the first quarter of 2020.

‘Navel-gazing’ strategy for revenue generation

I

recently attended a webinar on “How to Diversify and Increase your Revenue Stream?” organized by the Answers for Associations, an Australian online community of associations. It was presented by Deanna Varga, managing director of Mayvin Global, a consultancy specializing in the delivery of commercial and revenue generation solutions for associations, tourism, business events and the arts.

As I expected, there were many webinar attendees since revenue generation and diversification are among the most challenging aspects of association management. Typical revenue generators for associations include membership subscription, member and non-member purchases, education and accreditation, sponsorship, networking events, awards and recognitions, donations and grants, and others like publication sales, and advisory service fees.

The pandemic, however, disrupted the revenue intake of almost all associations as many meetings and events were cancelled, postponed, or became virtual; membership dues were delayed, paid in instalments or unpaid; sponsorships and grants reduced or withdrawn, among others.

And so it was interesting to note Deanna’s use of the phrase “navel gazing,” which she referred to as “looking from within” your association and asking your Board, members and staff for ideas and solutions on revenue generation.

Indeed, starting from within provides an association the impetus to learn and solve problems first by themselves before looking for solutions elsewhere.

Here are eight tips Deanna gave on increasing and diversifying revenue streams via navel gazing, with my own inputs based on my experience with associations in the country: 1. Ask your members. Do a survey, assemble a focus group, or make interviews, as your members have ideas and can provide suggestions on what to do. They can also become donors to your association when asked.

2. Listen and act. Do something

with the information you got from

Association World Octavio Peralta your members. Leverage on this data, mine it, and use it to develop other sources of income.

3. Engage your members. Are they actively engaging with your association? Volunteering for the board or committees? Participating as experts? Speakers? Doing project work?

4. Consider giving out free options. Options such as webinars, publications, articles, blogs may be used to derive data as an opportunity to develop a lead pool and incremental revenue.

5. Advocating for members.

This is not necessarily for lobbying, but building loyalty and a community.

6. Data analytics. Use your association’s data on members to know them better and serve them well.

7. Partnership/sponsorship.

Tap collaboration opportunities with members, donors, subscribers, vendors and other stakeholders.

8. Budgets. Ensure resources (people, technology, funds) are managed appropriately and that there is sufficient excess of revenue over expenses (net profit).

Navel gazing, in some respects, may connote excessive preoccupation, self-absorption, or contemplation on a single issue. Taken in the context of harnessing internal capacities, however, it could be a good thing.

The column contributor, Octavio ‘Bobby’ Peralta, is concurrently the secretary-general of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific, Founder & CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives and President of the Asia-Pacific Federation of Association Organizations. The purpose of PCAAE— the “association of associations”—is to advance the association management profession and to make associations well-governed and sustainable.

PCAAE enjoys the support of Adfiap, the Tourism Promotions Board, and the Philippine International Convention Center. E-mail: obp@adfiap.org.

BusinessMirror

Friday, April 30, 2021

B3

Give fiscal mgt of new mining deals to House, DOF–Salceda

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

W

@joveemarie

ITH the Duterte administration scrambling for more funds as economic recovery remains fragile, the chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means has recommended improving government revenues from mining under Executive Order (EO) 130.

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda is proposing to have new agreements taxed at better rates and to ensure that Congress and the Department of Finance have a stronger role in determining mining agreements, especially fiscal matters. The proposals are contained in aides memoire Salceda sent to Speaker Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco and Carlos G. Dominguez, the Secretary of the DOF. The new mining agreements are expected after President Rodrigo Duterte issued EO 130 lifting the moratorium on new mining deals.

“When it comes to taxing mining, Congress and the DOF are the main government bodies. So, I think EO 130 can be improved, by legislation and by action of the DOF and the Mining Industry Coordinating Council, so that it is not the DENR alone that negotiates mining agreements,” the lawmaker added.

Salceda was referring to the

clause in the EO that gives power to the DENR to “formulate the terms and conditions in the new mineral agreements that will maximize government revenues and share from production, including the possibility of declaring these areas as mineral revenues to obtain appropriate royalties in accordance with existing laws rules and regulations.”

DOF role

SALCEDA said that “the role of the DOF in negotiating new revenuesharing agreements is not clearly specified.”

“The absence of a clear role for the DOF in negotiating new mining agreements is a serious risk to the government’s position, especially without the downside protection accorded by a statutory baseline,” the lawmaker said.

Salceda further explained that he “basically” wants Congress “to enact the baseline for negotiations of min-

ing production sharing agreements (MPSA) so that the state never gets shortchanged.”

He said he also wants the DOF to be the main negotiator in the fiscal provisions of the MPSAs. “The truth of the matter is, the DENR is the expert in natural resource management but it is not the best negotiator for fiscal provisions,” Salceda said. “The DOF is the main government body for that, and Congress is the tax policymaker of the country.”

“We need the money for Covid-19 relief and, more importantly, the people deserve more money from the mines. This is an extractive industry,” the lawmaker said. “Whatever is mined from Philippine soil cannot be recovered in the foreseeable future.

We should at least tax the mining industry correctly.”

Fiscal regime

MEANWHILE, Salceda said that as more mines are reopened, the need for a fiscal regime on mining has become more urgent.

The House Committee on Ways and Means already approved House Bill 6135 as early as January 30, 2020. The proposal mainly builds on the DOF proposal that includes the following: crucial administrative provisions on ring fencing; institutionalization of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative; and, mandatory registration of small-scale miners for tax purposes.

Under the proposed regime, the government will generate P7.2 billion on the first year of imposition and

P37.9 billion over the next 5 years.

According to Salceda, the mining fiscal regime is expected move in Congress when session resumes on May 17, especially now that Congress is searching for revenue streams for Bayanihan 3.

Trust fund

THE lawmaker proposes that mines be levied corporate income tax, excise tax, royalties for indigenous peoples, local business tax, real property tax, and windfall profits taxes. Salceda also wants to establish a natural resource trust fund out of mining taxes to help ensure consistency of government support for mining communities even when commodity prices are low.

In addition, the lawmaker wants to ensure that mines are ring-fenced from other units of mining holding companies to prevent transfer pricing, and to institutionalize in the law the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, and mandatory registration of small-scale miners for tax purposes.

“We have to tax mining right. Otherwise, miners will simply extract wealth from our land without the proportional benefit to the public.

Those who take from the country should give enough to the people,” Salceda said.

“The area for improvement in the EO is that neither Congress nor the DOF: the country’s fiscal policymakers and fiscal administrators, respectively, are given a specific role in this process by the EO. This can be addressed by legislation and DOF action,” he added.

MIAA touts record pre-pandemic remittance to NG

By Recto Mercene @rectomercene

T

HE Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) touted it remitted a total of P13.9 billion in dividends to the national government (NG) during a 3-year period beginning 2016.

“This amount outshines the MIAA’s total remittances to the NG in the last 20 years prior to the Duterte Administration,” MIAA General Manager Eddie V. Monreal said.

Monreal said 2018 was the year that MIAA made its record-breaking fiscal performance when it remitted P3.42 billion in dividends to the NG.

The MIAA’s 2018 dividend payment to the national coffers was the highest in MIAA history, exceeding by more than 50 percent its 2017 remittance of P2.2 billion, which was then the highest-recorded dividend payment made by the agency in the last two decades.

Monreal said the MIAA is mandated to remit at least 50 percent of its annual net income to the NG after it was granted fiscal autonomy two decades ago. He noted the “MIAA dividend payments have significantly increased since 2016.”

With its continuing strong fiscal performance, the MIAA solidifies its position in the “Billionaire’s Club,”

an elite circle of government-owned and controlled corporations contributing billions of pesos in dividends to the NG. “MIAA’s performance in four years shows consistent good fiscal management,” Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade was quoted in a statement as saying.

Monreal urged the men and women serving the country’s premier gateway to continue striving to further improve fiscal management and allocation of resources to ensure effective and efficient delivery of airport services at the Naia.

“The MIAA remains committed in bettering its fiscal management,

as we also work on improving the infrastructure and operations of the NAIA,” he said. “Ultimately, our fiscal performance should resonate in our efforts in making each airport passenger satisfied beyond expectations.”

Monreal expressed gratitude to the Transportation department “for directing all attached agencies to better operational management, transformational initiatives and infrastructure spending.”

“Our people deserve better fiscal management of government operations, so that services become better for the comfort of the Filipino,” he said.

SHFC adds GCash as new digital payment platform

P

ARTNER-homeowners of Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC) can now pay their loan amortizations with the government agency through GCash, the state-run housing financier announced recently.

“The initiative is part of SHFC’s efforts to reduce the number of people visiting its offices across the country amid the continuing Covid-19 pandemic,” the agency said in a statement.

With this development, beneficiaries of the agency’s flagship initiative, the Community Mortgage Program, can use their GCash wallets to settle their monthly amortization,” SHFC said. “In order to access the cashless payment

service, they must first secure a reference number from SHFC’s Zeus Media Inquiries: Strategic Communications Division (+632) 7750-6337 local 821; 09175234964 portal on.”

SHFC said that after logging in to their GCash account, partner-homeowners must go to the “Pay Bills” section on the dashboard before selecting “Social Housing Finance” in the billers under the “Government” category. SHFC advised its clients to save a copy of the acknowledgment receipt that they will receive in their registered mobile number until payments are reflected in their statement of accounts within four business days.

“We want to ensure the safety and convenience of our partner-homeowners in these extraordinary times,” SHFC Treasury Vice President Jason C. Yap was quoted in the statement as saying.

“SHFC remains committed to improving the delivery of our services to our stakeholders by expanding the availability of our digital payment channels.”

SHFC said it teamed up in January with multi-payment platform ECPay to accommodate loan payments in its partner convenience stores, banks, pawnshops and remittance centers. Partnerhomeowners can also transact at any Landbank of the Philippines branches across the country.

The SHFC said it continues with the provision of “adequate housing, which has become even more crucial now given that viruses spread fast in congested informal settlements.” To date, it has provided security of tenure to more than 420,000 families through about P24.4 billion in loan assistance under the CMP. The SHFC is one of the key shelter agencies under the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development. Through the CMP, the agency assists residents of blighted areas to own the land they occupy or where they choose to relocate to under the concept of community ownership.

‘Vishing,’ ‘smishing’ add to fraud schemes, cases rising; Security Bank warns

S

ECURITY Bank Corp. (SBC) has urged the public to become more vigilant of online scams and cybercrimes adding that aside from phishing, other forms of fraud like “vishing” and “smishing” are on the rise.

“Many types of scams have emerged since the pandemic forced the public to stay at home and bank online. Currently, there are three common forms of fraud that thieves commonly use. These are ‘Phishing,’ ‘Vishing’ and ‘Smishing,’” the bank said.

Phishing works when fraudsters send emails to bank clients and trick them into entering their personal information into misleading websites.

Meanwhile, Vishing is a form of phishing that occurs over the phone when a fraudster pretends to be a bank representative and asks questions that lead clients to disclose their sensitive information.

Smishing, on the other hand, is a technique where fraudsters use text messages with instructions that lure clients into sending back

their personal information.

In a statement last Thursday, the bank said they have noticed a rise in online scams along with the expansion of digital banking services.

“Since many individuals work from home, most of them use online or mobile banking,” SBC Executive Vice President and Segment Head for Enterprise Technology and Operations Colin Dinn said. “What happens now is fraudsters pretend to be bank representatives to steal personal information, or worse,

authorize transactions through OTP [One Time Pin] sharing, among the few.”

In 2020, SBC reported that their online money transfer transactions saw the biggest usage with the bank posting a 284-percent increase in the usage of its local remittance facility and a 51-percent increase in fund transfer transactions.

The bank said it asked consumers to always be skeptical when an unknown caller starts asking for your personal information especially those used in banking like full name,

birthdate, Social Security System number, Taxpayer Identification Number or TIN, bank credentials, among others.

The bank also urged the public to ask questions that will give you a hint if the caller and the call itself are legitimate.

“Fraudsters are trained to sound very convincing. They might even have researched about you and your personal background (family, friends, interests, etc.). To be sure that you are dealing with authorized representatives from the bank, con-

tact the bank through the number on the official website and not the number provided by the caller,” the bank said.

SBC also said it would be wise to refrain from posting your contact details and other personal information on social media.

“We have ramped up our cyber awareness campaign on all [our] social media platforms to consistently remind the public on how to avoid falling into the trap of fraudsters, hackers and the like,” Dinn said.

Bianca Cuaresma

B4

Friday, April 30, 2021 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

Relationships BusinessMirror

Trans youth are coming out and living in their gender much earlier than older generations

GEN Z and millennials are more likely to identify as genderqueer, nonbinary or agender than older generations.

THE CONVERSATION

T

By Jae A. Puckett Michigan State University

HERE are a few common identity milestones that transgender—or trans—people experience across their lives.

One is starting to feel different than the sex assigned to them at birth. Another is identifying with a trans identity—for instance, as a trans man or genderqueer person, meaning they don’t identify with a binary gender such as a woman or a man. There also is the experience of living in line with this identity, which can include disclosing it to others, and changes to a person’s name, pronouns and appearance. And then there’s accessing gender-affirming medical care like puberty blockers, hormones or surgeries.

These milestones can happen at any age in a person’s life, despite stereotypes that trans people must have always known they were trans. Some people may not go through all the milestones. And although these are common milestones, they are not exhaustive, and no singular narrative captures all trans people’s experiences.

As an assistant professor of psychology at Michigan State University and director of Trans-

ilience, a community-engaged research team, I study how stigma and oppression influence mental health, as well as ways of being resilient in the face of such challenges.

Recognizing that there is no “one way” to be trans, I surveyed 695 trans individuals aged 16 to 70. My collaborators Samantha Tornello, Brian Mustanski and Michael Newcomb and I explored how common identity milestones for transgender people may relate to mental health, and how generations experience these milestones differently. Our peer-reviewed study was published in early 2021.

BABY BOOMERS TO GEN Z OUR research showed that Generation Z, born from 1997 to 2012, and millennials, born from 1981 to 1996, are more diverse in their gender identities than older generations. This is particularly true when it comes to identifying as genderqueer, nonbinary and agender.

For example, 24.5 percent of Gen Z participants identified as nonbinary, whereas only 7.4 percent of boomers identified this way.

The Generation X participants, born from 1965 to 1980, and baby boomers, born from 1946 to 1964, were more likely to identify as trans women compared

with younger participants. And overall, trans women reported later ages of starting to live in their affirmed gender and receiving gender-affirming medical care relative to the other gender groups. Trans women were, on average, around 31 when living in their affirmed gender all of the time; other gender groups ranged from 21 to 25 years old.

We found little difference between the generations in when they recognized that their gender felt different than their sex assigned at birth. On average, this happened around age 11, with the youngest age reported for this milestone being 2 years old.

However, the boomers reported reaching the other major milestones later than younger groups. For example, boomers were, on average, around age 50 when they were living in their affirmed gender all the time. In contrast, Gen X was 34, millennials were 22 and Gen Z was 17.

Gen Z and millennials also reported much shorter gaps between reaching milestones. For instance, the boomers group reported an average 24-year delay between starting to identify as trans and living in their affirmed gender. There was just a two- and three-year gap for Gen Z and millennials, respectively.

Notably, there can be many challenges to coming out and living in an affirmed gender that should also be taken into account. These barriers include living with a family that is not supportive, being concerned about violent attacks and not having access to appropriate medical care.

MENTAL HEALTH ADVANTAGES AS trans people affirm their genders, our study found there are clear benefits to their mental health.

Regardless of the age at which milestones were experienced, respondents who reported living in an affirmed gender and accessing trans-related medical care also reported less internalized stigma, anxiety and depression, and what researchers call gender nonaffirmation—such as being misgendered, which includes others using the wrong pronouns for the individual or having their gender disrespected by others. Reaching these milestones is also associated with higher levels of appearance congruence, meaning that a person’s appearance represents their gender identity. This, too, is associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety.

Given these findings, supporting trans people in affirming their gender identity can benefit their mental health and well-being. This can mean addressing family, school and legal realms so that trans people are respected and supported.

Continued on B5

Health mindfulness as Covid lingers WITH the Covid-19 global pandemic continuing to wreak havoc in the Philippines, consumers have become even more mindful of their health. To that end, health and wellness retailer Watsons is providing as much as 50-percent off on supplements in its first-ever Vitamin Super Saver Sale from April 30 to May 2. Big brands like Watsons, Potencee, Enervon, Centrum, Conzace, Pedzinc, Neurobion and more are taking part in the three-day sale, which happens at any of the retailer’s 800-plus stores nationwide.

With substantial savings on these brands, families can bring home the best quality vitamins without having to pay full price.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

z

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Kunal Nayyar, 40; Dianna Agron, 35; Kirsten Dunst, 39; Johnny Galecki, 46.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Stick to basics. Focus on building assets and protecting what you’ve worked so hard to achieve. Leave nothing to chance and take measures to ensure you have all your documents in order and are fully prepared to take advantage of any opportunity that comes your way. Consider what makes you have the best chance at fulfilling your dreams. Your numbers are 4, 10, 19, 22, 28, 39, 48.

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Don’t be fooled by what someone says or does. Be direct and verify the information offered before you get involved in a new venture. Draw on those you know you can count on for insight. Keep your circle small; cut out meddlers. HHHHH

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Refuse to let anyone interfere with your plans. Work alone and concentrate on your objective. Taking on too much or making unrealistic promises will leave you in a vulnerable position. Put your energy where it counts and do things your way. HHH

c

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Don’t overanalyze situations. Take a positive attitude and dismiss those who meddle and offer a negative attitude.

Be the bright light in the room who lifts everyone’s spirits, and you’ll overcome adversity and encourage personal growth and peace of mind. HHH

d

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Draw on the experience others have to offer. Revisit ideas and collaborate with people you enjoy being around. Partner with people who provide a unique look at life, and you’ll discover how you can use your skills to advance. Romance is in the stars. HHH

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You’ll be drawn to partnerships, shared expenses and change, but before you make promises, consider if a joint venture is in your best interest. Your strength is in your ability to lead, not to share. Consider doing your own thing. HHHHH

f

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Keep life simple, be open and honest, and avoid those who overreact and aren’t reliable. Moderation coupled with hard work and using your attributes to reach your goals will be your ticket to success. HHHHH

g

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Anger isn’t the answer. Don’t let anyone goad you into a fight or push you in the wrong direction. Focus on what you have to offer and how best to use your skills to get ahead. Avoid joint ventures and health risks. HH

h

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Put more thought into partnerships and people who bring out the best in you. Consider your living status and arrangement, then look for a way to improve your surroundings to suit your needs. HHHH

i

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Weigh the pros and cons before you jeopardize your position, reputation or relationship with a friend, colleague or relative. Don’t expect everyone to be honest with you. Gullibility will put you in a vulnerable position. Proceed with caution. HHH

j

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): An opportunity will grab your attention. Consider what’s expected of you before you agree to something you may be able to do independently. Focus on home and family. Consider changes that will make your life easier, not more stressful. HHH

k

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): An offer will interest you. Put everything in perspective before you make a move. Refuse to let anyone talk you into something you won’t be able to maintain. Use your intelligence and charm to navigate your way to a workable solution. HHHH

It has been more than a year since the world has been hit by the Covid crisis and this has compelled us to take our well-being more seriously.

Watsons seeks to assist Filipinos in continuing to take precautionary measures such as wearing of face mask and washing of hands regularly, and to further pursue a healthy lifestyle that includes eating right and sleeping well to stay healthy.

Along with these measures, taking vitamins regularly can help boost immune system and help people stay healthy.

More information is available at www.watsons.com. ph.

l

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): An emotional situation will be deceiving. Talk to someone who can shed light on what’s happening.

Consider your options, then do the research necessary to make a wise move. HH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are ambitious, persistent and astute.

You are intense and strong-willed.

‘the foud one one’ BY EVAN KALISH The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Self-referential 5 Place for a clip-on mic 10 Makeout sesh at the movies, e.g.

13 Composer Stravinsky 14 Voice of Amazon?

15 “What have we ___?”

17 Sites of some alphanumeric keypads 20 “...and so on”: Abbr.

21 Bakery fixtures 22 Available at the bar, in a way 23 Jacobson of “Broad City” 25 Overly proper 26 2007 neo-noir crime film 31 Place for a painting in progress 32 The Farewell director Wang 33 Emulated Michael Phelps or Katie Ledecky 37 “I solved it!”

38 Captivates 41 December 24 or 31 42 Fanny 44 Peas, perhaps, in a food fight 45 Exfoliation targets 47 Suite couple

50 Sporty Chevy 53 They get paid to play 54 Voice a view 55 Inferno author 58 ___ milk (vegan drink) 61 “You can’t change the past” 64 Prom ride 65 Ancient worshipper of Tezcatlipoca and Tlaloc 66 Bone ending at the elbow 67 Lower, like lights 68 Good ones never go unpunished, they say 69 Laudatory works DOWN 1 Dust ___ 2 Four-award achievement, slangily 3 Froot Loops mascot 4 Word aptly found in “polar curve” 5 Country on the Baltic Sea 6 Balm ingredient 7 Ivy in Philly 8 Previous partners 9 Daytona 500 unit 10 Impostors

1 Body shop jobs 1 12 2-D geometry calculations 16 Arthur Ashe Courage Award, e.g.

18 Walk with difficulty 19 Rhino feature 24 Hive dweller 25 Rain cats and dogs 26 Drive or reverse 27 Hawaiian home of Disney’s Aulani resort 28 Make a scapegoat 29 “Mmm, dee-lish!”

30 Doom’s partner 34 “Can you believe it’s our 20th reunion already?!”

35 Declare 36 Organizer’s challenge 39 Prefix smaller than micro 40 Sources of mold growths 43 Mysterious masked man of Broadway 46 Activist/artist Yoko 48 Raw mine extracts 49 Public perception 50 ___ neck sweater

1 Tiny nuisance in a garden 5 52 Little Havana’s Florida city 55 Take a siesta 56 Chip in chips 57 Can’t live without 59 Rachel Getting Married, Hathaway 60 Herbal brews 62 Stay-at-home ___ 63 Performing pair Solution to Tuesday’s puzzle:

Show BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Friday, April 30, 2021

JM, Yam crank up the heat Prince Harry (right) and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, at an event in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2019. AP

Harry and Meghan to lead ‘Vax Live’ fund-raising concert Prince Harry and Meghan will serve as the campaign chairs of Global Citizen’s effort to deliver Covid-19 vaccines to medical workers in the world’s poorest countries.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will appear at Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World, to be taped Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and air on ABC, CBS, FOX, YouTube and iHeartMedia broadcast radio stations on May 8, Global Citizen, the anti-poverty nonprofit, announced on Tuesday.

Harry and Meghan are also leading an effort to raise money for the vaccine-sharing program COVAX, which hopes to produce $19 billion to pay for the vaccines for medical workers.

US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will also appear during the broadcast as part of the “We Can Do This” initiative to increase confidence in Covid-19 vaccines.

French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Croatian Prime Andrej Minister Plenković will also appear at the concert, which will be hosted by Selena Gomez and headlined by Jennifer Lopez.

Foo Fighters, Eddie Vedder, J Balvin and H.E.R. are also set to perform at the concert, with hosts Chrissy Teigen, David Letterman, Gayle King and Jimmy Kimmel and actors Ben Affleck, Nomzamo Mbatha, Olivia Munn and Sean Penn now also set to appear.

The event is part of a growing chorus seeking wider, more equitable distribution of Covid-19 vaccines.

As of April, 60 nations had still not yet received any Covid-19 vaccines, Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans told the Associated Press.

“Last autumn, I called for the sharing of the doses ordered by our countries, to ensure both solidarity and health security,” Macron said in a statement.

“With the European vaccine sharing mechanism via the COVAX initiative that France is inaugurating, we are in concrete solidarity in the fight against the virus, which does not care about borders. Today I call on all my colleagues to join this momentum and make a commitment at Vax Live.” AP

Trans youth are coming out and living in their gender much earlier than older generations Continued from B4 Despite the benefits of affirming one’s gender, the younger generations reported greater stressors—such as internalized stigma or invalidation of their gender—and symptoms of depression and anxiety compared with older generations.

In other words, it appears younger trans people are facing greater mental health challenges and exposure to stressors, even while they are coming out and affirming their genders at younger ages.

It may be that trans people develop resilience and resistance strategies as they age that help them navigate oppression while improving health and well-being.

ONGOING VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION It’s difficult for trans people to come out and affirm their gender identity in a society where they—especially trans people of color—are targets of violence and murder, their histories are erased and their rights are under attack.

In light of my team’s findings, supporting and validating trans people is a meaningful way to reduce the health disparities in this marginalized community. THE CONVERSATION

A

T first glance, ABS-CBN’s latest offering Init sa Magdamag can easily be dismissed as a sexy drama. First of all is its title that implies heat and passion. It doesn’t help that the trailer, which hit 12 million views after barely two weeks since its release, features a lot of titillating scenes, most notable of which is Gerald Anderson in his tighty whities. Plus the fact that Gerald and other lead stars JM de Guzman and Yam Concepcion are also known to be daring actors.

But Init sa Magdamag is more than that. Watching its first week, it played out like a compelling suspense drama. Yam and JM play the prominent political couple Rita and Peterson, whose marriage is on the brink of collapse as they struggle to have a child.

Peterson met an accident years earlier that made him incapable of fathering a child.

Rita believes they can save their relationship if she bears a child through in vitro fertilization. Against Peterson’s parent’s wishes and their town’s beliefs, the two take a chance on the plan.

But Peterson proposes what he thinks is a simpler solution: Get barrio doctor Tupe, played by Gerald Anderson, to be their sperm donor. Unknown to Peterson, Rita and Tupe were once lovers.

How long can Rita hide her past with Tupe from Peterson? What happens when Rita and Tupe’s love is rekindled? Will there be more scenes with Gerald in his underwear? Well, I have to keep on watching to find out.

But more than the three lead stars, Init Sa Magdamag also features an able supporting cast.

There’s the incomparable Tetchie Agbayani who plays the controlling mother-in-law of Rita, and Aleck Bovick who plays the compassionate mom of Rita.

Then there’s the younger cast who are comprised of beautiful actresses Alexa Ilacad and Mica Javier.

Hot hunks also adorn the cast, namely, Gab Lagman, Albie Casino and Mark Oblea. Will they, too, have

underwear scenes? I hope so. This viewer is appealing toward that end to creative manager Henry Quitain and show directors Ian Lorenos and Raymund Ocampo.

Catch Init Sa Magdamag on A2Z, Kapamilya Channel and TV5 after Huwag Kang Mangamba. nnn Power belter Sheryn Regis chronicles the pain of being ghosted in “Tulad ng Dati,” her homecoming single to be released under ABS-CBN’s record label Star Music. The ballad, which recently dropped in various music streaming services, ponders on one’s experience of rejection and trying to find answers after she is left hanging on to the feelings without apparent warning.

“This is my first original song after the 10 years that I’ve been away from the Philippines. Ito ang kantang maraming makaka-relate kasi maraming nakaka-relate sa ghosting at sa sakit ng pagmamahal,”

Sheryn said. The melancholic single, inspired by the many stories of breakups during the pandemic, is a composition of Kiko Salazar and produced by March On Entertainment.

It features Sheryn’s signature sound in a fresh indie-pop tune that focuses on intimate storytelling rather than vocal acrobatics.

Hailed as the “Crystal Voice of Asia” for almost two decades now, Sheryn has lent her voice to various ABS-CBN teleserye theme songs, and she has four multiplatinum awarded albums and five gold record awards under her belt. Her exposure to different genres like country, rock, R&B and gospel during her US residency has geared her for a powerful OPM comeback this 2021.

She proved her exceptional musical abilities once again in her performance at the Himig 11th Edition finals night held on Sunday. She currently hosts Kalderoke: The Singing and Cooking Showdown on the Kapamilya Channel. n

GMA launches summer campaign Touted as the home to the biggest and most loved programs and personalities, GMA has launched its summer campaign, “pUSo Together This Summer,” which seeks to inspire everyone to spread love, with the network reminding everyone that despite the challenging times, we can pull through as long as we’re united.

The network’s summer campaign paints an invigorating reminder to viewers that no one will be left behind and that nothing is impossible as long as people stay together— including enjoying the summer season even from the safety of our homes. Set on a colorful background that reminds us of fun under the sun, the campaign features some of the network’s programs that continue to entertain and uplift viewers day in and out.

Giving the reggae feel to the summer campaign jingle, “pUSo Together This Summer,” is no less than The Clash Season 2 Grand Champion Jeremiah Tiangco with lyrics from Jann Fayel Lopez and composed

by Natasha Correos.

“Tara, let’s have some fun.

Magmamahalan under the sun. Spread love all over, forever. With us together this summer”—GMA’s summer campaign jingle just proves that no matter what happens, the network will always be one with viewers, producing quality programs that aim to provide Filipino families not just entertainment but inspiration as well especially during these trying times. The campaign can be seen on www.gmanetwork. com or its YouTube channel.

Alden Richards in All-Out Sundays

Marian Rivera in Tadhana

Celebs like Dolly and Bruce raid closets for charity auction

By Mark Kennedy | The Associated Press NEW YORK—Christine Baranski wants your help cleaning out her closet.

The Emmy- and Tony-winning actor is donating three custom-made Bob Mackie gowns for an online charity auction on Wednesday and she’s tapped a starry group of A-listers to follow her lead with hundreds of items.

The eye-popping haul includes a Wolverine jacket from Hugh Jackman’s closet, a banjo signed by Steve Martin, boots, jeans and a T-shirt from Bruce Springsteen, and a dress from Dolly Parton that comes with its own mannequin. A portion of proceeds from every item sold will benefit The Actors Fund.

“Those of us lucky enough to have had successful careers are well aware of how badly our performing arts community has been hit,” says Baranski. “It’s a great way and it’s a fun way to help.

The gowns she’s donated were ones she wore for appearances at the Golden Globes, Emmys and Kennedy Center Honors in the 1990s. Each is very glam—she calls them “over the top”—and her daughters aren’t interested in wearing any.

“I have a feeling whoever bids on it will do it hopefully with a feeling of affection and maybe that I’ve given them some joy. That would be nice,” she says.

The slate available at Doyle Auctioneers &

Appraisers includes a key prop from the worldwide smash musical The Phantom of the Opera, a Burberry trench coat and a pair of Swarovski encrusted shoes

from Cher, and signed posters of All in the Family signed by Norman Lear.

Baranski helped organize the event and worked to get many of the items, writing personal emails to each celebrity. She spent the first weeks of the pandemic cleaning her closet and realized it could help others.

“As I’m coming out of my closet, I thought, ‘Gosh, there’s probably a lot of actresses like myself who might be doing this, purging themselves of stuff,” she says. “Wouldn’t it be a great thing for an auction?”

Baranski reached out to producer Lorne Michael of Saturday Night Live fame to connect with writer and actor Tina Fey and managed to also get an SNL haul, including RuPaul’s opening monologue outfit and the costume Timothee Chalamet wore when he played Harry Styles.

Theater fans may get excited about a Dolce & Gabbana dress worn by Glenn Close at the opening night of Sunset Boulevard in 2017 and the leather suit Alan Cumming wore to the Tony Awards when he won the best actor in a musical trophy in 1998 for Cabaret.

Other items up for bids include Bob Mackie dresses from Carol Burnett, a black sequin gown worn by Bette Midler and dresses from Meryl Streep, Cherry Jones, Audra McDonald, Donna Murphy, Patti LuPone and Bernadette Peters. There are boots from the original production of Hamilton and a signed script of To Kill a Mockingbird by Jeff Daniels.

CHRISTINE BARANSKI

B5

B6 Friday, April 30, 2021

Villaflor Hospital wins at the 18th Philippine Quill Excellence Award for innovative services campaign

Braving COVID-19’s ground zero

Volunteer nurses from Mindanao reinforce Metro Pacific Hospitals in National Capital Region+

A

S the long drawn out COVID-19 pandemic continues to overwhelm hospitals in the Philippines’ National Capital Region+, assistance from the MVP Group’s Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings Inc. (MPHHI) is coming in as volunteer nurses from Mindanao brave the risks to help fellow medical front liners save more lives.

Three hospitals in Mindanao have sent 16 nurses from their own rosters to reinforce their big sister hospitals in the nation’s capital.

West Metro Medical Center in Zamboanga City and Manuel J. Santos Hospital in Butuan City sent four nurses each from their pool to Makati Medical Center (Makati Med). Meanwhile, St. Elizabeth Hospital in General Santos City flew eight nurses to help Cardinal Santos Medical Center.

Twenty-two-year-old Raven Saavedra from West Metro said he and his three colleagues volunteered to be temporarily assigned at Makati Med when the hospital group was looking for nurses willing to fly to the nation’s capital. “I want to be part of this historical undertaking. I would like to help the people of Metro Manila especially at a time when COVID-19

cases are surging. Even if there’s this constant fear of getting infected, we are prepared for this. We are ready to help,” said Raven who expressed confidence that his experience in dealing with the coronavirus infection last year has prepared him for the challenges he will be facing at Makati Med. Elviro Firmalino, Jr. of St. Elizabeth is no stranger to this effort as he also joined the augmentation team last year which was deployed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Santa Mesa, Manila. When the 39-year old Infection Control nurse was asked by the hospital to fly to Manila one more time, he did not hesitate. “Of course, we’re also worried about COVID-19 especially now that there are more transmissible new variants. But we need to step up because no one else will. I’m doing this because I want the pandemic to end not just for me but for my parents because they are already senior citizens,” he said. Elviro is banking on his training in safe practices and procedures at St. Elizabeth Hospital to pull him through his assignment at Cardinal Santos.

Early this month, Augusto Palisoc, Jr., MPHHI President and CEO, called on the whole hospital group if they

could come to the aid of embattled sister hospitals in Metro Manila, struggling with the surge of COVID-19 patients.

Heeding the call, the three said hospitals revisited their rosters to see how they would be impacted if they decide to send some of their nurses to NCR. The three facilities are also designated COVID treatment centers and continue to admit coronavirus-positive patients.

SEHI Nursing Directress Aster May Magno-Aso said that despite the danger, she is proud of her nurses for having the courage and determination to help out in these very uncertain times. “Before flying to Manila, we equipped them with additional courses on donning and removing PPEs (personal protective equipment), as well as more intense trainings on infection control measures.”

MPHHI, an affiliate of the Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), has been working together to serve Filipinos during these extraordinary times.

Support for the group’s frontliners is part of the ongoing efforts of Tulong Kapatid—the consortium of foundations, companies and affiliates under the leadership of MVP.

Republic Cement offers sustainable solution in addressing plastic problem in the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources ensure compliance to emission limits and other regulatory requirements.

Plastic Neutrality for FMCGs

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EPUBLIC Cement has been offering waste coprocessing since the early 2000s to its partner communities. Republic Cement plants are equipped with state-of-the-art continuous emission monitoring (CEMS) systems that are calibrated and maintained.

Republic Cement has established partnerships with local government units including the City of Manila; Valenzuela; Paete and Liliw in Laguna; Norzagaray, and San Jose del Monte in Bulacan; Teresa in Rizal; Taysan and Lipa City in Batangas, and San Fernando, Lubao Sasmuan and Mexico in Pampanga.

Co-processing is a method employed by cement manufacturers around the world that uses alternative fuels in the manufacture of cement. It is the recovery of the energy and mineral content of waste materials that serve as a substitute fuels or alternative raw materials to produce cement in a single operation.

The process burns waste materials such as plastics at 1450°C in a kiln chamber, recovering from them thermal and mineral properties that provide the

energy needed to produce cement.

With co-processing, qualified wastes are completely destroyed while utilizing its energy and mineral components integrating into the manufacture of cement. In the Philippines, where the most common wastes disposal methods are thermal destruction and chemical or physical treatment, waste still eventually end up in landfills by way of its ashes and treated wastes.

Republic Cement has maximized the use of alternative fuels such as rice husk, saw dust, and refuse-derived fuel as a substitute for its fossil fuel requirements. Using these materials as fuel proved to be more environment-friendly, moving the company closer to zero waste and lower CO2 emissions.

Having established its leadership in providing innovative construction solutions and manufacturing expertise, Republic Cement plants are equipped with state-of-the-art continuous emission monitoring (CEMS) systems that are calibrated and maintained.

The Environmental Management Bureau of the

ACCORDING to scientific estimates, about 80% of branded plastic residual wastes found in the ocean are from food packaging. To address this, Republic Cement partners with fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies to coprocess their post-consumer waste and achieve “Plastic Neutrality” With its enormous heat capacity to coprocess residual waste plastics, Republic Cement provides “Plastic Neutrality” options for partners.

Plastic Neutrality is a scheme in which a waste plastic generator engages another party that provides a method or technology to reduce or offset their plastic consumption directly aimed at reducing waste plastics in the communities and landfills. Specifically, the objective of these programs is to reduce single-use plastics and transforming wastes into resources which in the case of Republic Cement is as alternative fuel.

Republic Cement offers its post-consumer waste plastic consumption as alternative fuels to offset the use of plastics in consumer goods packaging. Post-consumer plastics are the materials or finished plastic products that have served their intended use and have been diverted or recovered from waste destined for disposal, having completed their lives as consumer items.

“With more Filipino companies embracing the plastic-neutrality concept, we are confident that we will continue to make strides for a greener and stronger Republic,” said Francis.

With co-processing, wastes materials are not just converted into a productive cement product, it also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, decrease waste handling costs, and supports sustainable solutions in addressing the plastic problem in the country.

D

AGUPAN Doctors Villaflor Memorial Hospital (DDVMH), a leading medical institution in Pangasinan and Region I, affirms its commitment to quality healthcare, standing out as the only regional hospital to win at the 18th Philippine Quill Awards of the International Association of Business Communicators Philippines (IABC Philippines).

DDVMH bagged the Quill Award of Excellence for the promotion of its Help is on the Way campaign, which the hospital launched during the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine following the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

The Help is on the Way campaign, which highlighted the hospital’s Hello Dok telemedicine consultation services and Villaflor on Demand mobile medical services, aimed to assure residents of Dagupan City and surrounding towns that their medical needs are still taken care of amid fears of contracting the new coronavirus.

Promotions for the campaign have reached roughly 2.5 million people living within the Metro Dagupan area since its launch.

“To have our patients experience excellent care has always been our aim for over 50 years and this has become even more important amid a pandemic. We thank all our patients for trusting us, especially during this time. We are also grateful to IABC Philippines for recognizing our efforts to let our patients know that we are continuously present for them,” said DDVMH Hospital and Medical Director Dr. Juvie Villaflor, “We also are thankful to our partner Comm&Sense for providing us with intelligent insights that helped us

craft our strategies leading to our quick and much-needed rollout of the Hello Dok and Villaflor on Demand services.

That way, we were able to help as many people in our community get the medical attention they need even with the threats posed by the pandemic,” he added.

Established in 2005, Manila-based Comm&Sense has been utilizing an #IntelligentPR approach, which focuses on data-driven content for an even more creative execution and smart amplification of campaigns and projects. With this practice, the agency was able to fill the needs of clients like DDVMH and their respective audiences.

Comm&Sense has a record of helping medical institution clients achieve communications excellence with Medical Center Manila (ManilaMed) and Lagunabased Westlake Medical Center having received Quill Awards of Excellence in recent years.

“The pandemic has changed how healthcare providers should deliver their services. Our medical institutions were also struggling to reach many of their audience due to mobility. But with the help of technology and data, we were able to come up with an intelligent approach that would help our clients. As we rise from the crisis, we look forward to strengthening our efforts further,” Comm&Sense founder and president Jaeger L. Tanco said.

It’s a Bridal Halo-Halo Date at Club Ananda!

O

N May 8, Club Ananda will once again welcome soon-to-wed couples to its prestigious event venues for a Bridal Halo-Halo Date with Town’s Delight Catering and Events.

Dedicated to couples who are in their initial state of wedding planning and for those who are already booked with Club Ananda and need assistance with their list of suppliers, this bridal fair comes as the right solution for their concerns.

“This is something different because this event is focused on helping couples plan their most important day by giving them a chance to directly meet some handpicked suppliers so they can get tips on how they can make their dream wedding into a

reality,” says Marky Almazora, spokesperson for Club Ananda.

On that day, Casamento Events Management will be providing free consultations to clients to help them start or proceed with their wedding plans.

As an added treat, Town’s Delight Catering and Events will be serving halo halo for couples during the event.

IL Fiorie Flowers and Freshminds Digital Photography will also be joining and showcasing their services in the mini bridal fair.

For more details and registration, please contact the Marketing Dept. at +639175506873, or go to our social media accounts: @clubanandamain on Facebook, and club_ananda on Instagram.

MResidences’ e-commerce website to strengthen VCDC’s digital efforts as a hallmark in property service

I

N response to the changing times brought by the “new normal,” Victor Consunji Development Corporation (VCDC) pivots into taking the smart and unparalleled approach to sales and design without compromising the company’s signature touch.

Since face-to-face customer service interactions are still limited as of late, VCDC brings the ability and control straight to the consumers’ fingers with the unveiling of MResidences' brand-new e-commerce website.

This new platform—very much in the mold of tech stalwarts like Airbnb and Agoda–aims to take everything to a whole new real estate realm that goes beyond just looking at model units from one’s laptop screen.

With the website's premium qualities— ease of navigation, the use of real-life colors, authentic renderings of the home models, a smooth interface that loads useful and practical categories, and pages that allow the potential buyer to see up-front right away what his or her future home will look like— the brand-new website aims for a customer experience that leagues better than what everyone is used to.

Booking an appointment with a sales representative assigned to you is at the tip of your fingertips. A more convenient tour and discussion of your options are offered through the website. Clients can also pay for their reservation fee online, which makes it more convenient for them.

“The goal is to give prospective home buyers the unique ability to customize their properties - all through the convenience of our website,” says VCDC founder and CEO Victor Consunji.

The dynamic CEO adds, “We’ve integrated MResidences’ unique selling point on the website. Clients can now check out different house templates and even customize them with the various floor plan templates. Most real estate websites would let you check out their properties based on the contract price, location, and number of bedrooms. We take it up a notch higher by providing a monthly budget filter to ensure that clients get options that consider both the functional and financial aspects of buying a home.”

With this new framework in mind and still incorporating the DNA of the sterling name for customization, MResidences is on the lead for a new way to contact, communicate and complete buying a home.

The fluidity of the process of choosing from the templates to the unique layout of your abode, based on your taste, is presented on the website for discerning clients, ever-growing future homeowners, and upwardly mobile individuals. Making life-enhancing choices is contactless, no-touch, hi-tech, and cuttingedge, creating safer and more convenient spaces . To know more about MResidences, please visit https://www.m-residences.com.

Sports BusinessMirror

Editor: Jun Lomibao

OLYMPIC Movement advocate Celso Dayrit yields to Covid-19.

Former POC president Dayrit passes away

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By Josef Ramos

HE sports community mourned the demise of Celso “Cito” Limjuco Dayrit, one of the pillars of the Philippine sports community, who passed away on Wednesday night because of complications from Covid-19 infection. He was 69.

Dayrit was the president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) from 1999 to 2004 and a commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) in 1993, leaving a legacy as the father of the Philippine National Games.

“It is a big loss to us in the sports community and to me personally, as one of my mentors,” said POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.

“Before his confinement, he gave me one message that I will publish soon.”

“He was a big help to me in foreign relations especially in the Southeast Asian Games Federation,” Tolentino said. “He always gave me advices. I will surely miss him.”

“Philippine sports lost a wise man today.

He is one of my very first friends in sports and I have always admired his deep understanding of Olympism and sports dynamics in the country. He will be truly missed,” PSC Chairman William Ramirez said.

“I am filled with immense sadness at Cito Dayrit’s passing. He was a friend and valued adviser and I relied on his professionalism, vast knowledge and experience and honest point of view,” Ricky Vargas said.

“Philippine and international sports just suffered a devastating loss. I will miss you immensely, my friend. May you rest in peace,” he added.

Dayrit was serving his fourth consecutive term as president of the Fencing Confederation of Asia until his death, and he was the longest-serving president of the Philippine Amateur Fencing Association (PAFA).

“I am deeply saddened to hear this. He [Dayrit] is a great loss to sports and painful to those who knew and love him,” said Richard Gomez, who succeeded Dayrit as PAFA president. “Our prayers go to the Dayrit family.

He was my mentor during my time as an athlete and as the president of the association.”

“I am deeply saddened for the loss of our friend Celso Dayrit. He was my teacher in the IOC Solidarity Leadership Course where I eventually became one of the instructors in early 90s,” Philippine National Volleyball Federation Ramon Suzara said. “He is a big lost to Philippine sports and a huge loss to the Olympic Movement and to the fencing family.”

Red Dumuk, also one of the pioneer students at the Olympic Solidarity Movement, said Dayrit is an irreplaceable loss to Philippine Sports.

“While he served as POC president and PSC Commissioner, he was appreciated at the international level,” said Dumuk, adding Dayrit was an Executive Board Member of International Fencing Federation and Asian Fencing Federation.

Dayrit was a Fencing Hall of Famer like his dad, Don Francisco “Paco” Dayrit Sr., considered the “Father of Philippine Fencing,” and incumbent IOC President Thomas Bach.

Ariel Paredes, who closely worked with Dayrit in crafting the policies of the PNG, said Dayrit contributions to Philippine sports are his legacy.

“Cito was a true sportsman,” said Paredes, a sports management expert and incumbent PNVF chairman.

Dayrit was heavily involved in the Olympic Solidarity movement of the International Olympic Committee and was the first Filipino accredited by the IOC as an international course director of the Olympic Solidarity Itinerant Administration School for Sports Leaders.

Because of his involvement with the IOC, he founded the Philippine Olympic Academy and the Philippine Olympians Association.

Dayrit received multiple awards for his contributions to Philippine sports.

The Association of National Olympic Committees awarded Dayrit the Olympic Merit Award in 2006 He wrote the book “The Olympic Movement in the Philippines in 2003.

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph | Friday, April 30, 2021

B7

MORE QUESTIONS THAN ASSURANCES

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OKYO—The Tokyo Olympics open in under three months and there are still more questions than answers despite the rollout Wednesday of new rule books to explain how the games will take place in the middle of a surging pandemic in Japan.

The 60-page, second version of the “Playbooks” for athletes was released by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the local organizers. Versions for other non-athlete groups are to be released later.

And a third version will come out in June, just weeks before the Olympics open on July 23.

More testing for everyone was the key highlight on Wednesday: n All participants will have to pass two Covid-19 tests before leaving their home country.

And they will be tested upon arrival in Japan. n Athletes will be tested daily, as will those in close proximity to athletes. n Other games participants will be tested daily for the first three days, and then as required. n All games participants must use dedicated

GAMES Delivery Officer Hidemasa Nakamura holds a sample of the Version Two of the Tokyo 2020 Playbook. AP vehicles and avoid public transportation for the first 14 days. n Games participants must eat only in specified locations, including catering facilities at games

venues. Athletes will be dining in the Athletes’ Village, which will be an isolated “bubble.” n Game participants will avoid a 14-day quarantine rule for entering Japan, but to do so

Men’s volley aspirants praise national team tryouts in Subic

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HE men showed up almost in full force on Day 2 of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) national volleyball team tryouts at the Subic Gym bubble, each packing strong potentials that would send the coaching staff deep into the night figuring out who to pick and who not to.

Marck Espejo, a member of the silver medal-winning team in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, showed the pandemic didn’t slow him down, squeezing out inspired performances from national teammates Jessie Lopez and Josh Retamar—and 29 others who were split into morning and afternoon sessions.

“I’m sure the coaches will have a hard time determining who to pick,” PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara, who added that the men’s and women’s volleyball teams will be composed of 20 players each.

Thirty-one of the 40 players were invited to the

IT’S the men’s turn to show their wares in Subic on Thursday.

PBA eyes Batangas City as venue

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HE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is looking at Batangas City as a possible site for 5-on-5 scrimmages and actual games after government dismissed Metro Manila as a potential site because of the high number of Covid-19 cases.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel team governor Alfrancis Chua told an online news conference on Thursday that it was Senator Christopher “Bong” Go and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea who told them in a meeting in Malacañang on Wednesday to exclude Greater Manila Area as an option of opening the league’s 46th season.

Marcial said Batangas City could be an excellent choice.

“I am very familiar with Batangas City because I am from that city. I am familiar with the local government unit [LGU],” said Marcial, adding that LGU’s under modified general community

quarantine—including Ilocos Norte and Pampanga—stand as the PBA’s other options.

Chua also said that they have requested the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to allow the league for now to procure anti-Covid-19 vaccines from the government.

He said San Miguel Corp. ordered for vaccine but they are expected in June or July.

“We will return the vaccines to the government once we receive our own [from SMC],” he said.

Marcial also said they would make the second conference or the import-laden conference to a single robin if the league begins

by June or July.

Marcial also reiterated that a two-conference season remains as their target although they have to sacrifice formats to accommodate both tournaments. Josef Ramos

5 ROWERS SEEK OLYMPIC BERTHS

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IVE more Filipinos are targeting Olympic slots in the waters of Tokyo Bay in the World Rowing Asia and Oceania Olympic and Paralympic Qualification Regatta from May 5 to 7, according to Philippine Rowing Association (PRA) President Patrick Gregorio.

“They all have chances of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics,” Gregorio told the BusinessMirror on Thursday, referring to Melcah Jen Caballero, Joanie Delgaco, Cris Nievarez, Roque Abala and Zuriel Sumintac.

The five were responsible for three gold medals in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games and

Gregorio said they want to bring their winning act to bag tickets to the July 23 to August 8 Olympics.

Sumintac and Abala will compete in men’s lightweight double sculls, Caballero and Delgaco will vie in women’s lightweight women double sculls and Nievarez in men’s single sculls.

There are 12 entries in each of the double sculls events and the top three finishers will advance to the Olympics. There are 17 entries in the single sculls competitions and the top five will earn tickets to Japan.

Gregorio said they are expecting tough challenges from China, Korea, Iran, host Japan and Uzbekistan.

Head Coach Edgardo Macabitas Maerina said the team leaves for Tokyo on Saturday. The rowers won’t undergo quarantine but would be subjected to RT-PCR tests.

The athletes and coaches underwent local testing on Thursday.

“We are very confident of the capability of our athletes because they are well-prepared,” said Maerina, the first Filipino to compete in Olympic rowing in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. “We need to be brave in the competition.”

Benjamin Tolentino was the last Filipino rower to vie in the Olympics in Sydney 2000.

Josef Ramos COACH Edgardo Maerina poses with Roque Abala Jr., Joanie Delgaco, Cris Nievarez, Melcah Jen Caballero and Zuriel Sumintac after a training session.

they must fill out a schedule listing their plans for that period, and also download a tracking app. n A decision about capacity at the venues will be made in June. Fans from abroad were banned several months ago.

“We are in a very tense situation,” Tokyo organizing committee president Seiko Hashimoto said after an online meeting with the IOC. “A full stadium is possible depending on the situation.

So is 50 percent, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000 and no spectators. Those are the ranges. While we are prepared as the last possible option to have the games with no spectators—since we have the current situation under the state of emergency— we have hope that fans are possible.”

Athletes will also have to sign a promise they will follow the rules in Playbook. This will apply to athletes and participants with vaccines as well as those without vaccines.

“There will be a written pledge and if that is not complied with, there will be a certain level of penalty,” said Toshiro Muto, the CEO

of the organizing committee. “We expect that these people will comply with the rules because Playbooks are the rules.”

He did not specify a penalty, but the loss of a credential and expulsion was hinted at.

IOC President Thomas Bach offered his own take on enforcement.

“We will strictly enforce these rules and will take care of the full compliance by all participants,” he said.

“If the situation should require it, we are also ready to take even stricter measures.”

Tokyo recorded more than 900 new cases on Wednesday, its highest level in three months as new variants are popping up in the country.

“Yes, the situation is very difficult,” Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said. “We are fighting the invisible enemy.”

The state of emergency has closed department stores, theme parks, and bars and restaurants serving alcohol. It also has forced baseball games to be played in empty stadiums after having allowed fans for much of the pandemic. AP

men’s tryouts answered the call with nine missing the exercise, including Bryan Bagunas, who arrived in the country from his stint in the Japan V.League only recently and had to complete a 14-day quarantine.

The PNVF scheduled the three-day tryouts in Subic through the efforts of Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano of Taguig City, the federation’s local government unit “godfather.”

The women’s volleyball tryouts were staged on Wednesday with the beach volleyball tryouts capping the major PNVF activity on Friday. All participants underwent RT-PCR tests with the players wearing face masks all throughout the tryout proceedings.

Long-time Philippine team skipper John Vic de Guzman led the morning session aspirants, who includes his teammates Mark Alfafara and Jao Umandal.

“Maayos ang tryouts, una kasi batch by

batch ang tryout at sobrang dami ang nagattend,” De Guzman said. “Makikita mo din na talagang gustung-gusto ng lahat na makapasok sa national team.”

“Masaya kami kasi sobrang organized and tryout lalo na pagdating sa safety protocols,” the former NCAA champion from College of Saint Benilde De Guzman added.

JP Bugaoan, Kim Dayadante, Anthony Ekwenugo, Mark Enciso, Alche Gupiteo, Noel Kampton, Kim Malabunga, Chumson Njigha Jr., Leo Ordiales, Ish Polvorosa, Jian Matthee Salarzon Ricky Marcos, and Manuel Sumanguid completed the morning session.

The afternoon session was composed of Rex Intal, Nico Almendras, Leo Aringo, Lloyd Josafat, Joeven dela Vega, Jack Kalingking, Louie Ramirez, Ysay Marasigan, Banjo Mondero, John Mark Ronquillo, Kharyl Parce, Rayver Sison and Francis Saura.

Motoring BusinessMirror

Henry Ford Awards Best Motoring Section 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 2011 Hall of Fame

Editor: Tet Andolong

B8 Friday, April 30, 2021

Yosuke Nishi

S

OJITZ G Auto Philippines’s (SGAP) President & CEO Mikihisa Takayama will end his assignment this month to fulfill a new role in SGAP’s mother company, Sojitz Corp. in Tokyo, Japan. Taking over his role as the new President and CEO is SGAP’s current Executive Vice President, Yosuke Nishi.

Geely was launched in the countr y last September 2019 under its local distributor SGAP. As the company’s President & CEO since 2019, Takayama led SGAP to aggressively move in making Geely’s presence known in the local car market consistently with its successful launches of the Geely Coolray as well as the Azkarra and Okavango in spite of the fragile state of the auto industry as a result of the pandemic.

During his term, Takayama has also directed the Geely brand into achieving its milestones as a young brand in the Philippine automotive market.

Geely has consistently logged high sales record with Coolray managing to be the top-selling model in its class in most months from 2020 to 2021. Recently, SGAP announced that it has maintained its top 10 industry ranking in March keeping number 9 position in total industry sales.

Nishi will take the helm as SGAP ’s new President & CEO starting May 1, 2021. As SGAP’s Executive Vice President, he has been working alongside Takayama in steering SGAP in the right direction since 2019.

Nishi started his automotive stint in the Philippines as an executive from 2012-2018.

He admitted that he learned to love the country and the Filipinos.

“Since I am really fascinated by the Filipino culture, I wanted to come back to the Philippines.

And during my short stay in Japan, I had been visiting the Philippines for the preparation of the establishment of SGAP. I have worked on getting an approval from Sojitz to establish the Geely business,” Nishi said.

Being hands-on with the rise of the Geely brand in the country, the incoming SGAP President & CEO has definitely built a deep connection with the business, even calling it his “baby.”

“Since SGAP, the Geely business in the Philippines, is my baby, I felt the need to grow it together with our customers and business partners. I want to assure everyone that SGAP/ Geely Philippines can give the best services and experiences to the customers,” Nishi added.

IsuzU Tagum

Isuzu Bacoor

of American president Joe Biden.

“He is not only the Skyway King of the Philippines,” said Ed “EdPam” Pamintuan, the former mayor of Angeles City who is now chair of the Clark Development Corp. “He is the food czar, the power-fuel chief, and the infrastructure vanguard rolled into one.”

How true. And, as Skyway King, RSA is not stopping and is coming up with another innovation: the country’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

W

HO is the lone Filipino patriot today that truly cares about the comfort of the motorist in particular and the nation’s riding public in general? He’s none other than Ramon S. Ang (RSA), who was recently promoted Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of San Miguel Corp. (SMC).

As if he needed a new posting.

With his long-standing stature as SMC’s top honcho—brilliantly transforming the food-and-beverage outfit into the country’s biggest conglomerate today— RSA doesn’t need new badges on his chest, anymore. With what he’s achieved—and been achieving, and accomplishing, at an undiluted frenetic pace—for the common good, RSA is likewise beyond any position of meaning. He’s been in a pedestal for so long for his numerous thrusts in the name of public service so that I can’t blame many of our compatriots for saying he’s been performing at a level almost equal that

Function like trains

WITH the elevated Skyway Stage 3 now in full harness, the BRT system on the elevated expressway will radically improve commuting while it supports sustainable transportation.

The BRT will utilize the Skyway for buses that will function like trains, ferrying large numbers of passengers and stopping only at designated stations at set intervals.

The system may also resemble a highcapacity, point-to-point (P2P) bus system.

“As early as 2017, we had already been considering the BRT,” RSA said. “It is another way to decongest traffic in Metro Manila.”

The first target is from Susana Heights in Muntinlupa to Balintawak, proceeding towards the North Luzon Expressway.

RSA said that Sky way 3 and all the expressway projects are designed primarily to diver t and take away a significant number of vehicles from major roads like Edsa and C-5, to include the

Skyway’s at-grade levels in the equation.

“Lessening the vehicles competing for road space is how elevated expressways will ease traffic—as we have seen now on Edsa,” RSA said.

He said the expressways and skyways are not just for motorists but also serve as platforms for efficient mass transport scheme.

With the BRT, Ang said he sees many motorists will soon prefer for the public transport over their cars, contributing to a healthier environment due to less vehicle emissions.

“Our population and our economy are growing,” he said. “We can’t afford not to act now, and we can’t make do with temporary or inadequate fixes anymore.”

How many of our leaders think the way RSA thinks?

Honorable Honda

IN a gallant move, Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) is recalling 10,863 units with a factory defect.

The company will replace fuel pumps of select 2018-2021 models of Accord, BR-V, City, Civic, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Jazz and Mobilio for possible defective impellers.

B elow is the list of models for immediate recall: This proactive effort of HCPI aims to ensure the safety of customers and address potential fuel pump related vehicle concerns such as inability to start-up or being inoperative.

All the 38 Honda Cars dealerships nationwide will replace parts and perform work free of charge over a maximum of two-hour servicing.

Owners of affec ted vehicles will receive a notice of recall. Customers may also verify if their vehicle is affected through encoding its 17-digit Chassis Number or Vehicle Identification Number at the Chassis/VIN search tool, which may be found at the recall information webpage at www.hondaphil.com/recall.

E-mail update@hondaphil.com for further assistance.

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