BusinessMirror August 05, 2021

TOKYO OLYMPICS MEDAL COUNT RANK

TEAM/NOC

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

TOTAL

1

People’s Republic of China

32

22

16

70

2

United States of America

25

30

22

77

3

Japan

21

7

12

40

4

Great Britain

15

18

15

48

5

Australia

15

4

17

36

6

ROC

14

21

18

53

7

Germany

8

8

16

32

8

France

6

10

9

25

9

Italy

6

9

15

30

10

Netherlands

6

8

8

22

46

Philippines

1

1

0

2

Source: Olympics.com | Full table at www.businessmirror.com.ph

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Tokyo hot for golfers; 2 boxers in big fights B J L

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OKYO—Bianca Pagdanganan stayed within striking distance while Yuka Saso refused to melt under the sweltering Japanese summer heat as golf resumed with the women’s event where the country is pinning its chances to add to the gold medal Hidilyn Diaz already won in weightlifting.

Pagdanganan went two-under 69 to find herself tied with eight others at seventh place behind Sweden’s Madeline Sagstrom, who fired a five-under 66 on a day when the heat index topped 37.8 Celsius

and players were cooling themselves down with ice packs, and caddies found themselves in the medical tent for treatment for heat exhaustion.

The 23-year-old longest hitter of the Ladies Professional Golf Association was tied with reigning Olympic champion Inbee Park of South Korea and Danielle Kang of the US. Saso, on the other hand, wound up with a 74 at the par-71 Kasumigaseki Golf Club course in Kawagoe. She played the first round with a replacement caddie as Lionel Matichuck recovers in a hospital from heat stroke.

BIANCA PAGDANGANAN wears an ice pack on her head to keep cool during a practice round prior to the women’s golf event at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, August 3, 2021, at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe, Japan. AP/MATT YORK

Pagdanganan’s team? It wasn’t spared the heat with her coach, Carito Villaroman, spending much of the morning resting due to dehydration.

Two men with lethal fists— Eumir Felix Marcial and Carlo Paalam—meanwhile, resume the country’s gold medal quest in boxing at the Kokugikan Arena on Thursday. Paalam climbs the ring first in a flyweight bout at 1:30 p.m.

(Manila time) hoping to summon all his big punches to dominate Japanese Ryomei Tanaka.

Marcial, who earned a reputaS “T,” A

As of August 4, 2021 | 8:31 pm

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Thursday, August 5, 2021 Vol. 16 No. 295

B B C

B

@BcuaresmaBM

ANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno reiterated his stance to maintain monetary policy rates at accommodative levels to ensure the recovery of the local economy.

P.  |     | 7 DAYS A WEEK

UN:PHL‘OVERLOOKED’ WOMEN-LED MSME IN COVID-19 PROGRAMS

HIGH-RISES tower over shanties targeted for demolition to give way to a government road project in Mandaluyong City. The Philippine economy’s recovery program is expected to suffer another setback as the National Capital Region Plus, an area critical to GDP, goes under a twoweek Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) starting August 6. NONIE REYES

B C U. O @caiordinario

T

HE national government has overlooked womenled micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and the manufacturing sector in its Covid-19 efforts, according to a report released by the United Nations (UN).

The study, titled Resilient Businesses and the Pandemic, was conducted by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (Unido) and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.

Based on the report, support for women entrepreneurs and those in the informal sector as well as the food processing/manufacturing sector was overlooked in the Bayanihan 1 and 2 package.

“Food processing/manufacturing sector, while considered part of the essential economic activities permitted to operate, had been overlooked in the Bayanihan Act series. In contrast, logistics, transportation, education and tourism sectors

The Central Bank chief said the BSP is “resolute” to stay the course amid the persistence of Covid-19 cases in the country. He also said the BSP will maintain its accommodative stance for “as long as necessary,” to sustain economic recovery.

In 2020, the BSP reduced the country’s policy rate by a cumulative 200 basis points to bring its main policy rate to an all-time low. The BSP maintained this all throughout 2021 amid the rising trend of inflation.

The governor said that keeping monetary policy steady is necessary as, while there are signs of growth, risks to recovery still loom from restrictions due to the spread of the Covid Delta variant.

“The Philippines has sustained its position compared with rating peers because of the strengthening of its fiscal metrics ahead of the pandemic shock. Nevertheless, the country’s road to recovery will not be easy,” the governor said in a re-

were prioritized and funded,” the report stated.

“As expressed in the stakeholder validation, the general concern was that there was not enough support for women entrepreneurs and workers and those in the informal economy,” the report also stated.

The report said MSMEs usually relied on their “resourcefulness and ingenuity” to survive. They also employed this during the pandemic.

Some of these efforts entailed using e-commerce to sell their products and reach more consumers as well as adopting cash management strategies like cutting costs and negotiating for supplier credit in order to cope.

However, assistance from the national government was lacking, as observed in the lack of promotion programs; discordant programs that can become counterproductive measures; and the lack of focused, structured/systematic approach that could have responded to the current needs of MSMEs. The report said support for C  A

S “K,” A

‘ECQ, Covid, oil prices top recovery threats’

T

HE reimposition of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), a rise in Covid-19 cases, and higher oil prices are the greatest threats to the country’s recovery at this time, according to a local think tank.

In its latest Market Call report, First Metro Investment Corp.University of Asia and the Pacific (FMIC-UA&P) Capital Markets Research said this may temper growth projections starting in the

third quarter of the year.

This is despite signs of recovery becoming more evident based on May 2021 data. The think tank said these economic indicators were encouraging and signified the economy was on the mend.

“The onset of a new Covid-variant and the likely stricter restrictions that would follow and the approaching ‘ghost month’ have doused some cold water on the equities market and could also

PESO EXCHANGE RATES ■ US 49.4850

trickle into the real economy in Q3 [third quarters],” FMIC-UA&P Capital Markets Research said.

The think tank said data for May such as the 1.4 million jobs created was a good indicator; the national government (NG) expenditures which increased by 29.2 percent also present a good signal. Data showed inflation was at 4.1 percent in June, the slowest for the year.

Manufacturing output registering a whopping 265-percent

growth during the period.

“The May economic data do help buoy optimism that the economy has begun to gain traction. NG spending appears to regain momentum, while money growth has been tepid,” the think tank said.

“Lest we lower our guard, a possible sharp resurgence in Covid-19 variants and a corresponding stringency in lockdowns, as well as eleS “ECQ,” A

■ JAPAN 0.4571 ■ UK 69.3593 ■ HK 6.4087 ■ CHINA 7.7040 ■ SINGAPORE 36.8922 ■ AUSTRALIA 36.8554 ■ EU 59.1411 ■ SAUDI ARABIA 13.2931

Source: BSP (August 4, 2021)

A2

News BusinessMirror

Thursday, August 5, 2021

UN: PHL ‘OVERLOOKED’ WOMEN-LED MSME IN COVID-19 PROGRAMS C  A

women would have also gone a long way since women often juggle multiple roles: apart from being business owners, they also manage households and become the primary caregivers for their families. Workers in the informal sector also experienced much economic uncertainty due to the pandemic, the UN said, noting this was a concern since they comprised 38 percent of the total working population.

“Informal workers are characterized by not being duly registered or formally recognized, thus they are automatically excluded from key support programs of the government,” the report stated.

Neda explains

MEANWHILE, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Rosemarie G. Edillon said in a briefing some sectors were excluded in the Bayanihan packages because these were already covered by existing government programs.

Edillon said in terms of the government support, agencies like the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) already “went all out in support” of these sectors. She said the support extended to these sectors include providing logistics transport. Edillon cited as example the one extended by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

The Neda official said BFAR lent their delivery trucks to address the logistics problem of MSMEs with mobility issues.

Edillon said the assistance to food MSMEs also included the Expanded SURE Aid and Recovery Project or SURE Covid-19 financing program. These programs are already part of the budgets of these agencies.

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Think tank: Peso will keep sliding as US economy regains strength

T

B B C

@BcuaresmaBM

HE local currency is expected to lose its value further against the dollar in the coming months, private economists said.

In the latest issue of The Market Call, a quarterly market research by analysts from First Metro Investment Corp. and University of Asia & the Pacific (UA&P), the peso was described as likely to continue its depreciation trend in the coming months as the US economy regains strength.

“The peso ended in the red in June as demand for imports improved, translating to higher dollar needs. Meanwhile, the US economy’s strong recovery and the Fed’s less dovish statements drove the dollar’s strength causing a 0.4 percent peso depreciation month-on-

month after rallying for two consecutive months,” the report read.

The local currency averaged to P48.13 to a dollar from P47.96 to a dollar in the previous month.

Meanwhile, the peso’s volatility measure widened by 11.5 percent.

“We think that peso weakness will continue to persist given that the actual foreign exchange rate had already broke through the 200day and 30-day moving averages [MA] as the trade deficit has surged due to the more than 100-percent increase in imports, while the US economic recovery exceeds expectations,” the report read.

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno

Data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) showed that the local currency closed Wednesday’s trade at P49.75 to a dollar, weaker than Tuesday’s

close of P49.61 to a dollar. The total traded volume during the day was at $1.04 billion.

Just last week, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) shrugged off worries on the recent depreciation trend of the local currency, saying structural foreign exchange flows to the country are expected to remain strong in the coming months.

“While short-run fluctuations in the peso are affected by market sentiment, its medium- to long-term movements are largely supported by economic fundamentals,” BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno earlier said.

“Looking ahead, we expect the peso to be supported by structural foreign exchange flows such as overseas Filipino remittances, business-process outsourcing receipts and eventually by earnings from tourism activities. Furthermore, foreign exchange inflows related to foreign direct investments are also expected to help shore up the currency,” he added.

Only a third of seniors on govt registry have been vaccinated

O

NLY around a third of the senior citizens nationwide, who are registered in the government’s inoculation drive are

fully vaccinated, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

In an online press briefing, DOH-Health Promotion Bureau

Director Dr. Beverly Ho disclosed that only 2.6 million or 32.57 percent of the 8.4 million senior citizens in their master list have full protection against Covid-19.

The rest, she said, have yet to get even their first dose despite senior citizens being among the priority sectors in the government’s vaccine deployment along with health care workers and those with comorbidities.

The National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) said among the reasons for the low turnout was refusal or hesitation of senior citizens amid the reported side effects of the vaccines.

NCSC Chairman Franklin Quijano said some senior citizens are also unable to access vaccines since there is no available supply in their area, or they are not aware how to

access it.

To address the issue, Quijano urged the family of senior citizens to encourage them to get inoculated by assuring them of the efficacy and safety of the Covid-19 jabs.

She also said LGUs are currently ramping up their efforts to reach out to senior citizens.

“The vaccine uptake is actually going to be determined by the motivation of our senior citizens to get vaccinated but also equally important is how fast can they access the vaccines,” she added.

The government is pushing for the vaccination of senior citizens with the local transmission of the delta variant of Covid-19.

DOH noted that more than 60 percent of the over 28,000 fatalities from Covid-19 are aged over 60 years old. Samuel P. Medenilla

ECQ...

of the economy will be placed under ECQ; 9 percent under Modified ECQ (MECQ); General Community Quarantine (GCQ) with Heightened Restrictions (HR), 21 percent; GCQ with restrictions (WR), zero; GCQ, 14 percent; and Modified GCQ (MGCQ), 21 percent.

Based on Neda estimates, Sombilla said between August 6 and 20, some 7.25 million workers will be affected under the ECQ; 4.24 million in MECQ; 10.061 million in GCQ HR; zero in GCQ WR; 8.14 million in GCQ; and 12.269 million in MGCQ. Last Friday, the Neda estimated that placing Metro Manila under ECQ will cost the economy some P105 billion. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua told reporters that this will also increase the ranks of the poor by up to 177,000 people and render 444,000 Filipinos jobless.

However, Chua said the impact would be mitigated by cash assistance that the government will be providing for those who will be adversely affected by the lockdown.

C  A

vated crude oil prices, should temper our juices,” it however, added.

ECQ impacts

IN a presentation at the House of Representatives Committee on Health on Wednesday, National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Undersecretary for the Regional Development Group Mercedita A. Sombilla shared the impact of the Community Quarantines on the economy.

Based on Neda estimates as of August 2, every week in ECQ would cost the economy P144.260 billion a week. This will lead to a reduction of economic growth by 0.8 percentage points this year.

She added that the ECQ will lead to an increase in the number of poor Filipinos to between 161,000 and 242,000 per week. This will also render some 607,000 Filipinos jobless per week. Sombilla said between August 6 and 20, 35 percent

Keeping...

C  A

cent speaking engagement.

“We will continue to monitor recent developments, here and abroad, and assess their impact on the inflation outlook, financial stability and growth,” he added.

Diokno also said that while they will do all they can to hold the fort on the monetary front, the key to a sustained economic rebound is the acceleration of the government’s vaccination program.

Cai U. Ordinario

The governor added that sustained targeted fiscal initiatives and monetary policy support for domestic demand would help boost market confidence and economic recovery to gain more traction.

“The BSP is committed to support the economy for as long as needed to ensure its strong and sustainable recovery. The BSP will also remain vigilant against any emerging risks to the outlook for infl ation and growth and will adjust its policy settings as needed to safeguard its price and fi nancial stability objectives,” Diokno said.

Tokyo...

C  A

tion as the knockout king of the Tokyo Games, faces Ukraine’s Oleksandr Khyzhniak in a middleweight semifinal battle starting at 2:03 p.m. (Manila time).

Victories by both would guarantee them silver medals and shots at the same gold medals Hidilyn Diaz won in women’s weightlifting two Mondays ago.

More Olympics stories in Sports, page A14.

CSC wants bigger role in govt workers’ unions bill

T

HE Civil Service Commission (CSC) on Wednesday pushed to have control over the implementation of House Bill 2621 or the Public Service Relations Act, which will empower public sector workers to organize.

During the online hearing of the Committee on Civil Service and Profession Regulation on Wednesday, CSC Director Krunimar Antonio Escudero III proposed that CSC be given the crucial role due to its existing resources.

He said the proposed creation of the Public Sector Labor Relations Board, which is intended to implement the legislation, could slow down the enforcement of the HB 2621 once it is signed into law.

“Instead of creating a board that is composed of a mix of elected and appointed representatives, the implementation of the law and the concomitant jurisdiction must be lodged with the Civil Service Commission,” Escudero said.

He noted this is apparent from the operation of the Public Sector Labor-Management Council (PSLMC), which is currently administering the implementation of Executive Order (EO) 180, which contain the guidelines for public sector workers to organize.

“One of the difficulties of the current setup of the PSLMC is how it could convene its members. If we put up the Public Sector Labor Relations Board, we might experience the same difficulties,” Escudero said.

Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK) General Secretary Annie Geron immediately rejected Escudero’s proposal stating CSC should have no control over the HB 2691 as the central personal agency of the government.

“Labor relations or industrial relations is outside the ambit of human relations management.

To think otherwise connotes that the concept is interpreted by the Civil Service Commission to mean assuming control and restriction in the exercise in the rights guaranteed by the constitution to public sector employees,” Geron said.

She noted EO 180 created the PSLMC specifically to prevent CSC from intervening over public sector workers from organizing.

TUCP party-list Raymond Mendoza said they will consider the position of CSC, PSLINK and other stakeholders before they finalize the bill.

He said they hope it will be passed on third and final reading at the House of Representatives by September, especially since it is part of the country’s commitment to International Labor Organization (ILO) with the ratification of its Convention 151 or Public Service Convention way back in 2017.

The convention needs an enabling law before it can be enforced in the country.

Samuel P. Medenilla

The Nation BusinessMirror

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Govt offices ordered to cut workers during ECQ

By Samuel P. Medenilla

SC upholds Subic’s freeport status, junks BOC order banning import of RHD vehicles

@sam_medenilla

G

OVERNMENT offices will remain open, but with reduced on-site personnel as the National Capital Region (NCR) begins its two-week lockdown on Friday, August 6, 2021.

Last Tuesday, Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea issued Memorandum Circular (MC) 87 stating the guidelines on “on-site capacity” for government offices and instrumentalities during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metropolitan Manila.

Under the issuance, government offices, including governmentowned or -controlled corporations (GOCC), under the Executive department will only be required to operate with on-site skeleton work force.

“To ensure continuity of government service, the skeleton work force shall not be less than 20 percent on-site capacity at any given time, with the remainder being under work-from-home arrangements,” Medialdea said.

Only agencies, which provide health and emergency frontline services, laboratory and testing services, border control, and other critical services will be allowed full on-site capacity.

Medialdea “strongly urged” offices under the legislative and judicial branches of the government as well as independent constitutional commissions and bodies, local government units in NCR to also implement a similar arrangement during the ECQ. He instructed the affected government offices, which will be affected

by ECQ, to submit to the head of their respective office the specific percentage of the agency’s skeleton work force, together with their working arrangements during the lockdown.

“The department head may, at any time, direct the modification of the submitted on-site capacity or related arrangements, as health considerations and the exigencies of the service may require,” Medialdea said.

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

T

HE Supreme Court has declared illegal the implementation by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) of a memorandum order that prohibits the importation of righthand drive (RHD) vehicles into the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ).

In a 10-page resolution, the Court’s Second Division denied the petition for review filed by the BOC seeking the reversal of the order issued by the Regional Trial Court of Olongapo City on July 28, 2016, which declared as “invalid and without any legal effect” Customs Memorandum Order 16-2005 within the Subic Special Economic Zone.

The trial court’s decision stemmed from the petition for declaratory relief filed by Japanese 4x4 Export Corporation, a domestic firm engaged in the business of admission of vehicles, trucks, heavy equipment for indus-

trial and agricultural use, and other related materials.

The petitioner argued that the SBFZ is considered as a separate Customs territory under Republic Act 7227 or the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992.

Pursuant to the law, Japanese 4 x 4 claimed that the BOC has no authority to restrict the free flow of goods in the SBFZ. After the petition was granted by the trial court, the BOC elevated the case before the SC through a petition for review, arguing that the petitioner was no longer entitled for a declaratory relief since it had already committed a violation of the order prior to its filing since some of the vehicles or trucks brought in by it were right-handed vehicles.

In denying the BOC’s petition, the Court noted that the status of SBFZ as a separate customs territory has long been settled when then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

signed Executive Order 156 prohibiting the importation of used motor vehicles into the country, inclusive of the free port zone, to prevent the further decline of sales in the local motor vehicle industry.

The Court noted that despite its laudable objectives, it declared EO 156 as void for being ultra vires (beyond the scope) and for being unreasonable.

It also noted the intention of lawmakers in crafting RA 7227, which was to exempt SBFZ from the State’s territory and treat it as a foreign territory for purposes of customs laws.

This means, according to the Court, the goods received at the free port are not subject to the customs jurisdiction of the country.

“The implementation of CMO No. 16-2005 inside the free port area is akin to imposing an additional condition or amendment in the contract entered into by Japanese 4 x 4 as a registered Subic Bay Freeport Zone Enterprise authorized by the SBMA

Senator seeks inquiry vs cops behind sale of AK-47 rifles

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

A

DMINISTRATION Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, taking the cue from President Duterte, is pushing for a Senate probe into reports that some Philippine National Police (PNP) officials sold AK-47 assault rifles to the New People’s Army (NPA).

In filing Senate Resolution 811, dela Rosa stressed the need for lawmakers to still look into the anomaly even as cases were already filed at the Sandiganbayan against the erring PNP officers involved the illegal gun deal arming rebels fighting State forces.

Dela Rosa’s Resolution aims to

review and strengthen the law, as well as the policy on government’s issuance of license and permit to carry firearms.

The first-term lawmaker, a former chief of the National Police, cited reports that private individuals, and even corporations, are “exploiting” gaps in the existing law to sell firearms, “even to communist rebels and terrorist groups.”

Dela Rosa’s Resolution recalled a previous incident involving the confiscation of 44-AK-47 rifles in separate encounters between State forces and NPA rebels in the Caraga and Western Mindanao Regions.

It was reported that the seized firearms were eventually traced to be

part of the 1,004 State-issued AK- 47 rifles registered and acquired for the PNP between year 2011 and 2013.

Senate probers were also prodded to look into other assorted “irregularities” that led to erring officers being dismissed and charged before the Ombudsman that elevated cases for trial by the Sandiganbayan.

They recalled that last January 2018, the Office of the President pressed for a reinvestigation by the Department of Justice on learning not all those held liable were charged.

In his last State of the Nation Address, President Duterte had also asked Congress to conduct an inquiry into the anomaly.

PNP probes reported hoarding of oxygen tanks, med supplies

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

T

HE Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered its different units and offices across the country to thwart any attempt against the reported hoarding of oxygen tanks and other medical supplies amid the continuing threat and surging cases of Covid-19.

The directive to police regional offices and units was issued on Wednesday by PNP chief General Guillermo Eleazar after Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama called on the police and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to probe deeper into the reported hoarding of oxygen tanks.

Metro Manila and Cebu City, as well most parts of the country, are facing surge in Covid-19 cases,

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Thursday, August 5, 2021 A3

I have directed the Cebu City Police and the Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to closely coordinate with the DTI office in the area and look into this report of hoarding.

BM

PNP Chief Guillermo Eleazar which had been attributed to the more infectious Covid-19 Delta variant. The increase prompted the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases to put the National Capital Region under hard lockdown beginning tomorrow, August 6, 2021.

“I have directed the Cebu City Police and the Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to closely coordinate with the DTI office in the area and look into this report of hoarding,” Eleazar said.

The PNP chief said the police would also check if there are inci-

dents of hoarding of oxygen tanks and other medical supplies in the National Capital Region and other parts of the country.

“Even here in Metro Manila, we will also check if there are also incidents like these. More than ever, it is now that we need enough supplies of oxygen tanks because of the rising number of Covid-19 cases due to the transmissible Delta variant,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PNP chief said the police would not be offering free rides to authorized persons outside residence (APOR) once the enhanced community quarantine is implemented in Metro Manila.

He said that if APORs have to report for work, they have to take public transportation, which had been allowed by the government to operate on a 50 percent capacity.

[Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority].

This act is an intrusion upon the powers granted to the SBMA under Section 13[6][2] of RA 7227, which allows it to accept any local or foreign investment, business or enterprise, subject only to such rules and regulations to be promulgated by the SBMA,” the SC ruled.

It held that CMO 16-2005 is ultra vires as it went beyond the scope of its enabling law, RA 8506 (An Act Banning the Registration and Operation of Vehicles with Right-Hand Steering Wheel in any Private or Public Street, Road or Highway).

“Here, Japanese 4x4 does not import or cause the importation of goods into the customs territory of the Philippines. The goods received

by Japanese 4 x 4 via the free port do not constitute importation because it is as if the goods landed into a foreign territory. Since the shipment took place from one foreign territory to another foreign territo-

ry, the BOC cannot validly assert its authority over the transaction,” the SC explained.

Furthermore, the Court said the implementation of CMO 16-2005 inside the free port is invalid for being unreasonable “as it does not serve the primordial purpose of the importation ban.”

“Our lawmakers have their reasons and purposes in designating the Subic Bay Freeport Zone as a separate customs entity and in granting privileges and incentives to the enterprises registered with the SBMA. Mainly, their aim is to develop the Subic Bay Freeport Zone into a self-sustaining entity that will generate employment and attract foreign and local investment,” the SC declared.

“To this end, the Court will keep the statute’s intent of carving a territory out of the former military reservation in Subic Bay where free flow of goods and capital will always be maintained,” it added.

House resolution pushes deeper check into OCTA’s background, ties with UP

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

F

IVE lawmakers have filed a resolution asking the House Committee on Good Government to conduct an inquiry on OCTA Research Philippines, an independent research group, on its qualification, research methodologies for its projections and warnings about the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

In filing House Resolution 2075 last Tuesday, the lawmakers urged the committee to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, to ascertain the credentials and background of the research group.

These are Deputy Speakers Bernadette Herrera (Bagong Henerasyon Party-list), Kristine SingsonMeehan (Ilocos Sur, 2nd District), and Sharon Garin (AAMBIS-OWA Party-list); Deputy Minority Leader Stella Luz Quimbo (Marikina, 2nd District), and Rep. Jesus Suntay (Quezon City, Fourth District).

Beginning last year, the lawmakers said, a number of media outlets have cited warnings published by OCTA, with the latest one pushing for a “circuit breaker,” or hard lockdown this month.

“There is a public health and public policy need to ensure the safety and security of the population during this pandemic, and that information being distributed is correct and are not irresponsibly and erroneously published,” the resolution said.

Lawmakers also underscored the need to “validate the connection between OCTA Research and the University of the Philippines System, as the former publicized a partnership which the latter seemingly denied.”

The lawmakers said previous infographics and press releases across news outlets and social-media platforms refer to the “University of

the Philippines-OCTA” group (UPOCTA) or the “UP-OCTA Research Team” in predicting surges of Covid-19 cases. Moreover, OCTA Research fellow Professor Ranjit Rye has been quoted to refer to the group as the “UP-OCTA Research Team.”

However, the lawmakers said UPDiliman Associate Professor Peter Cayton emphasized in one news report that there is no office within the campus named OCTA, and that it does “not exist in UP’s organizational structure.”

Based on their web site, OCTA describes itself as a “polling, research and consultation firm” that provides “comprehensive, holistic, accurate, rigorous, and insightful data analysis to help our clients in government, the private sector and the NGO community.”

The lawmakers said it further indicates that OCTA specializes in public opinion research, qualitative and quantitative research, policy research and advocacy, and training and capacity building.

They added the Department of Health (DOH) and a member of the government’s Technical Advisory Group on Covid-19 has advised the group to “apply circumspection in making pandemic-related statements, in order to minimize public panic.”

“The main problem with OCTA’s case projection model is that it is based on cases reported in the last two weeks,” noted infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Salvana.

“Even a student of clinical epidemiology will tell you that that is not valid because cases that happened within the last two weeks are subject to error, because some get tested later or earlier. There are backlogs, so if you are making projections based on data that is incomplete or erroneous, you are going to come out with erroneous projections,” he said.

Sans addl budget, DOLE eyes part of ₧4-B TUPAD fund for job generation amid lockdown

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

W

ITH still no additional funding for its cash aid program, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced it would just provide emergency employment to around 400,000 workers, who may be displaced due to lockdowns nationwide.

In an online briefing on Wednesday, DOLE spokesman Rolly Francia disclosed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has yet to

respond to their request for P2-billion fund for their Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP).

Under C A MP, DOLE pro vides qualified beneficiaries in the formal sector with a one-time P5,000 financial assistance.

Pending the said request, Francia said, DOLE would have to make use of a portion of its remaining Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) fund, which is currently around P4 billion.

TUPAD is an existing program of

DOLE, which provides emergency employment to displaced informal sector workers. Its beneficiaries are paid at a minimum wage level.

Francia said they might tap TUPAD beneficiaries to help in the government’s contact tracing measures, particularly in Metro Manila, amid a spike in Covid-19 cases.

Nationwide target

LAST Tuesday, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III sent a letter to DBM containing the said request to help an estimated 398,000 dis-

placed workers, who may lose their jobs in areas, which will be placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified ECQ (MECQ) in five regions.

Of the said target beneficiaries, 155,220 will be from the National Capital Region (NCR), which will be placed under ECQ starting on Friday.

DOLE is also targeting to provide CAMP benefits in the following regions: Central Luzon (59,700 beneficiaries); Calabarzon (35,820 beneficiaries); Western Visayas (31,840); and Northern Mindanao

(7,960 beneficiaries).

The requested CAMP benefits will also be used to help 107,460 beneficiaries in other areas that may be placed under lockdown this year.

Francia said DOLE might also ask for additional funding for its Abot Kamay sa Pagtulong sa mga OFW (AKAP) program, which provides displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFW) with a one-time P10,000 cash aid.

Unlikely approval

FRANCIA noted that CAMP would be separate from the P13.1-billion

financial assistance to be provided by the national government to help over 10 million people, who will be affected by the ECQ in NCR. He explained DOLE would no longer be able to contribute to the cash aid from the national government since it no longer has any unobligated fund for the said purpose.

In a radio interview on Wednesday, DBM said Bello’s request for more CAMP budget is unlikely to be granted for now since DOLE still has an existing TUPAD budget, which it could use to assist displaced workers.

Economy A4 Thursday, August 5, 2021

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

NGCP bans plant maintenance activities during peak months

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

T

HE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on Wednesday assured that it would not allow power plant maintenance activities during peak months to prevent power outage incidents.

“NGCP assures that for its future submissions, all maintenance plans which fall within the peak period will be rejected to prevent any issues on unscheduled power interruptions,” the grid operator said.

This was one of the issues discuss during a meeting with industry stakeholders.

NGCP met with representatives from Department of Energy (DOE), Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), Transco, and other agencies, to discuss the energy industry’s most pressing matters. NGCP welcomed the meeting as an opportunity to clear matters concerning power.

The issue on ancillary services (AS), which NGCP is addressing by reviewing the existing contracts and capaci-

ties needed, was also discussed.

The company said it awaits clarification on some matters regarding DOE guidelines, which were all expressed in a letter submitted to the agency last July 15. NGCP sees this as crucial to effectively and efficiently comply with the directive to convert from non-firm to firm contracts.

On the issue of delays in Grid Operations and Maintenance Program (GOMP) and Transmission Development Plan (TDP) submission, NGCP clarified that current delays experienced on the GOMP were borne out of clarifications sought from DOE as regards the company’s 2020 submission.

However, the company has exhibited compliance with its submission of the 2021-2023 GOMP to DOE for approval last June 2021, endorsing the same to Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) for concurrence.

NGCP also acknowledged its responsibility of consistently updating the TDP. The company’s technical

group continues to work on its annual submission to DOE, and actively conducts consultations with all relevant stakeholders since its inception in 2009.

On the issue of NGCP’s audit, the company said the ERC’s Compliance and Performance Review is currently ongoing. This involves the audit of the company’s operations, programs, and processes.

Preparations for the said audit began in September 2020, with the requested compliance documents submitted to the ERC last March 8. “NGCP assures the public and its stakeholders that the company remains committed to cooperate with ERC and the auditors assigned to perform the review,” the company said.

NGCP also clarified the matter on delays in transmission line projects, which was raised during the Senate Committee on Energy hearings. The company regularly submits monthly Transmission Project Status Report (TPSR) to the DOE, as well as reports the status of permits/issuances and

the status of expropriation cases filed by NGCP with concerned LGUs and agencies.

With all the issues raised, NGCP is calling on all energy players to work together and come up with a holistic approach to these problems.

“We have always complied and will continue to comply with our mandate and the directives of concerned stakeholders. NGCP is a private company, and while we appreciate the guidance and help of the power players, at the end of the day, the objective is not to focus on AS alone.

Let us work together to find a holistic solution to the problems we face.

In our view, this requires a deeper analysis of the problem, and a broader strategy than just firm contracting,” the company said.

NGCP is a Filipino-led, privately owned company in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid, led by majority shareholders and Vice Chairman of the Board Henry Sy Jr. and Co-Vice Chairman Robert Coyiuto Jr.

2-week ECQ may prevent more Private schools laud House panel’s hard lockdowns–Concepcion approval of bill clarifying tax rates

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @TyronePiad

I

MPLEMENTING a two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) may prevent further hard lockdowns that will hurt the already struggling economy, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Maria A. Concepcion said.

The Go Negosyo founder said in a virtual event on Wednesday that putting the National Capital Region (NCR) under ECQ this month was a necessary measure to curb the growing cases of Covid-19 Delta variant.

“If we wait too long, then we will be up for something more challenging and the lockdown, rather than two weeks, might be even one month or two months,” Concepcion said.

“While the infections are starting to creep up but not at its peak, we have to hit it immediately and that’s why we recommended for the two-week lockdown,” he added, stressing that an immediate action is a must.

Concepcion said that the two-week ECQ aims to “protect” the fourth quarter, as this is the time when micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and large corporations build up their momentum.

He explained that the Christmas season is expected to boost consumption, in addition to anticipated election spending.

“This [fourth quarter] is the best time for many entrepreneurs, who are losing money in the previous quarters, to be able to recover it,” he said.

“We want to cross over [to next year] with full of confidence and hope. We also want the banking community to also see there is a road map towards

recovery and the best time for many entrepreneurs to recover is in the last quarter,” he continued.

Ultimately, Concepcion said that the rollout of the vaccination program should accelerate to create a “wall of defense.” He stressed that the unvaccinated should receive the Covid-19 jabs before the Delta variant infects them.

Achieving a high level of vaccination rate, even for a commercial establishment, will allow more businesses to open, he said.

“We all want to see an end to the lockdown,” Concepcion said. “It’s gonna be challenging to face these lockdowns all the time because businesses will never be able to run the engines well.”

Business groups earlier said they were against the implementation of a two-week hard lockdown given its adverse impact on the economy. These include the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Exporters Confederation of the Philippines and Employers Confederation of the Philippines.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez earlier said that imposing a strict lockdown measure amid the Covid-19 Delta variant threat would likely increase the number of closed businesses to 16 percent. Currently, Lopez said that about 8 percent to 10 percent of the MSMEs are shut down due to challenges brought upon the lockdown measures.

He also said previously that another major lockdown would definitely be too costly for the economy, estimating that P30 billion worth of wages may be lost from a two-week lockdown. This, as 1.8 million workers are seen to be affected if the NCR plus bubble is put under ECQ, he added.

F

OLLOWING the swift second reading approval of the bill clarifying the income taxation of proprietary educational institutions, an alliance of private schools has expressed hope that the measure can be signed into law before the new school year starts this August and September.

In a news statement issued on Thursday, Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) Managing Director Atty. Joseph Noel M. Estrada said the immediate approval of House Bill 9913 can help schools to fully focus on dealing with the learning crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic that the country is currently grappling with.

Estrada said with the few remaining number of days in the legislative calendar and the number of urgent measures lined up in Congress, the chamber is racing against time to have the law enacted in the 18th Congress.

He added the legislative policy intervention would provide stability to education not only in this time of pandemic but also for generations to come, as it is crucial and complementary to any economic measures to revive the battered economy.

The lower chamber already approved the bill on second reading last Tuesday. It is expected to approve the measure on third and final

reading next week.

“We also urge our many private education stakeholders to join us in our collective appeal to Congress, to extend a lifeline to our struggling schools during this pandemic, to ensure the continuity of learning for our students, to secure the jobs of our teachers and personnel, and to provide livelihoods for the many small businesses [e.g., carinderias, tricycle drivers] who are dependent on our schools,” he said.

“We pray for our congressmen that they may continue to be filled with courage and the strength of purpose to urgently pass this landmark legislation for Philippine education in this 18th Congress,” he said.

Under HB 9913, a preferential tax rate of 10 percent imposed on proprietary educational institutions will be reduced to 1 percent from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2023, after which the tax rate shall be set at 10 percent under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE).

It is meant to intervene in the implementation of the recent regulation of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), increasing the tax rate of private educational institutions to 25 percent from 10 percent. The schools had raised a howl over the BIR regulation, saying it contradicts the spirit of the CREATE law, and will worsen the financial plight of pandemichit schools, resulting in more closures. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

96 Filipino CPAs step up to Asean-level accountants

By Manuel T. Cayon

@awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

D

AVAO CITY—Ninety six more Filipino certified public accountants (CPA) have been upgraded to Asean level of professional accountants, allowing more Filipino accountants to compete globally for top-level professional positions and responsibilities.

Rosanno Luga, president of the Davao City chapter of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) said the new Filipino CPAs inducted and conferred the title “Asean Chartered Professional Accountant” came from different parts of the Philippines.

They took their oath before Pro-

fessional Regulatory Commission (PRC) Chairman Teofilo S. Pilando Jr. during a formal ceremony on July 31, 2021 hosted by the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy (BOA).

There are about 5,300 Asean professional accountants to date, Luga said, including the newly conferred Filipino Asean CPAs, “three of whom are members and past presidents of PICPA Davao Chapter who are now holding pertinent positions in the government, namely, Commission on Audit Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc, Energy Regulatory Commission Commissioner Marko Romeo L. Fuentes and PRC-BOA Vice Chair Thelma S. Ciudadano.

The conferment ceremony was

done at the sidelines of the 2nd Asean CPA Conference virtually held on July 30 and 31 with Cebu City as the host. The 1st Asean CPA Conference was held in Bali, Indonesia in October 2019. The conferment was worked out by the BOA, PICPA National Office, PICPA Cebu and PRC International Affairs Office.

The elevation of the more Filipino CPAs to the Asean level of professional accountants came at the heels of the consolidation of the Asean Framework Agreement on Services that “enhances cooperation in services amongst Asean member-states in order to improve efficiency and competitiveness.”

Long envisioned to be a single

economy, the integration of more professional services, including accountancy in Asean would help “promote the flow of relevant information and the exchanging of expertise, experiences, and best practices suited to specific needs of the 10 Asean member-states: Br unei, Cambod ia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.”

The 2nd Asean CPA Conference was held with the theme, Forging Alliances. Strengthening Links, and gathered some of the vast number of CPAs from all over the Asean region, Luga added. “This would afford them the benefits of free flow of services in the region.”

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BOC orders 62 rice importers to pay P2.8-B deficiency duties

T

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE Bureau of Customs (BOC) ordered 62 rice importers found to have customs compliance issues to pay a combined total of P2.799 billion in deficiency duties.

The post-clearance audit conducted by the bureau covered a total of 69 rice importers with shipments within January to June 2020. However, seven of these importers were found to have no issues.

The audit was conducted in a bid to protect government revenues as well as local producers of agricultural products.

Customs Assistant Commissioner and Post-Clearance Audit Group

Head Atty. Vincent Philip Maronilla told BusinessMirror that the biggest chunk of the deficiency duties will come from 29 auditees who were told to pay a combined total of P1.43 billion in surcharges for failing to provide free and full access to their records without justifiable reason.

Forty-two rice importers with valuation issues are also charged a combined total of P1.27 billion, equivalent to 45.36 percent of the

deficiency taxes.

“In terms of value, there were about 42 auditees that failed to submit satisfactory proof to support the accuracy of the declared transaction value,” Maronilla said.

However, he said this does not necessarily mean these rice imports automatically committed undervaluation, which connotes there is fraud involved.

Apart from this, a total of P67.57 million in deficiency duties were charged to 47 auditees who were not able to prove that they did not understate their insurance cost while 16 auditees had to pay P27.27 million for having issues with their freight.

Maronilla also disclosed that 15 cooperatives were found to have customs compliance issues, mainly noncompliance with record-keeping requirements.

So far, Maronilla said 14 of the auditees found to have customs compliance issues have already availed of the Prior Disclosure Program and have voluntarily paid P7.1 million in deficiency duties.

The customs official also said the audited rice importers were already given the summary of the audit results and that the bureau has already sent the demand letters to those who have not voluntarily paid.

To date, more than 10 rice importers have also said they would resort to legal remedies, Maronilla said.

He added rice importers with deficiency taxes should be able to pay their charges within 10 days from receipt of the demand letter.

“We have an assessment and if they weren’t able to contest that, and they weren’t able to appeal that to the proper office and it becomes, then we’ll proceed to collect,” he said.

Last year, the BOC found in its audit covering the period of March 5 to June 2019 that over 40 rice importers were liable for the payment of a combined total of P1.417 billion in deficiency customs, duties, penalties, surcharges, and interest due to undervaluation, misclassification, and/or understatement of freight and insurance charges.

Citing ₧11B flagged by COA, Drilon prods DOF: Check idle PITC fund

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

S

ENATE Minority Leader Frank Drilon prodded the Department of Finance (DOF) to check out an “unexpended and unused P11.2billion fund sitting idly” in the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC), suggesting the idle fund can be tapped for the Duterte administration’s much-needed social amelioration program (SAP).

Drilon suggested that even as the Duterte administration scrambles to find available SAP funds for ayuda or cash grants, “it is highly possible that PITC is still sitting on a pile of unused and unspent cash that should have been returned long ago to the Bureau of the Treasury.

In a statement Wednesday, the Senate Minority Leader pressed the Department of Finance to “include the PITC in its ‘cash sweep’ and immediately direct PITC to return any unused and unexpended funds in its possession so that it can be used to augment the budget for ayuda.”

Drilon conveyed his proposal as an alternative after the Commission on Audit flagged the PITC earlier for

its failure to return to the Bureau of the Treasury or its source agencies’ unused funds of P11.02 billion.

The Minority Leader noted that “these unreturned and unutilized funds, if it is still with the PITC, can augment the paltry ayuda that the government has promised to Metro Manila residents who will be badly affected by the lockdown.”

He added that “It can double the P1,000 to P4,000 ayuda that our kababayan will receive, suggesting that “we must use the funds to increase it to P8,000 per household.”

Drilon, who earlier ex posed PITC’s scheme of keeping government funds in its bank accounts for long, cited the COA report listing the balances of the fund transfers totaling P11.022 billion from various Source Agencies, specifically the National Government Agencies, for calendar years 2014 to 2020 for the procurements of various projects remained unutilized as of December 31, 2020.

He recalled that the COA flagged P11 billion worth of projects under the General Appropriations Acts of 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 that remain “for procure-

ment and bidding.”

Of the P11 billion, P3.5 billion are fund transfers from the Military Group (Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force, etc); while P7.4 billion were transfers from Bureau of Customs, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Philippine National Police, and other government agencies.

Moreover, Drilon agreed with the COA findings that the funds must be returned to the concerned source agencies or the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr), adding: “We need Covid-19 funds. We need ayuda funds. If these funds are still with PITC as the government scrambles for money to fund the ayuda, that would be outrageous,” Drilon added.

The senator reminded that the PITC is mandated by law to return these funds to the Bureau of the Treasury.

He added that aside from COA Circular No. 94-013 and the pertinent GAA provisions that require the reversion of unexpended balances of appropriation to the source agencies and the general fund, Drilon also cited Republic Act No. 11520 as au-

thority for the return of the funds.

“Republic Act No. 11520 that extended the availability of the 2020 national budget until December 31, 2021 mandated PITC to immediately return the balances from the funds transferred to it by different agencies,” says Drilon.

The law, he stressed, explicitly provides that “any balances of fund transfers in the books of the PITC shall revert to the unappropriated surplus of the general fund” upon its effectivity” in December 2020.

At the same time, the lawmaker introduced a provision in the law that would put a stop to the practice of agency procurement outsourcing to PITC: “agency outsourcing requests or agreements by agencies, instrumentalities and/or government-owned and -controlled corporations with philippine international trading corporation shall not be allowed.”

He said, “this practice of parking funds with this GOCC must stop.”

The lawmaker laments that “the government is hard up due to the drop in revenues,” suggesting that “if they cannot disburse the funds, just return them to national coffers.”

PHL to Asean, China: Let’s help set Myanmar aright

By Recto Mercene @rectomercene

A

FTER three years, the Philippines has officially turned over to Myanmar its role as country coordinator for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)China Dialogue, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday.

DFA Assistant Secretary Eduardo Meñez, in a text message, said Myanmar assumed the coordinatorship during the virtual Asean-China Post Ministerial Conference on August 3 (Tuesday).

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., congratulated State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China as “the most momentous event in modern Chinese history. It is the most important event in the modern history of Asia and its future.”

Locsin said “the quality and increasing extent of Asean-China relations merit elevation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”

He said at Chongqing, a sprawling municipality at the confluence of the

Yangtze and Jialing rivers in southwestern China, “that geography alone argues for the elevation; reality demands it.”

“China is or soon will be the world’s biggest economy. Its role is imperative for a global post-pandemic recovery.

It’s continuing success in containing and beating down the epidemic—albeit again and again, as the virus raises its head again and again in different if not deadlier and more infectious mutations.”

He said when critics of China said its vaccines are not as good, Locsin asked: “As compared to what?”

“The Chinese vaccines were the first on the scene. Had many countries not made a grab for it, the death toll would be far greater.”

He added the extent might be the same; “but the intensity of the infections far worse. Furthermore, no country would make a vaccine that is less than optimal, considering the speed at which it had to be invented and widely deployed within China itself.”

Locsin said no sane country, would invent less than the best vaccine it can and use them to convince others to use it to their hurt. “That would be

a weapon of mass stupidity.”

As co-chair with China from 2018 to 2021, Locsin reported that the Philippines has tried to make as much progress on the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea (COC) negotiations “as circumstances allowed,” even during the pandemic.

“A peaceful South China Sea is essential to its protection and sustainable management,” he said, adding disputes in it should be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS and in the recent light of the 2016 Arbitral Award which singles out no one, was carefully crafted as to be unusable as a weapon for disputation; and most helpful in clarifying maritime issues.

Myanmar’s case

REFERRING to the Philippines’s successor as coordinator—Myanmar— Locsin said that “given its proximity to China, we hope for China’s initiative in restoring peace and freedom to that sad land.”

Myanmar has been wracked by unrest since a coup ousted elected constitu-

tional leaders in February and detained Aung San Suu Kyi. He said Asean remains deeply concerned over developments in Myanmar. “The Five-Point Consensus must be swiftly implemented,” he said.

“The Chair’s Special Envoy should be allowed to begin work so unhindered humanitarian assistance be provided.

My own ambassador in Washington (Jose Manuel Romualdez) urged there that Myanmar not be excluded from vaccine assistance out of ‘humanitarian concerns’; that would be inhuman to do. There is no place for politics where so many lives are at stake.”

He repeated his appeal for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other political detainees and her foreign adviser.

He said constructive dialogue is what the Five-Point Consensus calls for; “it can only happen when everyone concerned is at the table…Foremost — Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the body, soul and face of her people.

“Asean’s survival as a credible partner for all, including China, hinges on this,” the final test that all in Asean feared but we must face it.”

Thursday, August 5, 2021 A5

To preempt oxygen shortage scare, DTI urges manufacturers to boost supply

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @Tyronepiad

W

HILE the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) considers importation, it has asked the oxygen manufacturers to expand their capacities to meet the demand in the country.

“Yes, possible,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez told reporters on Wednesday when asked if importation is a possible recommendation to preempt a surge in demand.

But the DTI has “also encouraged oxygen manufacturers to expand their current capacities,” Lopez said. The total capacity for medical and industrial oxygen is currently 603 tons per day, Lopez said.

He noted that an oxygen tank is a medical product being manufactured under a sector entitled to incentives under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) law.

The DTI has also asked the Department of Health to stockpile oxygen cylinder

tanks and regulators in the event that demand soars amid the Covid-19 Delta variant threat.

Lopez said that current industry capacity is about three times more than the demand in the country. He said producers have not yet increased prices amid the surplus on the production side.

“The current capacity surplus includes both the medical and industrial oxygen capacity, and the latter can also be allocated to produce medical oxygen if and when necessary,” he said.

The DTI chief said the increase in demand for cylinder tanks comes from households acquiring one for personal use—not for hoarding but because they are worried that they may need this in case the queue for hospitals takes longer than usual while family members with suspected Covid are suffering low oxygen levels.

“Hoarding especially at this time is a crime and our economic intelligence team will run after erring distributors or refillers,” he warned.

BusinessMirror

A6 Thursday, August 5, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION QUALIFICATION AND AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION SALARY RANGE 3O BPO INCORPORATED 2/f Lcs Bldg South Super Highway San Andres Cor Diamante St 087 Bgy 803 Santa Ana Manila PERSE, DAVID SEBASTIEN Customer Service Agent French Basic Qualification: Native speaker Brief Job Description: 1.

Customer Service Agent interacts with the customer Salary Range: on behalf of the organization. Provide information Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 about the products and services, responds to customer complaints as well WIBERG, PER MATHIAS Operations Manager Basic Qualification: Brief Job Description: Native speaker 2.

Operations Manager will be responsible in providing inspired leadership for the operations. Involves in Salary Range: making important policy, planning and strategic Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 decisions as well as development and implementation of operational policies and procedures.

8 STONE BUSINESS OUTSOURCING OPC 5-10/f Tower 1 Pitx Kennedy Road Tambo Parañaque City Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend LIU, TANGPING potential products or Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking services to management by collecting customer 3.

Brief Job Description: information and analyzing Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and customer needs. interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend QIN, GUOWEI potential products or Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking services to management by collecting customer 4.

Brief Job Description: information and analyzing Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and customer needs. interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend WANG, XINLEI potential products or Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking services to management by collecting customer 5.

Brief Job Description: information and analyzing Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and customer needs. interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend YAO, YUANBO potential products or Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking services to management by collecting customer 6.

Brief Job Description: information and analyzing Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and customer needs. interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend YE, ZHENTIAN potential products or Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking services to management by collecting customer 7.

Brief Job Description: information and analyzing Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and customer needs. interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LIANG, YUSHENG Analyze the productivity of Marketing Staff Mandarin Speaking the Marketing plans and projects, recommend to 8.

Brief Job Description: Senior Management.

Monitor, review and report on all Marketing activity and result.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: SONG, ZHIBIN Analyze the productivity of Marketing Staff Mandarin Speaking the Marketing plans and projects, recommend to 9.

Brief Job Description: Senior Management.

Monitor, review and report on all Marketing activity and result.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: ZHU, SHENGLIN Analyze the productivity of Marketing Staff Mandarin Speaking the Marketing plans and projects, recommend to 10.

Brief Job Description: Senior Management.

Monitor, review and report on all Marketing activity and result.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 ACSTREAM MANAGEMENT INC. 2204b/2206, 22/f Pbcom Tower Ayala Avenue Bel-air Makati City LY MY YEN Basic Qualification: Mandarin Customer Service Representative Education and Experiences 11.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Responsible for managing various customer issues Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 depending on account assignment AUFREE PAYMENT SOLUTIONS INC. U3-f2 Burgundy Westbay Tower 820 P. Ocampo St., 078 Bgy. 719 Malate Manila LIM LIAN SEE Basic Qualification: Mandarin Account Staff Can speak Mandarin 12.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Maintain accurate and complete customer account info. Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 LEE ZUI SIANG Basic Qualification: Mandarin Accounts Staff Can speak Mandarin 13.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Maintain accurate and complete customer account Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 information LI, QIANG Basic Qualification: Mandarin Customer Service Can speak Mandarin 14.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Maintains customer records by updating account info.

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 LIANG, SIBO Basic Qualification: Mandarin Customer Service Can speak Mandarin 15.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Maintains customer records by updating account info.

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 LUO, HUIJUAN Basic Qualification: Mandarin Customer Service Can speak Mandarin 16.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Maintains customer records by updating account Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 information QIAO, JUN Basic Qualification: Mandarin Customer Service Can speak Mandarin 17.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Maintains customer records by updating account Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 information ZHOU, SHENGNAN Basic Qualification: Mandarin Customer Service Can speak Mandarin 18.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Maintains customer records by updating account Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 information No.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LIU, TONGYUE Mandarin Technical Support

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Brief Job Description: Monitoring and maintaining computer systems and networks ZOU, GAOHUI Mandarin Technical Support

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ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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Brief Job Description: Establishes and improves project quality management system documents

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38.

Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin

Basic Qualification: College graduate; Speaks Mandarin fluently Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LONG, JIN Safety Supervisor Of PRDP

Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Monitoring and maintaining computer systems and Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 networks BBMAX TECH INC. Unit 2709 Cityland Pasong Tamo Tower 2210 Chino Roces Ave. Pio Del Pilar Makati City Basic Qualification: TAKASAKI, AI Bilingual and with great Customer Service Representative For Japanese Clients experience on handling first time Japanese visitors in 21.

Brief Job Description: the Philippines Translator for Japanese clients who are limited or unable to speak English Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 BIG EMPEROR TECHNOLOGY CORP. 5f-13f, Jiaxing Tower Building Aseana Avenue, Aseana Business Park Tambo Parañaque City Basic Qualification: GAO, YANG Has excellent problemMandarin Customer Relations Officer solving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with 22.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: GUO, DEZHU Has excellent problemMandarin Customer Relations Officer solving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with 23.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: HUANG, CHAOLU Has excellent problemMandarin Customer Relations Officer solving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with 24.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LIU, JUN Has excellent problemMandarin Customer Relations Officer solving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with 25.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: PEI, HAO At least college level Mandarin Customer Service and able to speak, read write and type fluently in 26.

Brief Job Description: MANDARIN language.

Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: SU, GUIDE At least college level Mandarin Customer Service and able to speak, read write and type fluently in 27.

Brief Job Description: MANDARIN language.

Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 CHINA HARBOUR ENGINEERING COMPANY 5/f Rm 501 Ramon Magsaysay Center 1680 Roxas Blvd. 076, Bgy. 699 Malate Manila JI, DENGHUI Basic Qualification: Commercial Supervisor Of PRDP College graduate; speaks mandarin fluently 28.

Brief Job Description: Assist the project master contract management and risk Salary Range: control, follow up the implementation of the contract in Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 the whole process ZHANG, DUO Basic Qualification: Commercial Supervisor Of PRDP College graduate; speaks mandarin fluently Brief Job Description: 29.

Assist the project master contract management and risk Salary Range: control, follow up the implementation of the contract in Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 the whole process DENG, CHENHUI Basic Qualification: Deputy HSE Manager Of PRDP College graduate; speaks Mandarin fluently 30.

Brief Job Description: Assist the department to establish, improve and Salary Range: implement the occupational health safety and Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 environmental responsibility system.

WEI, MINGQIANG Basic Qualification: Deputy Project Manager Of Prdp College graduate: Speaks mandarin fluently 31.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the formulation and implementation of Salary Range: the project contract management procedures, presided Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 over the overall communication work of the project CHEN, SONGBO Basic Qualification: Deputy Project Manager Of PRDP College graduate: Speaks mandarin fluently 32.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the formulation and implementation of Salary Range: the project contract management procedures, presided Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 over the overall communication work of the project GUO, WEIGANG Basic Qualification: Deputy Project Manager Of PRDP College graduate: Speaks mandarin fluently 33.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the formulation and implementation of Salary Range: the project contract management procedures, presided Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 over the overall communication work of the project HU, ZHITING Basic Qualification: Deputy Project Manager Of PRDP College graduate: Speaks mandarin fluently 34.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the formulation and implementation of Salary Range: the project contract management procedures, presided Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 over the overall communication work of the project DAVIES, ROBERT Basic Qualification: HSE Director Of PRDP College graduate; 20 years working experience in 35.

Brief Job Description: health and safety projects Assist the department to establish, improve and implement the occupational health, safety and Salary Range: environmental responsibility system.

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 XIAO, CONG Basic Qualification: HSE Supervisor Of PRDP College graduate; speaks Mandarin fluently 36.

Brief Job Description: Assist the department to establish, improve and Salary Range: implement the occupational health, safety and Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 environmental responsibility system ZHENG, XIAOKUN QA/QC Manager Of PRDP

www.businessmirror.com.ph

39.

40.

41.

Brief Job Description: Assist the department to establish, improved and implement the occupational, health safety and environmental responsibility system, and formulate the HSE rules and regulations of the project department LIAO, WEIFAN Ship Machinery Material Manager Of PRDP Brief Job Description: Responsible for making ship repair according to ship repair list HE, LIZHU Site Officer Of PRDP Brief Job Description: Responsible for the organization, supervision, coordination, scheduling and management of daily construction of the project construction site ZHANG, LUGEN Site Officer Of PRDP

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College graduate; speaks mandarin fluently Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate; speaks mandarin fluently Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate; speak Mandarin fluently Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate; Speaks Mandarin fluently

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the organization, supervision, Salary Range: coordination, scheduling and management of the daily Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 construction of the project construction site COSMOLINK GLOBAL SOLUTIONS INC. Flr. No. 6th, 7th & 8th Bldg. No. 100 Necc Bldg., Andrews Ave. St. Newport City Subd. District 1, Barangay 183 Pasay City Basic Qualification: Fluent in speaking, writing CHANG, JUI-CHEN and reading (mandarin, Admin Officer (mandarin Translator) folkien & Cantonese) at least college graduate, 42.

Brief Job Description: 2-3years work experience Renders spoken message accurately, quickly, and or fresh graduates clearly.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in speaking, writing DING, SANBING and reading (mandarin, Admin Officer (mandarin Translator) folkien & Cantonese) at least college graduate, 43.

Brief Job Description: 2-3years work experience Renders spoken message accurately, quickly, and or fresh graduates clearly.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in speaking, writing LIAO, HAIMEI and reading (mandarin, Admin Officer (mandarin Translator) folkien & Cantonese) at least college graduate, 44.

Brief Job Description: 2-3years work experience Renders spoken message accurately, quickly, and or fresh graduates clearly.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in speaking, writing SHI, YATING and reading (mandarin, Admin Officer (mandarin Translator) folkien & Cantonese) at least college graduate, 45.

Brief Job Description: 2-3years work experience Renders spoken message accurately, quickly, and or fresh graduates clearly.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in speaking, writing WANG, YINYIN and reading (mandarin, Admin Officer (mandarin Translator) folkien & Cantonese) at least college graduate, 46.

Brief Job Description: 2-3years work experience Renders spoken message accurately, quickly, and or fresh graduates clearly.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in speaking, writing WEN, JINXING and reading (mandarin, Admin Officer (mandarin Translator) folkien & Cantonese) at least college graduate, 47.

Brief Job Description: 2-3years work experience Renders spoken message accurately, quickly, and or fresh graduates clearly.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in speaking, writing YANG, JIANHONG and reading (mandarin, Admin Officer (mandarin Translator) folkien & Cantonese) at least college graduate, 48.

Brief Job Description: 2-3years work experience Renders spoken message accurately, quickly, and or fresh graduates clearly.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in speaking, writing LIN, HAO and reading (mandarin, Customer Service Representative folkien & Cantonese) at least college graduate, 49.

Brief Job Description: 2-3years work experience Interacting w/ customers via email, assists w/ or fresh graduate complaints, orders, and other queries.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: NONG, LIZHI Fluent in Chinese Dialect Customer Service Representative (Mandarin, Folkien , 50.

Cantonese) Brief Job Description: Interacting w/ customers via email, assists w/ Salary Range: complaints, orders, and other queries.

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: QU, YUE Fluent in Chinese Dialect Customer Service Representative (Mandarin, Folkien , 51.

Cantonese) Brief Job Description: Interacting w/ customers via email, assists w/ Salary Range: complaints, orders, and other queries.

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 CRONYX INC. No. 4th-10th Flr. Yinhope Bldg. Dela Rama Cor. Zoili Hilario St. Seascape Village, Ccp Complex Subd. Zone 10, Barangay 076, District 1 Pasay City Basic Qualification: TAN, FUCHENG With atleast 6 months Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk customer service experience/Good in oral 52.

Brief Job Description: communication and Assist/Help customer, Give customers information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: XIAO, JING With atleast 6 months Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk customer service experience/Good in oral 53.

Brief Job Description: communication and Assist/Help customer, Give customers information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION YAN, SHUFEI Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

54.

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

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: With atleast 6 months customer service experience / good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

CROWN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INC. 5th-7th Floor Alhi Corporate Center Aseana Avenue Tambo Parañaque City Basic Qualification: XU, YAKANG Able to speak and write Mandarin Customer Support Representative in Mandarin/Fukein and at least college level with 55.

Brief Job Description: related BPO experience.

Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 DAXIFA CORPORATION Mpire Center 93 West Avenue Project 7 Bungad 1 Quezon City Basic Qualification: CAI, YUN Ability to communicate Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative fluently in Mandarin 56.

Chinese with customers Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer service & managing the Salary Range: needs of customer through phone calls and emails Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: FU, JINFENG Ability to communicate Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative fluently in Mandarin 57.

Chinese with customers Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer service & managing the Salary Range: needs of customer through phone calls and emails Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: JIAN, TAO Ability to communicate Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative fluently in Mandarin Chinese with customers 58.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer service & managing the Salary Range: needs of customer through phone calls and emails Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LI, SHUANG Ability to communicate Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative fluently in Mandarin 59.

Chinese with customers Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer service & managing the Salary Range: needs of customer through phone calls and emails Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: VONG GIA HAO Ability to communicate Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative fluently in Mandarin Chinese with customers 60.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer service & managing the Salary Range: needs of customer through phone calls and emails Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: WANG, FANG Ability to communicate Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative fluently in Mandarin 61.

Chinese with customers Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer service & managing the Salary Range: needs of customer through phone calls and emails Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: WEI, ZHIPENG Ability to communicate Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative fluently in Mandarin 62.

Chinese with customers Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer service & managing the Salary Range: needs of customer through phone calls and emails Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: ZHANG, XIXIANG Ability to communicate Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative fluently in Mandarin 63.

Chinese with customers Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer service & managing the Salary Range: needs of customer through phone calls and emails Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: ZHOU, MIAO Ability to communicate Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative fluently in Mandarin Chinese with customers 64.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer service & managing the Salary Range: needs of customer through phone calls and emails Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 FLY SKY SERVICE INC. Level 10-1 One Global Place 5th Ave. Cor. 25th St. Bonifacio Global City Fort Bonifacio Taguig City YEO JOO HUAT (YAO YUFA) Basic Qualification: Singaporean Finance Director College graduate, fluent inwriting and speaking 65.

Brief Job Description: Singaporean language Responsible for the reliability of financial and management standard as required by the Singaporean Salary Range: clients including submission of HQ reports.

Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 FLYING DRAGON NETWORK PHILIPPINES INC. 4th-11th Floor Aseana 3 Building Aseana Avenue Corner Diosdado Macapagal Tambo Parañaque City Basic Qualification: GU, SHAOJIANG College Graduate/Level and Customer Service Representative Fluent in Mandarin / Basic 66.

English Brief Job Description: Customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: KUANG, MING College Graduate/Level and Customer Service Representative Fluent in Mandarin / Basic 67.

English Brief Job Description: Customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: WANG, XUAN College Graduate/Level and Customer Service Representative Fluent in Mandarin / Basic 68.

English Brief Job Description: customer service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 GLOBALLGA BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING Ground Level, Level 2-5 Floor Silver City 4, Ortigas East Ugong Pasig City Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend CHO, MUNSEONG potential products or Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking services to management by 69. collecting information and Brief Job Description: analyzing customer needs.

Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend LIAO, YUNSHENG potential products or Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking services to management by 70. collecting information and Brief Job Description: analyzing customer needs.

Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend TANG, ANTAI potential products or Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking services to management by 71. collecting information and Brief Job Description: analyzing customer needs.

Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend HUANG, ZHENJIA potential products or Marketing Staff Mandarin Speaking services to management by 72. collecting information and Brief Job Description: analyzing customer needs.

Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend LI, JIANGYU potential products or Marketing Staff Mandarin Speaking services to management by 73. collecting information and Brief Job Description: analyzing customer needs.

Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 HOTEL SPECIALIST (MANILA), INC. Conrad Manila Moa Complex, Seaside Blvd. Cor. Coral Way Brgy. 076 Pasay City

No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION WANG, WEIXUE Chinese Dimsum Chef

74.

Brief Job Description: To direct and supervise the activities of the dimsum team members in preparing food items

76.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in formulating marketing campaign strategies and management of wearable and audio products including digital marketing, social platform management, public and media relations management, influencer campaign and community content management

FU, DANYI Huawei Smart School Solution For Davao Oriental State College Of Science & Technology (DOSCST) Account Manager 77.

78.

Brief Job Description: Sales and marketing management of telecommunication and IT products in Mindanao region. Responsible for smart classroom and learning management system for university and college in Mindanao region using equipment like smart screen, monitor and network facility.

WANG, CHAOYI Network Optimization Analyst For Philippine Dito Project Brief Job Description: 5G wireless network planning and optimization ZHENG, YU Philippine Carriers North Luzon Regional Account Manager

79.

Brief Job Description: To support sales project on contract proposal and negotiation, contract risk identification, and internal sales approval, process, development of related customer relationship and satisfaction build up

GU, RONG Radio Network Planning Technical Director For Pldt 5g Rollout Project 80.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the 5G network planning and roll-out for local ISP provider and technical delivery of invoices and data service

LUO, DALIN Service Solution Manager For Philippine Uptime Authentication Project 81.

82.

Brief Job Description: ITH comprehensive management skills in solution integration, optical network solution integration, microwave solution integration and proficient in English, Chinese SUN, GUANKAI Transportation Industry Market Analyst For The Malolos-clark And North-south (south Line) Railway Project Brief Job Description: Understand the network topology of general transportation and provide optimized solutions based on their current network

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: proficient in speaking, reading and writing mandarin Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: At least 2 years’ experience in marketing telecommunications products; must have degree in marketing and market research; fluent in English and Chinese and has worked with muticultural team; and with skills in marketing campaign management and strategy making.

Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: Highly skilled in verbal and written communication in English, Chinese (Mandarin) and Hokkien, with sales and marketing management skills in communication and IT products. Skillful in phyton and C++ to coding, must have a masteral degree in communications engineering Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: knowledgeable in 5G network planning, fluent in English and Chinese

85.

Brief Job Description: Assist/Help customers, give customers information about the product and services

LU, TING-YU Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 86.

Brief Job Description: Assist/Help customers, give customers information about the product and services

Basic Qualification: knowledgeable in Coreldraw, Java programming, Mathlab, ENSP and ISDP

87.

Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist (CITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele

88.

89.

90.

91.

Basic Qualification: With Masteral degree in electronics information technology, at least 5 years experience in network troubleshooting, solving voice and data issues, highly proficient in Chinese and English language, with skills in wireless network and design planning and wireless network optimization, expert in coverage planning, traffic planning and network emulation.

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: Well-experienced in enterprise strategy, responsible in uptime operation and rules of the project and improve project team incentives Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: With masteral degree in material science; have 4 years experience in digital transformation of transportation industry; ability to communicate well in English and Chinese; with skills in C++ programming Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months Customer Service experience/Good oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months Customer Service experience/Good oral communication and written

92.

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

Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist (CITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele JIANG, HUI Chinese IT Support Specialist Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist (CITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele LI, CHANGQI Chinese IT Support Specialist Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist (CITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele LIN, YANG Chinese IT Support Specialist Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist (CITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele PEI, JILEI Chinese IT Support Specialist

93.

94.

95.

96.

97.

Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist (CITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele XING, YANTAO Chinese IT Support Specialist Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist (CITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele ZHANG, GUANGJUN Chinese IT Support Specialist Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist (CITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele CELINE LIM SZE LING IT Support Specialist Brief Job Description: The IT Support Specialist (ITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele NGUYEN THI TO UYEN IT Support Specialist Brief Job Description: The IT Support Specialist (ITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

SOU NHUC CHANH IT Support Specialist

Brief Job Description: The IT Support Specialist (ITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele ITOCHU CORPORATION 16/f Oledan Square 6788 Ayala Avenue San Lorenzo Makati City

98.

99.

HARA, KAZUFUMI Administration Department Manager Brief Job Description: Handles administrative functions

JDB MANAGEMENT AND CONSULTANCY CORP. 107 T & D House Magallanes St. 069, Bgy. 655 Intramuros Manila CHENG, YONGJIANG Strategic And Facilitation Officer 100.

101.

102.

103.

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

GAO, WENJUN Strategic And Facilitation Officer Brief Job Description: Your primary function is to help the company and its Chinese clients to generate more income for the company GUO, HAIPENG Strategic And Facilitation Officer Brief Job Description: Your primary function is to help the company and its Chinese Clients to generate more income for the company HE, KANGKANG Strategic And Facilitation Officer Brief Job Description: Your primary function is to help the company and its Chinese clients to generate more income for the company.

HU, PENG Strategic And Facilitation Officer

104.

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

HUANG, TIANLI Strategic And Facilitation Officer

105.

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

Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION CUI, YANBIN Chinese IT Support Specialist

LIU, GANG Chinese IT Support Specialist

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

ITECHNO SPECIALIST INC. 10/f Aseana I Bldg. Bradco Avenue Aseana Business Park Tambo Parañaque City 9/f 100 West Building Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Pio Del Pilar Makati City 7/f Aseana I Bldg. Bradco Avenue Aseana Business Park Tambo Parañaque City PENG, DECHUN Chinese IT Support Specialist

No.

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

IDEMITSU LUBRICANTS PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 3, 24th Flr., Exquadra Office Tower Exchange Road Cor. Jade Drive Ortigas Center, San Antonio Pasig City Basic Qualification: more than 10 years YOSHIZAKI, KOJI of experience in sales Director And Vp For Sales knowledge and activity know-how of idemitsu 83.

Brief Job Description: lubricants oil.

Responsible in the company to achieve sales and Financial goals Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 INFOSYS BPM LIMITED - PHILIPPINE BRANCH 19th-23rd Flr. Bgc Corporate Center 11th Ave. Corner 30th Sts. Taguig City Basic Qualification: ETEKAR, SHAILESH MANOHAR Must have at least 15 years Senior Services Head - Client Operations of experience in Operations and managing multiple 84.

Brief Job Description: verticals Responsible for partnering with clients and engage in solutions design Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 INFOVINE INC. 9/f Y Tower, Moa Complex Coral Way Drive Cor. Macapagal Brgy. 076 Pasay City HSIEH, YI-CHIEN Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

A7

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES PHILS. INC. U-5302, 53/f Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor., V.a. Rufino St. Bel-air Makati City Basic Qualification: Proficient in English, Chinese (Mandarin and TANG, JIEPING Cantonese) language both Financial Risk Controller Manager For Huawei Device in verbal and written And Philippine Business Development Project with bachelor’s degree in 75. accountancy with ADIT Brief Job Description: experience in different To fully support the financial and internal control for business aspects in different whole project business countries

XU, GUANGQUN Huawei Freebuds Series Brand Marketing Campaign Manager

Thursday, August 5, 2021

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

HUANG, HAIQI Strategic And Facilitation Officer

106.

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

107.

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can speak and read Cantonese, Mandarin, and Fukien language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can speak and read Cantonese, Mandarin and Fukien language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can speak and read Cantonese, Mandarin, and Fukien language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Graduate of business course and have at least 5 years experience.

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language.

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

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

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

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

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

BusinessMirror

A8 Thursday, August 5, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LI, JUN Strategic And Facilitation Officer

108.

109.

110.

111.

112.

113.

114.

115.

116.

Brief Job Description: Your primary function is to help the company and its Chinese Clients to generate more income for the company LI, GUAN-TING Strategic And Facilitation Officer Brief Job Description: Your primary function is to help the company and its Chinese clients to generate more income for the company QU, LUPING Strategic And Facilitation Officer Brief Job Description: Your primary function is to help the company and its Chinese Clients to generate more income for the company SU, YINGLIANG Strategic And Facilitation Officer Brief Job Description: Your primary function is to help the company and its Chinese clients to generate more income for the company.

SU, LIUFENG Strategic And Facilitation Officer Brief Job Description: Your primary function is to help the company and its Chinese clients to generate more income for the company TIAN, YISHU Strategic And Facilitation Officer Brief Job Description: Your primary function is to help the company and its Chinese clients to generate more income for the company WANG, HUI Strategic And Facilitation Officer Brief Job Description: Your primary function is to help the company and its Chinese Clients to generate more income for the company XIN, ZIHONG Strategic And Facilitation Officer Brief Job Description: Your primary function is to help the company and its Chinese Clients to generate more income for the company YANG, FUYU Strategic And Facilitation Officer Brief Job Description: Your primary function is to help the company and its Chinese clients to generate more income for the company.

ZHANG, YUNLONG Strategic And Facilitation Officer

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

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language

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

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

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

134.

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

135.

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

JIN, MING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers queries LI, DECAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers queries

Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers via email, assists with complaints, orders, and other queries LIN, XUSEN Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers via email, assists with complaints, orders, and other queries

LIN, CUIPING Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers via email, assists with complaints, orders, and other queries HE, MEIHUI Customer Service Representative

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION GAO, QIANGDA Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Your primary function is to help the company and Salary Range: its Chinese Clients to generate more income for the Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 company JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.- PHILIPPINE GLOBAL SERVICE CENTER 23/f Net Plaza 31st St. E-square Zone Fort Bonifacio Taguig City Basic Qualification: Experience in Derivatives SAJI YESUDAS Investment Banking, sound Associate knowledge about financial markets with hands on Brief Job Description: experience in managing 118.

Provide Over the Counter (OTC) derivatives & Contract a wide array of Custodian For Difference (CFD) E2E support to institutional clients, and Derivatives Banking asset managers, hedge funds and insurance companies Services who have outsourced part or all of their operations to J.P. Morgan.

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 JAMES, CHRISTOPHER ALBERT Basic Qualification: Operations Director Demonstrate complete and thorough understanding of Brief Job Description: the Operations Executive 119.

The CIB D&PS Philippines location leader role is based role in COB (Philippines) in Manila, and is responsible to optimize business delivery, shape the culture, develop talent, manage Salary Range: controls and lead the People Agenda at scale for the Php 500,000 and above location.

Basic Qualification: KNOWLES, MICHAEL ROBERT The Custody Middle Office Operations Executive Department is responsible for ensuring all aspects of Brief Job Description: operations for clients are • Manage and oversee the Client Instruction Capture completed, transactions teams in MBM - Single client instruction capture are processed on time, 120. team across custody and fund services • Reviewing exceptions are resolved and controlling of the daily operation, ensuring proactively; provide single adherence to procedures and controls and providing point of contact team and necessary data to senior management and clients • A subject matter expertise to cross product role that requires extensive interaction the clients & communication and working with various global internal teams as required Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above JSLINK INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION 803-804 Ri-rance Building Aseana Enclave Aseana City Tambo Parañaque City WU, YUEKANG Basic Qualification: Consultant Can speak Mandarin 121.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Research any organization dysfunction and provide Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 solutions for improvement JSR GROUP OF COMPANIES INC. Unit 2102, 21st Floor One World Place, 32nd St. Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio Taguig City Basic Qualification: To best cater to the needs HONG, CHANSOL of our Korean clients, we CSR For Korean Clients need the services of Korean nationals for efficiency, 122.

Brief Job Description: effectiveness and quality of Responsible for acting as a liaison between Korean service in our operations. customers and companies.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: To best cater to the needs KANG, JOOWON of our Korean clients, we CSR For Korean Clients need the services of Korean nationals for efficiency, 123.

Brief Job Description: effectiveness and quality of Responsible for acting as a liaison between Korean service in our operations. customers and companies.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 LAN TIAN ZI XUN INC. Unit 205 2/f Zen Tower 1111 Natividad Almeda Lopez St., 071 Bgy. 659 Ermita Manila WAN, SIQI Chinese It Specialist Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese language Brief Job Description: (writing and speaking) 124.

This position requires the exercise of discretion in the application of the principles, practices and techniques Salary Range: related to planning and analysis; design; development Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 and implementation; maintenance; support; and management of information technology functions.

LOGISCALE INC. 9/f 6780 Ayala Ave. Bldg. 6780 Ayala Ave. San Lorenzo Makati City Basic Qualification: BEAVOGUI, SUZANE 2yrs experience in customer CSR Bilingual French support; Spanish bilingual; 125. ability to multitask Brief Job Description: Will provide support to the existing customer base and Salary Range: their patients Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: AYALA CHAFLOQUE, ADRIAN ALFREDO 2yrs experience in customer CSR Bilingual Spanish support; Spanish bilingual; 126. ability to multitask Brief Job Description: Will provide support to the existing customer base and Salary Range: their patients Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 MACH 86 TECHNOLOGIES CORP. 5th-13th Flr. Workspace Bldg. 1419 Industry St. Corner Finance St. Mbp Ayala Alabang Ayalaalabang Muntinlupa City 117.

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Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers via email, assists with complaints, orders, and other queries LIU, QIANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers queries NANG MWAY NOM Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers queries WANG, YU Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers queries WIN NAING HTWE Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers queries XU, SONGNIAN Customer Service Representative

137.

Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers via email, assists with complaints, orders, and other queries YANG, LANGUANG Customer Service Representative

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Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers via email, assists with complaints, orders, and other queries YANG, GUANFEI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers queries ZHANG, JINGXIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers queries ZOU, CHENG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers queries

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower C4 Rd. Edsa Ext. Brgy. 076 Pasay City

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BI, SHAOHUA Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service CAI, XUJIANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service CAO, WENBO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service CHEN, LI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

CHEN, YAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

DAI, LIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

DENG, YONGGUANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

DONG, PU Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese)

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

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

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

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

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NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION DONG, FUSHUN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service FAN, HUIYING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service FU, HAO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service GU, JINQUAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service HAN, LYUMEI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service HOANG THI NHAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service HUANG, BOWEN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service HUANG, XINWEI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service LA THI THIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service LI, YINGJIE Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service LI, ZIBIAO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service LI, LUNA Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service LI, YANGYUN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service LIN, SENYU Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service LIU, ZHEN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service LIU, SHUFENG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service LIU, HAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service LIU, ZHENBAO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service LUO, CHENG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service SHI, CHENCHEN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service TAN, XIAOWEI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service TAO, TAO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service WANG, YALONG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service WANG, GUOHUI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

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NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION WEI, ZHAOLE Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service WU, GUOXUN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service WU, YUKUN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service XIAO, ASE Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service XU, DONGDONG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service XU, YIBIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer servic XUE, HU Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service YANG, TAO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service YE, QIULIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service YU, DIAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service ZHANG, DANDAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service ZHANG, LIANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service ZHENG, XIAODONG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service ZHOU, JIAWEI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English

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Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

TAN FOO THONG Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

TANG IK FOUNG Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

BUI THI THU HOAI Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

196.

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

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Sky Garage Bldg. Aseana Avenue, Entertainment City Tambo Parañaque City Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer DING, CHUAN applications with good oral Chinese Customer Service and written communication 188. skills Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer LIU, LIN applications with good oral Chinese Customer Service and written communication 189. skills Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer SU, SHAOKUN applications with good oral Chinese Customer Service and written communication 190. skills Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer SUN, ZHEN applications with good oral Chinese Customer Service and written communication 191. skills Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 LIM SOAK MUN Malaysian Customer Service

No.

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

197.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION CHANG SOI DIN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

HOANG THI LAN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

PGA SOMPO INSURANCE CORPORATION Corinthian Plaza Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City YAMAMOTO, TAICHI Senior Vice-president 198.

199.

Brief Job Description: Direct the overall management and operations of the business operations division WATANABE, FUMA Vice-president Brief Job Description: Develop and execute effective marketing strategies

218.

Brief Job Description: MAINTAIN THE OPERATION OF ELECTRONIC DEVICE

A9

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

No.

219.

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

220.

Basic Qualification: Preferably with 15 years related work experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Preferably with 10 years related work experience

221.

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

THRUDATA INFORMATION INC. 19th Floor Marco Polo Ortigas Sapphire Road, Ortigas Center San Antonio Pasig City FANG, JIANWEI Basic Qualification: Consultant Must be Chinese to deal with Chinese clients 200.

Brief Job Description: Conducts research to understand how a company Salary Range: functions and where a company can improve Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 FANG, ZHAOXIN Basic Qualification: Consultant Must be Chinese to deal with Chinese clients 201.

Brief Job Description: Conducts research to understand how a company Salary Range: functions and where a company can improve Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 HUANG, TAO Basic Qualification: Consultant Must be Chinese to deal with Chinese clients 202.

Brief Job Description: Conducts research to understand how a company Salary Range: functions and where a company can improve Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 WU, ZEJIAN Basic Qualification: Consultant Must be Chinese to deal with Chinese clients 203.

Brief Job Description: Conducts research to understand how a company Salary Range: functions and where a company can improve Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 WU, ZHIWEI Basic Qualification: Consultant Must be Chinese to deal with Chinese clients 204.

Brief Job Description: Conducts research to understand how a company Salary Range: functions and where a company can improve Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 YANG, YULIN Basic Qualification: Consultant Must be Chinese to deal with Chinese clients 205.

Brief Job Description: Conducts research to understand how a company Salary Range: functions and where a company can improve Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 ZHU, JIANGSHU Basic Qualification: Consultant Must be Chinese to deal with Chinese clients 206.

Brief Job Description: Conducts research to understand how a company Salary Range: functions and where a company can improve Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 TIANYU TECHNOLOGY INC. 15/f Socialdesk Tower H.v. Dela Costa St. Bel-air Makati City DONG, WENTAO Chinese It Support Specialist Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin, Brief Job Description: Cantonese and Fukien 207.

The IT Support Specialist is an integral of the company language infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT Salary Range: support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 clientele.

LI, YAFEI Basic Qualification: Chinese It Support Specialist Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language 208.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality it support of Salary Range: enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 LIANG, XIAOPENG Basic Qualification: Chinese It Support Specialist Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language 209.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality it support of Salary Range: enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 URBANDIDEAS INC. Unit 17-m Burgundy Corporate Tower 252 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Pio Del Pilar Makati City CHEN, ZHIBIN Basic Qualification: Mandarin Customer Service Can speak Mandarin 210.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Opens customer accounts by recording account Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 information NGUYEN THI NGOC Basic Qualification: Mandarin Human Resource Specialist can speak mandarin 211.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Recruiting staffs who can speak mandarin Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 XIE, SILIANG Basic Qualification: Mandarin Team Leader can speak mandarin 212.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Maintain and drive program knowledge for self and Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 team WANG, HONG Basic Qualification: Mandarin Technical Support can speak mandarin 213.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Monitoring and maintaining computer systems and Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 network ZHAO, BIN Basic Qualification: Mandarin Technical Support Can speak Mandarin 214.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Monitoring and maintaining computer systems and Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 networks VERTEX DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 1439 Adriatico Cor. Sta. Monica St. 072 Bgy. 669 Ermita Manila Basic Qualification: 300 Vacancy/College FAN, CHENGWEN graduate with experience Chinese It Specialist in maintain gaming devices, 215. fluent in mandarin and Brief Job Description: English speaking Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 300 Vacancy/College GAO, PAN graduate with experience Chinese It Specialist in maintain gaming devices, 216. fluent in mandarin and Brief Job Description: English speaking Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 300 Vacancy/College GAO, ZEMING graduate with experience Chinese It Specialist in maintain gaming devices, 217. fluent in mandarin and Brief Job Description: English speaking Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

HUANG, XIAOHAN Chinese It Specialist

Thursday, August 5, 2021

Basic Qualification: 300 Vacancy College graduate with experience in maintaining gaming services devices fluent in mandarin & englisg speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

LI, MENGMENG Chinese It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the Operation of Electronic Device

XIE, HUI Chinese It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

YANG, GUIYU Chinese It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

GOH YI KHUNG It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

HOANG DUC TAI It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

HOANG TUAN ANH It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

LIM HEAN LOON It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

ONG WEI ZHUIN It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

OOI ZHANGYOU It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

TAN CHIN SOON It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: 300 Vacancy College graduate with experience in maintaining gaming services devices fluent in mandarin & englisg speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 300 Vacancy/College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 300 Vacancy/College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 300 Vacancy/College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 300 Vacancy/College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 300 Vacancy/College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 300 Vacancy/College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 300 Vacancy/College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 300 Vacancy/College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 300 Vacancy/College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

WHOLESOME CONSULTING SERVICES CORP. Unit Ug-02, Ug/f Cityland 10 Tower 2 154 H.v. Dela Costa Cor. Valero Sts. Bel-air Makati City Basic Qualification: LIANG, JIKUI College graduate. Fluent Mandarin Admin Officer in Cantonese, Taiwanese, and Mandarin Language.

Brief Job Description: Excellent interpersonal 229.

Performs administrative and office support for activities and communication skills. for multiple supervisors. Duties may include fielding Atleast 1 year working telephone calls, receiving and directing visitors, word experience as Admin Officer processing, creating spreadsheets and presentation and filing.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 XENDIT PHILIPPINES INC. Ignition Ventures Studio North Penthouse Unit Marajo Tower 312 26th St. Cor. 4th Ave. Bgc Fort Bonifacio Taguig City Basic Qualification: At least 2 years of product management experience with a track record of successfully scaling projects from 0 to 1; Superior analytical and quantitative skills to use hard data GU, JULIE JIA YUAN and metrics to back up Product Manager assumptions; Skilled communicator who can Brief Job Description: collaborate effectively with Product planning and execution throughout the product a breadth of stakeholders life cycle of the assigned service of product offering including engineering, 230. of the company; Gathering and prioritizing product business people, and and customer requirements; Defining the product C-level executives; Deep and customer requirements; Working closely with understanding of the engineering, design, sales, risk, finance, and operations lending industry and to ensure revenue and customer satisfaction goals are the ability to empathize met customer pain points in the financing industry; Existing work experience at a rapidly growing fintech startup Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

XIONWEI TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD. INCORPORATED 2/f Upsi The Pearl Manila Hotel 1121 Gen. Luna St. 073, Bgy. 676 Ermita Manila LIAO, SIMIN Basic Qualification: Mandarin Customer Support Representative Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and Brief Job Description: at least college level with 231.

Supports customers by providing helpful information, related BPO experience. answering questions, and responding to complaints to ensure that customers are satisfied with products, Salary Range: services and features.

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 LIU, WENJING Basic Qualification: Mandarin Customer Support Representative Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and Brief Job Description: at least college level with 232.

Supports customers by providing helpful information, related BPO experience. answering questions, and responding to complaints to ensure that customers are satisfied with products, Salary Range: services and features.

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 *Date Generated: Aug 4, 2021 Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE-NCR Regional Office located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication.

Please inform DOLE-NCR if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

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A10 Thursday, August 5, 2021

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Create law cultivates confidence,

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie , Lenie Lectura @llectura & Bernadette Nicolas @BNicolasBM

R

Reporters

EP. Joey Sarte Salceda of Albay took off his sports jacket and ran a hand on his blue tie during an online discussion (https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=xZIczR2aWjk) on a law that he touts as “the most readily available tool for economic recovery.”

Salceda appeared exasperated, especially with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), in that online forum days after President Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) 11534 on March 26.

Four months later, the House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman remains bullish that the law, also called Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises, or CREATE, that he helped craft is one of the country’s tools to climb out of the economic rut.

“We need a booster to prevent anemic post-pandemic growth,” Salceda said. “[The] CREATE [law] is the best tool for this, so we need to maximize its benefits by fully carrying it out early and selling it to the world aggressively.

His exasperation is no longer visible, noting there are already signs that RA 11534 has opened the doors to greater investments coming from outside the country’s borders.

According to Salceda, an economist, the net inflow of foreign direct investments (FDIs) more than doubled to $679 million in April from $317 million in 2020.

SIPP as bible

SALCEDA’S view of CREATE law as “a principal agent of economic recovery,” rests on the move of the Board of Investments (BOI) and its timely release of the Strategic Investment Priorities Plan (SIPP), which “will be our bible for industrial planning over the next few years.”

“The urgent release of the SIPP is also crucial, because investors need something to refer to as they decide whether prospective internal rates of return justify investing in the Philippines,” the lawmaker said. “The SIPP tiering, in particular, decides how much incentives they get. So I hope the BOI can release this soon, even a partial ‘no-brainer’ SIPP for now, while we tackle the nuances of the other more complicated sectors.”

According to Salceda, the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, or at least certain segments of it, will qualify for the highest incentives under the Create law, once the SIPP is released.

“So I implore BOI to do it soon, and watch the BPO sector and other industries grow substantially.”

He noted that before CREATE was enacted, office space demand in the BPO sector in the first quarter of the year was just 35,000 square meters. Now it is up to 92,000, higher than it has been in 2020, even before the lockdown measures.

“That is also an eye-popping 162-percent growth in the industry’s office space needs,” Salceda cited.

“Of course, more office space needed also means more direct jobs. It also means more indirect jobs, through janitorial services, property sector jobs, transport, ser v ice prov ider jobs, among others.”

Tax cuts

SALCEDA points out that CREATE is “the largest tax stimulus for businesses in the country’s history.”

The law reduces the corporate income tax (CIT) to 25 percent for large corporations and 20 percent for small and medium-scale corporations (with net taxable income of up to P5 million and total assets of up to P100 million).

“The size of it, especially in the medium term, is hard to overstate,” Salceda said.

He explained that in net present value terms, the law grants businesses P7.2 trillion in financial resources to fund expansion and job creation.

“No fiscal reform package has come close to freeing up that much resources for business expansion,” Salceda added.

He also pointed out that the tax incentives regime under CREATE “is generous and partial” to countryside development, increases value-added activities and boosts research and development.

Added incentives

SALCEDA noted the law’s generosity in this: everyone gets four years to seven years of income tax holiday (ITH) as part of the basic package, the longest being for those who locate to the countryside and those higher up the industry tiers.

“If you are an exporter, you get 10 years more of a 5-percent tax on gross income, or enhanced deductions,” Salceda said. “It’s five more years of enhanced deductions for domestic enterprises.”

The lawmaker said that if a business relocates from Metro Manila, it receives three more years of income tax holiday.

“If you are in an area recovering from calamity, you get two more years of ITH,” he explained.

Salceda added that the countryside development aspect—the higher incentives for moving away from the highly urbanized centers—is crucial.

“The demand for real estate on the first half of 2021 is already 75 percent of demand from 2020. So expect the price of maintaining office space in Mega Manila will be up this year and in succeeding years,” the lawmaker further explained. “The tax differential combined with the cost differential of moving to less costly provinces will really make a difference.”

Yoke of tax

CONGRESS, to note, is studying “corrective legislation” for the law.

Nonetheless, Salceda assures that the Department of Finance (DOF) will implement the provisions of CREATE Law, which allows exporters to enjoy zeroVAT rating on local purchases of goods and services directly and exclusively used in its registered project or activity.

This after the DOF and the BIR and the Department of Finance

(DOF) agreed to suspend the implementation of Revenue Regulation (RR) 9-2021, which imposed a 12-percent value-added tax (VAT) on certain exporter transactions that were previously taxed at 0 percent.

RR 9-2021 was issued pursuant to the provisions of RA 10963 or the Tax Reform and Acceleration and Inclusion Act, or TRAIN, (Sections 106(A)(2)(a) and 108(B) of the Tax Code of 1997, as amended), which provide that certain transactions previously considered zero-rated shall be subject to that VAT rate upon satisfaction of two conditions.

Spirit of legislation

THE first condition to be satisfied is the successful establishment and implementation of an enhanced VAT-refund system.

The second condition is that all pending VAT-refund claims as of December 31, 2017, were fully paid in cash by December 31, 2019.

But Section 5 of Rule 18 of the recently-signed implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for fiscal incentives under CREATE provides that VAT zero-rating on local purchases of registered business enterprises (RBEs) may still apply. There is a catch: such locallypurchased goods and services are directly and exclusively used in the registered project or activity of the RBE during the period of registration of the registered project and/ or activity of the RBE. The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) had earlier said that charging additional VAT is an added burden to RBEs and will be an “unnecessary expense that will make the Philippines unattractive to foreign investors.”

In an online forum organized by the Tax Management Association of the Philippines (TMAP), Finance Undersecretary Antonette C. Tionko said that the new regulation will now follow the CREATE law to pave the way for exporters to continuously enjoy zero-percent VAT on their local purchases of goods and services.

But according to Salceda, CREATE “hopes to ease the operations of exporters, enhance the country’s competitiveness and encourage sourcing of materials from local suppliers.”

“That’s the spirit of the legislation,” he said. “That’s why it insists on the zero-rating for local inputs, on top of enhanced deductions for them.”

Territorial concerns

DURING that forum, a PEZA official expressed concern that the CREATE law “breaks down economic-zone walls” as it gives the same incentives to all export enterprises whether they locate inside or outside the zone.

“As I understand this, export enterprises under the CREATE law, even if they are not inside PEZA economic zones, will get exactly the same incentives,” PEZA Deputy Director General for Operations Mary Harriet O. Abordo said. “So in effect, there’s no difference between locating in a PEZA zone that is in a separate customs territory and outside the zone because they will be subject to the same restrictions under the exemption and VAT zero-rating for exports.”

While Tionko noted such concern is under the BOI’s purview, she admitted there’s “still going to be some differences” for those inside and those outside the economic zone.

The finance official said they voiced out their apprehension over the uniformity of incentives for all export enterprises regardless of their location but this did not resonate with legislators during

the crafting of the law.

Tionko said she kept telling legislators: “you don’t want the whole country to be a zone.”

“I kept saying that for the longest time but the way that legislation came out was a certain way so to the extent that we don’t want the whole country to be a zone,” she added. “That’s how we’re framing the IRR; subject to limitations of course.”

Relocation gains

DURING the online forum by TMAP, Finance Assistant Secretary Juvy C. Danofrata explained that the incentives became uniform for all export enterprises because some legislators do not want the exporters located outside the zone to be disadvantaged.

“Legislators, at that point, are trying to make a distinction but again not to disadvantage those exporters outside the zone because, in effect, the same benefits are also being generated for these exporters even though they are outside the zone. We’re also generating foreign exchange from them,” Danofrata said. “So, that’s why, again in terms of the grant of incentives, the incentives became uniform for all the exporters.”

Abordo pointed out it is “more expensive” for export enterprises to locate inside a PEZA economic zone, especially for those in the manufacturing sector.

“If there is no distinction, and there is no such strict implementation or the movement of goods of every export enterprise outside the customs territory, if I were an exporter, I can get cheaper land in a non-PEZA economic zone area,” she said.

But Tionko said it would be better to see first how things will work out as the BOI has yet to approve a project from export enterprises under CREATE.

Optimism on FIRB

APART from the uniformity of incentives to export enterprises, Abordo said they also fear that CREATE may stymie PEZA’s efforts to develop economic zones unless it is considered part of the SIPP. Abordo added that the oversight function of the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) over investment promotions agencies like PEZA hampers them from making quick decisions on the grant of incentives, noting that they are now afraid to move because they fear the consequences if they acted in excess of their authority.

The FIRB is tasked to review and approve fiscal incentives for projects with a total investment capital of more than P1 billion, while those amounting to P1 billion and below are delegated to IPAs. “It now ties PEZA’s hands on how to direct its investments and all of its actions and to respond very quickly to the needs of the industry because we are very afraid,” Abordo said. “And, in fact, my own staff, they are now very afraid to move, because it is provided in the Create law that the FIRB has the power to grant and administer incentives and has oversight.”

Still, Abordo expressed optimism that the FIRB will have a process and mechanism to address gray areas on the granting of incentives.

New opportunity

ONE company that welcomes the adjustments in VAT rates is Petron Corp., the country’s remaining oil refiner.

Prior to CREATE law, refineries in the country were inherently disadvantaged in terms of the timing of VAT payments for crude importations.

A provision of the law states that “crude oil that is intended to be refined at a local refinery, including the volumes that are lost and not converted to petroleum products when the crude oil actually undergoes the refining process, shall be exempt from payment of applicable duties and taxes upon importation.”

With this, Petron is exempted from paying taxes upon crude importation. Both refiners and importers pay taxes at the same time—upon product withdrawal.

Petron has previously raised the issue on “inequitable tax regime” between oil refiners and petroleum product importers. Petron President Ramon S. Ang said an oil refiner has to pay taxes—valueadded and excise—upon landing of imported crude oil. On the other hand, importers of refined fuels pay up only when they make sales.

“We need a level playing field, but that requires a new law or an executive order from Malacañang,” Ang had said.

This led the oil firm to shut down its 180,000 barrel-per-day Petron Bataan Refinery last February 10 and reopened starting June. During the shutdown, Petron successfully sought a registration with the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (Afab) so it can avail of incentives being granted to locators at special economic zones.

Getting incentives

FOLLOWING its approval as an RBE in December last year, the Petron Bataan Refinery has started to transition into AFAB and has also begun to avail itself of fiscal incentives from operating in a freeport zone.

Petron, which supplies more than a third of the country’s oil requirements, has set aside P11 billion for its 2021 capital expenditures, higher than the P8.5 billion it allocated last year. The amount covers its ongoing construction of steam generator plants, strategic retail network expansion and maintenance requirements.

Improving oil prices in the world market, savings on operational expenses and financing cost contributed to the oil firm’s P1.73-billion net income registered in the first quarter of the year—a turnaround from the P4.9 billion net loss posted in the same quarter last year and higher than the P1.2 billion net income in the fourth quarter of 2020.

First quarter volumes reached 19.38 million barrels, 21 percent lower than the 24.66 million barrels sold in the same period last year. Consolidated revenues likewise decreased 20 percent to P83.3 billion from P104.62 billion a year ago.

Juggling costs

DESPITE lower revenues, Petron delivered a turnaround in the first quarter with a P3.7 billion operating income coming from its P4.4 billion operating loss in the same period last year.

It a lso recorded inventor y gains due to the recent improvements in international oil prices in contrast with the inventory loss in the first quarter last year.

In addition, Petron recorded savings on operating expenses and financing costs.

“Despite numerous challenges we encountered, we are mindful to cushion the impact of the pandemic on our business,” Petron Chief Financial Officer Emmanuel E. Eraña had said. The refiner, he said, pursued cost-savings efforts “and did our best to rise above this unprecedented obstacle.”

“We have yet to completely overcome the effects of the pandemic as

T

he suspension of Bureau of Internal Revenue Regulation 9-2021, the following transactions will revert to their zero-rated status as mandated by the implementing rules and regulation of Republic Act 11534: n Sale of raw materials or packaging materials to a nonresident buyer for delivery to a local export-oriented enterprise n Sale of raw materials or packaging materials to exportoriented enterprise whose export sales exceed 70 percent of total annual production n Those considered export sales under Executive Order 226, or the Omnibus Investment Code of 1987, and other special laws [Section 106 (A) (2) (a) (5) of the Tax Code, as amended] n Processing, manufacturing or repacking goods for other persons doing business outside the Philippines of which goods are subsequently exported n Services performed by subcontractors and/or contractors in processing, converting or manufacturing goods for an enterprise whose export sales exceed 70 percent of total annual production

restrictions continue to be implemented worldwide but are hopeful of gradual recovery evident in the upward trajectory of our volume and income performance.”

On Wednesday, Petron shares closed at P3.13 per share, up by P0.05 from the previous close. Volume of trade reached 1.35 million shares valued at P4.26 million.

Ongoing actions

TOUTED by the DOF as the “largest fiscal stimulus to firms in recent history,” the CREATE law is expected to provide P1 trillion in tax relief to businesses in 10 years.

The law also cuts the regular CIT rate by 10 percentage points, from 30 percent to 20 percent, for domestic corporations with a taxable income of P5 million and below, and with total assets of not more than P100 million.

Domestic corporations that earn a taxable income above P5 million benefit from an immediate reduction of the CIT rate from 30 percent to 25 percent. Foreign corporations currently paying the regular rate will also enjoy a reduced 25-percent CIT rate.

Following the issuance of CREATE in June, the DOF Office of the Spokesperson told the BusinessMirror last July 16 that it is hoping to come up with an “effective, efficient and fiscally responsible incentive system” that “will set the standard in the region.”

Moving forward, the issuance of the SIPP and the promotion of the incentives package by the IPAs will be critical to maximizing the benefits of the reform,” the DOF said in an e-mailed response.

It also said the Board and Technical Committee of the FIRB have begun discussing the traditional SIPP and the use of online FIRB system to capture in one platform the activities or projects that are being registered with incentives.

Also, cost-benefit analyses on applications received by the FIRB are also being conducted by the FIRB Secretariat.

“The FIRB is also working to adopt and implement an end-toend fiscal incentives registration and monitoring system. It would link all IPAs and provide a more

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace

TheBroaderLook BusinessMirror

A9 Thursday, August 5, 2021 A11

BM GRAPHICS: JOB RUZGAL

confusion; booster shot required

convenient platform to applying and current investors,” it said.

Valuing gaming

TO offset the expected revenue losses under CREATE as well as the decline in revenues amid the pandemic, the DOF also told the BusinessMirror it has pushed for the passage of several bills, including one establishing a tax regime for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations.

Among the provisions being supported by DOF on the measure include the consideration of Offshore Gaming Licensees (OGLs) as entities engaged in doing business

in the Philippines.

The DOF also expects that the proposed 25-percent final withholding tax on the presumed minimum gross income of P600,000 of alien individual employees of OGLs will generate some P24.8 billion in incremental revenues in 2022.

Meanwhile, another P22.8 billion is expected from a 5-percent gaming tax on gross revenue or receipts derived from gaming operations in lieu of all taxes, including franchise taxes, levies, fees or assessment of any kind.

Enforcing rules

THE DOF also backs taxing offsite

and online betting on cockfighting or e-sabong and the efforts of Congress to close the loopholes on the imposition of taxes on digital transactions, such as income tax and VAT. The finance department is also studying ways to enforce ta x obligations of non-resident cor porations and indiv idua ls who conduct remote business

transact ions in t he countr y, notably the VAT on electronic or digital transactions.

It said it is working with international institutions such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and learning from other tax jurisdictions, to improve the taxation of the digital economy.

“Foreign corporations, such as

Netflix or Lazada, that earn income from their services in the Philippines, should rightfully pay the corresponding taxes similar to other business entities,” the DOF said. “The government is studying the evolving business models in the digital economy to enforce tax rules effectively.”

Exercise remedies

PRIOR to deferring the implementation of the BIR RR 9-2021, T M A P President Pr isc i l l a B. Valer told the BusinessMirror that she found the implementation of some CREATE provisions “confusing.” Valer added that the

government seemed to lack the needed preparation ahead of the law’s implementation.

She is also hoping that the government’s implementation of the rationa lization of ta x incentives under CREATE law would be consistent with the legislative intent.

“In any government [the application of the law should be] smooth-sailing. If your interpretation is different or if those governed disagree with your position, they should exercise their remedies para mas malinaw kung ano [so that matters would be clear],” she said.

A12 Thursday, August 5, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

A crisis worse than Covid-19 pandemic

‘A

global crisis has shocked the world. It is causing a tragic number of deaths, making people afraid to leave home, and leading to economic hardship not seen in many generations.

Its effects are rippling across the world. Obviously, I am talking about Covid-19 pandemic. But in just a few decades, the same description will fit another global crisis: climate change. As awful as this pandemic is, climate change could be worse.”

That’s Bill Gates talking in a recent blog post. To prevent the deaths, damage and destruction that will come with a warming planet requires innovation, he said. And innovation to fight climate change must start urgently. The call is dire, but Gates was hopeful: “I do believe we can avoid a climate disaster— if we deploy the clean-energy tools we have now wisely, and if we make big breakthroughs that touch every aspect of our physical economy.”

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies warned in a report that global warming poses a greater threat than Covid-19.

Even as the pandemic rages, climate change is not taking a break from wreaking havoc. The world should react with the same urgency to climate change as is to the coronavirus crisis, the IFRC said.

“When it comes to global warming, it will require a much more sustained action and investment to really protect the human life on this Earth. The frequency and intensity of extreme weather and climate-related events have been steadily climbing since the 1960s,” the IFRC added.

In November 2019, 11,000 scientists in 153 countries came together to declare that the world is facing a climate emergency. Now, the research team behind the declaration warns that Earth’s “vital signs” have worsened. In a new assessment published in The Independent, the scientists say that “there has been an unprecedented surge in climate-related disasters since 2019”— including record-shattering heat waves and wildfires in Australia, Europe and in the US, “extraordinary hurricanes” and “devastating cyclones” in parts of Asia and Africa.

Dr. William Ripple, lead author of the assessment and distinguished professor of ecology at Oregon State University, described the world’s “lack of progress” since November 2019 as “frustrating and scary.” “Most of the factors that we track, we call them “planetary vital signs,” have gotten worse. It’s surprising to me that climate change impacts are happening so fast around the world. Just in the last two weeks, every day we’ve seen another climaterelated disaster—either with fires or floods or drought or heat.”

From the Associated Press: “A heat wave baking southeast Europe has fueled deadly wildfires in Turkey and threatened the national power grid in Greece as governments scrambled Monday to secure the resources needed to cope with the emergency. Temperatures reached 45 C [113 F] in inland areas of Greece and nearby countries and are expected to remain high for most of the week. Battling deadly wildfires along its coastline for a sixth day, Turkey broadened an appeal for international assistance and was promised waterdropping planes from the European Union. The fires have been blamed for the deaths of eight people in recent days.”

Recent news headlines: “Turkey battles wildfires for 6th day; 10,000 are evacuated.” “Wildfire burns in northeast Spain; summer camp evacuated.” “Record wildfire burns amid drought on Hawaii’s Big Island.” “Winds stoke California’s largest fire as blazes scorch West.” Former Bank of England governor Mark Carney said the world is heading for mortality rates equivalent to the Covid crisis every year by mid-century unless action is taken. “One of the biggest issues is you cannot self-isolate from climate,” he said. “That is not an option.

We cannot retreat in and wait out climate change, it will just get worse,” he told Talking Business Asia: The Climate Change Challenge.

“When you look at climate change from a human mortality perspective, it will be the equivalent of a coronavirus crisis every year from the middle of this century, and every year, not just a one-off event. So it is an issue that needs to be addressed now.”

Carney said it’s the “power of money” that will ultimately play the biggest role in combating climate change. He said: “The scale of investment in energy, sustainable energy and sustainable infrastructure needs to double. Every year, for the course of the next three decades, we will need $3.5 trillion a year, for 30 years. It is an enormous investment opportunity.”

The elites are different John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

A

merican author F. Scott Fitzgerald of The Great Gatsby fame is said to have had a conversation with the equally famous American author Ernest Hemingway.

Fitzgerald is reputed to have said: “The rich are different from you and me. They possess and enjoy early, and it does something to them, makes them soft where we are hard, and cynical where we are trustful. They think, deep in their hearts, that they are better than we. Even when they enter deep into our world or sink below us, they still think that they are better than we are. They are different.”

In reply, Ernest Hemingway is quoted as saying: “Yes, they have more money.” The two are best friends briefly and later acrimonious rivals.

That story is not factual, although the quote from Fitzgerald is in his short story The Rich Boy. In Heming-

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However, collectively we may be much wiser than the elite give us credit for. And note, the “elite” are not necessarily rich; but like the rich, they think they are better than the rest of us.

The United Nations surveyed 9,728,919 people across the world on “What matters most to you?”

Sixty-five percent said, “A Good Education,” followed by 55 percent for “Better Healthcare.” Twenty percent answered, “Taking Action On Climate Change.” Would the elite have answered the same? Yet, whose taxes pay for everything?

But the rich truly are different.

Fifty-three percent of the “upperclass” are college graduates versus 31 and 15 percent, respectively, of the “middle” and “lower” class. Forty-four percent of the “uppers” have “excellent” health. Only 32 percent of Middles and 15 percent of Lowers say the same.

“It doesn’t matter about money; having it, not having it”: Musician Billy Idol—Net Worth: $60 million.

Some of us disagree.

E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.

Analysis: Delta variant upends politicians’ Covid calculus

By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar & Zeke Miller

Since 2005

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

way’s original version of The Snows of Kilimanjaro printed in 1936, he writes the following: “The rich were dull and they drank too much. He remembered poor Scott Fitzgerald and his romantic awe of them and how he had started a story once that began, ‘The very rich are different from you and me.’ And how someone had said to Scott, Yes, they have more money.

But that was not humorous to Scott.

He thought they were a special glamorous race.”

In a real sense we are all like Tiny Tim in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, looking through the window of the rich man’s house at the servants with the family gathered around the dinner table, and then going home to more humble “middle class” sur-

roundings.

We admire—with a strong hint of jealousy—the wealthy. But that jealousy turns to real or imitation anger when we read about the richest man in the world—or his customers—buying a trip to space.

But then again, wouldn’t most of us like to have that or a similar ridiculously expensive experience?

There is outrageous indignation at a rich guy spending $20 million to send his son to space but not a whisper about the $30 billion Japan is spending on the Olympics instead of “feeding the poor.”

But look at the millions cheering for their home team. Roman poet Juvenal wrote about that 2,300 years ago. “From long ago, from when we sold our vote to no one, the People have abdicated duties; and now anxiously hopes for just two things: bread and circuses.” Or free Wi-Fi and the Olympics?

The 3 percent are convinced that the 97 percent are deplorable and “bobotante” and can be sold on any idea. Paraphrasing Voltaire in Questions sur les Miracles (1765), “Those who can make you think what they want you to think, can make you want what they want you to want.”

Associated Press

W

ASHINGTON—President Joe Biden’s administration drew up a strategy to contain one coronavirus strain, then another showed up that’s much more contagious.

This week—a month late—Biden met his goal of 70 percent of US adults having received at least one Covid-19 shot. Originally conceived as an affirmation of American resiliency to coincide with Independence Day, the belated milestone offered little to celebrate. Driven by the Delta variant, new cases are averaging more than 70,000 a day, above the peak last summer when no vaccines were available. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is drawing criticism from experts in the medical and scientific community for its off-and-on masking recommendations.

But the Delta variant makes no distinctions when it comes to politics. If Biden’s pandemic response is found wanting, Republican governors opposed to pandemic mandates also face an accounting. They, too, were counting on a backdrop of declining cases. Instead, unvaccinated patients are crowding their hospitals.

The Biden administration’s process-driven approach succeeded in delivering more than enough vaccine to protect the country, sufficient to ship 110 million doses overseas.

When the president first set his 70% vaccination target on May 4, the

US was dispensing around 965,000 first doses per day, a rate more than twice as fast as needed to reach the July 4 goal.

Then things started to happen.

While the White House was aware of public surveys showing swaths of the population unwilling or unmotivated to get a shot, officials didn’t anticipate that nearly 90 million Americans would continue to spurn lifesaving vaccines that offer a pathway back to normalcy. The spread of misinformation about the vaccines enabled a festering fog of doubt that has clung close to the ground in many communities, particularly in Republican-led states.

Yet on May 13, when the CDC largely lifted its mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated adults indoors, topline indicators were still flashing green. The agency said unvaccinated people should keep wearing masks—and get their shots soon. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris celebrated by doffing their masks and strolling in the Rose Garden of the White House. Around the country, an everyday celebration spread to coffee shops, supermarkets, beer gardens and restaurants.

People planned weddings and music

festivals. Drowned out in the applause were expert warnings that there was no way to tell who was and who wasn’t vaccinated, and a country restless for an end to the pandemic was essentially being placed on the honor system.

“The single biggest mistake of the Biden presidency when it comes to Covid-19 was the CDC’s precipitous and chaotic change in masking guidance back in May,” said Dr. Leana Wen, a former Baltimore health commissioner and commentator. “It had the direct result of giving people the impression the pandemic was over.

It allowed unvaccinated people to have free rein and behave as if they were vaccinated, and therefore we have the surge of the Delta variant.”

“I think they were naive,” Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said of the CDC. “They saw it as a carrot, as a gift.”

Meanwhile, the Delta variant had arrived, and in a matter of weeks would become the dominant strain in circulation. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky recently confirmed just how much more contagious Delta is. “If you get sick with the alpha variant, you could infect about two other unvaccinated people,” she said. “If you get sick with the Delta variant, we estimate that you could infect about five other unvaccinated people—more than twice as many as the original strain.”

Last week, the CDC reversed course on masks, recommending

that even vaccinated people again mask up indoors in areas where the virus is on the march, now most of the country.

The immediate reason was a report by disease detectives of a recent outbreak in Provincetown, Massachusetts. The Delta variant was to blame and a majority of those infected had been vaccinated. Although very few vaccinated people got sick enough to be hospitalized, the initial findings showed vaccinated people with breakthrough infections were carrying about as much virus as unvaccinated people.

The report fed vaccine doubts in some quarters. Wen, the former health commissioner, said the CDC should have put the Provincetown report in a fuller context that showed vaccines do keep protecting. CDC did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Back on July 4 Biden proclaimed that the nation was declaring its independence from the virus. In recent weeks, he seemed to have moved on from the pandemic. The president was focused on securing a bipartisan deal on infrastructure and on selling the separate Democrats-only legislation to carry out his ambitious domestic agenda. The number of White House Covid-19 briefings dwindled.

Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar covers health care policy for the Washington bureau of The Associated Press. Zeke Miller covers the White House with a focus on the Biden administration’s coronavirus response.

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Thursday, August 5, 2021 A13

Senators try to sell It is okay if all you do during ECQ is survive We may think that the economic $1 trillion infrastructure elites and the middle class have little reason to be alarmed but everyone is a loser in this ECQ. plan to public Dr. Carl E. Balita The only chance to achieve vicBy Kevin Freking And Lisa Mascaro Associated Press

W

ASHINGTON—The senators who spent months stitching together a nearly $1 trillion infrastructure package are now trying to sell it to the American people before a key vote expected this week that would push a long recognized national priority much closer to the finish line, after years of talk.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said Tuesday that the $65 billion for broadband means that some people in her state would get access to the Internet for the first time. “The pandemic that we have endured for more than a year laid bare the disparities in access to high-speed internet,” Collins said.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, spoke of how the bill would lead to more rural and Native Alaskans having access to a sink to wash their hands in. The bill dedicates about $55 billion in new funding for water and wastewater systems.

“We have to do right by our Native people,” she said.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., noted there is about $16 billion for the US Army Corps of Engineers that would help fund projects designed to curb coastal erosion. “My state has lost as much land as is in the entire state of Delaware. But other states are losing land, too,” he said.

And Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., talked about how $110 billion in new funding for roads and bridges would mean access to markets for farms in Montana such as his own.

“It is critically important we keep our aging bridges and roads and airports up to snuff,” Tester said.

The lawmakers, part of a group that they like to call the G-10, for gang of 10—five Republican, five Democratic senators—are appealing to the wishes of many voters for not only better airports, roads and Internet service, but also for some bipartisanship in Washington, without being directly asked to pay for those improvements through higher income taxes or user fees.

While it’s looking like the Senate will approve the bill during the coming week, supporters of the legislation will face an array of obstacles advancing the package, a major priority in President Joe Biden’s agenda. Interest groups on both sides of the political spectrum are taking aim at provisions they don’t like, potentially unraveling the agreement.

Some conservatives don’t like that the agreement moves the country further away from relying on user fees, such as the federal gas tax, to pay for highway and transit improvements. Others are wary that the bill sets a course for much more federal spending after the government already provided for nearly $5 trillion dedicated to Covid relief. This week, the Treasury Department warned Congress it was hitting the nation’s debt limit.

“Every single time we add an enormous sum to our national debt, there is bipartisanship behind it,” Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said.

Environmental groups worry that the bill doesn’t do enough to address climate change.

“It is clear that the deal does not meet the moment on climate or justice,” said Tiernan Sittenfeld, a senior vice president of the League of Conservation Voters.

The pressure from the left underpins House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s statement that there won’t be a House vote on the bipartisan infrastructure plan until the Senate also passes the $3.5 trillion Democratic bill that boosts spending on health, environment and social programs.

The Senate is plowing through efforts to amend the narrower infrastructure bill, which will require 60 votes to advance for passage. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is intent on passing the legislation as

The lawmakers, part of a group that they like to call the G-10, for gang of 10—five Republican, five Democratic senators—are appealing to the wishes of many voters for not only better airports, roads and Internet service, but also for some bipartisanship in Washington, without being directly asked to pay for those improvements through higher income taxes or user fees. soon as possible so that the Senate can turn its attention to a budget blueprint that will set the stage for crafting and passing the larger $3.5 trillion package in the fall.

Formally called the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the proposal has clocked in at some 2,700 pages.

The Senate’s Republican leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, has sided with those voting to allow debate to proceed, but he has not said how he will ultimately vote. He said Tuesday the bill has a chance to be a “bipartisan success story for the country,” but he is warning Democrats against trying to speed up the amendment process.

“Like a lot of us, I’m interested in what it looks like in the end,” McConnell said. He noted that “the past two administrations tried to do it, were unable to. The American people need it. I think it’s one of those areas where there seems to be broad, bipartisan agreement.”

By evening, the Senate had overwhelmingly approved three noncontroversial amendments, while rejecting three others. As the amendment process continued, senators were weighing how much to try to change the package and how hard to try, knowing it would be difficult to reach the 60-vote threshold to approve any substantial changes.

In addition to the $110 billion in new spending for roads and bridges and $55 billion for water and wastewater infrastructure, the bipartisan package is expected to provide, $39 billion for public transit and $66 billion for rail. There’s also to be billions for airports, ports, broadband Internet and electric vehicle charging stations.

Paying for the package has been a challenge after senators rejected ideas to raise revenue from a new gas tax or other streams. Instead, it is being financed from funding sources that might not pass muster with deficit hawks, including repurposing some $205 billion in untapped Covid-19 relief aid, as well as unemployment assistance that was turned back by some states, and relying on projected future economic growth.

The bipartisan bill still faces a rough road in the House, where progressive lawmakers want a more robust package but may have to settle for this one to keep Biden’s infrastructure plans on track.

The outcome with the bipartisan effort will set the stage for the next debate over Biden’s much more ambitious $3.5 trillion package, a strictly partisan pursuit of far-reaching programs and services including child care and health care that touch almost every corner of American life. Republicans strongly oppose that bill, which would require a simple majority for passage.

Final votes on that measure are not expected until fall.

Associated Press writer Matthew Daly contributed to this report.

Entrepreneurs’ Footprints

F

IVE hundred eight days since March 15, 2020 when the first enhanced community quarantine was declared in the country, another ECQ is to be imposed. This is in response to a more virulent Delta variant of the continuously mutating virus that is consuming several letters of the Greek Alphabet to date. And this is not only true in the Philippines. Countries known to have been commended by the world for their excellent handling of the Covid-19 situation are now as alarmed. Those countries that have achieved the targeted herd immunity are in the same panic mode.

During the first lockdown in 2020, the new Covid-19 cases in the headlines were 29 and that brought the total number of cases to 140.

The death toll then was 12. As of this writing, the cases have multiplied a thousandfold and the deaths are not just numbers we monitor but includes people we know—our families, friends and members of our communities. Then, the optimism in social media was evident as the denial in the human psyche was the best defense mechanism available to deal with the unknown. Now, the social media has become an obituary page.

The reassuring authorities and governments are now sounding less credible in their motivational pitch as the numbers don’t lie anymore.

The rhetorical consolation may just come from their rationalization that deaths are controlled and relatively low and that our country is in a better situation, or less doomed, than the others. Both are not valid reasons for a celebration or even close to what can be regarded as victory.

Quarantine again

With the many acronyms and labels for our quarantine classifications, the public is as confused as the officials who will execute them. Expect a more restless and assertive public dealing with more vigilant and aggressive authorities. Many will need to find any and all means to survive, not excluding doing crimes.

While many are expected to lose their jobs and livelihood, a greater number are in anticipation of and deserve to receive the “ayuda,” which

government is duty-bound to provide, and which politicians are poised to take advantage of. The work-fromhome has been engaged again in the unhealthy interpersonal dynamics within limited physical space—taking a toll on the mental health of the vulnerable. The strain is not only financial and health but is affecting us in the most holistic manner.

But the greater question is, how are we going to benefit from another strict quarantine that didn’t work in the past when the situation seemed more favorable than it is today?

With the multi-billion impacts to the economy and with the more threatening prognosis to our health system, what is the game plan to win against an enemy that has continuously insulted our performance? Are we repeating the same strategy that worked, or another mistake whose lessons we never learned?

Two sources of our blessings

The two sources of our blessing could be the vaccines and the learning experiences of our health care team. Rolled into one, this is science.

The modern science can only rely on the evidences of its processes, which takes time to generate outcomes.

Vaccines, regardless of the brand, offer the promise of efficacy, with the usual uncertainty of its effectiveness against the continuously mutating virus and with threats of side effects that could be harmful for some unlucky individuals. But in the context of global benefit, the vaccine remains to be the best bet of

tory is to ensure our safety and that of our families and loved ones. Productivity at all levels is hampered. But it should be okay.

In fact, it is okay if all we do and achieve in this ECQ is just survive.

After all, what can be more precious than our lives?

society to end this pandemic. Simply put, once vaccinated, one may still have the disease, but with less likelihood to die.

The health care system and our professionals must have learned enough lessons to provide for more effective and efficient management and care for the Covid-19 patients.

They are also more able to protect themselves against it. There is hope in the evidence-based practice that integrates the clinical expertise and the research findings to what gives the best value for the patients under their care.

The two sources of our curse

The two sources of our curse could be a government that cannot influence its people enough to make them do what needs to be done, and the governance that is anchored on selfish motives, which do more harm than good. Rolled in one, it is called politics. Leadership is what is needed in the most trying times of human history. With a leadership that divides, instead of unite, and a followership that is based on fear, instead of an inspired action for change, there is no collective direction towards meaningful vision to end this. The election fever with a motive for winning, not serving, divides the force of the most influential leaders who are busy in the tug-of-war of their political agenda.

The biggest, bigger and big losers

The biggest losers are the fallen victims and the grieving families they left behind.

The bigger losers are the enterprises and the entrepreneurs who bled profusely and whose survival

is threatened anew. Many of the entrepreneurs are already in deep debts in their efforts to make their enterprises and people survive. Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Engineer Nina Mangio predicts that the ECQ will cause huge economic losses and a turmoil resulting from the sharp drop in demands and revenue. According to Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Chairman Dr. Bing Limjoco, our recovery was ready to take off but this ECQ will hold it again.

Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) President Rose Ong metaphorically likens ECQ to navigating with a flat tire to the uncertain through curves and loops but with silver lining derived from our hope as the usual spare tire available for the entrepreneurs.

Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) Chairman Rich Sanz considers the ECQ as a bitter but necessary pill for business to swallow, considering that many businesses are dependent on foot traffic. He noted that based on the past ECQ experience, takeaways and online deliveries do not deliver enough volume to keep stores afloat. He is, however, optimistic that the ECQ will be effective to suppress the surge and will not extend beyond two weeks.

Richie Cuna who is behind Kurimi, a brand that grew during the pandemic, considers the ECQ as another setback and resetting of the proven and tested strategies.

But entrepreneurs are always on the optimistic side. Just like the Father of Philippine Franchising who regards the ECQ as a timely intervention to slow down the virus transmission for us to enjoy the benefit of the Christmas Season.

We may think that the economic elites and the middle class have little reason to be alarmed but everyone is a loser in this ECQ. The only chance to achieve victory is to ensure our safety and that of our families and loved ones. Productivity at all levels is hampered. But it should be okay.

In fact, it is okay if all we do and achieve in this ECQ is just survive.

After all, what can be more precious than our lives?

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

What is behind Belarus athlete’s Olympics crisis?

By Yuras Karmanau & Vladimir Isachenkov Associated Press

K

YIV, Ukraine—A feud between Belarusian Olympic sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya and team officials that prompted her to seek refuge in the European Union has again cast a spotlight on the repressive environment in the athlete’s home country, an ex-Soviet nation where authorities have unleashed a relentless crackdown on dissent.

Tsimanouskaya told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the team officials who hustled her to the airport and tried to send her back to Belarus made it clear she would “definitely face some form of punishment” after she criticized the management of her team on social media.

Here is a brief look at the situation in Belarus and the dangers faced by those who dare to challenge Belarusian authorities.

Post-election crackdown

Belarus was rocked by months of protests triggered by President Alexander Lukashenko’s re-election to a sixth term in office in an August 2020 vote that the opposition and the West saw as rigged.

Belarusian authorities responded to the protests, the largest of which drew up to 200,000, with a massive clampdown that saw more than 35,000 people arrested and thousands beaten by police. Leading opposition figures have been jailed or forced to leave the country.

Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist for 27 years,

has denounced his opponents as foreign stooges and accused the US and its allies of plotting to overthrow his government.

No holds barred

IN a show of their determination to hunt down dissenters regardless of costs, Belarusian authorities in May diverted a Ryanair flight from Greece to Lithuania and ordered it to land in the Belarusian capital of Minsk where they arrested a dissident journalist who was on board.

After his arrest, the journalist, Raman Pratasevich, appeared in several interviews on state television, saying he was fully cooperating with investigators, pledging respect for Lukashenko and weeping. The opposition and the West denounced the TV interviews as coerced.

On Tuesday, a Belarusian activist who ran a group in Ukraine that helped Belarusians fleeing persecution was found hanged in a park in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Police said it launched a probe to investigate whether it was a suicide or a murder made to look like suicide.

Widening repressions

After targeting opposition leaders and activists for months, Belarusian authorities have ramped up their crackdown in recent weeks with hundreds of raids of offices and homes of independent journalists and activists.

Lukashenko denounced the activists as “bandits and foreign agents” and vowed to continue what he called a “mopping-up operation” against them.

More than 50 NGOs are facing

closure, including the Belarusian Association of Journalists, the biggest and most respected media organization in the country, and the Belarusian PEN Center, an association of writers led by Svetlana Alexievich, the winner of the 2015 Nobel Prize in literature.

Amid the crackdown, Belarus’ European Union neighbors, Poland and Lithuania, have offered strong support to protesters and provided refuge to those fleeing repression.

Poland quickly granted Tsimanouskaya a humanitarian visa. The athlete boarded a plane on Wednesday morning at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport that left the gate for Vienna, though it was not immediately clear if that would be her final destination.

Belarus president’s focus on sports

Lukashenko, who has a keen interest in sports and served as the head of the Belarus National Olympic Committee for nearly a quartercentury before handing over the post to his older son in February, has sternly warned the country’s Olympic athletes that they better show high performance.

“If you go there like tourists and bring nothing back, you better not return to the country,” Lukashenko said.

The Belarusian leader and his son both have been banned from the Tokyo Olympics by the International Olympic Committee, which investigated complaints from athletes that they faced reprisals and intimidation during the crackdown on protests in the country.

“Lukashenko sees sports as a showcase of his regime, he wants to make it shine and he considers any failures and losses as a blow to his personal reputation and authority,” said Valery Karbalevich, an independent Belarusian political analyst, adding that the Belarusian leader “sees sports as part of the state ideology.”

The Belarusian president was furious when the ice hockey world championship was pulled away from the country earlier this year over the authorities’ crackdown on protests.

“Lukashenko believes that Belarus is surrounded by enemies and sees any criticism as part of a Western conspiracy,” Karbalevich said. “That is why he saw the situation with Tsimanouskaya as a new attack by Western enemies and part of a hybrid war against Belarus.”

Athletes targeted

Many Belarusian athletes have faced reprisals after speaking out against the authorities and voicing their support for protests.

Belarus basketball star Yelena Leuchanka, an ex-WNBA player, spent 15 days in jail in October after protesting peacefully against authorities. She later told the AP that prison conditions were awful, with no hot water and toilet in her cell and inmates forced to sleep on metal beds without mattresses.

Maria Shakuro, the captain of the Belarus national rugby team and bronze medalist of the European Beach Rugby Championships, also was sentenced to 10 days in jail for participating in a peaceful protest.

Sports

No future plans yet for Obiena

I

By Josef Ramos

T could be a matter of Ernest John “EJ” Obiena not knowing what hit him at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium on Tuesday night.

But the 25-year-old pole vaulter has some explanations in mind.

“The thing is I’d never been in the Olympics, I don’t really know what the Olympics [are],” Obiena told an online press conference arranged by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association.

“It wasn’t something I thought it was, I guess,” he said. “It’s a beautiful splendid competition, the best of the best of each nation competing for medals. It’s entirely different.”

Obiena missed clearing 5.80 meters thrice to crash out at second to last in the men’s pole vault finals.

He stayed on for the rest of the evening to watch world record holder Armand Duplantis of Sweden run away with the gold medal.

“It didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to be,” the 25-year-old Obiena said. “It didn’t feel like I was able to do what I could.”

Obiena, coached by the worldrenowned Ukranian Vitaly Petrov who monitored his every jump in the field along with his father Emerson, only managed to clear 5.70m, 17 centimeters short of his

BusinessMirror

personal and Philippine best 5.87m.

Asked about his future, Obiena said everything would be up to Petrov.

“I will talk to my coach to try to understand what happened, and then we’ll move forward from there to see what we’re going to do in the next few weeks,” he said. “We will see what I’m going to do. I don’t really know for the moment if I am going to compete, if I am going to continue or if I’m going to do this? No idea yet.”

Obiena will be flying back to Italy on Friday, the same day his father and PATAFA marketing director Edward Kho will return to Manila.

Kristina Knott, on the other hand, said she’ll exert more effort to be able to return for Paris 2024.

“Next year is another big championship. We have the World Indoors in Oregon, then Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games,” said the country’s best in the women’s 200m. “It’s back to the drawing board, so let’s do it again.”

A14

| Thursday, August 5, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

Hidilyn’s ‘Team HD’ inspires

T

BIANCA, YUKA IN THE HUNT

BIANCA PAGDANGANAN (left) is three strokes off the pace while Yuka Saso is lurking five shots behind. AP PAALAM

MARCIAL

Marcial vs Ukrainian, Paalam battles Japanese in crucial boxing matches

T

OKYO—Eumir Felix Marcial and Carlo Paalam resume the country’s gold medal quest in the Tokyo Olympics when they seek final round berths in boxing at the Kokugikan Arena on Thursday.

Paalam climbs the ring first in a flyweight bout at 1:30 p.m. (Manila time) hoping to summon all his big punches to dominate Japanese Ryomei Tanaka.

Marcial, who earned a reputation as the knockout king of the Tokyo Games, faces Ukraine’s Oleksandr Khyzhniak in a middleweight semifinal battle starting at 2:03 p.m. (Manila time).

Victories by both would guarantee them silver medals and shots at the same gold medals Hidilyn Diaz won in women’s weightlifting two Mondays ago. Marcial is facing a familiar foe in Khyzhniak, who beat him at the Strandja International in Bulgaria in 2019.

But that loss won’t be much of a bother for Marcial.

“Eumir lost to Khyzhniak in Bulgaria because I didn’t allow him to continue in their fight,” coach Ronald Chavez said. “I didn’t want to aggravate Eumir’s shoulder [right] injury then.”

Coach Don Abnett, meanwhile, said Marcial has become stronger as the Olympics got older.

Marcial, 25, won his first two bouts via stoppage, winning by Referee Stopped Contest-Injury against Algeria’s Younes Nemouchi via (RSC-I) with 19 seconds remaining in the first round of his first fight last Thursday.

He then knocked out fellow pro Arman Darchinyan of Armenia crashing down to a painful knockout defeat 2:11 in the first round last Saturday.

“I didn’t expect to win this way.

For me, it was basic boxing—unleash punches,” said Marcial of his demolition of Darchinyan.

Paalam has also carved his own reputation in these Olympics that end in four days. He pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Tokyo with his conquest of Rio 2016 gold medalist and world champion Shakhobidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals.

“We are overjoyed with Carlo’s win over the Rio gold medalist. It was an upset that the coaching staff told me was imminent, but we were still concerned until Carlo came out smoking in the first round. He truly looked like a champion,” Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines president Ricky Vargas said.

Vargas said he also has high hopes Paalam will go all the way to win the gold.

“I don’t know much about boxing technique and form but I can tell you Carlo’s a winner,” he said.

Jun Lomibao

By Jun Lomibao

T

OKYO—Bianca Pagdanganan carded a two-under 69 and Yuka Saso went three over with a 74 and the two Filipinas stayed within striking distance of the pace at the start of the women’s competition of golf at the Kasumigaseki Golf Club course in Kawagoe on Wednesday.

Pagdanganan stayed cool with an ice pack in her bag to fight the immense Japanese summer heat, putting leader Madeline Sagstrom of Sweden within her sight in the 72-hole tournament being played at the par-71 course.

Also occasionally freshening up with a fan, the 23-year-old known as the longest hitter in the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), Pagdanganan birdied her first two holes then kept her form when the heat started to yield its fury on the 60-player field.

Pagdanganan sank two more birdies against one bogey in her last five holes—highlighted by a near ace on the 16th—to share of seventh place with eight others, including reigning Olympic champion Inbee Park of South Korea and fellow LPGA winner American Danielle Kang.

Saso, meanwhile, groped for the form that won her the US Women’s Open due to the heat that saw her caddie Lionel Matichuck recovering in a hospital on Tuesday and Pagdanganan’s coach Carito Villaroman being sent to a clinic inside the course due to dehydration.

Saso finished with that three-over round that tied her at 47th place. She made an early bogey on No. 2, got her rhythm going in the succeeding holes but faltered with successive bogeys from the 16th hole.

Lexi Thompson, on the other hand had to bring in a team manager the last three holes when her caddie succumbed to the heat.

Players walked down sunbaked fairways using umbrellas, some of them occasionally holding a bag of

ice on their heads.

Sagstrom had a hot start of her own. With a tough pitch to four feet for par on the final hole, the Swede kept bogeys off her card on a day of searing heat for a five-under 66, giving her a one-shot lead over topranked Nelly Korda of the United States and Aditi Ashok of India.

Extreme heat is nothing new for most of the top players, with an LPGA Tour schedule that includes stops in Singapore and Thailand.

The heat index topped 37.8 Celsius and at that point caddies were allowed to remove their bibs.

Heat wasn’t the only problem. A tropical storm is approaching, and the current forecast is for a 70 percent chance of heavy rain on Saturday, a slighter higher chance on Sunday.

The competition must finish by Sunday when the Olympics close.

Heather Daly-Donofrio, an International Golf Federation technical delegate in charge of the women’s competition, said players have been informed about the possibility of a 54-hole event.

That depends on the weather, and a decision likely won’t be made until after the second round at the

earliest. The extreme heat ruled out any thought of playing 27 holes apiece over the next two days because of player health.

“It’s hot, I’m not going to lie.

It’s very hot,” Sagstrom said. “But it’s manageable. Most of us have been in Asia, played a lot of golf over here, so we know what to do.

You drink a lot of water, you have cooling towels, umbrella, just maintaining the energy and not go crazy. I think at this point it’s harder for the caddies than it is for the players.”

No need to explain that to Thompson. She was walking up the 15th fairway when she said her caddie, Jack Fulghum, turned to her and said, “Do I look white to you?”

“I didn’t really notice. But he just didn’t look good,” Thompson said. “I just want him to be healthy, that’s all.”

She had him sit down off the green and brought in Donna Wilkins, who works in player services for the LPGA Tour and is on the staff for Team USA at the Olympics. Thompson birdied three straight holes, closed with a bogey and shot 72. With AP

HE first gold medal—plus the Olympic records—were the result of years of hard work Hidilyn Diaz and her “Team HD” put together to make Philippine sports history at the Tokyo Olympics.

And Diaz said she is forever thankful for winning the gold medal in the women’s–55 kgs class of weightlifting.

Looking back, Diaz said that the journey started when she placed ninth overall in the 2018 World Weightlifting Championship in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, one of the qualifying tournaments for the Tokyo Olympics,.

“For me, for ‘Team HD’ we’ll always look back to what we have went through in the past,” Diaz said. “It wasn’t easy, there were doubts at the start of the journey, but we never gave up.”

“I won’t forget the feeling when I finally won the gold medal, and more so, the preparations and training that we put together to achieve our goal,” she said. “... everything that we did, the hard work and sacrifices for our beloved country.”

“Team HD” is composed of Diaz, Chinese mentor Gao Kaiwen, strength and conditioning coach Julius Naranjo, sports

‘GOLDEN SILVER’ MAKES NESTHY BEAM ALL OVER T

OKYO—Nesthy Petecio was beaming like she just won a gold medal the morning after losing to a Japanese opponent in the women’s featherweight final of boxing at the Tokyo Olympics.

She, too, no longer shed tears in Wednesday morning’s virtual press conference from the Olympic Village—unlike the day before when she was overwhelmed with emotions after clinching a silver medal that many back home say “glittered like gold.”

In fact, she woke up on Wednesday taking a selfie

BOXING silver medalist Nesthy Petecio (third from left) addresses a virtual press conference with Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino (fourth from left). Also in photo are (from left) POC Secretary General Atty. Edwin Gastanes, Chef de Mission Mariano Araneta, and boxing coaches Don Abnett and Marcus Manalo. COURTESY DINAH REMOLACIO

Karate finally makes Olympic debut T OKYO—The history of karate’s journey to the Olympics would make a pretty good backstory for a martial arts movie.

Generations of determined athletes have collectively spent half a century training, studying and working toward their goal, overcoming setbacks and patiently honing their martial art for the big moment.

This epic quest finally ends Thursday when some of the brightest talents in modern karate step onto the tatami at the Nippon Budokan to begin three historic days of competition in its Olympic debut.

“Nothing will be the same for karate after Tokyo,” said Antonio

Espinós, the president of the World Karate Foundation and a prime force behind its Olympic addition.

Espinós has spent his life in karate as a competitor and an executive, and the 73-year-old Spaniard radiates satisfaction from reaching this milestone in Japan.

Karate is ubiquitous as a stylized cinematic tool and a recreational pursuit, yet its current competitive form is often either unfamiliar and misunderstood, or derided as boring.

Will casual sports fans like what they see from Tokyo? This won’t look exactly like the All Valley Tournament on “Cobra Kai,” and it’s definitely not a Chuck Norris movie.

Espinós is still confident true karate can captivate the world.

“Its life will change, and many

nutritionist Jeaneth Aro and psychologist Dr. Karen Trinidad.

“Team HD’s” journey was featured in a four-part documentary series on the Facebook page of Kick-Start Coffee Brewed Awakening entitled “Let’s Go HD!” The documentary series allowed the Zamboanga City native to do a “video diary” naturally done in a free flowing and heartfelt videos where it showed glimpses of the struggles and the highs and lows of being an elite athlete while she was in training camp in Malaysia.

“I hope to inspire a lot of Filipino people [with the documentary]. That’s the purpose,” said Diaz, 30. “For all our fellow Filipinos to know about the journey and be inspired.”

Diaz set two Olympic records on her way to the gold medal—at 127kgs on her third and last attempt at clean and jerk and her total of 224 kgs.

She beat China’s Liao Qiuyun, the world record holder who finished at 223 kgs following her 97 kgs in snatch and 126kgs in clean and jerk to earn a silver medal. Kazakhstan’s Chinshanlo Zulfiya placed third with a total of 213kgs—90 kgs in snatch and 123 kgs in clean and jerk.

millions of people will discover the sport, the martial art,” he said. “The Olympic Games, for this sport, are a unique scenario that no other opportunity can provide. I’m sure we are prepared.

We have been working for many years to have this opportunity.”

Karate is already known in every corner of the globe, of course. It’s had an indelible presence in film and television for decades, and thousands of dojos are thriving on city streets and in strip malls across the world.

But as one of four new Olympic sports added to the Tokyo program, the competition forms of karate will receive unprecedented mainstream attention.

The Olympic competition will be held both in kumite— competitive sparring—and in kata, a demonstration of form often compared to a gymnastics floor exercise. AP

clutching her silver medal and flashing a wide and satisfied smile.

“I’m so happy that I really slept last night clutching my silver medal, hoping it would sink in when I wake up,” Petecio said.

“And I also make sure that in every move I make, wherever I go, I have my medal with me.”

“I keep telling myself—here it is, a silver medal, I am an Olympic medalist now,” she said.

Petecio lost to Japan’s Sena Irie via unanimous decision on Tuesday to become the second Tokyo Olympics medalist on Team Philippines after weightlifting gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz.

The silver medal earned Petecio at least P20 million in incentives—P5 million each under the Athletes and Coaches Incentives Act through the Philippine Sports Commission headed by Chairman William Ramirez, San Miguel Corp.

(Ramon S. Ang) and PLDT/ Smart (Manuel V. Pangilinan), P3 million from Phoenix Petroleum through the Siklab Atleta Pilipinas Foundation and P2 million from House Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero.

AirAsia Philippines also rewarded Petecio five years of unlimited flights.

In the same press conference, POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino promised to reward Petecio. He rewarded Diaz a house-and-lot in Tagaytay City.

Petecio said he’ll go back to training if her coaches tell her to do so.

“I will follow whatever my coaches tell me to do, they know what’s good for me,” said Petecio, who continuously thanked her coaches Nolito “Boy” Velasco and Don Abnett for helping her achieve her Olympic dream.

But Petecio said she will savor every moment from hereon in until she returns to training.

“I’ll first enjoy the rewards that are coming my way,” she said.

“Maybe I’ll be resting a bit for now, my body needs rest—although as an athlete, you cannot take away my habit to sweat out regularly.”

She said Paris 2024 beckons— after the smoke of celebration clears.

POC Secretary General Atty.

Edwin Gastanes, Ched de Mission Mariano Araneta and coaches Abnett and Marcus Manalo also attended the virtual press conference.

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, August 5, 2021

B1

Petron records net income of ₧3.87B in January-June

P

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

etron Corp. ended the first semester with a net income of P3.87 billion, a turnaround from the P14.24-billion net loss it incurred a year ago, due to the rebound in oil demand.

Of the amount, P2.14 billion was registered in the second quarter.

Oil prices steadily rose in the first semester with Dubai crude averaging $72 per barrel in June, up 44 percent from its December 2020 level. The bullish market was driven by the conservative stance of major oil producers in supply management, boosted by optimistic market sentiments with the global vaccination rollouts and gradual reopening of economies, Petron said in a statement.

With the continued recovery in

prices, consolidated revenues of Petron’s Philippine and Malaysian operations went up 14 percent to P174.13 billion from last year’s P152.36 billion despite lower sales volume.

Sales volume was 7 percent lower versus the same period last year as the market continues to reel from the impact of the pandemic. However, the slowdown in sales to industrial accounts was partially offset by the gradual improvement in the retail segment. Local sales in the service stations climbed by about

12 percent while volumes for lubes significantly improved by nearly 50 percent.

Petron’s operating income reached P8.95 billion, a reversal from the P14.54-billion loss it recorded a year ago.

The country’s remaining refining company also cited petrochemical prices and savings on operating expenses and financing costs as factors that led to its rebound.

“Though we continue to face some challenges, we have seen tremendous progress this year. The increase in demand and continued improvement in international prices indicate that we are slowly but surely regaining lost ground as an industry,” said Petron President and CEO Ramon Ang. He hopes the company will be able to sustain its improved performance as refinery operations resumed last June 1.

“Our financial performance in Petron, due in no small part to our recovery efforts and prudent use of resources, is proving to be a complete turnaround from last year which

we hope to sustain as we continue to move past the pandemic slump,” said Ang. Petron temporarily closed down its 180,000-barrels per day refinery in May 2020 and reopened in October. It again ceased refinery operations last February 10.

Following its approval as a registered-enterprise last December, the Petron Bataan Refinery has started to transition into AFAB (Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan) and has also begun to avail of fiscal incentives from operating in a freeport zone.

Petron has set aside P11 billion for its 2021 capital expenditures (capex), higher than the P8.5 billion it allocated last year. The amount covers its on-going construction of steam generator plants, strategic retail network expansion, and maintenance requirements. Petron has put up 14 new stations in the first quarter with plans to build more for the rest of the year.

This year’s capex will be financed by a combination of internal cash generation and external financing sources.

Del Monte PHL puts on hold IPO T

he board of dual-listed Del Monte Pacific Ltd. has decided to delay the listing of its Philippine unit on the local bourse, citing adverse market conditions.

“In light of increased market volatility, in consultation with its advisors, has decided to delay the initial public offering [IPO] of its subsidiary, Del Monte Philippines Inc. [DMPI] on the Philippine Stock Exchange,” the company said.

The company had also delayed the

listing of its Philippine unit in 2018, citing volatile market conditions.

“Amidst a surge of Covid-19 cases in the Philippines and in the region, the PSE has been highly volatile in recent weeks, and the board believes that it is in the best interests of the company, its shareholders and potential investors to defer the listing until conditions improve,” it said.

“The board remains committed to listing DMPI and continues to believe strongly in the growth and resilience

AirAsia expands cargo business

DOE targeting to hit RE goal in power mix via green energy auction scheme

A

s commercial flights have been limited due to the potential spread of Covid-19’s Delta variant, budget carrier AirAsia is strengthening its cargo business with its expansion in Mindanao.

Ricardo Isla, president of Airasia Philippines, said the group has started operating Teleport, the cargo unit of Airasia, in General Santos, and will soon start commercial operations in Zamboanga.

“Our cargo business is approximately 10 percent of our total top line.

There are a lot of good opportunities to expand that,” he said in a virtual press briefing on Wednesday.

Teleport operations, Isla noted, involves not only the delivery of goods via plane. It also involves investments in facilities and machineries that help the company serve the needs of its clients.

“It includes warehousing, machines for X-rays, logistics operations, and manpower on ground.

We’re learning from all our previous destinations like Cebu, Davao, Palawan, CDO. We would like to duplicate that into our newly-opened Teleport General Santos, and soon-to-open Zamboanga,” he added.

Teleport Zamboanga will open within the month.

“We’re boosting our Teleport cargo business because we need to continue our progress with regards to transfer of goods to the city,” Isla said.

The budget carrier is reducing its flight operations by “almost 40 percent” in the next two weeks due to the impending imposition of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the National Capital Region (NCR) and its adjacent provinces. Lorenz S. Marasigan

T

he Depar tment of Energy (DOE) is soliciting comments from industry stakeholders on a draft circular that seeks to achieve a 35-percent renewable energy (RE) share in the power generation mix by implementing the Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP).

Under the GEAP, those consuming at least 100 kilowatts of power may source their supply from qualified retail energy suppliers (RES) that generate electricity from renewables. The RE supply will be facilitated by qualified RE suppliers via a Competitive Selection Process (CSP).

“The Green Energy Auction is hereby established as a mechanism to facilitate the selection of eligible RE pants through a CSP or auction,” the revised draft circular on the guidelines for GEAP stated.

The DOE is requesting all interested parties to submit comments and recommendations until August 6.

The agency has yet to set a date for the competitive auction and the volume of capacity to be offered.

“For the volume, we will release it together with the notice of auction after we finalize the revised guidelines. October is still the target auction date. We just need to revise the GEAP design to take into consideration the substantial developments in the RE industry. The major change here is the design of the auction,” said

of its business. During this time, the company will continue discussions with potential investors and strategic partners that have expressed interest during the IPO process.”

Del Monte Philippines has already secured pre-approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission in July for its initial public offering (IPO), which it was supposed to raise as much as P44.07 billion.

According to its registration statement, it will sell to the pub-

DOE Assistant Secretary Redentor Delola in a text message when sought for comment.

He added that GEAP would be similar to the FIT (feed-in-tariff) program, albeit the tariffs will be determined through competitive auction.

The DOE was earlier looking at 2,000 megawatts (MW) of RE capacity for auction. Delola said the capacity to be decided later on will depend on the supply requirements of power utilities as well as the need to meet the country’s goal of hitting the RE generation target.

“The old design was merely reliant on the RPS [Renewable Portfolio Standards] requirements of the DUs [distribution utilities]. The new design takes into consideration the projected requirement capacity additions needed to achieve the RE generation target of 35 percent by 2030,” said the DOE official.

RPS requires power DUs, electric cooperatives, and retail electricity supplies (RES) to source an agreed portion of their energy supply from eligible renewable energy RE facilities.

Under the revised GEAP guidelines, an RE developer shall be deemed qualified if the RE facility being offered has no existing power purchase agreement with any distribution utility or end-user.

For now, the DOE has registered 10 entities qualified under the GEAP. These are Aboitiz

lic some 699.33 million priced up to P54.80 per share, plus up to 104.89 million in secondary common shares for the overallotment option. The shares offer shares are currently held by Central American Resources, Inc. and SEA Diner Holdings (S) Pte Ltd. Proceeds will be used by its parent firm, Del Monte Pacific, for the repayment of loan facilities, redemption of certain preferred shares and general corporate purposes. VG Cabuag

Energy Solutions, Inc.; Prism Energy, Inc.; Adventenergy, Inc., Bacman Geothermal, Inc.; First Gen Energy Solutions, Inc.; SN Aboitiz Power-Magat, Inc.; SN Aboitiz Power-Res, Inc.; AC Energy Philippines, Inc.; Sparc-Solar Powered Agri-Rural Communities Corp.; and Citicore Energy Solutions Inc. Moreover, the auction capacity requirement shall be determined based on the capacity needed by the grid for sufficient supply, levels of RE to maintain the RE generation mix target set by the DOE; and volume of RE contracts in the market.

Delola is confident that the country’s RE goal would be met, alongside with the following objectives: n Prov ide immed iate a nd timely investments in new or additional RE capacities to ensure provision of adequate supply and competitive rates of electricity in the country. n Support the development of, and increase access to financing for, new RE projects under a competitive process, together with long-term contracts. n Implement the mandate of giving preference to RE sources of energy for a cleaner and sustainable environment.

Under the DOE’s Philippine Energy Plan, the RE share in the power mix should hit 35 percent until year 2030. This entails additional installations of up to 34,000MW. Lenie Lectura

SMIC income nearly triples to ₧20.1B in H1

BusinessMirror file photo

S

M Investments Corp. (SMIC), the holding firm of the Sy family, said its income nearly tripled to P20.1 billion in the first semester, from the P7.1 billion it posted a year ago.

Consolidated revenues rose 4 percent to P193.5 billion in the first half from P185.5 billion in the same period last year, it said.

Banking accounted for 58 percent of SMIC’s reported net earnings from core businesses, followed by property at 28 percent and retail at 14 percent.

“Our businesses continued to perform resiliently, recovering well as conditions allowed. Our banking and residential businesses performed well as we also continued to invest in long term expansion with new stores, bank branches, residential project launches and investments in malls, as well as taking a majority stake in 2GO in our equity investment portfolio,” SM Investments President and CEO Frederic C. DyBuncio said.

In the six months ending June 30, SM Retail and its affiliates added 159 stores while banks increased their network by 22 branches. SM Development Corp., which builds condominiums, launched two residential projects—Sands Residences in Manila and Cheerful 2 Residences in Pampanga—bringing over 3,900 new units to the market.

“We are hopeful that the recovery momentum continues as we see more

Filipinos get vaccinated,” DyBuncio said. In a strong drive to support national recovery, SM ordered over 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines for its employees and for donation to the government.

With the acquisition of additional shares in 2GO, SM Investments’ stake increased to 52.89 percent by the end of June, providing ownership control.

“We are confident of 2GO capturing a leading share in high value activities in the growing local logistics and distribution sector and are pleased to continue to support its growth,” DyBuncio said.

SM Retail reported revenues of P138.2 billion, slightly lower than last year’s P139.2 billion.

Revenue growth was 18 percent in the non-food segment, with online and deliveries accounting for 13 percent of total revenues.

Retail net income reached P3.6 billion from only P522 million last year, due to the cost reductions implemented in the first quarter across all formats and further efficiencies in the second quarter.

BDO Unibank Inc. delivered P21.4 billion in profits in the first six months of the year on the back of strong sustainable earnings and normalized provisions.

China Banking Corp.’s net income grew by 39 percent to P7.3 billion on the back of strong performance across its core businesses. VG Cabuag

B2

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, August 5, 2021

MPIC core income climbs 13% to ₧5.3B in Jan-June

M

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

etro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) said it posted a core income of P6 billion in the first semester, up 13 percent from P5.3 billion last year, on the back of improved traffic on its toll roads and higher volume of electricity sold.

MPIC's core net income of P3.5 billion in the second quarter was 37 percent higher quarter-on-quarter.

The figure was also 82 percent higher than the P1.9 billion recorded last year, when the country's economy was crippled by the strictest lockdown.

Power contributed P5.4 billion or 63 percent of the total; toll roads, P1.9 billion or 22 percent; and water, P1.4 billion or 17 percent. Other businesses, mainly light rail and logistics, had an overall loss of P294 million owing to the continuing impact of the pandemic on the ridership of LRT-1 and the ongoing recalibration of warehousing operations.

The hospital group contributed P142 million as it was able to adjust to new lockdown measures.

Jose Ma. K. Lim, the company’s president and CEO, said MPIC is confident of hitting its core income guidance of P12 billion by the end of the year.

“The reason our financials were adversely affected [by the hard lockdown] the first time around was that in the first round it was quite severe that the economy was totally shut down. But since then, the government including our hospitals group have learned to adjust to new lockdowns,” Lim said.

“We feel this time around this new lockdown will affect the transport segment of our portfolio but not to the same degree [as in the first]. And so in fact our tollways traffic is now at 774,000 vehicles per day [and]

that is only 12 percent below what it was pre-pandemic.” As for the Light Rail Manila Corp., Lim noted that capacity utilization was restricted by the government. Ridership averages about 120,000 per day, or 42 percent of the pre-pandemic levels.

“But otherwise all our businesses are doing particularly well particularly the hospital [group] as they have already learned how to adjust to Covid. In the first lockdown they were severely affected. In fact they lost money in most instances but by comparison they have recovered to almost normal operations and profitability.”

The company is restructuring its logistics business and is dropping the trucking operations and the forwarding business, which he said was “too problematic.” It is also winding down its unprofitable warehousing operations.

“No, we are not leaving our contracts. We’re allowing the contracts to wind down,” he said.

He also said the company is already in talks for the possible acquisition of another logistics firm.

“It’s not our plan to leave logistics.

Our plan is in fact to find a stronger platform from which we can enter into the area of e commerce, where we believe the market is in great need of service. We would look into existing strong operators, people who have a proven track record, either acquire or buy into this platform. That I think is, you know, in a nutshell, what we want to do with the logistics.”

mutual funds

August 4, 2021 NAV

One Year Three Year Five Year

per share

Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

211.24

11.92%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.3708

37.73%

-2.5%

0.1%

4.4%

15.14%

-11.25%

-7.66%

-7.11%

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7381 13.4%

-6.98% n.a.

-8.19%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7223 11.93%

-5.77% n.a.

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

-5.18%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 2.9104

4.6511

14.64%

First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,4 0.6966

-7.14%

-4.99%

-7.03%

-2.6%

-3.42%

-5.87%

-7.85%

-7.29%

MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

96.3

26.61%

-3.81% n.a.

-5.53%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

43.1406

14.38%

-5.58%

-3.94%

-7.91%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

454.3

11.39%

-5.2%

-4.27%

-7.09%

Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d,5

1.049

26.23% n.a. n.a.

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.1097

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

32.4958

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.8416

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.4247

9.75%

-4.4%

14.99%

-4.66%

-3.22%

-5.01%

14.84%

-4.65%

-2.84%

-6.54%

12.89% n.a. n.a.

-7.82%

15.3%

-4.99%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

740.65

15.16%

-4.89%

-3.29%

-7.61%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.6771

16.28%

-8.46%

-6.23%

-5.81%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.3942

13.8%

-6.78%

-4.43%

-6.34%

-5.24%

-3.46%

-7.87%

-5.4%

-2.62%

-6.85%

-4.68%

-2.76%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8455 14.69% United Fund, Inc. -a

3.0916

13.62%

-3.17%

-8.32%

-7.65%

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

99.4179

15.15%

-7.56%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b $1.1955

15.53%

4.78%

6.45%

-0.62%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.8192

24.16%

12.11%

12.01%

8.75%

-1.43%

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

1.6448

6.16%

-1.06%

-2.27%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.1551

7.19%

-2.2%

-2.04%

-5.7%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.5183

7.24%

-1.51%

-1.27%

-4.14%

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,1 0.1858

3.16% n.a. n.a.

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

1.9084

5.81%

0.61%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.5912

5.43%

-0.46%

-1.61%

-5.2%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.0825

5.93%

-0.33%

-1.58%

-5.04%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.0074

7.46%

-1.67%

-1.22%

-4.14%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.4307 7.92%

-2.69%

-2.52%

-3.99%

5.28% n.a. n.a.

-5.56%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9657

-0.3%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.8734

8.15% n.a. n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.8567

9.81% n.a. n.a.

-8.19%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

8.97%

-4.38%

0.8488

-3.52%

-3.02%

-6.45%

-2.83%

-7.99%

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

$0.03839

-3.03%

2.94%

1.3%

-1.87%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

$1.1021

6.6%

2.97%

3.45%

-4.18%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.7816 17.84%

9.27%

8.42%

5.95%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,3 $1.2261 8.19%

5.41%

4.59%

2%

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

August 4, 2021

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

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 FILIPINO FUND IREMIT MEDCO HLDG NTL REINSURANCE PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE VANTAGE

43.85 112.6 83.1 24 9.43 45.85 20.55 55.55 19.2 112.9 75.8 1.19 4.32 7.3 1.21 0.34 0.6 220.6 2,400 0.89

45 112.9 83.15 24.15 9.56 45.95 20.6 57.5 19.78 113 76.25 1.28 4.38 8.45 1.31 0.37 0.7 231.8 2,550 0.95

45.05 110.7 83.5 24.5 9.39 45.25 20.4 55.6 19.02 111 75.75 1.18 4.3 7.4 1.31 0.34 0.62 239 2,400 0.88

45.05 113.5 83.6 24.5 9.66 46.25 20.6 57.5 19.5 113.3 76.5 1.19 4.38 7.4 1.31 0.37 0.7 239 2,400 0.88

45 110.3 82.7 24 9.31 45.25 20.35 55.5 19.02 111 75.75 1.18 4.3 7.3 1.31 0.34 0.6 231.8 2,400 0.88

45 112.9 83.15 24.15 9.43 45.95 20.6 57.5 19.2 113 75.8 1.19 4.38 7.3 1.31 0.37 0.7 231.8 2,400 0.88

1,000 4,336,450 2,305,660 214,000 774,700 2,176,300 214,600 1,030 39,100 153,490 41,460 104,000 316,000 10,300 14,000 110,000 434,000 580 265 100,000

45,030 488,225,523 191,837,884 5,143,175 7,319,564 99,785,610 4,392,880 57,657 747,870 17,270,835 3,150,372.50 122,760 1,371,810 75,669 18,340 39,850 261,030 135,094 636,000 88,000

278,490,584 -86,476,369.50 -596,505 -546,393 47,798,485 -2,125,975.00 -9,750 -2,097,832 -647,672 -21,550.00 35,040 192,000 -

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 8.48 8.49 8.38 8.5 8.35 8.48 24,425,500 205,836,369 1.22 1.23 1.21 1.22 1.21 1.22 59,000 71,850 ALSONS CONS ABOITIZ POWER 23.35 23.4 23.3 23.8 23.3 23.4 1,431,900 33,621,720 0.56 0.57 0.49 0.57 0.475 0.57 50,190,000 26,449,250 BASIC ENERGY 28.8 29 29.35 29.35 28.5 29 245,900 7,108,015 FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG 74 74.1 74.3 74.3 74 74 80,630 5,971,058.50 268 269 269 270.8 266 268 169,540 45,384,348 MERALCO MANILA WATER 16.96 17 16.48 17 16.48 17 1,279,300 21,588,380 PETRON 3.13 3.14 3.11 3.16 3.11 3.13 1,358,000 4,263,160 12.7 12.92 12.72 12.94 12.52 12.94 37,600 477,458 PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL 17.62 17.8 17.84 17.84 17.5 17.62 576,500 10,173,504 12.18 12.22 11.9 12.24 11.5 12.22 176,700 2,132,454 SPC POWER 5.93 6.01 5.95 6.02 5.9 6.01 498,500 2,981,904 AGRINURTURE AXELUM 2.61 2.67 2.65 2.66 2.61 2.65 302,000 799,090 25 25.5 25.8 25.8 25 25 2,073,900 52,691,930 CENTURY FOOD DEL MONTE 13.68 13.7 14.5 14.5 13.54 13.68 2,801,500 38,922,678 DNL INDUS 8.08 8.09 8.11 8.11 8.03 8.09 4,606,600 37,265,547 15 15.02 15.18 15.2 14.88 15 4,030,700 60,444,796 EMPERADOR SMC FOODANDBEV 81.3 82.5 83 83 81.15 82.5 76,480 6,274,612 0.64 0.66 0.67 0.67 0.64 0.66 1,576,000 1,009,350 ALLIANCE SELECT 1.21 1.23 1.21 1.23 1.21 1.23 2,023,000 2,477,740 FRUITAS HLDG GINEBRA 92.5 94.95 91 95 89 92.5 83,570 7,723,342.50 192.5 194 195.9 195.9 192.2 192.5 312,580 60,614,020 JOLLIBEE MAXS GROUP 6 6.05 5.95 6.1 5.95 6.05 28,700 172,568 0.232 0.234 0.22 0.235 0.22 0.233 620,000 141,780 MG HLDG 15.52 15.58 15.12 15.6 15.12 15.58 7,020,100 108,561,886 MONDE NISSIN SHAKEYS PIZZA 7.5 7.6 7.6 7.6 7.5 7.52 291,200 2,209,068 ROXAS AND CO 0.96 0.98 0.97 0.98 0.94 0.98 5,020,000 4,793,730 4.4 4.49 4.42 4.42 4.39 4.4 408,000 1,796,170 RFM CORP SWIFT FOODS 0.133 0.134 0.134 0.135 0.133 0.134 4,500,000 601,510 134.7 134.8 133.8 135.6 133.8 134.7 519,280 70,037,990 UNIV ROBINA 0.78 0.79 0.78 0.79 0.77 0.79 1,426,000 1,126,030 VITARICH CONCRETE B 52.6 62.8 52.6 52.6 52.6 52.6 20 1,052 1.2 1.21 1.21 1.23 1.2 1.21 1,746,000 2,118,680 CEMEX HLDG EAGLE CEMENT 14.5 14.8 14.04 14.8 14.04 14.8 29,500 420,426 7.25 7.69 7.45 7.69 7.26 7.69 40,000 300,455 EEI CORP 6.65 6.68 6.5 6.7 6.46 6.68 1,320,700 8,614,144 HOLCIM MEGAWIDE 6.14 6.15 6.15 6.28 6.11 6.15 1,649,200 10,147,172 12.82 13 14.3 14.3 13 13 56,300 736,926 PHINMA 0.99 1.02 0.99 1.02 0.98 1.02 927,000 918,220 TKC METALS VULCAN INDL 1.32 1.35 1.32 1.4 1.32 1.32 6,888,000 9,368,980 1.65 1.7 1.65 1.7 1.63 1.65 123,000 205,850 CROWN ASIA EUROMED 1.79 1.84 1.8 1.84 1.78 1.8 48,000 86,210 5.35 5.36 5.35 5.39 5.35 5.38 3,700 19,848 MABUHAY VINYL 5.48 5.49 5.48 5.49 5.48 5.48 40,400 221,700 PRYCE CORP GREENERGY 2.65 2.67 2.63 2.68 2.55 2.67 12,148,000 31,961,580 8.48 8.5 8.88 8.88 8.5 8.5 1,378,700 11,807,908 INTEGRATED MICR 0.94 0.96 0.92 0.96 0.92 0.94 89,000 84,190 IONICS PANASONIC 5.77 5.88 5.88 5.88 5.88 5.88 2,000 11,760 1.26 1.27 1.25 1.26 1.23 1.26 806,000 992,490 SFA SEMICON CIRTEK HLDG 4.94 4.95 4.75 4.97 4.75 4.94 2,405,000 11,843,010

33,714,013 -8,741,450 5,137,850 -1,637,340 -1,179,407.50 5,462,280 2,585,620 -191,430 -2,784,740 -216,511 2,640 -12,493,490 692,132 -7,246,011 -23,680,232 -4,700,566.50 -252,610 3,456,583.50 -19,725,689 2,932,962 208,500 1,172,420 17,640 -3,175,989 -730,590 -6,399,175 -977,382 169,500 -7,019,060 -8,085,411.00 -38,000 -371,990

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 JOLLIVILLE HLDG LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA HLDG SOLID GROUP SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP SOC RESOURCES TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.95 6.1 750 39.85 9.95 4.05 6.8 0.97 0.58 0.56 5.01 6.04 7.75 0.29 538 58.9 5.57 0.64 2.96 9.92 0.48 3.63 3.26 1.15 964 106.8 0.68 136.7 0.26 0.2

0.96 6.99 760 39.95 9.99 4.07 7 0.98 0.6 0.61 5.02 6.08 7.8 0.33 539 59.9 5.74 0.66 2.97 9.93 0.51 3.64 3.59 1.22 969 107.2 0.73 138 0.265 0.205

0.95 7 758.5 39.55 10.14 4.16 6.64 0.96 0.57 0.55 4.95 6.14 7.75 0.29 545 59.2 5.57 0.63 2.96 9.85 0.49 3.64 3.61 1.18 964.5 106.9 0.73 130.3 0.265 0.199

0.96 7 770 40 10.14 4.21 6.8 1.01 0.6 0.55 5.01 6.2 7.75 0.33 547.5 59.9 5.57 0.67 3 10.16 0.51 3.69 3.61 1.18 974.5 107.2 0.73 138 0.265 0.2

0.94 7 750 39.55 9.88 4.03 6.64 0.95 0.57 0.55 4.95 6.02 7.55 0.29 536 58.7 5.57 0.62 2.96 9.84 0.47 3.62 3.61 1.14 950 106.6 0.73 130.3 0.255 0.199

0.96 7 750 39.95 9.99 4.07 6.8 0.97 0.6 0.55 5.01 6.04 7.75 0.33 539 59.9 5.57 0.66 2.97 9.93 0.51 3.64 3.61 1.14 964 106.8 0.73 138 0.265 0.2

1,837,000 100 163,050 496,900 2,015,200 3,577,000 379,000 3,092,000 1,208,000 39,000 446,000 3,844,200 3,000 1,260,000 188,830 964,950 300 738,000 1,285,000 11,801,200 232,000 7,284,000 1,000 149,000 174,890 229,030 1,000 1,620 140,000 90,000

1,740,790 700 123,449,360 19,815,535 20,121,913 14,767,780 2,519,426 3,033,320 712,570 21,450 2,225,110 23,485,388 23,050 396,300 101,852,105 57,299,202 1,671 466,150 3,807,450 117,158,969 112,330 26,605,200 3,610 171,280 168,700,470 24,472,663 730 222,503 36,700 17,960

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.63 0.65 0.64 0.64 0.63 0.64 189,000 120,930 33.3 33.35 33.8 33.8 33.3 33.3 8,892,200 297,229,795 AYALA LAND AREIT RT 36.35 36.4 36.4 36.4 36.2 36.4 458,100 16,661,495 1.35 1.37 1.34 1.37 1.34 1.35 37,000 50,050 BELLE CORP 0.87 0.89 0.87 0.9 0.87 0.87 215,000 187,510 A BROWN CITYLAND DEVT 0.78 0.8 0.79 0.8 0.78 0.78 281,000 220,350 0.125 0.13 0.131 0.131 0.125 0.126 4,370,000 548,140 CROWN EQUITIES CEBU HLDG 6.22 6.68 6.2 6.69 6.2 6.69 4,200 26,285 2.85 2.87 2.82 2.89 2.8 2.85 2,216,000 6,317,590 CEB LANDMASTERS 0.405 0.41 0.425 0.43 0.405 0.41 40,970,000 17,005,000 CENTURY PROP DOUBLEDRAGON 10.7 10.74 10.44 10.98 10.44 10.74 1,748,800 18,743,406 1.82 1.83 1.8 1.83 1.78 1.82 5,877,000 10,668,040 DDMP RT 6.84 6.93 6.85 6.85 6.82 6.83 13,200 90,255 DM WENCESLAO EMPIRE EAST 0.27 0.275 0.275 0.275 0.27 0.275 1,790,000 488,750 0.355 0.36 0.325 0.375 0.325 0.36 137,330,000 48,252,600 EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND 1.12 1.13 1.1 1.13 1.1 1.12 5,417,000 6,064,540 GLOBAL ESTATE 0.82 0.9 0.85 0.85 0.85 0.85 22,000 18,700 7.01 7.25 7.09 7.25 7.01 7.25 52,900 373,541 8990 HLDG PHIL INFRADEV 1.25 1.29 1.23 1.25 1.21 1.25 255,000 311,970 3.2 3.93 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 2,000 6,400 KEPPEL PROP 1.31 1.32 1.24 1.34 1.24 1.31 352,000 458,230 CITY AND LAND MEGAWORLD 2.8 2.82 2.83 2.88 2.8 2.8 20,470,000 57,931,050 0.295 0.3 0.285 0.305 0.28 0.3 17,610,000 5,198,250 MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES 0.55 0.56 0.55 0.56 0.53 0.55 6,315,000 3,453,780 PRIMEX CORP 2.22 2.28 2.21 2.29 2.2 2.23 153,000 340,250 16.3 16.42 16.48 16.48 16.14 16.42 3,247,400 53,157,880 ROBINSONS LAND PHIL REALTY 0.275 0.285 0.265 0.295 0.26 0.285 7,850,000 2,217,200 ROCKWELL 1.47 1.54 1.47 1.47 1.47 1.47 2,000 2,940 2.6 2.66 2.68 2.68 2.6 2.65 558,000 1,451,930 SHANG PROP STA LUCIA LAND 2.88 2.9 2.85 2.96 2.75 2.88 910,000 2,625,900 33.9 34.05 33.8 34.45 33.4 34.05 5,395,700 182,943,485 SM PRIME HLDG 3.71 3.84 3.75 3.84 3.75 3.84 7,000 26,340 VISTAMALLS SUNTRUST HOME 1.51 1.58 1.54 1.6 1.51 1.6 189,000 298,870 3.56 3.6 3.58 3.6 3.52 3.56 7,031,000 24,849,470 VISTA LAND

SERVICES ABS CBN 11.18 11.24 11.2 11.24 11.18 11.18 40,300 451,270 13.86 13.92 13.66 14.06 13.54 13.86 4,590,700 63,513,020 GMA NETWORK GLOBE TELECOM 1,880 1,884 1,890 1,894 1,867 1,880 43,360 81,498,325 1,249 1,250 1,247 1,259 1,241 1,249 40,410 50,524,070 PLDT 0.118 0.119 0.116 0.122 0.115 0.119 236,050,000 27,999,650 APOLLO GLOBAL CONVERGE 23.85 23.9 23.25 24 23.2 23.9 2,541,100 60,364,615 3.55 3.7 3.65 3.8 3.5 3.7 271,000 980,820 DFNN INC DITO CME HLDG 7.34 7.35 7.05 7.5 7.04 7.35 12,348,500 90,257,914 NOW CORP 2.12 2.13 2.07 2.12 2.05 2.12 1,280,000 2,679,260 0.39 0.395 0.385 0.4 0.385 0.39 4,570,000 1,802,850 TRANSPACIFIC BR PHILWEB 2.23 2.26 2.24 2.26 2.17 2.26 82,000 183,720 8.1 8.3 8.1 8.3 8.1 8.1 7,600 61,600 2GO GROUP 14 14.3 14 14.3 14 14.3 15,700 220,220 ASIAN TERMINALS CHELSEA 2.57 2.58 2.6 2.6 2.55 2.57 884,000 2,262,900 43.95 44 43.55 44.4 43.55 44 111,100 4,889,335 CEBU AIR INTL CONTAINER 174.3 174.8 169.7 174.8 169 174.8 2,250,360 390,356,089 LBC EXPRESS 16.3 17.48 16.26 16.28 16.26 16.28 600 9,758 0.96 1 0.96 0.97 0.96 0.97 7,000 6,770 LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA 4.68 4.69 4.6 4.7 4.6 4.69 391,000 1,826,070 1.9 1.94 1.79 1.94 1.79 1.9 178,000 337,800 METROALLIANCE A 1.03 1.04 1.08 1.08 1.04 1.04 97,000 103,220 HARBOR STAR ACESITE HOTEL 1.69 1.7 1.71 1.78 1.65 1.7 628,000 1,065,660 0.098 0.099 0.098 0.103 0.095 0.098 147,220,000 14,684,350 BOULEVARD HLDG DISCOVERY WORLD 2.45 2.74 2.68 2.7 2.68 2.7 35,000 94,000 12.06 14.98 14.7 15 14.7 15 3,700 55,470 GRAND PLAZA 0.53 0.54 0.52 0.54 0.52 0.54 580,000 311,650 WATERFRONT STI HLDG 0.34 0.35 0.34 0.35 0.34 0.34 9,020,000 3,069,650 BERJAYA 5.32 5.52 5.49 5.53 5.49 5.53 3,900 21,425 5.67 5.68 5.6 5.67 5.56 5.67 5,686,100 31,798,073 BLOOMBERRY PACIFIC ONLINE 1.97 2 1.98 1.98 1.98 1.98 5,000 9,900 1.43 1.45 1.45 1.47 1.43 1.45 105,000 152,130 LEISURE AND RES 1.65 1.67 1.68 1.68 1.64 1.65 1,292,000 2,133,760 PH RESORTS GRP PREMIUM LEISURE 0.41 0.415 0.4 0.41 0.4 0.41 130,000 53,200 5.8 5.95 5.81 5.81 5.8 5.8 20,500 118,902 PHIL RACING ALLHOME 7.45 7.46 7.4 7.47 7.35 7.45 60,500 448,404 METRO RETAIL 1.31 1.32 1.3 1.33 1.3 1.31 208,000 272,810 39.75 39.95 39.35 40.2 39.3 39.95 1,816,200 72,439,570 PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL 52.4 52.5 53.45 53.45 52.05 52.5 240,670 12,633,568.50 88.5 89 89 89.05 88.5 88.5 5,810 516,087 PHIL SEVEN CORP 1.15 1.16 1.13 1.15 1.12 1.15 1,615,000 1,848,680 SSI GROUP WILCON DEPOT 22.95 23 22.65 23.55 22.65 23 1,800,700 41,467,640 0.325 0.335 0.35 0.35 0.32 0.325 750,000 244,600 APC GROUP EASYCALL 5.11 5.42 5.42 5.42 5.03 5.04 11,100 58,043 437.8 448.4 438 448.4 438 448.4 1,080 483,440 GOLDEN MV 6.45 6.49 6.49 6.49 6 6.45 52,000 324,890 IPM HLDG PRMIERE HORIZON 1.06 1.07 1.04 1.09 1.03 1.06 15,874,000 16,864,320 4.23 4.37 4.38 4.38 4.22 4.22 8,000 34,720 SBS PHIL CORP

MINING & OIL

-32,760 3,257,845 11,043,395.00 280,750 -39,880 -1,081,290 -38,290 -5,221,144 -7,690 -57,627,610 10,577,177 139,000 -706,910 -45,600,818 -10,481,750 18,058,255 1,135,944 -58,082,880 3,768,205 -15,070 3,480 16,380 1,444,330 -774,600 -3,454,978 -2,707,440 13,650 413,700 -142,190 70,900 116,500 -9,090 -16,527,990 202,950 11,660 8,660 37,100 -79,500 1,297,400 24,088,620.00 17,389,080 -46,910,120 -17,514,745 190,200 21,693,325 -401,080 1,613,875 -23,900 -6,780 28,000 -5,200 -3,062,810 117,812,419 -32,880 -507,630 -2,992,850.00 -3,071,075 -69,253 -83,500 -13,074,125 -3,298,731.50 -272,340 -1,079,380.00 14,186,290 -84,250 1,321,060 -

ATOK 6.51 6.58 6.73 6.73 6.49 6.5 153,600 1,005,191 -8,031.00 APEX MINING 1.61 1.63 1.58 1.64 1.58 1.63 1,242,000 2,028,410 22,810 6.94 6.96 6.9 6.96 6.78 6.94 1,390,900 9,615,353 -117,370 ATLAS MINING 5.13 5.27 5.27 5.38 5.05 5.27 217,000 1,134,008 BENGUET A BENGUET B 4.94 5.22 5.17 5.22 5 5.22 110,200 551,590 53,156 ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 373.21 1.6% 3.18% 2.43% 0.58% 2.72 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 660,000 1,848,000 CENTURY PEAK ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.9244 -1.14% 1.09% 0.29% 1.27% DIZON MINES 6.17 6.39 6.42 6.42 6.3 6.39 10,200 64,281 -642 FERRONICKEL 2.37 2.38 2.34 2.38 2.34 2.38 6,616,000 15,597,350 -6,562,590 Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 3.2346 1.15% 3.6% 4.25% 0.62% 0.28 0.31 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28 80,000 22,400 14,000 GEOGRACE Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a 2.27 -1.52% 2.32% 1.22% -1.13% LEPANTO A 0.138 0.139 0.138 0.138 0.135 0.138 6,320,000 868,850 0.142 0.145 0.145 0.145 0.142 0.142 1,390,000 197,900 LEPANTO B First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4457 -0.1% 3.34% 1.68% -0.31% 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 24,200,000 246,000 MANILA MINING A Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a 4.498 -3.64% 4.56% 1.1% -2.95% MANILA MINING B 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 30,800,000 325,600 1.19 1.2 1.21 1.21 1.18 1.2 118,000 140,400 69,620 MARCVENTURES Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a,6 1.3198 1.18% 4.07% 2.72% -0.11% NIHAO 1.23 1.26 1.23 1.28 1.22 1.28 41,000 50,250 Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.982 0.63% 4.63% 1.75% -0.48% 6.2 6.23 6.02 6.25 6 6.2 14,423,800 89,440,630 11,359,458 NICKEL ASIA 0.93 0.94 0.92 0.94 0.92 0.93 515,000 477,950 -13,020 ORNTL PENINSULA Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.0397 0.09% 4.94% 1.54% -0.22% PX MINING 5.95 5.96 5.83 5.96 5.8 5.95 2,059,300 12,196,136 -609,076 17.28 17.3 17.54 17.98 17.14 17.3 3,557,000 62,347,914 310,402 SEMIRARA MINING Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.2218 1.41% 5.35% 2.11% 0.49% 0.0088 0.009 0.0088 0.0088 0.0088 0.0088 5,000,000 44,000 UNITED PARAGON Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

1.7544 0.49% 4.69% 1.43% -0.03% ACE ENEXOR 16 16.34 16 16.38 15.9 16.34 24,100 392,192 8,000 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 13,300,000 147,400 ORNTL PETROL A Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ORNTL PETROL B 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 12,300,000 135,300 ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $487.3 1.94% 3.18% 2.16% 0.71% 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 22,400,000 247,200 PHILODRILL 6.2 6.3 6.36 6.72 6.2 6.2 1,259,900 7,882,708 187,416.00 PXP ENERGY ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є220.36 1.74% 1.09% 0.91% 0.54%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.2022 -3.27% 2.5% 1.36% -6.11% PREFFERED First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0261 -1.51% 1.72% 0.78% -1.88% HOUSE PREF B 100 101 100 100 100 100 100,000 10,000,000 100.6 102 101 101 101 101 2,850 287,850 HOUSE PREF A PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b $1.0525 -3.76% 0.6% -1.01% -3.68% AC PREF B1 513.5 539.5 525 525 525 525 16,980 8,914,500 520 533.5 530 530 520 520 290 152,700 -74,200 AC PREF B2R Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.5207 0.35% 5.15% 1.87% -0.59% 43.9 44.5 43.8 43.9 43.55 43.9 67,100 2,939,330 -644,300 CEB PREF Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0630512 3.25% 3.58% 2.1% 1.18% DD PREF 100.5 100.6 100.5 100.5 100.4 100.5 55,480 5,571,640 104.5 105.6 104.8 104.8 104.8 104.8 4,500 471,600 FGEN PREF G Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.1961 -1.66% 3.45% 0.76% -0.85% MWIDE PREF 100 100.9 100.8 101 100.7 101 30,760 3,099,565 Money Market Funds 105 106 105 106 105 106 200 21,100 PNX PREF 3B 1,004 1,005 1,005 1,005 1,005 1,005 590 592,950 PNX PREF 4 Primarily invested in Peso securities PCOR PREF 3A 1,085 1,116 1,116 1,116 1,116 1,116 540 602,640 ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 130.41 1.39% 3% 2.53% 0.46% 1,104 1,155 1,155 1,155 1,155 1,155 40 46,200 PCOR PREF 3B 77.5 77.85 78 78 77.85 77.85 5,820 453,588.50 389,750 SMC PREF 2C First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0539 1.01% n.a. n.a.

0.55% SMC PREF 2E 76 76.85 76.4 76.4 76.4 76.4 1,300 99,320 Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.3071 1.64% 2.81% 0.81% 2.55% 76.05 76.6 76.05 76.05 76 76 6,700 509,250 SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2J 75.9 76.2 76 76 76 76 41,570 3,159,320 Primarily invested in foreign currency securities 76.5 76.9 76.5 76.5 76.5 76.5 1,500 114,750 - SMC PREF 2K Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0581 1.1% 1.63% n.a.

0.54%

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS Feeder Funds ABS HLDG PDR 10.42 10.8 10.98 10.98 10.8 10.8 20,000 217,422 -130,680 Primarily invested in Peso securities 12.06 12.24 12.22 12.48 11.8 12.06 183,200 2,236,510 -279,596 GMA HLDG PDR

Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d,7 1.3131 31.42% n.a. n.a.

16.24% WARRANTS Primarily invested in foreign currency securities LR WARRANT 1.25 1.13 - - - - - - ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -b,d,2 $0.99 5.32% n.a. n.a.

1.02% SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ALTUS PROP 17.3 17.36 17.02 17.36 17 17.3 127,300 2,196,940 170,878 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).

2.06 2.07 2 2.12 2 2.06 335,000 694,990 4,120 ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH 4.72 5.2 5.14 5.33 5.14 5.33 35,500 184,696 -19,894 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.

2.61 2.72 2.69 2.72 2.69 2.72 149,000 402,490 MAKATI FINANCE 4 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last October 12, 2018 (formerly, One Wealthy Nation Fund, Inc.). 5 - Launch date is December 09, 2019.

3.66 3.67 3.38 3.66 3.38 3.66 11,719,000 41,811,250 -1,970,990 MERRYMART 6 - Re-classified into a Bond Fund starting February 21, 2020 (Formerly a Money Market Fund). 7 - Launch date is July 6, 2020.

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

"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 FIRST METRO ETF 100.1 101.2 98.65 101.3 98.65 100.1 10,740 1,076,208 -157,631 Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities

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."

Envoys&Expats BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Thursday, August 5, 2021

B3

AS PHL WITHDRAWS VFA ABROGATION

SFA, US CDA formalize AMSAR pact

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ECRETARY of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. and United States Embassy Chargé d’Affaires John C. Law signed the PhilippinesUnited States Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (AMSAR) Agreement on July 30.

The AMSAR Agreement provides delimitations on the searchand-rescue regions of the Philippines and the US. It fosters stronger bilateral links in the field of maritime as well as aeronautical search and rescue, while enhancing both countries’ effectiveness in assisting persons, vessels, aircraft or other craft in distress.

The Department of Transportation and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), with support from the Philippine Coast Guard, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, the National Coast Watch Center, and the Department of National Defense, negotiated the AMSAR agreement from September 25 to 26, 2018.

The signing of the agreement

stands as proof of the Philippines’s commitment to upholding its obligations under international conventions and treaties. At the same time, it will help boost the country’s capability to conduct search-and-rescue operations, while saving lives.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, who was in Manila for a visit, and Vice Admiral Eduardo D. Fabricante of the Philippine Coast Guard, witnessed the signing. All parties considered the event as another milestone in both countries’ two-way ties.

Defense enhanced

THE following day, Locsin met Austin at the DFA Headquarters.

The latter reaffirmed the commit-

sary of their bilateral relations, and the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty this year. He expressed hopes that their alliance will grow more robust and responsive to emerging threats and challenges in the decades ahead on the strength of their shared histories, mutual respect, and commitment to democratic values.

‘Broad-based partnership’

SECRETARY Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. (counterclockwise from front row, left) and Chargé d’Affaires John C. Law, with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and the Philippine Coast Guard’s Vice Admiral Eduardo D. Fabricante during the signing of the Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue, or AMSAR, Agreement DFA-OPCD/PHILIP FERNANDEZ

ment of the US to their alliance, as the Philippines is its oldest security treaty ally in the region.

The US secretary bolstered his country’s commitment to continuing support for the Philippines’s defense-capabilities enhancement—especially for maritime security, counterterrorism and disaster response. He noted that the Philippines remains key to securing US interests in the region—particularly in maintaining peace and stability.

The two also discussed challenges brought about by t he pandemic to the present security architecture, and agreed to work more closely to address these hurdles. Austin reiterated his country’s support to the local pandemic response.

Locsin recognized that the US continues to play an important role in maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

He noted that the two countries are celebrating the 75th anniver-

WHILE in Manila, Austin also met President Duterte and Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana with Law, as the former emphasized the centrality of the broadbased US-Philippine partnership within the Indo-Pacific region.

Fol lo w i n g t he i r me e t i n g , Lorenzana announced the Chief Executive’s decision to recall the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

During his engagements, the US secretary expressed his condolences to the families of the victims of the July 4 C-130 airplane crash, and discussed further strengthening bilateral security ties, supporting Philippine rights in the South China Sea/ West Philippine Sea, and US vaccine assistance to the Philippines.

During his two-day trip, Austin also visited the American Battle Monuments Commission at the Manila American Cemetery, where he laid a wreath to honor the more than 17,000 fallen US and Filipino soldiers buried there, toured the US Department of Veterans Affairs Manila Outpatient Clinic, and conversed with military veterans receiving healthcare services.

The Philippines was the final stop in his three-country IndoPacific trip, following visits to Singapore and Vietnam, where he engaged with Southeast Asian partners to underscore the enduring US commitment to Asean, as well as a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

In a statement, the embassy said the US welcomes the president’s decision to recall the abrogation: “We strongly believe that the VFA, and the broader alliance that [it] enables, strengthens not only the security of our two nations, but also the rules-based order that benefits all nations in the Indo-Pacific.

Austin concluded: “A strong, resilient US-Philippine alliance will remain vital to the security, stability, and prosperity of the IndoPacific. A fully restored VFA will help us achieve that goal together.”

Israeli health delegation shares UK envoy bids farewell, best practices to defeat Covid conveys vaccine donation

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HE health delegation from the State of Israel recently concluded their five-day visit in Manila with recommendations of further improving systems and procedures in handling patients of the pandemic, as well as for efficient infection control protocols and hospital management.

The team of experts is composed of infectious diseases and coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) specialist Dr. Guy Choshen, who headed the delegation; Shira Peleg, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center’s Emergency Department head nurse and nursing manager; Eyad Jeries, Galilee Medical Center trauma coordinator; and Chaim Markos Rafalowski, disaster management coordinator of Magen David Adom.

During the exit conference between the Israeli medical experts and their Philippine counterparts on July 30, Dr. Choshen noted some key factors that need to be considered in treating Covid-19 patients.

“I was highly impressed by their professionalism, and I am sure... there are ways to improve the way you give health care to the cities,” the doctor said, as he commended the country’s health-care workers for the professionalism they have shown in the face of the challenges caused by the pandemic.

According to the delegation leader, there are key factors that need to be considered in treating Covid-19 patients, including the implementation of standard health care in Department of Health medical centers, the need to implement or articulate a patient’s discharge guidelines, allowing patients to be visited by their family in hospitals, the implementation of critical patients’ restrictions, as well as infection-control measures.

The doctor also stressed the importance of elevating the vaccination drive of the Philippines: “This is the main way we can mitigate the pandemic.”

Meanwhile, Rafalowski shared that in Israel, they have a “national daily health team evaluation,” where they gather more than 100 health

A

HEALTH Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, Chargé d’Affaires Nir Balzam and Dr. Guy Choshen BCS-PCOO

professionals from different branches to discuss the current situation of their health-care system.

“The objective of [such] is to understand the current situation, ...identify the crisis, and try to foresee where we are heading,” Rafalowski explained. “The most important aspect is to set up priorities for immediate action for the short- and long-term health-care system with regard to Covid-19.”

PHL government’s response

For his part, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said: “One of the impacts that we hope to be able to achieve in our unified strategy management against this pandemic is to bring down mortality rate perhaps [at] less than 1 percent—if not less than .5 percent, as much as we can.”

He also commended the Israeli medical experts: “I thank you once again for your generosity, for sharing your knowledge and expertise…

I hope that this will be a continuing…achievement for the government of the Philippines and of Israel, [as well as] our health-care professionals, whole society, medical doctors, nurses, and learn as much as possible.”

Deputy Presidential Peace Adviser Undersecretary Isidro L. Purisima, who relayed National Task Force Against Covid-19 Chief Implementer and “vaccine czar” Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr.’s statement, said the recommendations from the Israeli delegation will help the government scale up its health-care system—particularly its “policy direction.”

“Our countries may have similar approaches and practices in manag-

ing the pandemic. But this week-long exchange of learnings has made us realize that there is much to be done,” Galvez said in his message read by Purisima. “Our meetings have also opened a lot of possibilities which our Covid-19 task force can explore in terms of policy direction.”

Israel’s assurance

CHARGÉ d’Affaires a.i. Nir Balzam of the Embassy of Israel assured that his country will continue to assist the Philippines in its fight against Covid-19: “This is our second delegation; the first one focused on the vaccination rollout. We will continue the collaboration on a normal basis.

We are working closely with the... government.”

The second delegation of medical experts arrived in the Philippines on July 26. The first group, which focused on sharing Israel’s best practices in implementing a national vaccination campaign, completed their four-day mission to Manila in June.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Israel has granted significant assistance to the Philippines to help its fight against Covid-19.

Its government turned over several donations consisting of personal protective equipment to the Department of National Defense and the Philippine National Police for use of their frontliners. Equipment was also donated to the Department of Education to aid distance learning.

Israel also continues to share its experience and knowledge in emergency and pandemic response through webinars, courses, and joint meetings, according to its embassy.

FTER serving for four years, the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce paid a farewell call on Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. on July 29 at the Department of Foreign Affairs Headquarters.

Locsin thanked Pruce for his dedicated service in strengthening the two-way relations between the Philippines and the UK. Their discussions also followed through on matters discussed during the recent phone call between the former and

SECRETARY Locsin (left) and Ambassador Pruce

Secretary Dominic Raab, such as the enhanced bilateral partnership, police cooperation, and the UK’s bid to become an Asean dialogue partner.

To support the Philippines’s vaccine roll-out program, Pruce informed the secretary that the UK’s donation of 415,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines was scheduled to arrive in the country on the afternoon of August 2.

European Affairs Assistant Secretary Jaime Victor J. Ledda was also present during the call. Pruce’s tour of duty ends this month.

Pakistan marks ‘Exploitation Day’ in solidarity with Kashmiris

By Saadia Awan

Head of Chancery, Embassy of Pakistan

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UGUST 5 marks the second year of revocation of Article 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution, which gave special status to Kashmir—a blatant violation of the Shimla Agreement between the two countries and the United Nations Security Councils binding resolutions 47 (1948), 51 (1948), 80 (1950) and 91 (1955), which embody the principle that “final disposition of the State of Jammu and Kashmir will be made in accordance with the will of the people expressed through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under the auspices of the United Nations (UN).”

Article 370 had accorded special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir, and all the provisions of the Indian Constitution—which were applicable to the Indian states—did not apply to the territory. Due to this article, Jammu and Kashmir was a region which, despite being a part of Indian Union under the so-called Instrument of Accession, enjoyed separate constitutions, flags and official languages. It was only because of this article that— except for defense, foreign affairs, finance and communications—the Indian Parliament needed the concurrence of the so-called government of Jammu and Kashmir.

Most of the special privileges that Jammu and Kashmir were entitled

under the Article 370 had long been eroded with the passage of time. Yet, Article 35A debarred non-Kashmiris from acquiring property and jobs in government institutions in the territory. The Indian government also divided the occupied territory into two Union Territories Jammu and Kashmir with a legislature, and Ladakh without one.

The illegal annexation was accompanied with the arrest of around 15,000 innocent Kashmiris, including Hurriyat leaders, political activists, lawyers, human-rights defenders and leaders of religious, trade and social organizations. All resistance leaders, including Syed Ali Gilani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, were placed under house arrest or detained in jails. Even former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti were placed under house detention.

Over 8 million Kashmiris were locked down in their homes in this military lockdown. Indian troops intensified violent operations and from August 5, 2019 to June 30 this year, Indian troops have martyred 384 Kashmiris and injured at least 3,903 others by using brute force on peaceful demonstrators. The troops have damaged more than 1,022 houses and structures, and molested 118 women. The military siege created a humanitarian crisis: Kashmiris faced acute shortage of essential commodities, life-saving drugs and infant food.

Following the illegal action of August 5, the Modi government has extended several federal laws and introduced new domicile rules to occupied Kashmir. A gross violation of the UN resolutions and the international law, it has reportedly granted domicile status to over 3,800,000 people—majority of them believed to be non- Kashmiri Hindus—including officers from the Indian Administrative Service. There are fears that more than 800,000 Indian soldiers and over 600,000 migrant laborers present in the territory might also be granted domicile status in the coming days and months.

The government of Pakistan announced to observe Youm-e-Istehsal (Day of Exploitation) on August 5 to mark the anniversary of India’s illegal revocation of the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The people and government of Pakistan observe the occasion to show solidarity with the people of IIOJK, and to expose the plight of Kashmiris and the Indian atrocities against them.

Pakistan’s position remains clear and unfaltering: The solution of the IIOJK dispute lies in the realization of the Kashmiris’ inalienable right to self-determination through a free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the UN. The government, leadership and people of Pakistan remain firmly committed to the cause of Kashmiris’ right of freedom.

Agriculture/Commodities BusinessMirror

A4 B4 Thursday, August 5, 2021 • Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Traders worry over label rules for meat imports

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

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HE government’s strict enforcement of labeling requirements for meat products, which led to the seizure of some meat shipments, caught importers off guard, according to industry sources.

The National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) issued memorandum circular (MC) 07-2021-018, which reiterated the “strict” implementation of the “minimum labeling requirements for imported meat.”

Under the MC, the NMIS reminded meat importers that shipments of imported meat shall comply with the minimum labeling requirements set

by Department of Agriculture Administrative Order (AO) 26 series of 2005 and AO 24 series of 2010.

The circular from NMIS indicated that the phrase “expiration date”

must be written in bold letters.

“Imported meat inappropriately labeled based on the requirements shall be seized, subject for confiscation and disposal. For strict compliance,” according to the MC, which was signed by NMIS Executive Director Jocelyn A. Salvador.

Industry sources told the BusinessMirror that some shipments are already being held by the government since the memorandum circular took effect last week.

“Since the order came up, shipments are being held by the authorities but these are not yet destroyed,” Meat Importers and Traders Association (MITA) President Jesus C. Cham told the BusinessMirror.

Cham said his group has already raised concerns about the “sudden” implementation of the MC with the NMIS. MITA is urging the agency to consider a transition period since in-

transit shipments would be affected by the new MC. Cham said he told the NMIS that AO 26 series of 2005 itself allows for rectification of the label even after arriving in the country. Due to this, Cham said he proposed to the NMIS to amend certain parts of the MC 072021-018 that would give importers elbow to correct labels.

The MITA chief said the NMIS will look into the matter. Salvador did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“We are making a representation to the DA that AO 26 allows for rectification of the label. So, they should reword the order. [They should] not say condemn and destroy, [they should] change the language [showing] there will be room [for rectification],” he said.

Section XI of AO 26 series of 2005 stipulated that imported meat and

meat products held in abeyance under the supervision of DA could be released and utilized if the consignee complies with the minimum labeling requirements mandated under the said order.

The implementation of the memorandum circular has also forced exporters to temporarily suspend shipments to the Philippines pending the results of a dialogue among all the concerned parties.

The United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service in Manila has published a report “strongly advising” US meat exporters to “work closely with their local importer to ensure that expiry or best before dates are included in the labels.”

“This is already a great cause of concern abroad since some containers are already in transit and they are worried that the shipments will

be held upon arrival,” Cham said.

The situation further delays the arrival of meat products since some exporters have decided to temporarily stop sending goods to the Philippines, Cham and other industry sources told the BusinessMirror.

The additional costs incurred by the importers, whose shipments were kept in cold storage facilities, may be passed on to consumers.

C h a m a nd ot her i ndu st r y sources said that prior to the implementation of MC 07-2021018, the shelf life declaration or expiration date disclosure is just being added to the label before the certificate of meat inspection is issued by the NMIS. Moving forward, he said meat importers will comply with the minimum labeling requirements set by the NMIS since the regulation is anchored on food safety-

Rethink plan to cut tariffs on corn, group tells govt

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N agriculture industry coalition claimed that reducing corn tariffs would not really benefit local meat producers as annual cost savings may be less than P100 for every chicken produced.

The Bayanihan sa Agrikultura, a coalition of 98 organizations nationwide, said lowering corn tariffs would just “cripple the agricultural sector and subsectors.”

“We are baffled by Agriculture Secretary’s insistence to lower the tariff rates considering the increase in corn production over the last two years,” the group said in a statement.

“And despite the abundance in production, the income of corn farmers did not increase, showing the incom-

petence of the DA [Department of Agriculture] in promoting and managing our own agricultural resources.”

The coalition said the lowering of corn tariffs “does not guarantee significant reduction in prices of livestock and poultry,” since these commodities are dependent on “supply and demand dynamics.”

Citing the computation of the Federation of Free Farmers, a member of the coalition, it said the reduction on corn tariffs will result in savings of less than P100 per chicken per year or about P0.017 to P0.26 per day.

It added that the creation of the DA’s technical working group (TWG) to study the proposed reforms in corn tariff structure “comes at a very unfor-

tunatetime”asthecountryisapproaching the peak of the corn harvest season.

The coalition cutting corn tariffs is not needed since the commodity already enters the country in “massive volumes in the form of imported chicken and pork which were fed with feeds produced under subsidized agricultural systems.” “[The coalition] calls on the agriculture agency to uphold polices that will benefit the local agriculture producers and not of the foreign countries. The coalition reiterates its demand for a DA with the heart and guts to protect Filipino farmers and to invoke all available trade and policy remedies when needed.”

The coalition also questioned the

composition of the TWG since it does not have anyone “truly representing the small farmers.”

“This is particularly alarming considering that these small corn farmers are the ones who stand to be greatly affected by the reduction of tariffs should the proposal push through,” it said.

The BusinessMirror reported on Monday that the Philippine Maize Federation Inc. opposed the government’s plan to amend the tariff structure for corn imports, saying this would spell the death of the local corn sector.

Dar issued Special Order 540 that created the TWG to amend the tariff structure for yellow corn. In his SO, Dar said it is “imperative to

ensure the steady and cheaper” supply of corn to enable the livestock, poultry and fisheries industries to become competitive.”

Dar instructed the TWG to review the recommendation of Dr. Karlo Adriano to reduce the tariff on yellow corn imports from non-Asean countries.

The TWG must also “identify programs and projects that will dramatically improve the productivity of corn and prioritize the areas where the programs and projects are to be implemented,” according to the SO. The TWG should “determine the budgetary requirement to successfully implement the programs and projects on increasing the productivity of corn.” Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

SMC: NCR will have enough food and fuel during ECQ

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ONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has assured that the company is prepared to supply much-needed food, fuel and power throughout the two-week lockdown in MetroManilawhichwillstartonFriday.

Company President Ramon S. Ang said the company is also prepared to continue providing assistance to disadvantaged communities spanning its businesses around Metro Manila. San Miguel has already spent over P14 billion to support the fight against the pandemic, mounting the biggest food donation drive in history.

“I would like to personally assure everyone that we have enough food inventory to last even many months.

We’ve had a lot of learning from last year and we adjusted the way we operate. We are better prepared for sudden disruptions,” Ang said.

“As we did during the previous ECQs, we have business continuity plans in place that will allow for es-

sential, critical operations to continue under the strictest safety protocols.

This assures our government and the public that for our part, we can continuously provide food, power, and fuel during this critical time.”

The company expects minimal disruption to the supply of essential food, electricity and fuel during the lockdown period.

“There is nothing to worry as far as supply is concerned. For now, please prepare to stay at home, protect yourselves and your loved ones. Even if you are all vaccinated, please exercise greater caution as the delta variant is more transmissible,” Ang said.

“Our food donation drive for poor communities continues through our BetterWorldTondofoodbankandfeeding center, as well as various efforts in othercities.We will coordinate with the LGUs and our own non-profit partners to make sure we can help bring food and protectourless-privilegedcountrymen from hunger.” VG Cabuag

ABACA FESTIVAL

The province of Catanduanes, the country’s largest producer of abaca fiber or Manila hemp, recently held the annual Abaca Festival to showcase its main product which has been a prime commodity since the Spanish-era galleon trade. The province has more than 36,744 hectares of abaca plantation which produced 18,003 metric tons last year, accounting for almost a third of the total output of the Philippines. Key events in the five-day fest which was a hybrid of physical and online activities were a trade fair, agricultural forum, competitions on indigenous poem reading, arch and façade designs, and the Festival Queen Competition. In photo are municipal contingents in abaca-inspired costumes executing street dances in the Virtual Dance Showdown, one of the highlight events. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Wary steelmakers give legs to metal’s rally as buyers reel

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HE record rally in steel has further to run as United States producers vow not to get burned again by ramping up too fast.

Prices for hot-rolled coil futures in the US have surged more than 80 percent in 2021, the best start to a year in records going back to 2009 and eclipsing gains in other all major commodities. Prices touched an all-time high last week. Despite customer pleas for more metal, steelmakers that paid steep costs to shut down furnaces in the pandemic have yet to announce new plans to build out capacity, focusing instead on generating record profits for shareholders.

The surge in steel, used in everything from cars to washing machines to toasters, is adding

to concerns that rising costs could imperil a fragile economic recovery as manufacturers struggle with materials shortfalls and inflation gauges jump. Last month, tractor-maker AGCO Corp. said farmers are slowing purchases amid soaring steel prices, while Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA’s profit warning rippled though shares of Europe’s biggest windturbine producers.

“The finance departments have a voice they didn’t used to have, so the industry is more driven for profit than it is for production now,” said Michelle Applebaum, an independent steel consultant who has covered the industry for 40 years. “It’s a real culture change.”

US steel consumption is on

pace to be about 104 million tons this year, and about 108 million tons in 2022, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Andrew Cosgrove. With domestic steelmakers only producing about 87 million this year and 91 million next year, and planned capacity coming online by the end of next year to be about 4.6 million tons per annum, customers will continue to compete for available metal.

To make matters more difficult, soaring demand across the rest of the globe from China to Europe means US buyers will be battling for imports too.

Meanwhile, US tariffs remain on shipments from abroad, hurting affordability.

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. Chief

Executive Officer Lourenco Goncalves told investors last quarter that he wasn’t going to produce more tons because it will eventually lead to oversupply and cause prices to deteriorate.

“It’s value, it’s not volume,” he said.

To be sure, not everyone sees the metal rallying through the rest of the year. Automotive demand isn’t going to be as big as initially projected, as semiconductor snags have forced the industry to build inventories as they wait to be able to make the vehicles, and the market has basically recovered to pre-pandemic demand levels, according to Keybanc Capital Markets analyst Phil Gibbs.

“The supply-demand

imbalance is now marching toward equilibrium: this is the last fever pitch of the tightness,” Gibbs said. “Our view on actual demand is that we believe you’re in a modest oversupply situation. The only reason we’re not seeing it in the price is that mills have reasonably long backlogs they’re working through.”

US steelmakers told investors on second-quarter conference calls that backlogs are at historic highs, and that with demand expected to remain high through 2021, they’ll book record profits again in the third quarter.

That outlook is further underpinning the outlook for a further rally in steel.

Bloomberg News

related domestic laws.

However, Cham said the mandatory inclusion of the shelf life or expiration date of the imported products would entail additional costs since the requirement is not imposed by some exporting countries.

Cham noted that countries like the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand do not require shelf life declaration or labeling for their exports.

In the US, for instance, manufacturers/producers of meat, poultry and egg products, may voluntarily indicate shelf life dates for their products provided that they are labeled “in a manner that is truthful and not misleading” and in compliance with Food Safety and Inspection Service regulations.

“It would entail some additional cost [like printing costs],” an industry source told the BusinessMirror.

Barangay San Antonio tops Pasig’s urban gardening contest

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ARANGAY San Antonio (BSA) was adjudged the winner of the Sustainable Urban Gardening Contest 2021 for having the most sustainable urban garden among the 30 barangays in Pasig City.

Mayor Victor Ma. Regis N. Sotto awarded the certificate of recognition and plaque to BSA during the awarding ceremony at the Pasig City Hall last July 28. The BSA also received a cash prize of P40,000 from the city government.

BSA Chairman Raymond Lising said the recognition given by the mayor is a testament to their barangay’s teamwork. “We are very proud of this recognition and very relieved that all our hard work paid off.”

Aside from producing fruits and vegetables, the BSA Urban Garden also has a honey farm, mushroom farm, and waste composting, which allows it to go organic. These things, according to Lising, made their garden stand out.

“Again the sustainability of this project depended on the official caretakers of the garden, the support of the barangay, and the involvement of the general public.”

Lising revealed that barangay officials encountered difficulties in their search for an ideal place for the urban garden and in making it attractive and efficient. Barangay officials also had to craft the right strategy to secure the participation of residents.

He said most of the vegetables and fruits in BSA’s urban garden are organic. It is being supervised

by Pasig City Street Sweepers who are residents of the barangay.

Produce from BSA’s urban garden, Lising said, are sold to the public “at very reasonable prices.”

“The proceeds of the sales, in turn, become the revolving fund for the operating expenses of the urban garden.”

Aside from boosting food supply in the community, Lising said the urban garden also allows the barangay to reduce its carbon footprints by reducing carbon emissions during the transportation of food, vegetables, and fruits from other regions or countries.

“It also contributes to the healthy ecosystem of a barangay. Most important for me is that it acts as an avenue for the community to work together and be involved in something very meaningful.”

Lising has urged his kabarangays to come up with such environmental projects that will benefit their community.

“I highly encourage environmental projects like this. It brings communities together and unites them which is very relevant amid the pandemic,” he said. “[They may] collaborate with the barangay to make it happen. We are very open on projects that will positively impact our environment, and our community.” Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Parentlife BusinessMirror

Inspiring our girls to be women in tech

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Thursday, August 5, 2021

B5

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HIS pandemic has opened my eyes further as a parent to guide my kids beyond school work and extra-curricular activities. In the past months, I have shared how companies help us guide our kids on financial knowledge, sustainability and inclusion. This week, it is great to be able to share a story on how to inspire our girls to see the possibilities of being in an industry that is male-dominated.

Diversity has become a buzzword in the corporate landscape, and it’s because of the numerous benefits it brings, according to studies. The Boston Consulting Group reports that diversity is a crucial driver in innovation that produces 19 percent more revenue (bit. ly/3frEO3x). To foster an all-encompassing work force, it needs to start at the top (bit.ly/3ymFLBN). Leaders have to be inclusive and they need to make sure their teams are treated respectfully and fairly.

Tech giant HP has led the conversation on diversity in the tech sector. Inclusivity is part of its DNA and it understands that long-term success can be achieved by valuing differences, whether it’s in gender, nationality, ability, religion, sexual orientation, or views. “From our earliest days, we have recognized that listening to differing points of views can lead to breakthroughs that can improve our products, services, and the company as a whole. Historically, our founders Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard included diversity in the HP Way because they believed it drove innovation,” says Rena Marin, country human resources head of HP Inc. in the Philippines.

This commitment to diversity is reflected in its teams. Women make up 36 percent of HP’s global work force, and almost 32 percent are in leadership roles. Women also make up 46 percent of the board of directors (bit.ly/3jdEA10). HP in the Philippines is also a key leader in inclusion: women make up 46 percent of the Philippine team, a figure that exceeds global and local industry benchmarks. Through its efforts, HP has been recognized as a Circle of Excellence Awardee for Diversity Company of 2020 at the 11th Asia CEO Awards. The company is also included in Forbes’ annual list of the World’s Best Employers in 2020.

“Diversity is not just about hiring people from underrepresented communities. We want to empower them by giving them equal opportunities to grow, so they can create a bigger impact in the community we work in,” adds Marin.

Rena herself had the global opportunity as the region HR head for cluster countries composed of Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam to take on the big role of driving diversity, people development, and leading a growth mindset approach for HP. This was before she came back to

❶ DIVE into a

fanta-sea adventure with this Rainbow Mermaid Tail.

❸ VIRTUAL PARTY IDEAS

the Philippines as the country HR head and also the HR business partner for two key businesses: the Goto-Market in the Philippines and the Print Category in Greater Asia. Her dedication to work and her leadership qualities were greatly recognized, earning her the HP President’s Club 2020 Award where winners were hand-selected by the Commercial Organization global leadership team.

To continuously cultivate and prepare women in leadership positions, HP established programs, such as the Women’s Impact Network, which have been built by HP employees for HP employees to grow, learn and drive change together. Catalyst at HP, on the other hand, is a women’s sponsorship organization that aims to advance the career of women. As of 2020, 37 percent of participants have been promoted or are in new roles. Another program is the Women in Leadership (WIN) Lab, which prepares them for management roles. Across the work force, the company holds training programs, job rotations, and bench planning to make sure women develop their skills and learn new ones.

In the Philippines, WIN is led by Rena, along with

her fellow female leader colleagues, Kathy Redondo and Cherry Pangilinan, market development managers for HP PPS and HP Supplies, respectively.

They are very much active in connecting, educating and empowering aspiring women within the company. They work on developing and enhancing critical competencies, as well as help build confidence, leadership, and the ability to balance work and personal life. They have broad initiatives, from simply showing care and celebrating life through a giftgiving activity for expectant mothers and sending out a monthly birthday greetings, to volunteering and donation drives. They also arrange regular webinars and assemblies to learn and discuss topics that highlight the value of fostering a culture of inclusion or showcasing best practices done by HP WIN in other regions.

“HP has always been a business with a purpose.

We focus on making lasting impacts on our people, the planet, and the wider Filipino community. By fostering a culture of respect, openness, and inclusion, we can create technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere,” concludes Marin. ■

5 SIMPLE TIPS FOR PARENTS WHO WILL STILL BE CO-TEACHERS WHEN KIDS GO BACK TO SCHOOL

BY LORRIE WEBB Texas A&M-San Antonio COVID-19 undoubtedly changed K-12 classrooms for the near future.

When school resumes in the fall, even if education returns to pre-pandemic “normal”—with students attending classes all day and in person—teachers are likely to use more online tools and virtual resources than they did pre-Covid. The push into remote learning due to the pandemic opened up resources and opportunities that many schools might not have used before the pandemic. This has led to rethinking the K-12 education system as a whole and how online learning can continue both when students are in school or studying at home.

That means parents need to be prepared to continue the role of facilitator of learning and technology specialist for their school-aged children.

The pandemic exposed deep inequities in our society—not just in health issues but in everything from which families could afford child care to how easily schools could transition to remote learning.

But any parent may feel daunted by the prospect of managing their child’s or children’s remote learning.

One’s education degree does not always matter, nor their level of education. For example, a second-grade teacher might struggle in the role of instructional aide for their teenage child taking physics. Likewise, a high

school teacher might be unable to break down the basics of teaching reading to their own kindergartner learning at home. Parents with high school diplomas or less may do just as well assisting their kids with schoolwork as those with a law or medical degree.

Furthermore, consider parents who had three children at home in three different grade levels—or even three different schools. Some juggled three different teachers working in different formats, learning platforms and time schedules.

As teacher educators who are reevaluating how to prepare teachers for future learning disruptions, we’d like to offer parents and caregivers some tips for the upcoming back-to-school season.

1. GET TO KNOW THE TEACHER. Your child’s teacher may be unaware of your concerns, so don’t be afraid to ask questions. For example, if your child remains in virtual learning full- or part-time, you may want to ask the teacher about meeting times; whether video and audio should be on at all times; and how to use the learning platform to submit work or ask questions.

Parents could meet with their child’s teacher— virtually or in person. Fostering a positive working relationship with your child’s teacher can improve academic performance.

2. EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY. Even children new to a specific learning platform are likely to be digital natives who can figure out how to use the newly introduced technology on their own. Allow your child

the opportunity to explore different learning websites and apps, either ones recommended by the teacher or ones that adhere to expectations determined by you. These might include active read-aloud activities, educational games and virtual field trips.

3. KEEP EXPECTATIONS HIGH. Encourage your child to complete homework, assigned activities and reading.

This requires affirming their knowledge and ability to do the work on their own. Routines are critical during this transition period coming out of the pandemic, but foster your child’s independence through flexibility in those routines. Remember that some good came out of the pandemic, as families were reminded to slow down and readjust as needed.

4. FOCUS ON YOUR OWN STRENGTHS. Learning occurs in all aspects of our day-to-day lives. As a parentturned-teacher, consider everyday tasks such as cooking, household chores and managing finances to be true learning experiences for your child.

5. ENCOURAGE READING. Provide at least 30 minutes a day for your child to read books of their choice. All children, no matter their age, should be encouraged to read daily to increase their literacy.

If your child continues to attend class virtually, library books may not be as readily available. In that case, try e-books—with and without read-aloud components. Also consider assisting your children in using the Internet to research types of books they may want to read. THE CONVERSATION

WHILE the pandemic continues to rage, you don’t have to deny your little one a fun soiree to celebrate their birthday or simply to just have fun. Have an amazing virtual party with Toy Kingdom’s creative celebration ideas for kids. While will still look forward to the time when we can gather together for children’s parties, this is the next best thing with the store’s wide selection of party-themed decorations to keep every virtual party celebration cherished and memorable. Here are some fun ideas for birthdays and beyond.

■ AN ARTS AND CRAFTS PARTY: Set up big balloons in primary colors and decorate paper lanterns and garlands. Let your budding artist paint virtually with friends with art activity set that you can give as party kits.

■ TROPICAL FLAMINGO: Have a splash with a tropical pool party at home with a giant flamingo inflatable on the garden. Add some floral cutouts and Hawaiian fringes on the backdrop to have an endless summer tropic vibe at home.

■ A MERMAID’S TALE: Girls can have fun under the sea with a mermaid-themed party—complete with tails, plushies, and more.

■ A ROYAL PRINCESS CELEBRATION: Give your little princess a storybook celebration with fairy lights, balloon bouquets, and tiaras. If your kids love Disney Princesses, let them dress the part with tiaras, feather boas, gloves and magical wands.

■ MAGICAL UNICORN TEA PARTY: Unicorns are real and they’ll bring their joy and magic to your kids’ rainbow-themed party.

■ SAFARI VIRTUAL SCAVENGER HUNT PARTY: Bring a safari adventure to your home with jungle animal foil balloons, plus green, brown and orange accents. Hide animal plushies in your home and let your preschooler find and identify the animals. You can also host a virtual safari tour in Africa and explore the wild while staying at home.

Perfect presents are part of every celebration, and Toy Kingdom’s Gift Registry makes gift-giving easy, delivering gifts right in your doorstep. More information can be found at www.toykingdom.com.ph.

❷ CUDDLY and

adorable Unicorn plush with rainbow wings.

❸ ADD some

Safari animal balloons in the jungle adventure.

LISSA ROMERO DE GUIA with Chef Waya Araos-Wijangco

INSPIRE HOME COOKS, ADD COLOR TO RECIPES

BREVILLE Philippines (www.breville.com.ph) recently brought color to everyone’s kitchens during the Fresh and Furious event via Facebook Live. The virtual launch featured the newest addition to the premium kitchen brand’s collection, the Fresh & Furious, which is the latest iteration of Breville’s line of high-quality Kinetix blenders.

Following the theme of “Celebrate Your Colors,” the event featured a blend of well-known personalities from different industries like Chef Waya Araos-Wijangco of Gourmet Gypsy Art Cafe, creatives Lissa Romero de Guia and Stella Cañete Balucas Mendoza, film director Marlon Rivera, singer-songwriter Zsaris, and Margo Flores of the Coffee Home Brewers community. The event, which was streamed live, had each of the guests share their favorite recipes—from smoothies to sauces—using the blenders.

The Fresh & Furious is the latest update on Breville’s Kinetix line of products which are all designed to help home cooks craft restaurant-quality recipes effortlessly. With its Kinetix Blade and Bowl-Hugging System, the range promises a smooth finish using a surgical-grade blade and a blending system that work in concert to remove lumps regardless of what it is that you are blending. The Fresh & Furious blenders also come with a One-Touch Versatility system which makes it easy for everyone to choose their blending mode, from chopping, crushing ice, to making smoothies.

The event captured the product DNA of the brand’s newest addition to their blender collection which zooms in on versatility, power and uniqueness. Besides the colorful recipes shared by all the guests, the virtual gathering also served to prove that regardless of anyone’s “color”—in terms of their craft or overall interest— everyone can blend their way toward a satisfying dish or drink.

Focused on helping home cooks in their time in the kitchen, Breville has continuously innovated its product design to enable everyone to enjoy good, healthy food from the comfort of their own homes. The Fresh & Furious Kinetix Blender range is a timely addition to anyone’s kitchen, especially now that people have found a renewed interest in creating their own healthy menu. RENI SALVADOR

B6 Thursday, August 5, 2021

Valenzuela City issues quarantine pass anew for ECQ preparation

BARANGAY staff starts to collate and sign the new quarantine pass to be issued by the City Government of Valenzuela.

Door-to-door distribution of the new quarantine pass started this August 02. (Resty Robert Castro/VC PIO)

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HE City Government of Valenzuela through its barangay councils started the distribution of the new quarantine pass on August 2, in preparation for the re-imposition of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in the National Capital Region (NCR) from August 06 to 20 to curb the spread of the new COVID-19 Delta variant.

According to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), quarantine passes are required again to control the movement of people and to ensure

that only those who have essential travel are allowed to go out.

Only one quarantine pass will be issued to the head of the family which is also for free and will be delivered door-to-door by barangay staff. The quarantine pass can only be used by one person and should not be used outside of the curfew hours of 8:00 PM to 4:00 AM. Those who are pregnant, with comorbidities and immunodeficiency, senior citizens above 65 years old, and individuals 17 years old and below are restricted to use the quarantine pass except if they are the

only ones who can go out to buy essential goods in their household.

Those exempted from using the quarantine pass are the following: Authorized Person Outside Residence or APOR with Company ID and Certificate of Employment, individuals who are scheduled for vaccination with vaccination appointment letter or a text from VCVax, and those who are self-employed or business owners with a copy of the business permit and a valid ID. The local government reminds Valenzuelanos that the new quarantine pass should be carried at all times whenever going out to buy essential goods. ValTrace QR codes should also be presented upon entering enclosed indoor establishments in the City.

Further, the City Government shall strictly issue one quarantine pass per family, thus, Valenzuelanos should take care and should not lose their quarantine passes. Anyone who will be found falsifying the quarantine pass will be punished by administrative penalties under City Ordinance No. 685, Series of 2020, or the Anti-Fake ID Ordinance.

Valenzuela City calls for the cooperation of all Valenzuelanos to continue following the minimum health standards to help stop the spread of the more viral COVID-19 Delta variant. To report COVID-19 symptoms and health concerns, contact our 24/7 CESU Mega Contact Tracing Center at 137-160.

2021 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards recognizes MPIC with two awards

TUPAD FOR WORKERS IN MOUNTAIN PROVINCE. Labor Undersecretaries Benjo Santos Benavidez (left) and Ana Dione (second from left), together with DOLE Cordillera Administrative Region Director Nathaniel Lacambra (right) assist in distributing over P100 million Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) assistance to more than 5,000 vulnerable workers from various municipalities in Mountain Province on July 31, 2021.

League of Cities push digital solutions for communities

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ITY mayors are calling for more partnership engagements with the government and private sector to empower local livelihood and sustainability programs with digital solutions during the recent online forum of the 15th Liveable Cities Lab organized by the League of Cities in partnership with Globe Telecom.

Founder and Managing Director of the Stratbase Group, Prof. Dindo Manhit, in his presentation on Rational Digital Transformation Strategies and Policies stated that, “Government and the Private Sector must work together to identify, analyze, and find the best strategies for the digital transformation of all sectors in a policy environment that will foster a digital economy with thriving industries that are globally competitive and sustainable.”

Manhit said, “Technology, infrastructure, and tools can be developed and purchased.

However, this must be matched with talent and the next generation of skills that can wield the power of technology.”

Manhit points out that, “Central to digital transformation is developing the knowledge and skills of the Philippine workforce to adopt to digital transformation,” “Digital readiness is about the people’s readiness. A people centric approach that harnesses the benefits of digital technologies as power tools to prosper in an evolving digital revolution,” Manhit said.

Manhit further stressed, “To leverage the opportunities of digital technologies for public health and the economy, there must be openness to continuous innovation of processes and policies to create an

environment that has been liberated from defunct models of governance and stagnant regulations.”

“A new culture of leadership, learning, working, and living with technology, inspired by the prospect of limitless possibilities for inclusive growth and sustainable prosperity is an exciting vision that we must all endeavor to achieve,” Manhit said.

Mr. Vince Tempongko, VP for Site Acquisition and Management of Globe Telecom said that in 2021, they will increase capacity and expand network with 2,000 new sites investing 70 billion pesos which is 40 percent of revenues.

“The effects of this pandemic particularly in the advancement of digital adoption will definitely stay and affect the way we work, study, and promote awareness campaigns,” Tempongko said.

“Assessing our readiness as a country is vital in identifying gaps in order to move forward,” Tempongko said.

Hermosa, Bataan Mayor Antonio Jospeh “Jopet” Inton in his presentation on Equitable Education through e-learning said, “With fast advancements in education and communications technology, our children need to catch up with science engineering and technology of STEM, and we as leaders need to formulate concrete steps to translate policies into workable solutions.”

“Eventually, after the pandemic, education should be a combination of classroom and online learning. I believe that e-learning and digital learning is key to achieve real change in our educational system, and for our youth to be globally competitive,” Inton said.

Guam reaches herd immunity, now open for business

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CTING Governor Josh Tenorio announced that the island of Guam has officially reached herd immunity by vaccinating 80% of its adult population.

Heralded from Guam’s major vaccination center at the University of Guam Fieldhouse, Tenorio stated that restrictions on social gatherings, social distancing and operations by appointment only basis were lifted beginning at July 30, 2021. Out of an abundance of caution, the mask mandate will remain in place to

ensure the protection of the island.

“With “Operation Liber8 Guam” completed, Guam is now one of the safest places in the world to visit. The collaboration of our medical community, military, and island constituents has helped us to reach our goal, and Guam is ready to welcome back our visitors,” said GVB President & CEO Carl T.C. Gutierrez. “In celebration, GVB has arranged for two trolleys to provide free shuttle service to all of our visitors and residents in Tumon through August 30.”

Museo Pambata receives P2-M from Mayor Isko Moreno

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ETRO Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) was lauded in the 8th annual Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, garnering two Stevie® Awards for its corporate social responsibility initiatives in service of vulnerable sectors amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 900 nominations from organizations across the Asia-Pacific region were considered this year in categories such as Award for Excellence in Innovation in Products & Services, Award for Innovative Management, and Award for Innovation in Corporate Websites, among many others.

MPIC won a Gold Stevie for Most Valuable Non-Profit Response and a Silver Stevie for Most Valuable Corporate Response for its “Bayan Tanim: Encouraging Sustainable Living in a Time of Crisis” program and “Kaya Natin ‘To Relief Support for Marginalized Sectors” initiative respectively, At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, MPIC and its Foundation, along with companies under the Manuel V. Pangilinan Group of companies, mobilized various initiatives to provide aid and assistance to those who were most affected.

Most valuable non-profit response

BAYAN Tanim! formed the third phase of MPIF’s COVID-19 response strategy, tapping the potential of small-

scale gardening to help disadvantaged communities cope with the adverse impacts of the pandemic. In partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Agrea Agricultural System International Inc., Duran Farms, and companies within the MVP Group, MPIF donated over 1,700 planting crates to beneficiaries to improve their self-sufficiency, food security, and long-term resilience.

Relief support for marginalized sectors

THROUGH the Kaya Natin ‘To initiative, MPIC and MPIF distributed over 3,700 relief packs to around 18 communities in Metro Manila and surrounding areas. Aside from displaced tourism workers and low-income households, the program also prioritized the vulnerable population comprised of persons with disabilities, informal settlers, senior citizens, pregnant and lactating mothers, and indigenous minorities - particularly, the remote Aeta community in Zambales.

“We are grateful to the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards for this recognition, as it is a testament to the impact that MPIC, MPIF, and the entire MVP group makes on the lives of Filipinos,” says MPIF President Melody del Rosario. “Our Chairman Mr. Manuel V. Pangilinan has always said, if we are able to help one person, then we have done our jobs. What encourages us

to continuously create and develop these programs is our ability to reach out and change more than one life.”

The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards are the only business awards program to recognize innovation in the workplace in all 29 nations of the Asia-Pacific region.

The Stevie Awards are widely considered to be the world's premier business awards, conferring recognition for achievement in programs such as The International Business Awards® for 19 years.

Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word for “crowned,” the winners were celebrated during a virtual (online) awards ceremony on 14 July.

Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 100 executives around the world acting as judges in March and April.

“The 8th edition of the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards attracted many remarkable nominations,” said Stevie Awards president Maggie Gallagher. “The organizations that won this year have demonstrated that they have continued to innovate and succeed despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and we applaud them for their perseverance and creativity.”

Details about the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards and the list of Stevie Award winners are available at http://Asia.Stevieawards.com.

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AST July 14, Ms. Bambi ManosaTanjutco, President of Museo Pambata and Ms. Maricel Montero, Executive Director of Museo Pambata received the check for Mayor Isko Moreno’s Sailun Tires talent fee from key officers of Sailun Tires Philippines.

This donation will help fund Museo Pambata’s Project “Bakuran”.

Bakuran is a new open space that is conceptualized to create awareness and connection among visitors on the importance of nature and the environment to our lives.

The space will feature trees and plant species endemic to the Philippines. It will show the value of plants as food and as medicine and how anyone in an urban setting can grow plants and vegetables as a solution to food security.

“We are grateful for Mayor Isko’s contribution and the fact that he supports

Museo Pambata’s mission. By opening the “Bakuran”, we will be able to encourage nature-friendly activities that children and families would love. Outdoor play is very important as safety is a priority during this pandemic. We want Museo Pambata to be an outdoor classroom and an alternative learning environment for them”, says Ms. Bambi Manosa-Tanjutco.

The “Bakuran” will also be opening soon for venue rental for birthday parties, small family gatherings, shoots, prenup pictorials and day of play for small groups as part of the Museo Pambata’s fundraising efforts.

Mayor Isko Moreno took a tour of the Museo Pambata last June 24, during Manila day, and pledged to help the people behind it after seeing its new Bahay Pukyutan Playground.

MAYOR Isko Moreno donates his talent fee from Sailun Tires Philippines for Museo Pambata’s Project “Bakuran.” At turnover rites, from left: Jameson Ong , Vice President of Sailun Tires Philippines, Ruben Tan President of Sailun Tires Philippines, Bambi Manosa Tanjutco, President of Museo Pambata, Jonathan Lam , Admin Director of Sailun Philippines, Maricel Montero, Executive Director of Museo Pambata, and Lai de Leon of Backstage Events.

Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

Health&Fitness BusinessMirror

Thursday, August 5, 2021 B7

Minimize stress with mindful eating, exercise, positive vibes

By Rory Visco

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Contributor

here can be no denying the fact that stress is, and will always be, a part of daily living.

Stress, however, also has the potential to be a major cause for concern once it affects our health.

Especially in this extraordinary time when we all thought prior to the pandemic that perhaps spending more time at home can be more beneficial when it comes to stress management.

Lo and behold, it did not turn out to be that way. In fact, many are saying that stress, in some ways, even doubled when working professionals, even learners, started working or studying remotely. It got so bad that sometimes, they really wished that the pandemic would end soon so they can go back to the four corners of their office instead of lingering in the four corners of their homes.

Just like any predicament, though, there are practical ways to handle and manage

stress. A good start would be to be mindful of our diet, taking care of our mental health, and blow the stress away.

Healthy eating

Dr. David Heber, the chairman of the Herbalife Nutrition Institute, said that stress can create a very strong urge for people to eat more than they can handle during stressful times.

Just like what most people say, they turn to food that they can prepare and eat quickly. More importantly, food can provide that emotional comfort they desire and the calmness when undergoing stress. However, Dr. Heber said this is dangerous because the majority of food

stressed people turn to are often packed with undesirable and unhealthy amounts of fat, salt, and sugar.

“Being mindful of what you eat especially during stressful circumstances can help you manage stress levels and change the way you respond to it,” Dr. Heber pointed out.

He also advised against what he called “mindless snacking,” which is probably what most people tend to do when stressed out. “Reach for more nutritious, hard and crunchy types of food that can help relieve stress by putting your jaw muscles to work. Opt for snacks like almonds, soy nuts, or baby carrots instead of unhealthy food.”

To counter the amount of food they eat when stressed, people will simply skip meals, which Dr. Heber also strongly warned against because it can adversely affect a person’s mood and energy levels.

“Blood sugar levels can fall, leading to increased stress. If stress is an appetite-killer, try eating smaller amounts of food more often during the day,” Dr. Heber remarked.

If you’re active in eating, Dr. Heber said we must make sure to be active as well, and try to get enough shut-eye. Though it’s not

very popular to most, especially those living a sedentary lifestyle, exercise is a great stress reliever. Body movements through exercise induces the release of endorphins to help one naturally feel good. Sleep, on the other hand, allows the body to recharge healthily and go into repair mode.

“Collectively, nutrition, exercise, and sleep promote better health, and while they won’t take away the stressful situations, they can help you better manage stress levels and achieve a better overall well-being,” Dr. Heber explained.

Three Cs

yourself a victim of that situation and you render yourself completely powerless. In an internal perspective, the mind is able to calm itself down. The mind is able to perceive a situation rationally,” he explained.

Competence, meanwhile, means how good a person is at something. “When you have competence, you have a strength that you can execute in a high-pressure situation,” Vallabhjee said.

Finally, confidence, can come in two ways: one can be from motivation, and the other from habit cultivation. “The confidence you need to succeed comes from competence,” he emphasized. “Composure, competence, and confidence, can help you thrive in any environment.”

Both Dr. Heber and Vallabhjee have been speakers in separate Herbalife Nutrition eWellness Tour events presented by Herbalife Nutrition Philippines. This monthly forum by Herbalife Philippines aims to promote nutrition education by inviting experts from the fields of science, nutrition, health, and fitness to talk about the importance of good nutrition and having a healthy active lifestyle as ways of achieving overall health and well-being.

With regard to mental well-being, Herbalife Nutrition Global Fitness Advisory Board Member Shayamal Vallabhjee, who is also a sports scientist, EQ consultant, motivational speaker and performance coach, suggested that people learn to cultivate the “Three Cs”—Composure, Competence, Confidence—together with good nutrition, exercise, and sleep.

Composure can be achieved by training the mind to focus on one’s internal perspective.

“When you look externally, you make

Covid-19 inspires locally made medical equipment innovations

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ith the dearth of vital medical equipment for the survival of Covid-19 patients and the protection of medical frontliner staff, the cry was: “Why are they not available? And even if they were, how come they’re so expensive?”

While frontliners are responding to the immediate needs of Covid-19 patients, there is another group of frontliners who are inventing, innovating, and creating new technology to enable cost-effective, evidence-based, and more affordable care for Filipino patients.

In the latest episode of “Stop Covid Deaths” webinar of the University of the Philippines, “Laging Handa: World-Class Filipino Covid-19 Innovations,” presented together with the UP Manila NIH, National Telehealth Center and in cooperation with the UP Philippine General Hospital, the organizers digressed a little bit from the country’s woes regarding this pandemic.

Instead, they focused on the scientific, engineering and medical wins of the country in terms of providing biomedical equipment through the ingenuity and creativity of brilliant and persevering Filipino scientists and engineers to produce local ventilators, personal protective equipment, decontaminating systems, and even robotics that can protect frontliners from exposure to viruses.

A bit of history

Based on a World Health Organization 2011 report, almost all medical devices in developing countries were designed for use in industrialized countries. They are often expensive and cannot adapt to low resource settings, according to a case study of medical device companies from India.

“These statements were made more than 10 years ago and I think these haven’t changed very much. When you look at medical devices, everything is imported so it’s no surprise that

we can’t afford them and worse, if it breaks down, spare parts are unavailable,” according to Dr. Edward Wang, Professor, PGH Orthopedics and Program Leader of the “Surgical Innovation and Biotechnology Laboratory” or SIBOL. So SIBOL was born in order to “Innovate, Invent and Create” locally made biomedical equipment and devices in the Philippines, using local expertise and locally available material.

He explained that making a medical device requires engineers and scientists on one hand, and health-care workers and clinicians on the other, and most importantly, they must work together. Through SIBOL, they were able to institutionalize innovation in the medical equipment field.

In March 2019, the head of the UP College of Engineering got in touch with UP Manila for their clinicians to collaborate on certain proposals. “Traffic from UP Manila to Quezon City was horrendous and so we resorted to teleconferencing. So, in April 2019, clinicians from UP Manila went to UP Diliman and presented medical problems that needed science and engineering solutions. In turn, we invited the engineers to visit UP Manila to take a first-hand look at what’s going on to help us in areas we needed to innovate on.”

After several months, they came up with four different innovative projects under SIBOL. The program proposal was submitted to the Department of Science and TechnologyPhilippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), and was given a grant to start the program.

But it all hit a snag because of Covid-19, and many of their comrades fell because of this disease and because of the lack of protective equipment. They had no equipment, no infrastructure, no money, and SIBOL had to do something, but they had Zoom and Viber.

“We convened in March 2020 and in three

months’ time, we had 11 projects divided into three teams—“Protect,” “Disinfect” “Distance”—the PPE team, the Disinfection team and the Telemonitoring team.

They also looked for funding mainly through private sponsors who provided initial seed money for their prototypes. One of the earliest was the “SaniPod.”

totype 5 already.

He also thanked the entire DOST-PCHRD team because they were heavily invested in the SIBOL program and the microbiologists, clinicians, engineers, scientists. “Our efforts serve as tribute to fallen co-health workers and to the other frontliners who continue to work at the frontline despite all the risks.”

The SaniPod

Actual use

The SaniPod is a no touch self-contained disinfection cubicle which provides an additional layer of protection for frontliners, those who come out of heavily infected Covid areas with their PPEs. However, during “doffing” or removing the contaminated PPEs, that is the major source of contamination to the health-care worker, the safety officer and the disposal teams of the PPEs. Before doffing, the health-care worker goes through the SaniPod. The objective is to disinfect the PPE before it is doffed to protect the health-care worker, the safety officer and the disposal team.

The SaniPod is also very timely now that the country is again experiencing another surge, where the SaniPod allows the PPE to be reused to address the short supply of PPEs. Aside from being self-contained and no touch, the SaniPod also has many mechanisms that help decrease decontamination like the HEPA filter, irradiation, etc., and is evidencebased for safety, efficacy and other parameters as added assurance for the user because it was tested and passed international standards.

Just like any innovation, it goes through an evolution process. From a condemned air shower that was donated to SIBOL came Prototype 1. “We learned as we evolved, went through several trials and errors, we relied also on the feedback of the actual users so we can improve on our succeeding prototypes,” Dr. Wang said, and right now, they are in Pro-

Right now, the SaniPod is being used at the UP-PGH Emergency Room, according to Dr. April Llaneta, Chair, Emergency Medicine, UP College of Medicine. She said it is important that they look after the health of the ER staff to guarantee continuous service to patients.

Dr. Llaneta said they stopped using it for a while because of technical issues but everything was fixed and it’s back to normal.

They use it after eight or 12-hour shifts, or even during the middle of the shift after handling toxic patients. At any given time, she said around 50-60 ER staff use the SaniPod. “SaniPod was a big help for us because aside from the infection control measures at the ER like the PPEs, face mask and physical distancing, the SaniPod was able to provide protection like sanitation and disinfection of the ER staff. We are happy that we are in the fourth week of using SaniPod.” Next week, we shall continue with the other innovative medical equipment developed under SIBOL: the “PAPR” or the Powered Air Purifying Respirator,” the my Bot Ensuring Safety and Health in Isolated Environments or “myBESHIE,” a telepresence service connected wirelessly with or without Internet to help health-care providers interact with isolated patients remotely, and “GINHAWA,” a compact, safe and effective ventilator designed for use of both children and adult Covid-19 patients confined in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Rory Visco

Nutrition in first 1,000 days crucial to child’s development

By Claudeth Mocon Ciriaco

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n the Philippines, under-nutrition remains to be a serious problem especially now that the country is facing the Covid-19 pandemic.

The pandemic has aggravated hunger and food insecurities brought about by community quarantines. These quarantines in turn disrupted employment and livelihoods, health and nutrition service delivery and food supply chains.

The damage to the health, physical growth and brain development of children affected by chronic under-nutrition—stunting in the first two years—is often irreversible, impairing children for life and leaving them with lower chances of finishing school and becoming highly-productive adults.

Stunting, iron and iodine deficiencies impact learning abilities and intelligence of children. Studies show that populations affected by iodine deficiency have 10 to 15 IQ points less than those not affected.

Chronic malnutrition

According to a recent study by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), the current chronic malnutrition rate among Filipino children aged zero to two is at 26.2 percent, the highest in 10 years.

The Philippines suffers from the triple

burden of nutrition—undernutrition, hidden hunger or the lack of essential nutrients, and overweight.

A third of Filipino children are stunted (low weight for age), placing the Philippines among the 10 countries with the highest number of stunted children worldwide.

“Hidden hunger” conditions such as iron and iodine deficiency still affect babies and pregnant mothers.

Meanwhile, childhood obesity is increasing, with nearly one in ten children aged 11 to 19 years currently suffering from overweight or obesity. The rise in the number of overweight and obese children is driven by the marketing of highly processed products in the country.

Nutrition month

The National Nutrition Council, Unicef (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) just concluded the commemoration of the 47th Nutrition Month in the Philippines.

The theme “Malnutrisyon patuloy na labanan, First 1000 days tutukan!” highlights the significance of the first 1,000 days of a baby’s life, a golden window of opportunity for setting the foundations of optimum health, growth, and neurodevelopment with benefits that extend into adulthood.

Nutrition Month called for collaboration across different stakeholders in support of these challenges and the implementation of the first 1,000 days of life strategy and the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN).

“The Nutrition Month theme reaffirms the call for continued multisectoral efforts to address malnutrition using the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition as the national framework,” Assistant Secretary and Executive Director Dr. Azucena M. Dayanghirang of the National Nutrition Council said.

Dr. Dayanghirang said that the theme emphasizes the need to scale up interventions in the first 1,000 days through the strengthened implementation of Republic Act 11148 or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act, especially in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.

As a donor partner, Korea through KOICA has been actively supporting the Philippines’ efforts to improve nutrition for young children and infants.

Responsive policy

This work focuses on enabling a responsive policy and governance environment, delivering quality and comprehensive nutrition and health services to women, newborns and children, and improved caring practices of pregnant women, mothers and

caregivers on maternal and child nutrition and health.

“The Korean government has been providing various forms of assistance throughout the Philippines, including in Mindanao, where one of the priority areas of assistance is scaling up critical actions in the first 1,000 days of life. We hope these efforts will alleviate malnutrition and help build better lives for children,” said Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Inchul Kim. Unicef in the Philippines has been working at different levels of government to address the technical, financial and capacity gaps that drive inequity, social exclusion and bottlenecks in the health system. The UN child rights agency uses evidence-informed advocacy to rally partners and engage communities on the ground.

“As we close this year’s Nutrition Month celebration, I urge all stakeholders and actors to reimagine what nutrition means for children at the time of Covid-19. For the Philippines to achieve the goal of optimum growth and development of every Filipino child, all sectors, including health, agriculture and food systems, WASH [water, sanitation and hygiene], and social protection need to come together to implement high-impact nutrition interventions for every child,” Unicef Philippines Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov said.

Health Cube taps Converge to deliver patient-centric, contactless care

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ince the outbreak of the global pandemic in 2020, the healthcare system has been under a microscope as it is the primary line of defense against Covid-19.

With the virus’ transmissibility and stress on social distancing, both the government and the private sector sought to use technology as the conduit to deliver health services and vital communication to the public, and to support key Covid-suppression measures such as contract tracing.

Telehealth is not a novel development, and most hospitals and clinics have used connections in one way or another, but the pandemic has made it the norm. In this new landscape, fiber broadband connectivity – with its high-capacity bandwidth and speed—has distinguished itself as an essential technology.

“Telemedicine is not a new thing, it’s been there for the longest time but we were forced into it. Not just patients, but doctors themselves. And we couldn’t just say that we’ll provide a platform. We had to provide a platform and the support alongside it,” said Dr. Jan Denton Chua, Health Cube Medical Clinics President.

“Converge has helped Health Cube in many different ways from the basics of having a stable internet connection from the back office to the front office of [it has helped] how we’re able to see patients and provide that service,” he added.

For Health Cube, a multi-branch medical facility providing outpatient healthcare, fiber broadband underpins many of its core services such as online consultations, accessing medical records and lab results, teleradiology, and support services such as patient registration and HMO approval, all done through a dedicated health portal it created.

Technology, health care integration

With the risks of Covid-19 still very much present and its evolution into variants an ongoing phenomenon, it is clear that the integration of technology and health care is no passing fad, and that it will likely be the status quo for years to come.

“It was about a good merger of providing an online platform and a face-to-face set up. We had to put them all together. We’ve been using Converge ever since we started here and it’s actually been very reliable for us,” Dr. Chua said.

For Enterprise customers, Converge offers a suite of digital solutions. Aside from high-speed broadband internet services, it also offers other connectivity solutions such as private data network services and cloud and colocation services.

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The World BusinessMirror

Thursday, August 5, 2021

Delta variant pushes threshold for herd immunity to over 80%

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he global spread of the Delta coronavirus variant has pushed the threshold for herd immunity to well over 80 percent and potentially almost 90 percent, the Infectious Diseases Society of America said in a briefing Tuesday.

That represents a “much higher” bar than previous estimates of 60 percent to 70 percent, because Delta is twice as transmissible, and significantly more dangerous than the original virus, according to the presentation.

Herd immunity is based on the idea that when a certain percentage of the population has been vaccinated against the virus or gains immunity by a previous infection, it helps protect the broader population and reduce transmission.

Nearly 60 percent of Americans have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and about 50 percent have been fully vaccinated, representing about 165 million individuals, according to CDC data.

Some 35 million people in the US, meanwhile, have tested positive for the virus over the course of the pandemic.

Key developments:

Thailand has record cases, fatalities

Thailand on Wednesday reported

20,200 new Covid-19 infections and 188 deaths, with both at record levels. The country has had 672,385 cases and 5,503 deaths, according to health ministr y data Wednesday.

The cabinet yesterday approved a doubling of a budget to fund payouts to workers and businesses to about 60 billion baht ($1.8 billion), in the wake of an expansion of social-distancing curbs to 29 provinces, from 13 earlier.

Delta ditches Indonesia immunity plan

Indonesi a is shifting away from its goal of reaching herd immunity, as currently available vaccines are less effective at stopping transmission of the Delta variant, making it possible for the virus to continue circulating even if everyone gets inoculated, according to data under review by the government.

Indonesia, which has become the epicenter of the global pandemic, plans to redouble its efforts to control Covid-19 on the

ground rather than relying on vaccinations alone to bring it to heel, said Jodi Mahardi, spokesman to the minister overseeing the pandemic response.

South Korea’s daily cases spike to above 1,700

South Korea’s daily virus cases surged back to more than 1,700, up from 1,202 a day earlier, as more people were tested after the weekend. Daily cases have rem a i ned above 1,0 0 0 si nce early July. There were two more deaths, bringing the toll to 2,106.

Australia finds case in far north

Australia’s New South Wales state reported 233 new cases of the Delta variant on Wednesday, as Sydney struggles to contain its outbreak despite having been in a lockdown for more than five weeks. The city had two new deaths, including a man in his 20s who was isolating at home.

Areas of Queensland state, inc lud ing Br isba ne, a re a lso locked down. The state recorded 16 cases within its communities on Wednesday, including one in Cairns, more than 1,000 miles north of Brisbane.

Macau shuts bars, cinemas to stop infections

Macau will close gyms, cinemas and bars after reporting its first cluster of local cases in more than a year. It will also shut theaters, indoor playgrounds, game arcades, beauty salons, karaoke parlors and nightclubs,

the government said.

The Bloomberg Intelligence gauge of Macau casino shares fell as much as 5.5 percent in We d ne s d ay t r a d i n g , t hou g h casinos will be allowed to stay open for now.

Japan plan to relieve hospitals sees backlash

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is facing a backlash over plans to have Covid-19 patients with mild infections recover at home, so as to relieve strain on hospitals that were caring for 80,000 coronavirus patients as of Monday.

Suga has faced criticism on social media and from the opposition party, which is unlikely to win upcoming elections but which could loosen his grip on power if it gains seats. Under his plan, doctors would monitor infected people at home, and if there’s a concern about possible transmission within the household may transfer people to hotels. Those over 50, or with preexisting conditions, would be eligible for treatment with a drug cocktail.

Tokyo Olympics adds 29 cases, four athletes

A record 29 additional cases were reported at the Tokyo Olympics, including four athletes. Three of the athletes were on Greece’s artistic swimming team, which also saw some officials infected or designated close contacts. The team will no longer compete in group events. Bloomberg News

China’s worst virus outbreak in a year grows, 1 city sealed

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EI J I NG — C h i n a’s worst coronavirus outbreak since the start of the pandemic a year and a half ago escalated Wednesday with dozens more cases around the country, the sealing-off of one city and the punishment of its local leaders.

Since that initial outbreak was tamed last year, China’s people had lived virtually free of the virus, with extremely strict border controls and local distancing and quarantine measures stamping out scattered, small flareups when they occurred.

Now, the country is on high alert as a cluster of cases connected to the international airport in the eastern city of Nanjing touched at least 17 provinces.

China reported 71 new cases of Covid-19 from local transmission Wednesday, more than half of them in coastal Jiangsu province,

of which Nanjing is the capital.

Meanwhile, another Covid-19 hotspot was emerging in the city of Zhangjiajie, near a scenic area famous for sandstone cliffs, caves, forests and waterfalls that inspired the on-screen landscape in the “Avatar” films.

The city ordered local residential communities sealed Sunday, preventing people from leaving their homes. In a subsequent order on Tuesday, officials said no one, whether tourist or resident, could leave the city.

The city government’s Communist Party disciplinary committee on Wednesday issued a list of local officials who “had a negative impact” on pandemic prevention and control work who would be punished.

The city itself has only recorded 19 cases since last week, 3 of which were people with no

UN Security Council condemns attacks on Afghan civilians

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NITED NATIONS—The UN Security Council condemned del iberate attacks on civilians in Afghanistan and all instances of terrorism “in the strongest terms” on Tuesday, while declaring its opposition to restoration of rule by the Taliban.

In a press statement agreed by all 15 members, the UN’s most powerful body called on the Afghan government and the Taliban “to engage meaningfully in an inclusive, Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process in order to make urgent progress towards a political settlement and a ceasefire.”

T he S e c u r it y C ou nc i l e xpressed “ deep concer n” at t he h igh levels of v iolence a nd re por ted ser ious hu ma n r ights

abuses in A fgha nist a n fol lowing t he Ta l iba n’s of fensive. It u rged a n immed iate reduct ion in v iolence.

The war between the Taliban and Afghanistan’s government forces has intensified over the past few months as US and NATO troops complete their pullout from the war-torn country. The Taliban are now trying to seize provincial capitals after already taking smaller administrative districts.

The council is expected to hold an open meeting Friday on the worsening security situation in Afghanistan, diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of an official announcement. AP

symptoms, which are counted separately. However, individual cases linked to Zhangjiajie’s outbreak have spread to at least five provinces, according to the Shangha i gover nment- ow ned newspaper the Paper.

Far higher numbers were reported in Yangzhou, a city next to Nanjing, which has recorded 126 cases as of Tuesday.

In Wuhan, the central city where the first cases of Covid-19 were identified in late 2019, mass testing has shown some of its newly reported cases have a high degree of similarity to cases discovered in Jiangsu province. Those cases have been identified as being caused by the highly transmissible Delta variant that first was identified in India.

Chinese companies have not publicly shared real-world data on how effective their vaccines are against the Delta variant,

though officials have said the vaccines prevent severe disease and hospitalization.

As of Tuesday, China has given more than 1.71 billion vaccine doses to its population of 1.4 billion. It’s not clear how many of those are first or both doses, but at least 40 percent of the population is fully protected, according to earlier announcements.

In addition to the 71 cases of local transmission, 25 travelers from overseas have Covid-19 and have entered quarantine, making the total for Wednesday 96 new cases. The National Health Commission also said 15 people tested positive for the virus but have no symptoms.

C h i n a h a s recorded 4,636 deaths and 93,289 cases of Covid-19 overall, most of them from the original outbreak in Wuhan that peaked early last year. AP

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

DeSantis won’t move on masks as Florida Covid-19 wards swell

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ORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.—Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday downplayed a spike in Covid-19 cases that’s shattered state hospitalization records and strongly reiterated his vow not to impose a mask mandate or any business restrictions.

With the much more contagious Delta variant now spreading exponentially, Florida hit 11,515 hospitalized patients on Tuesday, breaking last year’s record for the third straight day and up from just 1,000 in mid-June.

DeSantis said he expects hospitalizations to drop in the next couple weeks, asserting that the spike is seasonal as Floridians spend more time together indoors to escape the summer heat and humidity.

DeSantis credited his response to Covid-19, which has focused on vaccinating seniors and nursing home residents, for the fact that fewer Floridians are dying now than last August. A year ago, Florida was averaging about 180 Covid-19 deaths per day during an early August spike, but last week averaged 58 per day. However, 2,400 Covid-19 patients are in an intensive care unit, and deaths in general don’t spike until a few weeks after hospitalizations.

“Even among a lot of positive tests, you are seeing much less mortality that you did year-over-year,” DeSantis said at a Miami-area press conference. “Would I rather have 5,000 cases among 20-year-olds or 500 cases among seniors? I would rather have the younger.”

DeSantis also said “media hysteria” on the swelling numbers could cause people having heart attacks or strokes to avoid going to an emergency room for fear of being infected. Doctors interviewed by The Associated Press acknowledged this happened during the early months of the pandemic, but say it’s no longer true, and that they’re treating the usual number of cardiac patients.

President Joe Biden criticized DeSantis and other officials who have moved to block the reimposition of mask mandates. He called on resistant Republican governors to “get out of the way” of vaccine rules and endorsed New York City’s move to require vaccinations to dine indoors or go to the gym.

“If you’re not going to help, at least get out of the way of people trying to do the right thing,” Biden said.

Dr. O’Neil Pyke, chief medical officer at Jackson North Medical Center in Miami, said many Florida hospitals are facing staffing shortages. Hospitals also report putting emergency room patients in beds in hallways, and some are again banning visitors or postponing elective surgeries.

“They’re just coming in faster than we discharge them,” said Justin Senior, CEO of Florida Safety Net Hospital Alliance, which represents some of the state’s largest hospitals caring for low-income patients.

Still, he said few hospitals will run out of room as they can convert nontraditional spaces like conference areas into Covid-19 wards.

Penny Ceasar, who handles admissions at a hospital near Fort Lauderdale, wants the governor to require vaccines for health care workers and masks for everyone. Ceasar said while Westside Regional Medical Center has been getting temporary staff from other states, the alarming number of new patients is taking a toll.

“You’re on an emotional rollercoaster because we care for our patients like we care for our families,” said Ceasar, a 30-year veteran.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 50,000 new Covid-19 cases in the state over the last three days, raising the seven-day average to one of the highest counts since the pandemic began.

In total, the state has seen more than 2.6 million cases and 39,179 deaths.

DeSantis is running for reelection next year while eyeing a 2024 presidential bid. A central tenet of his national image among conservatives is his refusal to impose mask mandates or business restrictions.

“We are not shutting down,” DeSantis reiterated Tuesday. “We are going to have schools open. We are protecting every Floridian’s job in this state. We are protecting people’s small businesses. These interventions have failed time and time again throughout this pandemic, not just in the United States but abroad.”

DeSantis did encourage people to get vaccinated, saying shots provide a strong defense against getting seriously ill. About 95% of those hospitalized and almost all recent deaths have been among the unvaccinated, hospital officials have said.

“You can still test positive, but at the end of the day you can turn this from something that was much more threatening to a senior citizen, say, to something that is more manageable,” said DeSantis, who has been vaccinated. “That is a huge, huge thing.”

The spike has come as DeSantis and local officials have fought over how to protect children and staff as the school year begins.

Broward County’s school board reversed a decision to require facial coverings after DeSantis barred mandates and threatened to cut funding from districts that don’t comply. Broward’s board had responded to the latest science on the virus and the latest recommendations of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the governor said parents should decide whether their children should wear a mask to school. AP

Thai protest leader renews calls for reform of monarchy

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ANGKOK—A Thai protest leader on Tuesday renewed calls for the reform of the country’s monarchy and suggested that time was running out for the powerful institution to respond. “ This year shall be the last year that we will discuss monarchy reform. After this, whatever will happen, will happen.

You can’t stop the sun rising.

You can’t control what people believe in,” Arnon Nampha said at a candlelight rally in downtow n Bangkok by about 20 0 people who defied coronavirus regulations to attend.

The civil rights lawyer dressed as Harry Potter, a reference to what he and other proponents of change see as the opaque world of

the palace. Arnon is widely considered the protest movement’s most senior figure.

The rally marked one year since Arnon delivered a speech that shook the country with its unprecedented challenge to the status of the monarchy, which is widely considered to be an untouchable bedrock element of Thai nationalism.

It sparked a series of large-scale rallies demanding that the palace be made more transparent and accountable. The protests, which also called for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chanocha and the amendment of the constitution, raised the political temperature significantly, leading to clashes with royalists and police and the arrests of protest leaders.

The rallies died down this year due to legal action, a lack of unity in the movement and fears over the coronavirus. But in recent weeks protesters have returned to the streets, prompted by a worsening Covid-19 outbreak for which many people blame the government.

They’ve largely targeted Prayuth’s government but Arnon’s speech on Tuesday suggests the monarchy will once again be a focus of Thai political debate.

“We are here to fight to build a better future together,” he said.

“This year we will fight with strategies. We will fight with goals. Not only will we fight through protests to bring pressure, we will also fight to propose laws in Parliament.”

Arnon, who is currently free on

bail, faces more than 10 charges under a stringent royal defamation law that mandates prison terms of up to 15 years for perceived insults. Human rights defenders say it is routinely used to stifle public discussion of the monarchy and to jail political activists. Its abolition is a key demand of the reform movement.

Many people still revere the monarchy, and the military, a major power in Thai society, considers its defense a key priority.

Questioning of the monarchy’s position has grown since the 2016 accession to the throne of King Ma ha Vajira longkor n, whose much-admired father, King Bhumibhol Adulyadej, ruled for seven decades. AP