BusinessMirror February 03, 2020

NO ENTRY NOW FOR ALL OF CHINA

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

& Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

A

S health authorities announced the death of the second case of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the country on Sunday, President Duterte ordered a ban on the entry of non-Filipino travelers coming from all of China, which is currently beset by an outbreak of the dreaded, new disease.

Last week, the ban only covered the province of Hubei in China, where the 2019-nCoV is said to have originated.

Although there have been calls for the Philippines to impose a lockdown for nearly a week, Duterte’s decision on Sunday— announced twice, first by trusted confidante Sen. Christopher Go and later by Executive Secretary

PEOPLE walk past signs outside stores in Manila’s Bambang area, advising people that surgical masks, which flew off shelves within hours after the Philippines confirmed its first 2019-nCoV case, are still out of stock. Tagged as the Philippines’s second confirmed 2019-nCoV case, a 44-year-old Chinese man who arrived from Wuhan via Hong Kong last January 21, 2020, died on Saturday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said. NONIE REYES

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Salvador Medialdea—caught a lot of people by surprise as Malacañang had kept saying it’s unwise to impose a total travel ban.

An undetermined number of passengers were shocked as their flights arrived from China, Hong Kong and Macau. The foreign passengers were sent back later in the day while the Filipino citizens and resident visa holders were let in, under a 14-day mandatory quarantine.

Medialdea said the temporary ban will cover all nationalities coming from China and its Special Administrative Regions, namely, Hong Kong and Macau, except Filipino citizens and holders of Philippine government-issued Permanent Resident Visa.

“For clarity the ban is on the person of any nationality except that of Filipinos particularly specified above, coming directly from the places abovementioned and arriving in the Philippines, and not of any flight,” Medialdea said.

Earlier on Sunday, before Medialdea’s announcement, Go announced in a radio interview that Duterte on Saturday night decided to adopt a temporary, but total, travel ban on all passengers from China, Hong Kong and Macau.

The expanded travel ban was affirmed by the interagency task force on the management of communicable diseases, Go said Sunday.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, a staunch government critic, welcomed the expanded ban which came three days after she and Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, and Sens. Joel Villanueva and Francis Pangilinan aired a similar appeal.

Hearing

MEANWHILE, Go confirmed that the Senate Committee on Health, which he chairs, will hold a See “No entry,” A12

BusinessMirror n

Monday, February 3, 2020 Vol. 15 No. 116

Virus-induced lockdown hurts PHL exports, imports $8.79B

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

Track sectors relying on Chinese labor– Ecop chief

A

S employers place tighter safety protocols to prevent possible infection in the workplace, they are asking authorities to look into industries hosting scores of Chinese workers, particularly Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos), for potential cases of the coronavirus.

Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr., president of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, asked the government to closely monitor Chinese workers in the country who made contact with Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus in China. He named Pogos as one industry that should be kept an eye on, along with tourism, manufacturing and construction.

“We need to look into firms with Chinese who made contact with Wuhan. If there’s no Chinese interaction, why the need See “Pogo,” A2

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S the novel coronavirus outbreak cripples business operations in China, local exporters are being advised to ship to alternative markets for now to make up for the projected purchase slowdown from the country’s largest trading partner.

Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr. warned that the spread of the coronavirus in China is sure to pull down the country’s trade figures, especially exports.

He said the temporary shutdown

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of factories there will reduce purchase orders, mostly electronic parts, from manufacturers here.

“Our trade [with China] is affected, even with Hong Kong,” Ortiz-Luis told the BusinessMirror. “Our electronics is affected

Exports to China from January to November 2019, improving 6.28 percent from $8.27 billion in the same period in 2018. Over 56 percent of this are shipments of electronic parts, which also grew above 6 percent to $4.95 billion, from $4.66 billion because we import from and export to them. Add to the injury the countries connected to the electronics supply chain of China.”

Exports to China from January to November of last year improved See “Exports,” A2

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’19 nCoV TRAVEL BAN COULD SPELL P27-B LOSS FOR TOURISM SECTORS

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

Special to the BusinessMirror @akosistellaBM

T

HE country’s tourism and travel industry are projected to lose some at least P27 billion with the temporary travel ban imposed by Malacañang on travelers from China and its special administrative territories, Hong Kong and China.

The ban, announced on Sunday before the Department of Health (DOH) reported its first death from the novel coronavirus (nCoV), does not cover, however, Filipino citizens and holders of Permanent Resident Visas issued by the Philippine government.

The Tourism Congress of the Philippines, which had been urging for a complete travel ban on China since last week, welcomed the move of Malacañang. In a news statement on Sunday, the group said, “While we realize that this will affect the tourism industry, we also acknowledge that

our country’s safety and health takes precedence over business at this time.”

From January to November 2019, tourists from China were the second-largest spenders in the Philippines at $2.14 billion or P109.14 billion. Based on an average spend of $195 million for the 11 months in review, the Philippines is estimated to forgo tourism receipts amounting to $390 million or P19.89 billion for two months, if the ban lasts until March 2020.

China was the second top source market for tourists at 1.63 million from January to November 2019.

Major local carriers, for their part, are projected to post over P6 billion in losses from the cancellation of their flights to mainland China.

Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) Director for Corporate Communications Charo Logarta Lagamon said the “initial estimate is about See “Loss,” A2

CAB tells airlines to heed ban; CEB quarantines crew

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

& Recto L. Mercene @rectomercene

ADOPTED SON, HONORARY MAYOR Alliance Global Group Inc. Chairman Dr.

Andrew L. Tan was named “Adopted Son” and “Honorary Mayor” of Bacolod City in colorful ceremonies of the Bacolaodiat Festival at the Bacolod Government Center on Saturday afternoon. Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia led the recognition rites together with officials of the Bacolod City Government and the Filipino-Chinese community of the city. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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HE Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) ordered all airlines operating to and from the Philippines to comply with a travel ban that it issued to help prevent the spread of the nCoV 2019 in the country, following the death of a Chinese national due to the virus on Sunday.

The order reinstates the directive of President Duterte to bar entry of any person—except Filipinos and holders of permanent resident visas—coming from China and its Special Administrative Regions (SAR) or have been to the said areas in the past 14 days.

The order also prohibits Filipinos from traveling to China or its SAR, Hong Kong and Macau.

“All airlines shall inform the board of any action or modification made in its procedure in rela-

tion to the implementation of the directive,” CAB Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla said.

He also mandated the Air Carriers’ Association of the Philippines and the Board of Airline Representatives to assist in the immediate dissemination of the order to their member airlines.

Already, Filipino carriers Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and AirAsia Philippines have canceled their flights to and from China, See “CAB,” A2

n US 50.9040 n JAPAN 0.4672 n UK 66.6690 n HK 6.5546 n CHINA 7.3682 n SINGAPORE 37.3882 n AUSTRALIA 34.2024 n EU 56.1675 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.5686 Source: BSP (31 January 2020 )

A2

News BusinessMirror

Monday, February 3, 2020

Natl income accounts changes to reflect BPO contributions

By Cai U. Ordinario

T

@caiordinario

HE latest rebasing and revising of the gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to better reflect the performance of businessprocess outsourcing (BPO) operations, health and education, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The changes in the computation of the GDP, National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa recently told reporters, will not only be a 2018 base year but will see the addition of new subsectors in the production side of the National Income Accounts (NIA).

Mapa said the BPO sector will

be placed in the new Information, Communication Technology (ICT) subsector under the Services sector. This is one of 6 to 7 new subsectors to be added under Services.

“If you will look at the components under Services, there is a relatively substantial percentage referred to as ‘Other

CAB. . .

Pogo. . .

Hong Kong and Macau.

Cebu Pacific is now also working closely with the Department of Health to contact all passengers aboard the same flights taken by the patients who tested positive for the nCoV. Passengers who tested positive for the nCoV were reportedly onboard Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 241 (Hong Kong-Cebu) and Cebgo Flight DG 6510 (CebuDumaguete).

“The cabin crew and pilots on affected flights have been placed on quarantine, and aircraft used for both flights have undergone thorough disinfection,” the leading low-cost airline said.

to look into them? Those Pogos, they must be checked then,” OrtizLuis said in an interview with the BusinessMirror.

“Tourism should also be closely monitored. Manufacturing [firms] with some Chinese workers, as well as those in ‘Build, Build, Build,’ should be looked into,” he added.

Based on data from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), there are 118,239 workers, mostly foreigners, in the Pogo industry as of last year.

Of this figure, over 82 percent, or 97,283, are foreign nationals, while the remaining 18 percent, or 20,956, are Filipinos. Majority of foreigners employed in Pogos are Chinese, making up 77,028 of the total—over 77 percent, or 3 in every 4.

Continued from A1

Contact tracing

CEB also said it is trying to get in touch with all the passengers aboard the same flights taken by the patients who tested positive for nCoV. “CEB is working closely with the Health Department, Bureau of Quarantine and the National Epidemiology Center to contain the virus. “ We are in t he process of contacting all passengers who were aboard ” the f lights 5J 241 and DG 6510.

CEB said passengers on the abovement ioned f l ights who have not been contacted are requested to contact Cebu Pacific via +632 87020886 (7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, Manila time).

“We also advise them to seek immediate medical attention if they have flu-like symptoms such as coughing, colds and fever.”

Cebu Pacific has also cancelled “all flights between the Philippines and mainland China [Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Shenzen] until March 29, 2020. Flights to and from Hong Kong and Macau, on the other hand, have been reduced.”

The carrier said passengers affected by f light cancellations are being notified through the contact details provided upon booking. They may also check t he st at u s of t hei r f l ights through the Manage Booking portal in the Cebu Pacific web site, https://book.cebupacificair. com/Manage/Retrieve/.

CEB offered affected passengers these options: n Rebook the flight (new flight date within 30 days of original travel date); n Refund the tickets in full; n Store the value of the ticket in a Travel Fund for future use.

Continued from A1

Proactive US firms

ON the other hand, American firms are taking a proactive stance in maintaining their offices free from the respiratory illness first detected in China’s Wuhan.

American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Executive Director Ebb Hinchliffe said the group’s member-firms put up screening and protection procedures to improve the protection of their respective workplaces. As

Loss. . .

Continued from A1

P3 billion from operating profit” will be lost from the cancellations for at least two months, until March 29. This includes the charters between Kalibo and China, “although these are not regular and steady.”

While officials of Philippine Airlines (PAL) had not yet responded to the BusinessMirror’s query as of press time, an airline industry analyst who requested anonymity, said the carrier’s losses “will likely reflect that of Cebu Pac’s as well.”

CEB operates 68 flights a week between the Philippines and Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzen, Xiamen, as well as flights to Macau and Hong Kong.

PAL, for its part, operates 69 flights a week between the Philippines and Beijing, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Macau, Shanghai and Xiamen.

Philippine tourism attachés based in mainland China are now advising the local travel agencies and associations about the temporary travel ban on travelers from China. In a news statement, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said

“If you...look at the components under Services, there is a relatively substantial percentage referred to as ‘Other Services;’ so of course...these different items would have to be segregated, so that is what we’re doing.”—Mapa

Ser vices;’ so of course...these different items would have to be segregated, so that is what we’re doing,” Mapa said.

Currently, GDP’s production side is composed of Agriculture, Hunting, Forestry and Fishing (AHFF); Industry; and Services.

AHFF is composed of the subsectors Agriculture and Forestry and Fishing.

Industry subsectors are composed of four subsectors Mining & Quarrying; Manufacturing; such, he bared the operations of American firms operating here are running their usual pace, albeit caution.

“Yes, business as usual but w it h a bit of caution and more protection of employees,” Hinchliffe said in a text message to the BusinessMirror.

‘No need for blanket ban’

HOWEVER, both Ortiz-Luis and Hinchliffe argued there’s no need for the Philippines to impose a blanket ban on travelers coming from China. They think it is an overreaction to the crisis if the government prohibits the entry of visitors from the source country of the virus.

“Considering that we are not yet that affected, we are overreacting to these numbers. There are worse cases in the past where many people died,” Ortiz-Luis explained. “We are overreacting if we close down our borders to China.”

“I believe the government is doing their best at this time. It would be an overreaction to ban flights at this point,” Hinchliffe added.

In a radio interview on Sunday morning, Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go said the Philippines is imposing a blanket ban on foreigners from China, Hong Kong and Macau as per the directive of President Duterte and the recommendation of the Department of Health (DOH). there will be a mandatory 14-day quarantine for Filipinos and permanent resident visa holders coming from any place in China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Likewise, Filipinos are banned to travel to these places.

Guidelines

The DOT on Saturday also released guidelines for tourism enterprises in handling guests with the nCoV crisis. These includes guide questions to ask when a guest feels ill, the implementation of stringent sanitation procedures in housekeeping as well as food and beverage handling, adoption of strict personal hygiene practices including “proper cough etiquette,” use of alcohol/ hand sanitizer, among others.

“The safety and protection of our citizens thriving in our tourist spots, the employees of the tourism sector, and domestic and foreign tourists alike remain the Department of Tourism’s priority. We call on everyone in the tourism industry to follow these directives until the World Health Organization and the Philippine government deems it safe to resume travel to these parts,” said Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat.

Construction; and Electricity, Gas and Water Supply.

Services, meanwhile, has six subsectors: Transport, Storage and Communication; Trade and Repair of Motor Vehicles, Motorcycles, Personal and Household Goods; Financial Intermediation; Real Estate, Renting and Business Activities; Public Administration and Defense, Compulsory Social Security; and Other Services.

Mapa said the GDP estimates to be released in May 2020, which will be for the first quarter 2020 NIA, will already reflect these changes.

However, Mapa assured that these changes are being made in consultation with PSA’s stakeholders. He said this is being done in accordance with PSA’s mandate.

The PSA’s functions include the review of the government’s statistical programs, including departments and agencies as well as local government units.

Filipino citizens, as well as those holding permanent resident visas issued by the government, may enter the country, but are required to undergo a 14-day quarantine. Further, Go said travel from the Philippines to China will also be prohibited.

The Philippines has reported two cases—both Chinese nationals who traveled to Manila—of the novel coronavirus, of which one is dead, the first outside of China, and the other is recovering.

Last week, Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez directed the Philippine International Trading Corp.

(PITC) to start canvassing for the purchase of 5 million pieces of face mask to augment stocks locally.

The face masks, which should be worn by individuals with respiratory symptoms and health workers, will be distributed for free if the DOH finances the purchase.

“We are asking DOH if they can fund and distribute for free,” Lopez said. “If PITC funded, they can sell to retailers, too, with SRP [suggested retail price]. Important [thing is] there are stocks as soon as possible.”

Lopez vowed the Department of Trade and Industry is monitoring the prices of face mask in the thick of complaints of overpricing and speculations of hoarding. However, he admitted there’s a problem with the supply at present.

Elijah Felice E. Rosales

Inflation. . .

Continued from A12

Alert Mechanism

THE report also stated that the Neda-Monitoring and Evaluation Staff (Neda-Mes) identified 11 ODA loan-assisted projects as actual problem projects for priority monitoring and facilitation, based on its Alert Mechanism (AM).

Neda’s inter na l A M identifies and f lags projects which require pr ior it y monitor ing and facilitation using four leading indicators on financia l, physica l, cost over r un and stages of project implementation.

Data showed nine of these projects were identified to be in the critical stage or alert level 2, having implementation issues that remained unresolved for at least six months while the remaining t wo projects were under the early warning stage or Level 1.

Neda said 10 actual problem projects posted an availment backlog of $572.41 million or 40 percent of the total availment backlog of the active ODA loans portfolio as of end 2018.

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Senate Energy panel sets NGCP operations hearing

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HE Senate Committee on Energ y has set a hearing on Monday into the operations of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) amid national security concerns raised by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian over China’s acquisition of 40 -percent stake in the countr y’s lone transmission line.

Gatchalian, the Energy panel chairman, said the committee is keen to verify, among others, if Filipinos will remain in charge of the vital national power grid’s day-to-day management.

NGCP officials have in recent weeks given repeated assurances that Filipinos will always have operational control of the grid, but the senator said the inquiry will give the NGCP people a chance to lay to rest all claims to the contrary.

Gatchalian said the committee hearing will also enable senators to verify “compliance with the mandate of the country’s power transmission line to safeguard the grid and ensure continous supply of electricity in the country.”

The senator cited concerns over China’s 40-percent stake in the Philippines’s lone transmission line, recalling that certain energy officials earlier conceded the possibility of China remotely shutting

Exports. . .

Continued from A1

6.28 percent to $8.79 billion, from $8.27 billion during the same period in 2018, according to Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data. More than half—over 56 percent—of this are shipments of electronic parts, which also grew above 6 percent to $4.95 billion, from $4.66 billion. Related story in Economy, page A4.

Although it has yet to be identified exactly which exporters will be affected, Ortiz-Luis said the electronics industry will bear most of the brunt in China’s decision to temporarily close many of its shops in a measure to prevent the further spread of the virus.

Last week technolog y giants Google, Amazon and Microsoft took action to protect their labor force from possible infection. For one, Google, which has four offices in the mainland, directed its workers in China, and Hong Kong, to leave the cou nt r y i m med i ate ly a nd to work from home for a minimum of two weeks.

On the other hand, A mazon restricted its staff from traveling to and from China until the virus is contained, encouraging its employees as wel l to fol low the hea lth and safet y g uidelines issued by inter nationa l hea lth agencies.

Further, Toyota announced it is keeping its China plants closed until February 9, in adherence to the transport lockdowns placed by authorities. General Motors followed lead by extending its Lunar New Year holiday, maintaining factories shut also until February 9.

Wuhan hosts ecozone

WUHAN, the capital of the Hubei province and the epicenter of the coronavirus, is home to the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone, an economic zone where carmakers, including China’s own Dongfeng Motor, is located.

“I have no knowledge as of now who among our firms will be affected by the shutdowns, but it will certainly affect our exports.

In two weeks time, we need to see if China can arrest the virus spread,” Ortiz-Luis said.

The industry leader advised exporters to seek alternative markets for now to fill in the gap left

down the country’s power supply when asked about it in last year’s budget hearing.

In a statement issued Sunday, Gatchalian said the power transmission line is “one of the vital facilities in our country, that is why it is very important that the management in control of the transmission line are Filipinos.

We don’t want a scenario wherein with just a single switch, no electricity will be transmitted to our homes, businesses, even to our military facilities.”

Gatchalian strongly suggested that, “we should employ all possible safeguards to ensure Filipinos are in control of our lone power grid; that Filipino interests are being protected and national security concerns are covered 100 percent.”

The Philippine Constitution, he pointed out, specifically “requires the executive and managing officers of public utilities to be Filipinos.”

Gatchalian said among those called to testify before the Energy committee’s Monday inquiry are: the National Security Adviser, as well as top officials of the Department of Energy, NGCP, National Transmission Corp., as well as independent experts on electric power. Butch Fernandez

by China, telling them to double their shipments to traditional partners outside of the Southeast Asian region—also troubled by the viral infection—such as the Middle East.

However, the Department of Trade and Industry denied that there is a purchase slowdown from China. DTI’s Export Marketing Bureau Director Senen M. Perlada told the BusinessMirror it’s business as usual for the country’s usual buyers in China, as some of them start to transfer production to nearby countries to keep operations running.

For instance, Ayala-owned Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc. is ready to move its supply chain from China to the Philippines in case the situation worsens there, its CEO Arthur M. Tan bared in a television interview last week.

“No projection of purchase slowdown from China thus far,” Perlada said. “As to factories being closed there, those owned by foreign companies have reportedly started diversion of sourcing, and even relocation of their manufacturing for certain critical parts and components to nearby countries, including the Philippines.”

There are at least 14,549 confirmed cases of and 305 recorded deaths—nearly all of which are in China and one in the Philippines— from the novel coronavirus as of Sunday morning.

The respirator y illness first detected in Wuhan has spread throughout many parts of the world, including in Southeast Asia, where there are now 19 cases in Thailand, 18 in Singapore, eight in Malaysia, six in Vietnam and one in Cambodia. The Philippines last week reported its first case of coronav ir us in a Chinese woman who arrived here on Januar y 21 from Wuhan.

In response, President Duterte first issued a ban on the entry of foreigners from China’s Hubei province before expanding its coverage to the whole of the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau.

The Philippines is enjoying warmer relations with China under Duterte, resulting in the influx of mainland tourists here and the rise of online gambling services. In 2018, merchandise trade with Beijing jumped 21 percent to $30.83 billion from $25.48 billion in 2017, making it the country’s largest trading partner.

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The Nation BusinessMirror

China vows ₧7.2-million cash donation for Taal disaster-stricken residents

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

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HE People’s Republic of China (PROC) has pledged a 1-million renminbi or P7.2-million cash donation to help the country in disaster relief efforts for victims of the Taal Volcano eruption.

To convey its intent to hand over the donation “as soon as possible,” China recently sent a diplomatic correspondence to the Department of Finance (DOF) through its embassy in Manila.

The DOF expressed gratitude to the PROC. “This expression of sympathy and support to our countrymen further strengthens our bilateral ties and reflects the warm relations between our two countries,” Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III was quoted in a statement as saying.

Dominguez said Beijing has consistently provided assistance to the calamity victims in the country.

He cited a P22-million (3 million renminbi) donation to Mindanao after the island was hit by a series of earthquakes last October. Dominguez also noted that the PROC was also among the first countries to offer assistance in helping rebuild the devastated city of Marawi in Mindanao.

Aside from China, the European

Union earlier donated €750,000 (about P42 million) for those affected by the Taal Volcano eruption.

In a statement, the EU Delegation in Manila said the funding is seen to benefit some 280,000 victims.

Last January 12, the Taal Volcano spewed dark volcanic ash, which prompted gover nment scientists to raise Alert Level 4, which is just a notch before hazardous explosive eruption. Ashfall reached nearby towns in Batangas and Cavite provinces, as well as parts of Metro Manila.

Two weeks after the volcano’s eruption, the government downgraded the status to Alert Level 3, indicating a decreased tendency towards explosive eruption.

On Friday, the Department of Public Works and Highways said the damage to national roads and bridges due to the eruption has reached P153.32 million.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture earlier said the agricultural damage and losses have reached P3.17 billion, covering 15,790 hectares of agricultural lands and production losses of 43,772 metric tons.

Among the affected commodities are rice, corn, coffee, coconut, cacao, banana, pineapple, and other fruits and high-value crops.

Suffering 50.5 percent of the total damage valued at P1.6 billion, the fishery sector was the hardest hit.

DAR eyes to split 1.12M collective CLOAs by 2022

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

T

HE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is stepping up the effort to subdivide vast tracts of land under collective land titles or certificates of land ownership awards (CLOAs) before President Duterte’s term ends in 2022.

The World Bank has recently approved a P24-billion loan package for the “Support to Parcelization of Lands to Individual Titling,” or SPLIT, a program of the DAR that seeks to individualize the collective CLOAs (cCLOAs).

Agrarian Reform Undersecretary for Field Operations David D. Erro reported during the DAR’s assessment and planning conference that 1,250,680 cCLOAs of the total 2,370,330 has already been subdivided. About 1,119,650 CLOAs remain, and has yet to be subjected to the SPLIT program.

However, some of the land covered by cCLOAs cannot be subdivided.

Meanwhile, Erro said the agency only has 816,784 titles to work on, as 302,866 are indivisible. A total of 162,582 of them are classified as timberlands, forests, roads and/or watershed, he noted.

Meanwhile, another 140,284 indivisible titles were awarded to farmer-beneficiaries, who have preferred to keep them unchanged. These are farmers’ associations and cooperatives, which are successfully engaged

in joint venture arrangements with multinational corporations and private investors.

Erro said in a statement the DAR is confident it can parcelize cCLOAs into individual titles before the Duterte administration ends in 2022.

Of the 816,784 divisible titles, Erro said the department is training its guns on 544,562 cCLOAs, the bulk of which or 350,993 titles are landed estates that are non-compensable lands, such as settlement areas and government-owned lands.

The other 193,569 titles are compensable lands, which are classified as compulsory acquisition and voluntary offer to sell, while others fall under Presidential Decree 27, or the “Operation Land Transfer.”

Here, the cCLOAs are awarded not to particular farmers’ associations and/or cooperatives, but to groups of farmer-beneficiaries, whose names are listed on the titles, according to Erro.

CCLOAs awarded under the name of farmers’ associations and cooperatives, which account for 83,856 titles are temporarily put aside to give them ample time to decide between collective or individual titles.

Also set aside for the time being are cCLOAs that are awarded under “voluntary land transfer,” a scheme where farmer-beneficiaries have agreed to pay the landowners for the land awarded to them collectively.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Monday, February 3, 2020 A3

Lawmaker echoes DILG advisory on nCoV; PMA to push through with homecoming amid risks

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

& Rene Acosta

@reneacostaBM

A

SENIOR lawmaker on Sunday echoed a Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) advisory for all local government units (LGUs) to create their respective task forces addressing the novel coronavirus (nCoV).

House Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte Jr. said these teams would advise respective LGU constituents on what precautionary measures to take. Villafuerte added these teams must also coordinate with the Department of Health (DOH) on what protocols to initiate to help check the spread of nCoV in their localities.

“It is imperative for our LGU chief executives to put up 2019nCoV task forces in their respective provinces, cities or municipalities, now that the WHO [World Health Organization] has declared a global emergency and the DOH has confirmed the first novel coronavirus entry in our country,” Villafuerte

said in a statement last Sunday.

‘It behooves our local executives to heed this government advisory to help contain the spread of this new virus that has to date affected nearly 10,000 people across the globe and killed over 200 of them in China,” he said.

“The would-be LGU task forces should take their cue from whatever risk communication strategies; public health enhancement and surveillance measures; and early detection, isolation and case management procedures that the DOH, and other concerned government agencies, would adopt for the country to best deal with the nCoV,” added Villafuerte, a three-term Camarines Sur governor prior to his election to the House in 2016.

Last week, the WHO declared the nCoV as a global emergency and urged all nations to “act together” to limit further spread of the virus with “greatest concern” on the potential spread of virus to countries with “weaker health systems.”

Citing the DILG advisory, Villafuerte said governors and mayors

should ensure that they have sufficient logistical materials to prevent the intrusion of the nCoV in their localites. “[They should ensure] their local health authorities have enough equipment and protective gadgets, like masks, goggles, gowns and gloves; and are adequately trained on coronavirus prevention, containment and control, in coordination with the DOH,” he said.

Villafuerte also called on LGU executives to post their own public advisories about the nCoV.

PMA homecoming

MEANWHILE, the organization of graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) will push through with their annual homecoming scheduled this month despite risks posed by the nCoV. The annual homecoming scheduled on February 14 and 15 will take place as originally scheduled, according to a statement by the PMA Alumni Association Inc. (PMAAAI).

“The PMAAAI finds no compelling reason to change course especially at this late hour,” the statement added.

Earlier, the City Government of Baguio City canceled the opening parade for the annual Panagbenga Festival in the city as part of precautionary measure against the possible spread of the strain.

PMAAAI Chairman and CEO Rufo A. de Veyra was quoted in the statement as saying they are holding the activity while, at the same time, exercising health caution.

“There is a need to strike a balance between public safety and our being able to lead meaningful lives,” de Veyra, member of the PMA Class of 1970, said.

“We align with the public safety concerns. Even as we try to monitor the extent of the nCoV menace, the association continues to adhere to health and safety protocols of the DOH [Department of Health] to lick this problem,” he added.

“The once-a-year, low-density, low-intensity homecoming activities confined inside Fort del Pilar where participants converge only for short periods pale in comparison to the city’s high-density festivities like the Panagbenga,” de Veyra added.

With Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

Suppliers for voting via mobile phones in talks with Comelec

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ONG lines at polling centers may soon be a problem of the past as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has expressed interest in allowing voting through mobile applications (apps).

Four suppliers are now in talks with the Comelec for the possible creation of a platform for that.

In her Twitter account, Comelec Commissioner Rowena V. Guanzon

said the suppliers have already offered to conduct a demonstration of their respective systems.

She declined to give further details about the suppliers and their systems, which are still under study by the poll body. Guanzon said they will make the test run of each proposed system transparent.

She said they will invite representatives from the Parish Pasto-

ral Council for Responsible Voting; the National Citizen’s Movement for Free Elections; and the Legal Network for Truthful Elections to observe and criticize each system presented to the Comelec.

Depending on the outcome of the test runs, Guanzon said the poll body will still decide whether to recommend or not to Congress the creation of a law to allow voting

through a mobile app.

Under Section 28 of Republic Act 10590, the Comelec is allowed to submit reports and/or recommendations to the joint congressional oversight committee of new modes of elections for its consideration.

In her previous statements, Guanzon said she will closely look into the security features of the proposed systems. Samuel P. Medenillaw

Traveler from Wuhan becomes 1st nCoV fatality outside China

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NEW DWIZ SEGMENT

AM radio station DWIZ launched recently a property and real-estate industry segment in its news and public affairs program Pilipinas Ngayon Na, which is hosted by former Press Undersecretary Robert T. Rivera (right) every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Philippine Exporters Confederation President Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. (second from left) was special guest at the launch of the new segment at the DWIZ studios on Shaw Boulevard, Pasig City. Ortiz-Luis commended Rivera for conceptualizing the segment, titled Usapang Lupa at Negosyo (discussion on land and business). He added it will help inform, and enlighten, the public about issues and concerns affecting the industry. Others in photo are Lolly Rivera Acosta (left) and Dr. Eduardo Ong, cohosts.

HE male companion of the Chinese woman from Wuhan who was the Philippines’s first case of novel coronavirus has died, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Sunday. It was the first nCoV death recorded outside China.

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said the male Chinese, aged 44, who died on February 1, came from Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak. He arrived in the country on January 21 with the 38-year-old woman who became the Philippines’s first confirmed case.

As of February 1, the DOH and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) said 24 patients under investigation (PUIs) tested negative for the 2019nCoV, while two tested positive—the two Chinese travelers from Wuhan.

The two confirmed cases were both admitted for isolation and supportive treatment at San Lazaro Hospital in Santa Cruz, Manila. Both patients were isolated following strict isolation standards and all healthpersonnelwhocameincontactwith thempracticedstringentinfectioncontrol measures and wore appropriate personal protective equipment. Claudeth M. Ciriaco

A4 Monday, February 3, 2020 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

BOC braces for impact of virus on goods

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

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HE Bureau of Customs (BOC) said it is bracing for the impact of the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV) on the trade in goods of the Philippines not only with China but also with other countries.

BOC spokesman and Assistant Commissioner Vincent Philip C. Maronilla said the agency’s estimates show that China accounts for 40 percent of the country’s total trade volume.

“We [all government agencies] are preparing for [nCoV]. I’m sure it will have an economic impact particularly in China, and China being one of the biggest, if not the biggest trading partner of the Philippines, there will be some effect,” Maronilla said in a phone interview on Friday.

The BOC official made the statement on the same day when Manila confirmed the first case of nCoV in the country involving a 38-year-old woman from Wuhan, China.

On Sunday, the Department of Health (DOH) announced the second case of nCoV which is turned out to be the first virus-related death in the Philippines and the first outside of China.

Should n-CoV spread, Maronilla said trade would be hampered as importers may go slow on importing products from China, and other countries where there are confirmed cases.

Group to ask DICT to probe ‘colorum’ courier firms in PHL

By Roderick L. Abad @rodrik_28 Contributor

A

NTI-CRIME group Citizens Crime Watch (CCW) said it will formally ask the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Monday to conduct an inquiry into “colorum,” or illegally operating courier services in the country.

CCW said it will submit a letter of complaint addressed to Information Secretary Gregorio Honasan.

Citing industry estimates, the group said almost a hundred delivery services are not allowed to operate at present nationwide.

These include “big players” capitalized at hundreds of millions of pesos, those owned by foreign entities in contravention of the Corporation Code, and those who are only licensed for courier services in the National Capital Region yet operational on national scale.

Signed by CCW President Diego Magpantay and lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, head of the CCW legal panel, the letter shows the nationwide anticrime group urged Honasan to investigate “as to why these illegal courier services have been allowed to operate for an appreciable length of time without [the DICT] making use of its regulatory powers.”

It also called the agency to task for the “demonstrable inaction on the part of its key officials in the face of such palpable disregard of laws and regulations.”

Per the complaint, CCW asked the DICT “why those entities obviously guilty of open breach of the law have been allowed registration, thus legitimizing disrespect for rules and regulations.”

CONTAINERS are stacked at the Manila North Harbor, in Manila, in this BusinessMirror file photo.

Wuhan, considered one of China’s top manufacturing areas, is currently on lockdown due to the spread of the virus.

“The fear of the virus could affect all regions,” he said. “Factories that are getting their supplies or the multinational companies that [outsource production] to China would also be affected. Many countries depend on China for production labor there is cheap.”

Maronilla said the bureau remains vigilant when it comes to shipments, especially from countries with confirmed nCoV cases.

While the virus would need a live host for it to survive, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said the agency remains on heightened

alert and is particularly concerned about shipments of used clothing.

“We’re just going to tighten up our watch in terms of the permits that are being issued. We are going to coordinate with the Food and Drug Administration, which is under the DOH, and other government agencies when it comes to shipments from China,” said Duque.

Disruptions

RIZAL Commercial Banking Corp.

(RCBC) chief economist Michael Ricafort said travel, tourism, hotel accommodations, gaming and the retail sector may be affected by the spread of nCoV. However, Ricafort noted that the Philippines is less dependent on

tourism and as such, will not suffer huge losses compared to other Asean countries that consider tourism as a major contributor to GDP. “There may be some temporary disruptions [affecting] manufacturers like Toyota, Honda, etc. Some of the workers of firms in manufacturing and service industries are working from home,” he said.

“Realitiscally, the markets are pricing slower economic growth. So if we have slower economic growth, there will be a reduction in demand for oil. That’s why oil has declined by $10 [per barrel] already and interest rates have gone down worldwide,” he added.

Ricafort expects inflation to ease in the coming months due to lower oil prices.

He also noted that the country’s growth following the outbreak of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and the severe acute respiratory Syndrome (SARS) even picked up because the economic conditions were different at the time.

The country’s GDP in 2002 and 2003, when SARS broke out, expanded by percent and 5 percent, respectively. The Philippines registered a GDP growth rate of 6.1 percent in 2014 and 2015 during the MERS-CoV outbreak.

“The Philippines is not affected that much when it comes to MERS-CoV and SARS, but there would be sectors that would feel the pain,” he said.

NEA: Electricity fully restored in many Batangas areas affected by Taal eruption

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

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HE National Electrification Administration (NEA) said last week that power distribution services have been restored in Batangas province, except for some villages that are within the 7-kilometer danger zone of Taal Volcano.

The Batangas I Electric Cooperative Inc. (Batelec 1) has fully restored electricity for 18 out of 21 barangays in the Municipality of Agoncillo as of January 31.

Batelec 1 General Manager Alvin Velasco said electricity in the remaining three barangays—Banyaga,

Bilibinwang and Subic Ilaya—could not be restored at the moment because these remain off limits due to their close proximity to Taal volcano.

Velasco also said Batelec 1 has temporarily disconnected a total of 469 damaged houses across 15 barangays in Agoncillo.

Power situation in the towns of Lemery, San Nicolas, Santa Teresita, and Taal­—with a total combined households of 47,265—has, likewise, normalized.

Batelec 1 earlier implemented a forced power shutdown on these areas, which were earlier placed on lockdown, as a precautionary measure.

The electric cooperative assured that work will continue until all areas in Batangas under the franchise of Batelec 1 are fully energized.

For Batangas 2 Electric Cooperative Inc. (Batelec 2), power restoration efforts were completed for the municipalities of Cuenca, Malvar, Mataas Na Kahoy, Talisay, Lipa City and Tanauan City, as well as majority of communities in Balete and Laurel.

The barangays of Gulod, Busobuso and Bugaan East in Laurel, and Calawit in Balete remain on lockdown, however, as these areas are within the 7-km danger zone from the main crater of the volcano.

MARKET SOUNDING

The Department of Public Works and Highways, in coordination with the Public-Private Partnership Center, conducted a market sounding exercise for the improvement, operation, and maintenance of Kennon Road on January 31, at DPWH Central Office, Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila. Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar said the main purpose of the undertaking is to gauge the interest of potential investors from the private sector in forming a convergence project with the government to improve the highway. DPWH PHOTO

Firms urged to undertake R&D, acquire technologies to boost competitiveness

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ILIPINO companies can acquire strategic and relevant technologies for immediate incorporation in their research and development (R&D) activities which can be facilitated by a government program.

Rowena Cr ist ina Gueva ra, u ndersecret a r y for Resea rc h

a nd Development at t he Depa r t ment of Sc ience a nd Tec hnolog y (DOST ), sa id t he Business Innovat ion t hrough S&T (BIST ) for Indust r y Prog ra m is a mong t he accelerated R & D prog ra m for capac it y bu i ld ing of R & D inst it ut ions a nd indust r i a l compet it iveness of t he

depa r t ment.

“Acquisition of technology could be in the form of acquiring know-how/rights/blueprints of a registered intellectual property,” she said.

The procurement is through one of these methods­—licensing of technology, outright purchase of technology, and acquisition of

hardware/software for R&D, she added, noting that R&D does not include market research.

Guevara said Filipino-owned firms or their consortium/ organization operating in the Philippines for at least three years are eligible to avail themselves of such assistance under the BIST program. Philexport News & Features

www.businessmirror.com.ph

San Miguel: Acquisition of Holcim beneficial to consumers, industry

By VG Cabuag

@Villygc

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ONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. insists its $2.5-billion acquisition of cement Holcim Philippines Inc. will be beneficial to consumers and the industry as a whole after the country’s antitrust body voiced its concerns the deal.

“We are aware of the concerns raised by the Philippine Competition Commission [PCC] on the company’s proposed acquisition of Holcim Philippines, and are committed to achieving a favourable outcome of the review process. We firmly believe that the acquisition of Holcim by San Miguel Corp., a Filipino company, will be beneficial to consumers, the industry, and our country’s development,” the conglomerate said in a statement.

First Stronghold Cement Industries Inc., a unit of San Miguel, is buying some 85 percent of Holcim Philippines, a unit of LafargeHolcim Ltd. Holcim currently operates eight cement facilities in the Philippines, four of which are integrated plants while the remainder comprises grinding facilities and bulk terminals.

In its second review, the body found that the deal will eliminate competition in the grey cement market in northwest Luzon, composed of the provinces of La Union, Benguet and Pangasinan.

It will remove the only competitor in that market, creating a merger to monopoly situation and Top Frontier Investment Holdings Inc.’s market power and enable it to increase prices, reduce output and decrease quality of its products.

In Central Luzon, Northeast Luzon and Metro Manila, the deal eliminates an entity which is an

important source of competitive constraint, it said.

Top Frontier and Northern Cement Corp. (NCC) were reported to have coordinated marketing strategies and exerted influence on the board of directors of each other, the PCC said.

In its review, the PCC has included Northern Cement, a company led

by Eduardo “Danding” M. Cojuangco Jr., and Eagle Cement Corp. Conjuangco is the CEO of San Miguel, while Eagle Cement is chaired by Ramon S. Ang, the conglomerate’s president and COO. San Miguel is also majority owned

by Top Frontier, which also owns 30 percent of Northern Cement.

“The pattern of voting in both stockholders’ and board of directors meetings show alignment of interests, or decision-making between Lucky Star Holdings Inc. and Top Frontier. The close personal relationship between Mr. Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. of Lucky Star and Mr. Ramon S. Ang of Top Frontier indicates that the incentives of both shareholders of NCC are more aligned than would, otherwise, be the case,” the PCC said in its decision.

The PCC said Top Frontier had access to sensitive corporate information of NCC by reason of its directorates, despite its minority shareholding.

“Mr. Ang’s occupancy of key positions in Top Frontier [president, director] and Eagle [president, controlling stockholder] indicate that he owes fiduciary duties to both.

Therefore, insofar as the cement industry is concerned, it is difficult to conceive that he can serve the interests of Top Frontier at the expense of Eagle, of which he owns a majority of the shares,” it said.

PHL firms urged to tap Efta market for food, design-driven

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HE Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) is again calling on Filipino enterprises to explore the European Free Trade Association (Efta) market this year, enumerating the many potential products they can offer under the liberal requirements of the Philippines-European Free Trade Association Free Trade Agreement.

Agnes R. Legaspi, assistant director of EMB which is under the Department of Trade and Industry, said in a recent presentation on doing business in Europe that exporters should make use of the benefits under the bilateral FTA, including duty-free market access for all industrial and fisheries tariff lines and significant concessions on agricultural products.

The Philippines’s free trade agreement (FTA) with the Efta states, comprised of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, entered into force on June 1, 2018.

Legaspi said potential products for export to Efta include fresh and processed foods like fresh fruits, MCT oil, virgin coconut oil, singleorigin gourmet coffee, and seasonings and sauces.

Existing Philippine food products already being exported to the Efta region include pili nuts in shell, currently sold in Swiss store Manor. Another is banana chips, which aside from Manor, are currently also sold in Swiss stores Globus, Coop and Migros.

“The Swiss consume an average of 300 tons of dried fruit annually,” said Legaspi in a statement issued by the Philippine Exporters Confeºderation Inc. Other existing export products include natural coconut water, as well as coconut sweetener sourced from sustainable rural farming communities in Mindanao and sold in 130 stores in Switzerland.

The trade executive also highlighted the growing opportunities for adlai grain, which is considered an organic and healthy rice

alternative, and healthy snacks like toasted coconut chips and fruit crisps made of assorted fruits like purple yam, banana and coconut.

Also in demand are certified agri and food products that have been cleared by Fair Trade, EU Ecolabel, and Migros Bio certification programs.

Legaspi further said that Migros, Switzerland’s largest retail company, is open to sourcing from the Philippines canned tuna from pole- and line-caught fisheries, coco water beverages, dried fruits, fruits and vegetables, and 100 percent juices.

There is also a window of opportunity for Philippine cacao, she pointed out. This as the EU regulation on new cadmium limits on January 1, 2019, mandates Swiss and European chocolate manufacturers to look for new sources of cacao due to high cadmium levels in Africa and Latin America.

“Recent laboratory tests show that Philippine cacao is within the allowable limit,” said Legaspi.

Aside from foodstuff, designdriven products from the Philippines also have potential on the Efta market. These include luxury furniture, home furnishings and décor, and women’s bags and fashion accessories.

And keeping the liberal rules of origin (ROO) under the PHLEfta FTA in mind, Legaspi said the Philippines can also be particularly competitive in garments because this only requires “cut and sew processing.” This, she said, means the country can import the raw materials, like textiles, and cut and sew them into finished products for export to the Efta market.

Fisheries is another area that can benefit from Efta’s liberal ROO requirements, as the country is allowed to source fish products globally for processing in the Philippines then exporting to the Efta region.

Agriculture/Commodities BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng • Monday, February 3, 2020 A5

ASF strikes another town in Davao Occidental

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

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HE province of Davao Occidental could lose its African swine fever-free status after outbreaks of the fatal hog virus were confirmed in over 10 barangays in remote towns where it killed a thousand pigs.

Industry sources also said the confirmation of African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks in the region may jeopardize the plan of Mindanao hog raisers to ship pork not just to Luzon, but also other countries.

On Sunday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said that aside from Don Marcelino, the nearby town of Malita has also been struck by the virus which affected backyard farms in seven barangays.

Despite this, the DA made an assurance that it is on top of the situation.

However, Mindanao Development Authority Chairman Emmanuel F. Piñol on Sunday said quarantine measures to prevent the spread of ASF are lacking.

Under the government’s national zoning plan to fight the hog disease, it will classify provinces/areas based on their ASF status. Areas with confirmed outbreaks, such as those affected by the ASF in Luzon, may be declared infected zones.

However, Reildrin Morales of the DA’s ASF Task Force told the BusinessMirror that the agency is still assessing the situation, and there’s

a possibility that the entire Davao Occidental may not be declared as an infected zone. “[We] will advise what areas [will be declared as infected zones].

Nothing concrete yet,” Morales said via SMS. The ASF status of provinces is crucial, as this will determine whether pork or pork products may be shipped from these areas.

Under the zoning plan, infected zones could only ship their pork and pork-related products within their area and to the National Capital Region, the country’s biggest consumer of pork.

The DA determines the zone “on geographical limits established by the veterinary authorities upon identification of the infected zone and the quarantine zone.”

The DA added that household butchering is a common practice in the area. Amimals exhibiting weakness or disease are slaughtered, and then sold to neighbors and relatives.

“The means of trading animals is by viajeros [bukag-bukag] who purchase sick animals at low cost, and transport them by motorcycle to consolidators in the nearby town of Santa Maria for distribution to several areas in Davao del Sur,” it said.

Implications

Probe

BUREAU of Animal Industry (BAI) Director Ronnie D. Domingo told the BusinessMirror that he is now in Davao Occidental to gather information on the ASF outbreaks in two of its municipalities.

The confirmation of the ASF outbreaks in Davao Occidental, first in Don Marcelino and then in Malita, is baffling authorities and industry players.

“How and why the ASF got to the remote town could not yet be answered. Don Marcelino is a coastal town facing the Davao Gulf, and has only one major access road,” Piñol said.

VENDORS at a Quezon City market display various pork cuts in this BusinessMirror file photo. NONOY LACZA

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) indicated that Davao Occidental has no recorded hog production. It is the lone province in the Davao region that did not have data on hog output.

The BAI has launched “traceback” and “trace-forward” investigations to determine the possible causes of the intrusion, and if the virus is spreading since hog raisers in Don Marcelino “actively” trades with the towns of Malita, Santa Maria, Jose Abad Santos in

Davao Occidental; and Sulop in Davao del Sur. Domingo said the BAI’s laboratory, which is the country’s reference laboratory, is still processing samples from affected hogs in Davao Occidental to validate if it is ASF that struck backyard farms.

He instructed the Davao regional veterinary quarantine officers (VQOs) “to extend full assistance in restricting animal movement, following the 1-7-10 protocol in affected barangays.”

‘Dreaded banana disease spreads to other Mindanao plantations’

By Manuel T. Cayon

@awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

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AVAO CITY—The dreaded Fusarium wilt or Panama disease may have already ravaged more than a quarter of all the banana plantations in Mindanao, according to plantation owners in the region.

Areas infected by Panama disease may have already doubled to 30,000 hectares, from 15,000 hectares identified by the Department of Agriculture (DA) in 2015, said Victor S. Mercado Jr., president and chief executive officer of the Marsman-Drysdale Agribusiness Group.

Planters said the spread of the disease was “expected” due to the lack of appropriate biosafety measures in farms owned by financially handicapped growers. Small banana plantations account for almost half of the total 88,667 hectares planted with the Cavendish variety.

Mercado also said “numerous potholes” in banana plantations were observed during a helicopter sortie. “This is a likely indication of how the disease has crept through banana areas.”

Fusarium wilt is a soil-borne fungal disease that initially attacks the roots of banana plants. The disease is known to turn the leaves of banana plants to yellow from green before these become wilted.

Plant pathologists have identified the Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, as the TR4 strain of the Panama disease that affects the Cavendish variety. Plantations ravaged by the disease can no longer be planted with banana and other soft-stemmed crops.

Scientists said humans and vehicles should be disinfected prior to entering other banana plantations. Also, implements used in infected farms should not be used in other plantations to prevent the spread of the disease.

Alberto Paterno F. Bacani, president and CEO of Unifrutti Philippines, concurred with Mercado and added that the spread of Fusarium wilt was expected because there is still no known cure for it.

“Other factors, like flood and disinfected vehicles that continue to traverse the farms, [contribute to the spread of the disease],” said Bacani.

He said it is not yet known if plantations that will serve as expansion areas were not struck by Panama disease.

Bacani noted that lands now occupied by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are the only suitable and available lands for bananas in the region.

He added that banana growers are no longer considering lands in Visayas. “It is always visited by typhoons.

Also, there are no ports there.”

Silver lining

HOWEVER, Bacani said all is not yet lost as planters have implemented a number of measures to prevent the disease from wiping out plantations. “We have made progress in recovering some of our areas affected by the Panama disease.

We have recovered some 218 hectares by planting them with the resistant variety [GCTCV] 218.”

He said the fruits were small compared to the regular Cavendish variety that the Philippines exports to its major buyers—China, Japan, South Korea and the Middle East.

“Compared to the Cavendish, these resistant varieties would be about 22 to 25 kilograms a bunch. The Cavendish planted in the lowlands would be heavier at 32 kg,” said Bacani.

He said customers in these markets should be educated about this variety so they will know that these were grown in the Philippines.

Mercado also said small banana growers should be told that the size and quality of the resistant varieties could still be improved if they will observe good agricultural practices.

“They need to observe good farm management, and good housekeeping, for the plants to grow well and bear good quality fruits,” he said.

Support

Bacani said government is crucial to help planters prevent the spread of the disease. “While the plantations are seen as the big boys and, therefore, may be left to fend for themselves, the [plight of] small growers is also a concern because plantations also rely on small growers.”

He said government support could come in the form of disinfection and implementing the necessary quarantine measures.

“Other countries, like those in Latin America, received help from their governments when they were recently struck

by Panama disease,” said Bacani.

“Their governments quarantined [entire plantations].

That is a good move to contain the spread of the disease,” he added.

DOT chief eyes Isabela as top agro-ecotourism destination

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LAGAN CITY, Isabela—Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said Isabela deserves to be regarded as one of the country’s premier provinces for its very promising agriculture industry and richly diverse natural attractions that make for a potential agroecotourism haven.

“Your rich flora and fauna in the Sierra Madre Forest and Palanan Rainforest, the Santa Victoria Caves, and long stretches of sandy beaches and coves in the Pacific Coast, and not to mention the Philippine Rise for great dives, are exciting products that would draw the discerning ecotourist interest,” said Romulo Puyat, who was guest of honor during the culmination of the Bambanti Festival.

She said Isabela can very well be a world-class agro-ecotourism destination with experiential tour packages in rice planting or harvesting, fruit picking, mushroom production, bee farming and fishing.

Hundreds of people, gathered at the capitol grounds here for the agro-trade fair and cultural extravaganza symbolized by the scarecrow, fea-

turing colorful parade of gigantic scarecrows, street dancing, Isabela’s bountiful farm products, including rice, corn, fruits, vegetables and local cuisine, like the Pancit Cabagan and other delicacies. Also showcased were local woodcraft and furniture made of indigenous materials.

“The Bambanti is a truly unique festivity as symbolized by the scarecrow believed to dispel pestilence, as well as celebrate the Filipino virtues of hard work, strong family values and love for its fertile soil, which all helped Isabela become the Rice Granary of the North,” said Romulo Puyat.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) chief also extolled the local tourism stakeholders, as well as the local government units (LGUs), for their “hard work and team work” in advocating a culture of sustainable tourism.

To further foster sustainable and responsible tourism, the DOT has moved to capacitate the LGUs in developing their respective tourism development plans by conducting workshops and seminars on product development, accreditation, investment promotion, cultural heritage preservation and

festival management.

Romulo Puyat, likewise, reaffirmed the government’s full support for its tourism infrastructure development through the convergence initiatives with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“We forecast increased tourist arrivals in the area as we bank on the DOTr and the DPWH to fast-track tourism-related projects, such as the night rating of the Cauayan and Tuguegarao airports and the completion of the Cagayan Airport,” said Romulo Puyat.

The convergence initiatives with DPWH in Ilagan City include the road to the Dariuk Hills in Santiago, which will be completed this year at a cost of P55 million; and roads leading to Abuan River for ecotourism for P15 million and to the Japanese Tunnel for P30 million.

“As reported by our DOT Region 2 Office, we had a whopping 113 percent of visitor arrivals from 492,894 in 2017 to 751,249 in 2018, while our partial reports for 2019 stands at 536,182,” said Puyat.

Domingo has also ordered regional VQOs in Mindanao “to strictly enforce quarantine procedures and monitor animal movement.”

Biosecurity measures

BASED on the initial investigation of the DA, the affected backyard farms do not implement proper biosecurity measures while hog raisers do not practice vaccination, vitamin supplementation and deworming to ensure the health of their livestock.

INDUSTRY sources said the confirmation of ASF outbreaks in Davao Occidental may affect Mindanao’s shipment of pork to Metro Manila, and even live hogs to Visayas.

Nonetheless, they noted that pork prices in Metro Manila would not be affected as Mindanao accounts for only a small share of its total supply.

Industry stakeholders also told the BusinessMirror that the government must protect Visayas “at all costs” from the intrusion of the virus to preserve its ASF-free status.

“We have to protect Visayas region at all costs. We expect the ban imposed by certain provinces in Visayas, such as Cebu, on shipments of pork and pork-related products would be expanded to ASF-affected areas in Mindanao,” an industry source said.

Based on the national zoning plan, the government classified Mindanao, Visayas and the island provinces in Region 4B as ASF-free.

India allocates $40B to boost farm output, rural incomes

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NDIA plans to spend 2.83 trillion rupees ($40 billion) next year to boost agricultural production and develop rural areas, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in her budget speech on Saturday.

The country needs enough warehouses and cold-storage facilities, the minister said in parliament, adding that the government will help in setting up efficient warehouses and implement a village-level storage program.

In addition, refrigerated coaches in passenger and freight trains will be added, while efforts will be made to transport farm goods by air.

The measures assume significance in a country where about a quarter of farmers live below the official poverty line, while 52 percent of farming households are indebted.

About 800 million of the 1.3 billion population depends directly or indirectly on agriculture, which accounts for 16 percent of the country’s $2.6-trillion economy.

“Our government is committed to the goal of doubling farmers’ incomes by 2022,” Sitharaman said. Farm markets should be liberalized, distortions in farm and livestock markets need to be removed and the

sector requires investments, she said.

Water-stressed

LACK of water for irrigation is a serious concern across the country, the minister said, adding that the government was planning comprehensive measures for 100 waterstressed districts.

India is heavily dependent on rain for irrigation. The June-to-September monsoon season waters more than half of the country’s total farmland, and is critical to agriculture because it affects not only the summer crop but also influences winter harvests.

With a view to improving incomes of people living in rural areas, the government will help 2 million farmers to set up solar water pumps. A program to enable farmers to set up small solar plants on their fallow or barren lands, and sell electricity to power grids will be started, she said.

Promotion of solar energy and the linkage to power grids will augment energy sources, as well as provide an additional source of income to farmers, said Sanjay Kaul, chairman of National Collateral Management Services. Bloomberg News

The World BusinessMirror

A8 Monday, February 3, 2020

Editor: Angel R. Calso

Fears of scary new virus trigger anti-China sentiment worldwide S EOUL, South Korea—A scary new virus from China has spread around the world. So has rising antiChinese sentiment, calls for a full travel ban on Chinese visitors and indignities for Chinese and other Asians.

Restaurants in South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Vietnam have refused to accept Chinese customers. Indonesians marched near a hotel and called on Chinese guests there to leave. French and Australian newspapers face criticism for racist headlines. Chinese and other Asians in Europe, the United States, Asia and the Pacific complain of racism.

Two dozen countries outside of China have reported cases of the new coronavirus, which has killed more than 300 people and sickened thousands of others in China. Many countries have sent planes to the Chinese city of Wuhan to evacuate their nationals.

The anti-China sentiments come as a powerful Beijing bolsters its global influence, and China’s rise has caused trade, political and diplomatic disputes with many countries.

But with rising fear of the mysterious disease has come a more acute anti-

Chinese and, in some cases, anti-Asian backlash.

Here’s a look from AP journalists from around the world:

SOUTH KOREA

SOUTH Korean web sites have been flooded with comments calling on the government to block or expel Chinese and racist remarks about Chinese eating habits and hygiene. A popular Seoul seafood restaurant frequented by Chinese tourists posted a sign saying “No entry for Chinese” before taking it down on Wednesday after an online backlash.

More than 650,000 South Koreans have signed an online petition filed with the presidential Blue House calling for a temporary ban on Chinese visitors.

Some conservative opposition lawmakers publicly back these steps, and about 30 people rallied near the Blue House on Wednesday demanding the government

IN this Wednesday, January 29, 2020, photo, South Korean protesters stage a rally calling for a ban on Chinese people entering South Korea near the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea. A scary new virus from China has spread around the world. So has rising anti-Chinese sentiment, calls for a full travel ban on Chinese visitors and indignities for Chinese and other Asians. The sign reads: “No Entry.”

AP PHOTO/AHN YOUNG-JOON

immediately ban Chinese tourists.

“Unconditional xenophobia against the Chinese is intensifying” in South Korea, the mass-circulation JoongAng Ilbo newspaper said in an editorial on Thursday. “Infectious diseases are a matter of science, not an issue that can be resolved through an emotional outpouring.”

THE UNITED STATES

AFTER news broke that someone at-

tending Arizona State University has the virus, Ari Deng, who is Chinese American, said she sat down at a study table on the Tempe, Arizona, campus near five other students.

Deng, who was the only Asian, said the other students began whispering. “They got really tense and they quickly gathered their stuff and just left at the same time.”

In a recent business class a nonAsian student “said ‘Not to be racist, but there’s a lot of international students that live in my apartment complex. I try my best to keep my distance but I think it’s a good precaution for all of us to wash our hands,’” Deng said.

“It stings but I don’t let it take up room in my mind or weigh on my conscience,” she said.

Meanwhile, the University of California, Berkeley’s health services center removed an Instagram post on Thursday that said “fears about interacting with those who might be from Asia and guilt about these feelings” were a normal reaction to the coronavirus outbreak.

“No matter how much time we spend in this country, at times we are almost immediately viewed as a foreigner,” said Gregg Orton, the national director of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans.

“It’s a pretty frustrating reality for many of us.”

HONG KONG

THE virus has deepened anti-Chinese sentiment in Hong Kong, where months of street protests against Beijing’s influence have roiled the semi-autonomous Chinese city.

Last week, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam suspended ferry and high-speed train services to the mainland and reduced flights be-

tween Hong Kong and Chinese cities.

Tenno Ramen, a Japanese noodle restaurant in Hong Kong, is refusing to serve mainland customers.

“We want to live longer. We want to safeguard local customers. Please excuse us,” the restaurant said on Facebook.

told The New Zealand Herald that when she went to an Auckland mall last week to buy a wedding card a woman gave her a dirty look and told her “You Asians are the ones who brought this virus.” Chua has lived in New Zealand for 21 years. “It’s racist and beyond rude,” she said.

EUROPE

JAPAN

A FRENCH teacher started a Twitter conversation recently under #JeNeSuisPasUnVirus (I am not a virus) that has drawn numerous accounts of discrimination, from children taunted in the schoolyard to subway passengers moving away from people who appear Asian.

France has a significant and growing Asian community, and Chinese visitors are a pillar of the French tourism industry, but old prejudices run deep. A regional newspaper in northern France carried a front-page headline warning of a “Yellow Alert,” and later apologized amid national criticism.

“It’s a virus that comes from a region in China. It could have come from North Africa, Europe or anywhere,” said Soc Lam, a legal adviser to Chinese community groups in Paris.

“People should not consider that just because we are Asian, we are more likely to spread the virus.”

A Danish paper, Jyllands-Posten, published a cartoon that replaced the yellow stars of the Chinese flag with representations of the virus. The Chinese Embassy in Copenhagen called the cartoon “an insult to China” and demanded the newspaper apologize.

The German Der Spiegel magazine ran a headline that said “made in China” along with a photo of an individual in protective gear.

On Friday, a café near Rome’s Trevi Fountain, a popular tourist site, posted a notice in its window saying “all people coming from China are not allowed access in this place,” according to the Italian news agency ANSA. When AP journalists went there to check on it, the post was no longer in the window.

AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND

MORE than 51,000 signatures have appeared on an online petition demanding apologies from Australia’s two biggest circulation newspapers over their headlines.

The petition condemned Melbourne’s Herald Sun headline on Wednesday that read, “Chinese virus pandamonium,” a misspelling that plays on China’s native pandas, and Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph headline on the same day that read, “China kids stay home.”

Singaporean Kiwi Dollice Chua

MANY Japanese have taken to social media to call for a travel ban for the Chinese visitors amid worries they’ll come to Japan for virus-related treatments. One tweet said, “Please ban Chinese tourists immediately,” while another said, “I’m so worried that my child may catch the virus.”

A candy store in Hakone, a hot springs town west of Tokyo, recently made headlines after it posted a note saying, “Chinese people’s entry into the store is prohibited.” On Wednesday, Menya Hareruya, a popular ramen chain in Sapporo on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, posted a sign saying “No entry for Chinese tourists.”

Zhang Jiaqi, a Chinese student in Tokyo, said he has not faced any unpleasant response from his Japanese classmates and friends, but, he added, “I noticed that some people have turned around or watched me with angry looks on their face when I was talking to my friends in Chinese.”

SOUTHEAST ASIA

LAST weekend, several hundred residents in the Indonesian tourist city of Bukittinggi marched to the Novotel Hotel, where some 170 Chinese tourists were staying, to protest their entrance into Indonesia.

They blocked roads near the hotel to prevent the Chinese, who’d arrived a day earlier, from getting out of the hotel. Local authorities decided to send the visitors back to China later in the day. More than 400,000 Malaysians have signed an online petition calling for a ban on Chinese travelers and urging the government to “save our family and our children.”

A hotel in Danang, Vietnam, a popular beach destination, has been refusing to accept Chinese tourists.

A former police officer and town mayor, Abner Afuang, said he burned a Chinese flag on Friday in front of the National Press Club in Manila to protest the problems China has brought to the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries, including the virus and Beijing’s claim to disputed islands in the South China Sea. The Philippine president’s office said in a statement: “Let us not engage in discriminatory behavior, nor act with any bias towards our fellowmen. The reality is everyone is susceptible to the virus.” AP

Apple temporarily closes stores in China amid virus outbreak

S

AN FRANCISCO — Apple is temporarily closing its 42 stores in mainland China, one of its largest markets, as a new virus spreads rapidly and the death toll there rose to 304 on Sunday.

The iPhone maker said in a statement it was closing stores, corporate offices and contact centers in China until February 9 “out of an abundance of caution and based on the latest advice from leading health experts.”

“Our thoughts are with the people most immediately affected by the coronavirus and with those working around the clock to study and contain it,” the statement said.

Apple’s online store will remain open.

China is the company’s third-biggest market in terms of sales behind the United States and Europe and it is also where most iPhones and

other devices are made. CEO Tim Cook told analysts on Tuesday that uncertainty due to the outbreak was keeping the Cupertino, Californiabased company from offering more specific guidance about its financial performance in the coming months after announcing results for the holiday shopping season that were far better than investors anticipated.

That performance propelled Apple’s stock price to new highs earlier this week, but the escalating uncertainty about the situation in China quickly dampened spirits.

Apple shares dropped 4 percent on Friday to finish at $309.51.

In a Saturday note, Wedbush Securities analyst Daniel Ives predicted the store closures will have a “negligible” impact on Apple, largely because consumers in mainland China will still be able to buy iPhones

and other products through online channels. Even if the shutdown of the brick-and-mortar stores extends throughout the entire month of February, Ives predicted it would only lower Apple’s annual iPhone sales in that region by about 3 percent.

Apple doesn’t disclose how many iPhones it sells in China, but the company generated nearly $44 billion in revenue from the country in its last fiscal year.

Cook also said the company’s contractors in China have been forced to delay reopening factories that closed for the Lunar New Year holiday. Cook said the company was looking for ways to minimize supply disruptions. Some of its suppliers are in Hubei, the Chinese province at the center of the outbreak that’s been under lockdown for more than a week. AP

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U.N. AGENCIES CRITICIZED FOR TAIWAN EXCLUSION AMID CORONAVIRUS SPREAD

U

NITED STATES politicians, including Senators Mitt Romney and Cory Gardner, criticized international organizations for excluding Taiwan amid a global effort to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

China has placed pressure on the World Health Organization (WHO), International Civil Aviation Organization and International Criminal Police Organization to exclude Taiwan from discussions, Romney said, echoing calls for immediate inclusion of the island. The US State Department also criticized Icao for allegedly blocking users on Twitter who make reference to Taiwan’s nonparticipation.

While the international community works to contain the fastspreading coronavirus, they are also trying to navigate a geopolitical minefield. China considers Taiwan a part of its territory despite the People’s Republic never having controlled the island, and treats any talk of formal independence as deeply hostile.

China has increased pressure on international brands over the past few years to avoid calling Taiwan a country.

The WHO declared the virus a public health emergency of international concern on Thursday, but didn’t permit Taiwan to attend emergency briefings, sparking criticism from the US and Canada. There are 10 confirmed cases of the virus in Taiwan.

While Taiwan’s government was a founding member of the United Nations, the People’s Republic of China took its seat in the body, and all subordinate organizations such as the WHO and Icao, in 1971.

“Taiwan has a relevant and credible voice on transnational health issues, and the US has long supported its active engagement in international venues, including Icao, where its expertise can be beneficial,” US State Department spokesman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.

“We call upon Icao to immediately and permanently reverse its practice of blocking discussion of Taiwan on its Twitter properties, and make clear publicly its understanding that freedom of expression must always supersede the political insecurities of member-states,” she said.

Icao, the aviation agency of the UN, denied blocking Twitter users.

Italy confirmed two coronavirus cases on Friday, and decided to suspend all flights from Taiwan, China, Hong Kong and Macao until April 28. Taiwan’s Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu on Sunday asked Italy to drop its ban on flights from the island, saying the decision is based on information which includes Taiwan as part of China.

The ban affects Taiwan-based carriers China Airlines and EVA Airways. Vietnam on Saturday had banned Taiwan flights as well, but withdrew the decision hours later after Taiwan negotiated with its government.

Taiwan has slapped an entry ban to residents of China’s residents of Hubei, the epicenter of the outbreak, as well as those from the southern Guangdong province. Taiwan’s Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shihchung said in a briefing on Saturday that the ministry won’t rule out extending the ban to more Chinese provinces if necessary.

Bloomberg News

O

such things,” Interfax reported Energy Minister Alexander Novak as saying on Friday. “But for that we need to assess the situation more accurately, monitor how it will develop in coming days.”

Crude traded near $51 a barrel in New York on Friday after a slump of about 16 percent in January, leaving prices far below the levels most members of the Opec need to cover government spending.

China is the oil market’s primary source of demand growth and measures taken to slow the spread of the coronavirus—including a lockdown in one of the country’s major cities and the unprecedented extension of the Lunar New Year holiday—could wipe out a big chunk of that additional consumption.

Consultant Energy Aspects Ltd. said Opec is considering a proposal to deepen current production curbs by about 500,000 barrels a day, though there’s no consensus on the idea yet. As Opec and its partners are already in the midst of steep production cutbacks, many analysts are skep-

L

ONDON—If you thought the drawn-out battle over the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union was painful, wait until you see what comes next.

While Britain formally left the EU at 11 p.m. local time on Friday, the hard work of building a new economic relationship between the bloc and its exmember has just begun.

There are difficult negotiations ahead as the UK goes its own way while trying to preserve links with its biggest trading partner, covering everything from tariffs and product standards to British industry’s ability to recruit foreign workers and the EU’s access to UK fishing grounds.

“There’s a massive agenda to be agreed—trade in goods, trade in services, data protection, security cooperation, aviation, road haulage, fishing, you know the list is endless,’’ said Jill Rutter, a senior research fellow at UK in a Changing Europe, a think tank that studies Britain’s relations with the now 27-nation bloc. “It is unprecedented.’’

For now, l it t le h a s changed. The two sides agreed on a transition period that keeps current rules and regulations in effect until December 31.

But that gives the UK government just 11 months to negotiate a comprehensive trade deal that could decide the prospects of British businesses for decades to come. The EU accounted for 54 percent of Britain’s imports and 43 percent of its exports in 2016, according to the Office for National Statistics.

French President Emmanuel Macron published a letter on his Facebook page on Saturday morning in English, addressed to his “dear British friends,” that sought a conciliatory tone.

“Never has France or the French people—or, I think it is fair to say, any European people—been driven by a desire for revenge or punishment,” he said.

Hours after Britain officially departed, a group of 17 members of the now diminished EU bloc sent a message that the union will remain strong despite losing one of its largest members.

“It’s the first day the EU is with 27 member-states, and in this moment of division, it is important to send

tical on how much more they’re willing to do.

The group unveiled a new set of supply curbs just over a month ago, which only came together after considerable diplomatic wrangling.

To implement these, Saudi Arabia has already slashed production to the lowest since 2014.

Russia, which has become the most important producer in the coalition alongside the kingdom, has typically taken some persuading to sign up for additional cuts, and has a patchy record of implementing its pledges.

The government in Moscow requires lower crude prices than the Saudis and most other Opec countries to cover its spending plans. Still, the alliance with Opec has served the Kremlin’s political and economic interests, with Russia consistently one of the biggest financial beneficiaries of the deal.

If the Opec and its allies were to agree on an early meeting, history suggests it may result in further action to defend prices. The last hastilyconvened gathering, in Algiers in late 2016, is where the Opec+ coalition was first created. At the previous emergency meeting, in 2008, the group reduced output as the global financial crisis slashed demand.

“Nothing concentrates a producer’s mind more than the prospect of a crude oil price bust,” said Bob McNally, president of Rapidan Energy Group in Bethesda, Maryland, and former White House oil official under President George W. Bush.

The risks of inaction could be severe. The plunge in oil prices has been mitigated by the halt of exports from Opec member Libya, where a militia leader, Khalifa Haftar, has blockaded oil ports while haggling over a peace settlement with the national government. Bloomberg News

DOZENS OF HOMES DESTROYED IN SOUTHEAST AUSTRALIA WILDFIRES

C

ANBERRA, Australia—Dozens of homes were destroyed overnight in Australia’s southeast but the wildfire threat had diminished by Sunday across New South Wales state and around the national capital Canberra, officials said.

Bega Valley Mayor Kristy McBain said damage in her region 240 kilometers (150 miles) south of Canberra had yet to be assessed by the New South Wales Rural Fire Service.

“There have been additional homes lost in the Bega Valley,” McBain said.

“We’re talking probably dozens more.

We want to make sure we continue to support our community. This fire isn’t over yet,” she added.

She said the overnight fire brought losses of homes in the valley to more than 400 in the current fire season.

Rural Fire Service spokesman Greg Allan said damage assessment teams had yet to confirm media reports of homes lost

SMOKE billows over the fire station at Michelago, south of the Australian capital, Canberra, on Saturday, February 1, 2020, as fire trucks prepare to depart. AP PHOTO/RICK RYCROFT

near the village of Bumbalong, 92 km (57 miles) south of Canberra.

A dangerous fire threatened southern Canberra and the nearby village of Tharwa.

A9

Brexit: Day 1 brings talk of EU unity with trade talks ahead

Opec+ weighs emergency response as oil slumps on coronavirus panic RGANIZATION of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) and its allies considered how to respond to a plunge in oil prices, with Russia signaling for the first time it was open to Saudi Arabia’s push for an emergency meeting.

Potential dates being discussed are February 8 and 9, and February 14 and 15, though for now the next regular meeting on March 5 and 6 remains on the schedule, a delegate said.

For days, the kingdom has been pressing to bring forward a meeting of the coalition, as the threat to demand from Asia’s coronavirus pushes prices to a six-month low. Russia has been rebuffing the requests, and even on Friday said more time was needed to assess the situation, yet added it was willing to convene and even act if needed. Opec is holding a meeting of technical representatives—the Joint Technical Committee—on Tuesday and Wednesday to assess the coronavirus’ effect on markets, according to delegates.

“In principle, we’re ready to react on

Monday, February 3, 2020

The fire had burnt 55,000 hectares (136,000 acres) of forest and farmland by Sunday, with a perimeter 148 km (92 miles) long, the Aus-

tralian Capital Territory Emergency Services Agency said. Residents close to the fire front were warned on Sunday to remain vigilant.

“This morning the fire is still active. There are still days and possibly weeks of firefighting ahead of us,” Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister Andrew Barr told reporters.

He said a state of emergency for Canberra and its surrounds would remain in place until at least Monday. It is the first such emergency declaration in the Australian Capital Territory since 2003, when wildfires killed four people and destroyed almost 500 homes in a single day.

There were no fires burning at emergency level—the most dangerous on a three-tier scale— across the Australian Capital Territory or surrounding New South Wales on Sunday. AP

a message of cohesion,” Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said on Saturday.

Costa spoke before a meeting of the Friends of Cohesion, a group of memberstates from southern and eastern Europe interested in maintaining the EU funding that helps redistribute wealth in Europe.

With challenging trade talks expected to begin fairly quickly, British Industry groups are already lining up to protect their interests.

Hotel and restaurant owners say they need to maintain the existing supply of workers from the continent to ensure rooms are cleaned and dinners are prepared.

Car makers want to preserve prompt deliveries from European suppliers to avoid manufacturing delays.

Banks and insurance companies are lobbying to maintain access to the lucrative European market. And fishermen want to regain control of fishing grounds they believe have been plundered by European rivals for the past four decades.

If that wasn’t enough for Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his ministers, the British government also is keen to negotiate separate trade deals with individual countries now that the country has broken away

from the EU. Johnson’s top trade prize outside the EU is the US, the world’s biggest economy.

But the Americans have already made difficult demands. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was in London last week warning of security concerns linked to Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, and pressuring British officials to overturn their decision to let the company take part in upgrading the country’s wireless network.

Reconciling all these demands will be difficult because any attempt to meet US demands by lowering British standards will push Britain further away from European rules. The EU has already made clear that the price of access to its markets is continued adherence to the bloc’s regulations.

Even the most difficult issue settled during the first round of negotiations between the EU and the British government—the knotty question of Northern Ireland—remains problematic.

In an effort to protect the peace process in Northern Ireland and finally win approval for his EU withdrawal deal, Johnson agreed that Northern Ireland would keep the same rules as the bloc’s single market for goods after Brexit.

A s a resu lt, c ustoms checks won’t be needed on the border between Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, and the Republic of Ireland. Instead, some checks will have to be conducted on goods that enter Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK that are destined for the EU. This essentially means that Johnson ag reed to place a trade border in the Irish Sea—upsetting many of his own allies because it treats Northern Ireland differently to other parts of the UK. Unionists who want to remain part of the UK fear the deal will push Northern Ireland closer to the Irish Republic over time.

Meanwhile, Brexit is already reshaping the economy and workers from the EU have started to vote with their feet.

L ondon M ayor Sad iq Khan said last week that fewer EU citizens are coming to work in the city these days, and too many are leaving, causing employment shortages in industries like construction, hospitality and social care.

At a small gathering of reporters, he repeatedly stressed his dismay at the turn of events and insisted that London was a global city that welcomed EU citizens. AP

A10 Monday, February 3, 2020 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

The economics of the 2019-nCoV

T

HE human loss is a tragedy; the economic consequences are going to be disastrous.

Everyone is an expert with 20/20 hindsight.

Nonetheless, some of us need to start thinking about what the future may look like.

At this point—with the first fatality outside of China hap-

pening in the Philippines—we do know a couple of important factors about the 2019-nCoV. The number of persons in China with the disease is off the charts in comparison to the 2002/2003 SARS, and that is assuming government figures are reliable and accurate.

The second is that the mortality rate of 2019-nCoV is much lower than with SARS. That is good news but if the virus continues to mutate, anything is possible, and that is not a good scenario.

Some local pundits are saying that we should not panic. Except, what is the proper definition of panic? Further, if the trend of global infections continues at the current pace, we hope these same people will advise us when it is time to panic.

For example, we have been told that it is not imperative to wear a face mask as there are other more important preventive measures that we should take. However, we like the idea of seeing many people wearing a simple surgical mask—when available—because it is a great public reminder to wash your hands, use hand alcohol, and not to cough or sneeze into another person’s face.

The economic effects are already getting as serious as the health consequences. Wuhan is one of China’s largest manufacturing centers. More than 300 of the Global Top 500 companies have a presence there. Wuhan has 10 car factories, including Honda, Renault and General Motors. Countless retail companies in China and Hong Kong are closing, or at least minimizing their operations.

Tourism in Asia is going to be like a ghost town as few airlines are still flying in and out of China, including Cebu Pacific and AirAsia.

Flights to and from Hong Kong and Macau may continue, but with the travel ban those flights may be empty.

During SARS, tourists from China to the rest of Asia fell 30 percent. But since then the number of outbound Chinese tourists has increased tenfold. China is Thailand’s No. 1 market, generating nearly 30 percent of all arrivals. In 2019, this totaled 11 million Chinese tourists, more than the 10.6 million Thailand received from all Asean neighbors combined. Thailand estimates it has already lost $1.6 billion in tourism receipts.

India is concerned about its large smartphone manufacturing industry. India is the world’s second-largest smartphone maker, but is dependent on China for parts supplies. For both tourism and the global supply chain, the duration of the problem is critical. Here is a benchmark: “If the problem persists beyond February 10, 2020, then we have a real problem,” said the India Cellular & Electronics Association.

Local economists are already crunching the numbers in part based on the 0.5-percent drop for all Asean economies during the seven months of SARS. UnionBank’s economic research says look for a GDP decline of about 0.5 percent if the nCoV outbreak lasts six months.

A 2004 analysis determined that the SARS crisis cost the world economy about $40 billion. For the nCoV outbreak, the estimate is that it is going to cost China alone $60 billion in the first quarter.

China’s troubles affect the global economy Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II

RISING SUN

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USINESSES and transportation have practically come to a halt in Wuhan, China, because of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). This greatly affects the already China’s ailing economy­—significantly a result of the US-China trade

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According to a 2018 study, a global influenza pandemic could kill up to 720,000 people, and cost the world around $500 billion. This is equiva-

Denials of migrants deemed to need aid Atty. Lorna Patajo-Kapunan

LEGALLY SPEAKING

Since 2005

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

war—as well as those of other countries. Because of travel bans, destination countries including the Philippines have been feeling the negative effects on tourism.

lent to 0.6 percent of the annual global income, already within the costs of global warming, which is estimated at 0.2 percent to 2 percent.

A global influenza pandemic, expectedly, would weigh heavier on smaller economies—the cost is around 1.6 percent of the country’s annual income. For more stable economies, this number is projected to be at 0.3 percent.

When SARS happened in 2003, China’s economic significance was relatively smaller than what it is today, which already comprises 15 percent of the world’s GDP, or the second-biggest economy in the world.

Their troubles, therefore, are also the world’s troubles as they affect the global economy, and worldwide prices and markets.

An economic slowdown in China is, precisely, the last thing the world needs today, as there are several countries currently going through their respective crises—Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, South America, India, etc.

A

US Supreme Court ruling issued last Monday will make it more difficult for Filipinos to seek residency, or green card, or admission to the United States.

A divided Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to begin implementing rules that make it easier for the government to deny limited-income immigrants residency or admission to the US because they use public assistance programs or might use them in the future.

The court granted the administration’s emergency request to start enforcing the rules for now, a move that nullifies an order by a federal appeals court that blocked the immigration restrictions while litigation was ongoing.

The court’s action came on “five to 4” vote, splitting the justices along ideological lines, with conservatives in the majority. As is its custom when it issues emergency orders, the court didn’t explain its reasoning.

Announced in August by the Department of Homeland Security, the rules effectively expand the pool of people considered likely to become “public charge” under US immigration law. If an immigrant makes use of a public assistance program, such as housing assistance, food stamps or Medicard—or an immigration officer estimates he or she might in the future—the person could be denied a green card, or barred from

Foreigners seeking immigration status in the US generally have to show they have enough financial resources to keep them from relying on government programs that assist poor American. The denial of immigration visas on “public charge” grounds has increased during the Trump administration, even before the new rules. the US altogether.

The rules have the potential to reshape the type of immigrants who are allowed into the US and significantly curb the number of people granted permanent residence each year.

The White House called the court’s order a “massive win for American taxpayers, American workers and the American Constitution.”

Foreigners seeking immigration status in the US generally have to show they have enough financial resources to keep them from relying on government programs that assist poor American. The denial of immigration visas on pub-

lic charge grounds has increased during the Trump administration, even before the new rules.

Immigrants aren’t eligible for the vast majority of public assistance programs in the US, and most would feel the rules impact through a test immigration officers must follow to determine whether they might in the future become dependent on a public benefit.

The test will vet applicants on a series of factors, such as their English-speaking ability, their educational attainment, their health, and whether their income is less than 125 percent of the federal poverty level. Scoring poorly on any of these factors could make it less likely for an immigrant, applying from within the US or abroad, to qualify for permanent residency.

The Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan Washington think tank, estimates that a majority of future applicants from Latin America and Africa could be denied under the new test.

Immigrant advocates fear that the new policy could drive many more immigrants, especially unauthorized immigrants with US citizen children, to forego public benefits altogether.

Several judges issued preliminary rulings in October that blocked the Trump administration policy. Some, but not all, of those rulings had been put on hold by higher courts.

Barbara D. Underwood, the New York solicitor general, responded that the new policy “would radically disrupt over a century of settled immigration policy and public benefits programs.”

“The rule’s vast expansion of public charge—to include employed individuals who receive any

Indeed, the global emergency status brought about by 2019-nCoV further aggravates the world’s already delicate economic situation. It is not only the tourism sector that is bound to suffer; some experts foresee negative effects on the global financial markets, local investments, consumer confidence, among other aspects.

To avoid panic and fear, some sectors and governments are allegedly downplaying the risks. This is quite a dangerous path to take as denial could sometimes mean inadequate preparation and inability to address emergencies and extreme situations.

Locally, it seems that the Philippines is one of those who have chosen to play down the economic risks. In a recent report, Malaysian financial giant Maybank said the Philippine economy will be protected by “robust domestic demand,” but that the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators will, most likely, be affected as many Chinese citizens are being kept from traveling.

Union Bank of the Philippines, on the other hand, projected that

amount of certain means-tested benefits for even brief periods of time—is a stark departure from a more than century-long consensus that has limited the term to individuals who are primarily dependent on the government for long-term subsistence,” she wrote.

“Public charge has never included,” Underwood wrote, “employed persons who receive modest or temporary amounts of government benefits designed to promote health, or upward mobility.”

Lawyers for the private groups challenging the new policy, relying on estimates published by the Department of Homeland Security, wrote that “the rule will cause hundreds of thousands of individuals and households, in many cases noncitizens not even subject to public charge scrutiny, to forego public benefits for which they are eligible, out of fear and confusion about the consequences for their immigration status of accepting such benefits.”

That could lead, they wrote, summarizing the department’s findings, to “increased malnutrition [especially for pregnant or breastfeed ing women, infants, or children] and increased pre va lence of com mu n ic able diseases, increased poverty and housing instability. Source: The Wall Street Journal, 1/28/2020, A3; The New York Times Journal, (1/28/2020, A13).

This new Trump policy should urge our own Philippine government to discourage permanent residency, and green card holders seeking permanent residency in the US. But, are there enough job opportunities and other incentives to keep them here?

Opinion BusinessMirror

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Transport amid the novel D.I.E.T. to fight any virus coronavirus outbreak Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.

THE PATRIOT

Thomas M. Orbos

STREET TALK

I

N my previous column, I discussed about the threat of the novel coronavirus to the global economy and suggested how our government should confront this. That was just a week ago, and yet it is a far cry to where the situation is right now with an increase of infections and deaths to more than double than last week’s.

Understandably, the global community is reacting to the threat.

More and more countries, including the Philippines, are enforcing travel restrictions to and from China recognizing the exponential rate of increase of the virus.

A reason for this phenomenon is the stubbornness of the strain, which can survive outside its host for a few hours and can be infectious anywhere from 3 to 6 feet from someone coughing or sneezing who is infected. Its gestation period also lasts up to 10 days before any symptom can occur.

Hence the difficulty of detection.

But one major factor that made this epidemic immediately widespread is the ease of global modern transport. With modern travel more extensive and more affordable for both passengers and cargo, the spread of the virus has penetrated almost all corners of the globe. Modern transport may be the catalyst for progress and development for our times but it has, as proven by these events, been the cause of our setback and, God forbid, of our tragedy.

As it is a major contributory factor, then efforts must be made not only by our transport regulators but all of us in general to help in the containment of the virus, beyond just travel restrictions. Besides, banning travel to and from infected countries, though needed and effective at this point, is at most interim in nature. There is a need to review our travel practices in the long term, and not just travel regulations. A look at how we behave and how we view travel and transport needs is needed, and, if need be, to be reviewed and changed.

Indeed, beyond travel restrictions, government needs to begin looking at implementing basic measures to curtail the spread of a disease. It’s good that the monitoring and thermal scanning of passengers are being implemented more aggressively at all ports of entry. And also commendable is the reminder from the LTFRB on basic hygiene handling by transport operators. But definitely there are more that can be done and these need not be cost intensive. A call to operators to orient them on the dispensation of the required protocol in such a situation is proper at this point in time. Transport operators need to know what to look out for and what to do in case they are confronted with passengers that may have the symptoms of this infectious disease. Moreover, preventive measures are needed. General hygiene in all transport vehicles

Efforts must be made not only by our transport regulators but all of us in general to help in the containment of the virus, beyond just travel restrictions.

Besides, banning travel to and from infected countries, though needed and effective at this point, is at most interim in nature. There is a need to review our travel practices in the long term. and terminals—something that is currently lacking—need to be emphasized. Cleanliness of toilets, for one, in all terminal stations need to be maintained, with running water, soap and alcohol provided for free.

The transport of goods, especially perishables like fresh meat and vegetables, need to adhere to the globally acceptable standards. It may be high time to consider requiring proper refrigeration of these goods and discourage backyard farm-tomarket transport. Blast-freezing facilities, if the government cannot afford it, need to be encouraged with incentives for the private sector to come in. Last, we need to do our part as commuters by being conscious of our own health and hygiene while we travel—remember that we can infect as much as we can be infected.

History tells us that, just like SARS, MERS and other similar outbreaks, the 2019-nCoV will come to pass. But there lies also a long overdue wake-up call. The way we look at transport­—how governments regulate and operators operate— plus how we as individual commuters behave need to change. The state of transport globally will never be the same again after the novel coronavirus. It is, therefore, imperative that we, as individual commuters, also change our transport behavior and do our part.

Thomas “Tim” Orbos was formerly with the Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. He has taken further studies at the McCourt School of Public Policy of Georgetown University and the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He can be reached via e-mail at thomas_orbos@ sloan.mit.edu.

M

UCH has been written about the coronavirus. Reports indicate that most of those who have died were elderly or had other ailments that compromised their immune systems. In a Business Insider report, Amira Roess, a professor of global health and epidemiology at George Mason University, said that in any infectious-disease outbreak, what causes panic is “fear of the unknown.” From what I read, we simply have to take the necessary precautions, foremost of which is strengthening our own immune system.

To boost our immune system and defend ourselves from any virus, it’s best to drink vitamins and supplements and eat the right foods.

Diet and exercise—“Eat less, move more.” We have heard these lines every time people talk about health and fitness management. Whenever the word “diet” is mentioned, inevitably, waistline, pulse rate, blood pressure, and glucose level will also be discussed. For a healthy lifestyle leading to a stronger immune system, these metrics (the lower the better) can be improved by adopting certain diets (keto, being the fad lately), a change in food choices (vegan or pescatarian), and even radical medical intervention (bariatric surgery).

Dr. Bert Herring, an advocate of appetite correction, suggested that since most diet plans are not tailor fit to one person, each person should try one plan after another and stick to one diet plan that is easy to follow throughout one’s lifetime. Some

“ fundamentals,” (I call it 7 to 1) can be used, not only to lose weight, but, more important, to strengthen our immune system.

Seven hours of sleep every day is what we need. Resting our bodies does wonders to our appetite.

Since, at our rested state, energy is not expended, we tend to crave for less food. Those who pull an all-nighter, for instance, are prone to eat more, and worse, eat the unhealthy snacks. In the process, their respective immune system weakens. Rest for seven hours then eat for six hours only. At anytime of the day, fix and stick to a six-hour window for eating. Intermittent fasting, which allows a person to eat almost anything within a span of six hours each day, has been proven to help weight loss for most body types. Fasting helps promote weight loss since, theoretically, the energy a person needs will be primarily generated from the fat stored in his body. Since fasting also serves as a mental challenge

Selling sustainability Peachie Dioquino-Valera

DEBIT CREDIT Conclusion

W

E have to change the paradigm of traditionalist CEOs and remove from them the age-old economic dogma that because they are making money and contributing to the economy, and providing consumer needs and employment, then they are socially responsible already. We have to make them want to be ethical. Come to think of it, in 20 or 30 years’ time—at the rate we’re going in terms of overpopulation and consumption—our laws and regulations may soon be different and stricter. What you want is not just meeting the latest standards but preventing pollution in the first place. This is why we are now big in such terms as circular economy or cradle-to-grave systems or waste out/waste-to-energy, and so on and so forth. It struck us that this is where we’re going, and you want to be ahead of that curve. Because the reality is, the coalition of corporate greed, politicians’ greed, and consumers’ greed are all going finally to do us in. If we do not change the story, then I am afraid we all know the grim ending.

Now, say you were able to convince your company’s decisionmakers to adopt sustainability, one thing you must never forget is to do your homework. Sustain-

ability is not just going green. It’s about sustaining the equilibrium where the forces of Economy, Social Equality, and Ecology belong to. If you want to make the Triple Bottom

Opec only faces one choice in China virus crisis

By Julian Lee Bloomberg Opinion

O

IL producers are starting to feel the impact of the new coronavirus as it continues to spread, and they need to take drastic action to head off a potentially devastating impact on prices. The world’s biggest producers face two key questions; how long will it last and how severe will the consequences will be? The answers are, of course, still elusive, but the Opec+ group of nations will need to weigh some educated guesses soon.

The initial reaction resembles that of an agitated anthill, with frantic scurrying in all directions amid an apparent lack of coordination. The final days of last week saw calls for their next meeting, scheduled for the first week of March, to be brought forward,

perhaps by as much as a month.

That move appeared to be driven

by Saudi Arabia, Opec’s biggest producer, but initially found little support from the largest of the non-Opec members of the wider group—Russia.

One of the key challenges facing the Opec and its big oil-producing counterparts is that they have no idea how big a problem they face.

At this point, estimates of the epidemic’s impact on oil demand vary widely. S&P Global Platts sees global oil demand falling by an “almost catastrophic” 2.6 million barrels a day in February and 2 million barrels in March in its worst-case scenario. No wonder producers are in a panic.

China is, by far, the biggest market for Opec+ crude exports, with the big Persian Gulf producers particularly vulnerable. Tanker

tracking data compiled by Bloomberg show that almost a quarter of all shipments out of the region last year went to China. Add in the other three big Asian buyers—India, Japan and South Korea —and that share rises to two-thirds.

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of China to global oil balances. Earlier this month, Opec’s own forecasts showed the world’s most populous country accounting for more than a quarter of all the growth in oil demand worldwide this year. The International Energy Agency saw it playing an even bigger role, with almost 40 percent of incremental demand in China. The word “virus” didn’t appear in either of those agencies’ monthly reports.

The virus will not affect all oil products equally. With travel bans and an extended Lunar New Year

holiday, transport fuels will be hit hardest. Gasoline, jet fuel and gas/ diesel oil were expected to account for 55 percent of China’s oil demand this year, and make up almost 60 percent of the growth.

It is these products that will be hardest hit—and not just in China. Flight bans to China by many airlines, including British Airways Plc. and Delta Air Lines Inc., and travel restrictions on Chinese tourists will have a knock-on effect on fuel use elsewhere, particularly in nearby countries that are favored destinations for tour groups.

And then there’s all of the other knock-on effects. Lower demand from end-users means lower demand from refiners. Major stateowned Chinese refiners may cut run rates below 70 percent to cope with falling demand, industry consultant

Monday, February 3, 2020 A11

(mind controlling hunger pangs), it also exercises the brain cells.

Following the principle of body builders of “use it or you lose it,” our brains need to have regular workouts to stay sharp. Augment the six-hour eating window with five hours of deliberate learning (work-related stuff not included) a week! According to health expert Eloise Best, learning can be accomplished by reading a book, reflection by way of journal writing, and experimentation as in trying new things. This intentional and purpose-filled activity has supposedly transformed ordinary people like Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey to become extraordinary.

Part of any fasting regimen is also the regular intake of water.

Several health buffs strongly recommend four liters of water daily.

Up to 60 percent of the human body is water but such percentage decreases over time due to having more body fat. Interestingly, the most vital parts of a human body—the brain and heart —are composed of 73 percent water!

Water is essential for good metabolism. Daily activity or exercise would definitely supplement any diet plan. Three sets of push-ups (eight-12 repetitions each) is one simple, inexpensive, “no equipment needed” exercise which anyone can do on a daily basis. Push-ups supposedly build upper body strength (triceps and biceps depending on the position of the hands), help promote balance, and can serve as a decent cardio workout when done in between short time intervals.

There must be some good science behind push-ups since Army fitness examination always involves a two

-minute push-up test.

Filipinos pray a lot. But for this 7 to 1 D.I.E.T., I recommend an intense two-minute prayer, preferably in the morning. Prayer is still the best way to communicate to our Creator. In the Bible, Mark 11:24 tells us, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” What a beautiful promise! Dedicating a mere two minutes every day in exchange for one great promise is a bargain! Hence, part of a good D.I.E.T. plan is to have a dedicated and exclusive time with Him. Going back to Dr. Herring, he said that D.I.E.T. stands for “Did I Enrich Today?” Part of a holistic health management is to have that social, emotional, psychological component in our daily activities.

Each day, we need to find ways to help a person—share advice, give, listen, or find reasons to be thankful. Any D.I.E.T is not complete without making our hearts happy by uplifting the spirits of others around us.

Interestingly, one might wonder wheredoesthebodyfat(C55H104O6) go when we lose them? Scientists say that 84 percent of our fat loss is exhaled as CO2, while 16 percent is excreted as H2O. As such, health and fitness, from now on, should be “eat less, move more, and breathe,” as in live life, the way God created us to do so. As our souls, bodies, and minds will be under attack from all kinds of virus on a daily basis, let’s remember our 7 to 1 D.I.E.T. plan—seven hours of sleep, six-hour window for eating, five hours of learning a week, four liters of water daily, three sets of push ups, two-minute prayer, and to make at least one person feel good.

Line your accounting framework (or even the Quadruple Bottom Line assessment if you’re ambitious) then by all means aim for that. Else, you might be just like most companies jumping on the bandwagon for the sake of it, then end up greenwashing your products and processes. Because green businesses are already considerably big and advanced, a lot of companies join the bandwagon recklessly.

It’s either they label themselves as green but behind the scenes, they are anything but. Or the heads or owners listened to some consultant who fooled them into believing their business settings are already sustainable, but one of its components fares low in the sustainability standards. We will just be putting the works behind the Brundtland Report, which coined the term sustainable development, into shame.

The sustainability proposal might even be harmful, so this is why coming up with a sound and legit SD game plan for your CSR is a must.

Configuring Sustainable Development into your company is a daunting optional task; but morally, ethically, and socially needed. I

will have to do more research that’ll show the ideal boardroom buy-in but as of now, I hope the points mentioned can help get your feet out of the door. Or if you’re the decision-maker, help position your conscience alongside your prosperity goals. This is the point of the 4th Bottom Line: your spiritual goals align with the personality and mission of the company.

The key here, aside from learning sustainability, is to acknowledge blended responsibilities. Companies cannot assume that donations to NGOs and paying taxes will cover for their social license or carbon offsetting; and on the other hand, NGOs and the public sector cannot assume that sociocivic duties can always cover for business plans or economic value.

Peachie Dioquino-Valera is a Climate Reality Leader of Al Gore’s The Climate Reality Project. She is a Futures Learning Advisor of Center for Engaged Foresight.

This column accepts contributions from the business community, especially articles on business and economy.

These can be e-mailed to boa.secretariat.@gmail.com.

JLC said in a note, while operating rates at privately-owned independent refineries in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong may be cut to below 50 percent.

Even before the new coronavirus began to hit oil consumption, the swing producers that make up Opec+ were in trouble. The hardwon output deal they reached in December failed to deliver any significant cuts to total output levels, and prices have drifted lower. The deal’s currently scheduled to expire at the end of March.

Simply extending the cuts will do nothing to improve the worsening balances between supply and demand and, therefore, it will take more to light a fire under oil prices. Deeper cuts will be much harder to agree—Russia, for one, is against them—but that’s the only thing that will lift prices in

the face of a Chinese slowdown.

There are already signs that slowdown is happening. Sales of Latin American oil cargos to China ground to a halt last week. Persian Gulf producers are starting to receive preliminary nominations from their customers of how much oil they want in March, and that will indicate whether Chinese refiners seek to reduce the volumes they lift from export terminals in the region.

Non-Opec countries—led by the US, Norway, Brazil and new producer Guyana—were already expected to add two extra barrels for every additional one consumed worldwide this year, squeezing Opec. The loss of much of China’s oil demand growth will crush the producer group under the weight of falling oil prices, unless, collectively, they cut their output further.

A12 Monday, February 3, 2020

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Cost overruns nearly triple on inflation, project tweaks

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

H

IGH inf lation and project changes caused t he government’s cost overruns to more than triple in 2018, according to the latest data released by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

Based on the Neda’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) Portfolio Review 2018 report, total cost overrun—additional costs over and above the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC)-approved project cost—increased to P24.79 billion in 2018, or a 264.02-percent growth from P6.81 billion in 2017.

It may be noted that inf lation in 2018 averaged 5.2 percent with September and October posting the highest inflation rate of 6.7 percent in the year.

“Agency requests for cost-overruns undergo the ICC review process, mainly to determine whether the project continues to be economically

viable. In 2018, the ICC received seven [7] requests for increase in cost due to change in scope and domestic inf lation,” Ned a said.

The report stated the biggest increases were posted by the Davao City Bypass Construction Project; Panguil Bay Bridge Project and Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR); and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) Measures in Low Lying Areas of Pampanga.

Neda said the P9.03-billion cost increase (53.73 percent) in the Davao City Bypass Construction Project brought the total project cost to P25.85 billion from the ICC-approved cost of P16.81 billion.

The report said the project was changed into a four-lane road and tunnel. It will also consist of an evacuation tunnel and the widening of two connector roads.

The increase in cost, Neda said, was needed to acquire more land to accommodate the changes in project scope. The project is being undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) using an ODA

loan from the Japanese government.

Meanwhile, the change to the Panguil Bay Bridge Project and Integrated DRR was brought about by the increase in the length of approaching roads and the width of the main bridge by a meter.

The scope of the project also included an increase in the length of the pile foundation; borehole diameter; inclusion of a seismic design; and additional temporary facilities.

The changes increased the project cost of the Panguil Bay Bridge Project by 51.79 percent, or P2.52 billion to P7.38 billion from the ICC-approved cost of P4.86 billion.

“The revised cost includes actual expenses for ROW [right-of-way] acquisition in Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte,” Neda said in the report.

The project is being undertaken by the DPWH and funded by the Korean government. It was recently included in the list of projects to receive funds from a $71-million fund for pre-feasibility projects put up by the Korean

and Philippine governments.

The Neda report also said the Integrated DRR and CCA Measures in Low Lying Areas of Pampanga saw its cost increase by 45.93 percent or P1.94 billion.

This increased its total project cost to P6.15 billion from the ICC-approved cost of P4.21 billion. The project is being implemented by the DPWH with the Korean government.

The Neda said the cost increase was largely due to additional scope of work; higher prices; variation orders; and, additional consulting services. “[There is also an] increase in the project management cost, equivalent to 3.5 percent of civil works and consulting services costs,” Neda said.

A TEAM from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) inspects on Sunday the portion of the Skyway Stage 3 gutted by Saturday’s warehouse fire in Pandacan, Manila. NONIE REYES

Q2 OPENING OF SKYWAY STAGE 3 RESET AS FIRE DAMAGES 300-M PORTION

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

Other projects OTHER projects which posted cost increases were the New Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection with a P3.08billion (39.57-percent) increase to P10.85 billion and the Flood Risk Management Project in Cagayan River, Tagoloan River, and Imus River Project, 34.32 percent or P1.92 billion to P7.5 billion.

The list also includes the PasigMarikina River Channel Improvement Project—Phase III which saw its cost increase by 19.66 percent or P1.48 billion to P9.03 billion and the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), which saw a P4.83-billion increase (17.54 percent) in cost to P32.36 billion.

The PRDP may have posted the lowest cost increase in the list but it had the highest price tag among the projects that saw higher costs in 2018. “[The PRDP cost] increase (was due to an increase) in civil works cost due to adherence to specifications set by DPWH on construction of roads—including FMRs [farm to market roads],” Neda said.

Commitment fees VARIOUS delays and higher financing costs encountered by projects increased the total commitment fees (CFs) paid by the government in 2018.

Neda explained that a commitment fee is the amount levied on the undisbursed loan amount or a portion that is payable every year.

The rate is applied on the undisbursed amount of the entire loan or a portion thereof (base), which approximates, or may be bigger than the amount scheduled to be disbursed due to availment backlogs.

Neda explained that even when there is no implementation delay, a certain amount of commitment fee would still be charged as purely cost of financing. Implementation delay only increases the amount.

In 2018, this amounted to $4.60 million, a 22.34-percent increase from the $3.76-million paid in 2017. Neda said about 42 percent of CFs paid in 2018 was attributed to implementation delays.

Availment backlogs NEDA said that in 2018, there was an availment backlog of $1.42 billion. The top 5 agencies that did not meet their respective scheduled availment as of 2018 for their project loans were the: Department of Transportation (DOTr), DPWH, National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Neda said these agencies contributed to 91 percent of the total availment backlog.

Data showed the DOTr accounted for an availment backlog of $724.34 million; DPW H, $406.9 million; NIA, $58.22 million; DENR, $52.34 million; and DSWD, $48.8 million.

See “Inflation,” A2

@lorenzmarasigan

T

HE opening of the Skyway Stage 3, initially set for the second quarter of 2020, will be pushed back to a still to be determined date, as a warehouse fire in Pandacan, Manila caused a portion of the expressway to collapse.

San Miguel Corp. said on Saturday that based on the initial assessment, roughly 300 meters of the project was affected by the fire that started at a warehouse of San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corp.’s Manila Plastic Plant.

“The full extent of damage and its impact on the construction has yet to be determined,” the statement read. “SMC Infrastructure will rebuild and resume construction at the soonest possible time, with the least delay on

No entry. . .

Continued from A1

hearing Tuesday (February 4) on the government’s program for containing the virus.

Senators backed an immediate total ban even as they pressed the Department of Health over the weekend to step up efforts to track down suspected carriers of the deadly 2019-nCoV to avoid spreading it.

Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri, citing the World Health Organization’s declaration of the novel coronavirus outbreak as “a global health emergency,” noted that other countries, like the United States, “also tightened quarantine measures.” Sen. Francis Pangilinan also backed the “total ban” but added, “How we wish it came much earlier as hundreds of possible carriers have been able to enter the country in the last several days; but better late than never.”

Zubiri suggested that “as a goodwill gesture, we can offer to extend the visa of Chinese visitors who were already here before the crisis and who don’t want to go home to avoid catching the disease.”

He recalled that the virus first broke out in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, but has since spread to every region in mainland China, including Tibet. China has reported 11,000 confirmed cases, with 259 deaths. Except for the Chinese man from Wuhan who died in a Philippine hospital on Sunday, all fatalities so far have been in China, but the virus has reached at least 25 other countries.

Two-way restriction

THE new Palace order on Sunday also temporarily stopped Filipinos from traveling to China, Hong Kong and Macau.

Medialdea said the measures will remain in effect “until the danger of the dreaded disease has ceased.”

Duter te is set to meet on Monday with the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to discuss other measures to cope with the 2019-nCoV cases.

Medialdea said the Task Force was authorized to ban the entry of travelers from other areas with confirmed widespread 2019-nCoV.

Local protocol

MEDIALDEA also instructed all departments, agencies, offices and instrumentalities of the government, government-owned and

the projected completion date of Skyway 3.”

Anna Mae Y. Lamentillo, who chairs the “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) Committee of the Duterte administration, said on Sunday her group has yet to fully determine the needed works to rebuild the portion that collapsed.

“We want to finish the assessment first—check the structural integrity of the other portions, as well—before we make a conclusion as to how long the span of the damage was,” she said in a phone interview.

Skyway Stage 3, which will run for about 18.3 kilometers between Buendia in Makati and Balintawak, Quezon City, was targeted to be fully completed within the second quarter.

It is part of the Edsa decongestion program that the government launched to cut travel time between Edsa’s end point to 30 minutes from over 2.5 hours.

-controlled corporations (GOCC), government financial institutions (GFI), state universities and colleges (SUC) and local government units (LGU) to develop their own guidelines on the 2019-nCoV. He s a i d t h e Ar m e d Fo rce s o f t h e Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) will help these agencies carry out the measures.

To limit the spread of the virus, Medialdea reminded the public to strictly practice the anti-2019-nCoV guidelines of the Department of Health (DOH), which includes regular handwashing, as well as wearing surgical masks in crowded areas, or when one has coughs and colds or has a fever.

Immigration

T H E Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Sunday it would not waste any time enforcing the two-way travel ban imposed

by Duterte on foreigners from mainland China, Macau and Hong Kong, and Filipinos going to these areas.

BI spokesman Dana Sandoval said they have been directed to implement a two-way travel ban as part of measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

Duterte ordered the temporary travel ban following the DOH’s confirmation of a second case of virus infection that led to the death of a 44-year-old Chinese patient.

The victim was the first death recorded outside China.

“We have received the directive and we are ready to implement the expanded temporary travel ban as instructed by the President,” Sandoval said.

The BI initially only planned on preventing travel to Hubei province, where the capital is Wuhan, ground zero for nCoV. The bureau widened the scope of the ban after Duterte extended the travel ban to all of China.

Sandoval said the travel ban would take effect immediately.

Last January 28, the BI suspended the issuance of the visa-upon-arrival (VUA) for Chinese nationals, to slow down the arrival of Chinese tour groups.

Meanwhile, the BI said a special team of immigration officers with medical background has also been assembled to conduct immigration formalities, should Filipinos from Hubei province be repatriated.

These officers have medical background and underwent safety briefings under the Bureau of Quarantine. With Joel R. San Juan

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Companies BusinessMirror

Monday, February 3, 2020

B1

DOE tells PEMC, IEMOP to submit report on electricity spot market

By Lenie Lectura

T

@llectura

HE Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC) and the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) were directed by the Department of Energy (DOE) to submit this week a performance report on the current electricity spot market structure.

“For the purpose of transparency and good governance, and pursuant to the mandate of the DOE to supervise the restructuring of the electricity industry, please submit within five working days from receipt hereof, your respective memoranda on the current PEMCIEMOP structure vis-à-vis the Epira provision on the establishment of an Independent Market Operator [IMO],” said Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi in a letter to PEMC

President Oscar Ala and IEMOP President Richard Nethercott.

The letter was dated January 31.

PEMC used to be the operator of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market before IEMOP took over.

PEMC remains the governing arm of WESM. Cusi said the submission of the memoranda is part of an ongoing review and assessment of the market structure to ensure transparency, integrity of the WESM, as well as the

protection of the consumers.

A task force was created in March 2019 to oversee the assessment of the WESM performance under the governance of PEMC and operations of the IMO. “The assessment of the special task force covers the following: assessment of PEMC as the governance arm of the WESM, assessment of the performance of IEMOP as the IMO and the overall performance of the WESM,” the DOE said.

Cusi’s letter comes after a lawmaker aired the allegation that IEMOP’s creation was a result of a “sweetheart” deal.

Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles said the selection for an IMO to manage the WESM was conducted “without any competitive selection process [CSP].”

It also alleged that IEMOP grew “from a P7,000 capitalization to become a multimillion outfit with a total declared income of more than P100 million for the end of 2018.”

Moreover, the lawmaker said IEMOP “automatically collects” 50

centavos for every kilowatt-hour from the consumers monthly electric bill.

The DOE, PEMC and IEMOP disputed these.

The DOE said a competitive bidding was required only for foreign participants as an option under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act if the IMO was created in 2007.

“The DOE opted to create a separate entity composed of Filipinos who have acquired the necessary expertise to operate the WESM and ensure that the market will be managed by Filipinos,” the agency said.

While IEMOP collects from consumers, the DOE said the amount is only “less than 1 centavo” and not 50 centavos.

The DOE also stressed that IEMOP was created by virtue of DOE’s enactment of Department Circular 2018-01-0002 dated January 17, 2020, and consequently the IMO Transition Plan, which are based on Section 30 of the Epira, which were jointly approved by the DOE and the Electric Power Participants.

Manila Water to hike capital stock for future fund-raising

By VG Cabuag @villygc

T

HE board of Manila Water Co. Inc., the concessionaire for the east zone of Metro Manila, has approved the increase of the company’s capital stock in a move to raise capital.

In its disclosure, the company said it is increasing its authorized capital stock to P4.4 billion from the current P3.5 billion, or an additional 900 million shares.

T his w il l a lso increase its

carved-out shares to 900 million unissued shares from the previous 300 million. The said carved-out shares are allocated for issuance in one or more transactions or offerings, either for properties or assets needed for the business of the company or for cash to acquire properties or assets needed for its business.

The said move will amend its articles of incorporation, which will be presented for approval at the company’s annual stockholders’ meeting in April.

“The board of directors likewise approved a minimum selling price of P10 per share for issuance of common shares in the event the company decides to issue common shares,” the company said.

“This move will give flexibility to the company to raise additional capital and funding when needed. Our access to different funding sources will allow us to be deliberate and to take decisive actions as needed. The present circumstances require us to be proactive and ready with different

alternatives and options,” it said.

The income of the east zone concessionaire fell 11 percent during the nine months of 2019 ending September to P4.4 billion from the previous year’s P4.92 billion, mainly as a result of the regulator’s penalty relating to the water shortage in its area last year and the voluntary one-time bill waiver of the company to all its customers.

Stripping out the penalties and waiver, its core income rose 10 percent to P5.82 billion.

ALC GROUP’S TAAL DRIVE The ALC Group of Companies recently turned over relief goods to Caritas Manila in Pandacan, Manila, representing donations from the ALC Group of Companies for

the victims of Taal Volcano’s restiveness. Leading the turnover are: Ma.Luz Santos, CHRD officer of Eternal Gardens (third right) and Gerran Navarro, stewardship division head of Caritas (third left). They are joined by (from left) Pailine Lachica, CHRD assistant of Eternal Gardens, Noelle Mary Tuason, CHRD staff of Eternal Gardens, John Paul Estrella, recruitment and research staff of Eternal Gardens and Jazzner de Dios, farm coordinator of Damayan, Caritas Manila. ROY DOMINGO

PSALM starts soliciting bid invites for Malaya power plant privatization

T

HE Power Sector Asset s a nd L i a bi l it ies Management (PSALM) Corp. has started soliciting bid invites for the privatizat ion of t he 650 -megawatt (MW) Malaya Thermal Power Plant (MTPP).

“PSALM is ready to commence its third round of public bidding for the 650-megawatt Malaya Thermal Power Plant and its underlying land located at Brgy. Malaya, Pililla, Rizal,” the state firm said.

PSALM started today the publication of its “invitation to bid” encouraging interested parties to participate in its bidding activities February 3 until March 12 this year. Only parties who submitted Letters of Interest and who have been issued PSALM’s Bidding Package will be allowed to participate in the privatization of the assets.

A pre -bid conference is scheduled on February 13 at 2 p.m. to solicit any comments and concerns that interested bidders may have relative to the bidding requirements and asset sale provisions.

The bid opening is set on April 15, 2020.

Interested bidders must address their bids to the PSALM Bids and Awards Committee (PBAC) chairman and send these to PSALM’s office in Quezon City.

PSALM is determined to privatize the asset, which is sold on an “as-is-where-is” basis, by taking steps to adjust the minimum bid price. It has also conducted valuation stud-

ies on MTPP and its underlying land in determining the reserve bid price.

Meantime, PSALM awaits a “positive response” from the Commission on Audit (COA) in relation to its request to lower the P4.48-billion minimum bid price (MBP) of the MTPP. “We are awaiting COA’s response to PSALM’s request for approval of a discounting mechanism that will allow PSALM to lower the MBP of the MTPP. To make this public bidding attractive to bidders, we need to find an acceptable way of reducing the MBP by at least 20 percent,” said PSALM President Irene Besido-Garcia in a text message.

Garcia said the cost to operate the plant, which is already way past its commercial life, is P400 million to P500 million.

The amount includes fuel, real property taxes, among others.

“Hopefully, we would be allowed to subtract that amount from the MBP. We can never really tell how much amount the market is willing to pay so we need to keep on trying,” the PSALM official said.

PSALM declared a failure of the second round of public bidding because there was only one bid. Following bidding rules, PSALM then went through the process of negotiated sale with the lone bidder, DM Wenceslao.

H o w e v e r, D M We n c eslao’s bid offer was below the MBP. Thus, PSALM was constrained to also declare a failure of the negotiated sale.

Lenie Lectura

GLOBAL FLOWER SHOW Roberto Garcia (left), deputy general manager of PICC, and Jerry Sibal, founder of the New York City-based Design Fusion, exchange notes at the launching of the Philippine International Flower Show, which will be held from October 15 to 18, 2020. ROY DOMINGO

B2

Companies BusinessMirror

Monday, February 3, 2020

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

January 31, 2020

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

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

147.6 82.5 25.1 11.2 57.35 31.55 53 20.25 177 63.5 0.87 18.4 3.9 1.15 0.375 841.5 0.75 174.9 1830 1.03

148 82.8 25.15 11.22 57.45 31.8 53.45 21.95 177.9 63.55 0.88 18.46 4.12 1.19 0.42 879 0.77 177 1919 1.07

153.9 84.5 25.1 11.84 60.6 32.25 56.85 22 180 62.3 0.88 18.2 4.11 1.15 0.395 850.5 0.76 176.9 1850 1.03

153.9 84.5 25.2 11.9 62.35 32.4 56.85 23.4 180 63.6 0.88 18.46 4.16 1.19 0.42 850.5 0.81 178.8 1850 1.03

145.6 82.1 25 11 57.15 31.35 53 20 177 62.2 0.87 18.2 3.89 1.15 0.39 850.5 0.75 170 1830 1.03

148 82.5 25.1 11.2 57.35 31.8 53.4 20 177 63.5 0.87 18.46 4.12 1.19 0.39 850.5 0.77 177.9 1830 1.03

4365280 3514760 140000 590400 7325000 497800 5160 37700 315790 113400 123000 31300 131000 14000 200000 10 261000 1300 660 10000

646414972 290760613 3511665 6754602 430176938 15837305 274511 848615 56015920 7185265.5 107430 577746 527110 16340 78550 8505 196380 230648 1217850 10300

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

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 HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT KEPPEL HLDG A LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA HLDG PRIME MEDIA SOLID GROUP SYNERGY GRID SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP SOC RESOURCES TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

-209691085 -26158896 -52895 -1409260 -172111835.5 -3854220 -33530 -38936237 -611590 572260 177087 -

1.97 1.18 32.3 0.22 20.3 66.65 256 3.61 3.92 11.6 29.95 9 14.06 11.8 3.04 16.64 15 4.92 8.8 7.22 72.9 0.5 1.63 35.55 191.2 6.56 10 1.85 9.46 1.59 5.02 1.6 0.117 145 1.17 2.4 60.55 64 1.42 5.01 12.5 8.35 12.2 14.6 9.85 0.91 0.91 2.13 2.41 4.85 2.86 4.65 30.6 1.88 7.01 1.15 1 8.9

1.98 1.2 32.35 0.225 20.5 66.7 259 3.62 4.09 11.9 30 9.21 15.08 12.04 3.05 17.72 15.04 5 9.05 7.25 73 0.51 1.64 36.8 195.5 7.14 10.24 1.87 9.5 1.65 5.3 1.66 0.121 147.9 1.18 2.54 61.3 70.65 1.43 5.39 12.7 8.4 12.7 14.64 9.94 0.95 0.94 2.15 - 4.94 3.06 4.8 32.5 1.94 7.03 1.18 1.01 8.95

2.02 1.21 33.25 0.235 21.9 66.6 277.4 3.81 4.12 11.8 30.8 9.36 14.5 11.34 3.32 16.64 15.1 5 9.1 7.23 74 0.53 1.68 37.1 200.2 6.89 10.5 1.65 9.48 1.6 5.15 1.78 0.116 154.9 1.28 2.54 61.5 65 1.57 5.39 12.88 8.88 12.76 14.8 9.85 0.96 1.02 2.15 1.69 4.9 3.1 4.75 30.6 2 7.33 1.2 1.12 9.07

2.07 1.21 33.25 0.235 21.9 66.65 280 3.89 4.13 11.92 30.8 9.37 14.5 12.08 3.46 17.72 15.1 5.04 9.1 7.25 74 0.53 1.74 37.1 201 7.29 10.98 1.85 9.51 1.65 5.19 1.78 0.121 154.9 1.28 2.54 61.5 65 1.57 5.39 12.88 8.88 12.76 14.8 9.85 1 1.02 2.15 2.41 4.94 3.1 4.75 30.6 2 7.33 1.21 1.12 9.46

1.98 1.2 32.1 0.22 20 66.5 256 3.6 3.92 11.3 29.8 8.9 14.06 11.3 2.98 16.64 14.94 4.92 8.66 7.22 72.5 0.5 1.59 35.5 191.2 6.57 10 1.65 9.4 1.59 5.02 1.6 0.115 145 1.16 2.54 61.3 64 1.4 5.39 12.5 8.4 12.3 14.5 9.8 0.91 0.9 2.13 1.69 4.9 3.05 4.7 30.6 1.88 7 1.12 0.91 7.83

1.98 1.2 32.35 0.22 20.3 66.65 256 3.62 4.09 11.9 29.95 9.21 14.06 12.04 3.05 17.72 15 4.93 8.8 7.22 72.9 0.51 1.64 37 191.2 7.19 10 1.85 9.46 1.65 5.02 1.6 0.121 145 1.17 2.54 61.3 64 1.42 5.39 12.7 8.4 12.7 14.6 9.8 0.91 0.91 2.15 2.41 4.94 3.05 4.7 30.6 1.94 7.01 1.18 1 8.9

4603000 472000 1491800 6340000 1558700 330380 611920 3137000 50000 65700 355100 156700 1100 1702600 7429000 1000 172400 61000 1928100 5988200 374110 1339000 42914000 31500 876750 27100 209500 390000 1323900 73000 30700 182000 1670000 2759940 14807000 1000 1190 830 30592000 200 122200 154700 93100 998700 7300 206000 4708000 19000 7120000 10000 9000 160000 500 4975000 496300 329000 3515000 4553100

9234120 566620 48222685 1418090 31798880 22011622.5 160636492 11779780 204400 768646 10707905 1436908 15730 20506700 23537970 16748 2585890 303833 16992915 43234928 27270235.5 685440 71526940 1142115 170886960 188724 2143706 712840 12575166 117940 155330 291880 193600 412422344 17586650 2540 73102 53250 44693210 1078 1540788 1310329 1150104 14572784 71805 193310 4408120 40740 15594930 49310 27530 752510 15300 9653730 3500663 388450 3525710 39447840

363250 -25441800 -32200 -17739310 -961108 -92169066 -1627190 41100 -33858 -3207025 -228750 -5117000 47360 1202058 9779801 -8428705 84892 -12240 255160 141950 -62261645 -2916 -804308 -178630 655225 26798 -6050 -70602336 -374280 -1074300 -1419824 -134795 -10962280 -107900 -56860 -18310 3805900 -363948 -16900 216733

0.82 10.22 726.5 49.3 10.72 2.53 6.1 0.67 0.89 0.89 6.08 6.03 12.9 0.207 675 4.6 70.1 5.2 0.48 3.72 9.8 0.56 3.21 4.5 1.18 1.1 180.4 971 139.8 0.79 179.4 0.202 0.195

0.83 10.5 727 50 10.8 2.55 6.25 0.7 0.9 0.93 6.18 6.1 13.02 0.226 679 4.95 70.45 6.14 0.49 3.74 10 0.59 3.26 4.51 1.19 1.2 189 972.5 140 0.82 186 0.214 0.2

0.86 10.8 721.5 51.5 10.76 2.68 6.37 0.69 0.9 0.92 6.38 6 13.26 0.207 722.5 5.4 73 5.2 0.5 3.72 10.12 0.57 3.28 4.93 1.1 1.16 180.4 1000 144.1 0.8 184 0.205 0.212

0.87 10.8 742 51.5 10.8 2.74 6.37 0.71 0.92 0.93 6.38 6.18 13.26 0.207 730 5.4 73 5.2 0.5 3.72 10.12 0.6 3.41 5.21 1.2 1.2 189 1017 145 0.84 186 0.21 0.212

0.81 10.22 708 49.3 10.66 2.52 6.24 0.66 0.88 0.9 6 5.96 12.9 0.207 675 4.95 70.1 5.2 0.48 3.71 9.45 0.56 3.21 4.15 1.1 1.09 180.4 961 137.8 0.79 179.4 0.202 0.195

0.83 10.54 726.5 49.3 10.8 2.55 6.24 0.7 0.9 0.93 6.08 6.1 13.02 0.207 675 4.95 70.1 5.2 0.5 3.72 9.8 0.6 3.21 4.51 1.19 1.2 189 971 139.8 0.82 186 0.202 0.2

24315000 19800 371760 2397170 12390500 1447000 3300 885000 1358000 529000 1051400 9288200 41800 490000 300200 140300 3602340 41800 404000 1118000 2288500 474000 48288000 95700 204000 370000 140 340060 280070 94000 4150 1830000 4360000

20259720 203270 270848900 119092058 132809812 3782290 20631 604860 1219200 479700 6549805 56396046 542886 101430 208760695 706660 254870132 217360 195055 4158560 22,373,578( 268480 159001850 435217 241550 418580 25378 330788985 39102274 74900 758312 381210 880360

950260 51200 -29285890 -63578935.5 65414128 -180000 1132344 -7359819 23532 -74845665 -209370 -114752439.5 -3530280 5,294,653.9997) -43626550 81520 -169511660 -30940565 -22875 -210000 -98900

PSALM to stop collecting universal charge for SCC

T

HE Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corp. will no longer collect from consumers P0.0543 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) Universal Charge for Stranded Contract Costs (UC-SCC) starting this month.

“This is a relief to power consumers all over the country as they are no longer going to be charged the UCSCC,” the state firm said in a recent announcement.

PSALM has started advising elec-

tricity distribution and collecting utilities to terminate the implementation of the UC-SCC. In the decision of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) dated April 10, 2019, in Case 2015-

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR GMA HLDG PDR

15.1 5.12

15.3 5.15

15.6 5.2

15.6 5.2

15.3 5.14

15.3 5.15

274800 152400

4261086 787265

WARRANTS LR WARRANT

1.11

-975846 -141845

1.14

1.18

1.18

1.13

1.13

97000

112000

-

ITALPINAS 3.5 KEPWEALTH 9.78 XURPAS 0.81

3.54 9.79 0.82

3.75 10.26 0.86

3.75 10.3 0.86

3.48 9.44 0.8

3.5 9.78 0.81

958000 855700 4548000

3437670 8358011 3713180

48100 24120 52300

FIRST METRO ETF

109

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS 108.8

110.7

111.4

109

109

48950

5373923

222665

139-RC, PSALM was permitted to recover P5,117,060,647.80 through the aforementioned UC-SCC. Garcia, in a text message, explained that PSALM’s authority to collect the 5.43 centavos per kWh is hinged on fully recovering the amount of P5,117,060,647.80.

“Based on our calculations, once we are able to collect the US-SCC included in the January billings, then we will be able to recover already the said P5,117,060,647.80, and so we need to cease collection already,” said PSALM President Irene BesidoGarcia in a text message when sought for further comment.

She said this is consistent with the ERC decision that had

approved its particular UC-SC. “Thus, last Friday, we instructed the collecting entities to stop including the UC-SCC of 5.43 cents per kWh starting the February billings,” she added.

The Electric Power Industry Reform Act defines UC-SCC as the excess of the contracted cost of electricity under eligible contracts over the actual selling price of the contracted energy.

The UC-SCC charges were intended to pay the remaining financial obligations that the government incurred due to the construction of new power plants to alleviate the power shortages in the 1990s and early 2000. Lenie Lectura

Vivant Energy to hike capacity to 1,000 MW

V

IVANT Energy Corp. intends to ramp up its capacity to 1,000 megawatts by 2030, half of which could be achieved by 2023.

From the current 282 MW, the mandate of the board of Vivant Energy is to scale this up to 500 MW by 2023.

“The fact that they said 500 MW, it means they’re willing to support the investment of at least that amount. The other target we’re looking at is 1,000 MW by 2030. We revisit these targets

every couple of years,” said Vivant Energy Chief Operating Officer Emil Andre Garcia.

He said 20 percent of the planned 500 MW would be sourced from renewable energy. At 1,000 MW, Vivant’s RE portfolio is targeted to reach 30 percent.

“In our planning session, we would like to have at least an additional, hit 500 MW by 2023.... We’re quite heavy on coal, bunker.

So, we want to make that conscious shift to

STOCK-MARKET OUTLOOK

PROPERTY

ARTHALAND CORP 0.78 0.79 0.8 0.82 0.76 0.79 4173000 3273830 ANCHOR LAND 8.8 9.09 8.8 8.8 8.8 8.8 300 2640 2640 AYALA LAND 41.55 41.6 42 42 41.3 41.6 16971600 706636715 -94245095 ARANETA PROP 1.72 1.74 1.69 1.75 1.69 1.74 191000 330050 194880 BELLE CORP 1.55 1.57 1.65 1.65 1.5 1.57 1972000 3115100 8060 A BROWN 0.65 0.66 0.69 0.69 0.6 0.65 2458000 1534770 324700 CITYLAND DEVT 0.78 0.79 0.8 0.8 0.79 0.79 149000 118680 10400 CROWN EQUITIES 0.178 0.187 0.179 0.179 0.177 0.178 1240000 221090 17800 CEBU HLDG 6.4 6.66 6.68 6.68 6.67 6.67 1200 8006 -1336 CEB LANDMASTERS 4.48 4.5 4.66 4.66 4.45 4.46 882000 3979240 513740.0001 CENTURY PROP 0.49 0.495 0.52 0.52 0.48 0.49 17060000 8502145 -26500 CYBER BAY 0.375 0.38 0.385 0.385 0.38 0.38 1870000 712500 DOUBLEDRAGON 15.9 15.92 16.86 16.9 15.74 15.9 964300 15515638 2689807.9997 DM WENCESLAO 8.7 8.9 9 9 8.7 8.7 437000 3855250 -2771440 EMPIRE EAST 0.395 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.39 0.4 150000 59100 -0 EVER GOTESCO 0.101 0.117 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.105 130000 13650 FILINVEST LAND 1.46 1.47 1.5 1.5 1.45 1.46 13016000 19016820 -11526940 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.04 1.05 1.07 1.07 1.03 1.04 889000 939860 8990 HLDG 14.72 14.74 14.76 14.76 14.72 14.74 397800 5855694 23578 PHIL INFRADEV 1.13 1.14 1.18 1.2 1.1 1.13 3332000 3781820 87400 CITY AND LAND 0.73 0.77 0.77 0.77 0.77 0.77 7000 5390 MEGAWORLD 4.04 4.05 4.1 4.11 3.97 4.05 66500000 268941570 -41322380 MRC ALLIED 0.213 0.215 0.226 0.226 0.209 0.215 31320000 6728110 -410330 PHIL ESTATES 0.38 0.4 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.38 800000 304000 PRIMEX CORP 2.04 2.05 2.07 2.07 2.03 2.05 725000 1485330 -140359.9995 ROBINSONS LAND 25.5 26 26.5 26.95 25.25 25.5 2320200 59432050 -27593835 PHIL REALTY 0.315 0.32 0.32 0.32 0.315 0.32 360000 115150 ROCKWELL 2.06 2.07 2.06 2.06 2.04 2.06 89000 182510 SHANG PROP 3.03 3.07 3.11 3.11 3.07 3.07 4000 12320 STA LUCIA LAND 2.49 2.52 2.54 2.58 2.45 2.53 28000 70270 SM PRIME HLDG 38.9 38.95 40 40.35 38.9 38.9 13787400 540279830 -223263415 VISTAMALLS 5.25 5.3 5.25 5.6 5.24 5.3 164700 889089 SUNTRUST HOME 1.8 1.83 2.08 2.08 1.78 1.8 12115000 23089260 -969599.9998 VISTA LAND 7 7.07 7.23 7.23 7 7 1918900 13574739 -6167888

SERVICES ABS CBN 16.4 16.42 17 17 16.4 16.42 55400 921548 GMA NETWORK 5.25 5.26 5.35 5.35 5.25 5.26 384300 2029469 MANILA BULLETIN 0.435 0.445 0.4 0.48 0.4 0.435 4450000 1982650 GLOBE TELECOM 1890 1912 1961 1995 1890 1890 53990 103817320 -27670665 PLDT 996 1000 1012 1019 996 996 237860 238641330 -5474930 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.046 0.049 0.048 0.05 0.047 0.049 99900000 4859600 -5000 DFNN INC 4.91 5.37 5.37 5.37 5.37 5.37 200 1074 IMPERIAL 1.56 1.62 1.62 1.62 1.62 1.62 2000 3240 ISLAND INFO 0.098 0.099 0.1 0.1 0.099 0.099 2800000 279500 ISM COMM 3.35 3.36 3.61 3.61 3.2 3.36 8924000 30285140 601930 JACKSTONES 1.74 1.92 1.78 1.94 1.76 1.76 94000 167690 NOW CORP 2.23 2.25 2.37 2.38 2.2 2.23 3407000 7766060 -22170 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.25 0.255 0.255 0.255 0.25 0.255 2410000 606300 -0 PHILWEB 3.43 3.45 3.85 4 3.25 3.45 10916000 38908010 246260 2GO GROUP 9.38 9.4 9.69 9.69 9.34 9.4 4600 43314 CHELSEA 5.03 5.05 5.22 5.26 5.01 5.05 611600 3109259 117759.9995 CEBU AIR 75 75.2 77.5 77.55 71.5 75 695210 52587949.5 -2860744.5 INTL CONTAINER 130 131.5 132 132 130 130 2446340 318589780 -50476716 LBC EXPRESS 11.72 13.68 13.68 13.68 13.68 13.68 1000 13680 MACROASIA 9.1 9.12 10.2 10.38 9 9.12 2468700 23198462 -5765112 METROALLIANCE A 0.99 1.05 1.11 1.15 0.96 1.05 50000 52310 METROALLIANCE B 0.96 1.18 0.98 0.98 0.96 0.96 442000 424520 PAL HLDG 7.02 7.4 7.2 7.4 7.01 7.4 10600 74541 HARBOR STAR 1.15 1.16 1.24 1.24 1.14 1.16 4090000 4804970 -720970 ACESITE HOTEL 1.32 1.36 1.32 1.32 1.3 1.31 5000 6570 DISCOVERY WORLD 1.8 1.99 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 11000 19800 GRAND PLAZA 9.8 13.1 13.38 13.38 13.38 13.38 100 1338 WATERFRONT 0.57 0.58 0.59 0.59 0.58 0.58 1997000 1161880 CENTRO ESCOLAR 6.51 6.98 6.58 6.58 6.51 6.51 8700 56859 19560 FAR EASTERN U 890 924 893.5 893.5 893.5 893.5 780 696930 STI HLDG 0.6 0.61 0.6 0.62 0.6 0.61 7144000 4290890 BERJAYA 2.55 2.57 2.76 2.76 2.55 2.55 566000 1477850 -33290 BLOOMBERRY 9 9.04 9.35 9.35 8.91 9 12090200 108816274 -34483022 PACIFIC ONLINE 2.01 2.12 2.19 2.19 2 2.12 295000 609700 -98770 LEISURE AND RES 2.22 2.28 2.37 2.48 2.21 2.28 455000 1048940 62720 MANILA JOCKEY 3.03 3.05 3.05 3.07 3.03 3.03 173000 527110 PH RESORTS GRP 4.24 4.26 4.26 4.26 4.26 4.26 15000 63900 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.54 0.55 0.56 0.56 0.53 0.54 4057000 2212040 -462550 ALLHOME 10.2 10.4 10.9 10.9 10.2 10.2 2383500 24663996 -14892 METRO RETAIL 1.96 2 2.02 2.05 1.9 1.96 2305000 4567470 -494910 PUREGOLD 38.2 38.4 39 39.2 37.95 38.2 1593500 61688875 7160450 ROBINSONS RTL 76.25 77.05 77.6 78 76.8 77.05 319510 24661920 -1268916.5 SSI GROUP 2.2 2.22 2.27 2.33 2.1 2.22 3653000 7972430 1705789.9997 WILCON DEPOT 18.84 18.86 18.92 18.92 18.8 18.84 3536000 66652954 53236840 APC GROUP 0.395 0.4 0.415 0.43 0.395 0.4 2400000 973850 EASYCALL 8.1 8.38 8.37 8.4 7.8 8.1 40400 326407 15800 GOLDEN BRIA 421 425 427.2 445 420.2 425 69240 29953028 -0 IPM HLDG 5.75 6.52 5.03 5.03 5.03 5.03 1200 6036 PAXYS 2.67 2.96 2.66 2.97 2.66 2.97 8000 23130 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.325 0.335 0.345 0.345 0.315 0.33 12130000 3984400 -396600 SBS PHIL CORP 8.76 8.99 9.09 9.09 8.75 8.75 114500 1016936

MINING & OIL ATOK 10.02 11.5 11.8 11.8 11.8 11.8 100 1180 APEX MINING 0.98 0.99 1.02 1.04 0.95 0.99 3619000 3590140 -55960 ABRA MINING 0.0014 0.0015 0.0015 0.0016 0.0015 0.0015 1827000000 2741700 ATLAS MINING 2.37 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.36 2.4 835000 2051340 BENGUET A 1.1 1.14 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 5000 5500 COAL ASIA HLDG 0.27 0.275 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 340000 91800 CENTURY PEAK 3.06 3.07 3.06 3.09 2.85 3.07 3126000 9274100 576410 DIZON MINES 6.69 7.09 6.98 7.15 6.71 6.71 22800 156778 FERRONICKEL 1.45 1.46 1.51 1.51 1.45 1.46 3201000 4698860 188770 GEOGRACE 0.201 0.206 0.21 0.21 0.202 0.206 570000 116500 LEPANTO A 0.094 0.095 0.096 0.098 0.095 0.098 680000 65010 MANILA MINING A 0.0077 0.0079 0.0078 0.0078 0.0077 0.0077 16000000 123400 MARCVENTURES 0.75 0.76 0.79 0.79 0.75 0.76 191000 145830 33000 NIHAO 1 1.03 1.04 1.04 1 1.03 87000 87220 NICKEL ASIA 2.84 2.86 3 3 2.75 2.86 11731000 33337290 -750220 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.69 0.72 0.7 0.73 0.7 0.7 56000 39290 PX MINING 2.85 2.88 2.85 2.95 2.84 2.88 243000 694880 SEMIRARA MINING 20.85 22 20 22 19.9 22 729700 15280094 3305541 ACE ENEXOR 7.62 7.91 8 8.24 7.4 7.91 663400 5134016 132323 ORNTL PETROL A 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 3300000 34100 ORNTL PETROL B 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 100000 1100 PHILODRILL 0.01 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.01 0.01 290300000 3182200 PXP ENERGY 8.61 8.65 8.95 9.33 8.5 8.61 769200 6671481 -379389.0002

PREFFERED

AC PREF B1 498 503.5 500 503.5 498 503.5 4910 2445435 ALCO PREF B 101 103.2 103.1 103.1 103.1 103.1 490 50519 AC PREF B2R 495 503 503 503 503 503 10 5030 CPG PREF A 100.8 102 102 102 100.7 100.7 14960 1506849 DD PREF 100.2 101 101.1 101.1 101.1 101.1 100 10110 SMC FB PREF 2 985 1000 990 1000 987 1000 4150 4108400 FGEN PREF G 105 108 108 108 108 108 100 10800 GLO PREF P 480 500 495 495 490 490 600 296500 GTCAP PREF A 953 989 970 970 970 970 60 58200 MWIDE PREF 100.6 102.7 100.1 100.8 100.1 100.6 36500 3667000 PNX PREF 3A 102.3 102.5 102 102.3 102 102.3 1490 152199 PNX PREF 4 1031 1045 1040 1040 1030 1030 5590 5813100 PCOR PREF 2B 1021 1110 1021 1115 1021 1115 55 57565 PCOR PREF 3A 1040 1050 1040 1040 1040 1040 50 52000 PCOR PREF 3B 1060 1070 1065 1065 1060 1060 390 413850 SFI PREF 1.36 1.6 1.75 1.75 1.7 1.7 7000 12150 SMC PREF 2C 76.95 77 77 78.95 76.9 77 25410 1970639 SMC PREF 2D 75 75.5 75.2 75.2 75.2 75.2 45740 3439648 SMC PREF 2E 74.75 75.45 75 75 75 75 750000 56250000 SMC PREF 2F 75.95 76.2 76 76.2 76 76 19100 1455200 SMC PREF 2G 75.05 75.85 75.15 75.15 75 75 43700 3280000 SMC PREF 2H 75.1 75.95 75.7 75.95 75.1 75.95 24280 1834524.5 SMC PREF 2I 75.2 76 75.95 75.95 75.2 75.2 42070 3165759 -

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LAST WEEK

SHARE prices plunged more than 5 percent last week, with the main index falling deeper into bear territory, as markets all over the world were rattled by the novel coronavirus, while the United Kingdom officially left the European Union and the US Federal Reserve kept its rates steady. Both contributed to negative investor sentiment.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) fell 422.62 points to 7,200.79 points, with the main index declining for five straight days.

“The main index ended the month of January down 7.8 percent which is its worst January performance going all the way back to 2008 during the subprime mortgage crisis,” Christopher Mangun, research head at AAA Securities Inc., said.

“Most of the month’s losses came in the last week of trading as last week’s performance was also one of the worst weeks, performance-wise, in the last 10 years. We saw five days of consecutive losses ending the week at its lowest point for the week. We saw losses spread out across the board as sellers eagerly get out no matter what the price,” he said.

Foreign investors dumped local shares ending the week at a net sell of P3.04 billion.

Volume of trade, however, were thin, valued only at an average of P5.05 billion.

As expected, all other subindices also plunged.

The All Shares index fell 231.36 points to close at 4,292.21 points, the Financials index declined 85.44 to 1,724.93, the Industrial index plunged 807.28 to 8,921.44, the Holding Firms index lost 448.05 to 6,900.31, the Property index shed 123.58 to 3,838.74, the Services index was down 69.50 to 1,475.16, and the Mining and Oil index retreated 304.93 to 7,663.26.

For the week, only 39 shares gained and 190 declined, while 18 shares were unchanged.

Top gainers for the week were Euro-Med Laboratories Phil. Inc., Atok-Big Wedge Co. Inc., Manila Water Co. Inc., Araneta Properties Inc. and Metro Alliance Holdings & Equities Corp. A. Top losers, meanwhile, were IPM Holdings Inc., MacroAsia Corp., Cirtek Holdings Philippines Corp., Pacific Online Systems Corp., Berjaya Philippines Inc. and SFA Semicon Philippines Corp.

THIS WEEK

SHARE prices are expected to further fall this week as volatile trade will continue to persist.

“The roller coaster of the events that characterized January 2020 pulled the index back to the PSEi’s November 2018 level, and may prompt retesting of the 7,000 psychological support,” broker 2TradeAsia said.

It advised investors to brace for further volatility as markets still digest the developments of the Wuhan coronavirus and its repercussions.

“Time and patience go hand in hand in these trying times but considered monitoring bargains. Stick to a trading plan,” it said, adding that immediate support for the main index is at 7,000 points and resistance at 7,300 points.

Mangun, meanwhile, said there will be a minor bounce this week as correction is already due after market prices have been falling for four consecutive weeks already.

“This trend will continue indefinitely. The market will continue lower, the only question now is how low it can go. Despite the market’s performance, our economy is still on track for a recovery. Low interest rates and the pickup of government spending on infrastructure is seen to boost growth,” he said.

STOCK PICKS

BROKER Regina Capital and Development Corp. gave a hold recommendation on the stock of PLDT Inc. after the sell down, but it might not yet be over for company.

“For the last two days, the P1,012.00-level acted as a short-term support for TEL but with the strong buy-up in [last week’s] session, [that] was quickly overcome by a stronger sell down.... Based on the now completely bearish indicators, TEL is likely to break this price floor,” it said.

It sees support price of the telecom firm at P988.60 and resistance at P1,050.90.

PLDT shares closed last week at P996 per share.

Meanwhile, the broker gave a buy rating on the shares of Manila Water Co. Inc., but only during pullbacks of its stock price.

Manila Water broke the monthlong resistance of P10.53 and went into a strong rally.

“This leads MWC closer to its previous support-turned-resistance level of P12.45, which it has not reached since December last year,” it said.

Support price on its stock is placed at P9.31 and resistance at P14.50.

Manila Water shares closed Thursday at P12.16 apiece. VG Cabuag

RE-centric projects. We know there’s still a place for conventional [sources] but we want to have the proper mix.

We’re looking at several RE projects right now. We want to focus on solar and wind.

We have some hydro being developed in our portfolio, but we want to focus on solar and wind. We’re looking at areas for solar—areas where we can get competitive rates.

We’ll try to work with cooperatives, utilities,

MUTUAL FUNDS

even contestable,” said Garcia.

The company will develop a 670-MW coal plant in La Union in partnership with Global Business Power Corp. and a wind project with potential partners in Eastern.

“We hope to break ground on this wind project by first half of next year. We’re doing the proper sizing right now, so it’s around 80 MW to 100 MW, but it looks like it’s close to 80 MW to 85 MW,” added Garcia. Lenie Lectura

January 31, 2020

NAV ONE YEAR THREE YEAR FIVE YEAR Y-T-D

PER SHARE RETURN* RETURN STOCK FUNDS ALFM GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 239.84 -10.04% -2.08% -2.52% -4.78% ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 1.2885 -14.11% -2.73% -4.82% -6.77% ATRAM PHILIPPINE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 3.3741 -18.21% -6.12% -5.43% -8.27% CLIMBS SHARE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND CORP. -A 0.8385 -11.76% N.A. N.A. -6.53% FIRST METRO CONSUMER FUND ON MSCI PHILS. IMI, INC. -A 0.8044 -7.95% N.A. N.A. -5.29% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN EQUITY FUND,INC. -A 5.0634 -8.56% -0.77% -2.63% -4.97% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN PHILIPPINE INDEX FUND, INC. -A,6 0.8053 -9.08% -4.65% N.A. -5.66% MBG EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND, INC. -A 99.31 -18.1% N.A. N.A. -3.89% PAMI EQUITY INDEX FUND, INC. -A 48.4511 -7.67% -0.06% N.A. -5.52% PHILAM STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 505.63 -7.18% -0.86% -2.32% -5.1% PHILEQUITY ALPHA ONE FUND, INC. -A,D,8 0.9962 N.A. N.A. N.A. -3.29% PHILEQUITY DIVIDEND YIELD FUND, INC. -A 1.2235 -7.18% -0.14% -1.31% -4.93% PHILEQUITY FUND, INC. -A 35.9493 -7.23% 0.74% -1.18% -5.14% PHILEQUITY MSCI PHILIPPINE INDEX FUND, INC. -A,1 0.9664 -7.4% N.A. N.A. -5.08% PHILEQUITY PSE INDEX FUND INC. -A 4.9365 -6.8% 0.57% -0.44% -5.49% PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND CORP. -A 824.16 -6.85% 0.5% -0.57% -5.49% SOLDIVO STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 0.7852 -13.46% -2.92% -4.21% -7.78% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE EQUITY FUND, INC. -A 3.9536 -7.77% -0.16% -1.43% -6.07% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND, INC. -A 0.9459 -7.14% 0.37% N.A. -5.49% UNITED FUND, INC. -A 3.4659 -5.65% 1.64% 0.21% -5.13% EXCHANGE TRADED FUND FIRST METRO PHIL. EQUITY EXCHANGE TRADED FUND, INC. -A,C 110.5527 -6.56% 1.2% 0.37% -5.47% ATRAM ASIAPLUS EQUITY FUND, INC. -B

$1.0005 2.69% 3.94% -0.17% -2.71% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY WORLD VOYAGER FUND, INC. -A $1.3974 17.88% 9.29% N.A. 1.36% BALANCED FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ATRAM DYNAMIC ALLOCATION FUND, INC. -A 1.5282 -11.43% -4.07% -4.91% -2.21% ATRAM PHILIPPINE BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 2.0954 -8.86% -2.95% -2.62% -3.93% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN BALANCED FUND INC. -A 2.5546 -3.43% 0.43% -2.48% -2.92% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN F.O.C.C.U.S. DYNAMIC FUND, INC. -A,5 0.2211 N.A. N.A. N.A. -3.24% GREPALIFE BALANCED FUND CORPORATION -A N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. NCM MUTUAL FUND OF THE PHILS., INC. -A 1.9245 0.87% 1.5% -0.12% -1.97% PAMI HORIZON FUND, INC. -A 3.6786 1.61% 0.31% -1.17% -2.92% PHILAM FUND, INC. -A 16.4662 0.35% 0.3% -1.24% -2.91% SOLIDARITAS FUND, INC. -A 2.0581 -4.27% -0.24% -0.3% -3.18% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 3.7186 -2.28% 0.69% -0.92% -3.76% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2028, INC. -A,D,2 0.9864 N.A. N.A. N.A. -2.88% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2038, INC. -A,D,2 0.954 N.A. N.A. N.A. -4.26% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2048, INC. -A,D,2 0.9486 N.A. N.A. N.A. -4.49% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DYNAMIC FUND, INC. -A 0.9314 -3.08% -0.17% -2.14% -4.45% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES COCOLIFE DOLLAR FUND BUILDER, INC. -A $0.03867 9.05% 3.21% 1.91% 1.15% PAMI ASIA BALANCED FUND, INC. -A $1.0256 6.54% 3.94% 0.52% -1.19% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ADVANTAGE FUND, INC. -A $3.9569 13.56% 7.38% 4.34% 1.18% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR WELLSPRING FUND, INC. -A,7 $1.1395 9.63% 4.47% N.A. 0.95% BOND FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 358.16 3.87% 2.66% 2.16% 0.1% ATRAM CORPORATE BOND FUND, INC. -A

1.9054 1.87% 0.31% -0.9% 0.18% COCOLIFE FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 3.1239 4.73% 5.09% 5.14% 0.24% EKKLESIA MUTUAL FUND INC. -A 2.2334 4.22% 2.09% 1.63% 0.38% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN FIXED INCOME FUND,INC. -A 2.3572 5.95% 2.07% 1.24% -0.08% GREPALIFE FIXED INCOME FUND CORP. -A P N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. PHILAM BOND FUND, INC. -A 4.3721 12.32% 2.3% 1.11% -0.02% PHILEQUITY PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.771 5.79% 2.61% 0.5% -0.45% SOLDIVO BOND FUND, INC. -A 0.9675 6.42% 1.21% -0.34% 0.33% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.0739 9.17% 4.1% 1.87% -0.07% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY GS FUND, INC. -A 1.693 8.14% 3.52% 1.19% -0.48% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ALFM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $470.47 4.56% 2.8% 2.64% 0.48% ALFM EURO BOND FUND, INC. -A Є220.29 3.14% 1.87% 1.28% 0.25% ATRAM TOTAL RETURN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -B $1.2111 6.33% 3.11% 2.29% 0.32% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $0.0259 4.02% 1.59% 1.28% 0.39% GREPALIFE DOLLAR BOND FUND CORP. -A N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. PAMI GLOBAL BOND FUND, INC -A $1.107 6.27% 1.67% -0.29% 1.08% PHILAM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A

$2.4359 10.8% 3.89% 2.55% 1.34% PHILEQUITY DOLLAR INCOME FUND INC. -A $0.0606517 6.02% 2.37% 1.81% 0.56% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ABUNDANCE FUND, INC. -A $3.2441 11.82% 3.58% 2.57% 2.17% MONEY MARKET FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 126.15 3.9% 2.89% 2.21% 0.29% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A,3 1.0296 N.A. N.A. N.A. 0.32% PHILAM MANAGED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 1.2514 5.74% 2.95% 1.6% -0.42% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 1.2678 3.66% 2.92% 2.41% 0.25% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR STARTER FUND, INC. -A $1.0388 2.04% N.A. N.A. 0.15% FEEDER FUND PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ALFM GLOBAL MULTI-ASSET INCOME FUND INC. -B,D,4 $0.99 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. A - NAVPS AS OF THE PREVIOUS BANKING DAY. B - NAVPS AS OF TWO BANKING DAYS AGO. C - LISTED IN THE PSE. D - IN NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT (NAVPU).

1 - LAUNCH DATE IS JANUARY 3, 2019. 2 - LAUNCH DATE IS JANUARY 28, 2019. 3 - LAUNCH DATE IS FEBRUARY 1, 2019. 4 - LAUNCH DATE IS NOVEMBER 15, 2019.

5 - LAUNCH DATE IS SEPTEMBER 28, 2019. 6 - RENAMING WAS APPROVED BY THE SEC LAST OCTOBER 12, 2018 (FORMERLY, ONE WEALTHY NATION FUND, INC.).

7 - ADJUSTED DUE TO STOCK DIVIDEND ISSUANCE LAST OCTOBER 9, 2019. 8 - LAUNCH DATE IS DECEMBER 09, 2019.

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

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Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Monday, February 3, 2020 B3

nCoV, disasters fail to dampen insurers’ hopes of booking double-digit growth rates this year

T

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE life-insurance industry still expects to book a double-digit growth this year amid risks to the country’s economic growth.

On the sidelines of an activity last week, Philippine Life Insurance Association Inc. (PLIA) President Benedict C. Sison told reporters that insurers remain optimistic the country would be able to weather the headwinds, including the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV) this year, given the economy’s solid fundamentals.

While Sison pointed out that nCoV would have an impact on the Philippine economy, he said they expect such as being “temporary.”

The Department of Health on Thursday last week confirmed the

first case of nCoV in the country.

Asked how the nCoV would impact the insurance industry, he said: “It’s a global thing and we’re part of a global economy so I think there will be an impact on the Philippine economy.”

“The nice thing about the Philippine economy is we’re largely a domestic consumption-driven economy. So about 70 percent of our GDP [gross domestic product] is coming from domestic consumption,” Sison said. “So [the other sources of GDP], that’s just 30 percent. And the economic fundamentals are solid.”

Sans citing the source of his information, Sison said the impact of the nCoV would felt in the first quarter.

“They’re predicting that in the first three months, there will be an impact because by summer the coronavirus is expected to fizzle out. There will be an impact but it would be very temporary,” added Sison, who is also CEO and country head of Sun Life Philippines Inc. He also agreed that disasters and the spread of global diseases would present opportunities to convince people of the need to get insured.

The Insurance Commission (IC) has yet to release full-year data on the industry’s performance for 2019.

But as of end of third quarter last year, premium income soared by 32.67 percent to P224.97 billion in a span of three years.

This is a 2.768 percent-increase from P218.91 billion in the same

period in 2018.

Prior to this, premium income was recorded at P181.51 billion and P169.56 billion in Q3 2017 and Q3 2016, respectively.

Life-sector premiums accounted for the bulk of 2019 premiums at P172.05 billion as of end-September while the nonlife sector contributed P44.02 billion in net premiums written.

At the same time, Sison also pointed out that his very positive outlook for the growth insurance industry is driven by several factors, such as the country having favorable demographics with a growing middle class, increasing prosperity, increasing financial literacy, as well as advancement in technology.

Nonetheless, he said there is still a huge opportunity in the industry to grow especially in terms of market penetration rate since life insurance still has an “underpenetrated market.”

“So the focus this year, 2020,

will be to address that; two things, one is financial literacy. So we’ll continue to pursue that,” Sison said. “It would be very difficult for us to get Filipinos to secure their brighter future if they’re not aware of the benefits of being insured, right? So we want that to really happen.”

Sison pointed to digitalization as the second matter the PLIA wants to address.

“Digitalization will allow us to reach untapped client segments; it ’s under penetrated.

Sometimes you have to use digital to reach untapped client segments,” he explained. “ Then, it will also allow us to address new client needs.”

In his acceptance speech following the induction of PLIA’s 2020 Board of Directors, Sison said the association will also work with the Department of Education to develop a financial literacy subject to be incorporated in the curriculum of stu-

dents at the secondary level of education.

Sison also vowed to pursue technology-driven programs this year, including collaboration with the Fintech Philippines Association and its Insurtech Committee’s initiatives for a cashless payment environment for the industry.

“With this, our sales intermediaries, will soon no longer need to handle cash, thus mitigating premium non-remittance risks and can instead focus their time on activities that will generate new business,” he said.

The PLIA will also work with IC for the automation of agent examination-checking to support the mass recruitment activities of the industry, Sison added.

In addition, they will also set up a management information system within PLIA that will compile standard industry performance reports on a timely basis, among other initiatives.

Malaysian bank PHL subsidiary touts 1st digital banking model PLAN FOR THE UNEXPECTED OPERATIONAL Perspectives

IMPACTS, THEY WILL HAPPEN

‘O

PERATIONAL Resilience” w ill remain a key risk focus for regulators amidst ongoing business transformation that is increasing firms’ vulnerabilities, including regulatory and operational change management, new technology and data governance strategies (e.g., cloud), expanded use of third parties (e.g., payments processors, data aggregators), enhanced risk management practices (including third party and reputation risks) and integrated risk, operations, and compliance.

Regulators are taking an increasingly broad view of operational resilience, expecting firms to not only control for operational risk but also to manage disruptions when they occur with an eye toward preserving the continuity of key business services (inclusive of, but greater than, information technology systems and cyber security).

As such, operational resilience integrates core elements of business continuity planning, operational risk (inclusive of third party) and concentration risk analysis. Further, firms must understand: the impact of critical system failures on their key businesses, counterparties, and markets; the systems that support their critical business activities; and, the effectiveness of solutions and controls to protect those systems.

In today’s interconnected business environment, firms must also consider that potential threats or disruptions to their operations may be generated from sources outside of financial services, such as cybercrimes, sociopolitical changes, or environmental risks.

Technology transformation

n “Operational Resilience” provides a useful lens for firms to prioritize investment decisions for modernizing legacy systems and strengthening technology infrastructure n Dependencies and interconnectedness between internal

and third-party technology assets must be mapped, analyzed and tested to validate the feasibility of stated recovery time objectives and achieve resumption of the end-to-end business service • Heightened regulatory attention to competition and anti-trust, especially with regard to digital technology platforms and cloud services, must be considered when selecting and/ or maintaining third-party relationships and/or acquisitions activity

Customer interaction

n “Operational Resilience” emphasizes the responsibility of financial services companies to maintain customer trust by delivering services consistently and with high quality, even when systemic shocks do occur n Internal and external communications plans are needed to provide timely information to, and manage the expectations of, customers, other market participants and regulators following a disruptive event; communications can help to restore confidence in the company and preserve its reputation.

• Evaluate the firm’s ability to meet evolving customer expectations for the continuity of financial services products and services, including mobile and web-based services that operate 24/7.

Payments modernization

n Customer expectations for payments speed affects the resilience thresholds and tolerances for payments disruptions; disruptions in payment processing have the potential for serious financial harm to consumers and corporate clients n “Operational Resilience” emphasizes the security of payments along the value chain, including during handoffs with third parties.

Market expansion

n When launching new products and services, articulate

clear service level agreements and recovery time objectives to verify the firm’s ability to deliver these services when there is an “Operational Resilience” event.

• A clear understanding of business services and the people, data, systems and processes on which they depend should enable a company to undertake mergers and acquisitions activity more efficiently and effectively or move more smoothly into new areas of business.

• A firm’s ability to deliver ser vices globally with high quality across the value chain, must consider third parties and partnerships across all geographies, including geopolitical and environmental, social and governance risks specific to their locations.

Cost efficiencies

n Balance effective risk management with operational efficiencies by concentrating investment in the assets that bolster “Operational Resilience;” invest and allocate resources based on the services that are most crucial for the continuity of critical systems and business objectives n Understand the financial impact of service disruptions and establish impact tolerances; validate that insurance policies are appropriate from a resilience perspective n Establish penalties for third parties that fail to deliver services and develop exit strategies for each vendor.

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HE Philippine subsidiary of CIMB Group Holdings Berhad credits its digital banking model to have enticed about 600,000 of its clients.

In a statement issued on January 31, CIMB Bank Philippines Inc. said since starting operations in December 2018, it has signed on about two million Filipino clients, 30 percent of whom were found to be new to banking. CIMB Bank Philippines is the CIMB Group’s first all-digital, mobile-first banking model within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) region.

“Our all-digital banking platform was designed to bring banking to more Filipinos, who otherwise may not have been able to access formal banking services,” CIMB Bank Philippines CEO Vijay Manoharan was quoted in the statement as saying.

The excerpt was taken from the KPMG article “Ten key regulatory challenges of 2020: Financial services risk across business imperatives.” © 2020 R.G. Manabat & Co., a Philippine partnership and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative, a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Printed in the Philippines For more information on KPMG in the Philippines, you may visit www.kpmg.com.ph.

THIS photo courtesy of CIMB Bank Philippines shows its “People Hub” in Bonifacio Global City commercial and business district, Taguig City

“We are happy to be part of the Philippine administration’s push to substantially increase the number of Filipinos with bank accounts,” Manoharan said.

Manohara cited the statement by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin E. Diokno in a forum last year.

He quoted Diokno as saying that monetary authorities want to see 70 percent of the population to have formal bank accounts.

“Right now, 35 percent of the population have formal accounts and we want to achieve 70 percent in 2023,” Diokno was said to have told forum participants. “ That is our target.”

CIMB Bank Philippines said its efforts gained accolade as it was named the “FastestGrowing Digital Bank ” in the Philippines by a magazine.

Manoharan credits such award to the “company’s per-

sistence in becoming a platform bank in the country.”

“Understanding that our market is not yet fully transitioned to digital banking, CIMB Bank Philippines has undertaken strategic partnerships with local payment gateways and e-wallets for our customers to adapt better to the digital platform,” he said.

Apart from giving customers easier access to their money, CIMB Bank Philippines also provides Filipinos with product offerings that fit their f lexible lifestyles, according to Manoharan.

In line with their goal of bringing more Filipinos towards financial inclusion, the country’s first all-digital, mobile-first bank aims to continue growing their customer base with a target of 3.5 million sign ups by 2020 and expand their reach through more strategic partnerships in their second year of operations.

Green Monday BusinessMirror

B4 Monday, February 3, 2020

www.businessmirror.com.ph

As forests burn around the world, drinking water is at risk

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ABRIC curtains stretch across the huge Warragamba Dam to trap ash and sediment expected to wash off wildfire-scorched slopes and into the reservoir that holds 80 percent of untreated drinking water for the Greater Sydney area.

In Australia’s national capital of Canberra, authorities are keeping a wary eye on burning forests and bushland, hoping a new water treatment plant and other measures will prevent a repeat of water quality problems and disruption that followed deadly wildfires 17 years ago.

There have not yet been major impacts on drinking water systems in southeast Australia from the intense fires that have burned more than 40,000 square miles (104,000 square kilometers) since September. But authorities know from experience that the biggest risks will come with repeated rains over many months or years while the damaged watersheds, or catchment areas, recover.

And because of the size and intensity of the fires, the potential impacts are not clear yet.

“The forest area burned in Australia within a single fire season is just staggering,” said Stefan Doerr, a professor at Swansea University in England who studies the effects of forest files on sediment and ash runoff. “We haven’t seen anything like it in recorded history.”

The situation in Australia illustrates a growing global concern: Forests, grasslands and other areas that supply drinking water to hundreds of millions of people are increasingly vulnerable to fire due in large part to hotter, drier weather that has extended fire seasons, and more people moving into those areas, where they can accidentally set fires.

More than 60 percent of the water supply for the world’s 100 largest cities originates in fireprone watersheds—and countless smaller communities also rely on surface water in vulnerable areas, researchers say.

When rain does fall, it can be intense, dumping a lot of water in a short period of time, which can quickly erode denuded slopes and

wash huge volumes of ash, sediment and debris into crucial waterways and reservoirs. Besides reducing the amount of water available, the runoff also can introduce pollutants, as well as nutrients that create algae blooms.

What’s more, the area that burns each year in many forest ecosystems has increased in recent decades, and that expansion likely will continue through the century because of a warmer climate, experts say.

Most of the 25,000 square miles (64,000 square kilometers) that have burned in Victoria and New South Wales have been forest, including rainforests, according to scientists in New South Wales and the Victorian government. Some believe that high temperatures, drought and more frequent fires may make it impossible for some areas to be fully restored.

Very hot fires burn organic matter and topsoil needed for trees and other vegetation to regenerate, leaving nothing to absorb water.

The heat also can seal and harden the ground, causing water to run off quickly, carrying everything in its path.

That, in turn, can clog streams, killing fish, plants and other aquatic life necessary for high-quality water before it reaches reservoirs.

Already, thunderstorms in southeast Australia in recent weeks have caused debris flows and fish kills in some rivers, though fires continue to burn.

“You potentially get this feedback cycle,” where vegetation can’t recolonize an area, which intensifies erosion of any remaining soil, said Joel Sankey, research geologist for the US Geological Survey (USGS).

The role of climate change is often difficult to pin down in specific wildfires, said Gary Sheridan, a researcher at the University of Melbourne. But he said the dry-

A BOOM floats across a small bay near the dam wall at Warragamba Dam in Warragamba, Australia, Wednesday, January 29, 2020. Although there have been no major impacts on drinking water yet from the intense wildfires, authorities know from experience that the risks will be elevated for years while the damaged catchment areas, including pine and eucalyptus forests, recover. AP Photo/Rick Rycroft

ing effects of wildfire—combined with hotter weather and less rainfall in much of Australia, even as more rain falls in the northern part of the country—mean that “we should expect more fires.”

But climate change has affected areas such as northern Canada and Alaska, where average annual temperatures have risen by almost 4 degrees (2.2 degrees Celsius) since the 1960s, compared to about 1 degree (0.55 degrees Celsius) farther south. As a result, the forested area burned annually has more than doubled over the past 20 to 30 years, said Doerr, from Swansea University.

Although there might be fewer cities and towns in the path of runoff in those areas, problems do occur. In Canada’s Fort McMurray, Alberta, the cost of treating ashtainted water in its drinking water system increased dramatically after a 2016 wildfire.

In the Western US, 65 percent

of all surface water supplies originate in forested watersheds where the risk of wildfires is growing— including in the historically wet Pacific Northwest. By mid-century almost 90 percent of them will experience an increase—doubling in some—in post-fire sedimentation that could affect drinking water supplies, according to a federally funded 2017 study.

“The results are striking and alarming,” said Sankey, the USGS geologist, who helped lead the study. “But a lot of communities are working to address these issues,” he added. “It’s not all doom and gloom because there are a lot of opportunities to reduce risks.”

Denver Water, which serves 1.4 million customers, discovered “the high cost of being reactive” after ash and sediment runoff from two large, high-intensity fires, in 1996 and 2002, clogged a reservoir that handles 80 percent of the water for its 1.4 million customers, said

Christina Burri, a watershed scientist for the utility.

It spent about $28 million to recover, mostly to dredge 1 million cubic yards (765,555 cubic meters) of sediment from the reservoir.

Since then, the utility has spent tens of millions more to protect the forests, partnering with the US Forest Service and others to protect the watershed and proactively battle future fires, including by clearing some trees and controlling vegetation in populated areas.

Utilities also can treat slopes with wood chips and other cover and install barriers to slow ash runoff.

They purposely burn vegetation when fire danger is low to get rid of undergrowth.

Canberra’s water utility has built-in redundancies in case of fire, such as collecting water from three watersheds instead of two, and it can switch among sources if necessary, said Kristy Wilson, a

A 1988 climate warning was mostly right

By Justin Fox

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Bloomberg Opinion

N a 98-degree June day in Washington in 1988, physicist James Hansen told a US Senate committee that “global warming is now large enough that we can ascribe with a high degree of confidence a cause and effect relationship to the greenhouse effect.” Hansen, at the time director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, elaborated that “with 99-percent confidence we can state that the warming during this time period is a real warming trend.”

Those assertions made headlines around the world, and can be said to have started the public and political discussion over global warming (the scientific discussion was already well under way) that continues to this day. They also caught Hansen some flak from fellow climate scientists who thought he had expressed himself with more certainty than warranted. In-

deed, the scientific paper on which Hansen based his testimony, which he wrote with seven co-authors and was published that August in the Journal of Geophysical Research, cautioned that it was not yet certain that the warm temperatures of the 1980s were the product of the greenhouse effect.

Still, the paper did speculate that it might become clear soon, and provided detailed forecasts (which Hansen also discussed briefly in his Senate testimony) of how much global temperatures could be expected to rise under three emissions scenarios. The annual forecasts ran through 2019, meaning that we can now judge in full how on-target they were.

As benchmarks I’ve used the global land-ocean temperature averages maintained by Nasa’s Goddard Institute, where Hansen held the top job until 2013—but also, because I know I will get emails from readers asserting that Nasa can’t be trusted, those of Berkeley Earth. The latter organization was founded in 2010 by a

University of California at Berkeley physicist who was somewhat dubious of the Nasa data (and got a big chunk of its early funding from the Charles Koch Charitable Foundation, which has a history of backing climate-change skeptics).

As you can see below, its temperature estimates, while lower than Nasa’s, aren’t much lower.

Scenario A, which assumed that the greenhouse-gas emissions-growth rates of the 1970s and 1980s would “continue indefinitely,” turns out to have been way off on the high side.

Scenario C, which envisioned “draconian emission cuts,” is way off on the low side. But Scenario B, in which greenhouse-gas emissionsgrowth rates slowed “such that the annual increase of the greenhouse climate forcing remains approximately constant at the present level” is definitely in the ballpark.

In 1988, Hansen and his co-authors termed Scenario B “perhaps the most plausible of the three cases,” so it does seem like the fairest one to judge them by.

Scenario B turns out to have quite accurately predicted the rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide through 2019. Its temperature forecast nonetheless came out a little high because it overestimated the atmospheric concentrations of methane—which have proved extremely hard to predict—and of chlorofluorocarbons, which began to level off and then decline more quickly than pretty much anyone expected after the 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

Correct for that, as Zeke Hausfather of UC Berkeley, the Breakthrough Institute and Berkeley Earth and his three co-authors did in a paper published in Geophysical Research Letters last month, and “the results are consistent with the observations.” That is, the model used by Hansen and his co-authors in 1988 did a good job of predicting how much warming would be caused by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases; it just failed to predict with perfect accuracy what those concentra-

tions would be. Hausfather and his co-authors made similar corrections to 15 other detailed warming forecasts made from 1970 through 2007 and found that all but three had proved “skillful” in extrapolating temperature changes from greenhouse-gas concentrations. As Gavin Schmidt, Hansen’s successor at the Goddard Institute and one of Hausfather’s coauthors, put it in a blog post summarizing the results: “Gosh, maybe we know something about climate after all!”

It should be noted that seven or eight years ago, after global average temperatures had barely risen for a decade, these warming forecasts weren’t looking quite so accurate. “People were thinking, ‘Something’s going on,’” Schmidt recalled when I paid him a visit this week, with climate scientists trotting out alternative explanations ranging from decadal ocean variability to tiny particles (a.k.a. aerosols) in the atmosphere to problems with the temperature record. “Then you have the three

spokesman for Icon Water, which operates the system. Water can be withdrawn from eight different levels within the largest dam to ensure the best-quality water, even if there is some sediment, she said.

That is paired with simpler measures such as using straw bales, sediment traps and booms with curtains to control silt, and physically removing vegetation around reservoirs and in watersheds to reduce fire fuel, she said.

Eventually, some communities might need to switch their water sources because of fires and drought.

Perth, on the western coast, has turned to groundwater and systems that treat saltwater because rainfall has decreased significantly since the early 1970s, said Sheridan of University of Melbourne.

But, for now, millions of people will continue to drink water that originates in increasingly fireprone forests. AP

warmest years on record in a row, and everybody stops talking about it because it’s stupid.”

I happen to really dislike it when people use the phrase “the science is settled” in reference to climate change. Science, if it’s actually science, should never be entirely settled. Researchers seem to be very much in the early stages of figuring out how to predict greenhouse-gas-induced changes in the climate beyond just increases in global average temperatures— and some of those changes may simply not be predictable. But it’s now been 124 years since Swedish physicist Svante Arrhenius hypothesized that higher atmospheric carbon-dioxide concentrations would bring higher global temperatures, and 50 years since scientists began building detailed climate models around that notion. When James Hansen said in 1988 that he was virtually certain that humans were warming the Earth’s climate “he went out on a limb,” Schmidt says now. That limb, however, has yet to break.

Biodiversity Monday BusinessMirror

Asean Champions of Biodiversity Media Category 2014

Monday, February 3, 2020

Editor: Lyn Resurreccion

B5

UNIQUE WILDLIFE, UNIQUE VIRUS

‘You never know what you’re gonna get’

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

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However, it does not mean that the bats should be exterminated, as their role in ensuring a balanced ecology outweighs the risk of transferring a deadly virus to humans, she hastened to add.

Glenn Maguad, OIC of the National Wildlife Research and Rescue Center (NWRRC) at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center (NAPWC) in Quezon City agrees.

He said there is also no way of knowing whether animals are in fact carriers of a deadly virus.

@jonlmayuga

S China struggles to contain an epidemic caused by a new deadly strain of coronavirus, Philippine authorities are on heightened alert.

The virus, designated by the World He a lt h O r g a n i z at ion (WHO) as 2019-nCoV, also called the Wuhan coronavirus, named after the place where it was traced, is believed to have been passed on from exotic animals—possibly bats or snakes—that are legally and openly sold in a wildlife and seafood market in Wuhan in the Hubei Province of China.

The Department of Health (DOH) announced on Thursday that it had the first confirmed case of someone infected with the deadly and, so, far incurable respiratory disease, a Chinese woman who arrived in the Philippines from Wuhan via Hong Kong on January 21.

The DOH said a total of 29 people are tagged “persons under investigation” (PUI) on suspicion of having been infected by the virus.

Deadly disease

IN 2003, the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS prompted the WHO to reveal the cause of SARS to be a novel coronavirus identified by several laboratories in the United States. The virus hence named SARS-CoV infected 8,000 people and killed 10 percent, or 800 of the confirmed cases.

The 2019-nCoV is as deadly a nd h ig h ly cont ag iou s. L i ke SARS-CoV, it is believed to have been transferred to humans from wild animals in Wuhan.

Wildlife experts say the threat of a deadly disease causing a pandemic is real as deadly viruses are passed on from animals to animals, animals to humans, and eventually, humans to humans.

Worse, from exotic animals could come an equally exotic virus so unique that you’ll never know what you are going to get.

Potential ground zero

THE Philippines, like any other country, is a potential ground zero of a global pandemic. Here’s why. One of the mega-diverse countries in the world, the Philippines is besieged by animal poaching, targeted both for human consumption, sports trophy, and illegal-wildlife trade.

Being both a source and consumer of illegally traded wildlife products and by-products, it struggles to prevent the hunting or harvesting of threatened animals from the wild.

Despite the concerted efforts of various law enforcement agencies, hunting for food prevails, because of hunger and poverty, in rural areas, and in coastal and upland communities.

The Philippines is also besieged by the illicit pet trade, wherein targeted species end up in steel cages or glass aquariums.

A ided by the Internet, advanced communication technology and gadgetry, the proliferation of social-media platforms and unique, user-friendly applications, even teenagers can now be both a buyer and a seller of wild-caught animals.

On the other hand, big-time criminal syndicates are becoming clever and are always a step

“Data deficient”

ahead of law-enforcement agencies when it comes to trading wild-caught animals.

A VETERINARIAN, Maguad said a major challenge for authorities in preventing the spread of a deadly virus is its lack of capacity, starting with being “data deficient” when it comes to viruses potentially emanating from animal wildlife.

According to Maguad, there’s no extensive study when it comes to health risks associated with eating exotic animals like bats, he said.

When it comes to a deadly virus, research and development are always reactive rather than proactive, Maguad said.

He explained that limited resources or funding is just one factor.

Distinct taste, apathy

FILIPINOS have a distinct taste for exotic food. While eating wildcaught animals to some means staving off hunger, to others eating exotic animals means satisfying a craving for exotic food.

Aside from wild boar and deer, exotic animals like sharks, stingray, marine turtle, birds, bats, snakes, monitor lizards are becoming food staple in coastal communities and upland areas where they are abundantly found.

To liquor and beer drinkers, they are a favorite bar chow while to some, for reasons of health and wellness, they are like a magic cure, an aphrodisiac even, a source of imagined strength and vitality.

In catching threatened wildlife, poachers risk infection by a deadly virus from their animal-victims.

Even with an increased level of awareness and consciousness, wildlife conservation experts believe sheer apathy is also behind the seeming uncontrollable addiction of some for wild-caught meat or food.

PASSENGER of Eva air from Taipei in Taiwan are wearing mask to potect themselves from getting the 2019 coronavirus at the NaiaTerminal 1 amid heightened measures to prevent the spread of an undetermined strain of the coronavirus from China. FILE PHOTOS BY NONIE REYES

Like hitting a lotto jackpot

Unlawful

ACCORDING to the director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENRBMB), consumers of wild-caught meat or food or by-products, such as meat and eggs don’t just face health risks.

Assistant Secretary Ricardo Calderon, the concurrent BMB director, they also risk arrest and jail terms for violating several environmental laws, notably Republic Act 9147, or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, National Integrated Protected Areas System Act and its amendatory version, Expanded Nipas.

Just a myth

CALDERON said beliefs that eating exotic animals have health benefits or magical cures for illnesses are just a myth.

“More often than not, claims of health benefits in eating these animals including alleged [aphrodisiac] effect are just myth and not proven by medical science,” he said.

He warned the public that eating wild-caught animals are, in fact, unsafe as they may be infected with a deadly virus that could be passed on to humans.

Without a vaccine or cure for such new and emerging diseases like the Wuhan coronavirus, acquiring such a deadly disease means certain death.

Regional cooperation

WHILE it has no specific campaign against the consumption of exotic foods, the Asean Centre for Biodiversity strongly supports the Asean campaign for curbing illegal-wildlife trade, including the implementation of the Chiang Mai Statement on Illegal-Wildlife Trade, according to ACB Executive Director Theresa Mundita S. Lim. The Chiang

Mai Statement affirms the commitment of Asean member-states in fighting the illegal-wildlife trade, considered a major driver of biodiversity loss.

The statement calls for stronger cooperation among Asean member-states in the fight against illegal-wildlife trade.

The Philippines is a signatory to various international treaties that promise regional cooperation in fighting illegal wildlife trade and conserving important ecosystems, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Bonn Convention and Ramsar Convention.

Contagious

A LICENSED veterinarian and a former DENR-BMB Director, Lim said certain zoonotic diseases can be transmitted from animals to humans.

Wild animals can carr y organisms that could be pathogenic to humans, yet the animals can still appear healthy, especially if they are the natural hosts, she explained.

She said, however, the risks are not limited to those who eat the wild meat, but also to those who get into contact with the animals when they catch them, slaughter and/or process them.

“A lso, wild animal if under stress, like in captive, crowded conditions, tend to shed more of the v ir us or pathogen, so the more they can transmit the infection to people,” she said.

“Otherwise, if they are left alone in their natural habitat, with less contact with people, of course, there will be fewer chances for transmission,” she added.

Potentially potent virus

ACCORDING to Lim, cooking does not guarantee safety in consuming meat infected with viruses or microbes.

“Some viruses or microbes may be destroyed by heat when cooked, but some are resistant to heat, so even if you cook the meat, they remain potent and still cause diseases. If the meat is improperly cooked, the higher the risk of infection that may result from ingestion,” she said.

Lim said humans contracting a deadly disease may pass it on to others, potentially causing an epidemic if the disease is uncontrolled.

“If the zoonotic disease from wild animals starts jumping from human to human, or from domestic animals to humans, then that’s when an epidemic is likely to occur,” she warned.

Not pet or food

LIM said because of the sheer uncertainty of food safety, wild anima ls shou ld be left a lone in the w ild as they are neither meant to be pets or food to be eaten, unlike anima l livestock which undergo str ict inspection to ensure the safet y of the consuming public.

The National Meat Inspection Ser vice (NMIS), for instance, checks meats in animal farms and slaughterhouses to ensure that they are healthy, and hence, safe to eat.

Unfortunately, the NMIS covers only domestic or farmed animals, not those that are wild-caught, she said.

“And even if they start inspecting wild-caught meat, certain wild animals, even if infected, may show atypical signs of known diseases or may not manifest signs at all,” she said.

“Specific laboratory examinations will have to be conducted,” added Lim.

Deadly, but ecologically important

HENCE, Lim said eating bats, a practice in some areas in the Philippines, is very risky as bats have been known to be reservoirs for viruses that cause zoonotic diseases.

THERE’S a logical explanation to the limited research on the deadly virus from wild animal: governments doubt the wisdom of spending so much money to experiment on, say a couple of bats, not knowing what really to look for, in the first place.

Governments, Maguad said, would rather spend limited resources on studying food safety on livestock because of the economic impact of the import or export ban, like in the case of chicken for bird flu, cattle for mad cow disease, or swine for, most recently, African swine fever virus.

Speaking mostly in Filipino, Maguad said there’s a very slim chance of discovering a potentially potent virus that can be passed on from animals to animals, animals to humans, and eventually, humans to humans, before a disease causes a mysterious death.

“It’s really like hitting jackpot,” he said.

According to Maguad, prevention is always better than cure when it comes to deadly diseases triggered by previously unknown virus which unique wildlife are known for.

Unique wildlife, unique virus

MAGUAD said the more exotic the animal, the more exotic the virus can be.

“As the saying goes, unique wildlife, unique virus,” he said.

Often, he said governments start investing in scientific research on animal wildlife after a myster ious or unex plained death that is threatening to cause a pandemic, such as what is now happening in the case of the Wuhan coronavirus.

“You wouldn’t know what to look for in conducting scientific research when it comes to the virus.

Not until you’ve been hit already,” said Maguad, citing the case of the dengue virus, which took several years for scientists to finally discover after many have perished.

“Being proactive in identifying the threats of a potentially deadly virus that can cause an epidemic is impossible. What we can do is to put up measures to reduce the risk of disaster, contain and prevent the spread of the virus, or better yet, avoid contact with wildlife. Better yet, avoid eating wild animals as they are not meant to be eaten,” he said.

B6 Monday, February 3, 2020

ENCHINESE: Chinese new year meal deals at Enchanted Kingdom

“Lola Sentenaryo” video triumphs at Promax Asia Awards

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HE remarkable story of Mama Nene, a 101-year-old solid ABSCBN fan, continues to amaze and touch hearts even outside the Philippines.

Fondly called “Lola Sentenaryo,” Mama Nene was featured in one of the Kapamilya network’s 65th anniversary videos released last year.

In the said TV spot, she shared how she finds comfort in watching ABS-CBN teleseryes, welcoming TV characters like Cardo, Romina, and Daniela in her home like they are her own kids and grandchildren.

The video, which now has close to a million views on Facebook, recently won Best Long Form Brand Image in the PROMAX Asia Awards in Singapore. PROMAX Asia, which celebrates outstanding achievements in the world of entertainment marketing and design, is participated in by leading media companies such as HBO Asia, FOX Networks Group, Sony Pictures, Asia, and Star India, among others.

Since her husband got sick with Alzheimer’s Disease, Mama Nene is left mostly to herself with her children now busy with their own families. “I never feel alone when I watch ABS-CBN,”

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Mama Nene who is fondly called Lola Sentenaryo. Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN Creative Communications Management

Mama Nene said in the video. Because of her regular habit of watching Kapamilya teleseryes, Mama Nene remains hopeful that her own family will find ways to get closer and have a happy ending.

“Soap Opera Grandma (Lola Sentenaryo)” was produced by the ABS-CBN Creative Communications Management division headed by Robert

Labayen who was also Co-Chair of the PROMAX Asia 2019 Conference.

Watch it and other ABS-CBN 65th anniversary tribute videos on the ABSCBN Entertainment YouTube channel and Facebook page.

For more updates, follow ABS-CBN PR (@abscbnpr) on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or visit abs-cbn.com/newsroom.

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Hyundai starts the new decade strong with the Inauguration of Hyundai Angeles

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YUNDAI Angeles is the second Hyundai PC dealership in Pampanga and the third in Central Luzon operated by the Hizon group. The Hizon Group counts among the first four pioneer Hyundai dealers in the Philippines. “We are right where we should be,” affirmed Ms. Agudo.

“The third Hyundai dealership under

At the Hyundai Angeles City launch were (L-R) Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) Chairman Edward S. Go, HARI President & CEO Maria Fe Perez-Agudo, Hyundai Angeles Pampanga (HAP) Deputy COO Yves Amiel S. Hizon, Angeles City Legal Officer Atty.

Ralph Macalino, and HAP Executive Vice President & COO Marco O. Hizon. To mark the launch, Hyundai Angeles donated an H-100 Ambulance to the city government.

the Hizon Group is designed to respond to the needs of the booming business, tourism, and transport industries of Angeles.”

Yves Amiel Hizon, Deputy COO of Hyundai Angeles Pampanga, took pride in the Hizon Group’s as one of the four pioneer dealers of Hyundai in the Philippines. “Bakit Hyundai? My classmates asked back in 2001. I asked my mom and she said, ‘Your father saw the future of Hyundai… My father had faith. Hyundai Pampanga opened in December 2001 and is currently No. 3 in its area per market share. Hyundai Tarlac, which opened in November 2007, ranks No. 2 in its area per market share.”

This third generation Hizon is now bent on carrying on his father’s legacy by bringing Hyundai Angeles to success in this new decade.

Sidelights of the inauguration were the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), allocating some 700 units of the Hyundai H-100 Class 1 Modern Jeepney to local transport

AirAsia extends suspension of all flights to and from Wuhan; allows credit account or refund

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HE suspension of all AirAsia flights from Kota Kinabalu, Bangkok and Phuket to Wuhan, China is now extended until 15th February 2020.

AirAsia is making provisions for guests with flight bookings to/from all destinations in mainland China to obtain credit account or full refund.

Certain destinations within AirAsia’s flight network have imposed travel bans for guests based on nationalities, cities of origin, travel history or the purpose of travel. Guests are recommended to check with respective governments or embassy offices prior to travel.

AirAsia guests who were affected by the flight changes and travel bans may opt for credit account.

Retain the value of your fare in your AirAsia BIG Loyalty account for

future travel with AirAsia. The online credit account is to be redeemed for booking within 90 calendar days from the issuance date for your travel with us. The actual travel dates can be after the expiry date as long as our flight schedule is out. Applicable for all flights to/from mainland China until 15 February 2020 (or 29 February 2020 for flights to/from Wuhan only) that was ticketed prior to 24 January 2020.

Those who want full refund: Obtain a full refund to your original payment method for the amount equivalent to your booking.

Applicable for all flights to/from mainland China until 15 February 2020 and return flights from 16 29 February 2020 that was ticketed prior to 24 January 2020.

Refund requests can be made

with AVA at support.airasia.com.

From the main menu categories available, click on “Refund” then “New Refund Request” and finally “AirAsia flights to/from Wuhan” for flights to/ from Wuhan OR “China Voluntary Refund” for flights to/from other mainland China destinations. From there, simply follow the instructions as directed by AVA. For bookings made through travel agents including online travel agents, refund requests are to be made via the respective travel agents.

AirAsia assures that the safety and wellbeing of our guests and Allstars is our top priority.

AirAsia is complying with advice and regulations from the local government, CAAC, global and local health authorities, including the World Health Organisation.

Duty Free PH held Chinese festivities to celebrate the Lunar Year of the Rat

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UTY Free Philippines Corporation (DFPC) welcomed the Chinese New Year today at the Duty Free Fiestamall in Parañaque City.

DFPC Chief Operating Officer Vicente Pelagio Angala, Deputy COO Bernardine Belmonte, Store Operations Manager Monica Ruffy, and Chief of Staff Atty. Grace Malabed led the traditional celebrations with a blessing and dragon eye dotting ceremony.

Feng Shui expert Patrick Lim Fernandez shared to Fiestamall guests and shoppers the Chinese feng shui traditions and best practices to achieve happiness and prosperity this Lunar Year of the Metal Rat.

Aside from the festive holiday ambiance at the Fiestamall, shoppers were also treated to discounts up to 30% on a wide variety of items.

“DFPC welcomes the year with optimism that we will sustain our

positive business performance. We aim to further expand our market reach with the opening of new duty free stores and expansion of our merchandise lineup.. ” said DFPC COO Angala.

Sports BusinessMirror

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| Monday, February 3, 2020 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

GARBIÑE MUGURUZA: Right now it’s tough to be happy, although it has been an incredible tournament. You lose a final, but you got to make it to the final to be able to win or lose. AP

Muguruza’s back...as Grand Slam runner-up M

ELBOURNE, Australia—When Garbiñe Muguruza lost her first set of this Australian Open, 6-0, she was six games from a potential defeat that wouldn’t have been entirely shocking, following her first-round exits in the two previous majors.

When she took the first set of Saturday’s final with two breaks of serve to one, the unseeded Muguruza was a set away from clinching her first major title since Wimbledon in 2017.

The 26-year-old Spaniard dropped the second set to Sofia Kenin, but had three break-point chances against the firsttime Grand Slam finalist at love-40 in a pivotal fifth game of

the third. A fearless Kenin reeled off five straight points, and the 21-year-old American then didn’t drop another game en route to a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory and her first major title.

Muguruza was asked later if she felt like she was back following her run to her first major final on hard courts, and only second time past the fourth round in 10 Slams.

“Back? Hmm, OK. If people see it because I’m in a Grand Slam final, that makes sense,” Muguruza said. “But I feel like I was playing a lot of tournaments. I was on the tour, guys. I didn’t disappear. I was there...[just] not reaching final rounds.”

Muguruza was runner-up to Serena Williams at

Wimbledon in 2015, and then beat Serena to win the 2016 French Open. She beat Venus Williams in the 2017 Wimbledon final, becoming the first player to beat both Williams sisters in a Grand Slam final.

But then she had two relatively lean seasons, winning just the Monterrey title in ’18 and ’19 as her ranking slipped from No. 1 in September 2017 to a season-ending No. 36 last year. Being in the top 32 gets you a seeding at the four major tournaments. So the start of the new decade is already an improvement on the end of the teens.

She’s back—as a Grand Slam finalist. She’s back—in the top 20, at No. 16 next week. She’s back—working

with Conchita Martinez, the 1994 Wimbledon champion and runner-up at the Australian Open in ’98.

“I don’t think at all about the previous years—the good ones or the bad ones,” she said. “I feel like, ‘What for?’ I got the best out of it, good or bad. I just started a new year. I have a new team.

“I don’t analyze too much. Really, start of the year, first round [against No. 155th-ranked US qualifier Shelby Rogers] I was almost in the locker room. I lost first set in, like, 10 minutes,” she said, adding she didn’t need to be too hard on herself considering how things turned out.

Muguruza even managed a smile, after it was put to

her at a postmatch news conference that her demeanor had changed over the last couple of seasons.

“I think just right now it’s tough to have a big smile, though I’m smiling inside,” she said. “I’m just taking it easy after these two years. The media has been tough on me. Today, people will say very good things about me, and the next week bad things if you lose. I kind of found myself less excited, less excited with how things work.”

She’ll be philosophical while also regretting not being able to convert more than two of her 12 break-point chances, while Kenin converted five of six opportunities.

“I’m not very happy about my performance,” Muguruza said. “I think at the important moments I didn’t find my shots. I think she found her shots, I didn’t.

“Right now it’s tough to be happy, although it has been an incredible tournament. You lose a final, but you got to make it to the final to be able to win or lose.” AP

CHAMPION DOWN UNDER

QUEEN SONYA!

By Howard Fendrich The Associated Press

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ELBOURNE, Australia—Back in 1987, 11 years before new Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin was born, her parents left Moscow for New York City, eager to escape the Soviet Union and live in the United States because, as her father, Alex, put it: “You want to see the world. You want a better future for your kids.”

Alex took English classes and attended computer school during the day; he drove for a car service at night, straining to understand the dispatcher’s radioed instructions.

“It was very tough,” he says now, “but it’s amazing the things you do when you need to survive.”

Just before Sofia was born, the family briefly returned to Russia so grandma and other relatives could help with the baby. A few months later, the Kenins went back to New York. Eventually, they settled in Pembroke Pines, Florida, and it was in the driveway of their home there that Sofia, at age three-and-a-half, found her calling.

“I wasn’t into any other toys. I always liked to play with balls and with a racket. So my dad said, ‘Let’s go try it and play.’ Obviously, I had great hand-eye coordination. I saw I was really different than other players,” she said, a Champagne flute an arm’s length away as she spoke with a small group of reporters after Saturday had turned to Sunday at Melbourne

Park. “And people said, ‘You know she’s really special.

Something about her’.... And look where I am.”

Indeed, look at where, and who, she is: owner of a Grand Slam trophy and expected to be No. 7—the highest US woman currently—when the Women’s Tennis Association rankings are released Monday.

Kenin won the last four games of the final at Melbourne Park with some gutsy play at the most crucial moments, beating two-time major winner Garbiñe Muguruza, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.

One key sequence decided the outcome.

Kenin faced three break points while serving at 2-all, love-40 in the third set. All she did was conjure up an ace and four point-ending ground strokes on exchanges that all lasted 11 shots or more.

“She pulled out something unbelievable,” said Alex Kenin, who is his daughter’s coach and calls her “Sonya,” the Russian nickname for Sofia.

In all, Sofia converted five of six break points and erased 10 of Muguruza’s 12.

“Especially in the important moments, I think,” Muguruza said, “she came out with winners.”

Muguruza said she thought Sofia handled the emotions of a major final debut well, and didn’t seem to show any jitters. Alex, though, said he could tell earlier in the day his child was nervous because he saw “tears in her eyes,” and she was “trying to hold it back.”

The victory made Sofia the youngest

Australian Open champion since 2008, when Maria Sharapova—someone else with Russian roots whose game was grown on the courts of Florida—was 20.

Kenin also will be the youngest American to make her top-10 rankings debut since Serena Williams was 20 in 2002.

It was a win over Williams in the third round of the 2019 French Open, Kenin’s deepest run at a Grand Slam tournament until this week, that helped provide a boost that keeps propelling her forward.

She won her first three tour-level titles last season, and cracked the top 20.

This, though, is whole new territory.

Kenin might have been overlooked by some before, when younger Americans, such as 15-year-old Coco Gauff and 18-year-old Amanda Anisimova, were making deep runs at majors and gaining all the attention.

But other players knew what Kenin could do.

And so, certainly, did she. She proved it to the world by coming back from a set down to eliminate Gauff in the fourth round this week; by erasing a total of four set points, while getting past current

No. 1 and reigning French Open champion Ash Barty in the semifinals; by ignoring that she was “absolutely devastated” after losing the opening set against Muguruza, a former No. 1 who won titles at Roland Garros in 2016 and Wimbledon in 2017.

Her forehands and backhands are reliable, her drop shots and lobs are terrific, her ball retrieval is top-class.

But what does Kenin consider her best attribute on a tennis court?

“The fight in me,” she said. “I feel like that’s something you can’t teach. I feel like you’ve got to have that. You’ve got to have that belief and the passion.”

She often refers to Serena Williams as her idol (as so many tennis players today do).

But Kenin also says she “copied a few people” for various aspects of her playing style.

“I’ve looked up to Maria Sharapova, Anna Kournikova.

I followed their matches when I was little. I feel like I got the ‘feisty.’ I saw what it’s like,” Kenin said.

“Yeah, I feel like that definitely helped me. I have part of the Russian stuff inside me, [the] fight and fierce that I have. Trying just to be confident, do what I do best,” she said, before adding: “And thank you to my parents for giving me the ‘American dream.’”

That racket Kenin was swinging—and sometimes dropping, even kicking, out of frustration after bad points—against Muguruza?

It was painted red, white and blue.

SOFIA “SONYA” KENIN is living her “American Dream” as she wins her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. AP

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Business

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RDMORE, Pensylvania—Kobe Bryant’s high-school jersey spent more time in China of late than it did hanging on the wall of the gym named in honor of the school’s career leading scorer.

Bryant’s retired No. 33 jersey was stolen in 2017 from Lower Merion High School’s campus and eventually bought by a collector in China.

Suspicious the jersey was stolen, the Kobe collector contacted the school and helped return the keepsake to suburban Philadelphia, a process already under way before Bryant was killed Sunday in a helicopter crash.

The uniform was at last back Saturday where it belonged—unveiled under a spotlight by Bryant’s cousin, his old high-school coach, and a former teammate at Bryant Gymnasium.

“Good timing,” Lower Merion Coach Gregg Downer said. “That was kind of an iconic moment when the spotlight went on that jersey. It was just tremendous. It was major irony, almost, how we’ve been waiting for that jersey for a long time. For a long time we didn’t know where it was. To have it back, it’s a fitting ending to a tough week.”

Outside of Los Angeles, no place was as connected with Bryant as Lower Merion. At a tribute Friday night in LA, the entire Lakers lineup was introduced the same way: “From Lower Merion High School, No. 8, Kobe Bryant.”

Golfer Justin Thomas wore a Bryant No. 33 LM jersey at a tournament. The Sixers had the 33 logo on the court this week at their first home since Bryant was killed.

While NBA teams spent the ensuing days holding observances for Bryant, Lower Merion finally played its first home game and celebrated the biggest star to ever play for the Aces.

Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others killed were all remembered in the pregame ceremony.

“Because of Kobe, Lower Merion High School is known all over the globe,” principal Sean Hughes told the crowd. “Despite his international fame, Kobe kept very close to our hearts. He returned here to meet with beloved [English teachers], and of course, Coach Downer. He helped make this gym the wonderful facility it is. He was a strong supporter, not only of our basketball teams, but all of Aces Nation.”

The gym was packed to at least 1,600 capacity, and students—some asking this week

CORONA V

Kobe stolen jersey returned for ceremony at high school

A POSTER promoting the Tokyo 2020 Olympics is posted next a train door as a commuter wearing a face mask loo

KOBE BRYANT’S Lower Merion jersey is unveiled in the Bryant Gymnasium during a ceremony at Lower Merion High School. AP

at school for $40 for the $3 ticket—wore black t-shirts that read “The Heartbeat of Aces Nation” with a 33 inside an ace. Sixers Coach Brett Brown’s son plays on the team, connections far removed from the A-listers that packed Staples Center a night earlier in a stirring ceremony.

At Lower Merion, a former student sang the national anthem. A teacher unveiled a portrait she had painted of Bryant. School administrators gave speeches.

Once the ball tipped, it was business as usual, without the 24-second shot clock and

eight-second backcourt violations NBA teams have been performing to salute Bryant’s two pro uniform numbers. Lower Merion did hold 33 seconds of silence, and former teammates (and Bryant’s cousin, John Cox) gathered in a mournful circle at midcourt. AP

CHEERING THROUGH TEARS L OS ANGELES—LeBron James has only been a part of the Los Angeles Lakers for 19 months. The West Coast is a late stop on a National Basketball Association (NBA) odyssey that already yielded rings, trophies and innumerable indelible moments in Cleveland and Miami.

Yet, when this venerated franchise needed a leader to honor a legend during one of the most traumatic times in its history, James took the microphone and stood alone in a golden spotlight at Staples Center on Friday night.

Five days after Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash, the simple eloquence of James’s words left most of the arena cheering through tears.

In just four minutes, LeBron’s speech captured the melancholy mood of a city while suggesting it’s both possible and necessary to move on after unthinkable tragedy.

“As I look around this arena, we’re all grieving,” James said. “We’re all hurt. We’re all heartbroken. But when we’re going through things like this, the best thing you can do is lean on the shoulders of your family.”

Cleveland might be James’s home, but a part of him is now permanently purple and gold.

After James’s heart, humor and empathy commanded the arena Bryant essentially built, he tore down any lingering skepticism among the Lakers’ vast fan base about whether LeBron could truly be embraced by LA.

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IAMI— Shaquille O’Neal paid tribute to his friend and former teammate, Kobe Bryant, with one of their shared favorite hobbies: music.

O’Neal, who moonlights as DJ Diesel, brought his carnivalthemed event “Shaq’s Fun House” to Miami on Friday night ahead of the Super Bowl, telling the audience: “Put your cell-phone lights on. We gone light this [expletive] up one last time for Kobe Bryant.”

Standing from behind a soundboard, O’Neal then played Kanye West’s “All of the Lights.” A large purple-and-yellow banner featuring Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers numbers—8 and 24—hung from the ceiling as O’Neal dedicated several moments of his set to the basketball legend, who also recorded music.

“We miss you Kobe Bryant,” he said, holding

A fan-fueled, 13-year rivalry between Bryant and James for overall NBA supremacy left many Lakers lovers viewing James’s move west with skepticism, even after Bryant hailed the decision.

When James stepped forward and spoke on this dark day, he cemented his importance to his new team, even before they reach the playoffs together for the first time this spring.

James’s leadership skills mattered this week well before the game. Frank Vogel, the first-year Lakers coach thrust into a leadership role at a terrible time, said James took the lead in the Lakers’ first team meeting Tuesday after Bryant’s death, stepping up to share his grief and his memories of a friendly rival.

“I think he’s been really a tower of strength for all of us,” Vogel said. “He’s really been a great leader in this difficult time for us, both by example and by just being a vocal leader, and we’re following his lead.”

The Lakers knew their first game back would be painful, and the pregame ceremony proved them correct.

After Usher sang “Amazing Grace,” Bryant’s resonant voice echoed through the darkened arena while images from his life and career flickered on the scoreboard above. Images of Kobe with Gianna were almost too painful to watch.

Eventually, it was James’s turn. He started by reciting the names of all nine victims of the crash in the foggy hills above Calabasas, California.

James had notes for a speech tucked into the

waistband of his warm-up pants, but he pulled them out and pointedly discarded them.

“They asked me to kind of stay on course, or whatever the case may be,” James said. “But Laker Nation, man, I would be selling y’all short if I read off this...so I’m going to go straight from the heart.”

Just six days earlier, James passed Bryant for third place on the NBA’s career scoring list. He spoke at length after that game in Philadelphia about Bryant’s influence on his game and his approach to life, praising Kobe for his everything from his superlative skills to his desire to be a strong father to his four daughters.

Bryant and James spoke by phone early that morning—as it turned out, only several hours before Bryant died.

“I know at some point, we will have a memorial for Kobe,” James told Staples Center.

“But I look at this as a celebration tonight. This is a celebration of the 20 years. Of the blood, the sweat, the tears, the broken-down body, the getting up, the sitting down, the everything.

The countless hours, the determination to be as great as he could be. Tonight, we celebrate the kid that came here at 18 years of age, retired at 38 and became probably the best dad we’ve seen over the past three years, man. Tonight is a celebration.”

After the game, James met with the media behind sunglasses and alongside Anthony Davis, the other heir to Bryant’s throne atop the Lakers.

James’s thoughts were clearly still running wild after the Lakers’ 127-119 loss in which he missed 13 of his 22 shots and committed five turnovers.

His desperation to play better was obvious in every mistake, but he still managed 22 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds while LA’s comeback fell short of matching Damian Lillard’s 48 points.

James and the Lakers had to leave for Sacramento immediately after the game, but he won’t stop thinking about Bryant anytime soon. AP

SHAQ: WE LOVE YOU, BROTHER

his hands up and looking to the ceiling.

“Put your hands up for Kobe Bryant. We love you, brother.”

Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others died in a helicopter crash January 26. Days after, O’Neal said he would go on with his planned preSuper Bowl party in Miami but would dedicate all the proceeds to the families of the victims and the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Foundation.

“I’m gonna always remember his memory because we’re forever linked,” O’Neal told The Associated Press in an interview before he performed. “I lost a sister, lost a father—

whenever you lose somebody that’s superimportant. It’s always gonna be heavy on the heart.”

The duo teamed to help the Lakers with three straight championships from 2000-2002.

Hours before O’Neal’s event, the Lakers had its first game since Bryant’s death and honored the star player. LeBron James, wiping his eyes as the national anthem ended, and other players wore Bryant jerseys while Boyz II Men and Usher performed.

Usher said in an interview following his performance that he and Bryant, whom he met in his teen years, talked about possibly recording a song together. Bryant released a rap song featuring Tyra Banks in the early 2000s; he rapped on a remix of Destiny’s Child’s Grammy-winning hit “Say My Name”; and even collaborated on O’Neal’s 1998 album.

O’Neal encouraged the feverish crowd at the Mana Wynwood Convention Center to chant “Kobe” during his performance. Diddy, who performed after O’Neal, closed his short set by doing the same thing, with the audience happily obliging. AP

TOKYO OLYMPIC OR TO DAMPEN CANCE

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By Stephen Wade The Associated Press

OKYO—Tokyo Olympic organizers are trying to shoot down rumors that this year’s 2020 Games might be canceled or postponed because of the spread of a new virus.

Japan has so far reported no deaths from the coronavirus that has killed more than 200 people in China. Japanese organizers have hesitated to say much for several days, but on Friday they addressed the rumors. So did the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which also has said little.

The Olympics open on July 24, just under six months away.

“We have never discussed canceling the games,” Tokyo organizers said in a statement to The Associated

Badminton, biath latest to be affect

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BADMINTON event which was set to form part of the qualification process for this year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo has become the latest sporting competition to be postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has confirmed the Lingshui China Masters—due to be held in Hainan from February 25 to March 1—will not take place as scheduled amid growing concerns over the virus, which has so far killed 259 people and infected more than 12,000.

In a statement, the BWF said it was looking at holding the Super100 tour event at an alternative venue in May but no replacement date has yet been confirmed.

The BWF added it was a “sensible decision” to postpone the tournament, which will no longer contribute to Olympic qualifying as it will be held outside of the qualification window.

No decision has yet been made on the Badminton

LEBRON JAMES: We’re all hurt. We’re all heartbroken. AP

SHAQUILLE O’NEAL, who moonlights as DJ Diesel, brings his carnival-themed event “Shaq’s Fun House” to Miami. AP

Press. “Tokyo 2020 will continue to collaborate with the IOC and relevant organizations and will review any countermeasures that may be necessary.”

Rumors of a cancellation have spread in Japan with reports that the Swiss-based IOC has met with the World Health Organization about the outbreak.

The WHO has called the virus a global emergency.

“Preparations for Tokyo 2020 continue as planned,” the IOC said in a statement. “It is normal practice for the IOC to collaborate with all the main UN agencies, as necessary, in the lead up to the games and this naturally includes the WHO.” Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, speaking earlier in the week to the heads of 62 municipalities, warned about the dangers. Japan has also urged citizens not to travel to China.

“We must firmly tackle the new coronavirus to contain it, or we are going to regret it,” she said.

James’s triple-double power Lakers vs Kings

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ACRAMENTO, Californina—The Lakers say they are fully prepared for the steady stream of tributes for Kobe Bryant that they will surely see the rest of the season.

LeBron James welcomes it, calling it a therapeutic and needed part of the Lakers’ healing process.

James had another triple-double despite an off-night shooting, Anthony Davis scored 21 points and Los Angeles thumped the Sacramento Kings, 129-113, on Saturday, its first win since Bryant’s death.

“It’s never going to feel normal. It’s never going to feel the same,” Lakers Coach Frank Vogel said. “But we got our first win since this happened. There’s going to be a lot of important steps for us along the way and this was definitely one.”

James had 15 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds while helping Los Angeles end a two-game skid. James shot 6 of 15 and missed three of four 3-pointers but made up for it with his 11th tripledouble of the season and the 92nd of his career.

The Lakers were playing the second half of a back-to-back, one night after an emotional 127-119 loss to Portland at Staples Center in their first game

since Sunday’s helicopter crash that killed Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others.

During the first timeout less than four minutes into the game, a video of both Bryant and Gianna playing basketball was shown on the giant scoreboard as members of both the Lakers and Kings watched. The Nos. 8 and 24 flashed on the court as Bryant’s voice echoed through the building.

Tributes continued to play throughout the game as fans—many wearing Bryant’s jerseys— repeatedly chanted his name.

“We’re prepared for it. We understand it and we hope it happens every night just because of the legacy that he’s left behind,” James said. “We’re prepared for it as a team, as an organization and we’re going to continue to get through it. It’s our obligation just to go out and play the game, have that winning mentality because that’s what he would want.”

A memorial wall with pictures of Bryant and Gianna was set up outside one of the main entrances to Golden 1 Center. Fans scrawled messages on the wall and left flowers.

Inside, the Lakers did their best to move forward following the tragedy that left the entire organization reeling. AP

orts

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Monday, February 3, 2020

VIRUS SCARE

oks at his phone. AP

A WOMAN with a young boy takes a selfie with the Olympic rings in Tokyo’s Odaiba district. The woman is wears a face mask, but the boy isn’t. AP

RGANIZERS TRY ELLATION RUMORS Rumors have spread online with thousands of comments on Twitter under the hashtag in Japanese “Tokyo Olympic Canceled.”

The IOC has faced challenges like this before, and carries insurance for such possibilities. It has canceled Olympics during wartime, and faced boycotts in 1980 and 1984. It also held the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City just months after the 9-11 attacks in the United States.

The mosquito-borne Zika virus also cast a shadow over the run-up to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The larger problem for the Olympics could come with qualifying events in China and elsewhere being canceled or postponed. International federations will have to reschedule events and Chinese athletes could present extra challenges and screening.

World Athletics, the governing body of track and field, announced earlier in the week it was

postponing the world indoor championships in Nanjing, China, until next year. The event had been scheduled for March 13 to 15.

Travel, screening and allaying fears are certain to be more complicated if the outbreak continues. The 11,000 athletes expected to compete at the Tokyo Olympics will also face pressure to stay safe.

Sponsors and television networks who have invested billions of dollars will also try to keep the games on track.

Demand for Olympic tickets in Japan is unprecedented, exceeding supply by at least 10 times. Organizers say 7.8 million tickets are being issued for the Olympics.

Organizers say they are spending about $12,6 billion to put on the games. But a national audit bureau says the costs are twice that much.

hlon events ted by outbreak Asia Championships, due to be held in Wuhan— where the virus originated—in May. Badminton Asia will almost certainly be forced to move the tournament because of the virus.

“The BWF is continuing to monitor all official updates on the coronavirus and is mindful that BWF World Tour and other BWF-sanctioned tournaments may be affected, but there are no concrete plans or decisions at this point to change the status of any other events,” the statement from the worldwide governing body added.

The announcement from the BWF comes after the International Biathlon Union (IBU) cancelled a ski testing event at the Beijing 2022 venue in Zhangjiakou.

The event, staged to give wax technicians a chance to visit the Olympic venue and get to know the environment, was set to run from February 27 to March 2.

“We will keep monitoring the situation on the ground and hope to offer an alternative date for the ski tests in the future,” IBU secretary general Niklas Carlsson said.

Chinese head coach Ole Einar Bjørndalen, the Norwegian biathlon legend who won eight Olympic gold medals and 20 world titles during his career, has also assured the IBU that athletes from the nation have not been in their home country since November and are not affected by the outbreak.

They “have not had any direct contact with any persons traveling from China,” the IBU added in a statement.

“No new athletes or staff members will join the team for the upcoming World Championships in Antholz,” it continued.

“All team members have gone through continuous testing to ensure their health.”

Insidethegames

Kobe, The King uniting Lakers nation BLEACHERS’ BREW

RICK OLIVARES | bleachersbrew@gmail.com WHEN I look at the outpouring of grief and messages of hope and inspiration that the world has poured in the aftermath of the untimely death of Kobe Bryant, I am not at all surprised.

That his daughter, Gigi, and seven others lost their lives makes it even more tragic and heartbreaking.

In this day and age of the internet and social media, everyone can wade in with their thoughts and feelings. More than that, Bryant never got to fully enjoy his being a sports icon a couple of years after he stepped away from the NBA and on his own terms. Having said that, his feats on the hardcourt are all very recent and fresh in the minds of many.

In the aftermath of Bryant’s death—and just like any other that seems untimely (as he

hasn’t lived a full life and technically hasn’t even reached middle age), people try to make sense of his life and why it was cut so short.

I myself did wonder. Too often, we ask, what was the point of his life and then a lot of loved ones are left behind? I won’t even try to answer all that because it makes my head hurt.

I will not repeat by tribute to Bryant as I wrote about it elsewhere. As I previously wrote in my other piece, there is no need to repeat Bryant’s accomplishments; everyone knows that and a great many others will recount that. I will choose to go elsewhere (in my other piece, I spoke about how I came to follow him from my knowing his father as a former Philadelphia 76er and Michael Jordan’s mentioning him in his book My Store) that came out late 1998

Gauran bags 2 titles in Fr. Suarez netfest

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HERESE Gauran lived up to the hype, coming away with victories in lopsided fashion to emerge the lone double winner in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala (PPSPEPP) Fr. F. Suarez Cup national age group tennis tournament at the Villa Aurora Tennis Club in Cebu City recently.

The top-seeded Gauran, 12, dropped just one game in three matches to rule her age group capped by a 6-0, 6-1 romp over unranked Khalilha Imalay then the rising star from Tayasan, Negros Occidental overwhelmed No. 2 Riza Coderos, 6-2, 6-0, for the girls’ 14-under crown in the Group I tournament presented by Dunlop.

Jonathan Largo, on the other hand, upended top seed Gerald Gemida, 6-2, 7-6(4), to snare the boys’ 14-under crown and share the Most Valuable Player honors with Gauran in the event held as part of the country’s biggest talent-search put up by PPSPEPP headed by president and CEO Bobby Castro.

Fancied John David Velez from Ozamiz City also hacked out a pair of thrillers to claim the boys’ 18-under title, repulsing Eric Longakit in the semis then thwarting No. 3 Venz Alforque via the same scoreline, 4-6, 6-2, 10-6.

Other winners were Cebu City’s David Sepulveda (10-unisex), Juvels Velos (boys’ 12-under) from Danao City, Hans Cabellon (boys’ 16-under) from Pardo, Cebu, Nicole Villar (girls’ 16-under) from Laray, Cebu and Paula Uy (girls’ 18-under) from Cabatuan, Isabela.

The top seeded Sepulveda routed Matthew Morris, 4-0, 4-1; Velos shocked top seed Renante Bravo, 6-2, 6-3, in the semifinals then scored a 6-4 (ret.) win over No. 2 Kevin Tabura in the finals; Cabellon wore down Longakit for a 7-6(5), 4-0 (ret.) victory; Villar held off Corazon Lambonao, 5-7, 6-2, 10-2; and Uy crushed top seed Mia Gemida, 6-2, 6-3.

Uy and Villar later teamed up to beat Mia Gemida and Lambonao, 8-4, for the 18-under doubles title with Velez and Cedrix Bravo taking the boys’ plum with a similar 8-4 romp over Kenneth Tenepre and Kharl Yamut.

after his second retirement.

I do think though that Bryant’s passing will galvanize the Los Angeles Lakers who currently own the second best record in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with a 36-11 record; tops in the West.

It is different from say, the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team that lost almost all their players in a plane crash in 1970. It took them a long time to bounce back from that disaster.

There was the Munich Air Disaster of 1958 that hurt Manchester United that was trying to become the third English club to win three successive league titles. Prior to the crash (during take-off due to the slush on the runway after a snowfall), they defeated Red Star Belgrade and advanced to the semi-finals of the European championships. Eight football players lost their lives during the crash and two never played again after the crash owing to injuries.

It took Man United 10 years to rebound from this tragedy.

And there are more examples.

Watching the Lakers’ emotional pre-game ceremony (versus the Portland Trailblazers) was touching. Seeing Bryant’s career highlights and basketball life flash on that LED screen—with

SPORTSWRITERS honors Yulo for his world championships gold medal.

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ARLOS Yulo provided one of the greatest moments in Philippines sports in 2019.

The petite 19-year-old made history after winning the gold medal in men’s floor exercise of the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. The feat made Yulo the first Filipino and first male gymnast from Southeast Asia to claim gold at the world championships.

It was a twin feat for the 4-foot-11 Manilaborn gymnast as he also secured a berth in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Yulo later capped 2019 by serving as one of the top bets for Team Philippines in the 30th Southeast Asian Games. He won two gold and five silver medals to help the host country regain the overall title of the biennial meet 14 years

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PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR YULO after its success in 2005.

For stirring Philippine gymnastics to greater heights and giving the country another proud moment, Yulo will be conferred the President’s Award during the San Miguel Corp.-Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Annual Awards Night on March 6 at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel.

The young gymnast joins an elite list of personalities who were previously honored by the sportswriting community with the same award, among them Manuel V. Pangilinan, the multi-titled National University Lady Bulldogs team, billiards champion Rubilen Amit and Dennis Orcollo, and slalom racing champ Milo Rivera.

Yulo’s historic achievement will forever be etched in Philippine sports annals and one that

will stand the test of time, making no other person deserving of the award, according to PSA president and Manila Bulletin sports editor Tito S. Talao.

Team Philippines recapturing the SEA Games overall crown of which Yulo was a big part will be recognized with the prestigious Athlete of the Year award solely given by the country’s oldest media organization during the gala night presented by Milo, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Cignal TV, Philippine Basketball Association and Rain or Shine.

The Athlete of the Year and President’s Award are just two of the trophies to be bestowed by the PSA on top personalities and entities who made Philippine sports a memorable one last year.

Other special awards to be given are Executive of the Year, National Sports Association

SMB-MAGNOLIA DUEL OPENS PBA 45TH SEASON

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HE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)—continuing its commitment to the national men’s team program— will implement the same format it had last year when the league’s 45th season starts on March 1.

The calendar kicks off with the season-opening Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum where five-time defending champion San Miguel Beer opens its title retention bid against Magnolia in the lone game on opening night.

The All-Filipino Cup will last until June to be promptly followed by the Commissioner’s Cup that features imports with a height limit of 6-foot-10.

The season-ending Governors’ Cup then ushers the final conference of the year showcasing imports 6-foot-5 and below and which is expected to again overlap until January of 2021.

PBA Board chairman Ricky Vargas said embracing the same setup from last season is imperative especially with the league schedule again adjusting to the Gilas Pilipinas campaign in the Fiba Asia Cup 2021 qualifiers that begins this month.

“We’re trying to move from a calendar year to a flexible year,” said Vargas during the Board’s annual planning session that concluded on Friday in Milan, Italy.

“We’re going to extend to January 2021 because this (calendar) will accommodate the window of qualifiers for the Fiba Asia Cup. So we organized it on that basis,” he added.

The format for the Philippine Cup (March 1 to June 17) will have the top eight teams advancing to the quarterfinals, with the top two teams at the end of the eliminations enjoying a twice-tobeat advantage against the eight and seventh

a cello playing in the background and with the narration using his own words was haunting.

And LeBron James’s heartfelt impromptu speech picked up folks after was what a somber ceremony at that point.

Unfortunately, it left the Lakers flat as the Trailblazers pasted them. But make no mistake, this will fuel Los Angeles to a title run after several years in the doldrums. That’s six consecutive years from the 2013-14 season of having missed the post-season.

It is massive that they have LeBron James and Anthony Davis in uniform. That they are doing well now will only serve to put them back on the right track. James is a winner having won with the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Imagine if he brings a title to the LA Lakers.

Them playing sweet music right now will make Los Angeles a preferred destination after years of being in the doldrums.

They are after all one of the most storied franchises in NBA history. And right smack in Hollywood too. After years of internal problems and sniping at one another, this tragedy will bring together the Laker Nation.

And you can be sure the upcoming Basketball Hall of Fame ceremony in August of 2020 will be emotional, as well.

seeded teams.

The No. 3 team tangles with No. 6 and No. 4 battles No. 5 in a best-of-three series.

The four teams which survive clash in the best-of-seven semifinals before the two remaining ballclubs figure each other out in the best-of-seven finals.

The same set-up will be used in the mid-season Commissioner’s Cup (June 24 to October 4), although the semifinals is going to be a best-of-five, and the finals a best-of-seven.

The Governors’ Cup (October 11 to January 29) meanwhile, will have eight teams again earning a berth in the quarterfinals, where the top four squads own a twice-to-beat advantage against the four other teams in the lower bracket.

The four teams that remain face each other in the best-of-five semis, before the season concludes with a best-of-seven finals.

The league takes a break from July 10 to 12 to hold the annual All-Star game in Passi, Iloilo.

The PBA is also looking to play more provincial games this season as well as another out-of-the country outing.

Five games in the provinces have already been set for the Philippine Cup that include Bataan, Cagayan De Oro, Panabo, Dipolog and Iloilo.

And because of the success of a doubleheader it played in Dubai last year, the league is again eyeing to hold matches outside of the country most likely in Riyadh, Dubai, and the US. For the third straight season, the PBA won’t be holding games on Christmas Day. The PBA and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) also firmed up their partnership with the launching of a 3x3 event in an effort to help the national federation boost its bid to send

CHAIRMAN Ricky Vargas reaffirms the league’s commitment to the Gilas Pilipinas Program.

a team to the Olympics.

“If not Tokyo (in July), maybe 2024 in Paris,” said SBP president Al Panlilio, also a PBA governor representing the Meralco Bolts team. The PBA 3x3 kicks off in March, but details are still up in the air pending the appointment of a tournament director.

“Through the recommendation of the vice chair (Bobby Rosales of Columbian Dyip), we decided to make it a stand-alone program, something like the D-League. It will be run by an executive director under the supervision of the PBA commissioner,” Vargas said.

“Our involvement in 3x3 reassured the SBP president that the PBA is all-out to support the SBP. We’ve been doing that at least in the last four years,” he added.

RENALDO BALKMAN holds the championship as he poses with Mikey Williams, Jelan Kendrick and Thirdy Ravena.

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IGHTY Sports-Creative Pacific Philippines made the country proud once again by becoming the first non-Middle East club to win the Dubai International Basketball Championship.

In another show of force–and classy and smart basketball—the Philippine club came through unleashed a furious third quarter attack to dethrone Al Riyadi of Lebanon, 92-81, in the 31st edition of the prestigious tournament before wildly-cheering Filipinos fans at the Shabab Al-Ahli Club in the United Arab Emirates.

Chants of “Mighty! Mighty!” reverberated at its strongest when former Ateneo King Eagle Thirdy Ravena strung five points capped by a booming triple that gave the team backed by Oriental Game, Go for Gold, Discovery Primea and Gatorade a 68-51 lead late in the third quarter.

There was no stopping Mighty Sports-Creative from winning its second straight international tournament as Renaldo Balkman, Andray Blatche and Fil-Am Mikey Willians wrought havoc on the Lebanese club’s defense.

The Charles Tiu-coached team hiked its lead to 21 early in the payoff period on the way to a seven-game sweep of the championship that many thought would not be possible after the team struggled to win two of

Mighty dethrones Lebanese 5, sweeps way to crown in Dubai their four games in the group eliminations.

“It’s great! It’s a great feeling as we made up for a heartbreaking loss in the semis last year. This year it feels nice,” said the boyish-looking Tiu who thanked fans for giving the team the extra boost in battling taller and beefier rivals.

The title sweep was Mighty Sports’ third since winning Taiwan’s Jones Cup in 2016 and 2019.

“We are overjoyed with the team’s latest achievement, we never thought to win the event much more by a sweep despite the short time of preparation,” Mighty Sports owner Alexander Wongchuking said. “Given another chance, we will continue to compete here or even in Taiwan just to give Filipino migrant workers a different entertainment.”

Balkman led the team for the second straight game with 25 points and nine rebounds, while Blatche capped his seventh-straight double-double show with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

Williams boosted his stock with 13 points spiked by three triples and three assists in almost 33 minutes of action.

The 6-foot-2 Ravena wound up with only six points, two assists and a rebound in 22 minutes but his hustle helped Mighty pull away from a tight first half.

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By Steven Wine

The Associated Press

IAMI—The forecast for the Super Bowl in Miami is grim.

Clear skies and temperature in the 60s are expected when the game kicks off, so weather won’t be a problem.

But climate change likely will be, sooner or later. The sea and temperature are rising, posing a threat to South Floridians’ way of life, including their customary spot in the National Football League’s (NFL) Super Bowl rotation.

The game will be played Sunday in Miami for the 11th time, the most of any city. Given the changing climate, how much longer will the region be a place where the NFL wants to bring its big party?

“In 10 years, maybe we’ll still be functioning normally,” said Harold Wanless, a leading expert on sea level rise in South Florida. “Twenty years? I think that could be a problem.”

The Miami Dolphins’ stadium, the site of the Super Bowl this year for the sixth time, stands 10 feet above sea level.

That will change, although projections vary widely.

Miami first hosted a Super Bowl 52 years ago. What will Miami be doing 52 years from now?

“We just don’t know how fast the water is going to rise,” said South Miami Mayor Philip Stoddard, who has long been sounding the alarm about climate change.

At some point, the time for games will end. Harold Wanless, director of the University of Miami’s Department of Geological Sciences (elevation 13 feet), and other scientists have warned the sea in South Florida could rise by up to 30 feet by the end of the century.

That’s a first down’s worth of water, an amount so difficult to fathom that Wanless prefers to emphasize a more conservative projection of 8.4 to 13.7 feet by 2100.

And long before seawater begins lapping at the base of Dan Marino’s statue near the Dolphins’ stadium entrance, life in Miami could become less than super.

With a sea level rise of 2 feet—which Wanless considers possible before 2040—failing sewage treatment plants and flooded septic systems could become a serious problem.

Street flooding would disrupt transportation, and the area would be at increased risk of catastrophe from hurricanes.

Obstacles to future Super Bowls in Miami might surface first not at the stadium, but in Biscayne Bay. “Creep of fecal matter into the bay is going to make the area inhospitable, because you can’t swim in the water. That is already happening now,” said Albert Gomez, cofounder of the Miami Climate Alliance, a grassroots group focused on policy. “Would you want to go to Miami when the bays are full of fecal matter? Are you going to want to have a Super Bowl if you don’t have that under control?”

Even if sewage and septic tanks don’t spoil fun in the South Florida sun, a rising sea will alter the landscape.

“Are people going to want to come to a beach if there is no beach?” Wanless said. “Which will happen. At least the beach won’t be where you want it.”

Another harbinger could be frequent flooding in low-lying areas. High tide in Miami Beach already causes problems.

“The issue will be if the hotel districts and transportation are compromised,” Stoddard said. “That’s my big concern.”

Rising temperatures are a lesser worry, although Gomez said extreme heat might someday make South Florida unsuitable for football. He pointed to a projection of 200 days above 95 degrees annually 50 years from now.

For the NFL, climate change won’t be just a Miami problem. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ stadium sits on the banks of the Saint Johns River at an elevation of 3 feet.

The New Orleans Superdome is also at 3 feet. The Jets and Giants play home games 7 feet above sea level in New Jersey.

South Florida is built on porous limestone, which makes adaptation to a higher ocean especially difficult.

And because the topography is so flat, challenges will be widespread. With a rise of 12 feet, high tide would cover 97 percent of Miami-Dade County, Wanless said.

The Miami Beach Convention Center (elevation 7 feet) is the site of this year’s Super Bowl Experience interactive theme park. The city, built on barrier islands between Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, is already spending millions of dollars to raise streets, upgrade storm drainage and otherwise adapt to the changing climate.

“We’re at the tip of the spear,” Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said. “We’re going to feel it before others.”

But Gelber, a Democrat, is optimistic Miami Beach can continue to host Super Bowl events half a century from now.

“In 50 years, our roads may be a little higher and our pump system may be engineered differently, but we will be dry and happy,” he said. “All of this is very surmountable.

We’re a man-made island to begin with. You can adapt to these new challenges, but you have to adapt. You don’t want to wait until you’re underwater.”

Also sanguine is Ben Kirtman, professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Miami. He said state and local governments increasingly acknowledge the need to reduce emissions and adapt to a rising sea.

Kirtman said the NFL could play a role with its big bullhorn.

“This is an existential threat to much of Miami,” he said. “If the NFL shined a little light on that, that would be

FORECAST: GRIM Sports BusinessMirror

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| Monday, February 3, 2020 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

extremely helpful in shifting attitudes.”

NFL Green has promoted environmentally friendly Super Bowl initiatives for 26 years.

Projects this year included urban gardens and recycling, and the league teamed in Miami with Ocean Conservancy to raise awareness about ocean issues.

The Dolphins have virtually eliminated single-use plastics at their stadium.

“More and more, climate change is on the NFL’s radar,” said Susan Groh, who works for the league’s environmental program as a consultant. “Any new projects we’ve suggested, they’ve always been supportive.”

When asked how concerned the NFL was about climate change making Miami a less appealing Super Bowl site, league spokesman Brian McCarthy said: “We will work with the Dolphins as they focus on working on local issues.”

The Miami Super Bowl Host Committee, however, has yet to address the challenges a changing climate will present when the group tries to bring future games to South Florida.

“We’ve had no discussion of that,” committee chairman Rodney Barreto said. “It has not been on our radar at this point.”

But for the Super Bowl in Miami, the clock is running, and no one knows how much time is left.

Infantino wants Africa Cup every four years, more youth World Cups

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HE Africa Cup of Nations tournament should be played every four years instead of two, Fifa President Gianni Infantino urged the continent’s soccer leaders on Saturday.

Infantino said revenue could rise up to sixfold for a four yearly continental championship, and become a must-see event “not only for Africa but the world.”

The idea would likely be backed by European clubs who dislike losing their players to national-team duty, and especially in midseason. The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in January.

The Fifa president also tempted African officials with the prospect of more entries in an expanded slate of youth World Cups.

Infantino suggested annual under-16 and under-18 tournaments for boys and girls, instead of the current under-17 events every two years.

The boys’ tournaments could grow from 24 teams to 48 if Fifa’s ruling council agrees. Girls’ tournaments could grow to 24 teams from 16.

Infantino’s comments came in a keynote speech at a conference in Salé, Morocco, on

developing soccer in Africa, and closing a widening gap to Europe’s dominance of the world game.

“There is an impression that Africa is going backwards,” he said, reminding his audience of Pele’s famous prediction that an African team would win a World Cup by 2000.

None of Africa’s five teams at the 2018 World Cup advanced from the group stage. Africa has had three quarterfinalists in World Cup history, though none reached the semifinals.

“We have to intervene seriously,” Infantino said of Fifa’s role to help Africa in the areas of refereeing, soccer infrastructure and competitions.

Fifa has effectively run the troubled Confederation of African Football for the past six months. Infantino sent his Senegalese secretary-general, Fatma Samoura, from Zurich to oversee the Cairo-based CAF. AP

WINDOW washers clean the outside of Hard Rock Stadium as Super Bowl LIV halftime performers Shakira and Jennifer Lopez throws a football at a news conference. AP

Liverpool, with 22-pt lead, sets new standards in Premier League

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IVERPOOL is setting standards that have never been seen in English soccer.

With a 4-0 win over Southampton on Saturday, Liverpool moved a scarcely believable 22 points clear in the Premier League—the biggest advantage any leader has had at the end of the day in English top-flight history.

Winning the league, for the first time in 30 agonizing years, is surely a given. Going the season unbeaten like Arsenal’s so-called Invincibles did in 2003-2004 season is looking increasingly likely, too, with 13 games remaining.

A debate that might not be too far away is if Jurgen Klopp’s team is the best to ever grace soccer’s birthplace. It has won 100 points from a possible 102 going back to March last year.

One thing at a time, though, for Klopp, whose side needs only one more win to secure Champions League qualification for next season. Another remarkable statistic, given it’s only early February.

A maximum of seven more wins is required to clinch the league title in what is shaping up to be record time.

Mohamed Salah might also have his eyes on being the Premier League top scorer for the third straight season after netting two late goals on the counterattack against Southampton to move to 14, three behind Leicester’s Jamie Vardy. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jordan Henderson also scored.

It was also a ninth clean sheet in the last 10 league games for Liverpool, which has conceded only 15 goals—eight fewer than the next most obdurate team, Sheffield United.

FERNANDES DEBUT

BRUNO FERNANDES was handed his debut by Manchester United after his move this week from Sporting Lisbon, and the playmaker made a good impression in a 0-0 draw at Wolverhampton.

The Portugal international was at the heart of most of

United’s best attacks, was given set-piece duties, and played the full match at Old Trafford.

United dropped to sixth place, a point behind Sheffield United, whose brilliant first season back in the Premier League continued with a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace. The victory was sealed by an own-goal from goalkeeper Vicente Guaita, who carried the ball into his own net after collecting an inswinging corner.

KEPA DROPPED

AFTER a series of below-par performances when his shot-stopping ability, in particular, has been called into question, Kepa Arrizabalaga—the world’s most expensive goalkeeper—was finally dropped by Chelsea Manager Frank Lampard for the match at Leicester.

Instead, Lampard fielded in goal Willy Caballero, who at 38 years, 126 days became the oldest player to start a Premier League game this season.

The teams drew, 3-3, which kept an eight-point gap between third-placed Leicester and fourth-placed Chelsea.

Center back Antonio Rudiger scored twice for Chelsea, either side of goals for Leicester from Harvey Barnes and Ben Chilwell.

WEST HAM CRISIS

WEST HAM’S slump is turning into a full-blown crisis.

By squandering a 3-1 lead to draw 3-3 at home against fellow struggler Brighton, West Ham dropped into the relegation zone. The Hammers have just one win in their last eight games.

“I’m angry, and the players know I’m disappointed,” said West Ham Manager David Moyes, who replaced Manuel Pellegrini on December 29 but has been unable to arrest the team’s slide.

Glenn Murray grabbed Brighton’s equalizer in the 79th with his seventh career goal against West Ham. AP

CHELSEA’S Antonio Rudiger (right) scores his side’s second goal during their English Premier League match against Leicester City and Chelsea at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, England, on Saturday. AP

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Wisdom

EAR God, help us to be righteous all the time that we may observe, (James 1:5 ). “If any of you lack wisdom, let Him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given Him.” Many times, Lord, we seek the gift of wisdom to be guided well by the Holy Spirit. Inspire us then to be in the right direction that will lead us to the way, the truth and life, in Jesus name. Amen.

GIVE US THIS DAY SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • lifestylebusinessmirror@gmail.com

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Queen Isabela 2020 is a belle

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AUAYAN CITY, Isabela—I’ve never experienced the famous Bambanti Festival in this province, and I’ve always loved the feminine name Isabela. So when my good friend Nilo Agustin, who was also incidentally the head of the festivities, invited me to immerse myself in the “festival of faith and gratitude to God who has been so good to the people of Isabela,” I jumped at the opportunity.

From January 27 to 31, the biggest producer of rice, corn and monggo celebrated the Bambanti Festival, a brainchild of now-Vice Gov. Faustino “Bojie” Dy III (a Christopher de Leon lookalike with a heartthrob son, Faustino V, Sixth District of Isabela representative).

This year’s theme was “Patuloy ang Tagumpay ng Pusong Isabela.” I was also curious to soak in the vibrancy of the province that produced international beauty queens Mutya Johanna Datul (from Santa Maria), Miss Supranational 2013; and Izza Gonzales (from Ilagan), Miss Maja International second runner-up.

Isabela—a name that means “pledged to God”—is a Spanish and Italian variation to “Elizabeth” with the Hebrew origin “Elisheba.” I’m fond of it because of the great beauties Isabella Rossellini, Isabelle Huppert and Isabelle Adjani. Younger ones will relate to the fictional Isabella “Bella” Swan, played by Kristen Stewart in the Twilight saga, or to wannabe supermodel Bella Hadid.

One of the highlights of the Bambanti Festival was the beauty pageant, Queen Isabela 2020, held on January 28 at the Isabela Sports Complex in the City of Ilagan. Thirty-one young women (out of a possible 37 from all the cities and municipalities) competed for the title and the P50,000 cash prize (too small, I think, for a rich province).

An impressive touch during the finals night was when the candidates came onstage during their introduction accompanied by their respective mayors.

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FIRST Runner-Up Vjie O. Matias from the Municipality of San Manuel, Queen Isabela Tourism Myra Yzabelle April Rola from the Municipality of Aurora, Queen Isabela 2020 Roseann Camille Lavarez Fernandez from the Municipality of Quirino, Queen Isabela Culture and The Arts Kimberlyn Jane M. Acob from the Municipality of Cabatuan, and Second Runner-Up Mary Alexandra R. Wu from the Municipality of Quezon.

PHOTOS: GEORGE BUID

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Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Isla Fisher, 44; Nathan Lane, 64; Morgan Fairchild, 70; Blythe Danner, 77.

Happy Birthday: Prepare to make things happen this year. Your strength, courage and desire to make a difference will inspire others to pitch in and help. Speak up, be direct and leave nothing to the imagination. It’s time to take over and make your dreams come true, and your life and your surroundings the best possible. Strive to make your mark. Your lucky numbers are 7, 13, 20, 23, 32, 43, 49.

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ighteen years after the first Diva 2 Diva concept show was first staged at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila, singer-producer Kuh Ledesma will liven up this year’s Valentine week by gathering A-list performers Zsa Zsa Padilla, Nanette Inventor and Mitch Valdes in a special dinner show at The Manila Hotel on February 13 before the group travels to Pampanga for another performance at the Clark Marriott Hotel on Valentine’s Day. “Most definitely love songs,” replied Ledesma when we asked about the repertoire her team is preparing for these shows. “Zsa Zsa and I will be singing our respective signature songs since the audience always clamors for these songs, and we will add a few new songs that we think they will like to see us perform.”

Padilla added, “Of course, we always make space to incorporate new songs when we do shows, but we have to be careful in choosing what contemporary songs would suit our voices, singing styles and our age, too. Like, I cannot just go onstage and perform songs of Rihanna—that would just be so awkward, and I doubt if I will be able to connect with the younger set of patrons for our shows. I’m sure they will feel awkward, too, and that will be a downright disconnect.”

For her part, Valdes feels that quality is universal.

“Good music is good music, and we cannot argue with that. Music has no barriers. So whatever age group you belong to; we pause and listen when we hear something new, and fresh and interesting, even if the song is unfamiliar.”

Valdes, who has successfully connected with a broader set of audience when she appeared on the long-running TV drama series Ang Probinsyano for many months last year, tried to define the word “diva” for us: The term can have a double meaning.

In fact, it can have a negative connotation, referring to a abhorrent attitude. But in the performing arts, it can mean that the celebrity has a premium, something she has earned through time in terms of

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Say what you think, and ask for what you want. Your quickwitted banter will give you the edge over any competition you face. Business trips, discussions with friends or relatives or gathering information will lead to improvement. HHHH

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Focus on personal enhancement, or do something that will make you feel good about who you are and what you contribute. Invest more time in yourself, your future, and the relationships that contribute to your life and your happiness. HHH

c

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Be a participant.

Aim to have fun, but not at the expense of hurting someone’s feelings. Flirting will lead to a confrontation with someone you love, as well as harm your reputation. Listen to the advice someone close offers. HHH

d

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Get the facts, find out the truth and proceed with caution. If you overreact or trust someone you shouldn’t, it will hurt your relationship with someone you love.

Spending time with someone you love should be your priority. HHH

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Make a statement.

Let everyone see what you are capable of doing. You will be able to make things happen if you stick to what you do best. Invest in yourself, hone your skills and focus on your accomplishments. HHHH

achievements.

Inventor agrees with Valdes. “More than just referring to one’s attitude or talent, a true diva lights up the entire venue because she shines naturally the moment she steps onstage and generates her own spotlight.”

Valdes, Inventor, Ledesma and Padilla are all in agreement that what will truly set one concert apart from the rest during the festive Valentine week is whether the show will be throughly and meticulously well-executed.

“A truly successful show is more than just a good concept, a witty title, or a good lineup of songs and performers. Every element should be carefully woven

together to assure a smooth transition from one number to the another, and to make sure that the audience will feel that the money [they] paid to watch the show has been worth it,” said Inventor. And if I can add, for a dinner show, the food must also be good, or else, the audience will feel cheated.

I am quite sure these Diva 2 Diva Valentine shows will be wonderful, having been tried and tested in more than 40 cities in the United States, Australia, Canada and other parts of the globe for almost 20 years now, and the artists are all talented and trusted. Let’s wait and see if The Manila Hotel and Clark Marriott will deliver in both food and beverage departments. n

GMA introduces to prime time a family like no other FROM left: Tom Rodriguez, Carla Abellana, Coney Reyes, Rhian Ramos and Mikael Daez headline Love of My Life.

GMA opens the month with an intriguing drama that explores love in different forms with the prime-time series Love of My Life, which premieres tonight, February 3, right after The Gift.

Love of My Life is top billed by top actors Coney Reyes as Isabella Gonzales, Rhian Ramos as Kelly Generoso, and Carla Abellana as Adelle Nisperos. Joining them are heartthrobs Mikael Daez as Nikolai Gonzales and Tom Rodriguez in a very special role as Stefano Gonzales.

Also in the cast are Anna Marin, Vaness del Moral, Geleen Eugenio, Samantha Lopez, Maey Bautista, Ethan Hariot, Raphael Landicho, Levi Ignacio, Carl Guevarra and Dino Pastrano, with the special participation of Johnny Revilla.

The series tells the story of the Gonzales family, headed by matriarch Isabella (Coney), a rich widow with high standards who would stop at nothing to get what’s best

for her family. Nikolai (Mikael), her youngest son, has grown into a rebellious man after causing a traumatic family accident which led to the death of his father. Stefano (Tom), the favorite son, is a family oriented architect who fathers the child of Kelly (Rhian), his

former lover who holds a vengeful heart due to what she has been through in the name of love.

When Stefano crosses paths with Adelle (Carla), a widow with a child who manages her own handicraft business, things begin

f

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Rely on yourself, and avoid disappointment. Working alone will eliminate being held back by someone who cannot keep up, or doesn’t agree with your ideas or plans. Protect your reputation, and stick to what you know and do best. HH

g

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Associate with people who can broaden your scope and help connect you to like-minded people. Give a great deal of thought to changing your life, or your direction. HHHHH

h

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Taking care of someone’s business will lead to personal changes you didn’t expect. Go through personal papers, make updates where necessary and get on with your life. Make adjustments to your living space that will free up valuable time. HHH

i to get better—until Stefano gets diagnosed with a terminal illness.

How can pain bring together such opposing characters for the sake of the love of their lives? How will Adelle, Kelly, Nikolai and Isabella adapt to living under one house to look after the sickly Stefano?

An original creation of the GMA Entertainment Group, Love of My Life is under the supervision of the production team headed by SVP for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, VP for Drama Redgie A. Magno and Executive Producer Michele Borja.

Directed by Don Michael Perez, Love of My Life airs weeknights on GMA’s primetime block. Viewers from across the globe can catch their favorite GMA shows via the network’s international channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV International. The program guide is available at www.gmapinoytv.com.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Be careful who you share personal information with, or you will end up in a vulnerable position. Take a waitand-see approach when dealing with others. Work on your own for the best results. HHH

j

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Evaluate your current lifestyle, and reassess your health and overall well-being. Set up a routine that includes a proper diet, plenty of rest and eating nutritious foods, and you will gain the strength you need to conquer your goals. HHH

k

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Attend an event that interests you, and it will get you thinking about someone or something you want to incorporate into your everyday routine. Keeping busy will help you ward off stress and anxiety. Don’t get angry; get moving. HHHHH

l

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Plan your actions, and make your move. Refrain from pushing your beliefs on others. Adjustments at home may not be to your liking initially, but if you are patient, everything will fall into place. HH Birthday Baby: You are curious, smart and versatile.

You are changeable and innovative.

‘one-star reviews’ by joon phak & ann hass The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Pungent salad green 6 Prickly subjects for a botanist?

11 Possess 14 Half-bird, half-woman monster 15 Car : driver :: plane : ___ 16 Ghost’s cry 17 Bad Yelp review for a liquor store?

19 Cut (off) 20 Over, slangily 21 Home of El Capitan 23 Loch with a cryptid 25 Permit 26 Bad Yelp review for a cafe?

32 “Despacito” singer Luis 33 Not ___ of roses 34 Saint Louis landmark 36 Montenegro neighbor: Abbr.

37 Used crayons 40 “I’ve figured it out!”

41 Poi root 43 American Crime actress Taylor 44 You, in Spanish 46 Bad Yelp review for a malt shop?

9 Nickname for singer Grande 4 50 Word following “black” or “rabbit” 51 Hospital emergency status 56 Crop circles’ places 60 Not cooked 61 Bad Yelp review for a bakery?

63 Greek H 64 Highway turnoffs 65 Musk’s car brand 66 Question toddlers love to ask 67 ___ diet (juice cleanse, e.g.)

68 “r u for real?”

DOWN 1 Kitchen boss 2 Sitarist Shankar 3 The Office receptionist 4 Broken bone immobilizers 5 Not localized, as a problem 6 Economic inflation meas.

7 Well-ventilated 8 Muse of history 9 Little tykes 10 “The only thing we have to fear is fear ___”

1 Completely destroy 1 12 Online “Yay!” 13 “Uh-uh” 18 Small bouquet 22 Self-referential 24 Former justice Antonin 26 Tenet director Christopher 27 Where to see Tony-nominated shows 28 Vowel-shaped fastener, or a good user ID for a certain Jamaican sprinter?

29 Alternative to “publish” 30 “___ to Joy” 31 Post-workout pains 32 It can be saturated 35 “You ___ to be there” 38 Grand ___ Opry 39 Believers in good and evil 42 Shrek, for one 45 Pesky insect, informally 47 Teased good-naturedly 48 Danny and the Dinosaur author Syd 51 Rowing sport 52 Solemn pledge

53 Opulent 54 Foot or second 55 This, in Spanish 57 Not as much 58 Inspiron laptop maker 59 Defeat, as a dragon 62 What Macs ran on, until a 2016 renaming Solution to Friday’s puzzle:

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Style

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Monday, February 3, 2020

Queen Isabela 2020 is a belle

D3

EXPRESS your love to your mom with these room diffusers.

CONTINUED FROM D1 The pageant was directed by Ogee Atos, hosted

by Miss Earth Philippines 2013 Angelee de los Reyes and actor DJ Durano, with sex symbol Marco Gumabao serenading the contenders. Queen Isabela 2019 was Maria Angelica Dominguez from the Municipality of Ramon.

Roseann Camille Lavarez Fernandez from the Municipality of Quirino won the top plum of Queen Isabela 2020, a first for her hometown. Myra Yzabelle April Rola from the Municipality of Aurora was named Queen Isabela Tourism 2020. Kimberlyn Jane M. Acob from the Municipality of Cabatuan was declared Queen Isabela Culture and the Arts.

Fernandez, 20, from Rizal, Quirino, is a public administration graduate of University of the Philippines Diliman who now works for a US-based company in Mandaluyong City. Longtime New York resident Dr. Antonio Mendoza asked her the question: What would you say to someone who says, “Beauty pageants objectify women?”

Fernandez’s winning reply: “Personally, I disagree.

[A] beauty pageant is a celebration of women and femininity. The candidates here in front of you are not just beautiful; we are not proving our physical attractiveness or vital statistics. We are here because we have a purpose. We carry advocacies and we are more than what we look like. We had a lot to prove and we are all empowered women standing in front of you right now.”

Fernandez will represent Isabela at the Miss Millennial pageant aired on GMA’s Eat Bulaga, which sent cohost Ryan Agoncillo to be on the judging panel.

The other judges were fashion designer Nardie Presa, jewelry designer Arnel Papa, New York engineer Danny Pagsambugan, Miss Earth’s Peachy Veneracion and Miss Universe 2016 Top 6 Maxine Medina.

The Queen Isabela pageant had a special category, called Queen Isabella II Creative Attire. The best designer award went to Lui Gascon for his creation for Miss Quezon Mary Alexandra Wu, while the best

FRAGRANCE bouquets for your loved ones: Crystal Diamond Perfume and Guardian Angel Perfumes in Memory and Eternality scents.

CELEBRATING LOVE, FAMILY AND FRIENDSHIP QUEEN ISABELA 2020 Best Creative Attire Designer: Lui Gascon for Miss Quezon Mary Alexandra Wu with Quezon Mayor Jimmy Gamazon Jr.

in creative attire, designed by Amor Albano, went to Miss City of Ilagan Kathleen Bellen.

Gascon also created the attire for Miss Aurora Myra Yzabelle April Rola. “Detail is everything! I am really obsessed with details to the point of sickness and affliction.” He described his creation for Miss Quezon as “ethereal,” and “mystical” for Miss Aurora.

“It took 5,500 hours and 21 people to work on, from

inception to completion, these two Queen Isabela costumes. They consumed hundreds of Swarovski crystals, rhinestones, colored stones, kilograms of glass beads, yards and yards of lace, organza, organdy and satin,” he explained in a Facebook post. “One may be the visual contrast of the other, but both are reflection of hardwork and commitment to excellence and art.” ■

CELEBRATE love, family and friendship with gifts from Japanese fast fashion brand Miniso on Valentine’s Day. Spread the love with gifts to hug and to hold like adorable and fluffy plush toys and pillows with Valentine-inspired messages. There are also pencil pouches with heart-printed designs. With stores located in most SM Supermalls nationwide, Miniso’s gift of beauty—makeup brushes, lip and cheek tints, colorful nail polishes—will brighten up your loved one’s day.

And there’s nothing like saying it with a romantic bouquet of fragrances like Crystal Diamond and Guardian Angel perfumes in Memory and Eternality scents. You can, likewise, add elegance and freshness to your space with room diffusers.

D4

Style

Monday, February 3, 2020

BENEFIT Cosmetics Philippines National Brow Artist Czari Domingo demonstrates some of 2020’s top makeup trends on model Annika Carlos

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How to recreate 2020 makeup trends

I

RECENTLY had lunch with my friends from Benefit Cosmetics Philippines to talk about their upcoming releases.

Unfortunately, some of these releases can’t be written about yet, but they are products that many Benefit fans have loved in the past. I’m in love with one palette in particular but that is all I’m going to say.

One item I can talk about is the Brow Zings Pro Palette. Brow Zings, which consists of a brow wax and powder, was my first Benefit product. The new slim, portable eyebrow palette has four long-wear powders to fill and shade, along with three waxes to sculpt and define, two high-pigment waxes and one clear wax. It is available in two combinations: Light-Medium, which includes cool blonde to warm brown shades, and Medium-Deep, which includes warm brown to cool black-brown shades.

During the lunch, Benefit Cosmetics Philippines National Brow Artist Czari Domingo did the makeup of her favorite model Annika incorporating 2020’s top beauty trends.

Domingo is a lovely girl who has brows to die for, which is why she is bemoaning the forecast that thin brows will be on trend again after years of thick, natural-looking brows.

I’m happy that one of the trendiest brows for 2020 is structured because I’m not sure I can live

through another season of thin brows. In my opinion, they can make people look old.

I like the look of a subtle lip stain, one of 2020’s top makeup trends, because it’s very low maintenance. With the right blush, it also looks very dreamy. I also like the pastel eyeliner and watercolor eyeshadow trends. They are looks I can no longer wear but they’re really lovely.

Domingo did a graphic negative space liner look on Annika using Bad Gal Bang Eye Liner in Blue, a creamy and long-wearing pencil. For the eyes, Domingo also used Bad Gal Bang Mascara.

Graphic negative space liner is an update on the classic cat eye. You’re actually creating the outline of the cat eye, except on a larger scale.

You can do it subtly or in a bold way.

The look admittedly needs a bit of courage, both to create and to wear. It’s not very office-friendly. It would be perfect for a work setting where people are encouraged to be creative, like in a publication or advertising agency. But if you are not as good a makeup artist as Domingo, it could take forever to do.

Another makeup trend Domingo demonstrated for us was glossy lips. To do this, she applied a mix of Cha Cha Tint and Love Tint, and topped this with Punch Pop in Sugar Cookie.

Domingo also shared some makeup tips and tricks, the Benefit Cosmetics way: n Don't be afraid of color. Peach and blue look good together on morena skin. n Mixing Benefit Boi-ing Cakeless Concealer with The POREfessional: Hydrate Primer makes concealer glide on smoothly and ensures a cakefree finish. n If you make mistakes while doing makeup, dip a cotton tip in POREfessional to correct it. n Keep the mirror low so you can see your eye shape. n Glossy brows give the illusion of good health. n

Dude, look and feel your best WITH the advent of the “self-care” phenomenon sweeping across nations, together with the popularity of multistep skin-care routines originating from neighboring Asian countries,

Longtime loyal guest Kenji Watanabe (left) and owner Teodoro Matta cuts the ribbon for Pennyworth Men’s Nail Bar grand opening.

not to mention the Hallyu Wave influencing Filipino tastes, it’s no surprise that Filipinos have caught on the modern ways of being pampered. That’s right. These days, men want their fair share of pampering—and at Pennyworth Men’s Nail Bar, Filipino men, from young professionals to those at the top of their careers, can finally enjoy their leisure and pampering needs taken care of.

As the first-ever men’s nail bar in the Philippines, Pennyworth offers a diverse lineup of services and treatments for the modern Filipino man. From mani-pedi to indulgent massages, from essential oils to aloe vera scrubs, the nail bar is poised to satisfy and relieve men of their everyday stress, and help give them the polished look they deserve.

“Pennyworth is into the holistic treatment of the male grooming process. Whatever technique that works, we employ it here for the overall wellness of the customer,” said Felix Berbano, head of marketing for Pennyworth Men’s Nail Bar, which located at Alabang Town Center. More information is available at bit.ly/2Uk5kC6.

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Monday, February 3, 2020

E1

IS YOUR SALES TEAM ALIGNED WITH YOUR BRAND? W

By Chris Wallace

put and showing them that it will be put into action, companies can also build environments of trust and gain worker loyalty. In the end, structure, consistency and follow-up create reliable ways to gather feedback from frontline teams.

E wanted to understand how well companies are using customer data— purchasing behavior and preferences, focus group feedback and market research—to build their brand stories and train their frontline teams.

ASK QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU FULLY UNDERSTAND KNOWLEDGE GAPS

ONE organization we consulted serves as a case in point. All its sales and customer service teams were required to attend a two-anda-half-hour training session that covered technical details about the technology hardware they’d be using to sell products, but defined no clear value proposition. At every turn, people told us the same

thing: “We don’t get the message we’re supposed to be communicating about the product.”

We created bite-sized training materials to fill knowledge gaps, one-sheets with infographics, and bullets describing the information they were missing or confused about. Those accessible bits of knowledge, vetted by select frontline reps, were easy for sales reps to consume and became effective vehicles for quick learning.

MAXIM POPOV | DREAMSTIME.COM

Based on our research findings and our experience consulting with thousands of sales and marketing teams, here are a few tactics companies looking to align their brand message should consider:

FOCUS ON BUILDING CONFIDENCE

CUSTOMIZE TRAINING BASED ON TEAM FEEDBACK

SOMETIMES the materials themselves aren’t the problem. Sometimes the problem is how those materials are being delivered. By regularly asking employees for in-

CONFIDENCE in telling a brand story determines how successful conversations on the front lines will be. Sales reps and customer success advocates who feel prepared to have in-depth conversations with clients consistently outperform those who don’t.

Empower ing employees to be a part of that story and to experience the brand they represent in their own way builds confidence and competence in a way that pushing information cannot. When organizations establish guidelines for how the brand should treat customers and give employees the ability to put their own authentic stamp on the interaction within those guidelines, they’re nimbler, more customer-centric and higherperforming.

Chris Wallace is the president and a cofounder of InnerView.

Safeguarding against cyber attacks on utilities WHEN COMMUNITY BECOMES YOUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE L

By Stuart Madnick

By Jeffrey Bussgang & Jono Bacon

I

F a company can transition from simply delivering a product to building a community, it can unlock extraordinary competitive advantages and both create and support a superior business model. Enthusiastic members help acquire new members, resulting in lower customer acquisition costs and a tight viral loop.

Members are loath to abandon the community, resulting in increased retention and, therefore, improved lifetime value. Members support one another, resulting in high gross margins due to a lower cost of service. Successful communities have seven key elements: n A shared purpose and values. n Simple, easily accessible value consumption. n Simple, easily navigable value creation. n Clearly defined incentives and rewards. n Carefully crafted accountability. n Healthy, diverse participation driven by good leadership. n Open, objective governance and evolution.

While there is no silver bullet for building a community, success is delivered by tracking a crisp, focused set of metrics and regularly evaluating and making adjustments based on those evaluations.

The areas you track should be:

COMMUNITY CONSUMPTION AND CREATION

TRACKING active participation

and the value that members con su me a nd produce. For example, measuring community traf f ic, sig n-ups, indiv idua l contributions (e.g., answering quest ion s, r u n n i ng e vent s, improving content) and other areas.

DELIVERY AND EXECUTION

LOOK ING at how well your company is building community strategy, estimating work and executing effectively.

ORGANIZATIONAL EXPERIENCE

FOLLOWING the incubation and evolution of community skills and expertise in your business (e.g., reading and reacting to data, mentoring, moderation, conflict resolution, building and delivering incentives).

We are in the early stages of truly harnessing the potential of carefully crafted, productive communities.

W he n i nt e nt ion a l l y wo ve n into the fabric of the business, communit ies can of fer a sustainable competitive adv a nt age a nd d r ive bra nd awareness, value production and overall commercial valuation.

The future of business is a more open, connected, engaging one, and communities are going to change the nature of how we interact with brands, products and other people.

Jeffrey Bussgang is a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School.

Jono Bacon is a community and collaboration strategy consultant.

© 2020 Harvard Business School Publishing Corp. (Distributed by The New York Times Syndicate)

AST fall, in Northern California, the United States experienced its first-ever long-lasting and deliberate, large-scale blackout. Think about what would happen if a cyber attack brought down the power grid in New York or even a larger part of the country. As we saw in California, people could manage for a few hours—maybe a few days—but what would happen if the outage lasted for a week or more? How do you prepare for a catastrophe that has never occurred before?

Some have asked me why a major cyber attack hasn’t already occurred. I believe there are three

necessary conditions for one to happen: opportunity, capability and motivation. So far, lack of motivation has been our major saving grace. There are at least three problems with the way that we have addressed such issues in the past that need to change:

DRIVING FORWARD BY LOOKING THROUGH THE REARVIEW MIRROR

WE usually focus our future actions in response to the last cyber attack. There needs to be visionary thinking: not just what has happened, but what could happen.

GETTING OVERWHELMED BY ADDRESSING THE CAUSES RATHER THAN THE EFFECTS

IN trying to think about and

prepare for new cyber attacks, we often start by thinking about how the attack might originate.

Instead, we should focus on what can we do to minimize the damage.

NOT CONSIDERING OVERLOOKED INTERDEPENDENCIES AND THE UNIQUE PROPERTIES OF CYBER-PHYSICAL SYSTEMS

BASED on past experiences, most people, especially engineers working with physical systems, assume independent failures. A cyber attack that destroys one generator can just as easily destroy all the others at the same time. Our emergency preparedness needs to not only take this into account, but plan for it.

It’s time to imagine the unimaginable, and the California power outages have provided us with a small glimpse of what could happen if we don’t prepare. As we face increasingly global uncertainty and insecurity, we need more innovative and systems-level thinking—and a sense of urgency to mitigate the impact of a major cyber attack before it happens.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

THIS research was supported, in part, by funds from the members of the Cyber security at MIT Sloan consortium.

Stuart Madnick is a professor of information technologies in the MIT Sloan School of Management.

Every family business needs an independent director

By Beatrice Ballini

N

EARLY every familyowned business leader hopes to pass the torch to a family member when the time comes. A recurring difficulty is a lack of appropriate succession planning and the readiness of family members currently involved in the management and/or the governance of the organization to hand over power or to step up to the next level.

Ensuring a positive handover to the next generation— in a way that balances family heritage with business evolution—should be central to the purpose of a family company’s board. To understand more about how family-company boards operate and what they focus on, Russell Reynolds

Associates recently analyzed 162 listed companies across Europe, half of which were family-owned. We gathered further input through discussions with CEOs, as well as board chairs, family members and independent directors at family firms.

What makes a good independent director? Technical skills alone are not enough.

Independent directors must also play a pivotal role in professionalizing board operations. In our study, 37 percent of nonfamily directors had CEO experience—the same proportion as other businesses. Thirteen percent brought chief financial officer expertise, and approximately 5 percent had crucial competencies around digital and new technologies. These directors have

a good sense of how boards operate, as 45 percent also sit on the board of one or more other listed companies, and 36 percent have board chair experience. Independent directors also help boost diversity on boards—24 percent of nonfamily directors in our study were international and 36 percent were women.

Would the incumbent family generation accept the new strategic swing required to respond to innovation? Would the family member presumed to be the next leader truly be capable in the role; would they be respected both by the board and the company employees? Would the future of the family business be brighter with a leader from outside the family at the helm? As multiple independent direc-

tors and family leaders pointed out, independent directors may well be better positioned to answer these questions than family members might be. Because the future of the company rests in their hands, loyalty and discretion are the cornerstones of their relationship with the family.

To create the best chance of a successful leadership transition, we recommend that family businesses take a thoughtful and well-orchestrated approach to the nomination of their independent directors.

It’s the best way to ensure that the family business can remain competitive for the next generation.

Beatrice Ballini is a senior member of Russell Reynolds Associates’ retail practice.

Marketing BusinessMirror

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Monday, February 3, 2020 E3

What are the new 4Ps of marketing?

F

PR Matters

By Millie F. Dizon

campaigns is the key to making progress—and revenue,” says Marcello.

But which key performance indicators (KPIs) matter most?

Marcello says that though “site traffic, click rates, and annual revenue are important, metrics that deliver actionable insights about your customers have the most influence on your business decisions.”

OR many years, marketers have applied the 4Ps of marketing—place, price, product and promotion—into their programs and strategies, at times with much success.

It is said that E. Jerome McCarthy was the first to suggest the 4Ps in the 1960s, and this has since been used by marketing companies, branding agencies, and Web design companies as a guideline.

While the 4Ps today still hold weight, the marketing landscape has been undergoing drastic changes, especially with the advent of technology.

With several high-profile data breaches causing consumer trust to sink to an all- time low, marketers must struggle to win their confidence in the wake of the new onslaught of privacy regulations.

In an article in marketingprofs.com, Judd Marcello introduces us to The New 4Ps of Marketing. These are privacy, permission, personalization and performance, which he calls “the way forward for marketers to earn consumer trust and loyalty.”

Here’s a look into the new 4Ps, and how “brands that quickly evolve and embrace the new 4Ps of marketing” can gain a competitive edge:

He then goes on to list his top 3 marketing KPIs: n Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) By allowing you to “predict what your customers are likely to spend, CLV offers a glimpse into future profits, allowing you to target customers with the highest level of engagement and spending potential.” n Net Promoter Score (NPS) Used to gauge the loyalty of a brand’s customer relationships, the Net Promoter Score offers critical insight into our customer experience performance.

Trust and transparency are now top of mind for consumers, says Marcello. With scandals like 2018’s Cambridge Analytica and one data breach, consumers have become cautious and concerned about their privacy.

In the US, new legislation to address privacy issues like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) force brands “to take a hard look on how they collect, use and secure data. More than not, they have to make significant changes or face consequences, such as heavy penalties, fines and customer churn.”

With this, marketers have to be aware of new privacy laws and restrictions when they collect data or plan new strategies.

For one thing, Marcello says that the cookie, which has served as the king of digital marketing, “is on its way out.

Campaign Spotlight: It’s Time to Leave Unrealistic Expectations with Kwentong Jollibee Valentines Series

MANILA, Philippines—The Kwentong Jollibee Valentines series has created a massive following not just from fans of the fast-food chain, but also from those who simply want to know what story the series will share next. Arguably, this is the series that stretched the rules of online ads’ runtime, and the makers behind them have, once again, rolled out a fresh batch just in time for Valentine’s Day. If the series of past years dwelled on finding one true love and living the great romance, this year, two of its previous directors have come back to teach us how to keep the love that we found.

Three short films: Apart, #CoupleGoals and Space tell the stories of modern relationships.

Apart, directed by Pepe Diokno, is about Myles and Ron. Myles, a strong independent woman, can live her life in her own terms, at times, forgetting that she has a

partner in Ron. Ianco de la Cruz, who also directed Vow and Choice, made his third film with Jollibee in #CoupleGoals. For couple Matt and Lisa, what little time they have for each other is eaten up by having to document everything on social media.

They also introduced a first-time director for Kwentong Jollibee in Space, Sigrid Andrea Bernardo.

Space follows the breakup story of Dan, a funny and dedicated boyfriend before his girlfriend let him go. Bernardo is the director of hit movies Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita and Kita Kita.

Prompted by the question, in an age where finding a match is as easy as swiping right, Jollibee Kwentong Valentines series examines the possibility that the experience of true love come off as equally easy. “[May] mga kabataaan na may ibang konsepto, na ‘di na alam kung ano nga ba ang ibig sabihin ng true love, dahil na rin yan sa malaking influence ng social media at mga bagong challenges na kinakaharap natin sa araw-araw. Madaling ma-in love, Tinder and all, but are you really experiencing the real deal? Despite these challenges, we want to share very real, and relatable stories and lessons on the real meaning of true love, and show that true love does conquer all,” explained

Iamnee | Dreamstime.com

1Privacy.

Google announced changes to its Chrome browser that would offer users additional insight [on] how they are tracked across the world through cookies.”

“Marketers have long relied on cookies to track consumer interests and behavior,” adds Marcello, “but we will have to find new and improved ways of collecting data in a post-cookie world.”

matters more.

2Personalization

With customers receiving an overload of marketing messages each day, it becomes harder for brands to stand out.

With this, Marcello says that “the best way to make an impression and cut through all

Assistant Vice President for Brand Communications, PR and Digital Marketing of Jollibee Foods Corp.

Arline Adeva.

Relatable, but fresh and surprising

The Kwentong Jollibee Valentines series was once again made in partnership with McCann Worldgroup Philippines.

In an interview, McCann’s Executive Creative Director Sydney Samodio said, “If you notice, some of the insights or the hugots from this batch are really coming from what young people experience nowadays. It’s so easy nowadays, you just swipe left if you don’t like someone. We wanted to keep the storytelling fresh but, at the same time, we also wanted to show all these values, that no matter how the world changes, should still be there and should still be intact.”

“The theme for this year is true love conquers all and the problems of what love is in 2020, and this is our attempt to capture that,” he added.

This was shared by Jollibee’s Global Brand Chief Marketing Officer Francis Flores, who said, “This year, our goal was to highlight that the best love stories are those of couples who understand and value true love, and the hard work and commitment that it takes to make it work.”

the noise is through the use of personalization. Messages that are customized based on consumer behavior and preference insights have a much better chance of being noticed and offer significant ROI.”

3Permission is a prerequisite.

In today’s world where consumers know their worth, Marcello says that “brands offering interactive experiences that are both engaging and entertaining have a leg up the competition.

Questionnaires, polls, quizzes and social stories are just a few ways marketers can improve the customer experience while conducting research and collecting op-ins.”

That’s because, “third-party

Campaign Spotlight: Google Reminds Us of the Good Times in this Touching Super Bowl LIV Campaign

MANILA, Philippines—While most brands would likely stick to something lively and fun for the Super Bowls, Google has decided to go with a more touching approach in this spot. Voiced by what sounds like an elderly man, the narrator talks to his Google Assistant who helps him look back at the touching moments he spent with his wife Loretta.

The ad is basically a showcase of how intuitive and interactive Google Assistant is, able to understand specific commands, and even taking notes and reminders for you as you speak. The narrator slowly walks us through his cherished moments with his wife, telling Google to remember certain things for him in some events. As the story unfolds, we get to know who Loretta is, and how Google is helping the narrator feel the love all over again.

In a blog post, Google Chief Marketing Officer Lorraine Twohill wrote, “The ad reflects our goal to build products that help people in their daily lives, in both big and small ways. Sometimes that’s finding a location, sometimes it’s playing a favorite movie and sometimes it’s using the Google Assistant to remember

data is unreliable and often incomplete, and it hurts consumer trust.”

How to address this? “Striking a balance between privacy and personalization requires the implementation of a permission-based data strategy—When brands seek out advanced consent, consumers anticipate receiving information from a brand and receive marketing messages that are both personal and relevant.”

(ROI)—KPIs, KPIs, KPIs. 4 Performance

Measurement is what sets successful marketers apart from the pack.

“Knowing how your campaigns perform and using that data to inform future marketing

meaningful details.”

Twohill further clarifies that the story is inspired by Googler’s grandfather, who “At 85, to an audience of millions, he’ll be making his film debut. We couldn’t be happier for him.”

The tear-jerking film, entitled Loretta, is a homage to Google’s first Super Bowl ad released ten years ago that followed a similar structure—a person using Google’s services that follows a certain story. In Parisian Love, we follow someone who starts an adventure by searching for schools in Paris and, eventually, googling things like how to say hi in French or ask a Parisian girl out on a date.

Loretta, made entirely of old photos and short snippets of the couple, is a dramatic one set to a repetitive yet sinking piano score.

But it’s not all too bad, as the narrator slowly talks about how happy he is having met Loretta, ending his speech by saying he’s the luckiest man in the world.

And we can’t help but feel lucky getting to know the man and his wife, too.

Campaign Spotlight: ‘#PostyStore’ or ‘#PostyBar’ for Post Malone? Bud Light Asks You in this Super Bowl LIV PreGame Ad MANILA, Philippines—Bud Light Seltzer has a dilemma: they, together with Wieden+Kennedy,

n Customer Repeat Rate Do your customers come back again and again? Marcello says that this KPI “informs your strategy for increasing consumer loyalty and delivering a world-class customer experience worth repeating.”

In an ever-changing world, the Ps of marketing have evolved. And adding privacy, permission, personalization and performance into the mix will enhance the traditional place, price, product and promotion in earning consumer trust and loyalty.

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdombased International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Millie Dizon, the senior vice president for marketing and communications of SM, is the former local chairman.

We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations. Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@gmail.com.

made one too many ads for this year’s Super Bowl, and can’t decide on which one to go with. So they’re asking the Twitterverse for some help.

In this social-media standoff, we get to see inside the mind of famous musician Post Malone go through two scenarios. The first one, called #PostStore, shows Post Malone go into a shop to buy some Bud Light and encounter a product he’s never tried before: the Bud Light Seltzer. His brain goes into overdrive, showing different tiny men living inside (all with his iconic facial and arm tattoos) trying to come to a consensus on whether to buy it or not. We also get to see inside his different organs— his tongue, his stomach and his spleen—and how they find the new product.

And after a successful experiment at the shop, he encounters a new product again, this time at #PostyBar, where he decides whether or not he likes the mango-flavored variant of Bud Light Seltzer. This time, we also travel through his senses, taking a peak at his olfactory senses too.

“It feels cool to be in a Bud Light commercial, especially a Bud Light Super Bowl commercial, which is a huge deal,” Post Malone said of the ad in a press statement.

“I just love the taste and the camaraderie. So it’s a real honor and blessing for me to be able to be a part of such a big moment.”

Marketing BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Monday, February 3, 2020 E3

What are the new 4Ps of marketing?

F

PR Matters

By Millie F. Dizon

campaigns is the key to making progress—and revenue,” says Marcello.

But which key performance indicators (KPIs) matter most?

Marcello says that though “site traffic, click rates, and annual revenue are important, metrics that deliver actionable insights about your customers have the most influence on your business decisions.”

OR many years, marketers have applied the 4Ps of marketing—place, price, product and promotion—into their programs and strategies, at times with much success.

It is said that E. Jerome McCarthy was the first to suggest the 4Ps in the 1960s, and this has since been used by marketing companies, branding agencies, and Web design companies as a guideline.

While the 4Ps today still hold weight, the marketing landscape has been undergoing drastic changes, especially with the advent of technology.

With several high-profile data breaches causing consumer trust to sink to an all- time low, marketers must struggle to win their confidence in the wake of the new onslaught of privacy regulations.

In an article in marketingprofs.com, Judd Marcello introduces us to The New 4Ps of Marketing. These are privacy, permission, personalization and performance, which he calls “the way forward for marketers to earn consumer trust and loyalty.”

Here’s a look into the new 4Ps, and how “brands that quickly evolve and embrace the new 4Ps of marketing” can gain a competitive edge:

He then goes on to list his top 3 marketing KPIs: n Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) By allowing you to “predict what your customers are likely to spend, CLV offers a glimpse into future profits, allowing you to target customers with the highest level of engagement and spending potential.” n Net Promoter Score (NPS) Used to gauge the loyalty of a brand’s customer relationships, the Net Promoter Score offers critical insight into our customer experience performance.

Trust and transparency are now top of mind for consumers, says Marcello. With scandals like 2018’s Cambridge Analytica and one data breach, consumers have become cautious and concerned about their privacy.

In the US, new legislation to address privacy issues like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) force brands “to take a hard look on how they collect, use and secure data. More than not, they have to make significant changes or face consequences, such as heavy penalties, fines and customer churn.”

With this, marketers have to be aware of new privacy laws and restrictions when they collect data or plan new strategies.

For one thing, Marcello says that the cookie, which has served as the king of digital marketing, “is on its way out.

Campaign Spotlight: It’s Time to Leave Unrealistic Expectations with Kwentong Jollibee Valentines Series

MANILA, Philippines—The Kwentong Jollibee Valentines series has created a massive following not just from fans of the fast-food chain, but also from those who simply want to know what story the series will share next. Arguably, this is the series that stretched the rules of online ads’ runtime, and the makers behind them have, once again, rolled out a fresh batch just in time for Valentine’s Day. If the series of past years dwelled on finding one true love and living the great romance, this year, two of its previous directors have come back to teach us how to keep the love that we found.

Three short films: Apart, #CoupleGoals and Space tell the stories of modern relationships.

Apart, directed by Pepe Diokno, is about Myles and Ron. Myles, a strong independent woman, can live her life in her own terms, at times, forgetting that she has a

partner in Ron. Ianco de la Cruz, who also directed Vow and Choice, made his third film with Jollibee in #CoupleGoals. For couple Matt and Lisa, what little time they have for each other is eaten up by having to document everything on social media.

They also introduced a first-time director for Kwentong Jollibee in Space, Sigrid Andrea Bernardo.

Space follows the breakup story of Dan, a funny and dedicated boyfriend before his girlfriend let him go. Bernardo is the director of hit movies Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita and Kita Kita.

Prompted by the question, in an age where finding a match is as easy as swiping right, Jollibee Kwentong Valentines series examines the possibility that the experience of true love come off as equally easy. “[May] mga kabataaan na may ibang konsepto, na ‘di na alam kung ano nga ba ang ibig sabihin ng true love, dahil na rin yan sa malaking influence ng social media at mga bagong challenges na kinakaharap natin sa araw-araw. Madaling ma-in love, Tinder and all, but are you really experiencing the real deal? Despite these challenges, we want to share very real, and relatable stories and lessons on the real meaning of true love, and show that true love does conquer all,” explained

Iamnee | Dreamstime.com

1Privacy.

Google announced changes to its Chrome browser that would offer users additional insight [on] how they are tracked across the world through cookies.”

“Marketers have long relied on cookies to track consumer interests and behavior,” adds Marcello, “but we will have to find new and improved ways of collecting data in a post-cookie world.”

matters more.

2Personalization

With customers receiving an overload of marketing messages each day, it becomes harder for brands to stand out.

With this, Marcello says that “the best way to make an impression and cut through all

Assistant Vice President for Brand Communications, PR and Digital Marketing of Jollibee Foods Corp.

Arline Adeva.

Relatable, but fresh and surprising

The Kwentong Jollibee Valentines series was once again made in partnership with McCann Worldgroup Philippines.

In an interview, McCann’s Executive Creative Director Sydney Samodio said, “If you notice, some of the insights or the hugots from this batch are really coming from what young people experience nowadays. It’s so easy nowadays, you just swipe left if you don’t like someone. We wanted to keep the storytelling fresh but, at the same time, we also wanted to show all these values, that no matter how the world changes, should still be there and should still be intact.”

“The theme for this year is true love conquers all and the problems of what love is in 2020, and this is our attempt to capture that,” he added.

This was shared by Jollibee’s Global Brand Chief Marketing Officer Francis Flores, who said, “This year, our goal was to highlight that the best love stories are those of couples who understand and value true love, and the hard work and commitment that it takes to make it work.”

the noise is through the use of personalization. Messages that are customized based on consumer behavior and preference insights have a much better chance of being noticed and offer significant ROI.”

3Permission is a prerequisite.

In today’s world where consumers know their worth, Marcello says that “brands offering interactive experiences that are both engaging and entertaining have a leg up the competition.

Questionnaires, polls, quizzes and social stories are just a few ways marketers can improve the customer experience while conducting research and collecting op-ins.”

That’s because, “third-party

Campaign Spotlight: Google Reminds Us of the Good Times in this Touching Super Bowl LIV Campaign

MANILA, Philippines—While most brands would likely stick to something lively and fun for the Super Bowls, Google has decided to go with a more touching approach in this spot. Voiced by what sounds like an elderly man, the narrator talks to his Google Assistant who helps him look back at the touching moments he spent with his wife Loretta.

The ad is basically a showcase of how intuitive and interactive Google Assistant is, able to understand specific commands, and even taking notes and reminders for you as you speak. The narrator slowly walks us through his cherished moments with his wife, telling Google to remember certain things for him in some events. As the story unfolds, we get to know who Loretta is, and how Google is helping the narrator feel the love all over again.

In a blog post, Google Chief Marketing Officer Lorraine Twohill wrote, “The ad reflects our goal to build products that help people in their daily lives, in both big and small ways. Sometimes that’s finding a location, sometimes it’s playing a favorite movie and sometimes it’s using the Google Assistant to remember

data is unreliable and often incomplete, and it hurts consumer trust.”

How to address this? “Striking a balance between privacy and personalization requires the implementation of a permission-based data strategy—When brands seek out advanced consent, consumers anticipate receiving information from a brand and receive marketing messages that are both personal and relevant.”

(ROI)—KPIs, KPIs, KPIs. 4 Performance

Measurement is what sets successful marketers apart from the pack.

“Knowing how your campaigns perform and using that data to inform future marketing

meaningful details.”

Twohill further clarifies that the story is inspired by Googler’s grandfather, who “At 85, to an audience of millions, he’ll be making his film debut. We couldn’t be happier for him.”

The tear-jerking film, entitled Loretta, is a homage to Google’s first Super Bowl ad released ten years ago that followed a similar structure—a person using Google’s services that follows a certain story. In Parisian Love, we follow someone who starts an adventure by searching for schools in Paris and, eventually, googling things like how to say hi in French or ask a Parisian girl out on a date.

Loretta, made entirely of old photos and short snippets of the couple, is a dramatic one set to a repetitive yet sinking piano score.

But it’s not all too bad, as the narrator slowly talks about how happy he is having met Loretta, ending his speech by saying he’s the luckiest man in the world.

And we can’t help but feel lucky getting to know the man and his wife, too.

Campaign Spotlight: ‘#PostyStore’ or ‘#PostyBar’ for Post Malone? Bud Light Asks You in this Super Bowl LIV PreGame Ad MANILA, Philippines—Bud Light Seltzer has a dilemma: they, together with Wieden+Kennedy,

n Customer Repeat Rate Do your customers come back again and again? Marcello says that this KPI “informs your strategy for increasing consumer loyalty and delivering a world-class customer experience worth repeating.”

In an ever-changing world, the Ps of marketing have evolved. And adding privacy, permission, personalization and performance into the mix will enhance the traditional place, price, product and promotion in earning consumer trust and loyalty.

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdombased International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Millie Dizon, the senior vice president for marketing and communications of SM, is the former local chairman.

We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations. Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@gmail.com.

made one too many ads for this year’s Super Bowl, and can’t decide on which one to go with. So they’re asking the Twitterverse for some help.

In this social-media standoff, we get to see inside the mind of famous musician Post Malone go through two scenarios. The first one, called #PostStore, shows Post Malone go into a shop to buy some Bud Light and encounter a product he’s never tried before: the Bud Light Seltzer. His brain goes into overdrive, showing different tiny men living inside (all with his iconic facial and arm tattoos) trying to come to a consensus on whether to buy it or not. We also get to see inside his different organs— his tongue, his stomach and his spleen—and how they find the new product.

And after a successful experiment at the shop, he encounters a new product again, this time at #PostyBar, where he decides whether or not he likes the mango-flavored variant of Bud Light Seltzer. This time, we also travel through his senses, taking a peak at his olfactory senses too.

“It feels cool to be in a Bud Light commercial, especially a Bud Light Super Bowl commercial, which is a huge deal,” Post Malone said of the ad in a press statement.

“I just love the taste and the camaraderie. So it’s a real honor and blessing for me to be able to be a part of such a big moment.”

Perspective BusinessMirror

E4 Monday, February 3, 2020

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Is the coronavirus outbreak as bad as SARS or the 2009 influenza pandemic?

A biologist explains the clues

THIS illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). This virus was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION VIA AP

By Maciej F. Boni | Pennsylvania State University

A

THE CONVERSATION

S the new coronavirus continues to cross international borders, the two key questions on public health officials’ minds are: ‘How deadly is it?’ and ‘Can it be contained?’.

The two outbreaks in recent memory that give the most insight into these questions are the 20022003 SARS outbreak, which spread from China to 26 other countries but was contained after eight months, and the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, which originated in Mexico and spread globally despite all containment efforts.

The severity and mortality of a novel emerging virus, which we scientists in this case are calling 2019-nCoV, are very difficult to judge when new data are coming in on a daily basis. During the 2009 influenza pandemic, the earliest reports listed 59 deaths from approximately 850 suspected cases, which suggested an extremely high case fatality of 7 percent.

However, the initially reported information of 850 cases was a gross underestimate. This was simply due to a much larger number of mild cases that did not report to any health system and were not counted. After several months—when pandemic data had been collected from many countries experiencing an epidemic wave—the 2009 influenza turned out to be much milder than was thought in the initial weeks. Its case fatality was lower than 0.1 percent and in line with other known human influenza viruses.

The case fatality for SARS, during its eight months of circulation, was just under 10 percent.

Is the current epidemic more similar in severity and transmissibility to the SARS outbreak or the 2009 flu pandemic? I am a professor of biology who studies the evolution and epidemiology of infectious disease, and in my view, in late January 2020, we do not yet have enough solid evidence to answer this question. I am optimistic that the scientific community’s sharing ethos and rapid data analytics that we have seen over the past two weeks will soon generate the needed data.

Initial fatality numbers don’t tell true case fatality

AS with the 2009 pandemic, initial reports from Wuhan described small numbers of both deaths and cases. On January 20, there were six deaths out of 282 confirmed cases. By January 28, there were 106 deaths from about 4,500 confirmed cases.

These numbers taken alone suggest a case fatality rate of around 2 percent, very high for a respiratory virus. But the true number of infected individuals circulating in the population is not known and is likely to be much

higher than 4,500. There may be 50,000 or 100,000 additional cases in Wuhan that have gone undetected, and, if this is the case, it would put the case fatality of 2019-nCoV infections in the range of 0.1 percent to 0.2 percent.

During these early stages of the outbreak investigation, it is difficult to estimate the lethality, or deadliness, of this new virus.

So, with all of this uncertainty, how much effort should public health officials put into containment, quarantine and isolation activities? Should all airports be implementing temperature screening for incoming passengers? There are no easy answers to these questions, as there are only a few historical examples to look back on.

And, none of them is guaranteed to be a template for this year’s 2019nCoV epidemic.

Is this virus silent or deadly?

FORTUNATELY for human beings, a pathogen like 2019-nCoV cannot have its cake and eat it, too. The virus cannot be both deadly and undetectable. To illustrate, we can consider the hypothetical examples of a severe and a non-severe respiratory virus.

With a more severe symptoms profile, a respiratory infection will have more sudden onset, earlier symptoms, a higher chance of severity and death, and it will probably cause patients to report to hospitals at an earlier stage of infection. An outbreak of a respiratory virus like this will typically be deadly but containable.

With a less severe symptoms profile, patients may stay in an asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic state for a long time, symptoms appearance may be more gradual than sudden, and progression to hospitalization and death would be rare. An infection like this is difficult to detect and thus difficult to

At this moment, 2019-nCoV looks to me like its severity and transmission profile is somewhere between SARS and the 2009 H1N1 influenza. If this is accurate, airport screening, case isolation, contact tracing and social distancing efforts may be enough in some cities to delay or fend off the arriving stream of new cases. In the next month or two, we will see how easily newly introduced seed cases are able to establish local epidemics outside the Chinese mainland. control, but fortunately it is much less lethal.

A key characteristic to examine in these two disease profiles is whether symptoms appear before transmissibility—i.e., at a point when patients are not yet able to infect others—or the other way around. For SARS, symptoms usually appeared before transmissibility. This feature made SARS containable.

For the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, transmissibility appeared about one day before symptoms. This meant that even the best control measures missed 20 percent of transmitting patients, simply because they showed no symptoms.

Can international spread be contained?

FOR the 2019-nCoV epidemic, it appears that individuals can transmit the virus before being symptomatic. However, at this early stage, this is far from certain.

Can a pathogen like this have its international spread controlled?

Will airport screening and isolation of febrile cases be effective at slowing down the initial outbreak or perhaps containing it entirely?

TO answer this question, we can look at data from containment ef-

forts during the 2009 pandemic. In 2009 I was working at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City, where containment efforts relied on a live synthesis of airline passenger data, symptoms data, isolation data, and diagnostics data that were coming in on a daily basis.

Data were assembled in Ho Chi Minh City for the first three months of the pandemic, covering a total of 760,000 airline passengers arriving from abroad. About 1,000 incoming travelers were suspected of being influenza-positive.

That’s about one passenger for every three incoming flights. The majority of these virus-positive individuals were isolated at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases and treated.

During the early stages of the pandemic, about 80 percent of these patients’ “infectious days” were spent in isolation, effectively cutting the virus’s transmission rate by a factor of five.

On the one hand, a containment effort like this can be viewed as a success. The virus’s entry into the city was slowed down, and an epidemic that seemed imminent in mid-June was held off until late July.

On the other hand, with about 200 influenza-positive cases coming in during the three-

month containment effort, there were likely dozens of cases that came in undetected in their “presymptomatic” stage. The influenza pandemic was not destined to be locally containable.

At this moment, 2019-nCoV looks to me like its severity and transmission profile is somewhere between SARS and the 2009 H1N1 influenza.

If this is accurate, airport screening, case isolation, contact tracing and social distancing efforts may be enough in some cities to delay or fend off the arriving stream of new cases. In the next month or two, we will see how easily newly introduced seed cases are able to establish local epidemics outside the Chinese mainland.

With a little luck some cities may be able to control their outbreaks. With open scientific collaboration we may learn which containment strategies work best, in preparation for our next pandemic later this decade.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation. com/is-the-coronavirus-outbreak-asbad-as-sars-or-the-2009-influenzapandemic-a-biologist-explains-theclues-130766.