BusinessMirror February 09, 2022

BSP replacing its quarterly inflation report

By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

T

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced on Tuesday that it is launching a new quarterly report on monetary policy to replace the current inflation report.

In a statement, the BSP said it will begin publishing its first Monetary Policy Report (MPR) on February 18. The MPR will replace the quarterly publication of the Inflation Report. It will also be published four times a year to correspond with the availability of major economic data releases such as the quarterly national income accounts.

“A greater part of the report will be devoted to the forward-looking discussions on inflation and the key macroeconomic variables that affect inflation, as well as the risks and uncertainty surrounding the BSP’s inflation forecasts.”–BSP

The BSP said the MPR will serve as its flagship publication on monetary policy to provide the public a detailed view of the BSP’s forecasts as well as the guidance on the likely direction of monetary policy over the next two years.

T he sh if t to t he MPR is a lso a n a l ig nment to ot her cent ra l ba n k s t hat publ ish monet a r y pol ic y repor ts fol low ing t he a n nou nc e me nt of mone t a r y pol ic y dec isions, t he BSP sa id.

“A greater part of the report will be devoted to the forwardlooking discussions on inflation and the key macroeconomic variables that affect inf lation, as well as the risks and uncertainty surrounding the BSP’s inflation forecasts,” the BSP said.

“To this end, the structure and contents of the MPR will reflect the emphasis on the BSP’s views and outlook for inf lation and growth and, when necessary, provide forward guidance,” it added.

A briefing for market analysts and the press on the key highlights of the MPR will be held after the announcement of the monetary policy decision for Monetary Board policy meetings in February, May, August and November.

The MPR will, then, be available to the public the following day.

“The shift to the MPR further strengthens the BSP’s commitment towards greater transparency under the Inflation Targeting framework. The increased disclosure and communication by the BSP of its policy decisions should further help to anchor inflation expectations going forward,” the BSP said.

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Wednesday, February 9, 2022 Vol. 17 No. 124

P25.00 nationwide | 3 sections 24 pages | 7 days a week

50.3% AVERAGE GROWTH: MANUFACTURING IS BACK n

BOC’S ’21 RICE TARIFFS TAKE UP 22% TO P18.9B

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

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HE Bureau of Customs (BOC) collected nearly P19 billion in tariffs from rice imports in 2021, eclipsing the amount it collected in the previous year.

Customs Comm issioner Rey L eona rdo B. Guer rero repor ted in a recent D e p a r t me nt of Fi n a nce Executive Committee meeting that r ice tarif f col lection last year reached P18.9 bil lion, a 22- percent ju mp f rom P15. 5 bi l l ion in 2020.

Ta r if fs col lected f rom r i c e i mp or t s b e g i n n i n g Ma rc h 5, 2019 a re used to f und the si x-year P10 -billion annua l R ice Competit iveness En ha ncement

A PILOT in-person class is conducted at the General Roxas Elementary School in Quezon City on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, as the government prepares to commence the progressive expansion phase of face-to-face classes for public and private schools.

Last November, in-person classes resumed for the first time in almost two years, only to be suspended again in January due to the surge in Covid-19 cases. NONOY LACZA

By Cai U. Ordinario

T

@caiordinario

HE country’s manufacturing sector has recovered as output posted an average growth of 50.3 percent last year, according to the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

See “Manufacturing,” A2

@BNicolasBM

Fu nd (RCEF) to ba n k rol l prog rams t hat prov ide farmers w ith high-qualit y seed s, mac h iner y, easier cred it access, a nd rele v a nt t r a i n i n g. T h i s i s mea nt to i mprove t hei r product iv it y a nd become compet it ive.

S hou l d a n nu a l t a r i f f re ve nue s f rom r ice i m ports exceed P10 billion, the R ice Tariffication Law mandates earmarking the fund by Congress—and included in the national budget of the following year— for f i n a nc i a l a ssi st a nce to palay farmers, titling of agricultural lands, an expanded crop insurance program on rice, and crop diversification.

See “Rice,” A2

PSA changes to boost telecom, transport–DTI

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HE Department of Trade a nd I ndu st r y ( DT I ) i s con f id e nt t he a me nd ments to the Public Ser vice Act (PSA) will bring in more global players to modernize the countr y’s telecommunicat ion and transportation ser vices.

Once t he amended PSA is signed into law, the easing of restrictions contained in the

“High quality transport or telecommunication infrastructures, for example, could influence the production costs and competitiveness of all firms across all sectors of the economy.”

–DTI Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba

85-year-old policy will “significantly improve the country’s investment climate,” according to Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez.

Greater foreign investments are now expected to enter the country through telecommunications, shipping, air carriers, railway, and subways, paving the way for greater competition in these industries.

“There will be increased competition in terms of services and products which will generate better quality of services and competitive pricing to the benefit of the consumers. Higher investments will also generate more jobs and income for the people,” Lopez said in a statement.

PESO exchange rates n US 51.2930 n japan 0.4456 n UK 69.4405 n HK 6.5824 n CHINA 8.0618 n singapore 38.1701 n australia 36.5463 n EU 58.6946 n SAUDI arabia 13.6723

See “DTI,” A2

Source: BSP (8 February 2022)

A2

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

BusinessMirror

Neda says govt infra projects could create 2-M jobs this year

By Cai U. Ordinario

O

@caiordinario

VER 2 million Filipinos are expected to be employed through the government’s various infrastructure initiatives this year, including the Infrastructure Flagship Program (IFP).

In a briefing on Tuesday, National Economic and Development Authority OIC Undersecretary for Investment Programming Roderick M. Planta said, based on the agency’s estimates, the government’s infrastructure investments will translate to 2.5 million jobs this year. Last year, the investments may have created 2.3 million indirect and direct jobs.

This includes 620,000 jobs that may be directly or indirectly created through the implementation of the government’s flagship projects. Last year, this initiative created around

DTI. . .

Continued from A1

The proposed measure classified “public utility” only to distribution and transmission of electricity; petroleum and petroleum products

580,000 jobs.

“We view that these infrastructure investments in Build, Build, Build and IFP are vital in stimulating the economy and facilitating recovery, considering the potential multiplier effects and creating jobs and stimulating growth,” Planta said.

Based on Neda estimates using disbursement figures, Planta said the country’s infrastructure spending could reach 5.8 percent of GDP this year and may have reached 5.1 percent of GDP last year.

He said the impact on GDP by inpipeline transmission systems, and water pipeline distribution systems.

This includes wastewater pipeline systems, sewerage pipeline systems; seaports; and public utility vehicles.

Thus, any industry not included in the list will remain as public services

frastructure spending this year will be the highest in the past five years.

Planta said based on Neda estimates, this reached 4.4 percent of GDP in 2017; 5.1 percent in 2018; 5.4 percent in 2019; and 4.8 percent in 2020.

“The BBB program is the overall banner program of the government for accelerating infrastructure development in the country. As intended, the program aims to sustain inclusive economic growth, [create] jobs and improve the quality of life in both urban and rural communities,” Planta said.

Earlier, Planta said over half a trillion pesos worth of projects could be exempted from the election ban on infrastructure projects that will take effect in March this year in preparation for the 2022 Presidential elections.

Planta said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has filed for exemption of 18 projects.

Based on data from the Neda, the DPWH and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the collective peso value of a number of these projects reached at least P506.33 billion.

This does not include the $583.1 and be liberalized, taking into account national security.

Lopez said enumerating what is considered a public utility and limiting critical infrastructure to telecommunications and such other vital services will effectively open up other public services under the

million worth Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded projects.

A list obtained by BusinessMirror showed these 18 projects included eight projects financed by the Japanese government; four financed by the Korean government; three funded by ADB; two by the Chinese government; and one by the World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

Planta said of the 18 projects, two projects would only ask for exemption for consultancy services while the rest would request for exemption for the civil works or actual project construction.

The two projects that sought exemption are for the consultancy ser vices for the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Link Bridge and for the Davao R iver Bridge, the Bucana bridge.

The big-ticket items on this list include the Cebu-Mactan Bridge (4th Bridge) and Coastal Road Construction Project, which has a total project cost of P76.41 billion based on Neda estimates.

The list also includes the P39.22-billion Ambal-Simuay River and Rio Grande de Mindanao River Flood Control Projects; and the P27.38-billion Pasig-Marikina River and Manggahan Floodway and Bridges Construction Project. old version of the law to foreign investors.

The ratified measure will exponentially increase foreign direct investments.

“I am confident that we can make economic recovery happen in the Philippines this year. With the amended Public Service Act, we expect the entry of new foreign investors and the introduction of modern and new technologies in the aforementioned sectors,” Lopez said.

Another feature of the amended PSA is the barring of foreign nationals from owning more than 50 percent of the capital of companies engaged in the operation and management of critical infrastructure without their country according to reciprocity to Philippine nationals.

The President is also granted the authority to suspend or forbid any proposed merger or acquisition, or investment in a public service “that effectively results in the grant of control to a foreigner or a foreign corporation.”

DTI Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba, meanwhile, noted the indirect positive impact of the PSA amendment to the entire economy and said a more competitive sector augurs well for the economy.

“High quality transport or telecommunication infrastructures, for example, could influence the production costs and competitiveness of all firms across all sectors of the economy,” Aldaba said.

3rd most restrictive

Ranked as the third most restrictive economy in the world based on the 2020 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report, the Philippines would benefit from the eventual passage of the law.

DTI said it will attract more investments, generate more employment opportunities, introduce innovation, lower prices, and improve the quality of goods and services.

With the economic headwinds brought by the prevailing pandemic, the amended PSA, the Retail Trade Liberalization Act (RTLA), as well as the Foreign Investment Act (FIA) are expected to hasten the country’s recovery from the present global health crisis.

Last week, Congress ratified the bicameral conference committee report amending the PSA, clarifying what are considered as “public utility” and “public services” and addressing the ambiguity in the present law. Easing the restrictions, would allow 100 percent foreign equity participation in key sectors. Cai U. Ordinario

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Manufacturing. . .

Continued from A1

Based on the latest Production Index and Net Sales Index, which was previously called the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries (MISSI), the Volume of Production Index (VoPI) contracted 40.5 percent in 2020 and 8.7 percent in 2019.

VoPI grew 17.9 percent on an annual basis in December 2021, from 25.8 percent in November. In December 2020, the volume of factory output contracted 14.8 percent.

“The [December] increase in VoPI was brought about by the positive growth rates of 11 industry divisions. Of these, manufacture of wood, bamboo, cane, rattan articles and related products was the major contributing factor with 122.6-percent growth rate,” the PSA said.

In terms of the Value of Production Index (VaPI), the PSA reported that the increase reached 47 percent. This was a turnaround from the 43-percent contraction posted in 2020.

Data from the agency also showed that in 2019, the value of factory output fell by 10.7 percent.

In December 2021, VAPI went up by 18.6 percent, slower than the 27.2 percent registered in November. In December 2020, the value of output contracted by 18 percent.

“The growth in VaPI in December 2021 was contributed by the increases in 12 of the 22 industry divisions. Among these, the top contributor was manufacture of wood, bamboo, cane, rattan articles and related products and manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products with 93.6 and 75.1 percent annual growth rates, respectively,” the PSA said.

Capacity utilization

Figures from the PSA also showed that the manufacturing sector’s average capacity utilization rate continued to increase in December.

The data showed the average capacity utilization rate for the manufacturing sector averaged 67.3 percent in December 2021, from 67.8 percent in November.

PSA said there were 20 out of 22 industry divisions with more than 50-percent average capacity utilization rate, led by the manufacture of tobacco products (87 percent), manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products (81.3 percent), and manufacture of furniture (78.3 percent).

Of the establishments that responded to the PSA survey, 23.3 percent operated at full capacity (90 to 100 percent).

Establishments that operated at 70- to 89-percent capacity reached 39.7 percent, while 37 percent operated below 70 percent.

The MISSI is a report that monitors the production, net sales, inventories, and capacity utilization of selected manufacturing establishments to provide flash indicators on the performance of the manufacturing sector.

Rice. . .

Continued from A1

In May last year, President Duterte issued Executive Order (EO) No. 135 which paved the way for temporary lower Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff rates on rice imports. The EO reduced the MFN tariff rates for rice to 35 percent from 40 percent (in-quota) and 50 percent (out-quota) for one year.

Malacañang earlier cited a need to lower tariff rates for rice imports to offset the expected 10-percent shortfall in the local supply of rice this year.

The Department of Finance earlier said it projects a revenue loss of P40.9 million due to the slash in rice import tariff rates until May this year.

Pork tariffs

In the same meeting, Guerrero said the BOC collected P3.75 billion from 242 million kilograms of pork that entered the country between April 9, 2021 and January 28, 2022.

However, the bureau estimates that foregone revenues from tariff cuts on pork imports during the period amounted to P4 billion.

In a bid to quell inflation by boosting the pork supply with the outbreak of the African Swine Fever in the country, President Duterte also issued EOs to lower pork import tariffs and increase the allowable import volumes of the meat.

Under EO 128, pork tariff rates were temporarily cut to 5 percent for in-quota imports and to 15 percent for outquota imports for the first three months of the measure; and to 10 percent (in-quota) and to 20 percent (out-quota) in the next nine months. Prior to EO 128, tariff rates for pork imports were at 30 percent (in-quota) and 40 percent (out-quota).

However, EO 128 was only in effect from April 7 to May 14 after President Duterte issued EO 134, repealing the previous issuance.

This, after lawmakers expressed concern that the too-low pork tariff rates will flood the market with imported pork and deepen the misery of local hog raisers already reeling from the impact of African Swine Fever.

Duterte’s signing of EO 134 paved the way for the slight increase in pork tariff rates to 10 percent (in-quota) and to 20 percent (out-quota) for the first three months; and to 15 percent (in-quota) and to 25 percent (out-quota) in the next nine months.

Apart from this, Duterte also issued EO 133, hiking the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) for pork imports this year to 254,210 metric tons (MT) from the current 54,210 MT. Any unavailable balance at the end of 2021 shall not be carried over to 2022.

The pork MAV+ program, under EO 133, is only applicable during the MAV year 2021-2022 which ended on January 31.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua earlier backed the extension of the validity of EOs 133 and 134 to increase local pork supply.

The Nation BusinessMirror

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Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Wednesday, February 9, 2022 A3

DOJ exec presents option to resolve Quiboloy cases in US

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By Joel R. San Juan

@jrsanjuan1573

HE Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday suggested that “temporary surrender” is another option for the United States government to bring Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, the self-proclaimed “anointed Son of God” and founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), before its federal grand jury and answer the sex trafficking charges against him.

The option, according to DOJ Chief State Counsel George Ortha, may be availed of in the event that Quiboloy’s extradition is not possible due to a pending case or conviction by a local court.

In 2020, the Davao City Prosecutor’s Office dismissed the complaints of rape, child abuse under Republic Act 7610, trafficking in persons through forced labor and trafficking in persons through sexual abuse filed against Quiboloy and five others.

The complainant was a former member of Quiboloy’s religious sect who alleged that she was raped in 2014.

Quiboloy denied the claim but the case is still under review by the Office of the Justice Secretary. “If the subject of the extradition is being prosecuted

or is serving a sentence here [in the Philippines], temporary surrender may be an option,” Ortha said.

“If the dismissal of the rape complain is reversed, temporary surrender is allowed. In this case, he is being prosecuted,” he added.

Ortha further explained that if the appeal of the complainant pending in the DOJ is eventually dismissed and Quiboloy has no other pending case, temporary surrender would no longer be applicable since his extradition is already possible. “We have done this before, we temporarily surrender a person who was then in prison serving sentence,” Ortha said.

Talks about Quiboloy’s possible extradition surfaced after he was indicted last year by a US federal

grand jury with sex trafficking along with two co-defendants.

Just recently, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has posted in its web site Quiboloy’s picture to announce that he is wanted for “Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking

by Force, Fraud and Coercion, and Sex Trafficking of Children; Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, and Coercion; Conspiracy; Bulk Cash Smuggling.”

Article 11 of the extradition treaty states, “If the extradition request is granted in the case of a person who is being prosecuted or is serving a sentence in the territory of the Requested State, the Requested State may temporarily surrender the person sought [by] the Requesting State for the purpose of prosecution.

The person so surrendered shall be kept in custody in the Requesting State and shall be returned to the Requested State after the conclusion of the proceedings against that person, in accordance with conditions to be determined by agreement between the contracting parties.”

The DOJ has not yet received any communication from the US government for Quiboloy’s extradition.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said any request for extradition would have to be evaluated first by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the DOJ before commencing any legal action.

While extradition is considered a summary proceeding, Guevarra said it might still reach the Supreme Court.

Govt aims to list 92-M Pinoys in Natl ID system by year-end

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

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HE national government aims to register 92 million of the country’s population in the National ID system by year-end, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said this would include some 31.3 million Filipinos who are set to receive their physical IDs by the end of 2022.

A s of Febr u a r y 4, Mapa sa id

some 54.956 m i l l ion Fi l ipinos have a l ready completed Step 1 a nd 2 of t he Nat iona l ID. Step 1 is t he prov ision of de mog raphic infor mat ion, whi le Step 2 is t he prov ision of bio met r ic d at a.

“We are targeting 92 million by the end of 2022 for demographic and biometric registration. We are about 55 million as of February 4,” Mapa told the BusinessMirror on Tuesday.

“For card distribution, we are targeting 31.3 million physi-

cal cards delivered. We will also introduce mobile ID by the end of Q1 [first quarter] 2022 to increase registrants with access to National ID [physical or mobile],” he added.

Latest data showed 6.304 million Filipinos have already received their National ID cards and 7.351 million have opened bank accounts with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank).

Unbanked Filipinos registering to the National ID can open LandBank accounts during Step 2 when

they submit their biometric information, which includes fingerprinting and iris scans.

As of December 11, 2021, the PSA has registered 50.014 million Filipinos to the demographic and biometric data collection, exceeding its target.

Step 2 Registration, which involves validating supporting documents and collecting biometric information such as iris scans, fingerprints, and frontfacing photographs, began in Januar y 2021 in 32 pr ior it y

provinces that were considered low-risk areas for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

The three-step PhilSys registration process began in October 2020, which prioritized low-income households in 32 priority provinces. As part of the PhilSys Step 1 Registration, PhilSys registration team conducted houseto-house collection of the registrants’ demographic information amid the extended quarantine protocols.

The nationwide collection of

registrants’ demographic information was also made possible with the launch of the online PhilSys registration site in April 2021. T he PSA gradua l ly expanded its Step 2 Registration operations as more Filipinos realize the benefits of having a national ID. It also established partnerships w it h loca l gover nment units, other government agencies, and private institutions to bring the registration experience closer to more Filipinos.

Economy BusinessMirror

A4 Wednesday, February 9, 2022 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

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39 Pinoy export companies join Gulfood Halal expo in Dubai

By Roderick L. Abad

Contributor

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@rodrik_28

HIRTY-NINE local food export companies are all set to showcase their offerings at the Gulf Food Hotel and Equipment Exhibition Salon Culinaire (Gulfood)

to be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre in the United Arab Emirates from February 13 to 17.

The Philippines’ biggest delegation yet, led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (Citem),

will bring distinct and quality halal-certified food products from the country as it seeks to strengthen its presence within the Middle East and African (MEA) region.

Data released by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Dubai show that the nation’s food exports to the MEA region went steady in 2020 amid the pandemic.

“This year’s participation in Gulfood is a testament to our commitment to export more halal-certified products to the world as our companies and institutions continue to develop more products and seek new ways to reach Halal consumers worldwide,” said Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Abdulgani Macatoman.

Citem will spearhead the country’s hybrid participation in a 135-square-meter space at Gulfood 2022 for both onsite and online exhibitor participants.

The onsite pavilion will be located at Booths R140 and R160 of the Sheik Rashid Hall. Virtually, Philippine products will be displayed in standby terminals that will provide access to IFEXConnect.com and

FOODPhilippines.com.

Guests can also browse the products of exhibitors through an interactive LED display and connect with them through digital on-site pods.

Queuing pods will be also provided for protential buyers who want to have a meeting with a particular exhibitor or request on-site assistance.

Attendees will have a chance to conduct virtual business-to-business meetings in collaboration with the Export Marketing Bureau, Philippine Coconut Authority, and the PTIC-Dubai.

“This will be the first Citem overseas trade fair that will benefit from our updated content and lead generation platform for the local food industry, IFEXConnect. com and FOODPhilippines.com.

Our recently-launched websites will provide the best 365-sourcing experience for both buyers and exhibitors,” noted Paulina Suaco-Juan, executive director of Citem.

IFEXConnect is a digital platform that allows users to source Philippine food products, connect with exhibitors, and access support services.

FOODPhilippines is a portal that

gathers chefs, industry experts, and food enthusiasts worldwide to share insights and news on Filipino food.

“We are bringing a holisticsourcing experience through a mix of digital and physical showcases in the pavilion that will act as the onsite storefront of IFEXConnect. It will showcase the exhibitors’ products in a curated retail store-like setting and these products can be viewed online through the QR codes that we set in place,” she added.

This year’s local company-participants are Agrinurture Inc., Brandexports Philippines Inc./8VX Corp., Business Innovations Gateway Inc., Century Pacific Food Inc., CJ Uniworld Corp., Federation of People’s Sustainable Development Corp., Fenor Foods Corp., Fisher Farms Inc., Fruits of Life Inc., Gem Foods International Inc., Greenlife Coconut Products Philippines Inc., Innovative Packaging Industry Corp., Janicahh Food Products, JNRM Corp., KLT Fruits Inc., Krystle Exports Philippines Inc., Limketkai Manufacturing Corp., MagicMelt Food Inc., Marikina Food Corp., Market Reach International Resources, Mega Glob-

al Corp., Miguelitos International Corp., Pasciolco Agriventures, Peter Paul Philippines, Philippine Grocers Food Exports Inc., Q-Phil International Trading, Sabroso Chocolate Manufacturing, SandPiper Spices and Condiments Corp., SL Agritech Corp. Unilab Inc. /Sekaya Global, Universal Canning Inc., Cocoturmeric Health Products, KF Nutri Foods International Inc., AG Pacific Nutriceuticals Corp., Nutrarich Nutraceutical Innovations, Ahya Coco Organic Food Manufacturing, Gacayan General Merchandise, PMTZ Care Marketing, and Malagos AgriVentures Corp.

The halal-certified food products to be showcased by the delegates will include high value coconut products, plant-based food products, processed marine, fruit and vegetable products, frozen native delicacies, noodles, coffee, cacao nibs, spices and condiments, and more.

More than 98,000 professional attendees from 120 countries are expected to discover different productions of over 5,000 exhibitors from a wide range of product sectors at the Gulfood 2022.

Litterbugs: Tougher penalties eyed vs careless pandemic waste disposal

By Butch Fernandez

@butchfBM

S

EN. Imee Marcos moved to impose tougher penalties to avert careless disposal of medical waste amid the lingering Covid-19 pandemic.

In a news statement, Marcos aired an appeal Tuesday following reports that “eight children were tested positive for Covid-19 after playing along the seaside of Virac, Catanduanes where used syringes, face masks, antigen test kits, personal protective equipment and vials of blood and urine samples were dumped illegally.”

She cited reports that numerous violations of waste disposal protocols were uncovered by the municipal office of the Department of Environment and NaturalResources(DENR)inadiagnostic center in Barangay Concepcion, Virac.

The senator reminded that Republic Act 9003, also known as Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, require local governments down to the barangay level to “properly collect, recycle, or dispose trash, especially hazardous medical waste.”

Marcos reminded that violators face court cases and heavy penalties,

“according to the degree of the hazardous offense.”

She warned that violators face stiff penalties, citing its pertinent provision, which states, “any person who violates Section 48, paragraphs 14 to 16, shall upon conviction be punished with a fine of not less than P100,000 but not more than P1 million.”

Moreover, imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than six years could “come with heavy fines,” she added.

At the same time, Marcos warned the public, especially children, against

picking up or playing with medical waste to avoid catching the virus.

Instead, she added, dumping of lifethreatening medical waste should be reported to authorities.

The senator noted that the DENR collects about 1,000 tons of medical waste from hospitals, laboratories and diagnostic centers daily, adding that global analysis of health-care waste by the World Health Organization showed some 87,000 tons of personal protective equipment alone were produced and sold worldwide from March 2020 to November last year.

More MSMEs register in Davao del Sur amid pandemic–DTI

By Manuel T. Cayon

@awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

D

AVAO CITY—Many more small businesses have sprouted in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reported more than 1,000 businesses registered their business names last month.

The registration was facilitated through the annual Business One Stop Shop (BOSS) activities of the municipal governments and the provincial government of Davao del Sur. The BOSS operation was helped by national government agencies, including the DTI which moved its Negosyo Centers across the prov-

ince to help register local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The Negosyo Centers were spread in the towns and in the province’s capital Digos City.

The provincial DTI office said the Negosyo Center-based business counselors posted in their respective stations since January 3 to provide assistance on business name registration, business consultancy, and other related services.

“This resulted in the registration of 1,332 business names as of January 31. Of this figure, 200 are from Digos City; 95, Sta. Cruz; 134, Bansalan; 260, Hagonoy; 40, Magsaysay; 133, Sulop; 41, Padada; 273, Malalag; 70, Kiblawan; and 86,

Matanao. These already include both the new applications and those for renewal,” the DTI reported.

Maria Victoria R. Placer, officer incharge director of DTI-Davao del Sur Provincial Director said the number of registered business names as of last month was lower compared to last year’s registration.

“If we are to compare it with the 2021 figures, this year’s new business name registration and renewal processed through the Business One Stop Shop decreased by approximately 40 percent. We are optimistic, though, that we can still generate more since there are still municipalities with ongoing BOSS, such as Kiblawan,” Placer said.

She said the decline may be at-

tributed to the DTI’s intensified campaign among entrepreneurs to maximize the Business Name Registration System (BNRS). This is an online window in the DTI that accepts the registration of the business names of new business entities.

The BNRS is separate from the BOSS, which is an operation conducted by every city and municipality to comply with Republic Act 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018. BOSS simplifies the business licensing registration process by bringing the national government agencies under a one-stop shop collaboration strategy.

‘Energy crunch in summer could imperil May polls’ This emphasizes the more urgent need for an energy transition based on distributed energy sources. We need to pick up its pace, because we cannot keep returning to the same situation every year,” said ICSC chief data scientist and report co-author Jephraim Manansala.

Despite experiencing low demand requirements in the beginning of the year, the NGCP placed the Luzon grid on yellow alert last month due to the forced outages of four power plants with a total generating capacity of 1,331 MW. Given NGCP’s power outlook this May, there is a margin of 1,200 MW of operating reserves before the Luzon grid goes into red alert status. However, the ICSC’s report identified potential complications in selected coal power plants that may result in the depletion of these margin reserves: For instance, Aboitiz Power Corp.’s GN Power Dinginin Units 1 and 2 in Bataan (1,336 MW total generating capacity), may not be fully operational

by May 2022.

Unit 1 has been one of the causes of the yellow alert status raised last

earlier this year due to its outage last January 11, while Unit 2 has not yet started commissioning.

Also, Semirara Mining and Power Corp.’s Calaca Unit 2 in Batangas and Aboitiz Power’s GN Power Unit 1 in Bataan (616 MW total generating capacity), which have undergone another unplanned shutdown recently, might not be able to provide their full dependable capacity. Both power plants have historically performed poorly, having unplanned outages that lasted for 10 months straight last year: Calaca Unit 2 was down from December 2020 to September 2021, while GN Power Unit 1 was down from January to November 2021.

“If there is no definite schedule as to when these coal plants can provide reliable power supply again, the DOE should take them out of what they consider dependable capacity. Keeping these plants in the scheduled total dependable capacity will only mask the power supply deficiency problem, like what is happening today,” Manansala said.

The report recommends that the DOE ensure the availability of power

plants to their full dependable capacities, as well as the completion of all committed projects that have target commercial operation before May this year in order to guarantee sufficient power supply in the second quarter of 2022.

“Apart from addressing power issues in times of peak demand, we also need to address this on a long-term basis. We are making our analysis available now so that citizens can contribute by conserving electricity, because all efforts will be needed even in the most optimistic power scenario,” ICSC energy transition advisor Alberto Dalusung III said.

The group said that bulk of power consumption in the country shifted to the residential sector starting in 2020, when most Filipinos were forced to stay home amid the Covid-19 pandemic. According to ICSC, households can therefore make a significant contribution to efficiency by minimizing electricity consumption from the peak hours of 10am to 2pm. On the other hand, businesses and other private institutions can also augment power supply through solar rooftop instal-

continued from a12

lations, especially during summer.

“The energy transition does not mean simply going to renewables, it also means wiser, better use of energy.

We as citizens have to do our share,” Dalusung added.

On the part of the Manila Electric Company, the country’s largest power distribution utility firm said it has been coordinating with all stakeholders to address concerns on power supply this summer when demand peaks.

Meralco utility economics head Lawrence Fernandez said the company relies on NGCP and DOE for information on the supply-demand situation.

“For our part, as distributors, we prepare demand-side management programs like the ILP [Interruptible Load Program], to help prepare for the rise in demand during summer,” he said.

As of end-2021, there are 124 companies with an aggregate de-loading capability of 563 MW that were enrolled in the ILP of Meralco.

May is the month when demand typically peaks in the Meralco service area. From February to May, demand historically rises around 18 percent, Fernandez said.

News BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Ballot printing on track, poll body assures

D

ESPITE initial delays in its ballot-printing target last month, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the National Printing Office (NPO) was already able to print 17 million ballots for the May 2022 elections.

This is already around 26 percent of the total 67.4 million ballots to be printed by the poll body for the forthcoming electoral exercise.

“As you can see we have quite a way to go, but it’s also very important to note that this is already a significant chunk of the total work that we need to do,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said in an online media briefing on Tuesday.

Among those printed are the 60,000 ballots to be used for local absentee voting (LAV) and the 2,588,193 million to be used for the polls in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The state-run NPO was also able to complete the printing of the 79,080 manual ballots and 1,618,122 automated election system (AES) ballots to be used for overseas voting.

It also successfully printed the 86,280 manual ballots for the 63 barangays in North Cotabato.

The rest of the printed ballots will be used for Caraga Region (1,868,798), Regions 12 (2,606,492), 11 (3,236,251), 10 (3,060,485), and 9 (2,298,930).

The printing of the ballots was supposed to start on January 17, but it deferred it to January 20 due to the pending release of the final ballot faces as well as the election cases of some of the aspiring candidates.

Samuel P. Medenilla

37-M youth votes may spell outcome of May 9 elections–Comelec official

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

Y

OUNG voters may spell the final outcome of the upcoming May elections as far as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is concerned.

This after the poll body noted that over 37 million of the 65.7 million

S

registered local voters in the 2022 national and local elections are aged 18 to 41 years old.

“That would account for 56 percent of the voting population. This is a very interesting development, it’s good for the country and I think it is important to note that the youth are the prime movers of this coming elections,” Comelec spokesperson James

Jimenez said in a virtual news briefing on Tuesday.

Most or 5.1 million of these voters are from Calabarzon (5.1 million).

The other regions with voters from the said age group are from Central Luzon (4 million) and the National Capital Region (3.9 million).

Meanwhile, the regions with the least number of “young vot-

ers” are the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) with only 611,317 and Caraga Region with 1.08 million.

The poll body has been advocating for the participation of more young voters in the elections since they tend not to rely on previous trends, when it comes to picking candidates.

Its information campaign during

its voter’s registration last year was geared towards attracting more potential young voters.

Under the National Youth Commission Act, youths are persons whose age ranges from 15 to 30 years old.

“Those up to 41 years are not exactly classified as youth, but it is within that range [for youth voters],” Jimenez said.

UniTeam tandem BBM and Sara affirm unity call in Bulacan proclamation rally Leni launches

By Butch Fernandez

@butchfBM

P

RESIDENTIAL aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, drew tens of thousands to the Philippine Arena, the world’s largest indoor arena, on Tuesday for a proclamation rally billed by their UniTeam camp as fit for the tandem to beat.

Marcos, who has led most of the major pre-election surveys, affirmed his message of unity, a theme he has consistently carried in all public forums and pronouncements since throwing his hat in the presidential derby in October.

The former senator has said that if he wins on May 9, he would focus solely on uplifting the Filipinos’ lives, solving deep-rooted problems, and will not indulge in a politics of vendetta, which he had earlier blamed for the country’s slow progress since 1986 when his father was overthrown in a bloodless “revolt” and the family went into exile.

In the past week, the Bongbong-

Gordon, Binay kick off Senate campaign in Bicol, Batangas EN. Richard J. Gordon kicked off his reelection bid in the voterich Bicol region Tuesday joining as guest candidate in the caravan of Vice President Leni Robredo, who is running for President and her running mate Sen. Francis Pangilinan.

Seeking to serve a second term in the 24-member Senate, Gordon said he sees it as “an honor to be recognized as one of the candidates the tandem sees as a major player against corruption.”

“We went here to the beautiful and historic city of Naga today to appreciate the support thrown at us by our countrymen from Bicol as we start our journey towards six more years in the Senate,” a grateful Gordon said, adding, “Kami ay nagpapasalamat sapagkat nasusuklian ng Bicol ng pagmamahal sa amin, dahil hindi natin napabayaan ang mga nasalanta ng maraming kalamidad sa rehiyong ito.”

Former Vice President Jejomar C. Binay also separately launched his senatorial campaign in Batangas and vowed to pursue legislation that would provide the needed government assistance for sectors adversely affected by pandemic curbs.

“We need to help the workers in the government and private sector to recover fast, small businesses, and all the other sector affected by the pandemic,” said Binay, who is running under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) where he serves as party chairman.

Gordon is also among one of eight senatorial bets of the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem represented in the kickoff of the election campaign period.

The senator also headed to various towns in Camarines Sur, including the Angat Buhay village in Lupi town, among other local government units, before culminating in a grand rally at Plaza Quezon in Naga in the late afternoon.

Gordon was also scheduled to head to nearby Sorsogon and Albay in the second day of his two-day Bicol journey.

As chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Gordon affirmed

Wednesday, February 9, 2022 A5

a vow to “continue combating corruption and incompetence in government” if he gets reelected.

A long-time chairman of the Philippine Red Cross, Gordon recalled responding to numerous natural disasters in the area, including the Mayon Volcano eruption, and countless powerful typhoons.

At the same time, Gordon moved to build and renovated tens of thousands of houses in the region that were badly damaged by the unforgiving force of Mother Nature.

The lawmaker likewise brought forth recognition to Bicolano patriot Wenceslao Vinzons, the youngest delegate to the 1935 Constitutional Convention, and fearless guerilla fighter during World War II. Serving as Tourism secretary from 2002-04, Gordon also promoted Masbate’s famous rodeo and gave attention to the whale sharks swimming in Sorsogon through the “Watch our Whales” slogan, just one of the many introduced by the wildly-successful WOW Philipines campaign.

Binay, also a former Makati City mayor also said he will immediately propose a Family Care Program for government and private sector workers.

The program, he explained, would provide food and cash aid, paid family leaves, interest free loans, and deferment or condonation of housing loans forworkingparentsunabletoreportfor work in order to care for their children.

For family members caring for sick and elderly parents, Binay said, he will also propose free medicine and hospital care for their loved ones, and reimbursement for out of pocket medical expenses.

“Rebuilding the economy is a national imperative. While doing so, government must also continue to extend aid to the poor and other sectors displaced by the pandemic and the extended lockdown. It must do so with urgency, efficiency, and a sense of compassion that recognizes basic human dignity instead of debasing it,” he said. Butch Fernandez and Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Sara tandem had, by way of drumming up support for their “unity” platform, sewn up support in some southern regions, notably the leading political clans in Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat; and key local officials in the Leyte provinces, where Marcos Jr. had drawn support for his quick response in the past to calls for help from communities badly hit by calamities.

His mother Imelda comes from Leyte, which in 2013 bore the brunt of super cyclone “Yolanda” (international code name Haiyan), and which was also recently hit by typhoon Odette (international code name Rai).

Marcos Jr. said he embraced unity as his main theme because of his firm belief that it is only with unity that the country can surmount all the problems, challenges and calamities it faces, as it has always done in the past.

12th senatorial aspirant

THE Bongbong-Sara team is expected to disclose the name of a 12th senatorial candidate by Wednesday if negotiations are concluded, Mar-

cos Jr.’s spokesperson Atty. Vic Rodriguez said.

Right now, the UniTeam has declared the following names it is pushing for the next Senate: incumbents Juan Miguel Zubiri and Sherwin Gatchalian, House Deputy Speakers Loren Legarda and Rodante Marcoleta, lawyer Larry Gadon, former Cabinet secretaries Mark Villar (Department of Public Works and Highways), Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro (Department of National Defense), Gregorio Honasan (Department of Information and Communications Technology), and Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and former Senator Jinggoy Estrada.

As she acknowledged what she called the 11 “Unity senators,” Duterte-Carpio candidates mentioned as well other people “running as senators who will remain my friends” regardless of politics: actor Robin Padilla, former Secretary Sal Panelo, Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero, former National Police chief Guillermo Eleazar, former Vice Presi-

dent Jejomar Binay, former Senator JV Ejercito and incumbent Senator Joel Villanueva.

Sara said the “past two years have been very challenging for us” because the pandemic worsened whatever serious problems the country faced before the onset of the contagion.

Speaking partly in Filipino, Sara vowed, “we shall move forward... bounce back like never before,” adding they are offering to the electorate a tandem endowed with “wisdom and experience.”

Duterte-Carpio said she believes in Bongbong’s ability to lead as President. “This has been proven by his long experience as local chief executive, and legislator. The kind of experience we need not only to sustain the growth and development spurred by the current administration, but also to bring a more prosperous future.”

For her part, Duterte-Carpio said, her record in Davao speaks for itself: Davao is now the fourth most competitive city in the country. Davao City is debt-free; and there are no human-rights complaints.

DOH: Covid cases decline in NCR, but infections still high in regions

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

T

HE country remains to be at moderate risk level for Covid-19 transmission with 22.2 percent case positivity rate, an official of the Department of Health (DOH) said.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire also said that from the peak of admissions in January 22, total bed utilization rate has declined

by 15 percentage points and is now classified as low risk at 37 percent utilization rate.

“Peak of admissions for the Omicron surge was seen on January 22. Thanks to high vaccination rates, this did not surpass the Delta peak,” Vergeire said in an online media forum.

Meanwhile, the national average daily cases last week were lower by 52 percent than cases during the previous week.

On Tuesday, the DOH logged 3,574 additional Covid-19 cases with 14,644 recoveries and 83 deaths. The total number of infections in the country already reached 3,619,633.

Daily positive cases are showing a slow decline, but cases in regions outside of National Capital Region are still high.

“We continue to closely monitor regions that are still at high risk in case transmission. These are regions 11,9,12,10,” Vergeire said.

Solon seeks to exempt DSWD aid programs from poll ban spending

A

LAWMAKER is asking the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to exempt all emergency financial assistance programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) from election ban spending.

In a letter to DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista, House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda asked the DSWD official to petition to Comelec for an exemption of all DSWD aid transactions from the prohibition under the poll body’s Resolution 10747.

“The times are extraordinary, and we cannot afford a slowdown in emergency and crisis aid, particularly the AssistanceforIndividualsinCrisisSituations of the DSWD. We also cannot afford delays in the Pantawid Pamilyang PilipinoProgramor4Psandothersocial amelioration programs,” he said.

“Otherwise, we will definitely see a slowdowninrecovery.We’vehadenough of slowdowns this year,” he stressed.

Salceda said that frontloading economic recovery programs is crucial.

“I am certain that you are aware of the potential consequences of

Otherwise, we will definitely see a slowdown in recovery.

We’ve had enough of slowdowns this year.

Rep. Joey Salceda

such a prohibition on aid disbursement during a once-in-a-lifetime crisis. The prohibition, if not lifted for DSWD, will no doubt delay economic recovery and cause undue hardship to millions of Filipinos,” he added.

Resolution 10747 includes “The Department of Social Welfare and Development and other offices in other departments of the government performing functions similar to said department” in its public spending ban from March to May 2022.

According to Salceda, the prohibition has an exemption clause,

BM

which could allow the disbursement of funds under such programs to go unimpeded “for such other expenses as the Commission may authorize after due notice and hearing.”

The Comelec resolution said it might exempt “such other expenses as the Commission may authorize after due notice and hearing.” “They could even include safeguards against electioneering if they deem it proper.

But aid should face no delay, especially in these difficult times. Crisis situations do not take an election holiday,” Salceda said. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

drive for political ‘transformation’ in home turf

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

V

ICE President Leni Robredo launched her official campaign for the presidency by calling on Filipinos to join her in improving their lives and in transforming the country by changing the “old and corrupted kind of politics that has frustrated generations of Filipinos.”

The call was made by Robredo during a rally at the Angat Buhay Village in Lupi in her home province of Camarines Sur early Tuesday, which also marked the start of the official campaign period for national elective positions, including for the posts of vice president and senator.

“Hanggang hindi po natin pinapalitan ang luma at bulok na klase ng pulitika, hanggang hindi po natin nabibigyan ng inspirasyon at pag-asa ang ating mga kababayan, talagang walang magbabago,” Robredo said in the vernacular during a rally that was attended mostly by a hometown crowd.

Later, Robredo and her running mate Senator Francis Pangilinan held similar rallies in Camarines Sur, including in the town of Libmanan wherein this time, they were joined by local candidates led by gubernatorial candidate Rolando Andaya Jr. and his running mate JJ Pilapil.

“Kaya ngayong umaga po sa pagumpisa ng ating kampanya, niyayaya ko po kayong lahat na samahan kami—sumama po kayo sa laban nating ito dahil ito ay para sa ating lahat. Kaya po ito, malakas ang loob ko dahil kasama ko kayo. Malakas po ang loob ko dahil alam ko na kahit anong hirap ang pagdaanan natin, kakayanin natin dahil magkakasama tayo,” she said.

Robredo and Pangilinan jumpstarted their official campaign in Lupi and at the Angat Buhay Villa, a housing and resettlement project for more than a hundred families who lost their homes when Typhoons Quinta, Rolly and Ulysses hit Camarines Sur in late 2020.

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) said the Angat Buhay was a flagship poverty alleviation program of Robredo, which she launched in 2016.

“Ito ang pinaka halimbawa na kapag ang gobyerno tapat sa kanyang panunungkulan, pag ang gobyerno bumababa at pinapakiramdaman ang pangangailangan ng taong bayan, napapapunta sa tama ang pera na nasa kaban ng bayan,” Robredo said of the housing project in Lupi, which has since seen improvements.

The presidential hopeful said she takes pride of the collaboration that took place among the residents, the local government of Lupi, the University of Nueva Caceres and the OVP to rebuild the homes.

“Heto po ‘yung sinasabi natin na pag ang gobyerno tapat, talagang aangat ang buhay ng lahat,” she said.

A6

BusinessMirror

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

24 INCH GAUGE CONSTRUCTION INC. L4 Blk. 4, Near Kay Buboy Bridge, San Dionisio, City Of Parañaque

CHEN, YONGREN Project Coordinator 1.

Brief Job Description: Plan, organize, and direct the activities of a construction project, under the direction of a general manager.

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in business or related field of study; Competency in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, and Outlook; Knowledge of file management, transcription, and other administrative procedures. or a related field; Good communication and interpersonal skills

11.

LIU, CHAO E-commerce Consultant (Chinese Speaking) Brief Job Description: Provide suggestions to clients.

12.

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

Brief Job Description: Provide suggestions to clients.

MASSIT, ANASS Software/application/cloud Tech Support Analyst 2.

Brief Job Description: Advise client’s team leads of development status and issued; help in knowledge by explaining business requirement/functional design to team lead and members; improve auto translation process, and request onshore counterparts to unify description of functional design, if necessary.

13.

NGANDU, SERGE UTUMPU Sw/app/cloud Tech Support Analyst 3.

Brief Job Description: Problem solvers with a people focus, software/ application/cloud technical support professionals act as the ongoing interface between the client and the system or application. Dedicated to quality, they use their exceptional communication skills to keep our world class systems running and our clients happy.

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

14.

UWINEZA, ZULFAT Bilingual French Analyst 4.

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

15.

5.

CHEN, DANDAN E-commerce Consultant (Chinese Speaking) Brief Job Description: Provide suggestions to clients.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Applications/ Can Multi-Task and keen to details/ able to speakChinese and English Fluently

16.

6.

CHEN, SHENGYOU E-commerce Consultant (Chinese Speaking) Brief Job Description: Provide suggestions to clients.

17.

7.

HUANG, YAOHUA E-commerce Consultant (Chinese Speaking) Brief Job Description: Provide suggestions to clients.

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

8.

HUANG, YINGJIE E-commerce Consultant (Chinese Speaking) Brief Job Description: Provide suggestions to clients.

9.

Brief Job Description: Provide suggestions to clients.

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

10.

LIAO, LINGZHI E-commerce Consultant (Chinese Speaking) Brief Job Description: Provide suggestions to clients.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Applications/ Can Multi-Task and keen to details/ able to speakChinese and English Fluently Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

24.

Brief Job Description: Promote products and services

TAN, XIAOHUA E-commerce Consultant (Chinese Speaking) Brief Job Description: Provide suggestions to clients.

WANG, HENG E-commerce Consultant (Chinese Speaking) Brief Job Description: Provide chat support to clients.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications / can multi-task and keen to details / able to speak Chinese and English fluently.

ZHANG, QIAN E-commerce Consultant (Chinese Speaking) Brief Job Description: Provide chat support to clients.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications / can multi-task and keen to details / able to speak Chinese and English fluently.

ZOU, ZHENDONG E-commerce Consultant (Chinese Speaking) Brief Job Description: Provide chat support to clients.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications / can multi-task and keen to details / able to speak Chinese and English fluently.

18.

Brief Job Description: 1. Communicates effectively via email and/or telephone in both Mandarin and English language, with our customer base - buyers, merchants and internal customers.

2. Takes appropriate action to identify and help minimize the risk posed by fraud patterns and trend.

3. Consistently achieves/exceeds weekly productivity and quality standards.

25.

YUSMADY BIN YUSA Seller Support Associate

Brief Job Description: Site manager, lead QA engineer. Responsible for hiring and interviewing staff and for keeping the office running and liaising with vendors

ZHANG, FUNING Chinese Cargo Office Agent Brief Job Description: Prepare airline and custom documentation

NGO HOANG SON LONG Finance Director

26.

19.

Brief Job Description: Communicates effectively via live video call with our customer base – third party sellers who want to sell on amazon in its various marketplaces

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

20.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for developing and executing commercial strategies

Basic Qualification: Can work as an independent consultant to provide marketing expertise to clients: Can research industries , markets, demographics , trends, sales results and other data related to the clients products or services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

LOH WOON SENG General Trade Marketing Specialist Consultant 21.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for developing and executing comercial strategies

Basic Qualification: Can work as an independent consultant to provide marketing expertise to clients: Can research industries , markets, demographics , trends, sales results and other data related to the clients products or services

CANON MARKETING (PHILIPPINES), INC. 7th/f Commerce & Industry Plaza, Campus Ave., Mckinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

22.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for overseeing the entire OIP operations (sales, service and marketing).

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

Basic Qualification: Have skills in documentation Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Financial leadership and cross-functional collaboration to deliver short and long-term key performance targets and matrices across portfolio of brands, countries, channels/routes to market. Joint business planning with key customers and partners on a regular basis, including financial modelling to deliver business performance targets and controls/ compliance agenda. Shape Medium to Long term sustainable growth model, strategies and thinking for the business to deliver key company priorities.

Develop, frame and lead strategic recommendations, drive new insights and generate new growth opportunities through Analysis (value chain, expansions, new launches etc.) across portfolio of brands, channels.

Basic Qualification: A strategic finance and cross functional business leader with a start up mindset who lives leadership standards, with a proven track record of commercial finance capability, strategic ability to have a long-term vision and plan for the business while delivering consistent exceptional business performance +10 years finance and commercial finance experience, ideally +5 years being in emerging markets or highly volatile external environments Demonstrate deep personal accountability for great performance and hold others to account to the same high standards

DIGICHROM INC. Unit 2602 & 2603 26/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

27.

28.

30.

31.

BUI LUU NGUYET ANH Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Immediately escalating serious complaints or issues that you are not equipped to deal with HA THI THAO Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Immediately escalating serious complaints or issues that you are not equipped to deal with HOANG THI HANG Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Immediately escalating serious complaints or issues that you are not equipped to deal with LAY NHIT VAN Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Immediately escalating serious complaints or issues that you are not equipped to deal with NONG BICH NGOC Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Immediately escalating serious complaints or issues that you are not equipped to deal with

YE, MEILIAN Marketing And Sales Agent 32.

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

FIBERHOME PHILS., INC. U-19d 19/f Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati PAN, KEWEN Account Manager 33.

CENTURY GROW PHILIPPINES TRADING COMPANY INC. Level 40 Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor. V.a Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Brief Job Description: Responsible for managing and growing key customers of Fiberhome in the Philippines AN, YUAN Project Manager

34.

Basic Qualification: At least 5-7 years’ experience in similar capacity preferably from a copier industry.

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

Brief Job Description: Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas.

Basic Qualification: Can contributes information, ideas and researches to help develop marketing strategies; Can help to detail, design and implement marketing plans for each product or service being offered.

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

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

KITAMURA, KENICHIRO Office Imaging Products (OIP) Director

Basic Qualification: Excellent knowledge of QA activities, knowledge of iCore product

EASTERN GOLD CORPORATION 503, Nueva St., Barangay 289, Binondo, City Of Manila

C’EST LA VIE EVENT MANAGEMENT INC. 230, Narra Street, Marikina Heights, City Of Marikina

KUNG, FAN-CHENG a.k.a. RYAN KUNG General Trade Marketing Specialist Consultant

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

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

Basic Qualification: Fluency in Vietnamese language

Basic Qualification: Fluency in Malay language

Basic Qualification: 100% fluent in Mandarin both oral and written

DIAGEO PHILIPPINES, INC. Unit 1 17th Floor, Ore Central, 9th Ave. Cor. 31st Street, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

29.

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

DEXIN INTERNATIONAL IMPORT AND EXPORT CORP. 534 Tomas Mapua St., 029, Barangay 298, Santa Cruz, City Of Manila

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Applications/ Can Multi-Task and keen to details/ able to speakChinese and English Fluently

QUANG NGOC TRINH Investigation Specialist I

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

LI, ZHEN E-commerce Consultant (Chinese Speaking)

ZHANG, YANAN Chinese Sales Executive

ROMIH, ADRIJANO Site Manager

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Applications/ Can Multi-Task and keen to details/ able to speakChinese and English Fluently

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Applications/ Can Multi-Task and keen to details/ able to speakChinese and English Fluently

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

COMTRADE INT MEDNARODNE RESITVE D.O.O - PHILIPPINE BRANCH 15f Tower 1, The Enterprise Center 6766 Ayala Ave., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Applications/ Can Multi-Task and keen to details/ able to speakChinese and English Fluently

Brief Job Description: Provide suggestions to clients.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Applications/ Can Multi-Task and keen to details/ able to speakChinese and English Fluently

SUN, ZHIYONG E-commerce Consultant (Chinese Speaking)

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Applications/ Can Multi-Task and keen to details/ able to speakChinese and English Fluently

23.

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

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

ALTERA KARNA BUSINESS CORP. Unit No. Unit A & O Flr., No.5/f Eighty One Bldg. Newport Bldg. St., Barangay 183, Pasay City

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Applications/ Can Multi-Task and keen to details/ able to speakChinese and English Fluently

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

ALLSECTECH MANILA, INC. 3rd Floor, Market! Market! Mall, Bonifacio Global City, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: Excellent writing, reading, listening and talking in French language, preferably with prior experience of at least 1 year in similar BPO outfit.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Applications/ Can Multi-Task and keen to details/ able to speakChinese and English Fluently

No.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Complexity (degree of difficulty of an assignment or the level of problemsolving assessment and resolution required, as measured by degree of problem-solving, strategic vs. Routine focus, and stakeholder interactions (e.g. – executives, supervisor, etc.)): requires analysis and solving of lower-complexity problems.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

ACCENTURE, INC. 7f, Robinsons Cybergate Tower 1, Pioneer St, City Of Mandaluyong Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree graduate. Undergraduates are welcome to apply; can communicate effectively in both oral and written english and required language; knowledgeable or with experience in service desk management; willing to work on holidays, weekends, shifting schedules and extended working hours, as needed.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

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

SHAO, TAO E-commerce Consultant (Chinese Speaking)

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Brief Job Description: Responsible for managing technical issues on materials, equipment being used

QIAO, WEI Project Manager 35.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for managing technical issues on materials, equipment being used

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English both verbal and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin and English language both verbal and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin and English language both verbal and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION YANG, QILIN Project Manager

36.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for managing technical issues on materials, equipment being used

ZHAO, YUN Project Manager 37.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

Brief Job Description: The Project Manager will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin and English language both verbal and written

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Project Manager, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

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

38.

39.

40.

41.

42.

43.

44.

Brief Job Description: language fluency Mandarin & English LIU, BIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: language fluency Mandarin & English LUO, XI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: language fluency Mandarin & English LYU, MINGJIAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: language fluency Mandarin & English SIN HY KHUONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: language fluency Mandarin & English ZHAI, PENGHUA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: language fluency Mandarin & English ZHANG, GUOJUN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Assisting clients by providing information on services

Basic Qualification: Fluent in written and oral Mandarin and English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

45.

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

52.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in written and oral Mandarin and English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in written and oral Mandarin and English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

46.

Brief Job Description: With an analytical and strategic mind and have a broad knowledge of the business.

LU, RUIRUI International Sales Head 47.

Brief Job Description: Directs and oversees and organization’s international sales policies, objectives and initiatives

PENG, JIONG Project Engineering Coordinator 48.

Brief Job Description: responsible for the engineering and technical disciplines needed to complete a project. works to plan projects, establish project criteria, coordinate project reviews and ensure the proper implementation of project elements.

53.

49.

Brief Job Description: The Human Resouces Supervisor will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

54.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Oral and Written Mandarin and English

Brief Job Description: End to end custody Trades Processing, process management & flawless delivery of custody trades.

Accountable for change management, process improvement and managing inherent risk of the trades workflow. Will require collaboration with global teams and stakeholder management.

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

HURTADO SEGOVIA, EDWIN DANIEL Collector 55.

Brief Job Description: Actively follow up with payments and assists with the disputes handling process

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs.

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

Basic Qualification: Experienced as head of operations, operations director or similar leadership role internationally

LIN, JUN Chinese Business Consultant 56.

Brief Job Description: Plan, organize and manage business projects for clients

LU, ZHENLEI Chinese Business Consultant 57.

Brief Job Description: Plan, organize and manage business projects for clients

ZHENG, CHENG Chinese Business Consultant 58.

Brief Job Description: Plan, organize and manage business projects for clients

SONG, CHENHAO Mandarin Business Development Analyst 59.

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Business Development Analyst will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

60.

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

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Human Resources Supervisor, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

Basic Qualification: • CA/ MBA (Finance)/CFA or graduate.

• Knowledge of Capital Markets essential with at least 8+ years’ experience within Custody related operations. • Strong Stakeholder management and risk mitigation skills.

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

KINDOSAR PROCESS SOLUTIONS INC. Unit 5d, Rose Industries Bldg., Pioneer St., Kapitolyo, City Of Pasig

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Medical and Sales Representative will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

DENG, JIANKAI Mandarin Operations Manager 61.

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Operations Manager will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

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

Brief Job Description: Leading the team with motivation and inspire to reach the goal and exceeding the team performances

REN, FU Mandarin Technical Support 63.

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

XING, MINGZE Mandarin Technical Support 64.

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

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 1331 Pearl Plaza Bldg., Quirino Ave., Tambo, City Of Parañaque

XU, SUNAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

ZAKKOUR, AYOUB People Services Coordinator (French Speaker)

66.

Brief Job Description: To provide first level advice and support on key foundation and transactional activities (employee, lifecycle, policies and procedures, HR systems) to the HR team, Line Managers and Employees within Orica which enables key customers to enhance workplace relations and productivity in line with Business strategy.

KUMAR, DHEERAJ Telecommunications Data Analytics Strategies Advisor

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

Basic Qualification: Provide timely feedback to customer regarding disputes, queries and invoice information

67.

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

Basic Qualification: Excellent oral and written communication both in English and Mandarin Chinese; strong public speaking skills

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent oral and written communication both in English and Mandarin Chinese; strong public speaking skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Business Development Analyst, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Medical and Sales Representative, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Operations Manager, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

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

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

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

Basic Qualification: 1-3 years experience in a customer service or Admin role preferably an HR related position Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: To serve as consultant to senior management to foster value creation by means of advance analytics of the organization’s data assets and external data ecosystem, and to ensure that the business of PLDT as a fully integrated telecommunications company and all aspects thereof have the benefit of the most advanced and efficient technologies, trends and processes, among others, in telecommunications data analytics strategy.

Basic Qualification: Post-graduate degree (MBA-Marketing & Finance); very fluent in Hindi and English (speaking & writing); at least 10 years extensive international experience in telecommunications industry specifically with regard to developing and formulating strategies and implementing programs to ensure that the business is anchored on the most advanced and efficient technologies covering Data Analytics and Machine Learning Algorithms and Cloud Technology.

SALISBURY BKT SECURITIES CORPORATION L2l 18-06 & L2l 18-07 18th Floor Pse Tower, 5th Ave Cor 28th St Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig BAILEY, SIMON BOULSTRIDGE Managing Director 68.

Brief Job Description: Prepare, develop, and implement comprehensive business strategies. Plan cost-effective operations and market development activities

Basic Qualification: Must be a stockholder of the company Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

SONG FLAVOURS GLOBAL TRADING, OPC 94 Dragon Street, Midtown Subd., San Roque, City Of Marikina

LIU, SONG General Manager 69.

Brief Job Description: Managing the overall operations of the company, employing marketing strategies

Basic Qualification: 2 years experience in planning and implementing sales strategies and customer relationships manager, experience in managing and direct sales team Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

TELETECH CUSTOMER CARE MANAGEMENT PHILIPPINES, INC. Five E-com, 10th Floor, Harbor Drive Corner Palm Coast Avenue, Mall Of Asia Complex, Pasay City CHOI, SUNGHOON Customer Service Representatives For A Korean Customer Relations Centre 70.

Brief Job Description: Respond to inbound customer contact and conduct outbound customer communication for inbound and case management - receiving basic inbound queries and management cases; outbound responsibilities include undertaking marketing programs; provide multiple specialized services to customer

Basic Qualification: Korean speakers abover average english communication skills both verbal and written; proficient in ms windows with 1yr experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

TOUEI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION 7/f Ba Lepanto Bldg., 8747 Paseo De Roxas, Bel-air, City Of Makati ARIMA, JUN General Manager 71.

Brief Job Description: Coordinate employees and supervise and lead lowerlevel managers

Basic Qualification: fluent in Japanese and English (both in written and spoken) Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

VASTLINE BUSINESS SUPPORT INC. U-504p Five E-com Ctr. Bldg., Pacific Drive, Barangay 76, Pasay City

72.

WEI, YU Business Development Director-mandarin Brief Job Description: oversee and coordinate daily operations

Basic Qualification: proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

VPC CORPORATE SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 11/f 100 West, Sen Gil Puyat Ave. Cor., Washington St., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati TIAN, CIHAN Bilingual Technical Support Specialist 73.

Brief Job Description: Evaluates expansions or enhancement by studying work load capacity AYUN PHAM QUOC BAO Vietnam-speaking Customer Service Officer

74.

Brief Job Description: Prepares product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information

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

WESERV SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. 11f Net 2 Square, 3rd Ave. Crescent Park West, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent oral and written communication both in English and Mandarin Chinese; strong public speaking skills

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

PLDT INC. Ramon Cojuangco Bldg., Makati Avenue, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

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

MINDSCAPE CREATIVES INC. Unit 19-o, Burgundy Corporate Tower, 252 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

62.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ORICA SINGAPORE PTE LTD Level 11, Tower 2, Rockwell Business Center, Ortigas Avenue, City Of Pasig

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

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

ZHANG, YIZHE Mandarin Team Leader

65.

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

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

Basic Qualification: Degree in civil engineering and international experience in quantity surveying construction projects.

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reasing and writing korean and english

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

WANG, BO Mandarin Medical And Sales Representative

No.

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

MINDRAY MEDICAL INTERNATIONAL PHILIPPINES, INC. 14th Floor, Ore Central Tower, 31st Street Corner 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: A degree in marketing or a related field. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. ability to gauge client needs

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reasing and writing korean and english

MAIDEHAO TRADING, CORP. Unit 1202 & 1203 The Finance Centre, 26th Corner 9th Ave., Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.- PHILIPPINE GLOBAL SERVICE CENTER 23/f Net Plaza, 31st St. E-square Zone, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

50.

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in written and oral Mandarin and English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

MAERSK GLOBAL SERVICE CENTRES (PHILIPPINES) LTD. Levels 6-8 North Wing, Estancia Offices, Capitol Commons, Meralco Ave., Oranbo, City Of Pasig

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

PINTO, CLINT JOVIT Trade Lifecycle Manager Iii

Brief Job Description: Overall management of marketing department

LI, PENGTAO Mandarin Speaking Marketing Specialist

HECTECHURE CORP. Units A&b 20/f Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

BUI THI HUONG Human Resources Supervisor

JEOUNG, CHUL Marketing Manager

DUAN, XUN Mandarin Speaking Marketing Specialist

GOLDEN TOPPER EQUITY HOLDINGS (PHILIPPINES) INC. 12/f Cocolight Bldg., 39th St. Cor. 11th Ave., Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

LIU, LIANGWEI International Real Estate Operations Head

Brief Job Description: Integrate data from various back-end services and data bases

A7

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in written and oral Mandarin and English

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

LI, FENGQIU Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking

51.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in written and oral Mandarin and English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION KANG, GYUHOON Data Analyst

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

FLYING DRAGON NETWORK PHILIPPINES INC. Malate Bayview Mansion, 1781 M. Adriatico Street. 076, Barangay 699, Malate, City Of Manila LI, WEIWEI Chinese Customer Service

No.

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

TAHATA, HIROSHI Head Of G3 Consolidation Center, FDC 75.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the overall organizational management (recruitment, finance and asses management, etc.)

Basic Qualification: Experience in corporate management over countries, strategic business plan creation and monitoring Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 *Date Generated: Feb 8, 2022

In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on December 04, 2021, the name of BUSAT, CHRISTIAN ANDRE under CGI (PHILIPPINES) INC., should have been read as BUSAET, CHRISTIAN ANDRE and not as published.

Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE National Capital Region located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication.

Please inform DOLE National Capital Region if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

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

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

A8

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

TheWorld BusinessMirror

Hong Kong leader urges residents to stay home amid worst outbreak

H

ong Kong’s leader pleaded with residents to stay home as the city battles its worst Covid-19 outbreak since the pandemic began, while vowing to stick with a zero-tolerance approach to stamp out the virus.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Tuesday her administration would announce new Covid restrictions this afternoon—without giving details—and warned that the city’s health system was “on the brink.” She pleaded with residents not to go out, even as she said the government must take into account the general tolerance of the public when formulating policy.

“We need your support, we need your cooperation,” Lam told the city’s residents at a regular news briefing. “Please stay at home.”

Asked about implementing a China-style citywide lockdown, Lam said the current mix of policies was the “best strategy” for Hong Kong “at this moment.”

Hong Kong reported a record number of coronavirus infections on Monday, with daily cases surging to more than 600. The rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the face of some of the world’s toughest social distancing and travel restrictions shows the difficulty of maintaining a strategy

that aims to totally eliminate the spread of the virus.

The city’s tactics, which include mandatory 14-day hotel quarantines for returning residents, have mostly kept the virus out of the densely packed finance hub of 7.4 million people. Some 213 people have died and about 15,000 have been infected since the pandemic began. The city has seen months pass with zero local infections, and life has largely continued as normal.

But with hundreds of people now testing positive each day, officials are scrambling to contain the outbreak. They are especially worried by an extremely low vaccination rate among the city’s elderly. Lam said the vaccination rate for people over 70 years old is still less than 50 percent, leaving more than 500,000 vulnerable residents at risk of severe illness or death and posing a huge risk to hospitals. “ This will put pressure on our healthcare system, which

US and Japan agree to make most steel imports tax-free

US approves $100-M support deal with Taiwan for Patriot missiles

U

NITED STATES government officials said Monday that they reached an agreement to essentially lift the 25 percent tariff that former President Donald Trump imposed on imported Japanese steel.

The deal with Japan would exclude the first 1.25 million metric tons of imported steel from the tax. That amount of steel is equal to the average that Americans imported from Japan in 2018 and 2019, effectively nullifying the tariffs while also allowing for taxes to be charged on any imports in excess of that sum. “ T he dea l we reached w il l strengthen America’s steel industry and ensure its workforce stays competitive, while also providing more access to cheaper steel and addressing a major irritant between the United States and Japan, one of our most important allies,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement.

US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the agreement with Japan along with a separate deal last year on steel with the European Union will put them in a better place to compete against China, the world’s second largest economy. The Biden administration has bluntly centered its policies on competing against China, which accounts for the majority of global steel production, according to the Belgium-based World Steel Association.

Trump announced the steel tariffs in March 2018 on national security grounds, even though the taxes initially hit many US allies. The former president used Section 232 of the 1964 Trade Expansion Act, which allows tariffs on goods that are imported in such large quantities that national security could be impaired. The risk from tariffs is that companies pass the higher prices onto businesses and consumers, such that the tax is ultimately paid indirectly by Americans. AP

W

A S H I N G T O N —T h e Biden administration has approved a $100 million support contract with Taiwan aimed at boosting the island’s missile defense systems as it faces increasing pressure from China.

T he State Depar tment announced the engineering and m a i nt e n a n c e a g r e e m e nt o n

Hong Kong residents line up for Covid testing in the Central area on February 4. Bloomberg photo

is already on the brink of oversaturation,” Lam said. “The risk is increasing because there are more c a ses i n t he resident s of residential care homes and workers, so we need to boost the vaccination rate.”

The current outbreak has put the city’s meticulous contacttracing and isolation measures under severe strain. There have been numerous complaints about understaffed government isolation facilities, and long lines are forming for people sent for mand ator y test ing. Of f icia ls have constantly shifted their approach to quarantine facilities, with a spartan isolation camp on an outlying island running out of capacity as the government isolated hundreds of close contacts of Covid-positive people.

Monday as China plays host to the 2022 Winter Olympics, an event f i l led w ith nationa list fer vor that some fear could escalate after the Games into an attempt to take Taiwan by force.

Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade province, has not ruled out the use of force to unify the island with the mainland and has in recent

“No government has at their disposal infinite energy and resources,” Lam said.

The city has already introduced new restrictions, including banning dine-in service at restaurants after 6 p.m., closing cinemas, gyms and bars, and banning inbound flights from eight countries.

Hong Kong is expected to return to its toughest anti-virus measures by limiting the number of restaurant patrons to two per table, local newspaper Sing Tao reported Tuesday, citing unidentified people.

Officials are also expected to require a vaccine passport to enter shopping malls, the South China Morning Post reported, citing a person familiar with the matter, and restrict public gatherings to two people. Bloomberg News

months escalated fighter jet flights over Taiwanese airspace.

The support agreement is meant to help Taiwan maintain its existing air-defense missiles with advanced US-made Patriot missiles that Taiwan is acquiring.

Taiwan’s defense m i n i st r y tweeted its thanks to the US for the agreement’s approval. AP

UN experts: ‘Terrorist groups’ enjoy freedom in Afghanistan

U

NITED NATIONS—A lQaida’s past ties to the recently empowered Taliban have the potential of making Afghanistan a safe haven for extremists, and “terrorist groups enjoy greater freedom there than at any time in recent history,” U.N. experts said in a report circulated Monday.

In the wide-ranging report, the experts also said extremists linked to both al-Qaida and the Islamic State group are successfully advancing in Africa, especially in the turbulent Sahel. And they said the Islamic State continues to operate “as an entrenched rural insurgency” in Iraq and Syria, where its so-called caliphate ruled a significant swathe of the two countries from 2014-2017 when it was defeated by Iraqi forces and a US-led coalition.

In what it called “a bright spot” in Southeast Asia, the panel of experts said both Indonesia and the Philippines reported “significant gains” in disrupting Islamic State and al-Qaida-affiliated “terrorism” and “some optimism” that their operational capability “may be significantly degraded.”

The report to the UN Security Council by the panel of experts monitoring sanctions against alQaida and the Islamic State, also known as IS and ISIL, called the Taliban’s return to power on August 15 amid the chaotic final withdrawal

of US and NATO troops after 20 years the most significant event of the last six months of 2021.

The Taliban first ruled Afghanistan from 1996-2001 and were ousted for harboring al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden for masterminding the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US in 2001. In a February 2020 deal that spelled out the terms of the US troop withdrawal, the Taliban had promised to fight terrorism and deny terrorist groups a safe haven in Afghanistan.

But the panel of experts said “there are no recent signs that the Taliban has taken steps to limit the activities of foreign terrorist fighters in the country.” On the contrary, it said, terrorist groups are enjoying “greater freedom,” though member states “have not reported significant new movements of foreign terrorist fighters to Afghanistan.”

The experts noted that al-Qaida released a statement congratulating the Taliban on its victory on Aug. 31, but since then it has maintained “a strategic silence, likely an effort not to compromise Taliban efforts to gain international recognition and legitimacy.”

“Al-Qaida is also continuing to recover from a series of leadership losses and is assessed to lack the capability to conduct high-profile attacks overseas, which remains its long-ter m goal,” the panel said.

Al-Qaida’s leader, Ayman al-Zawahri was reported alive in January 2021, it said, “but member states continue to believe that he is in poor health.”

The experts noted that Amin Muhammad ul-Haq Saam Khan, who coordinated security for bin Laden, returned to his home in Afghanistan in late August. And they said an unnamed country reported that bin Laden’s son, Abdallah, visited in October for talks with the Taliban.

As for the Islamic State group, the panel said while it controls limited territory in Afghanistan, “it has demonstrated a continuing ability to mount sophisticated attacks, adding to the complexity of the security situation in Afghanistan.” As an example, it cited the complex attack at Kabul airport on Aug. 27 in which more than 180 people were killed.

Member states said the Islamic State’s strength in Afghanistan has risen from an estimated 2,200 to near 4,000 following the release of several thousand prisoners, according to the panel, which said one country estimated that half were foreign fighters.

The experts said the Taliban views ISIL “as its primary kinetic threat,” that seeks to be the “chief rejectionist force in Afghanistan with a wider regional agenda threatening neighboring Central and South Asian countries.” AP

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

Australian political leaders apologize to staff for abuses

C

ANBERRA, Australia—Australian political leaders apologized to staffers who have endured decades of bullying, harassment and sexual assault inside Parliamentary House and other government offices.

The presiding officers of the House of Representatives and Senate delivered the apology Tuesday on behalf of a crosssection of parties as part of a statement acknowledging a toxic workplace culture.

That culture was exposed by Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins’ investigation.

The investigation was triggered by former government staffer Brittany Higgins, who went public a year ago with her allegation that she had been raped by a more senior colleague in a minister’s Parliament House office weeks before the 2019 election.

Higgins said she felt she had to make a choice between reporting her allegations to police or continuing her career. She quit her government job in January last year and reported her allegation to police.

Higgins was one of seven women who were given exemptions from a pandemic ban on viewers sitting in the public gallery of the House.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison thanked Higgins for the courage she had shown in making her allegations.

“I am sorry. We are sorry. I’m sorry to Ms. Higgins for the terrible things that took place here,” Morrison told Parliament.

“The place that should have been a place of safety and contribution turned out to be a nightmare. But I’m sorry for far more than that. For all of those who came before Ms. Higgins and endured the same, but she had the courage to speak, and so here we are,” Morrison added.

The Associated Press does not usually identify alleged victims of sexual assault, but Higgins has chosen to identify herself in the media.

More than 1,700 people made contributions to Jenkins’ report, including past and present staffers.

Her report found 37 percent of people currently in parliamentary workplaces had experienced bullying and 33 percent had experienced sexual harassment.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce told Parliament he joined in the apolog y and in “acknowledging that we will do better.”

Revelations in 2018 that Joyce was expecting a baby with former press secretary Vikki Campion led to then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull banning his ministers from having sex with staff. Morrison has maintained the ban.

Joyce in 2018 was married with four children. He has since married Campion with whom he has had two children.

House Speaker Andrew Wallace told Parliament action was already being taken to improve the workplace culture.

Last year, an independent complaints process was established. Lawmakers and staff had also undergone professional workplace training, Wallace said.

Higgins’ former colleague Bruce Lehrmann has pleaded not guilty to a charge of sexual intercourse without consent and is scheduled to stand trial in a Canberra court in June. AP

New Zealand convoy protests clog streets near Parliament

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ELLINGTON, New Zeal a nd—Hu nd red s of people protesting vaccine and mask mandates drove in convoy to New Zealand’s capital on Tuesday and converged outside Parliament as lawmakers reconvened after a summer break.

The mostly unmasked protesters had driven from around the country, and their vehicles clogged the central Wellington streets for hours as they got out to meet and speak on Parliament’s forecourt.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern elected not to meet with them as she delivered a speech to lawmakers outlining her priorities for the year.

Among the protesters’ grievances is the requirement in New Zealand that certain workers get vaccinated against the coronavirus, including teachers, doctors, nurses, police and military personnel.

Many protesters also oppose mask mandates—such as those in stores and among children over about age 8 in school classrooms— and champion the ideal of more “freedom.”

New Zealand was spared the worst of the pandemic after it closed its borders and implemented strict lockdowns, limiting the spread of the virus. The nation has reported just 53 virus deaths among its population of 5 million.

But some have grown weary of the restrictions. Ardern last week said the country would end its quarantine requirements for incoming travelers in stages as it reopened its borders.

With about 77% of New Zealanders fully vaccinated, Ardern has also promised she won’t impose more lockdowns.

Health officials have been reporting about 200 new virus cases each day as an outbreak of the Omicron variant grows. Fourteen people are currently hospitalized because of the virus.

Police said Tuesday afternoon they hadn’t made any arrests and that protest organizers had asked protesters to move their cars and trucks by 5 p.m., ahead of the evening rush hour.

Wellington council officials had earlier indicated they were reluctant to issue tickets or order motorists to move, saying on social media, “We must consider the safety of our staff and do not want to put them in harm’s way.”

In her speech, Ardern told lawmakers that her government’s guiding principles during the pandemic had been to protect lives and livelihoods, and it had done that with its strong health response which helped cushion the blow to the economy, leading to record-low unemployment and strong GDP growth. AP

TheWorld BusinessMirror

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Wednesday, February 9, 2022

A9

Trudeau blasts trucker protest with key bridge to US blocked

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson looks on during a visit to the Kent Oncology Centre at Maidstone Hospital in Maidstone, Kent, England on February 7.

Gareth Fuller/Pool Photo via AP

Boris Johnson reboots office in bid to move past ‘partygate’

L

ONDON—Boris Johnson has brought in new senior staffers as he tries to restore his flagging authority—including a communications chief who insisted the British prime minister is “not a total clown.”

The prime minister hired Guto Harri, an aide from his days as London mayor who has recently been critical of Johnson, to try to regain control of the government’s messaging after weeks of turmoil that have led some in the ruling Conservatives to call for his removal. He also appointed a senior Cabinet minister, Steve Barclay, as his new chief of staff.

But unease about Johnson’s leadership grew Monday when opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer was harassed outside Parliament by anti-lockdown protesters who accused him of protecting pedophiles when he was a prosecutor—echoing a slur made by Johnson last week.

Visiting a hospital cancer center Monday outside London, Johnson said he was “focused completely” on clearing a backlog of millions of medical procedures built up during the pandemic.

It’s one of a pile of critical issues, including a squeeze on household finances from inflation and a looming tax hike, that are being overshadowed by scandal over lockdown-breaching government parties.

“I think what people want is for the government to focus, not on stuff going on at (the government district of) Westminster, but to focus on life... beyond Westminster, and to focus on the needs of the country,” Johnson said. “And that is what we’re doing.”

Johnson’s grip on power has been shaken by public anger over revelations that his staff held “bring your own booze” office parties, birthday celebrations and “wine time Fridays” in 2020 and 2021 while millions in Britain were barred from meeting with friends and family because of his government’s Covid-19 restrictions.

A total of 16 parties have been investigated by a senior civil servant, Sue Gray, with a dozen of them also under investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

In an interim report last week into the four parties not under criminal investigation, Gray found that “failures of leadership and judgment” enabled events to occur that “should not have been allowed to take place” and described a Downing Street operation marked by excessive drinking and dysfunctional dynamics.

Johnson apologized—without admitting personal wrongdoing— and pledged to fix the problems in his office.

But on Friday he was rocked by the departure of five senior staff, including his chief of staff, his communications director and his policy director, Munira Mirza. Mirza, a loyal longtime aide, stood by the prime minister amid the “partygate” revelations. But she said the final straw was Johnson’s “scurrilous accusation” that Starmer had failed to prosecute the late pedophile Jimmy Savile for sexual abuse when Starmer was the UK’s director of public prosecutions.

On Monday, Starmer was surrounded outside Parliament by protesters against coronavirus restrictions. They could be heard yelling “Traitor!”, mentioning Savile and throwing accusations of “protecting pedophiles.” Starmer was driven away in a police car.

Police said two people were arrested.

Johnson called the harassment “absolutely disgraceful,” but some said he should take responsibility. Julian Smith, a former minister in Johnson’s government, tweeted that “the false Savile slurs” must be “withdrawn in full.”

Johnson responded to recent weeks’ turmoil with a Downing Street shakeup that included the eye-catching appointment of Harri, a former BBC journalist who worked for Johnson at City Hall from 2008 to 2012 but has more recently criticized him. In 2018, Harri called Johnson “sexually incontinent,” and in 2020 he said government communications during the pandemic had been “a masterclass in incompetence.” Last month Harri said reports of parties in Downing Street while Britain was in lockdown were “unforgivable,” though also “understandable in some ways.”

Harri told a Welsh-language news site that Johnson greeted him on his first day by singing Gloria Gaynor’s disco anthem “I Will Survive.”

Harri, who is Welsh, told the Golwg360 site that Johnson was “not a total clown,” but in fact “a very likeable character.”

He said the prime minister is “not the devilish man as some wrongly portray him to be.”

The staff moves are intended to reassure Conservative lawmakers who are debating whether to seek a no-confidence vote in the leader who won them a big parliamentary majority just over two years ago.

Under party rules, a no-confidence vote is triggered if 15% of party lawmakers—currently 54 people—write letters calling for one. If Johnson lost such a vote, he would be replaced as party leader and prime minister.

Only 15 of the 360 Conservative legislators have publicly called for Johnson to quit, though the numbers that have written letters are likely higher.

Conservative lawmaker Tom Tugendhat, who has already said he will run for leader if Johnson is ousted, said the prime minister’s fate depended on “how the reset goes.”

He said “there’s an awful lot of talent going in,” but also “an awful lot of talent coming out.” AP

P

rime Minister Justin Trudeau took a hard line against trucker protests that have paralyzed Canada’s capital city and have now halted commercial traffic to the US at the busiest border crossing between the two countries.

The Ambassador Bridge that connects Windsor, Ontario, with Detroit was shut down in both directions late Monday, according to a Canadian government website and the Michigan transportation department. It’s the most important land crossing for goods between Canada and its largest trading partner and a crucial artery for auto parts suppliers and manufacturers.

About 1.4 million trucks entered the US through Detroit last year, almost all of them via the bridge, according to data from the US Department of Transportation and an association of bridge and tunnel operators. Protesters on tractors and trucks blocked access to another major US-Canada bridge about 65 miles northeast of Detroit on Sunday.

Trudeau, speaking earlier on the floor of the legislature the first time since the crisis began, warned that demonstrators were hobbling the economy and trying to undermine democracy.

He also dismissed contentions

from the opposition Conservatives that the columns of big rigs parked along major thoroughfares in Ottawa are emblematic of a country bitterly divided over the pandemic.

“This is a story of a country that got through this pandemic by being united, and a few people shouting and waving swastikas does not define who Canadians are,” Trudeau said, referring to images from the initial days of the protest two weekends ago showing signs and flags adorned with Nazi symbols.

Trudeau slammed the protesters for “trying to blockade our economy, our democracy and our fellow citizens’ daily lives.”

He also raised his voice almost to a shout at one point. “This pandemic has sucked for all Canadians,” the prime minister said.

“Everyone’s tired of Covid, but these protests are not the way to get through it.”

Horns muted

The prime minister’s comments

came hours after an Ontario Superior Court judge ordered a 10day halt to deafening blasts from truck horns that have traumatized downtown residents.

Police have begun trying to cut off supplies to the trucker convoy, but have so far been unable to contain the demonstrations, prompting the city of Ottawa to declare a state of emergency. The protesters, who have garnered global attention, say they won’t leave until all Covid health restrictions are dropped.

Disruptions to commercial traffic are a significant escalation for the protests, and risk igniting backlash that may aid Trudeau.

The Blue Water Bridge between Port Huron, Mich., and Sarnia, Ontario, has since reopened after Sunday’s closure, and other links including the Peace Bridge that connects Ontario to Buffalo, N.Y., remain open.

Trudeau had largely been out of sight during the protest after testing positive for Covid a week ago and going into isolation. On Friday, he said calling in the military was “not in the cards.”

He had no appearances scheduled Monday until just before the emergency debate, which was requested by the left-leaning New Democratic Party.

The prime minister said the demonstrators are effectively trying to overturn last September’s election result, which saw his Liberals returned to power for a third term but without a parliamentary majority.

“We asked Canadians how they wanted to keep fighting this pandemic, and their answer was clear,” Trudeau said. “Canadians chose vaccines. They chose science.”

Interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen—who took the party’s helm after Erin O’Toole was ousted in a caucus putsch last week—challenged Trudeau on whether he lit the fuse for the protest by demonizing people who oppose vaccines and vaccine mandates.

“We are at a crisis point not only with what’s going on out the doors and across the country, but the country overall,” Bergen said Monday night. “And so much of it is because of the things that he has said and done.”

But Trudeau again insisted Canadians are united. He also praised the handful of Conservative lawmakers who have called for the protesters to leave Ottawa’s streets, while imploring others to follow suit.

“I’ve seen members of the opposition call for an end to the blockades,” Trudeau said.

“I salute that. This is a time to put national interests ahead of partisan interests.”

While the race for a permanent Conservative leader hasn’t officially started, perceived frontrunner Pierre Poilievre has already announced his candidacy.

The firebrand finance critic, who represents a district on Ottawa’s southern outskirts, has fully embraced the protests and is using the slogan: “Truckers, not Trudeau.”

Bloomberg News

White House: Science adviser resigns over treatment of staff

W

ASHINGTON—President Joe Biden’s top science adviser Eric Lander resigned Monday, hours after the White House confirmed that an internal investigation found credible evidence that he mistreated his staff, marking the first Cabinet-level departure of the Biden administration.

An internal review last year, prompted by a workplace complaint, found evidence that Lander, the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and science adviser to Biden, bullied staffers and treated them disrespectfully. The White House rebuked Lander over his interactions with his staff, but initially signaled Monday that he would be allowed to remain on the job, despite Biden’s Inaug urat ion Day assertion that he expected “honesty and decency” from all who worked for his administration and would fire anyone who shows disrespect to others “on the spot.”

But later Monday evening, press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden had accepted Lander’s resignation with “gratitude for his work at OTSP on the pandemic, the Cancer Moonshot, climate change, and other key priorities.”

Lander, in his resignation letter, said, “I am devastated that I caused hurt to past and present colleagues by the way in which I have spoken to them.”

“I believe it is not possible to continue effectively in my role, and the work of this office is far too important to be hindered,” he added.

The White House said Biden did not request Lander’s resignation.

Earlier Monday, Psaki said senior administration officials had met with Lander about his actions

and management of the office, but indicated he would be allowed to stay in the job, saying the administration was following a “process” to handle workplace complaints.

“Following the conclusion of the thorough investigation into these actions, senior White House officials conveyed directly to Dr. Lander that his behavior was inappropriate, and the corrective actions that were needed, which the White House will monitor for compliance moving forward,” she said.

Psaki added, “ The president has been crystal clear with all of us about his high expectations of how he and his staff should be creating a respectful work environment.”

The White House said Lander and OSTP would be required to take certain corrective actions as part of the review. It also said the review did not find “credible evidence” of gender-based discrimination and the reassignment of the staffer who filed the original complaint was “deemed appropriate.”

Lander on Friday issued an apology to staffers in his office, acknowledging “I have spoken to colleagues within OSTP in a disrespectful or demeaning way.”

“I am deeply sorry for my conduct,” he added. “I especially want to apologize to those of you who I treated poorly, or were present at the time.”

The White House review was completed weeks ago, but it was confirmed—and Lander apologized—only after reporting by Politico.

Biden’s “Safe and Respectful Workplace Policy” was instituted when he took office and was meant to serve as a contrast from the often-demeaning way former President Donald Trump and his

aides treated one another and political foes.

Lander’s conduct and the White House’s initial decision to stand by him sparked some consternation inside the White House and among Biden allies and created an unnecessary distraction from Biden’s agenda.

By late Monday, Lander came to believe he was in an untenable position and resigned effective no later than February 18, “in order to permit an orderly transfer.”

There are five deputy directors—four women and one man— at the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Kei Koizumi is the deputy director for policy. Former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief Jane Lubchenco is the deputy for climate science. Sally Benson is the deputy for energy. Carrie Wolinetz is the deputy director for health and life science. Alondra Nelson is the deputy director for science and society.

The world ’s largest general science society disinvited Lander from speaking at their annual meeting shortly before his resignation was announced. American Association for the Advancement of Science Chief Executive Officer Sudip Parikh said he didn’t know if that had anything to do with the resignation.

“I hope that we sent the right message about what’s important,” Parikh told The Associated Press Monday night. “The time of letting these things go is over. Not just in sciences, but in workplaces all across America.”

“This is an administration that has put a lot of their political capital into science and technology,” Parikh added. “It’s a tough role to fill. It’s very possible and very likely that that person could be a

woman.”

Lander, whose position was elevated to Cabinet-rank by Biden, appeared prominently with the president last week when he relaunched his “Cancer Moonshot” program to marshal federal resources behind research and treatment for cancer diseases.

The founding director of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Lander is a mathematician and molecular biologist. He was lead author of the first paper announcing the details of the human genome, the so-called “book of life.”

His confirmation to his role in the Biden administration was delayed for months as senators sought more information about meetings he had with the late Jeffrey Epstein, a disgraced financier who was charged with sex trafficking before his suicide.

Lander also was criticized for downplaying the contributions of two Nobel Prize-winning female scientists.

At his confirmation hearing l ast year, L ander apolog i zed for a 2016 article he wrote that dow npl ayed t he work of t he female scientists. At the hearing, he also called Epstein “an abhorrent individual.”

Lander said he “understated the importance of those key advances” by biochemists Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna. The two were later awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Lander’s depar ture on the grounds of Biden’s respectful workplace policy echoed the February 2021 resignation of thenWhite House deputy press secretary TJ Ducklo, who was suspended and then resigned over threatening conversations with a reporter. AP

A10 Wednesday, February 9, 2022 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Cutting reliance on imported oil

T

he price of Brent crude oil has already breached the $90 per barrel mark. Reuters reported on Friday that oil prices surged to new highs and extended their rally into a seventh week. Frigid weather in the United States and the ongoing political turmoil among major world producers have put pressure on oil prices, according to the report.

The spike in oil prices has also caused fuel prices in oil-importing countries like the Philippines to rally. On Monday, oil firms announced another round of price hikes (See, “No respite so far: Oil firms raise fuel pump prices for 6th consecutive week,” in the BusinessMirror, February 7, 2022). Local oil companies said the adjustment in prices reflect movements in the world oil market.

Aside from pump prices, the surge in international oil prices have also caused the price of various fertilizer grades to go up (See, “DA readies short-, long-term ways to cut fertilizer prices,” in the BusinessMirror, October 25, 2021). Sugar planters lamented that the price of fertilizers—an essential input that helps boost crop yields—has nearly tripled in recent days.

The jump in production cost could discourage smallholders from planting their crops, as they would only lose money.

The short-term solution is always the provision of fuel and fertilizer subsidy to farmers and fishers, who spend a chunk of their income for fuel. Countries that depend on imported oil give out these subsidies to cushion the impact of higher crude oil prices on food production. In the case of the Philippines, subsidies depend on available funds and are given out for only a short period of time.

Reducing the reliance of farmers and fishers on imported inputs should be the paramount concern of our policy-makers to shield them from oil price swings. One way by which this can be done is through a program that will allow farmers to tap renewable energy. Called the Renewable Energy Program for the AgriFishery Sector (REPAFS) 2022-2030, the initiative would require P8 billion to implement, according to the Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering or BAFE (See, “RE program for agrifishery sector requires P8B–BAFE,” in the BusinessMirror, January 10, 2022).

REPAFS seeks to increase the utilization of renewable energy (RE) systems and technologies in the farm sector. These RE systems and technologies will augment the energy supply needed in mechanization, irrigation, storage and processing facilities and other agricultural activities. Adopting renewable energy technologies will allow the Philippines to hit two goals—achieve food and energy security and reach its sustainability goals.

The amount required to implement REPAFS may be huge but it pales in comparison to the country’s net import bill in January to June 2021, which amounted to nearly $4.62 billion, or about double the $2.836 billion recorded in 2020. Apart from allocating funds for the program, policy-makers must also address the hurdles to the slow rate of adoption of RE technologies if they want REPAFS to succeed and reduce the Philippines’s reliance on imported oil.

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One-time 60-day refund under the SSS Pension Loan Program Aurora C. Ignacio

All About Social Security

I

N September 2018, the Social Security System started offering the Pension Loan Program to provide immediate financial assistance to qualified SSS retirement pensioners through a low interest rate loan. We are aware that in the previous years, most of them sought personal loans from various private lending companies that charge higher interest rates with pawned collaterals like their Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards. This is where SSS comes in when it finally opened the PLP to all its retirement pensioners.

To qualify, they must meet the following: n 85 years old and below at the end of the last month of the loan term; n no outstanding loan balance and benefit overpayments payable to SSS; n no existing advance pension under the SSS Calamity Assistance Package; and n must be receiving their regular monthly pension for at least one month with an “active” status.

Under this program, qualified retirement pensioners can avail themselves of a loan equivalent to three, six, nine, or 12 times their basic monthly pension (BMP) plus their P1,000 additional benefit. However, the loanable amount should not exceed the maximum loan limit of P200,000, which in turn may be payable in six, 12, or up to 24 months.

On PLP’s first year, SSS disbursed a total of P2.52 billion to 74,503 pension loan borrowers, while in 2020, we paid off a total of P3.39 billion to 74,799 pension loan borrowers.

From January to December 2021, we have granted a total of P3.08 billion to 69,039 pension loan borrowers.

This only shows that PLP has really served its purpose in helping our pensioners during this pandemic where additional funds were allocated for medical purposes, among others.

Under the program, the monthly amortization shall be deducted from the monthly pension of the pension loan borrower. As agreed in the contract, SSS regularly deducts the monthly amortization from the monthly pension. What’s important here is that pensioners still maintain a net take-home pension equivalent to a least 47.25 percent of their basic monthly pension, including the P1,000 additional benefit that was granted by SSS starting January 2017.

Good news, too, since effective January 20, 2022, SSS has implemented a one-time 60-day refund of monthly pension loan payments to all PLP borrowers. The refund is based on Circular 2022-002 and in compliance with the provisions of Republic Act 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act. Under the said law, banks, quasi-banks, financing companies, lending companies, and other financing institutions, both public and private, were directed to give a 30-day grace period for borrowers’ loan payments without incurring any interest, penalties, fees, and other charges. The provision covered loan payments with dues that fall within September 15 to December 31, 2020.

“Currently amortizing,” as stated in the circular, refers to PL borrow-

ers with loans falling due, or any part thereof, on or before December 31, 2020. PL borrowers with pending requests for re-adjudication or adjustment of pension benefits or whose terms have already ended prior to the implementation of the refund are not yet eligible.

SSS shall refund the PL amortizations deducted from the pension of the borrower, as follows:

penalty for the extended loan term on account of the refund. The PL shall continue to be insured during the extended term and SSS shall not charge the PL borrowers additional premiums for the extended insurance coverage.

Eligible PL borrowers shall not be required to file a request or application for refund with the SSS. All PL borrowers eligible for refund shall

Month of Approved Loan Amortization

Start of Amortization

Currently Amortizing August 2020 September 2020 October 2020

October 2020 November 2020 December 2020

The refund shall, in effect, extend the term of the PL by one month or two months, as the case may be: 1. Currently amortizing PL borrowers, and retirement pensioners who applied for PLs in August and September 2020, shall be eligible for a two-month refund; 2. Those who applied for PLs in October shall be eligible for a onemonth refund (first amortization to start on December 2020); and 3. Pensioners who applied for PLs in November and December 2020 shall not be eligible for the refund as per guidelines on the Enhanced Pension Loan Program for Retirement Pensioners, the first monthly amortization shall become due on the second month after the loan was granted.

The amount for refund shall be credited immediately upon implementation of the refund on January 30, 2022 to the PL borrower’s savings account, which should be in the following order of priority: 1. SSS UMID-ATM card; or 2. Union Bank of the Philippines Quick Card.

Moreover, the refunded amount shall be deducted from the monthly pension of the PL borrower on the extended term of the loan. Borrowers need not worry as SSS shall not charge any additional interest or

Months for Refund October and November 2020 October and November 2020 November and December 2020 December 2020

be allowed to apply for loan renewal after the expiration of their original loan payment terms. Whereas, the remaining balance of their loan shall be deducted from the proceeds of the new PL. Earlier this year, SSS received an attestation from SOCOTEC Certification Philippines, Inc., the leading provider of accredited ISO certification services with more than 5,000 clients in 26 countries worldwide, that its Pension Loan Granting Process of all branches under the SSS Luzon Operations Group underwent a thorough assessment of their Quality Management System in accordance with the requirements of ISO 9001:2015. The ISO 9001: 2015 is a world standard that determines that an organization is able to provide international quality and services consistently. This only proves that SSS never stops in devising ways to enhance and improve its systems and processes for the benefit of our SSS members, employers, pensioners, and the general public.

Have a good day everyone!

Aurora C. Ignacio is SSS president and chief executive officer.

We welcome your questions and insights on the topics that we discuss. E-mail mediaaffairs@sss. gov.ph for topics that you might want us to discuss.

Biden threatens: No gas pipeline if Russia invades Ukraine

By Aamer Madhani, Sylvie Corbet & Vladimir Isachenkov The Associated Press

W

ASHINGTON—In a flurry of diplomacy across two continents, President Joe Biden met with Germany’s new leader Monday and vowed the crucial Nord Stream 2 Russia-to-Germany gas pipeline will be blocked if Russia further invades Ukraine. Russia’s Vladimir Putin retorted that the US and its allies are the only ones talking invasion.

Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron met for more than five hours in Moscow at the same time Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke at the White House in efforts to defuse the crisis before

armed conflict breaks out. Russia has massed thousands of troops at the Ukraine border, adding military might almost daily.

The White House has expressed increasing alarm about the prospects

of war, and Biden has been looking to solidify support among European allies for economy-jarring sanctions against Russia if it attacks.

“If Russia invades, that means tanks and troops crossing the border of Ukraine again, then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2,” Biden said. “We will bring an end to it.”

That would hurt Russia economically but also cause supply problems for Germany. Construction of the pipeline has been completed, but it is not yet operating.

“We are jointly ready, and all of Nato is ready,” Biden said, referring to the powerful Western alliance,

though Ukraine is not a member.

While Biden reiterated with certitude that the pipeline would not move forward, Scholz stressed the need to keep some ambiguity about sanctions in order to press Russia to de-escalate the crisis.

“It’s necessary for Russia to understand that a lot more could happen than they’ve perhaps calculated with themselves,” Scholz said.

The buildup of over 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine has fueled Western worries of a possible offensive. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned Sunday See “Biden,” A11

Opinion BusinessMirror

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US and Russia clash over use and impact of UN sanctions

There’s a need to review and simplify PEZA and LGU roles

By Edith M. Lederer | Associated Press

U

NITED NATIONS—The United States and its allies clashed with Russia and China in the UN Security Council on Monday over the usefulness and impact of UN sanctions, which are currently imposed on countries from North Korea to Yemen and Congo as well the al-Qaida and Islamic State extremist groups and their affiliates and supporters.

Russia, which holds the council presidency this meeting and chose the topic—preventing humanitarian and unintended consequences of sanctions—also lashed out at unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States, European Union and other countries and groups.

UN political chief Rosemary DiCarlo told the council there are 14 UN sanctions regimes: As examples, in Libya, Mali, South Sudan and Yemen they support conflict resolution; in Guinea Bissau they aim to deter unconstitutional changes of government; in Central African Republic, Congo and Somalia they curb the illicit exploitation of natural resources that fund armed groups; in North Korea, they target proliferation activities; and they constrain Islamic State and al-Qaida terrorist threats.

DiCarlo said UN sanctions are no longer “the blunt instrument they once were.” Since the 1990s, they have undergone changes to minimize possible adverse consequences on civilians and third countries, and the Security Council has included and provided humanitarian exemptions in most sanctions regimes, she said.

Russia’s deputy UN ambassador Dmitry Polyansky, who chaired the meeting, said many sanctions regimes interfere with plans for statebuilding and economic development, pointing to Central African Republic and Sudan and calling the measures on Guinea Bissau “anachronistic.”

The Security Council needs “to take greater heed of what the authorities of states under sanctions think” and be more realistic in setting benchmarks to lift them to make sure they don’t turn into “a mission impossible,” he said.

US Ambassador Linda ThomasGreenfield countered that sanctions are “a potent tool” that “make it harder for terrorists to raise funds via international financial systems,” and have slowed development of “certain capabilities” in North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Sanctions also “constrain the resources of those who would spoil peace processes, threaten UN peacekeepers, commit atrocities, and obstruct humanitarian assistance,” she said.

Britain’s deputy ambassador James Kariyuki said the value of UN sanctions were proven in Angola, Ivory Coast, Liberia and Sierra Leone where “they helped end conflict and support the transition to peace and democracy” and were then lifted.

“In the Central African Republic, they’ve improved the practices of a mining company,” he said. “In Somalia, the arms embargo has enabled the

Biden. . .

continued from A10

that Russia could invade Ukraine “any day,” triggering a conflict that would come at an “enormous human cost.”

At the same time, Biden and Nato allies have made clear there are no plans for sending in troops to fight Russia on Ukraine’s behalf.

Macron and Putin, during their lengthy meeting—with a dinner that featured the choice of sturgeon or reindeer—registered their disagreements but also emphasized a need for more talks.

Putin noted that the US and Nato have ignored Moscow’s demands that the alliance guarantee it will keep Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations out, refrain from placing weapons in Ukraine and roll back alliance forces from Eastern Europe.

“We are categorically against any further Nato’s expansion eastward because it poses a threat to us,” Pu-

seizure of thousands of ammunition rounds, anti-tank guided missiles, and sniper-fire rifles reportedly intended for al-Shabab,” the al-Qaedalinked extremist group.

Russia’s Polyansky took special aim at sanctions imposed outside the UN by countries or groups, which he said “remain a serious impediment for full-fledged functioning of humanitarian exemptions,” citing problems with contractors, carriers, cargo insurance and bank transactions.

He also said Russia proceeds from the understanding that only UN sanctions “are legitimate,” and that broader use of unilateral sanctions “undermines the norms and institutes of the international law.”

Polyansky claimed “secondary sanctions of major Western powers create a `toxic vibe’ around Pyongyang” that discourages cooperation even in areas not touched by international restrictions. He also cited what he called the “war of sanctions” against Russia’s ally Syria, which has very negatively affected its economy, as well as US sanctions against Cuba and Venezuela.

China’s UN Ambassador Zhang Jun called unilateral sanctions “extremely harmful” and expressed concern that a few countries “have been flinging them about left, right and center, in a frenzy so much so that they seem to be addicted to them.”

He said these measures “have thrown a spanner in the works of economic and social development and scientific and technological progress of the targeted countries.”

Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador, countered that the US far prefers sanctions to be imposed multilaterally, including at the Security Council. But when some council members block “critical designations of peace process spoilers, high profile terrorists, human rights abusers, and sanctions evaders” the United States and many other countries are prepared to act—and to use their currency regulations and domestic financial systems “as economic leverage to address urgent global challenges such as nuclear proliferation, human rights abuses and violations, and corruption,” she said.

To Russia’s contention that sanctions imposed by individual countries may be unlawful, ThomasGreenfield retorted, “the United States categorically rejects that position.”

The US fully supports its partners, regional organizations including the European Union, African Union and West African regional group ECOWAS “that impose their own sanctions in response to threats,” she said. tin said. “It’s not us who’s advancing to Nato, it’s Nato coming to us and so it’s illogical to talk about Russia’s aggressive behavior.”

He scoffed at Western descriptions of Nato as a defensive alliance, saying sarcastically that “people of Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan have learned it from their own experience.” And he threatened a wider war if Ukraine should join the alliance and perhaps try to win back Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.

“European countries will automatically be drawn into a military conflict with Russia,” Putin said.

“You will be drawn into that conflict beyond your will. There will be no winners.”

Macron described the talks as “substantial, deep” with a focus on conditions that could help deescalation.

“We tried to build converging elements,” he said. “The upcoming days will be crucial and deep discussions together will be needed.”

Putin signaled his readiness to

Wednesday, February 9, 2022 A11

Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza

MAKE SENSE

I

thought that the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995 (or Republic Act 7916), as amended by RA 8748, an Act Providing For The Legal Framework and Mechanisms for the Creation, Operation, Administration, and Coordination of Special Economic Zones in the Philippines that created the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) was the perfect measure to make our country globally competitive. Then I learned that SEZ locators are subjected to actual physical inspection by local government units when they apply for business, sanitary and electrical permits, or when they renew their business permits with the LGU where the SEZ is located.

Under Chapter II, Section 13 of the Act, defining the powers and functions of PEZA, the Authority has the mandate to register, regulate and supervise the enterprises in the ecozone in an efficient and decentralized manner, and to coordinate with local government units

and exercise general supervision over the development, plans, activities and operations of the ecozones, industrial estates, export processing zones, free trade zones, and the like, among others.

In other words, PEZA is practically responsible for everything in

LGUs must let PEZA do its job as mandated by law. One way to make our economic zones investor-friendly is to refrain from interrupting the business activities of locators. The country will ultimately benefit from the success of our ecozones.

the non-Customs territory SEZs. From the granting of tax holidays to SEZ locators, to ensuring that SEZmade products and/or materials are not sold locally, unless it’s within the 30 percent allowable limit granted to locators by law, to the collection of 5 percent of the gross income earned by all business enterprises within the ecozone, which shall be paid and remitted as follows: 3 percent to the national government and 2 percent to be directly remitted by the business establishments to the treasurer’s office of the municipality or city where the enterprise is located.

This makes me wonder why LGUs should do the actual inspection of SEZ locators for their permit require-

ments when the law explicitly says that this must be done by PEZA, in coordination with the concerned LGUS. Allowing LGU inspectors access to SEZ plants could distract the locators’ focus in meeting their delivery commitments to the global market.

And if this is a legislative or executive oversight, a thorough review of the Act, especially on the coordinating roles of PEZA and LGUs, must be undertaken. We need to simplify the procedures at SEZs and make them investor-friendly. PEZA, after all, has the power to monitor and evaluate the development and requirements of entities, and to recommend to the local government units or other appropriate authorities the location, incentives, basic services, utilities and infrastructure required or to be made available for said entities.

LGUs must let PEZA do its job as mandated by law. One way to make our economic zones investor-friendly is to refrain from interrupting the business activities of locators. The country will ultimately benefit from the success of our ecozones.

Report: Corporate climate pledges are weaker than they seem

That’s the conclusion of a new report by the NewClimate Institute, an environmental organization that works to combat global warming.

Its researchers, who examined the actions of 25 companies, concluded that many of them are misleading consumers by using accounting practices that make their environmental goals relatively meaningless or are excluding key parts of their businesses in their calculations.

The companies have pledged to make their emissions reductions or to offset their emissions through such techniques as planting carboncapturing forests over self-imposed periods ranging from 2030 to 2050.

The authors chose to study corporate giants, including Amazon and Walmart, which made bold climate pledges and who, because of their size, are seen as especially influential. In recent years, large corporations have increasingly adopted pledges to significantly reduce their carbon footprints—a priority of growing importance to many of their customers, employees and investors.

NewClimate Institute concluded that even though many companies have pledged to reach net-zero emissions, the 25 companies they studied have collectively committed to reduce emissions by about 40 percent—not the 100 percent that people might be led to believe from the companies’ net-zero or carbonneutral pledges.

“We were frankly surprised and disappointed at the overall integrity of the companies’ claims” said Thomas Day of NewClimate Institute, one of the study’s lead authors. “Their

ambitious-sounding headline claims all-too-often lack real substance, which can mislead both consumers and the regulators that are core to guiding their strategic direction.

Even companies that are doing relatively well exaggerate their actions.”

Among the 25 companies the researchers studied, 24 relied too heavily on carbon offsets, which are rife with problems, the report said. That’s because carbon offsets often rely on carbon removal ventures such as reforestation projects. These projects suck up carbon but are not ideal solutions because forests can be razed or destroyed by wildfires, re-releasing carbon into the air.

Most of the companies, the report said, presented vague information on the scale and potential impact of their emissions-reduction measures or might have exaggerated their use of renewable energy.

The report called Amazon’s goal of net-zero carbon by 2040 unsubstantiated. It said it was unclear whether Amazon’s goal referred solely to carbon dioxide emissions or to all greenhouse gases. The report also said it was not clear to what degree Amazon planned to reduce its own emissions, as opposed to buying carbon offset credits which rely on nature-based solutions.

In response, Amazon said it has been transparent about its investments in nature-based solutions, and disputed that its net-zero goals are based on offsets. The company said it’s on a path toward powering its operations with 100 percent renewable energy by 2025, five years ahead of its original target of 2030.

It also highlighted other initiatives including deploying 100,000 electric delivery vehicles by 2030.

As an example of a misleading goal, the report said CVS Health could potentially achieve its 2030 emissions target with little effort because it compared that target with a base year that included extraordinarily high emissions.

A CVS spokeswoman responded that after the company’s merger with Aetna in late 2018, 2019 was the first full year of data the company could use as a baseline for the new combined entity.

“By 2030, we plan to reduce our environmental impact by more than 50%, including a reduction in our energy consumption and use of paper and plastic,” the company said.

The NewClimate report said that Nestle, among the companies with the lowest marks, had emissionsreduction plans that covered only portions of its business and that its net-zero targets relied upon carbon offsets. The company also provided little detail on the renewable electricity sources it was pursuing, it said.

Nestle responded that its emissions reduction targets do cover all its activities, that it’s reducing greenhouse gas emissions 50 percent by 2030 and that its factories and offices are switching to renewable electricity.

Jonathan Overpeck, dean of the school for environment and sustainability at the University of Michigan, who had no role in the NewClimate report, said: “Far too many companies are coming up short when it comes to meaningful decarbonization. Corporate decarbonization goals and plans for meeting them are generally far less compelling than needed for success in halting climate change.”

Some other outside experts suggested that the NewClimate report

continue negotiations and denied anew that Russia has any intention of invading Ukraine.

In the meantime, Biden warned “it would be wise” for Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine.

On a positive note, Putin said without elaboration that some of Macron’s proposals could serve as a basis for a settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, adding that they agreed to have a call after Macron’s visit to Kyiv Tuesday.

Likewise, Biden said when asked if there remained an “off-ramp” for Russia in the standoff, “The answer is yes.”

Before meeting Biden, Scholz told German media that “there will be a very high price if Ukraine is attacked militarily. And we are preparing for this very precisely and have been talking about the details for a long time.” Scholz will travel to Kyiv and Moscow February 14 to 15.

German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said her country

would add up to 350 troops within a few days to about 500 already a part of a Nato battlegroup in Lithuania.

“With this, we are strengthening our contribution to forces on Nato’s eastern flank and sending a very clear signal of unity to our allies,” she said.

Biden already has deployed additional US troops to Poland, Romania and Germany, and a few dozen elite US troops and equipment landed Sunday in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine, with hundreds more infantry troops of the 82nd Airborne Division set to arrive.

Britain said the UK was sending 350 troops to Poland to bolster Nato forces, joining 100 Royal Engineers already there.

At a news conference in Washington, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell defended the increasingly dire Western warnings that a Russian invasion may be imminent.

“This is not alarmism. This is simply the facts,” Blinken said. “And the facts are that we’ve seen over the last

few months a massive amassing of Russian forces on Ukraine’s borders.”

Borrell noted that “140,000 troops massed on the border is not to go to have tea.”

Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance is weighing a more permanent military presence in southeast Europe in response to Russia’s “massive military deployment” near Ukraine.

“We are considering more longerterm adjustments to our posture, our presence in the eastern part of the alliance,” Stoltenberg said after talks in Brussels with Polish President Andrzej Duda. “If Russia really wants less Nato close to the borders, they get the opposite.”

Stoltenberg gave no details and said no final decision has been made, but the move could mirror Nato’s long-term military presence in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, where about 5,000 troops are stationed. It would see a similar force based in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.

N

By Cathy Bussewitz | AP Business Writer

EW YORK—Many of the world’s largest companies are failing to take significant enough steps to meet their pledges to vastly reduce the impact of their greenhouse gas emissions in the decades ahead.

was too critical of carbon offsets.

“Forest-based offsets are challenging, but they can be real and important,” said Christopher Field, director of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University. “A too-strong emphasis on decarbonization paths that don’t include offsets will slow overall progress and raise costs.”

The report did note some things it said the companies are doing well.

Shipping company Maersk received the best ratings despite the challenges its industry faces in reducing emissions. The authors noted that Maersk is pursuing alternative fuels and has partnered with a renewable energy company to establish a factory for e-methanol. Maersk did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Most of the companies studied, 15 of them, have outlined plans to reduce their “Scope 1” and “Scope 2” emissions, which are emissions released directly by the company or by its using electricity, the report said. But those companies didn’t address their “Scope 3” emissions; these include emissions released by suppliers or customers that use their products. Scope 3 emissions account for, on average, 87 percent of all emissions for the 25 companies studied, the group said.

The report commended Walmart, which pledged to be net-zero by 2040, for following good practice by committing to reduce its operational emissions to zero without the use of offsets and setting near-term goals for those reductions which include using 100% renewable energy by 2035. But Walmart was faulted for not including Scope 3 emissions.

Walmart does have a voluntary program that guides its product suppliers to reduce emissions, and nearly a quarter of its suppliers have joined, the report said.

The aim would be only to bolster the defenses of Nato allies in the region. The troops would not cross into Ukraine should Russia invade.

Biden and Scholz also discussed contingency plans for providing gas supplies to Europe should Russia cut off supply. Europe is already dealing with liquefied natural gas supplies being sapped by a cold winter last year, a summer with little renewable energy generation and Russia delivering less than usual.

Biden asserted the US and other countries could make up a “significant portion” of supplies lost should Russia move to cut off Europe.

But energy experts say replacing Russian gas would be complicated and can’t be done overnight. Export terminals cost billions of dollars to build and are working at capacity in the US. Corbet and Isachenkov reported from Moscow. Associated Press writers Matthew Lee, Colleen Long and Zeke Miller in Washington, Lorne Cook in Brussels, Yuras Karmanau in Kyiv, Ukraine, Geir Moulson and Frank Jordans in Berlin and Jill Lawless in London contributed.

A12 Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Rallies herald campaign period in pandemic

C

ANDIDATES for national positions fired their opening salvo on Tuesday in rallies across the country, amid drastically altered arrangements for physical campaigning caused by health safeguards during the pandemic.

The Commission on Elections said the first day of the campaign period was marred by certain violations of its rules, including the failure of one presidential aspirant, labor leader Leody de Guzman, to secure a permit for holding his proclamation rally at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City.

The Comelec earlier said that unlike in previous elections, candidates will now be mandated to get permits from the Comelec Campaign Committee (CCC) before they can conduct in-person campaign, caucus, meetings, conventions, rallies and miting de avance as stated under Comelec Resolution No. 10732.

Permits to hold such activities on a limited scale will be based on the current Alert Level in certain areas set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF).

The candidates will also be banned from entering private dwellings even with the express permission of the homeowner, crowding, engaging in handshakes, hugs, kisses, and selfies with the public and the distribution of food and drinks.

Among the presidential contenders’ camps, those of the UniTeam of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and PROMDI’s Sen. Manny Pacquiao claimed their

proclamation rallies drew supporters of over 20,000. Marcos Jr. and running mate Sara Duterte-Carpio held their rally at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, the world’s largest indoor arena with a capacity of 50,000, but which the UniTeam said would be filled with half, or 25,000, given the physical-distancing protocols imposed by authorities.

See stories on the UniTeam and the Leni-Kiko rallies in A5 News.

According to the Pacquiao camp, around 25,000 supporters attended the proclamation rally of Pacquiao and his running mate, Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza, at the Oval Stadium in General Santos City.

Atienza was not able to physically attend the proclamation after spraining a foot.

But he joined te rally through livestream.

Pacquiao’s family, friends and supporters prayed together before the start of his campaign.

Pacquiao also named their senatorial line-up: broadcaster Raffy Tulfo, former Vice President Jejomar Binay, reelectionist senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Joel Villanueva, Richard Gordon and Win Gatchalian, Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero, Rep. Loren Legarda, labor leader Elmer Labog, former Senate Secretary Lutgardo Barbo and former senator JV Ejercito.

Pacquiao’s camp also conducted a motorcade with around 600 vehicles with the team’s supporters from Sarangani, Maguindanao and South Cotabato.

Earlier, Pacquiao said he has a 22-point agenda for his administration. This will focus on fighting corruption, economic and growth development, employment, housing, agriculture development, infrastructure development, judicial reform, war on drugs in a right way, sports development, strengthen international treaty agreements, healthcare, improved internet signal, and renewable energy development.

Pacquiao said he deserves to be elected as the next president because he knows the face of poverty as he lived it.

For his part, Atienza, who has been three-term Manila mayor, opposition lawmaker during the Marcos regime said he only sees himself working with Pacquiao.

But should he win in the May 2022 elections, Atienza vowed not to allow himself to be just a “spare tire” of the President.

Lacson-Sotto in Cavite

PARTIDO Reporma standard-bearer Senator Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson and his running mate, Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III on Tuesday vowed to mount a

campaign of “discipline” with full respect for strict health protocols imposed amid the pandemic.

The two senators, who between them boast of more than half a century of public service, affirmed their commitments to promote good governance by fighting corruption and ensuring efficient use of scarce resources for public services, should they win the May presidential elections.

The Lacson-Sotto tandem kicked off their campaign by attending mass at the Imus Cathedral on Tuesday, to seek divine guidance for their respective electoral bids before going to their scheduled proclamation rally at nearby Imus Grandstand.

Joining them in kicking off their official campaign were Partido Reporma senatorial bets Dr. Minguita Padilla, former National Police Chief Ret. PGen. Guillermo Eleazar and former Makati Rep. Monsour del Rosario.

Before the rally, Lacson explained why he chose Cavite to mount his most important political quest: “I was born here.

I’ve always kicked off all my rallies here, starting in 2001, 2004, 2007, 2016—it was always here.”

For his part, Senate President Sotto said Cavite was also very significant to him: “I cannot think of any other province involving Senator Lacson outside of Cavite to kick off this evening.” He noted that Cavite has one of the biggest voting populations.

Asked what kind of campaign the Lacson-Sotto tandem will run in the next 90 days given the lingering pandemic, Lacson replied: “Surely, it is going to be a very disciplined campaign.”

By disciplined campaign, he clarified that “this means, in the sense that there is a pandemic.”

“We do not want to contribute to the health problem,” Lacson said, but added they are mulling over “a minor revision,” meaning, they will go to “ordinary people” on the streets, in carinderias, barber shops.

Isko in Manila

IN Manila, Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso and running mate Dr. Willy Ong led a rousing rally for Aksyon Demokratiko, which last fielded a presidential candidate in 2004, with then senator Raul Roco.

The tandem led a motorcade that lasted nearly eight hours, ending up at the Kartilya ng Katipunan near City Hall.

With them were their senatorial candidates Carl Balita, Samira Gutoc and Jopet Sison. With reports by Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz, Butch Fernandez and Samuel Medenilla

‘ENERGY CRUNCH IN SUMMER COULD IMPERIL MAY POLLS’

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

A

CLIMATE and energy policy group has warned that an impending electricity shortfall this summer would “undermine the credibility of the elections” in May. The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) anticipates 1,335 megawatt (MW) deficit in the country’s electricity supply during peak demand, leading to a red alert status and possible blackouts over the Luzon grid in the second quarter of 2022.

“Unreliable electricity supply would undermine the credibility of the elections. We need our electrical power system to provide reliable supply especially during election day and while transmitting data; otherwise our political power system might fail if the results are not accepted by our people,” said Atty. Pedro Maniego Jr., ICSC senior policy advisor.

The Department of Energy (DOE) earlier said that the Luzon power grid might experience two instances of red alert and four yellow alerts in May. This is likely to happen based on historical events such as unscheduled forced outages of power plants.

“We ran simulations, we averaged the events that happened and what

are the possibilities if we consider the forced outages and our basis is the last three years of average, we will have red alert after the election,” Mario Marasigan, director of the DOE Power Bureau, said earlier.

A red alert status, which could trigger brownouts, is issued when supplies are insufficient to meet consumer demand and the transmission grid’s regulating requirement.

A yellow alert is issued when the excess power is insufficient to meet the transmission grid’s regulating and contingency requirement, pegged at the time at about 495 MW and 647 MW, respectively.

ICSC said the projections of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) of thinning operating reserves in the two-week period before (April 18-May 1) and after (May 16-29) this year’s elections is already the most optimistic scenario, and is far from ideal because this projection does not account for the potential unplanned outages of coal power plants.

“Grid alert levels after unplanned outages of a few baseload plants show how vulnerable the power system can be to centralized generators. We experience rotating blackouts while still paying for high electricity costs.

Continued on A4

Companies

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

B1

Meralco power rates decline on lower generation charge

L

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

ower generation charge for the January supply month led to a reduction of P0.1185 per kilowatt hour (kWh) in Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) bills this month.

From last month’s P9.7027 per kWh, Meralco rates went down to P9.5842 per kWh in February.

This is equivalent to a reduction of around P24 in the total bill of residential customers consuming 200 kWh. The equivalent cut for those consuming 300 kWh, 400kWh and 500 kWh should be P35, P46, and P56, respectively.

Meralco said Tuesday that the generation charge for February decreased by P0.2305 per kWh to P5.1957 per kWh from P5.4262 last month, due to lower charges from independent power producers (IPPs) and the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), which more than offset an increase in the rate from Power Supply Agreements (PSAs).

Charges from the IPPs went down

by P0.3395 per kWh due to higher plant dispatch of Quezon Power and First Gas-Sta. Rita. Quezon Power resumed normal operations in the January supply month after experiencing some outages and deration in December, while First Gas-Sta. Rita’s output increased following the completion of the scheduled maintenance outage of Module 10 in December.

The IPP charges also reflected a reimbursement from SPEX to First Gas covering a portion of incremental fuel cost incurred in relation to the use of liquid fuel during unplanned Malampaya gas supply restrictions.

These were able to more than offset the increase in Malampaya natural gas prices resulting from its quarterly repricing, and an increase

in coal prices. WESM charges this month decreased by P13.1277 per kWh due to the significant reduction in Meralco’s WESM purchases, which mitigated the impact of higher spot market prices during the January supply month.

Despite lower demand because of cooler weather, the Luzon grid was placed on Yellow Alert on January 10 and 11 due to forced plant outages. The tight supply condition led to sustained high WESM prices, which triggered the imposition of the secondary price cap 28.37 percent of the time.

The PSA rate, meanwhile, increased by P0.1631 per kWh, owing to lower demand that led to lower excess energy deliveries, which are priced at a discount, from AC Energy, San Miguel Energy Corp. (Sual), and South Premiere Power Corp. (Ilijan).

The lower average PSA dispatch, with San Buenaventura on scheduled maintenance until January 19, also contributed to the rate increase.

IPPs, PSAs, and WESM provided 52.2 percent, 47.4 percent, and 0.4 percent of Meralco’s energy requirement, respectively.

Transmission charge for residential customers, meanwhile, rose by P0.0454 per kWh due to higher an-

Construction of Nlex section starts

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

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lex Corp. has started the construction of the threekilometer segment of the Nlex Connector, marking it with the laying of the foundation or bored piling in Sampaloc, Manila.

“Progress of the Nlex Connector Sta. Mesa Section will be more visible now as we start laying the foundation for this segment. The bored piles are crucial in providing a sturdy base for our elevated expressway project,” Nlex Corp. President Luigi Bautista said.

For the Nlex Connector Sta. Mesa Section, a total of 72 piers will be built to support the elevated, fourlane expressway which will mostly run above the Philippine National Railways lines.

It will co-exist with the Department of Transportation’s NorthSouth railway project and will have two interchanges in España and R. Magsaysay.

“The construction activities will be systematically and precisely undertaken to ensure safety on all fronts,” Bautista noted.

For his part, Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Roger Mercado committed to “provide the necessary right-of-way for the project as we target to complete this segment by end of 2022.”

The entire Nlex Connector spans eight kilometers, extending the North Luzon Expressway (Nlex) southward from the Nlex Harbor Link Caloocan Interchange, 5th Avenue/C3 Road passing through España Blvd., R. Magsaysay Blvd., and eventually connecting to the

ALC GROUP TURNS OVER DONATIONS FOR ODETTE VICTIMS

Skyway Stage 3 within the vicinity of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

It is expected to accommodate around 35,000 motorists daily and is seen to reduce travel time from Nlex to South Luzon Expressway to 20 minutes from the usual two hours, while Clark to Calamba will just be approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes instead of three hours.

Last month, Nlex announced that it will beef up its customer experience initiatives this year.

The company said initiatives for 2022 include the installation of RFID early detection feature, installation and software upgrade of RFID card readers or contactless terminals, upgrade of system servers, and replacement of toll lane equipment on the Nlex and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.

The ALC Group of Companies, through its Central Human Resources Division (CHRD), turned over cash and in-kind donations to Caritas Manila on February 7, 2022, for the benefit of those who have been affected by Typhoon Odette. Present during the turnover of donations at the Caritas Manila office in Pandacan, Manila were (from left) Lorenz Satumba, Stewardship Coordinator, Donation in Kind Unit, Caritas Manila; JP Estrella, ALC Group CHRD Recruitment and Research Staff; Anne Clarisse Cariaga, Stewardship Specialist, Corporate Donor Acquisition, Caritas Manila; Marielle Cabangon, ALC Group CHRD Recruitment and Training Manager; and Lady Lou Polancos, Stewardship Specialist, Donation in Kind Unit, Caritas Manila. Photo by ROY DOMINGO

cillary service and power delivery service charges.

Taxes and other charges also registered a net increase of P0.0666 per kWh mainly resulting from the resumption of local franchise tax recovery, in accordance with Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) rules, and higher effective value-added tax rates this month.

Collection of the Universal Charge-Environmental Charge amounting to P0.0025 per kWh remains suspended as directed by the ERC. Meralco’s distribution, supply, and metering charges have remained unchanged for 79 months, after registering a reduction back in July 2015.

The company reiterated that it does not earn from the pass-through charges, such as the generation and transmission charges, as payment for the generation charge goes to the power suppliers, while payment for the transmission charge goes to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines. Taxes and other public policy charges like the Universal Charges and the Feed-in Tariff Allowance are remitted to the government.

CEB: Majority of flyers tapped flexible options

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udget ca r r ier Cebu Pacific (CEB) said on Tuesday majority of its passengers have availed of its preferred flexible option online, reflecting the growing demand for digital solutions even in the aviation industry.

Cebu Pacific VP for Marketing and Customer Experience Candice Iyog said 96 percent of the carrier’s passengers have utilized the digital flexible option solution last month, enabling them to remotely adjust their travel dates as needed.

“It has always been in our core purpose to put our customers’ needs first that is why we came up with options and online enhancements to enable everyJuan to Fly Easy with CEB. We still believe this is the way forward for travel and now we are very happy to see that majority of our guests have accepted our digital selfservice platforms,” she said in a statement.

Cebu Pacific beefed up its d ig ita l transfor mation efforts during the pandemic,

introducing digital service improvements such as correcting misspelled names within 24 hours from flight booking, birthdate, nationality, salutations, and contact details.

It also enhanced its chatbot Charlie to allow passengers to get real-time answers to the most common questions.

This shift is in line with Cebu Pacific’s direction to have alldigital customer service operations after it announced the closure of its call centers in May 2021.

“A s we rema in committed to continuous improvement, you can expect more enhancements from us that further support and enable a self-service journey for all,” Iyog said.

Apart from its website enhancements, the airline has also deployed self-bag tagging kiosks in some of its key domestic destinations in support of its existing contactless flight guidelines to further minimize physical interactions between passengers and staff. Lorenz S. Marasigan

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Companies BusinessMirror

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

February 8, 2022

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

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

44,300 378,089,385 459,718,018 5,580,475 9,158,999 172,620,027 10,475,390 1,154 3,090 1,243,900 206,991,977 12,189,539 184,580 47,910 32,560 74,390 431,500 56,532

22,000 -83,088,429 62,582,592 25,950 3,748,075 37,351,044 2,831,875 2,509,391 -139,898 -8,010 -

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 9.29 9.3 9.29 9.34 9.1 9.3 19,217,500 177,211,757 ALSONS CONS 1.01 1.04 1.04 1.04 1.04 1.04 11,000 11,440 ABOITIZ POWER 36.25 36.5 35.7 37.45 35.5 36.25 5,359,100 194,511,970 BASIC ENERGY 0.53 0.54 0.51 0.55 0.5 0.53 14,352,000 7,595,160 FIRST GEN 27.5 27.6 27.75 27.75 27.5 27.5 201,300 5,550,330 FIRST PHIL HLDG 70.65 71 70 71 70 71 10,240 724,333.50 MERALCO 350 354 341.4 356.8 341.4 350 288,150 101,229,868 MANILA WATER 24.1 24.75 24.4 24.8 24 24.75 1,097,800 26,802,030 PETRON 3.37 3.38 3.34 3.42 3.33 3.38 2,276,000 7,677,710 PETROENERGY 4.19 4.25 4.3 4.3 4.22 4.22 15,000 63,600 PHX PETROLEUM 10.42 10.8 10.8 10.8 10 10.42 28,800 302,556 SYNERGY GRID 12.64 12.68 12.6 12.8 12.52 12.64 4,664,200 58,881,174 PILIPINAS SHELL 19.7 19.76 19.1 19.8 19.1 19.7 45,900 894,800 SPC POWER 14.68 14.7 14.4 14.68 14.4 14.68 199,600 2,900,498 SOLAR PH 2.17 2.18 2.23 2.27 2.16 2.18 175,525,000 389,721,140 VIVANT 14.32 15.9 15.9 15.9 15.9 15.9 700 11,130 AGRINURTURE 4.8 4.83 4.73 4.94 4.73 4.84 1,054,000 5,134,550 AXELUM 2.82 2.84 2.85 2.85 2.81 2.84 121,000 342,960 CNTRL AZUCARERA 12.2 13.48 13 13 12.18 12.18 1,100 13,890 CENTURY FOOD 24.9 24.95 25.8 25.95 24.95 24.95 2,028,000 50,926,365 DEL MONTE 15.08 15.1 14.98 15.1 14.9 15.1 36,500 545,730 DNL INDUS 8.38 8.44 8.33 8.54 8.33 8.38 1,884,600 15,943,882 EMPERADOR 23.15 23.2 23.1 23.65 23.05 23.2 13,681,200 319,982,190 SMC FOODANDBEV 69 70 68.3 70 67.7 70 270,800 18,667,211.50 FIGARO COFFEE 0.89 0.9 0.92 0.94 0.89 0.9 136,779,000 125,068,630 FRUITAS HLDG 1.26 1.27 1.29 1.3 1.24 1.27 15,600,000 19,760,360 GINEBRA 113.9 114.5 113.2 114.5 113 114.5 3,750 426,071 JOLLIBEE 239.4 240 236 240.8 235.2 240 363,960 87,230,160 KEEPERS HLDG 1.41 1.42 1.47 1.47 1.4 1.42 12,299,000 17,527,160 MACAY HLDG 5.8 6.49 6.59 6.6 6.49 6.49 10,700 70,488 MAXS GROUP 6.65 6.67 6.6 6.7 6.6 6.67 49,000 326,746 MG HLDG 0.136 0.14 0.138 0.138 0.137 0.137 260,000 35,680 MONDE NISSIN 15.72 15.74 15.82 15.92 15.6 15.74 24,060,300 379,980,236 SHAKEYS PIZZA 8.96 9 8.97 9 8.95 9 121,000 1,085,422 ROXAS AND CO 0.65 0.66 0.66 0.67 0.66 0.66 109,000 71,970 RFM CORP 4.45 4.59 4.59 4.59 4.45 4.45 7,000 31,850 ROXAS HLDG 1.05 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08 8,000 8,640 SWIFT FOODS 0.103 0.104 0.103 0.103 0.103 0.103 80,000 8,240 UNIV ROBINA 125.7 125.9 126 126.4 125.5 125.9 634,820 79,928,472 VITARICH 0.66 0.67 0.66 0.67 0.65 0.67 351,000 232,690 CONCRETE A 45.45 48.85 46 46 46 46 200 9,200 CEMEX HLDG 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.07 1.06 1.07 340,000 362,410 EAGLE CEMENT 13.94 13.98 14.58 14.58 13.88 13.92 57,000 795,880 EEI CORP 6.26 6.34 6.34 6.35 6.26 6.3 85,600 540,088 HOLCIM 5.85 5.86 5.99 5.99 5.86 5.86 95,600 566,266 MEGAWIDE 4.95 4.99 4.8 4.99 4.8 4.99 9,001,000 43,324,960 PHINMA 20.1 20.65 20.75 20.75 19 20.65 172,800 3,475,383 TKC METALS 0.76 0.79 0.79 0.79 0.76 0.76 231,000 176,820 VULCAN INDL 0.83 0.85 0.83 0.85 0.83 0.85 628,000 521,860 CROWN ASIA 1.69 1.72 1.7 1.72 1.69 1.72 36,000 61,180 MABUHAY VINYL 4.2 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 3,000 12,900 PRYCE CORP 5.84 6 5.8 6 5.8 6 105,100 628,458 GREENERGY 1.87 1.89 1.93 1.93 1.8 1.9 4,885,000 9,177,540 INTEGRATED MICR 10.14 10.16 10.12 10.2 10.1 10.16 352,800 3,576,584 PANASONIC 6 6.08 6.08 6.08 5.93 6 11,600 69,700 SFA SEMICON 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.09 1.09 1.09 40,000 43,600 CIRTEK HLDG 3.88 3.89 3.98 3.98 3.86 3.89 1,297,000 5,056,690

23,561,957 -5,200 -24,788,055 5,100 -1,575,220 267,020.50 28,126,006 6,576,915 -741,310 -12,900 -748,814 -10,290,120 1,029,600 -17,094,075 -2,147,339 79,857,255 -8,312,753.50 92,400 -71,120 -32,125 16,652,020 876,600 11,363 36,710,774 -516,164 1,340 4,450 20,199,936 19,030 30,800 -491,258 5,980 -35,537,750 9,750 -3,893,400 753,322.00 268,160

HOLDING & FRIMS

ABACORE CAPITAL ASIABEST GROUP AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B BHI HLDG COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP METRO PAC INV PACIFICA HLDG PRIME MEDIA SOLID GROUP SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP SEAFRONT RES TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

44.4 135.5 101.9 26 9.48 59.85 20.85 56.05 103 20.6 118.5 110.6 1.91 3.97 0.61 2.77 0.66 209

0.9 5.21 877 60.8 12.88 8.1 0.9 0.78 0.76 670 5.1 8.37 7.25 589.5 3.7 59.65 0.6 3.02 10 3.81 2.76 1.1 1.08 965 110.2 2.4 121 0.255 0.169

44.5 135.7 102.3 26.05 9.5 59.9 21 57.7 103.1 21 118.6 111 1.92 3.99 0.7 3.01 0.71 209.2

0.91 5.79 878 61 13 8.25 0.91 0.79 0.8 1,416 5.13 8.4 7.35 590 3.75 59.9 0.63 3.12 10.02 3.84 2.99 1.12 1.1 976 110.3 2.76 124.1 0.26 0.174

44 135 102 25.9 9.45 59.6 20.75 57.7 103 21 118 113.9 1.93 3.99 0.69 2.75 0.66 209.2

0.89 5.21 870 61.25 12.74 8.15 0.9 0.82 0.82 662 5.13 8.3 7.38 580 3.76 59.45 0.63 3.12 9.77 3.83 2.99 1.1 1.1 950 110.8 2.4 124.2 0.255 0.174

44.6 136.9 103.7 26 9.5 60.9 21.1 57.7 103 21.3 119 113.9 1.93 4 0.7 2.77 0.71 210

0.93 5.21 884 61.9 13 8.26 0.9 0.84 0.85 662 5.22 8.48 7.38 590 3.8 60.9 0.63 3.12 10 3.85 2.99 1.12 1.1 978.5 110.9 2.4 124.2 0.255 0.174

44 135 101.6 25.85 9.3 59.6 20.7 57.7 103 21 117.7 110 1.91 3.99 0.69 2.75 0.66 209.2

0.88 5.21 870 60.7 12.72 8.15 0.9 0.79 0.8 662 5.1 8.3 7.35 578.5 3.75 59.05 0.6 3.02 9.77 3.81 2.99 1.1 1.1 948 110.2 2.4 120 0.24 0.174

44.6 135.5 101.9 26 9.5 59.9 21 57.7 103 21 118.6 110.6 1.92 3.99 0.7 2.77 0.71 209.2

0.91 5.21 878 61 13 8.15 0.9 0.79 0.8 662 5.1 8.37 7.35 590 3.75 59.65 0.63 3.02 10 3.81 2.99 1.12 1.1 976 110.3 2.4 120 0.255 0.174

1,000 2,782,330 4,484,290 214,900 971,500 2,875,390 501,600 20 30 59,000 1,746,010 109,290 96,000 12,000 47,000 27,000 650,000 270

11,533,000 100 201,200 821,080 1,929,700 13,700 137,000 19,039,000 1,900,000 10,000 2,538,700 2,941,600 4,000 186,540 342,000 564,450 57,000 18,000 4,566,300 13,372,000 1,000 67,000 42,000 354,130 61,160 8,000 630 1,130,000 50,000

10,503,530 521 176,594,965 50,091,667.50 24,868,748 112,526 123,300 15,315,050 1,563,740 6,620,000 12,954,513 24,700,201 29,425 109,427,660 1,283,560 33,607,076 34,970 55,260 45,384,421 51,134,770 2,990 74,330 46,200 343,508,865 6,757,344 19,200 78,120 284,500 8,700

PROPERTY

ARTHALAND CORP 0.61 0.62 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 36,000 21,600 AYALA LAND 36.75 36.8 36.45 36.9 36.2 36.8 4,867,900 178,844,765 AYALA LAND LOG 5.26 5.27 5.3 5.5 5.27 5.27 4,955,000 26,551,203 ARANETA PROP 0.94 0.99 0.94 0.99 0.94 0.99 4,000 3,810 AREIT RT 49.95 50 49.5 50.5 49.5 50 315,600 15,783,315 A BROWN 0.74 0.75 0.76 0.76 0.73 0.75 134,000 98,910 CITYLAND DEVT 0.73 0.75 0.73 0.73 0.73 0.73 69,000 50,370 CROWN EQUITIES 0.098 0.102 0.099 0.103 0.098 0.103 2,020,000 198,770 CEB LANDMASTERS 2.95 2.96 2.93 2.99 2.93 2.96 1,500,000 4,455,620 CENTURY PROP 0.42 0.425 0.42 0.425 0.42 0.425 3,300,000 1,386,850 DOUBLEDRAGON 9.18 9.28 8.77 9.29 8.61 9.28 2,653,900 23,980,316 DDMP RT 1.79 1.8 1.79 1.81 1.79 1.8 4,880,000 8,757,730 DM WENCESLAO 6.6 6.7 6.6 6.85 6.6 6.7 2,803,500 19,203,670 EMPIRE EAST 0.255 0.26 0.255 0.26 0.255 0.26 110,000 28,100 EVER GOTESCO 0.32 0.325 0.32 0.33 0.32 0.325 3,980,000 1,278,800 FILINVEST RT 7.56 7.57 7.51 7.59 7.51 7.57 1,629,000 12,324,282 FILINVEST LAND 1.1 1.11 1.1 1.11 1.09 1.11 4,042,000 4,456,210 GLOBAL ESTATE 0.95 0.96 0.96 0.96 0.95 0.96 286,000 271,780 8990 HLDG 12.68 12.7 12.22 12.7 12.22 12.7 286,600 3,555,402 GOLDEN MV 527 540 530 540 530 540 480 257,000 PHIL INFRADEV 1.06 1.07 1.05 1.08 1.05 1.05 221,000 232,360 CITY AND LAND 0.83 0.84 0.84 0.85 0.83 0.84 271,000 227,070 MEGAWORLD 3.19 3.22 3.23 3.26 3.19 3.19 8,845,000 28,471,570 MRC ALLIED 0.28 0.285 0.26 0.285 0.26 0.28 18,120,000 5,060,050 MREIT RT 20.2 20.4 20.85 21.65 20.2 20.2 5,570,400 114,979,125 OMICO CORP 0.355 0.36 0.36 0.36 0.36 0.36 30,000 10,800 PHIL ESTATES 0.475 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.47 0.475 1,020,000 481,050 PRIMEX CORP 2.22 2.25 2.31 2.37 2.23 2.25 1,389,000 3,185,100 RL COMM RT 8.22 8.23 8.42 8.48 8.23 8.23 2,524,400 21,029,283 ROBINSONS LAND 18.82 18.84 19.08 19.08 18.78 18.84 1,930,200 36,359,902 PHIL REALTY 0.197 0.2 0.196 0.197 0.196 0.197 80,000 15,710 ROCKWELL 1.46 1.5 1.45 1.5 1.45 1.5 10,000 14,700 SHANG PROP 2.56 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6 2,000 5,200 STA LUCIA LAND 2.72 2.86 2.72 2.86 2.72 2.86 14,000 39,480 SM PRIME HLDG 35.5 35.65 35.6 35.95 35.5 35.5 4,277,800 152,436,130 SOC RESOURCES 0.63 0.64 0.59 0.65 0.59 0.63 88,000 53,700 VISTAMALLS 3.65 3.69 3.69 3.72 3.69 3.69 20,000 73,950 SUNTRUST HOME 1.08 1.11 1.1 1.11 1.1 1.11 21,000 23,110 VISTA LAND 3.44 3.47 3.49 3.5 3.41 3.44 986,000 3,393,870

SERVICES ABS CBN 13.48 13.5 13.42 13.7 13.42 13.5 195,100 2,649,720 GMA NETWORK 15.06 15.08 15 15.1 14.98 15.06 505,600 7,596,020 MLA BRDCASTING 9.2 10 9.2 9.2 9.2 9.2 200 1,840 GLOBE TELECOM 3,054 3,090 3,130 3,150 3,054 3,054 99,650 308,946,590 PLDT 1,885 1,890 1,900 1,915 1,880 1,885 57,160 108,021,900 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.065 0.066 0.063 0.067 0.063 0.066 134,130,000 8,712,090 CONVERGE 28.55 28.95 28.6 29.25 28.55 28.55 6,581,000 190,620,500 DFNN INC 2.31 2.33 2.31 2.34 2.31 2.31 273,000 630,710 DITO CME HLDG 5.82 5.83 5.52 5.86 5.52 5.83 22,956,700 132,136,118 NOW CORP 1.37 1.39 1.43 1.43 1.34 1.37 1,382,000 1,899,790 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.41 0.415 0.43 0.435 0.41 0.41 9,980,000 4,198,300 2GO GROUP 7.41 7.55 7.57 7.6 7.34 7.55 19,600 147,437 CHELSEA 1.56 1.58 1.56 1.58 1.56 1.58 78,000 122,360 CEBU AIR 45.7 45.95 46.2 46.9 45.5 45.7 154,200 7,112,655 INTL CONTAINER 214 216 209.6 218.8 205 216 2,052,880 439,458,674 LBC EXPRESS 22.2 22.5 22.55 22.55 22.05 22.5 3,100 69,555 LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.9 0.93 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 1,000 900 MACROASIA 5.97 5.98 5.77 5.98 5.77 5.97 2,206,100 13,076,755 METROALLIANCE A 1.03 1.05 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 5,000 5,150 HARBOR STAR 0.82 0.83 0.83 0.83 0.83 0.83 23,000 19,090 ACESITE HOTEL 1.51 1.55 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 4,000 6,000 DISCOVERY WORLD 1.72 1.74 1.75 1.75 1.72 1.72 143,000 246,600 WATERFRONT 0.49 0.495 0.48 0.495 0.47 0.495 330,000 161,950 CENTRO ESCOLAR 6.51 6.88 6.51 6.51 6.51 6.51 1,500 9,765 FAR EASTERN U 530 545 530 530 530 530 7,020 3,720,600 IPEOPLE 6.84 7 6.99 7 6.83 6.83 8,500 59,241 STI HLDG 0.34 0.345 0.345 0.345 0.34 0.34 50,000 17,050 BELLE CORP 1.36 1.37 1.38 1.38 1.36 1.37 167,000 228,500 BLOOMBERRY 6.1 6.12 6.03 6.49 6.03 6.1 6,726,900 41,246,354 PACIFIC ONLINE 1.77 1.84 1.77 1.8 1.77 1.8 9,000 16,080 LEISURE AND RES 1.54 1.6 1.58 1.61 1.54 1.6 274,000 425,690 PH RESORTS GRP 0.73 0.74 0.71 0.75 0.71 0.73 1,826,000 1,338,100 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.45 0.455 0.455 0.465 0.455 0.455 23,760,000 10,831,450 PHIL RACING 5.2 5.5 5.2 5.2 5.2 5.2 100 520 PHILWEB 1.92 1.97 1.96 1.96 1.92 1.96 146,000 285,560 ALLDAY 0.57 0.58 0.58 0.59 0.57 0.57 40,304,000 23,143,560 BERJAYA 5.63 5.75 5.63 5.63 5.63 5.63 5,100 28,713 ALLHOME 8.7 8.75 8.61 8.7 8.6 8.7 186,900 1,612,275 METRO RETAIL 1.4 1.41 1.4 1.42 1.4 1.42 80,000 112,240 PUREGOLD 36.55 36.6 36.1 37.05 36.1 36.6 717,400 26,323,050 ROBINSONS RTL 56.75 56.85 56 56.85 56 56.75 609,040 34,423,363.50 PHIL SEVEN CORP 85.1 88 86 86 84.3 85 3,280 278,394 SSI GROUP 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.17 1.15 1.16 540,000 628,290 WILCON DEPOT 27.5 27.75 28.5 28.5 27.5 27.5 1,508,500 41,854,100 APC GROUP 0.243 0.245 0.242 0.243 0.242 0.243 50,000 12,130 IPM HLDG 6.7 7 7 7 6.8 7 1,900 13,040 MEDILINES 1.08 1.09 1.07 1.12 1.06 1.08 4,665,000 5,095,080 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.53 0.54 0.52 0.55 0.52 0.54 6,317,000 3,388,210

MINING & OIL ATOK 5.66 6 6 6 6 6 7,500 45,000 APEX MINING 1.65 1.66 1.61 1.66 1.61 1.65 1,824,000 2,997,690 ATLAS MINING 6.21 6.27 6.18 6.29 6.18 6.27 358,500 2,227,822 FERRONICKEL 2.4 2.41 2.35 2.45 2.35 2.4 12,394,000 29,858,140 GEOGRACE 0.206 0.208 0.206 0.225 0.206 0.208 2,800,000 594,530 LEPANTO A 0.141 0.142 0.14 0.142 0.14 0.141 11,600,000 1,640,600 LEPANTO B 0.14 0.143 0.141 0.142 0.14 0.14 590,000 82,880 MANILA MINING A 0.0098 0.0099 0.0096 0.0099 0.0096 0.0098 22,000,000 215,500 MANILA MINING B 0.0097 0.01 0.0097 0.0097 0.0097 0.0097 5,000,000 48,500 MARCVENTURES 1.43 1.44 1.5 1.53 1.43 1.44 3,745,000 5,509,370 NIHAO 0.95 0.99 0.94 0.99 0.94 0.99 528,000 507,050 NICKEL ASIA 6.3 6.31 6.43 6.59 6.27 6.3 16,275,800 103,821,982 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.8 0.84 0.84 0.84 0.8 0.84 380,000 309,220 PX MINING 5.4 5.44 5.34 5.44 5.3 5.44 826,600 4,431,657 SEMIRARA MINING 25.65 25.85 25.2 26 25.1 25.85 3,977,300 102,254,695 ACE ENEXOR 33.9 34 35.4 36.45 34 34 334,800 11,654,385 ORNTL PETROL A 0.012 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.012 0.013 46,200,000 570,200 ORNTL PETROL B 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 6,600,000 79,200 PHILODRILL 0.0091 0.0092 0.0091 0.0091 0.009 0.0091 31,000,000 279,800 PXP ENERGY 5.84 5.85 5.88 5.9 5.8 5.84 213,200 1,243,174

PREFFERED HOUSE PREF B 99.4 99.5 101.5 101.5 99.5 99.5 55,190 5,491,425 HOUSE PREF A 101 101.3 101.2 101.2 101.2 101.2 2,350 237,820 AC PREF B1 505 520 510 510 505 505 340 172,000 AC PREF B2R 511 520 520 520 520 520 20 10,400 BRN PREF A 105.1 105.9 106 106 106 106 150 15,900 CEB PREF 45.15 45.45 45.1 45.25 45.1 45.15 121,600 5,492,570 DD PREF 100.3 100.7 100.5 100.5 100.4 100.4 8,240 827,606 EEI PREF A 104 106 104 105.6 104 105.6 11,000 1,160,800 EEI PREF B 107 110 110 110 110 110 1,800 198,000 GTCAP PREF A 999 1,010 1,010 1,010 1,010 1,010 510 515,100 GTCAP PREF B 1,015 1,043 1,043 1,043 1,043 1,043 10 10,430 JFC PREF A 1,000 1,010 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 110 110,000 JFC PREF B 1,006 1,008 1,006 1,006 1,006 1,006 60 60,360 MWIDE PREF 2B 100.5 102.5 100.5 100.5 100.5 100.5 430 43,215 MWIDE PREF 4 100 100.5 100.5 100.5 100.5 100.5 4,330 435,165 PNX PREF 3B 102.5 103.1 103.1 103.1 103.1 103.1 270 27,837 PNX PREF 4 996 999 999 999 996 999 4,190 4,174,435 PCOR PREF 3A 1,044 1,060 1,060 1,060 1,060 1,060 110 116,600 PCOR PREF 3B 1,072 1,095 1,099 1,099 1,095 1,095 280 307,320 SMC PREF 2F 79.5 79.75 79.5 79.5 79.5 79.5 30 2,385 SMC PREF 2J 76.45 77 76.45 76.45 76.45 76.45 500 38,225 SMC PREF 2K 76 76.05 76 76 76 76 15,700 1,193,200

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 12.62 12.8 12.62 12.62 12.6 12.6 28,800 363,280 GMA HLDG PDR 14.14 14.48 14.48 14.48 14.14 14.14 120,800 1,740,980

WARRANTS TECH WARRANT 0.93 0.95 0.98 0.98 0.92 0.95 2,152,000 2,017,880

1,685,110 9,428,415 3,645,414 5,207,402 -6,520 -132,380 -3,681,509 -6,001,859 -738 -14,391,060 -8,436,816 -12,280 -11,713,322 -8,483,410 107,633,300 464,397 3,600 -9,676,170 -1,233,869 2,843,415 7,300 -241,150 447,322 1,632,300 9,839,351 1,913,400 344,034 -116,600 26,880 -1,266,480 57,750 -42,887,860 -341,260 5,198,622 -27,763,142 -20,464,170 11,990 -1,990,350 -81,352,510 416,305 49,550 35,229,065 -526,640 -23,449,486 272,040 965,350 734 -158,825 152,516,090 -298,941 -1,953 3,450.00 -10,960 -3,757,259 -292,100 -10,318,800 178,600.00 -85,349 -6,205,530 15,825,668 -196,070 322,030.00 -3,279,050 -29,460 -194,550 78,890 43,470 6,168,690 41,350 -12,558,828 -1,939,250 -447,875 -10,030 -2,729,500 -198,000 -116,600 -38,000 -90,720 1,017,092

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

ALTUS PROP HAUS TALK ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MERRYMART XURPAS

17.8 1.21 1.03 2.78 2.12 0.425

18.84 1.22 1.04 2.89 2.13 0.43

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

113.5

113.6

17.8 1.26 1.04 2.77 2.1 0.43

19.1 1.27 1.04 2.77 2.18 0.43

17.7 1.21 1.02 2.77 2.1 0.415

18.92 1.22 1.03 2.77 2.13 0.42

50,900 2,993,000 285,000 1,000 7,038,000 3,880,000

914,950 3,708,480 292,790 2,770 15,122,510 1,634,250

184,140 3,660 26,380 -

113.3 113.5 113 113.5 10,980 1,245,591 22,615

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PLDT, Microsoft team up to fight cybercrime in PHL

T

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

elecommunications titan PLDT Inc. and tech giant Microsoft have forged a partnership deal for threat intelligence sharing to combat cybercrime in the Philippines.

Under the partnership, the two companies will work together through Microsoft’s Cyber Threat Intelligence Program (CTIP) to “strengthen the country’s digital borders and infrastructure security against cyber threats.”

The CTIP collects and distributes actionable cyber intelligence, includ-

ing those that are derived from the Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit botnet takedown operations to Computer Emergency Response Teams, Internet Service Providers and Critical Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Centers.

CTIP data is also engineered into specific Microsoft products and

services to help customers identify threats in their computing environments.

With this strategic partnership, PLDT will gain access to Microsoft DCU’s Azure-based cyber threat intelligence in real time, providing information about the impact in the Philippines from the malware families DCU has disrupted in the past.

“Our mature and sophisticated threat intelligence operations is one of the key and most robust pillars of the PLDT group’s cybersecurity structure. We are glad to partner with Microsoft to help fortify our strong cyber threat intelligence operations, and to help us better protect our customers in particular, and the country’s cyber defenses in general,” PLDT FVP and CISO Angel T. Redoble said.

In 2021 alone, the PLDT Group

acquired information on more than 200 million cyber threats and prevented close to 300 million combined types of cyber attacks.

“Security is at an inflection point as cyberattacks become more sophisticated and digital attack surfaces exponentially increase. We believe that anything less than comprehensive security is no security at all,” said Microsoft Philippines Country General Manager Andres Ortola.

Microsoft analyzes over 6.5 trillion signals daily to identify emerging threats to protect customers and in response to the increasing cyber threats in the Philippines. Globally, Microsoft plans to invest $20 billion over the next five years to accelerate efforts to integrate cyber security by design and to deliver advanced security solutions.

Better prospects for transport sector seen

By VG Cabuag @villygc

O

livia V. Yanson, who owns the country’s largest bus company, said she sees better prospects for the public transportation sector after the government eased Covid-19 mobility restrictions.

During the stockholders’ meeting of one of her firms, Yanson said placing key Philippine cities under Alert Levels 3 and 2 shows that the government wants to make it easier for people to travel for work or leisure to spur economic activities.

“Mobility directly translates into a bigger demand for public transport.

This is a big relief to the transport industry,” Yanson said.

The Yanson matriarch chaired the annual stockholders’ meeting of one of her bus companies, Goldstar Bus Transit Inc., which operates its Luzon routes.

During the meeting of the company, Yanson, her son Leo Rey Yanson, Ginnette Y. Dumancas, Collin Derk Y. Isidto, Hernan B. Omecillo and Danny O. Lorenton were re-elected as members of the board, the company said in a statement.

Leo Rey V. Yanson said the company is committed to providing the riding public with the most reliable means of public transportation amid the challenges of the pandemic.

Other stockholders siblings, Roy V. Yanson and Ricardo V. Yanson Jr., were absent.

Roy and Ricky are believed to be out of the country, together with their sisters Emily V. Yanson and Ma. Lourdes Celina Yanson-Lopez.

Olivia has placed a tighter grip on the company after a faction of her children, known as the Yanson four, tried to wrest control of the company in 2019. The siblings were believed to be hiding abroad after Olivia filed several cases filed against them.

The Yanson four wrest control over the bus company after they unseated their youngest brother, which started a family feud between the two camps. The matriarch camp was eventually able to regain control of the bus company.

A Bacolod City court, in an October 2021 decision, granted Olivia the mandate to oversee and administer the estate of her late husband Ricardo Yanson who co-founded with Olivia in 1968 the Yanson Group of Bus Companies.

MGreen ties up with Vena for solar plant

M

Gen Renewable Energy Inc. (MGreen), the renewable energy unit of Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen), has partnered with Vena Energy (Vena)—a leading renewable energy company in the Asia-pacific region—for a 68-megawatt (MW) solar power project in Ilocos Norte.

They formed Nuevo Solar Energy Corp. (NSEC) to develop, construct and operate the solar plant in the municipality of Currimao in Ilocos Norte, which is an adjacent project to Vena’s existing 16 MW Garcia solar project in the area commissioned in 2016. The 68MW solar project is targeted to commence operations by the first quarter of next year.

“We are excited with this new partnership with Vena Energy. This project in Ilocos is the latest addition to our ongoing 1,500 MW target of renewable energy projects, showcasing our Company’s stern commitment to transition towards low-carbon energy in an orderly and cost-competitive manner anchored on ONE MERALCO’s long-term sustainability agenda,” said MGen and Global

Business Power President and Chief Executive Officer Jaime Azurin.

MGen is the power generation arm of Manila Electric Co. In 2021, the company commenced commercial operations of BulacanSol’s 55 MW solar plant, its first renewable energy (RE) venture located in San Miguel, Bulacan. This was immediately followed by the groundbreaking of another 75 MW solar project in Baras, Rizal through PH Renewables Inc. “We are starting the year 2022 strong with the intention to fasttrack the attainment of this goal within the next seven years that is ultimately in support of the country’s achievement of 35 percent RE share by 2030 and eventually, 50 percent by 2040,” Azurin added.

Vena Energy owns, develops, constructs, operates, manages and commercializes a renewable energy portfolio totaling 16 GW of solar, onshore wind, offshore wind, battery storage and hybrid renewable energy projects, with 48 corporate and site offices in Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. Lenie Lectura

mutual funds

February 8, 2022

NAV

One Year Three Year Five Year

per share Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

234.41

5.22%

-4.68%

-1.5%

0.57%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.5874

22.46%

0.12%

2.5%

-4.61%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.24

5.52%

-8.33%

-4.35%

0.07%

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7621 -2.51%

-7.46% n.a.

0.74%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7477 5.22%

-5.55% n.a.

-3.01%

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

5.2147

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

93.39

7.6%

-2.6%

0.26%

0.62%

0.7874

8.82%

-4.3%

-3.09%

-5.4%

-8.86% n.a.

-1.1%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

48.3466

5.12%

-3.15%

0.1%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

503.45

5.01%

-3.1%

-0.44%

0.55%

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.4001

21.4%

1.48%

2.77%

3.23%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

-2.16%

1.13%

0.78%

-3.4% n.a.

1.14%

0.46%

36.8794

7.93%

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.9521

6.3%

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.9855

5.96%

-2.48%

0.75%

0.5%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

832.85

5.8%

-2.48%

0.72%

0.53%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.7522

-0.05%

6.66%

-6.49%

-2.44%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.7857

6.43%

-4.62%

-0.75%

0.27%

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

0.9488

5.34%

-2.81%

0.49%

5.11%

-2.86%

1.02%

0.13%

United Fund, Inc. -a

3.4418

0.52%

0.46%

Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a

1.1814

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

10.88% n.a. n.a.

1.61%

1022.85 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

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

112.1103

6.11%

-2.26%

1.21%

0.57%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

$1.1095

-15.81%

3.5%

4.32%

-1.51%

-1.02%

12.2%

10.03%

-6.61%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.7244

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

1.6797

1.48%

-1.2%

-0.53%

-0.73%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.2992

1.8%

-0.37%

0.1%

0.78%

4.27%

0.22%

1.51%

0.47%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.7036

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.212

8.33% n.a. n.a.

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

1.68%

1.99%

0.32% 0.27%

2.0232

3.3%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.7751

0.76%

0.97%

0.84%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.898

0.83%

0.58%

0.78%

0.31%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.1261

2.59%

-0.71%

0.61%

0.22%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.6494

3.1%

-1.82%

0.11%

0.06%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

9.4%

-0.48%

0.67%

0.86%

0.9624

1.44%

Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a

0.9852

-2.66%

-0.69% n.a.

-0.46%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a

0.948

1.42%

-1.89% n.a.

0.37%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a

0.9372

2.11%

-2.25% n.a.

0.35%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

$0.03656

-5.75%

0.82%

0.68%

-3.64%

$1.0609

-12.54%

2.88%

2.91%

-0.58%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.5648 -1.73%

8.65%

7.37%

-4.94%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,2 $1.1549 -3.27%

4.25%

3.57%

-3.65%

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

374.64

0.86%

2.77%

2.52%

0.09%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.887

-0.89%

0.27%

-0.04%

0.12%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2488

0.94%

2.84%

3.81%

0.15%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.2498

-2.03%

1.58%

1.36%

-0.08%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4274 -0.91% Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

2.87%

1.85%

0.06%

4.3942

-5.25%

3.84%

1.42%

-0.03%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a

1.3225

-0.05%

3.72%

2.88%

0.26%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9866

0.04%

3.63%

2.71%

0.52%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0284

-1.05%

4.12%

1.94%

0.02%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1885

-0.52%

4.02%

3.1%

0.03%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

-1.13%

3.16%

2.44%

-0.02%

1.7302

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

$488.08

0.66%

2.7%

2.34%

-0.3%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є218.89

-0.23%

0.74%

0.94%

-0.51%

$1.178

-7.16%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b

0.99%

1.26%

-2.15%

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0256 -3.03%

0.79%

0.64%

-1.54%

PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

$0.9904

-9.14%

-1.81%

-1.36%

-3.17%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$2.415

-4.49%

2.92%

1.92%

-3.62%

$0.0618645

-1.04%

2.58%

1.78%

-0.69%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.0436 -5.17%

1.42%

0.69%

-4.77%

Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a

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

131.34

1.03%

2.62%

First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a

1.0591

0.96%

Sun Life Prosperity Peso Starter Fund, Inc. -a,1 1.3177

1.49%

2.49%

2.55%

0.11%

1.9% n.a.

2.52%

0.13%

0.16%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0612

0.72%

1.38% n.a.

0.06%

Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a

46.7258 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a

1.334

14.54% n.a. n.a.

-3.54%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (units) ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a

$0.9416

-4.89% n.a. n.a.

-2.93%

a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago. c - Listed in the PSE. d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU).

1 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last July 8, 2021 (formerly, Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc.).

2 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last November 25, 2021.

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

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Wednesday, February 9, 2022

B3

SEC issues CDO vs 5 unlicensed lending firms

T

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

HE Securities and Exchange Commission has ordered five illegal online lending operators to stop conducting lending activities without the proper license.

In an order issued February 3, the SEC directed Tacoloan, VCash,

365 Cash, SwipeCash and BootCash to immediately cease and

desist their lending operations until they have incorporated and secured from the SEC their respective certificates of authority to operate as a lending or financing company.

The companies, their agents, representatives and promoters, as well as the owners and operators of their hosting sites, were further enjoined to cease from offering and advertising their lending business through the internet or any other media, and to remove all of these materials, the SEC said.

The agency issued the order after finding that none of the groups is registered as a corporation, or has secured CAs from the SEC. Republic Act 9474, or the Lending Company Regulation Act of 2007, requires persons or entities operating as lending companies to register as corporations and to secure from the SEC the necessary authority to operate. “[T]he Commission finds and so holds that the issuance of a CDO is warranted in the instant case

not only to stop the illegal act, but also to prevent the continued fraud on the public who are led by the Online Lending Operators to the belief that they are a legitimate business,” the SEC said in a decision signed during their en banc meeting. “ T he Commission is dut ybound to strictly implement the provisions of the [LCRA], ensure that public interest is at all times upheld, and that the public is protected from persons who carry out unauthorized or illegal lending

activities.”

In addition to their illegal operations, the SEC has also received complaints about the unfair debt collection practices of the online lending operators.

This marks the second cease and desist order against illegal lending operators that the SEC has issued for the year. The agency earlier directed Goodpocket and EasyMoney Online Lending to stop all lending activities until they have secured the necessary licenses from the SEC.

Traders brace for hikes from key central banks BTr raises ₧35B from sale

A

dramatic week of central-bank meetings and economic data has changed the game for global ratehike bets.

Not only are money-market traders boosting wagers on the number of increases by major central banks, but also the size of each potential move, reflecting the prospect that policy makers will front-load tightening cycles to combat inflation.

Strong US jobs data on Friday fueled bets that the Federal Reserve will lift rates by half a percentage point in March. The Bank of England came within one vote of doing exactly that last week, causing traders to price in a 50 percent chance of such a move in coming months. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde’s hawkish pivot re-calibrated the outlook in Europe, with focus turning to the potential for quarterpoint increases instead of 10-basis-point intervals.

“The question is not what central banks will eventually do but what the market will price for them over the coming days and weeks,” said Mohit Kumar, a managing director of interest-rate strategy at Jefferies International, who doesn’t think the current rate-hike pricing will be delivered. “We are entering into a dangerous territory here where central banks have little idea what

they are going to do in nine months or 12 months’ time.”

Larger rate hikes might boost central bankers’ inflation-fighting credibility, reducing the need for more increases further down the line. Policy makers are grappling with the fastest price increases in decades across the UK, the US and the euro area. And while some officials have already pushed back against aggressive tightening bets, that hasn’t stopped investors from hedging against shock-andawe decisions in the months to come.

Sterling overnight index swaps are pricing around 37.5 basis points of tightening at the BOE’s March meeting, implying the market sees a quarter-point rise as guaranteed and a 50 percent probability of a half-point hike.

Hedging for a 50-basis-point rise can also be seen in contracts linked to the BOE’s May decision.

In the US, traders increased bets the Fed will kick off its interest-rate hikes with the steepest increase in two decades. They were pricing in around 34 basis points of tightening for the central bank’s March decision on Monday, more than the typical 25-basis-point interval. Inflation data due on Thursday could move the needle one way or the other.

The ECB’s last five changes to its deposit rate have been in intervals of 10 basis points as it went deeper into negative territory.

That had led to speculation that any tightening would be done in similar steps, though economist forecasts are now centering around quarter-point hikes. Borrowing costs are typically tightened in 25 basis-point steps and ECB Governing Council Member Klaas Knot said on Sunday he doesn’t “have reason to think differently this time.”

Some say front-end rates markets are getting ahead of themselves. The ECB’s emphasis on “gradual” tightening of policy implies only 10-basis-point hikes initially, according to Natwest Markets analysts including Imogen Bachra.

“Markets are trying to discount the worst case, but central banks do not like to create volatility and tend to be measured in their approach,” said Charles Diebel, head of fixed income at Mediolanum International Fund.

“Will the ECB hike twice by 25 basis points this year? I doubt it.”

In recent sessions, central banks have been the driver of rates turbulence. One such measure in Europe, one-year options on two-year volatility, is at its highest since 2011. German two-year yields surged the most since 2015 after the ECB’s pivot last week. Euro shortterm rate swaps currently price around 50 basis points of tightening this year from the ECB, implying two quarter-point hikes to bring its key rate to 0 percent. Bloomberg News

of reissued 10-yr T-bonds

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

D

ESPITE local rates tracking higher US Treasuries, the Bureau of the Treasury sold P35 billion in reissued 10-year Treasury Bonds (T-Bonds).

Total tenders reached P51.1 billion, making the auction nearly 1.5-times oversubscribed.

With 9 years and 11-months to maturity, T-Bonds fetched an average rate of 5.093 percent, up by 26.2 basis points from previous auction’s 4.831 percent. According to National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon, the rate, while higher, was still within the secondary level.

The average rate was “marginally higher than secondary level as local rates track climb in US treasuries,” the Treasurer told reporters. She added the “market remain defensive with anticipated higher US CPI [consumer price index] print in [January] adding more pressure for Fed [US Federal Reserve] to act hawkishly.”

Based on Bloomberg’s survey of economists, the median projection for the US consumer price index jumped 7.3 percent in

US treasuries join world bond rout in view of hikes

U

S treasuries fell Monday, adding to a global bond rout stoked by expectations for aggressive interest-rate hikes around the globe.

Greek debt led a selloff in Europe after hawkish comments from a European Central Bank policy maker on the potential for a first rate increase this year, and as money markets price the end of negative deposit rates by December. Australian short-end yields jumped toward the highest in almost three years, while there’s speculation the Bank of Japan may act to slow the advance in benchmark 10-year yields to a 6-year high. Yields on the US 30year bond rose to the highest since June. Government bonds worldwide are extending declines after the worst six months in five years, a Bloomberg index showed. Meanwhile, the pool of negative-yielding debt shrank to a six-year low, after nearly $3 trillion was wiped out in just two days last week.

‘Triple whammy’

TRADERS see a 40-percent chance the Federal Reserve will kick off interest-rate hikes with the sharpest increase in two decades in March, after an unexpectedly strong jobs

report Friday reinforced speculation the economy is at risk of overheating. The Bank of England came close to hiking rates 50 basis points last week, and the prospect of such an increase as soon as March is a coin toss for markets.

Meanwhile, the ECB’s concern over inflation has cemented bets that policy makers will lift rates 50 basis points by year-end, which would take them to zero. Governing Council Member Klaas Knot said he expects a 25-basis-point interest-rate increase as soon as the fourth quarter, in an interview on Sunday.

“The market has been hit by a triple whammy—a hawkish BOE, a hawkish ECB, a monster payrolls report,” said Andrew Ticehurst, a strategist at Nomura Holdings Inc. in Sydney. “The message is that we are in a bear market for G-10 rates, and investors may look to sell strength.”

Greek 10-year yields surged as much as 28 basis points to 2.55 percent, the highest since April 2020. The debt is most susceptible to monetary policy as it will no longer benefit from the ECB’s asset-purchase program beyond March because the nation is still rated below investment grade by the major ratings agencies. Bloomberg News

Borrowers of closed banks urged: use ARN for good record-keeping

T

NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR FINANCIAL INCLUSION 2022-2028 LAUNCHED

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor and Financial Inclusion Steering Committee Chairman Benjamin E. Diokno (top, right) leads the ceremonial donning of the financial inclusion pin during the launch of the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion 2022-2028. The NSFI 2022-2028 builds on the success of the first NSFI launched in 2015 and renews the vision of financial inclusion and signifies greater collective commitment of key government and private sector stakeholders for a more financially included and empowered citizenry. Joining the Governor during the NSFI’s launch at the Philippine International Convention Center are (bottom, from left to right) Monetary Board Member Anita Linda R. Aquino, Women’s World Banking Southeast Asia Advisory Council Member Dr. Jaime Aristotle Alip, Philippine Commission on Women Chairperson Sandra S. Montano, MBM V. Bruce J. Tolentino, FinTech Alliance Philippines Chairman Angelito M. Villanueva, Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año, and World Bank Senior Financial Sector Specialist Isaku Endo. Watch the event here: https://fb.watch/aTdnr6CwyI/ PHOTO COURTESY OF BSP

NGO denies using ‘fake names,’ lashes out at RCBC

A

FTER reports came out that the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.

(RCBC) accused them of using “fake names” in their account, the Inang Nag-Aaruga sa Anak (INAA) Foundation has denied the accusations.

According to Asuncion Yu, vice president of INAA, “RCBC has repeatedly attacked us and made false allegations against the Foundation, including its accusation in your report that the Foundation supposedly used anomalous methods such as ‘fake names’ in the Foundation’s transactions with the bank.”

RCBC and INAA are embroiled in a legal row because Liza Arzaga, a former

January from a year ago, the largest annual advance since early 1982 or four decades ago.

Last year, US consumer prices jumped 7 percent, hitting 39-year-high since June 1982.

Traders and investors are vociferously betting the Fed would raise interest rates in March to contain inflation.

Philippine inflation, on the other hand, slowed to 3 percent in January from 3.7 percent in the same month last year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported last February 4.

For this month, the Bureau of the Treasury programmed to borrow a total of P200 billion from the local debt market, the same level it aimed to raise in January.

For this year, the national government programmed to borrow P2.47 trillion, down by nearly a fifth from P3.07 trillion programmed last year.

The national government’s outstanding debt as of end-2021 shrank to P11.73 trillion from P11.93 trillion in the previous month on the back of net redemption of government securities. However, the country’s debt-togross domestic product ratio soared to a 16-year-high of 60.5 percent. This ratio is also the highest since 65.7 percent in 2005.

bank manager of RCBC Garnet Road branch, allegedly scammed the Foundation and other RCBC customers out of their money while she was an active employee of the bank.

“We wish to clarify that the many accusations of RCBC [in the report] are not only unfair but are also absolutely not true,” Yu added.

In the INAA statement, they rebuffed RCBC’s claim that the Foundation’s fraud complaint was baseless. “While it is true that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) dismissed our administrative complaint against the directors and officers of the bank, it is important to point out

that the BSP still acknowledged that fraud had been committed against the Foundation,” Yu said while also referring to an excerpt in the BSP’s decision, which stated: Nevertheless, this Office cannot just close its eyes on how respondent Arzaga, a bank officer, was able to perpetrate her acts subject of the instant case apparently without detection by the bank.

On the accusation of ‘fake names’, the Foundation highlighted that the subject of the complaint is only one account that is named under the INAA itself. ”Such malicious statements only aim to obfuscate the fact the fraud was committed by Arzaga, a then-active and

employed branch manager of RCBC Garnet Road,” Yu said.

Yu finally pointed out that RCBC used the reasoning that the “unexplained funds handed to Arzaga did not even enter RCBC’s system.” She described it as “damning” because it is “precisely the crux of the issue.”

“Arzaga, in her capacity as an RCBC branch manager, gave us fake bank documents, which looked genuine and therefore led us to believe that the Foundation’s money is already safe within the bank,” she stated.

Currently the case is with the Court of Appeals.

HE Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC), liquidator of closed banks, announced that loan payments and records-keeping would be more efficient if closed bank borrowers use their Account Reference Numbers (ARNs) when they pay at branches of the Philippine National Bank (PNB).

The PDIC explained that the ARN is a unique number generated for each loan account maintained in closed banks.

This ensures borrowers’ payments are properly recorded and accounted for, providing the state deposit insurer with updated loan balances and bases for, among others, enabling the efficient cancellations and/or releases of mortgages on fully paid loans.

ARNs are provided to borrowers at various instances namely, when they do walk-in visits at the closed bank’s premises during PDIC takeover operations, or through demand letters sent to all borrowers. ARNs are also made available to borrowers when they make personal visits and inquiries at the PDIC Public Assistance Center at the 3rd Floor, SSS Building, 6782 Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino St., Makati City.

The liquidator has partnered with the PNB in the acceptance of loan payments from borrowers to make transactions more convenient. When filling out the PNB Payment Slip, the ARN should be indicated in the portion referring to “Card No., Subscriber’s No., or Policy/Plan/Reference No.” Borrowers who have not yet received their ARN may request through any of the following contact channels: by sending an e-mail to pad@pdic.gov.ph, sending a private message to the official PDIC Facebook page at www.facebook.com/OfficialPDIC, or calling the PDIC Public Assistance Department hotline during office hours at (02) 8841-4141 (for those within Metro Manila) or the PDIC toll-free line at 1-800-1-888-PDIC or 1-800-1-888-7342 during office hours (for those outside Metro Manila).

The PDIC reminded closed banks’ borrowers that notwithstanding the closure of the bank, they are still required to pay their loan obligations.

Loan collection is a mode of liquidation being employed

by PDIC to be able to pool funds for closed banks and enable the settlement of claims of creditors. Aside from paying at PNB branches nationwide, borrowers may also pay their loans personally at the PDIC Public Assistance Center, or through postal money order (PMO) or check payable to the designated account name for the closed bank.

Recently, the PDIC rolled out its Closed Bank Loan Incentive Program, which provides incentives and substantial discounts for qualified borrowers who will make a one-time cash payment of their loans. Interested borrowers may visit www. pdic.gov.ph/CLIP for more details on CLIP.

B4

Wednesday, February 9, 2022 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

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‘Jackass Forever’ laughs its way to No. 1 at box office FROM left: Johnny Knoxville, Sean “Poopies” McInerny, Rachel Wolfson and Steve-O in a scene from Jackass Forever. AP

Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Tyson Houseman, 32; Mia Farrow, 77; Joe Pesci, 79; Carole King, 80.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Eliminate what you no longer need, and simplify your life. Aim to ease stress and minimize responsibility. Focus on the people and things that make you happy. Be accountable for your life and how it unfolds, and you will feel better about the future.

Don’t rely on others when change begins with you. Stop talking and start doing. Your numbers are 6, 13, 22, 29, 34, 39, 42.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Get involved in something that excites you. Stepping up and being responsible will help you impress someone who can have a positive impact on what you want to pursue. Emotional spending will lead to regret.

HHHH

A NIGHTMARE

By Lindsey Bahr | The Associated Press

N

OT even a global pandemic or a 12-year hiatus could stop the Jackass guys at the box office. Jackass Forever, the fourth movie in the anarchic series earned $23.5 million in ticket sales in its first weekend in theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday.

It not only exceeded expectations but also easily bested its other main competitors, the big budget sci-fi spectacle Moonfall and Spider-Man: No Way Home, which has six of its eight weeks in theaters at No. 1.

Jackass Forever brings back Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius and Wee Man for another round of pranks, stunts and injuries, and has become the best-reviewed in the series. Playing on 3,604 screens in North America, Jackass Forever is on the lower end of Jackass openings, above only the first, which made $22.8 million in its opening weekend in 2002. The biggest opening of the series was the last one, Jackass 3D’s $50 million debut in 2010. But, costing only $10 million to produce, Jackass Forever is already a clear success for Paramount. The studio was predicting a launch in the mid-teens.

Men accounted for 68 percent of the R-rated Jackass Forever audience, which was 67 percent between the ages of 18 and 34.

“Both Scream and Jackass Forever had a very long lag time between installments and absence made the heart grow fonder for Jackass,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for comScore. “They’ve always done quite well. They don’t cost a lot to make and the communal nature of the theater elevates a comedy like Jackass.”

Moonfall, meanwhile, which cost around $140 million to produce, is not doing well stateside.

Lionsgate estimated the film’s opening weekend

grosses to be just over $10 million, which was in line with its projections. Directed by Roland Emmerich and starring Halle Berry and Patrick Wilson, Moonfall was not well-received by critics. The disaster pic about a possible collision between the moon and the Earth holds a 40 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Like Jackass, its audience was also mostly male (60 percent).

Moonfall was made and financed independently through Emmerich’s Centropolis Entertainment and foreign deals and, like many big budget disaster pics of this ilk, is supposed to earn most of its money internationally. Lionsgate only oversaw distribution in North America and its expected to be profitable for the studio.

Spider-Man: No Way Home took in an additional $9.6 million in its eighth weekend in North American theaters, bringing its domestic total to $748.9 million.

Globally, its earnings total $1.77 billion.

“Films that appeal to a younger audience have a much bigger potential for success [during the pandemic],” Dergarabedian said. “And the young male audience really seems like they want to go to the movie theater.”

In art house releases, Neon debuted The Worst Person in the World on four screens this weekend to $135,042. The Norwegian film about a young woman finding herself is shortlisted for an Oscar nomination (which will be announced on Tuesday), topped many critics’ best of lists in 2021, and has gotten a fair share of celebrity endorsements (from Nancy Meyers to Paul Thomas Anderson). Its per-theater average ($33,760) is the highest of 2022. Neon will add theaters in the coming weeks.

Though still far from a normal, pre-pandemic weekend, it did break a bit of a lull that will likely continue until The Batman opens on March 4.

“It’s not the biggest weekend ever but considering how quiet the marketplace has been, it’s very welcome,” said Dergarabedian.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at US and Canadian theaters, according to comScore.

1. Jackass Forever, $23.5 million 2. Moonfall, $10 million 3. Spider-Man: No Way Home, $9.6 million 4. Scream, $4.7 million 5. Sing 2, $4.2 million 6. The King’s Man, $1.2 million 7. Redeeming Love, $1 million 8. American Underdog, $800,000 9. The 355, $700,000 10. The Wolf and the Lion, $675,027. n

YOU’D think this singer-actor has learned to be humble because he is no longer as popular as he used to be. At the peak of his popularity, it was a nightmare to work with the actor because he wouldn’t show up on time, or—if he did show up at all—he’d be very late or he’d be sulky and moody. His ex-girlfriend was way worse but that’s another story for another time.

The actor has a new endorsement but he refused to show up for the shoot. He wanted a lot of changes in his contract at the last minute and, of course, these things take a bit of time. When he couldn’t get what he wanted immediately, he threw a tantrum and decided not to show up. So things haven’t changed. If anything, they seem to have gotten worse.

JUST A GIMMICK

THE recent goings on involving some popular teen stars are said to be just gimmicks to drum up public interest for their projects. Sadly, the popularity of these stars has dwindled because of a new love team that’s quite hot right now. Two of the stars in the group have shown huge promise to be future superstars but then, showbiz fame is unpredictable. You’ll never know what will happen next and the pandemic, along with the rise of the aforementioned popular love team, has caused their stars to dim a little. They are still popular but they’re no longer hot property.

Competition is good but not if the competition has buried everyone else.

NEW LOVE

WHEN he joined showbiz, the male starlet had a longtime girlfriend, an influencer. Later on, they would part ways because both became busy with their careers. They didn’t part as friends but they just drifted apart. Fast forward to the present: the male starlet has found love again with someone who’s significantly but not alarmingly younger than him.

The relationship is going well but at a very cautious pace because the guy is being very careful. His last lasted for a number of years so he’s in this for the long haul, too. As for the girl, she is going with the flow and not in any hurry because she’s just starting out with her career and wants to accomplish a lot of things.

THE LAST STRAW

DISCORD seems to follow this actress in every relationship. Her former boyfriend allegedly physically hit her and she had the good sense to leave him. After the break-up, he hooked up with a minor starlet while the actress enjoyed being single. This changed when she met another actor and they kind of fell in love instantly. They got along very well.

But the actress realized the actor had a temper and was always impatient about many things. When he disagreed with something she said, he would sulk and ignore her for days. The last straw for the actress was when the actor said her body of work was negligible and it wouldn’t really matter if she quit being an actress.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Rely on your strengths, skills and experience, and you will be able to make positive changes. Initiate something you want to pursue, and take a proactive approach to self-improvement and staying updated.

Alter your course to take advantage of a trend. HHH

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Concentrate on what you can do, not on something you can’t control.

Work hard to protect your reputation and position from those trying to make you look bad. Don’t share your ideas prematurely, or someone will take credit for your work. HHH

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You’ll be attracted to the obscure. Don’t let what others do mesmerize you. You are just as creative as the next person, and selling yourself short isn’t in your best interest. Partnerships can work, but equality and balance are required. HHH

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): A partnership will tempt you, but do a background check to ensure you are dealing with someone legitimate. Listen carefully, and consider how the information you receive will benefit you. Exaggeration and persuasive tactics are apparent. HHHH

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You can have fun without going overboard. Networking can change your life if you take the initiative and promote what you have to offer. Forgo indulgence and any other temptation you encounter. Focus on honesty, integrity and living up to your promises. HH

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Take precautions when dealing with contractual, financial or medical issues. Listen carefully and leave nothing to chance. Pay attention to detail, and you’ll eliminate worry and stressful situations. Choose compromise and intelligent negotiations over anger and discord. Keep the peace. HHHHH

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Communication is essential if you want to get things done. Reach out, speak your mind and find out who offers support. An opportunity to make your surroundings functional will help diminish negativity and opposition. Personal gain is apparent. HHH

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Keep your eye on the ball, and stay in the game. Navigate your way through potential prospects. A savvy dialogue with realistic promises will put you in a cushy position. Trust your instincts, and follow your heart.

HHH

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You have what it takes to reach your target. Don’t waffle when action is favored. Implement the changes that will lift negative influences from your life and liberate you to head in a direction that puts a smile on your face.

HHHHH

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Take a minimalist approach to how you live your life.

Say no to temptation and indulgence. Monitor what others do, and make wise decisions to keep you from harm’s way. Be realistic regarding expectations and promises. HHHHH

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Think before you act. Get your facts straight, and be mindful of others. Taking preventive measures will ensure that you remain in control and avoid repercussions.

Take the high road, and bask in the positive effect you have on others. HH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are generous, outgoing and enthusiastic.

You are influential and chivalrous.

‘dj set’ BY DREW SCHMENNER The Universal Crossword/Edited by Amanda Rafkin

ACROSS 1 Moment to get serious, slangily 7 Granola morsel 10 UCLA or UNC 13 Out jogging 14 Return mail name?

16 Fish in a backyard pond 17 Break for judges or kindergartners 18 Mr. Hyde’s alter ego 20 Christmas hrs. in Boston 21 Remedies’ relatives 23 Train’s resting place 24 New Age glow 25 Ambulance alarms 26 Game show round featuring $2,000 questions 31 Sleep affliction 32 Pub offering 33 Denim pants made to look worn 41 Fish eggs 42 Ram’s zodiac sign 43 60th anniversary celebration 49 Billie Jean King’s sport 50 Planets, poetically 51 Class that’s a walk in the park

52 “Possibly” 54 Tug, as a boat 57 Ideal way to earn a living 59 Reach the airport, say 61 Run-___ (hip-hop group) 62 Foot in a sonnet 63 Closed in on 64 To date 65 Lamb’s first word?

66 Venomous vipers DOWN 1 Gratuitous feature of a horror flick 2 Singles seen on cheap dates?

3 Diplomat’s asset 4 Outrage 5 Like Popeye after eating spinach 6 Guarantee 7 Ye ___ Shoppe 8 Broadcasts 9 ___ Mahal 10 Video chatted on a PC, say 11 Group of ants 12 Sword handles 15 News sources, collectively 19 Warriors coach Steve

22 Sheldon’s pal on The Big Bang Theory 24 Help illegally 25 Was really moving?

26 Atticus Finch, to Scout 27 Nail polish brand 28 Young ___ (kids) 29 Alleviated 30 Chant at a Sevilla FC match 34 Cupid’s Greek counterpart 35 Luke, to Darth Vader 36 Babbled 37 Greek goddess of discord 38 Feel unwell 39 Once known as 40 NNW’s opposite 43 “My goodness!”

44 Creature often swatted or zapped 45 Beth’s portrayer on The Queen’s Gambit 46 City in South Florida 47 Glee 48 University of Illinois ___-Champaign 49 Harmless bear 52 NYC museum with Ximena Cuevas

53 54 55 56 58 60

works Mamma Mia quartet Wear out Completed Exchanges vows Poke “So cool!”

Solution to today’s puzzle:

Image BusinessMirror

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Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Wednesday, February 9, 2022

B5

PHOTO BY ALLGO APP ON UNSPLASH

Thousands of new e-books now available in Benilde virtual library A SIZABLE collection of over 19,700 materials from Wiley, the global leader in publication, education and research, have recently been added to the everexpanding virtual library of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.

Founded in 1807, the American multinational publishing company has marked significant contributions to bridge the higher education gap through an impressive assemblage of instructional and professional learning titles from revered scholars and organization partners and best sellers from renowned authors.

The institution’s Br. Fidelis Leddy Center for Learning Resources now carries new digital textbooks that cover diverse disciplines, to include Mathematics and Statistics, Life and Earth Science, Food Science, Health and Medical Science, Psychology and Psychiatry, Veterinary Medicine, Chemistry, Physics and Biology.

The wide array of selections also features indemand and industry-relevant subjects on the fields of Computer Science and Technology, Emergency Management, Business, Finance, Engineering and Education.

It likewise has the latest editions to the leading titles in Hospitality and Culinary, Graphic Design, Architecture and Interior Design, Social Sciences, Humanities and World Languages, among many others.

The subscription allows Benildeans to browse textbooks on the platform, with enhanced reader features such as Read Aloud, Highlight, Note, Translate and offline reading capability for Windows, Android and iOS. This is the college’s response to the greater need for electronic books and sources amid the ongoing online modalities, to further support remote teaching, research, self-study and intellectual stimulation amid the lockdowns.

The growing online database includes exclusive access over 24 million free-to-download e-books, journals, references, collections and industry reports and datasets from reputable agencies, plus another 1.5 million free-to-lend sources from Internet Archive’s online library.

The institution recently subscribed to Material ConneXion (MCX), a leading design authority that provides over 10,000 innovative materials from over 7,000 global manufacturers from 75 industries including fashion, furniture, architecture, automotive and beauty.

Students and staff are likewise entitled to digital subscriptions to giant trend forecast and analytic web sites WGSN and Business of Fashion. WGSN provides an immense number of insights and inspirations on fashion, lifestyle, hospitality, interior and retail from over 250 trend experts and scientists around the world. The BoF offers a plethora of exclusive content, education courses and events about the latest global headlines across sustainability, luxury, beauty, retail and technology, among many others.

Dealing with whiners, complainers and blamers

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ON’T you just hate it when you are quietly doing your work and then one of your coworkers comes up to you and tells you everything is not going well. And then they complain they are given more work than they could handle. And then they start questioning new processes and lament why everything has to change. And then they talk about every other little inconvenience they encounter while they do their work.

You started out working and being focused and engaged, but now find yourself rattled and confused.

If you are not careful, you might find yourself trapped in their negativity. There are different kinds of problematic workmates, but the most common are the whiners, complainers and blamers. I am sure we have become one ourselves at some point in our lives, and that is okay because it is a way of venting out stress.

But when bad behavior becomes chronic, it endangers not only the person’s productivity but the entire team’s disposition as well.

How do we differentiate these three common negative behaviors? Whiners are those who feel unduly burdened by the expectations of their leader and others. They feel helpless and instead of looking for ways to do their work, they look for other people to affirm that what they are feeling is valid. Instead of looking for solutions, they seek sympathy and attention. Whiners constantly feel like they are being attacked and forced to do more work than others.

Complainers, on the other hand, are those who always want to do things their way and find it difficult

to compromise. They find fault with anything new and point out reasons why things will not work.

Sometimes, complainers point out things we do not see because of our own biases. Having complainers can help us identify points of improvement in new processes and help us fine-tune these to become better. But because they come off as irritating and annoying, their good ideas get lost. Complainers may be onto something, but they lack the communication skills to get their message across.

Blamers, meanwhile, are those who shift the blame to others. They do not take responsibility for their actions, and they often make the excuse that other people made them do it. Blamers often ask other people their opinion on how the work should be done and when it fails, they will blame it on this person or that. But when it succeeds, they shamelessly take all the compliments. They have no accountability for their own work and for everything that goes wrong, everyone is blamed except them.

Whiners, complainers and blamers are dangerous for collaboration and teamwork because negativity feeds off from each other. It compromises the working relationships within the team, disrupts productivity, and reduces the time spent for actual work. How then should we deal with the whiners, complainers and blamers in our teams?

One thing you can do is to gently call them out and make them understand how their actions affect the entire team. There are cases when they are too caught up in their negative behavior that they do not see how they are affecting others. You can do this by asking them how someone would feel if they whine, complain, or blame others. Then make them realize that since they are part of the team, they will have to work with the team in ensuring work is done properly and efficiently.

Another effective way is to ask them how they would have done things differently. Asking them how they would have done it puts the focus on them and forces them to look for solutions rather than find fault or blame others. It will also help you uncover why they are reacting the way they do, so you can then decide if you can do something about it. Asking them

how they would have done it differently helps them put themselves in other people’s shoes and urges them to look at changes and problems from the lens of a team player, rather than an individual contributor.

A similar approach is to ask them to identify the most recent successful project they have accomplished so they can change their mindset. Ask them what they did that contributed to the success of the project, and then ask them how they can adapt the same in the new one. Reframe their mindset by pointing out something they have done in the past successfully. Oftentimes, whiners, complainers and blamers have no control over their own emotions and their circumstances, so they revert to their negative behavior. By pointing out their successes in the past, you help them adopt a better outlook on their tasks.

You also need to check yourself if you are enabling their negative behavior by listening to them. Whiners, complainers and blamers love an audience, and if they know that they have your sympathy, they will take advantage and constantly reach out to you to listen to them. Yes, you need to listen, but you also need to help them resolve their issues. Support them as they learn how to handle their own emotions but do not be afraid to call them out or redirect their focus to becoming productive team members.

If they do not change their negative behavior, you can stop whining and just ignore them. Limit your interactions on a need-to basis but continue to be friendly to the person. Offer to listen to them but limit those interactions and politely decline extended conversations by saying you have work to do. If they continue to whine, complain and blame others for their work output, maybe the problem is a culture fit and they might be better off in another department.

You might need to talk to your immediate supervisor or the Human Resource for their help.

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. It only takes one member of the team to compromise the reliability of the entire team. So, when a team member chronically complains, whines, or blames others for their poor output, you need to do something about it.

Otherwise, you might end up losing not just one team member. n

There is much more to mindfulness than the popular media hype

By Pierce Salguero Penn State MINDFULNESS is seemingly everywhere these days.

A Google search I conducted in January 2022 for the term “mindfulness” resulted in almost 3 billion hits.

The practice is now routinely offered in workplaces, schools, psychologists’ offices and hospitals all across the country.

Most of the public enthusiasm for mindfulness stems from the reputation it has for reducing stress. But scholars and researchers who work on mindfulness, and the Buddhist tradition itself, paint a more complex picture than does the popular media. n MEDICALIZING MEDITATION. Mindfulness originated in the Buddhist practice of “anapana-sati,” a Sanskrit phrase that means “awareness of breath.”

Buddhist historian Erik Braun has traced the origins of the contemporary popularity of meditation to colonial Burma—modern-day Myanmar—in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Meditation, which was practiced almost exclusively inside monasteries until then, was introduced to the general public in a simplified format that was easier to learn.

The gradual spread of meditation from that time to the present is a surprisingly complex story.

In the US, meditation first started to be practiced among diverse communities of spiritual seekers as early as the 19th century. It was adopted by professional psychotherapists in the early 20th century. By the 21st century, it had become a massmarketing phenomenon promoted by celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Deepak Chopra and Gwyneth Paltrow.

The process of translating the Buddhist practice of meditation across cultural divides transformed the practice in significant ways. Modern meditation often has different goals and priorities than traditional Buddhist meditation. It tends to focus on stress reduction, mental health or concrete benefits in daily life instead of spiritual development, liberation or enlightenment.

Research on this new kind of “medicalized” mindfulness began to gather steam in the past two decades. As of today there are over 21,000 research articles on mindfulness in the National Library of Medicine’s online database—two and a half times as many articles as have been published on yoga, tai chi and reiki combined.

n SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE VS. MINDFULNESS HYPE. Medical researchers themselves have had a far more measured opinion about the benefits of meditation than the popular press.

For example, a 2019 meta-analysis, which is a review of many individual scientific studies, pointed out that the evidence for the benefits of mindfulness and other meditation-based interventions has “significant limitations” and that the research has “methodological shortcomings.”

Based on their review of the scientific literature, the authors warned against falling prey to “mindfulness hype.” On the positive side, they found various forms of meditation to be more or less comparable to the conventional therapies currently used to treat depression, anxiety, chronic pain and substance use. On the other hand, they concluded that more evidence is needed before any strong claims can be made regarding treatment of conditions such as attention disorders, PTSD, dysregulated eating or serious mental illnesses.

More troubling, some researchers are even beginning to suggest that a certain percentage of patients may experience negative side effects from the practice of meditation, including increased anxiety,

depression or, in extreme cases, even psychosis. n PUTTING MINDFULNESS BACK INTO CONTEXT. As a historian of the relationship between Buddhism and medicine, I argue that mindfulness can be a beneficial practice for many people, but that we should understand the broader context in which it developed and has been practiced for centuries. Mindfulness is one small part of a diverse range of healing techniques and perspectives the Buddhist tradition has developed and maintained over many centuries.

Buddhism has always had a lot to say about health. But perhaps the most significant of its many contributions is its teaching that our physical and mental well-being are intricately intertwined—not only with each other, but also with the health and vitality of all living beings.

As I argue in my most recent book, Buddhist ethics asks us to look up from our meditation cushions and to look out beyond our individual selves. It asks us to appreciate how everything is interconnected and how our actions and choices influence our lives, our society and the environment. The emphasis, even while healing ourselves, is always on becoming agents of compassion, healing and well-being for the whole.

THE CONVERSATION

B6 Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Mariwasa’s Meteor collection is ideal for Filipino homeowners

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NE of the most integral parts of a house is the flooring.

Its surface receives the most contact with homeowners and is subjected daily to the different activities that homeowners might engage in.

Due to this foot traffic, homeowners prefer flooring material that boasts of durability without sacrificing aesthetics.

An ideal option for flooring material for homeowners is vinyl flooring. This material is water and stain-resistant, versatile, and provides good durability for its cost. Also, due to the continuous developments in technology, it brought about a more resilient material.

Take for instance, the vinyl flooring from Mariwasa, which provides homeowners with another flooring option as they plan to build or renovate their homes this 2022.

Mariwasa Siam Ceramics, Inc. is well aware of the importance of sturdy and stylish flooring. This is evident in their recently launched vinyl tile available in 30x30cm and promotes style, comfort, and quality.

Homeowners can continue their daily activities and even engage in rigorous ones without worrying about breaking their tiles or leaving unwanted marks on the floor. This also saves them a lot of time and money from purchasing products or availing services to address scuffed floors.

Aside from the quality of the material, Mariwasa’s 30x30cm vinyl floor tiles come in a variety of designs

MARIWASA Siam Ceramics Inc. – Full HD Tiles Philippines to meet consumers’ preferences. It also comes in shades of brown, marble, and wood patterns that are easy on the eyes and invoke a friendly and warm feeling.

Mariwasa’s design maintains the cozy vibe while giving off a sense of luxury through the “Meteor” vinyl floor tile, which features earthy yet regal tones, such as bronze in an intricate pattern. For homeowners looking for a more modern approach, the vinyl tiles come in bright and minimalistic shades that are chic and easy on the eyes. Having them in a room can liven up the space while presenting a relaxing aura. Plus, these designs are easy to work with, making them an ideal choice for homeowners who value the

overall look of their home aside from its sturdiness. The material is also budgetfriendly, giving homeowners a chance to achieve the house of their dreams without blowing their pockets.

The recommended areas of application for Mariwasa’s vinyl tiles are in living rooms and bedrooms, where homeowners usually feel relaxed and seek comfort.

These are some of the areas of the house that get the most foot traffic. In addition, since the vinyl tiles come into the most contact with homeowners, Mariwasa developed the material to feel light and comfortable as they pass on by.

For more information, visit www. mariwasa.com.

FUSO Philippines expands network with a new Metro Manila sales outlet and a service center in Pasay City

Las Piñas prepares Safari and Toy Carnival-inspired vaccination sites; targets to jab 1,500 kids per day

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HE Las Piñas City government prepared a Safari and Toy Carnivalinspired themes at vaccination sites for the COVID-19 jabs to children aged 5 to 11-years-old on February 8.

Mayor Imelda Aguilar said vaccination site at SM Center prepared the Safariinspired theme while at The Tent, the Toy Carnival theme was made to lighten the mood of children while waiting for their turn to be vaccinated.

According to Aguilar, there will also be a film showing for kids for them to learn the importance of getting the jab against COVID-19.

They had also prepared cartoons show for kids in order for them not to get bored.

The mayor added that SM Center will be giving coloring materials together with bags of candies coming from the city government while at The Tent, balloons and cotton candies will likewise be distributed to the kids.

Aguilar said the city government targets to inoculate around 1,500 to 2,000 kids per day.

Meanwhile, Vice-Mayor April Aguilar

who will personally supervise the activities at the vaccination sites for the children said representatives from the Department of Health (DOH) namely Dr. Aleli Grace Sudiacal, Asst. Regl. Director and Dr. Ara Jurao Infectious Diseases Cluster Head praised the cleanliness and orderliness of the vaccination sites prepared by the city government.

The vice-mayor said since the start of the online registration of “Bakunahan sa Kabataan” program was announced on Jan. 29, the City Health Office (CHO) had already recorded a total of 11,246 registrants on Feb. 7 out of more than 79,000 population.

Aguilar added that once the number of the registrants increases, more vaccination sites will be added by the city government.

Maintain a bright home life in the new normal

ACTRESS-ENTREPRENEUR Judy Ann headlines Sun Life Grepa Financial Inc.’s Your Partner Beyond a Lifetime campaign.

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ITH parents and families trying to adjust to a today's way of life with remote job tasks, online learning for kids, social distancing and home isolation, Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo, shares how she keeps her family in tune with the new normal and discusses the importance of preparing ahead.

“We have learned a lot from the past years of having a pandemic. When the pandemic started, everybody thought that it will just pass quickly. Pero tumagal nang husto and now everyone is concerned about loved ones, especially kids,” Judy Ann said. “To help your kids feel better, it is important to keep an open line of communication with them and reassure them whenever they are feeling worried. Let them know that you will get through this challenge together as a family. At the same time, as parents, we need to be a role model to our children by building empathy and helping other people.”

Mindful of protecting children’s health in

a pandemic, Judy Ann also shares how she takes care of her family. “I always make sure that my kids are always eating healthy and proper food. I want them to active even if they are confined to the home space, so I regularly engage them in physical activities. Because I’m working from home, it’s easier for me to encourage my kids.” she said.

Judy Ann goes on to cite the great opportunities in the changing environments around home and work, saying that this is the best time to build a bond with loved ones and we must make the most of it. “I’m just happy that I’m able to observe and see my kids mature because they grow up so fast and I wouldn’t want to miss any part of it.”

To add, Judy Ann also shares how many people around her have learned during the pandemic the importance of planning ahead for uncertainties. “We can never really predict what the future holds for us, what’s important is everybody is safe and healthy, especially now.

To do that, let’s plan ahead,” Judy Ann said.

“Now that we know better, put together ways to keep everyone in your circle safe and healthy. Have a plan that ensures your loved ones follow preventive measures such as taking vitamins, home isolation, and health testing. It’ also good to have a financial protection plan for ourselves and our loved ones in case of emergencies. When you have these in place, panatag ka.”

The actress also gives advice to all moms who are navigating the balance between motherhood and work. “To all the working moms out there, make sure you learn something from this pandemic as we move forward. At the same time, if you want to try something new, go for it because life’s too short to think twice. Believe in yourself and this is the perfect time to grow, grow with your loved ones as their lifetime partner.”

‘Booster card should be prioritized in high-vax areas’ COLUMBIAN Motors Sales Corporation-FUSO Service Center

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N line with the company’s expansion plan, Sojitz Fuso Philippines Corporation (SFP), the general distributor of FUSO trucks and buses in the Philippines expands its retail presence in Metro Manila by opening MG Gateway South Corporation in Pasay City to add to its growing list of FUSO dedicated outlets nationwide.

The new sales outlet is strategically positioned close to NAIA Expressway and provides easy access to nearby businesses, logistics companies, and lifestyle centers in Southern Manila. The facility can display 2-3 vehicles, as well as a reception area to assist sales inquiries.

Founded in 2004, headed by Mr. Markane Earle Goho, MG Gateway South Corporation is a fast-growing network of multiple automotive brands across the Philippines.

Mr. Goho stated, “We are extremely thankful and very humbled to be given this opportunity to open another FUSO dealership. We are fully committed to

contribute to increase sales, increase market share, and uplift the FUSO brand. We look forward to more new and happy FUSO in Metro Manila.”

In addition to this facility, a separate commercial vehicle service and spare parts center was also recently opened near the vicinity of MG Gateway South Corporation.

Columbian Motors Sales Corporation (CMSC) can support customers whenever they have aftersales queries and requests.

Customers can schedule a visit for their truck’s maintenance check-up and general repairs.

Established in 1981, Columbian Motors Sales Corporation was envisioned as a company providing high-quality aftersales support in the automotive industry.

CMSC’s President Mr. Eugenio Meneses, Jr. says, “As we acquire a new dedicated FUSO Service Center strategically located here in Pasay City, we are very excited to provide easier

access as we aspire to serve our customers in FUSO Pasay and deliver premium quality service to FUSO commercial vehicles. I would like to thank Sojitz Fuso Philippines Corporation for supporting this partnership and we hope to attract more customers to experience FUSO’s ultimate reliability and durability.”

“The addition of new FUSO outlet underlies our commitment to widening our reach to our customers across Metro Manila. We are confident that MG Gateway South Corporation and Columbian Motors Sales Corporation will be an excellent contribution to our network and will perform strongly enough to provide an enhanced experience for our customers. With this growing partnership, we look forward to providing better service to individuals and businesses anywhere in the Philippines.” said SFP’s President and CEO, Yoshihisa Hosaka.

To learn more, visit www.fuso.com. ph/dealers.

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RESIDENTIAL Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion said that opposition to the requirement of booster cards in public spaces is understandable, but he believes that it can be prioritized in highly vaccinated areas. He maintains, however, that it will be inevitable as the government will want to maintain the population’s protection against Covid.

“I understand that some areas may be having logistical problems and it is quite unfair to require it of people who have no access to boosters yet,” he said. However, the Go Negosyo founder said that areas where most of the population have already completed their primary doses are at risk if they do not start rolling out their booster shots soon.

It has been found that the efficacy of most Covid vaccines wane within four to six months after the second dose, making booster shots essential if population protection is to be maintained.

Concepcion said that the National Capital Region (NCR) should be first to roll out the booster card requirement, with other LGUs to follow suit as they vaccinate more of their population.

“The booster card requirement makes

sense in the NCR because they received their primary doses ahead of the rest of the Philippines. However, they are also at higher risk from waning immunity and must be encouraged to get their booster shots right away,” he said.

“It will be up to the IATF to give guidance as to how the booster card requirement can be implimented,“ he said. “But the reality is that the vaccine’s efficacy will wane and we don’t want to risk seeing more cases that could easily have been prevented by encouraging people to get boostered,” he said.

Covid vaccines are currently being given free of charge. But with vaccinations estimated to cost as much as Php2,400 once commercially available, it is feared that this may be out of the reach of ordinary Filipinos, making it harder to achieve immunity for the larger population should the Philippines fail to achieve its target vaccination rates before procured and donated vaccines expire.

BusinessMirror

Editor: Tet Andolong

Wednesday, February 9, 2022 B7

Real estate, Italpinas style

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By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

he northern Italian city of Verona has been immortalized twice in William Shakespeare’s literary masterpieces “Romeo and Juliet” and “Two Gentlemen of Verona.”

In a tribute to the Bard of Avon and also inspired by the historic city, listed developer Italpinas Development Corp.

(IDC) recently launched the Verona Green Apartments.

IDC Chairman and CEO Romolo V. Nati explained in an e-mail interview with the BusinessMirror that the city made famous by Shakespeare’s tragedy has endured and continues to appeal across several generations. “I found this quite poetic, because it’s an enduring piece of local lore, born out of a cross-cultural synergy [between the local setting, and a foreign author], and perfectly framed by the relevant architecture. The low-rise building and the human scale of the balcony are precisely what make this romantic legend possible,” Nati explained.

Enduring charm of Verona “Architects are both technicians and artists. Our buildings must perform well, but they are also works of art, and all works of art are influenced by the styles and artistic movements of their time, or their place. Sometimes a work of art will contribute to the current artistic movement, and sometimes they will rebel against it,”Nati added.

Unlike in Asia and North America where urban development emphasizes vertical developments such as the skyscrapers, Nati said Italy’s city centers do the opposite.

There are strict heritage preservation rules, which maintain the city centers in a more human scale.

Nati said the magic and allure of the Verona project site is that it elegantly combines both ambiences. It offers privacy and a communal setting, with an intimacy maintained by its elongated shape running parallel to the main road, and yet its gateway is literally across the main road from the bustling commercial center of Uptown Cagayan de Oro, with the SM Mall, shops and restaurants, and of course IDC’s existing projects, which will also be lifestyle destinations in themselves.

Furthermore, the project site has the characteristics needed to bring this alchemy to life here and now. Our inspiration is to unlock this unique chemistry with IDC’s “architectural vision.”

Verona Green Apartments is a joint venture project between IDC and the Cagayan de Oro-based Go family, one of the prominent business clans in the city.

La dolce vita Nati said the P1.2-billion project will consist of a series of 4-storey walk-up green buildings, offering both residential and commercial space. The project will rise on an

Italpinas Development Corp Chairman and CEO Romolo V. Nati

Temporary renderings of Verona Green Apartments.

11,327-square-meter property owned by the Go family in floodfree Uptown Cagayan de Oro City.

Furthermore, the new project site is located near IDC’s existing developments (Primavera Residences and Primavera City), enabling the company to leverage its well-established knowledge of the local area and its dynamic market conditions.

Nati said IDC has a great start for 2022 with the launching of the Verona Green Apartments. “We’re lucky that we have been able to continue strongly with sales, operations, and business development during the pandemic years of 2020

and 2021, and this new project is one of the outcomes of that business development thrust,” he said.

“As a company, we know Cagayan de Oro [CDO] well, and we love it for its people, its energy, and its inspiring growth. It was in CDO where we built our very first development [Primavera Residence], which is followed by a larger one [Primavera City], and now by the Verona Green Apartments. Because we are established there, we can immediately leverage our existing operational capacity to confidently accelerate the Verona project, and we are looking forward to doing

this,” Nati added.

As an ardent supporter of environmentalism, Nati said the Verona Green Apartments will use the Excellence In Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) for its green certification ratings.

The Primavera City and Primavera Residences have also used the EDGE ratings system.

Prices of the units in the Verona Green Apartments will range from P1.2 million to P1.5 million.

All studio units will have a 23-sqm space with a balcony. The project is planned to be completed in two phases, and is currently designed to

consist of about 900 residential units and around 50 commercial spaces.

“We will deliver the typical IDC product with Italian design and green features to a different market. It is an extremely interesting market not only because of its size, but above all because we believe that all market segments should be able to own sustainable real estate products. In terms of design philosophy, however, Verona will be consistent with all other IDC projects.

It will deliver the same sustainable green design philosophies that we incorporate in all our work. This includes the harnessing of natural conditions to create comfort and efficiency. For example, the flow of air is deliberately predetermined by our architectural designs. Light and shadow are also modeled digitally so we can design for natural illumination without the heat of direct sunlight. All these details are at the heart of our creative process.

They deliver greater comfort, but less demand on electricity for airconditioning and lighting, which are the main consumers of energy in a tropical climate. On top of this, the result must be beautiful to the eye, and representative of the forward-looking orientation of Philippine cities, where progress is constant, and the market’s taste is growing more and more demanding,” Nati said.

This will ensure future residents to have a taste of la dolce vita.

Achieve brilliance as SMDC expands footprint along C5 with Gem Residences

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very so often, a once-ina-lifetime investment opportunity emerges that any smart and savvy investor knows they should not pass up. A shining example is SM Development Corp. (SMDC)’s Gem Residences, quickly being snapped up by serious investors who recognize its value and potential.

At the crossroads of growth Located along the most dynamic growth corridor in Metro Manila, Gem Residences offers investors the distinction of being at the intersection of innovation and adaptability.

As SMDC’s first premier development in Pasig, Gem Residences is seen to transform C5 into a residential and lifestyle corridor, in the same way that SMDC spearheaded Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa)’s transformation into a residential avenue.

Quick-acting investors are given the unique opportunity to be among the first movers in this high-growth area. Accessible to the dynamic enclaves of Rizal Province, and cities like Makati, Marikina, Mandaluyong, Taguig, and Quezon City, Gem Residences is bound to greatly benefit from the spillover effects of massive, ongoing infrastructure projects.

Inevitably, these infrastructure developments will drive up property values in these areas, thus

making Gem Residences all the more attractive.

Additionally, this up-and-coming community is close to various top-notch commercial, lifestyle, and entertainment destinations, offering its residents the very best that modern city living has to offer.

Built for the new normal Designed with the empowered individual in mind, Gem Residences is built to adapt to the lifestyle changes brought by the pandemic. With ample, functional spaces, residents are not only given a sense of security and privacy, but also a strong sense of commu-

nity at the same time.

Gem Residences also has an integrated commercial strip that brings all your essentials and everyday luxuries within the comforts of the property.

Elevating residential living SMDC’s Gem Residences is the perfect address for those who live on the fast lane with a multihyphenated lifestyle. It elevates resident i a l l iv ing w it h wel lthought-out, future-proof amenities, specifically conceived for a smart, efficient, and practical lifestyle in the city.

Nothing says success, either, more than its elegant, hotel-like

lobby. Meanwhile, an amenity area called the “Creators Park” offers dedicated spaces for productivity and ideation. A wide array of health and wellness activities also await you that, all together, push work-life integration forward. There are billiard tables, table tennis area, a gym with changing rooms, a lap pool, as well as a pool deck.

You will find multiple outlets, as well, to de-stress and reset your mind, with a snack bar, a meditation nook, a yoga deck, and a paved walkway available.

For families with young children, there is a wide playground and a kiddie pool.

Promoting smart and practical living Right-sized units encourage an intuitive, sustainable and functional lifestyle. Having the right amount of living space means less cleaning and upkeep, as well as less energy consumed. In turn and in time, this will mean lower utility bills and maintenance made much easier.

On top of these are professiona l proper t y management and leasing ser v ices that increase the property’s value. It’s the kind of upkeep that will help residents and investors monetize their proper t y w ithout worrying about its profitability

and maintenance.

A window of opportunity you cannot miss This is an opportune time for investors to own a property in a fast-developing growth corridor.

The development offers unparalleled value and vast opportunities for growth for those who want to live smart and jump-start their real investments. Without a doubt, Gem Residences only signals the beginning of a decade-long growth in this highly dynamic area.

For more information about Gem Residences, visit https:// smdc.com /proper t ies/gem-residences/

Sports

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BusinessMirror

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| Wednesday, February 9, 2022 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

GO TELLS SPORTS BODIES: ATHLETES’ WELFARE FIRST

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EN. Christopher “Bong” Go’s Committee on Sports aims to set the tone for a potential government intercession in sports disputes similar to the dragging row between Olympic pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena and his mother federation Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa).

“There’s a need to identify possible government interventions to resolve the issues or craft necessary legislation to avoid such conflicts from recurring,” Go told a hearing on the Obiena-Patafa issue that lasted five hours on Monday night. “I urge concerned agencies and organizations to always prioritize the welfare of athletes.”

A joint Sports and Finance Committees hearing dug into the resolution of Obiena’s rift with the Patafa, particularly its president Philip Ella Juico, concerning finances revolving on the world No. 3-ranked pole vaulter’s Ukranian coach Vitaly Petrov’s salaries.

In the hearing, Obiena agreed to go “all in” on a mediation effort being pushed by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) between him and the Patafa.

“I am all in about [this] mediation. In my understanding, putting me back as a national team member I believe as a sign of good faith,” Obiena said, citing Senator Francis Tolentino’s recommendation in the hearing to have him back on the Philippine team.

The Patafa, represented by its chairman Rufus Rodriguez, said Obiena’s expulsion from the team, as well as the filing of legal charges against the athlete and his mother Jeanette, were put on hold pending the mediation.

The PSC stated in the hearing that it remains open to leading the mediation procedure. “It’s the priority of this hearing to seek ways to prevent this [Obiena-Patafa] issue from happening again,” Go stressed.

Expressing his frustration over the controversy, Go strongly recommended for the PSC to regularly meet and coordinate with the Philippine Olympic Committee “to ensure that all assistance needed by the athletes are promptly provided and such conflicts are immediately resolved.”

“After our athletes give honor to the country in the Asian Games or Southeast Asian Games, controversies such as this crop up—fingers are pointed at one another, ‘Where’s the money? What happened? Who benefited?’” Go said.

“We have the PSC. It’s high time na you should step up and settle issues,” he said. “The Senate’s not a referee, we are here to make laws to strengthen the PSC…let’s finish this issue today and it’s the PSC that should take the lead.”

Go said that the hearing aims to come up with meaningful recommendations in aid of legislation to boost the morale of athletes, improve their performance and foster better relationships among sports organizations and athletes.

“Yet, we must do so in a spirit of fair play and justice,” he said.

Go also clarified in the hearing that being an honorary chairman of the Patafa, he said that the title was conferred to him before he was elected as senator.

“To allay doubts of partiality, I have never discharged any function related to this role.

Being an ‘Honorary Chairman’ is merely a title or honor, without the usual obligations or remunerations,” he said.

SEE MA, NO SMOKE Austria’s Matej Svancer trains ahead of the men’s freestyle skiing big air qualification round with the former Shougang Group steel mill’s enormous smokestacks in the background in Beijing on Monday. China

closed the factory in conjunction with the 2008 Summer Games, seeking to clean up its image, as well as its air. The billowing smokestacks provided work for thousands but also darkened the sky over Beijing’s Shijingshan District, contributing to the city’s air pollution problem. AP

LOOK! IT’S PENG SHUAI!

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EIJING—Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai sat with International Oly mpic Com m it tee ( IOC) President Thomas Bach and watched American-born Chinese freeskier Eileen Gu win gold at the women’s big air event Tuesday.

Peng appeared a day after delivering a controlled interview in Beijing that touched on sexual assault allegations she made against a former high-ranking member of China’s ruling Communist Party. Her answers— delivered in front of a Chinese Olympic official—left unanswered questions about her well-being and what exactly happened.

Bach said he and Peng spoke with athletes at the Big Air Shougang venue for about 30 minutes, and the pair was seen together in the stands.

Bach said Peng told him that she was going into quarantine later Tuesday and planned to exit the closed Olympic coronavirus bubble.

He was not sure if she planned to return for any more Olympic events.

Peng, a local star who has encouraged Chinese girls and women to take up tennis, watched as Gu formally ascended to a similar position with her first Olympic gold medal.

An 18-year-old born in San Francisco, Gu decided in 2019 to compete for China at the Beijing Games, spurning Team USA in the process. Gu, whose mother is Chinese, has

PENG SHUAI (right) watches the women’s freestyle skiing big air finals with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (center) on Tuesday. AP said repeatedly that her goal is to be a role model for young female athletes in China.

Gu sidestepped a question about whether she shared concerns from the international community about Peng’s well being. She said he was “really happy” Peng attended and honored that a star from a major sport like tennis came to see “niche sports like freeskiing.”

“I’m really grateful that she’s, yeah, happy and healthy and out here doing her thing again,” Gu said.

Peng’s interview with French sports newspaper L’Equipe and an announcement that Bach met Peng for dinner this weekend seemed a imed at a l lay ing susta ined international concerns about the threetime Olympian and former No. 1-ranked

ASA KNOWS HOW TO CATCH ‘EM BASEBALL

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ASA MILLER and his dad Kelly take the chairlift on their way to the training and competition venue. PHOTO BY KELLY MILLER

Senator Go finally steps in NICE to know that EJ Obiena is finally amenable to a mediation. In fact, his precious yes has long been overdue.

It took the intervention of Sen. Bong Go, through a recent hearing of the Senate Sports Committee that the good lawmaker chairs, to soften Obiena’s rock-hard stance.

Appearing in the hearing online, Obiena said, “I am all-in when it comes to that mediation. I trust our senators that it’s the best way.”

But, in his usual stubborn-laden mien, Obiena added: “But, of course, there should be a sign of reconciliation and a sign that they actually want this.”

“They would definitely refer to Philip Ella Juico, the Patafa (Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association) president, and Patafa chairman Rufus Rodriguez.

Both have been trying to pin down Obiena for the longest time on the petty issue of liquidation.

Both have even called on the Commission on Audit (COA) to check the liquidation papers submitted to the Patafa by Obiena regarding salaries given to Obiena’s Ukrainian coach, Vitaly Petrov.

This, despite Petrov’s signed document he furnished Patafa that he had received all his salaries from Obiena of nearly P5 million.

By Josef Ramos

ANQING, China—As a teenager, Asa Miller wore two gloves—one, yes one, was on one hand that catches fast, curve and knuckle balls. The other, a pair to hold on to ski poles as he slides down steep snowy slopes.

Miller, competing in his second consecutive Winter Olympics in Beijing, manned the plate as catcher for Lincoln High School, one of the oldest high schools in the US located in Portland, Oregon.

But while sweating it out on the diamond in spring and summer, he gets on his skis in winter to weave down the

snowy mountain as dad Kelly’s hooked to the sport and does community work as a member of the Ski Patroller in Mount Hood for 27 years.

“I focused entirely on skiing as it became more serious, it’s what I love and my passion,” said Asa, who played baseball for Lincoln in 2015 and 2016.

At 18 months young, Kelly Miller said his son often frolics outside of their home in the cold of winter.

Asa Miller grew as a competitive skier and his dad entered him in ski clubs such as the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club and is currently a member of the Snowbird Sports Education Foundation.

Obiena had admitted not paying Petrov on time but the ace pole vaulter, who is now No. 5 in the world, countered: “But late payment is never a crime.”

If you ask me, the real crime is making Obiena both as a paymaster and an elite athlete all at the same time.

During the Senate hearing, Sen. Franklin Drilon said: “Mr. Juico has no power to tell COA not to investigate.... For the sake of the country, let’s find a way to settle the issue and put aside the matter of liquidation.”

Chair Butch Ramirez of the PSC (Philippine Sports Commission) said he agreed with Drilon and told Juico and Obiena to end their rift.

“It is the COA which will determine whether there’s abuse, fraud or corruption,” said Ramirez. “Forget about your issues. Let’s listen to our senators.”

But for the mediation to really succeed, Juico must first readmit Obiena into the Patafa fold.

Said Obiena: “Putting me back as a national team member is a sign of good faith. I’m willing to put this (rift) aside and continue to train and compete for our country…I’m more than willing to reconcile…I want to compete and this has been affecting me in my preparations.”

Amid the animated discussions, Go reminded the body of the immediate need to resolve the issue that’s been dragging Philippine sports the last three months or so.

He was on the Mount Meadows race team and before he knew it, he had the Philippine flag on his chest as a 16-yearold at the 2017 World Junior Alpine Skiing Championships in Are, Sweden.

He finished 39th in slalom and that opened the world of competitive skiing to the now 21-year-old Filipino-American.

Kelly Miller said his Asa spent two years skiing in high school before deciding to go competitive on the international stage.

“Clubs are more competitive than high school,” Kelly said. “When he turned 16, we started talking of joining the Philippine team in 2016.”

That decision six years ago has

He urged Ramirez to “step up and not make the Senate be always the referee.” Said Go: “The longer the issue drags on, the longer the country is exposed to embarrassment in the international sporting arena.”

Indeed, a very timely reminder.

THAT’S IT Tab Baldwin’s sudden resignation as Gilas coach remains shrouded in mystery. For one, his reason to leave and focus on coaching Ateneo doesn’t wash. The University Athletic Association of the Philippines opening is months away. For another, the Fiba window starts on February 24; that’s dropping the ball—deliberately.

tennis doubles player. Fears for Peng’s safety have threatened to overshadow the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Peng told L’Equipe that the concerns were the result of “an enormous misunderstanding.”

But the format of the interview appeared to limit follow-ups about the allegations and their aftermath.

L’Equipe asked Peng about sexual assault allegations that sparked the controversy in November. The allegations were quickly scrubbed from her verified account on leading Chinese social media platform Weibo. She subsequently dropped out of public view for a while. That led to “where is Peng Shuai?” questions online and from players and fans outside of China, in part because the country has a history of disappearing people who run afoul of its leaders.

In her lengthy post, Peng wrote that Zhang Gaoli, a former vice premier and member of the ruling Chinese Communist Party’s allpowerful Politburo Standing Committee, had forced her to have sex despite repeated refusals. Her post also said they had sex once seven years ago, and that she developed romantic feelings for him after that. Zhang has not commented on the accusation.

“Originally, I buried all this in my heart,” she wrote. “Why would you even come find me again, take me to your house and force me and you to have sexual relations?”

borne fruits with Asa Miller now seeing action in his second consecutive Winter Games in Beijing where he’s vying in two events this time adding the slalom to the giant slalom where he competed in Pyeongchang four years ago.

“When he turned 16, we registered him for the Philippines. You only have to choose only one country to represent,” said Kelly, who admitted he took to skiing for fun.

“But I guided them, Asa and his younger sister Kaia,” the elder Miller said.

“We started just playing around the snow,” Kelly said of his daughter and son, whose campaign since wearing the country’s colors is fully supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission. “Over the years, he’s been enjoying the competition and then it got higher and higher as he progressed more—and that’s his choice.”

The Millers are a sporting family. The 17-year-old sister Kaia didn’t only skied for Mountainside High School but played competitive volleyball for Team Hiki No, a family-oriented volleyball and sports club in the US. She was also a competitive gymnast and a many-time all events Oregon state champion. But she’s now retired.

Asa Miller’s Filipina mother Polly Bisquera, originally from Sta. Cruz, Manila, also played competitive volleyball.

Miller, who speaks French fluently, momentarily took a leave as an Economics sophomore at Westminster College in Salt Lake City to focus on his Olympic dream.

Starting at 10 a.m. on Sunday at the National Alpine Skiing Centre, Miller will be one of 150 athletes competing in the men’s giant slalom.

On Wednesday also at 10 a.m., he’ll be returning to Xiaohaituo Mountain for the slalom competition also expectedly beaming with pride as the Philippines’s sole representative in these Winter Olympics.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Blas Ople A BusinessMirror Special Feature

Ople’s 95 birthday marked with forum on OFWs T

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

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O mark the 95th birth anniversary of Blas F. Ople, former Labor Secretary, Foreign Affair Secretary and Senate President, the Blas Ople Policy Center and Training Institute partnered with BusinessMirror to organize the Blas F. Ople Forum on “Philippine Overseas Employment: Past, President and Future.”

The forum had two panel discussions. The first discussion tackled “Remembering Ka Blas”

and the guest speakers were former Labor Secretary Marianito Roque, former Foreign Affairs

Undersecretary Rafael Seguis, BusinessMirror Senior Reporter Butch Fernandez and Susan “Toots” Ople. President of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute.

The second panel discussion, which was facilitated by Toots Ople, was titled “Understanding the Department of Migrant Workers.” Those who participated in the discussion were Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Arriola; Administrator Bernardo Olalia of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration; Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and Atty. Darlene Pajarito of ASEAN-ACT (ASEANAustralia Counter Trafficking).

Welcome remarks The welcome remarks were given by BusinessMirror Publisher T. Anthony C. Cabangon who thanked Toots Ople for inviting the publication to help organize the forum to discuss the creation of a new department that will have an impact on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

This was followed by inspirational messages given by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and D. Edgard A. Cabangon, Chairman of the ALC Media Group.

In his message, Locsin paid tribute to Ople “whose life’s work revolved around the protection and the upliftment of the Filipino migrant worker.”

“Throughout his remarkable career in government, Blas employed

considerable talents as writer, thinker, and the one high public official with a completely untarnished record of personal honesty and intellectual integrity to improve the welfare of Filipino workers and their standing in society. He introduced an elevated labor standard and created public institutions dedicated to the protection of workers’ rights,” he said.

Overseas employment program Ople, Locsin added, is “perhaps best known for initiating the Philippine Overseas Employment Program that transformed millions of Filipino lives

and made them worth living.”

“Since the program started in 1976, countless Filipino workers have ventured to far places, equipped with the right skills, fired by unwavering commitment to work hard and well, having their poor families in mind with the determination to build a future in a country that always eluded the future until they came along,” he said.

Modern day heroes Locsin noted that OFWs are today considered heroes not only by Filipinos but

Continued on C2

C2

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Blas Ople A BusinessMirror Special Feature

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Understanding the Department of Migrant Workers

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By Rory Visco Contributor

HERE is no denying that Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) continue to be considered one of the champions of the Philippine economy.

Their remittances remain to be a strong factor and consistent bright spot in setting the pace for economic recovery.

Recognizing their patriotism, courage and sacrifices in working in another land far away from their loved ones, it is but apt that their heroism does not remain unnoticed. That is why just before the previous year ended, President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act 11641 or the Department of Migrant Workers Act. This means all government agencies that deal directly with OFW matters will now be under one umbrella office.

The objective is simple: make life being an OFW be made more convenient, worry- and problemfree in terms of their needs such as facilitation of their work and travel documents, assistance regarding their employment, grievances, protection from abuse, among others. In short, better treatment for the people who have long been considered as one of our modern-day heroes.

Sarah Lou Arriola, Undersecretary of the Office of Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OMWA) of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), said that the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Act, which took effect last February 3, 2022, the date that also happens to be the 95th birth anniversary of former Labor Secretary, Senate President and DFA Secretary Blas Ople, also called the “Father of the Philippine Labor Code,” is something that they are proud of.

Trailblazing legislation This trailblazing piece of legislation, Arriola said, includes the 23 Objectives of the Global Compact for Migration in its Declaration of Policies. In 2018, they adopted a local compact for safe and orderly migration, which was also adopted by 152 countries.

“We are very proud to be the first country in the world that placed in our domestic legislation a law, which is going to be the basis of our policies in the succeeding years when it comes to migration,” she said during the “Blas F. Ople Policy Center Lecture on Philippine Overseas Employment: Past, Present and Future” that was conducted together with the BusinessMirror.

However, Arriola emphasized that RA 11641 is not a labor export law but a law

on safe, orderly and regular migration. When talking to her counterparts from other countries, particularly the Middle East, Arriola said they liked talking to foreign affairs because they are also given a “migration” perspective and not just a “labor” one, not just about getting jobs but more for workers’ protection.

“In the Global Compact, we also talk about human rights, fair and ethical recruitment, labor mobility, and decent work.

These are all in the law, but of course, it will really depend on who will be able to implement it,” Arriola pointed out.

Rise and fall However, she cautioned that the DMW will rise and fall with the new administration. There are timelines to be followed, like the appointment of a DMW Secretary or Acting Secretary anytime soon, a Department Order on the use of actual funds, Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), a staffing pattern by June and submission of the new department’s budget. She also pointed out the importance of a transition committee, where the next administration will depend on for the implementation of the law.

“The transition from the current to the next administration is important because the new department will not function without a budget. It will also depend on the political will of the next president, how it will value migration and how much resources the new department will be given,” she said.

Lastly, the DMW was the fulfillment of a campaign promise by President Duterte in 2016 regarding the creation of a “one-stop shop” for all OFWs. It will take care of both documented and undocumented workers, regular and irregular, from preemployment to employment to reintegration that will all be done under one roof.

“It will be made easy for all migrant workers to go to just one office. We expect growing pains since the DMW will combine at least seven agencies, with lots of adjustments at the onset. But this is definitely a good step in the right direction, and is definitely welcomed by countries

of destination,” she concluded.

Migrant worker protection For her part, Atty. Darlene Pajarito, Justice Systems Director of the ASEAN-Australia Counter-Trafficking (ASEANACT), which is a 10-year investment of the Australian government and engages with all 10 ASEAN countries, said ASEAN-ACT is happy to have a partnership with the Blas Ople Policy Center Training Institute in 2021, particularly on the issue of migrant worker protection in new policy framework, prevention of trafficking and assistance to trafficked persons.

“With the signing of the DMW law, we will continue to work with the Ople Center Research on this area to informed policymaking towards the effective implementation of this new law, and also create awareness and better understanding on trafficking of persons affecting OFWs, including migrant workers’ rights and prosecution of trafficking.”

She said the enactment of RA 11641 is really a positive development and a trailblazing legislation, as Arriola mentioned.

“We expect to see a more consolidated welfare and support services to OFWs, only one department in managing and handling OFWs’ concerns.”

Overlapping functions Atty. Pajarito, though, expressed some concerns on the possibility of overlapping of functions and services. She said that it is very important to have a clear IRR, that the April timeline will be achievable, including the powers of the department in the criminal justice process, especially on jurisdiction of law enforcement agencies in handling of cases. “This is why the IRR is important to give clarity and in resolution or prosecution of cases, particularly against a foreigner, which are among the challenges of cross-border investigation and prosecution. We hope that with this new law, that process can be easier.”

With regard to the transition plans, Arriola said that DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin has been conducting meetings already to constitute a transition committee and a technical working group and how these will be put together. “What’s very unique about the DFA is that only the OMWA and another office are the only ones going to the DMW but the rest of the offices will remain with the DFA. The reason why we are in the transition committee is that we have to turn over the services and even the functions of some of our foreign service officers and staff abroad to the new department.”

As for the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), largely considered to become the backbone of the DMW,

Administrator Bernard Olalia said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has already issued an Administrative Order (AO) creating a DOLE transition committee to be headed by DOLE Undersecretary Atty. Claro Arellano, co-chaired by the POEA administrator and OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac. “The members are all the attached agencies that will be included in the merger and consolidation of the new department.”

He said that prior to the issuance of the AO for the transition, Olalia said the POEA also issued a Special Order to create a POEA transition committee that will conduct a strategic review of the present operations and the organizational structure of the POEA, knowing that the POEA will be the core of the new DMW. “We are now in the process of consolidating all the inputs from the different frontline offices of the POEA, and scheduling meetings with counterparts in the Department of Budget and Management and Civil Service Commission because of the important functions of the transition committee.”

IRR crafting Olalia said the transition committee is tasked to craft an IRR at least within 60 days of the effectivity of the law, publish it for it to become effective, and then the staffing patterns, and then submit the DMW budget, which should be approved in the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA). He emphasized in the POEA transition committee that there must be a consultation process with all stakeholders in the overseas employment industry, including private recruitment agencies, even the unlicensed ones, the OFW representatives, the NGOs, the POEA’s Overseas Landbased Tripartite Consultative Council, the Maritime Industry Consultative Council. “We will try to get all insights and consolidate them, which should form part of the final IRR before presenting it to the inter-agency committee.”

With regard to the DMW that might create a vacuum, Cacdac assured there will never be a vacuum, especially on the protection and welfare of migrant workers, which will continue.

He said that the law has made it clear, that the transition of two years will not sacrifice the protection and welfare of OFWs but on the contrary, it will be further strengthened.

“What is crucial is now until the next few months because the budget development cycle is now running, and in this cycle, all the agencies, not just those implementing the programs, will make sure that we’re laying a pretty huge egg, so to speak, for the incoming administration which will fully administer the new law of the DMW.”

Management Service and Insurance Intermediaries, Inc.

Ople’s 95 birthday marked with forum on OFWs th

Continued from C1

by their host communities as well.

“It is only right that we honor them in true Blas Ople style—by continuing to fight for their protection and rights particularly in this unprecedented pandemic challenge,” he said.

On the policy side, Locsin said that in 2018, the United Nations adopted the Global Compact for

Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, a compact that was crafted mainly by the UN New York Permanent Representative.

“We followed with a Republic Act creating the Department of Migrant Workers. It is the first law in the world that qualifies the progressive realization of the 23 objectives of the global compact. This will create a new government agency, consolidating existing key offices with

migration related functions into a single, hopefully streamlined entity, as good at the job as the DFA has been overtaxed as it is with purely diplomatic concerns,” he added.

Immense contribution For his part, Bello said DOLE “recognized the immense contribution of Ka Blas, specifically in the advancement of labor and employment in our country.”

“He steered the labor department for almost 20 years as labor minister. His length of service is unmatched and his trail blazing contributions to advance the interest of the Filipino working main remained unparalleled,” he said.

In his message, Cabangon related that when he was still studying at the College of Law at the University of Sto. Tomas, a sorority had wanted to invite Ople to speak at their event

and had asked him for his help.

He asked his father, former Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua, to help him invite Ople and he showed up without any fanfare.

“I was the only one who was there to welcome him to the event and he said that he was very happy to attend the event. Ka Blas added that he could never say no to a good friend who was my father,” he said.

Benjamin Ramos, President of

Nine Media Corp., gave the closing remarks and said that this was a forum that could have lasted for several days.

“The Philippine story of labor migration spans centuries. This forum, is so aptly named after the late Labor and Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople, rightly focuses on the continuing nature of that story. It is indeed, past, present and future,” he said.

C4

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Blas Ople A BusinessMirror Special Feature

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Covering the essential Ka Blas

F

By Butch Fernandez

ROM the trenches in Manila’s chaotic media and labor front, to a serene afternoon by Lake Geneve, Ka Blas Fajardo Ople, the larger-than-life former Senate President, foreign affairs secretary, labor secretary, Constitution framer, was, to me, someone who never strayed from what I would call the essential Blas F. Ople.

Down to earth. Madaling kausap. Humble despite his intelligence and his largely self-fueled education.

He was a few years younger than my father, Calixto Fernandez Jr., also a journalist like him, when they were starting out in the pre-martial law stable of the TimesMirror-Taliba. My father covered City Hall and court news, and in the afternoons was made to close some pages. And Ka Blas? Having displayed his ability to write well on almost any topic as a result of his expansive reading habits, he was tapped to write editorials besides covering the news.

They were the quintessential

hard-nosed journalists of their generation—hard-working, intelligent, tireless, tough interviewers but soft-hearted when writing about common folk and the marginalized. And they were excellent story tellers, especially when sharing booze with each other and their peers at the end of a long, hard day.

Ka Blas improved constantly on this last skill, thus making himself the perfect source for journalists when he went on to be a public servant, with several incarnations.

I didn’t have the chance to cover him in his long years as labor secretary; and later as foreign affairs secretary. But in between those two

Ka Blas with BusinessMirror reporter Butch Fernandez on his left enjoying a cup of coffee.

Cabinet positions, he was a senator for many years, and it was during those years that we covered him with all the gusto that star-struck reporters had.

Ka Blas was a dream interviewee. He said the best things, used the right words, told stories in an engaging manner, and, unlike other news sources who just liked to hear their voices, he kept one eye out on the interviewer. If he noticed you’re

not writing as fast as he spoke, he would deliberately slow down or repeat some key words. He seemed to keep that unique talent of journalists to read notes backwards, so that – we sensed it in the Senate beat – he could read what we were writing down even though he had an inverted view of our notebook.

Because he was such a voracious reader, understandably his vocabulary was robust. He loved

Commemorating Ka Blas and his legacy for the OFW

By Leony R. Garcia

ropeans had to go home bringing their Pinoy workers with them. That started the service inflow in Europe especially in Italy. The seed of Filipino workers in Italy were the overseas workers in Iran,” Roque said.

O

Rise of overseas employment program

The Overseas Filipino Workers program served as a stop-gap measure to siphon the surplus in the labor force, thereby minimizing the unemployment rate in the country.

Roque said this and the prevailing situations gave rise to the Philippine overseas employment program.

In the process, more new labor markets were developed with the country sending vocational trainers to Papua New Guinea who eventually proceeded to Australia.

“Meanwhile, the country also

Standards for overseas employment

Ka Blas in his younger days.

BLAS OPLE POLICY CENTER AND TRAINING INSTITUTE

VERSEAS employment used to be one of the special services of the country’s Labor Ministry, now the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), back in the early 1970s.

“The Philippines had a foud percent unemployment rate and a surplus in the labor force. The minimum daily wage back then was Php8/day and the US dollar exchange rate then was equivalent to Php7. So workers earn more than a dollar a day back then,” reminisced former Labor Secretary Marianito Roque during the recent BusinessMirror’s “The Blas F. Ople Forum on Philippine Overseas Employment: Past, Present and Future.”

That was the prevailing atmosphere, according to Roque, and the Philippines started experiencing the skilled labor force coming from American establishments, courtesy of the three refineries at that time, namely Caltex, Shell, and Standard Vacuum Oil. There were many temporary workers in Vietnam and Guam, as Filipinos came and went and worked for American employers at that time with no work contracts.

Travel agencies then served as employment agencies.

Ka Blas taking his oath of office as Senate President

sent a lot of Filipino professionals mostly in universities like doctors, nurses, teachers (especially those specializing in science and physics) to Nigeria,’’ he said.

“Iran was in boom in 1974 because of the presence of Americans.

Most of the workers in Subic, Clark, Sangley Point were all taken in by American companies servicing the naval and air force bases in Iran.

By 1976, about 40,000 Pinoys were working in Iran,” Roque recounted.

With Hong Kong starting employing Pinoys domestic workers, Austria started hiring nurses for the then municipality of Vienna.

There were around 7,000 nurses during the 1970s in Austria who are now retired and are permanently living there, the former secretary said.

Eventually, Saipan had become a destination for Pinoy construction workers also because of American employers there.

Iran had an intended demand for household workers, too, at that time because the European companies employing Italians, Belgians, and French requested Filipino service and household workers to take care of their families while they were at work in Iran.

“With the overthrow of the Pahlavi Dynasty in 1979, the Eu-

The adoption of Presidential Decree 442 or The Labor Code of the Philippines in 1974 finally gave birth to the Philippine overseas employment program, Roque said.

“The Philippines became the first country in the world who was a source of migration to adopt and be strict with the labor standard to be followed to qualify for employing Filipino workers, with the following conditions: free travel to and from the worksite; free board and lodging; emergency medical and dental coverage; a guaranteed pay basic wage; overtime pay not less than the Philippine rate; workers compensation coverage; a grievance machinery where there is participation of the Philippine labor attache before such grievance is alleviated to the local court at the worksite; repatriation of workers for war, hostilities, accidental or natural death; and a guarantee of workers protection at no less than what is prevailing at the worksite,” Roque cited.

“Lastly, we were the only country with the employee enrollment system or the verification of employers and the authentication of employment contracts. Most of the above criteria mentioned above are still included in the Philippine Overseas Employment Authority’s criterion before allowing OFWs to work abroad.

There may be policy shifts in the 1980s and 1990s, consolidation of agencies for the OFWs, and other changes. But the fact remains that journalist-turned-politician Blas Fajardo Ople had championed the cause of the country’s OFWs.

using such multi-syllabic words to journalists such as impregnable, intermittent, transmogrified, and, his most memorable – interregnum. We thought he deliberately used those words to play a prank on us, to force us to run to the dictionary.

If his English vocabulary was robust, so was his cabinet of Filipino words. The true son of Bulacan used the most colorful and

precise words. Reporters especially remember some of his favorites— “gulugod” for spine and “kabuktutan” for anomalies. But he also used street words occasionally, and this we found amusing. On the sidelines of the ILO assembly in Geneva in the late nineties, we joined him on a brief boat ride, where he wore his new pair of shoes---we had toured the Bally plant the day before, and got a couple of pairs at factory price. But as we were navigating for space near the berthing line, a boat accidentally hit a post, creating a wave that sprayed water on ours. The Senate President’s precious new shoes got wet with the spray. He grinned, but you could sense the disappointment as he wondered aloud, “Sino bang nakaisip ng katarantaduhang ito [Whose idiotic idea was this]?”

Of course, covering Ople without his smoking habit would not be a complete recollection of the man. If you wanted to get up close and get his private views or advance reading of a tough legislative measure or divisive issue, the best time to do that was during his famous cigarette break at the corridor near the men’s room in the old Senate building on P. Burgos. But of course, you’d have to be able to stand the feeling of a game cock being prepped with puffs of smoke.

I have covered presidents, generals, Cabinet secretaries, mayors and local warlords. But no one compares with Blas Ople. Ka Blas, Amang, and “Batman” to Senator Boy Herrera’s “Robin.” He went by various monikers but had a singular style that no one else in Philippine public service could perhaps ever match. Happy birthday, Ka Blas!

REMEMBERING KA BLAS

By Ambassador Rafael E. Seguis

I

WAS the Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia when BFO (Blas F. Ople) was appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairs in July 2002. In 2003, he asked me to join his team in the Home Office and accordingly recommended me to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to be appointed Undersecretary for Special Concerns to be in charge, among others, of implementing the then recently enacted Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) Act. Being a novel piece of legislation, implementing the OAV Act was a great challenge, but Secretary Ople was very supportive of me and the Overseas Absentee Voting Secretariat that I headed. We started the Secretariat in May or June 2003 and we only had two months of registration because we did not have money until the end of 2003. And yet, we were able to register around 360,000 over the course of two months.

Unfortunately, BFO passed away in December 2003 and was unable to celebrate with us the successful outcome of the overseas voting for the 2004 national elections. The maiden implementation of OAV which BFO spearheaded retains to this day the record of having the highest percentage of voter turnout at 65% (of the 360,000 registered voters).

We are remembering today the 95th birth anniversary of BFO, and I am sure we will not run out of stories and anecdotes about his greater-than-life persona and enduring legacies as a public servant.

But remembering Ka Blas is more than just recounting his achievements or reminiscing the indelible memories we had with him. We can all agree that the best way to remember Ka Blas is to continue his life’s work.

We all know that BFO was the working man’s champion.

He is the Father of the Labor Code, created what is now TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority), and established the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) and OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) which are the DFA’s (Department of Foreign Affairs) partners in pursuing one of its foreign policy pillars – the protection of the rights and interests of overseas Filipinos, particularly the OFWs. Ka Blas initiated overseas employment in 1976 in response to the economic realities back then. Forty-five years since then, the wave of overseas employment remains strong and the OFWs remain to be an important contributor to our national economy. Much of the DFA’s work is centered in protecting migrant workers, and I have had many roles where I was at the forefront of this advocacy, at times at the risk of my life and limb. I was then carrying out the legacy of BFO. I can only hope that the new Department of Migrant Workers will be able to live up to what the DFA has done all these years – and make Ka Blas proud – in protecting migrant workers.

Remembering Ka Blas is very timely now that the national elections is just a few months away. It was during BFO’s time as Secretary of Foreign Affairs that overseas voting was first implemented.

This year, migrant workers will once again get the chance to elect their national leaders through the overseas voting system. There are around 1.6 million registered overseas voters, many of whom are OFWs. The working class, which has been the center of Ka Blas’ life work, will now take the center stage. We will remember Ka Blas more significantly when we hear the working man’s voice in the coming elections.