BusinessMirror February 12, 2020

A ‘VIRAL’ WINDOW: PLANT MORE MUNGGO, PEANUTS TO EARN MORE, FARMERS URGED

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

T THE popular calamansi is being touted as temporary substitute for lemons, which the Philippines imports in great quantity from China. BUSINESSMIRROR FILE PHOTO

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n

HE supply disruptions in China caused by the spreading coronavirus could be an opportunity for local farmers to increase incomes by producing more crops that the country imports from the East Asian country.

Economist Pablito M. Villegas said the possible slowdown in imports of farm products from China due to hampered trade movement within China, as it seeks to control the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), could have a positive flipside for local farmers.

With the possible uptick in prices of local commodities, Filipino planters may be encouraged to plant more of those crops that are heavily imported from China, such as munggo, garlic and peanuts, he explained.

“It will trigger supply improvements for local agricultural products since there is loss of supply from China; then someone has to fill in that gap, and that could be in favor of local production,” he told the BusinessMirror in a recent phone interview.

Rice and munggo

Munggo is one of those crops where local output could be hiked since it is easy to plant.

Wednesday, February 12, 2020 Vol. 15 No. 125

Reforms spur ‘positive’ Fitch outlook for PHL

I

NTERNATIONAL credit watcher Fitch Ratings on Tuesday revised the Philippine government’s rating from stable to positive, citing the positive effect of recent reforms on the country’s economy.

The Philippines’s Long Term Issuer Default Rating was also affirmed by Fitch at “BBB.” “The Outlook revision reflects

Fitch’s expectations of continued adherence to a sound macroeconomic policy framework that will support high growth rates with

moderate inflation, progress on fiscal reforms that should keep government debt within manageable levels and continued resilience

35.7%

Rice farmers may consider venturing into munggo production after the summer harvest to utilize the residual fertilizer in their land, he said.

However, Villegas said the government should be quick to respond and provide planters with high-quality munggo seeds so they can capitalize on the loss of Chinese supply.

China is the country’s third biggest source of munggo. The country has imported 3.34 million kilograms of munggo worth $2.576 million from China from January to November period of 2019.

See “Viral window,” A12

P25.00 nationwide | 5 sections 50 pages |

‘VIRUS MAY PREVENT EXPORTS RECOVERY’

By Cai U. Ordinario

T

@caiordinario

HE 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV) is the only threat that stands

in the way of the recovery of the country’s exports performance, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said on Tuesday.

in its external finances,” the credit watcher said. “Recent reforms to strengthen institutional effectiveness, human capital and the

The Neda made the pronouncement after the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released the latest trade data which showed the country’s exports grew 1.5 percent, while import payments contracted 4.8 percent last year.

The country’s exports performance has been lackluster for most of 2019 but the 21.4-percent surge in earnings in December helped pull up export figures last year.

“If the virus persists longer, then it will also weaken global economic growth.

It will affect exports. Our exports to China will be curtailed,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia told reporters on the sidelines of a hearing on the proposed Neda Act at the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Pernia said the spread of nCoV could dampen demand and affect the country’s export earnings. Neda said the government needs to remain vigilant against the risks posed by the outbreak of nCoV. In the near term, Neda said the production of health and hygiene products should be encouraged.

See “Fitch,” A2

See “Virus,” A2

Fitch’s expectation, under baseline assumptions, of the Philippines’s general government debt-to-GDP ratio by 2021, a decline from an estimated 36.5 percent in 2019

Money-laundering Isuzu Gencars bags major honors at 2019 Isuzu Dealer of the Year Awards Night risk high for POGO I industry–AMLC

By Samuel P. Medenilla

T

@sam_medenilla

HE Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) on Tuesday said it has flagged the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) industry for being a “high risk” for money laundering.

At a Senate Labor committee hearing, AMLC Executive Director Georgie B. Racela revealed this was the outcome of their risk assessment on the industry, which was done in December 2019.

“We conducted our risk assessment and the risk assessment discovered that there is low level awareness to [government] regulations among POGOs. There is also an increasing level of threat in money laundering,” Racela told the Senate panel, chaired by Sen. Joel Villanueva.

The assessment covered the bank transactions of POGOs from 2015 to 2019.

In an ambush interview, Racela told the BusinessMirror they got “intelligence leads” indicating some POGO-related firms may be involved in irregular operations.

He cited their experience with two POGO-related companies which they learned, after inspection, were not found in their declared office addresses.

“In such case, we recommend proper action,” he said.

See “Pogo,” A2

PESO exchange rates n

SUZU Gencars Sta. Rosa won 2nd Runner Up in Isuzu Philippines Corporation’s Dealer of the Year Award 2019. Gencars President and Chief Executive Officer D. Edgard A. Cabangon together with Lerma Nacnac, executive vice president; Rosabel Dimacuha, vice president for South Luzon operations and manager of Isuzu Sta. Rosa; Evangeline Garcia, manager of Isuzu Gencars San Pablo; Sharon Tan; Giannina Cabangon and other Isuzu Gencars officials received the recognition from IPC President Hajime Koso along with IPC Executive Vice President Shojiro Sakoda, VP-Aftersales Sumitaka Morita and VP-Sales Yasuhiko Oyama during the awarding ceremony held last February 7, 2020, at the Hilton Manila, New Port Boulevard, Pasay City.

Besides being second runner-up as Dealer of the Year 2019, Isuzu Gencars Sta. Rosa won first place in Service Operations category and second place in Parts Operation category.

Isuzu Gencars Sto. Tomas Batangas branch, on the other hand, won second place in the Customer Service Operation category. Mr. Jerin Guevara-assistant manager of Isuzu Gencars Sto. Tomas received the award, while Isuzu Gencars Makati got the Most Improved Dealer Award.

US 50.7820 n japan 0.4627 n UK 65.5951 n HK 6.5394 n CHINA 7.2676 n singapore 36.5496 n australia 33.9528 n EU 55.4184 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.5397

Source: BSP (11 February 2020)

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Wednesday, February 12, 2020

GDP growth seen falling short of govt goal for 2020

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By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE Philippine economy is expected to grow faster this year, but the projected rate will fall short of the government’s target of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent due to the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV).

Nicholas Mapa, senior economist at Dutch financial giant ING Bank Manila, said he now expects full-year GDP growth to settle at 6.4 percent, 0.2 percentage point lower than his earlier projection of 6.6 percent.

Despits this, Mapa said he still expects the government’s fiscal and monetary policies to continue providing stimulus, which will cushion the adverse impact of the virus on

Fitch. . .

Continued from A1

business environment should lead to a further improvement in the Philippines’s structural metrics over time.”

Among those cited were the passage of the Philippine Identification System Act of 2018, the New Central Bank Act, the National Health Insurance Program and the establishment of the Presidential Anticorruption Commission. Fitch said the Philippine Identification System Act will improve the delivery of public services while the New Central Bank Act will strengthen the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’s (BSP) capacity to promote financial stability.

The credit watcher also noted the country’s ongoing tax system overhaul as a positive development to the country’s fiscal sector. The tax reform package that has been passed by the House of Representatives and is awaiting the Senate’s approval is expected to boost investment activity and growth, according to Fitch.

“Progress on tax reforms would keep the general government deficit at about -1.2 percent of GDP [gross domestic product] until 2020, according to our projections, helping to contain the Philippines’s government debt levels even as the administration’s infrastructure program continues,” Fitch Ratings said.

The government has increased

Virus. . .

Continued from A1

“The impact of the novel coronavirus could escalate if plant closures related to the production of automotive and electronic parts negatively affect the country’s exports receipts, as this accounts for about a third of the country’s outward shipments to China,” Pernia said.

“While the spread of the virus is a national and global concern, there are still areas of opportunity that the country could optimize to offset possible fallout from the spread of the virus,” he added.

Quarantine for goods?

Neda Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Rosemarie G. Edillon also told the BusinessMirror

the economy.

“I think consumption w il l [take] the biggest hit. Growth [this year] will come from capital formation. [Also,] the decision of the BSP [Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas] to cut another 25 basis points in May or June will help revitalize capital formation,” he told reporters in an interview in Taguig City on Tuesday following the ING Financial Markets Anallocation for infrastructure in the 2020 budget to P972.5 billion. This is about 6.9 percent higher than the previous year.

“Under our baseline assumptions, we expect the general government debt-to-GDP ratio to decline to about 35.7 percent by 2021 from an estimated 36.5 percent in 2019,” Fitch said.

The ratings agency also noted that the Philippines’s structural indicators—consistently among the weak points of the Philippines’s rating profile—are now improving, albeit still weaker than similarlyrated peers. The Philippines’s per capita income, for example, which was estimated by Fitch at $3,330 at end-2019, is far below the ‘BBB’ median.

‘We deserve this’

Economic managers cheered after Fitch’s outlook revision.

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the outlook upgrade is a step forward their goal of an “A” rating for the Philippines.

“We deserve a credit rating upgrade from Fitch, and the ‘positive’ outlook should soon lead us there,” Diokno said.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia, meanwhile, said: “The Philippines is actively paving the way toward its next stages of economic development, and the gains should be acknowledged by credit rating agencies like Fitch. Over the last few years, we have posted notable strides in that one of the ways the country’s external trade may be affected is if the virus can survive for a long period in inanimate objects.

Edillon said this was part of the discussions in a meeting in Malacañang that she attended on Tuesday. Edillon said the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) are already looking into the matter.

However, Edillon said, the government does not think the virus can be transferred through inanimate objects, so any decline in external trade could be attributed to the fear of contracting the virus.

“Can inanimate objects transmit this virus over shipments? Our sense is it cannot, so there’s going to be a directive to the PPA [Philippine Ports Authority]. There was some confusion. But just to be sure, we will get the advice of the WHO [World Health Organization]. But our sense is, [subjecting shipments to quarantine] is not needed,”Edillon told this newspaper. he said the country’s exports performance last year is already a “good indication” that demand is recovering. Based on Neda’s threemonth monitoring of exports data, Edillon said the country’s export performance has already recovered.

Prior to December 2019, the increase in export earnings has not

nual Research road show.

“If they [monetary officials] continue to cut policy rates, that should be helpful. Liquidity-wise, it looks like they’re pushing for an RRR [reserve requirement ratio] cut in the second half of the year but it looks like they are ready to fire anytime liquidity conditions tighten,” he added.

Since China is also the country’s largest source of imports of mostly raw materials, Mapa said there might be a possible disruption in the manufacturing sector.

However, he said capital formation will still hold despite nCoV if the government gets the infrastructure program going well.

“Maybe some delay [in logistics], so you might have to pare that down a bit but, as of now, I don’t really see that being a big problem so far; but eventually, if it drags out then maybe that chokes off our source of raw material

imports,” he said.

Robert Carnell, ING Chief Economist and Research Head for AsiaPacific, said the outbreak of nCoV is damaging for China.

“Does the virus outbreak do permanent damage to China as a manufacturing hub? I think the answer to that is yes. It was damaged anyway because of the trade war,” said Carnell.

He also said countries may focus on infrastructure buildup which could help attract investment and boost the output of the manufacturing sector. “[Infrastructure] really is a tremendously productive thing to spend money on these days, if government is worried about GDP growth and employment not being good enough. This is what delivers you your rate of return, your social return and actual economic return on that investment,” he added.

making our economic growth more inclusive, as evidenced by the significant declines in the unemployment rate and poverty incidence.

Moving forward, we expect this momentum to be sustained, as we invest more in our future.”

They vowed to push further for the country’s first ‘A’ rating.

“As part of our Road to ‘A’ agenda, we are more vigorously communicating the economic milestones as well as the governance and institutional strengthening the Philippines achieved in recent years,” Diokno said. “At the same time, we are meticulously tracking how the economy is progressing in terms of achieving a wide array of metrics that will solidify our position as an ‘A’ rated economy in two years,” Diokno said.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said a higher credit rating will lower borrowing costs “for the government and private-sector investors, and eventually lower interest rates for the loans of ordinary Filipinos. Both will spur greater investments, which, in turn, will mean faster growth and more jobs.”

Moreover, he said the country looks forward to the further alignment of its credit ratings to its level of creditworthiness as indicated by a decreasing debt-to-GDP ratio and positive economic prospects from record investment levels in infrastructure and human capital.

watchers usually means a rating upgrade will be considered for the jurisdiction in the policy horizon —which is 12 to 18 months—depending on the development of economic indicators in the country.

Fitch said the main factors that, individually or collectively, could trigger positive rating action are: continued strong growth while maintaining macroeconomic stability, strengthening of governance standards towards those of the rating category peer median and a sustained broadening of the government’s revenue base that enhances fiscal finances and improves debt dynamics.

On the other hand, the main factors that, individually or collectively, could trigger negative rating action are: a reversal of reforms or a departure from the existing policy framework that leads to macro instability, the deterioration in external indicators—including foreignexchange reserves, the current account deficit and net external debt—that reduces the resilience of the economy to shocks and the instability in the financial system, possibly triggered by a sustained period of high-credit growth.

Fitch expects growth to accelerate to 6.4 percent this year and upwards further to 6.5 percent in 2021. However, the credit watcher said these are subject to downside risks due to the evolving coronavirus outbreak and the Philippines’s vulnerability to natural disasters.

Cai U. Ordinario and Bernadette D. Nicolas

What’s next?

A positive outlook from credit breached 20 percent since July 2017, when export receipts expanded by an annualized rate of 21.9 percent.

“Hopefully, this [nCoV] is a temporary hiccup [and that] there won’t be [more] problems,” Edillon said.

Disasters

Apart from the nCoV outbreaks, the government must guard against the onslaught of disasters in the Philippines, including the eruption of Taal Volcano, which could disrupt manufacturing.

To counter these, Pernia said the government must encourage foreign firms to increase their investments in or relocate to the Philippines to further strengthen its position in the value chain.

The Neda chief said the Philippines should start diversifying its exports and undertake aggressive marketing campaigns.

He said the country should also conduct business matches that will reach nontraditional partners in order to“de-concentrate” its exposure to limited markets.

“We must cultivate an environment that encourages and supports businesses with streamlined procedures and reduced transaction costs,” the Cabinet official said.

In December, PSA data showed the country’s total external trade in goods amounted to $13.96 billion, 2.4 percent higher than the $13.63 billion recorded in the same month of

the previous year.

Of the total external trade, around $5.74 billion, or 41.1 percent were exported goods, and $8.22 billion or 58.9 percent were imports.

The country’s balance of trade in goods (BoT-G) in December 2019 recorded a $2.48-billion deficit, lower by 40.6 percent than the deficit of $4.17 billion recorded in December 2018.

US top partner

By trading partner, the United States was the top buyer of Philippine products, with purchases reaching $902.25 million or 15.7 percent of the total in December 2019. Shipments to the US expanded by 17.1 percent, from $770.46 million in December 2018.

Other top buyers of Philippine goods during the period were Hong Kong, with purchases reaching $884.98 million; China, $835.15 million; Japan, $803.14 million; and Singapore, $336.95 million.

Also, China was the country’s biggest supplier of imported goods with 24.1 percent share to total imports bill in December 2019. Import payments to this country amounted to $1.98 billion, from $1.92 billion in December 2018.

Other major sources of imports were Japan with payments reaching $749.65 million; South Korea, $661.17 million; US, $598.11 million; and Singapore, $514.87 million.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

OTOP Next Gen program helps MSMEs earn P1.4B

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales @alyasjah

T

HE government’s supply chain support for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) last year generated over P1.4 billion in sales, and the trade department is looking to surpass this by introducing new programs and platforms.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it surpassed its One Town, One Product (OTOP) Next Gen targets for 2019, as it provided nearly 11,000 counts of MSME assistance and almost 7,000 counts of product development services.

“The program surpassed its targets for 2019, successfully providing 10,819 counts of MSME assistance, 6,771 counts of product development services and enabling [OTOP entrepreneurs] to generate P1.407 billion in sales,” the DTI statement read.

The DTI last week had an assembly gathering all of OTOP Next Gen’s focal persons to discuss the program’s trajectory this year. The meeting was aimed at assessing the program’s performance, gathering best practices from each region to outline how the office should implement OTOP Next Gen this year.

During the assembly, the OTOP implementing officers discussed the prospect of introducing e-commerce

VFA. . .

Continued from A12

Senators push on

Despite the formal receipt of the termination notice, Sotto said they will send the Senate Resolution to Malacañang as “it is only proper that we send the Resolution and, of course, remember that there is another resolution pending in the Senate wherein members of the Senate were asking or looking at the possibility that what it means is [if] we approve, we ratify, we should also be consulted when it is terminated.”

Sotto added: “It is my view that the better way to go is to review the agreement and ask the executive department to reconsider its intent of abrogation, while the Senate, who is a partner in this agreement, is reviewing it.”

Resolution 312 said: “Fully recognizing the authority of the Chief Executive and without intending to disrespect a coequal body, prior to unilaterally terminating the VFA, the Senate should be given the opportunity to conduct a review and assessment of the impact of the withdrawal on the country’s security and economy, specifically with regard to intelligence information sharing, military aid and financing and technical assistance extended by the US

Pogo. . .

Continued from A1

BSP advises banks

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Managing Director Lyn Javier said they are already aware of such risks, and have already asked all banks to exercise due diligence in monitoring the transactions of their POGO accounts.

“If they detected certain suspicious transactions from the banking system, they have to report to authorities,” Javier said.

Racela also pointed out the apparent high number of unregulated service providers for licensed POGOs. As of January 2020, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) said there are 59 POGO licensees nationwide—of which 48 are foreign-based and 11 are based locally.

In the same period, it said there were also 229 accredited service providers for such firms.

To help minimize these issues, AMLC recommended increasing the level of effectiveness of compliance with government regulations among POGOs through training and workshop; revisiting supervision of Internet-based casinos and service providers; and reevaluating the licenses of Internet-based casinos.

Worst-case scenarios

AMLC also disclosed before lawmakers the result of their study on the possible economic impact, if the POGO industry will suddenly disappear, in terms of the country’s financial flow.

Racela noted that the POGO industry only contributed P52 billion of cash inflows and

platforms to the program to link MSMEs with the changing global trends.

Trade Assistant Secretary and OTOP Program Manager Demphna Du-Naga reminded regional officers that the supply chain support should be improved to contribute more to the state’s commitment to help MSMEs. “We hope to face 2020 with a clear and unified vision of OTOP. As we set out to elevate our level and quality of MSME support, may we grow all the more resilient. Let us remember why we are doing this and who we are doing this for—for MSMEs and for the continued development of our country,” Du-Naga said.

To date, the program has already established 37 OTOP Philippines Hubs— dubbed OTOP.ph—OTOP’s retail and marketing arm, nationwide with many more underway.

The program also engaged with potential foreign markets during a mission to Europe, where it participated in the Anuga Fair in Cologne, Germany.

There, it showcased the rich flavors of the Philippines on the world stage, attracting potential buyers and partners from all over.

According to the DTI, the assembly only marked the beginning of OTOP’s continuous thrust to promote inclusive economic growth and increase the competitiveness of local MSMEs.

relative to the continuing threats posed by domestic and foreign terrorist groups, and ultimately to the stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region.”

The Resolution was prompted by Duterte’s call for the termination of the VFA after US authorties canceled dela Rosa’s visa last January 24. Officials had said the visa cancellation was not the sole reason for the move, but only the latest in a string of ugly incidents.

At the same time, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, chairman of the Foreign Relations committee who sponsored Resolution 312 for plenary consideration, recalled Locsin Jr. telling a Senate hearing on the Philippines-United States Mutual Defense Treaty last February 6, 2020, that “termination of the VFA must be weighed in terms of the overall interest of the country.”

Senate concurrence

At the same time, Minority Leader Drilon moved to include consideration of Senate Resolution 305 expressing the sense of the Senate that termination or withdrawal from treaties and international agreements concurred in by the Senate shall be valid and effective “only upon concurrence by the Senate.” outflow in the country. Its net inflow, he added, is even smaller at only P7 billion.

“So, [considering] that our economy [is] at P80.6 trillion, P54-billion financial flows will only have a 0.29 percent impact on our economy. And if we use the net inflow figure, that will be just 0.04 percent,” Racela said.

BSP also presented the results of its “stress test”for the real property sector, which showed it could weather the potential departure of the POGO industry, at least, for now.

“In the event of cancellation of POGO license, the property sector is still expected to continue to be supported by other demand drivers such as the traditional BPOs, government agencies, engineering and construction firms and flexible work space operators,” Javier said.

BSP, she said, also implemented a “stress test” for local banks, and required them to presume a 25-percent write-off for loans related to real properties.

“Based on the latest stress test that was conducted by the Bangko Sentral, the banks have actually met the minimum capital requirement even after the required writeoff. That is how we monitor the real-estate exposure across the industry to ensure that the banking system is cushioned in terms of losses that it might sustain from this,” Javier said.

Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian stressed the importance of government preparations for such a scenario given the “volatile” policy situation of POGOs. “China is saying POGO is illegal. We are actually promoting an illegal activity in the eyes of China. So if one day, China would say no more to this activity, all of these companies [tied up with the POGO sector], we have to be ready,” Gatchalian said.

The Nation BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

After China, Macau, Hong Kong, ‘expanded’ travel ban now includes Taiwan

By Recto Mercene @rectomercene

T

HE Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Tuesday announced the expansion of the travel ban that would now include tourists from Taiwan.

“We have confirmed with the Department of Justice [DOJ], which is our mother department, that Taiwan is indeed included in the expanded travel ban,” said BI Commissioner Jaime Morente.

Last February 2, the BI implemented an order from President Duterte banning all foreign nationals coming from China, as well as its Special Administrative Regions.

The President’s directive said any passenger of any nationality who has been to China, Hong Kong, and Macau within 14 days before coming to the Philippines would automatically be denied entry. Only Filipino citizens and aliens with permanent resident visas from said countries may be allowed entry.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), meanwhile, said it has canceled all flights to Taiwan “in compliance with the Philippine government’s order expanding the travel ban to include Taiwan along with other areas in Greater China.”

“We are constrained to cancel all our flights between Manila and Taipei effective immediately, until further notice.”

The canceled flights are PR 890/891 Manila-Taipei-Manila and PR 894/895 Manila-Taipei-Manila.

PAL said the expanded directive temporarily bans the entry of any person, regardless of nationality— except Filipino citizens and holders of Permanent Resident Visa issued by the Philippine government—who come directly from Greater China, including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, or who had been to China, including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan within 14 days prior to their arrival in the Philippines.

The government directive also temporarily bans Filipinos from traveling to points in greater China, including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. “ These restrictions are in relation to the coronavirus situation, in the interest of public health and safety,” the PAL statement added.

According to the BI, permanent resident aliens are those who were issued immigrant visas under the Philippine Immigration Act, those who are residents pursuant to the Alien Legalization Program under Executive Order 324, or the Alien Social Integration Program under Republic Act 7919, holders of native born visas; aliens who acquired permanent resident status by reasons of marriage to a Filipino, and aliens with approved refugee status.

However, questions from differ-

“We have confirmed with the Department of Justice [DOJ], which is our mother department, that Taiwan is indeed included in the expanded travel ban.”

—Morente

ent agencies sought clarification if Taiwan is included in the ban.

“While not explicitly stated, we have confirmed with the secretary of justice that Taiwan is indeed part of the ban and this expansion shall be implemented immediately,” Morente said.

The same clarification was earlier raised by the Department of Health (DOH).

Morente announced that the travel ban will be implemented immediately, and will follow the same procedure.

Under the guidelines, if a foreign passenger not exempted from the ban is encountered at the ports, he or she shall be automatically denied entry and returned to his or her port of origin.

Filipinos and aliens who are exempted from the ban shall be turned over to the Bureau of Quarantine for their assessment, together with a copy of their arrival cards.

Filipinos are, likewise, temporarily not allowed to leave for China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan unless they are part of a government delegation conducting official duties, a member of the World Health Organization, and other agencies involved in fighting, or containing the 2019-nCoV-ARD. Morente stressed that the measure is temporary.

“We are implementing the directive of President Duterte following the recommendations of the Department of Health,” said Morente.

“Other countries have been implementing similar measures, we appeal to the public to bear with us as we implement this, as this is a measure seen by the DOH to effectively prevent the further spread of this virus,” he added.

PAL said it had advised passengers with flights to and from Taiwan from February 11 onward to wait the lifting of the ban.

“If your flight was canceled, you may refund your ticket at any time, with refund fees waived. Once the travel ban is lifted and we reinstate our flights, you may rebook, reroute, or refund your ticket within your ticket’s validity period, with rebooking, rerouting or refund fees waived.”

For tickets purchased from travel agencies, PAL tells passengers may contact their travel agent for rebooking, rerouting or refunding.

PAL passengers who are in Taipei and whose flights to Manila have been canceled as a result of the travel ban may contact PAL at 02-25067255 or 8862-2506-7255.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Wednesday, February 12, 2020 A3

Experts push ‘good’ communication, governance amid coronavirus scare

By Roderick L. Abad @rodrik_28 Contributor

H

EALTH experts and advocates raised the alarm on Tuesday about the proliferation of false information online that cause panic and confusion to the public insofar as their well-being is concerned.

To address this, they called for good communication and advocacy, as well as transparency and good governance in health care.

Citing data from Google, broadcaster and parenting champion Niña Corpuz-Rodriguez revealed that fake news in social media, 25 percent of which tackles about health, is so rampant nowadays.

“It’s really a cause of concern because it threatens lives and it costs lives,” she said during the Samahang Plaridel’s Kapihan sa Manila Hotel.

While the majority of Filipinos are now worried about the spread of 2019-novel coronavirus (nCoV), she observed that they tend to forget the country has faced many other infec-

tious diseases even before the emergence of the fatal and even before the outbreak of the Chinese flu.

Rodriguez cited, for instance, pneumonia as the No. 1 killer among the young populace, claiming daily the lives of 39 children below five years old, World Health Organization (WHO) data show.

Medicines Transparency Alliance Council (MeTA) Chairman Roberto “Obet” Pagdanganan, on the other hand, noted that 71 people die from tuberculosis everyday in the Philippines, making the country ranked as first and third in terms of the number of deaths in Asia and worldwide, respectively.

Meanwhile, Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV) Executive Director Dr. Lulu Bravo pointed out that polio and measles are the recurring health maladies nationwide.

The country was declared poliofree 20 years ago. From zero casualty in 2005, there were around 500 children who died from measles recorded in 2019.

The prevalence, or resurgence, of these infectious illnesses could

be attributed to the so-called vaccine complacency in the country, Bravo said.

Based on their 2015 survey that showed 93 percent vaccine confidence level among Filipinos, it declined to 32 percent in 2018. “We cannot discount that it was really due to Dengvaxia,” Bravo said of the issue on the controversial vaccine against dengue that somehow led to reluctance to immunization the past recent years.

“The WHO actually identified vaccine hesitancy as one of the top 10 threats to global health. Right now, we find the Philippines since last year, or two years ago after the Dengvaxia controversy, has been faced with infectious disease crisis,” added Rodriguez.

To encourage the public to turn to vaccination, the PFV officer emphasized the need for “good communication and advocacy,” wherein whatever information that is being relayed must be “based on scientific evidence that are relevant to the Philippine setting.”

“We really need to make sure that

Mayor Sara restricts group airport send 16 NCRPO police offs; no travel for flu-afflicted residents recruits barred

By Manuel T. Cayon

@awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

D

AVAO CITY—Beginning February 11, 2020, Tuesday, all groups sending off their visitors or guests would be banned in airports, seaports and bus terminals and residents showing influenza-like symptoms are advised against traveling in or out of the city to minimize chances of contacting, or spreading the novel coronavirus.

This came as the neighboring and recently renamed Davao de Oro province is yet to send any word on its hosting in March this year of the Davao Regional Athletic Association meet although it has canceled the launching ceremony of the sports event and media conference on Friday.

“Beginning tomorrow, February 11, all welcome and send-off groups at airports, seaports, bus terminals, and other transportation hubs are permanently banned not only because of the virus but for reasons of safety and security,” Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said.

She said only employees, workers, drivers and passengers would be allowed in these places.

The advisory came along with her announcement on Monday canceling the celebration of 83rd charter day of this city and its trademark 12 activities, such the Mutya ng Dabaw and the long-running Datu Bago Awards for exemplary contribution of Dabawenyos.

The cancellation of crowdgathering events was earlier recommended nationwide by Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III to avoid further incidence of possible 2019-nCoV infection.

Duterte cited the Department of Health’s (DOH) advisory as the reason for the cancellation of the Araw ng Dabaw festivities on March 16 and canceled the following activities: Pasiugdang Pagsaulog, Reyna Dabawenya, Ginoong Davao, Sayaw Pinoy, Kalingawan sa Santa Ana, Hudyaka, Mutya ng Dabaw, Pasidungog, Araw ng Empleyado, Kanta Bidabawenyo, Parada Dabawenyo, and the Datu Bago Awards.

To residents of this city, the mayor said that “if you have sore throat, cough, fever, and other flulike symptoms, do not travel in or out of Davao City.”

“Seek medical assistance immediately. Schools, offices and business establishments are advised to come up with guidelines to ensure that students and employees who are sick are not allowed entry to the school or workplace,” she added.

Duterte-Carpio also issued information to the public to refer to the various sectoral issuances of the DOH, mainly focusing on personal hygiene and covering of the mouth when coughing.

“While we have a health issue at hand, please do not panic. Instead, report to the authorities and seek immediate and appropriate medical help,” she said. “We have seen an increasing number of people getting

the infection worldwide. Our healthcare facilities in Davao City have limitations and we cannot possibly carry hundreds of sick individuals all at the same time,” the mayor added.

Duterte-Carpio said the preparations for this year’s Araw ng Dabaw would be “executed in 2021.”

“We shall leave it to the parents, schools, government/private offices and business establishments to ensure that their children, students, and employees understand the history of Davao City, where we are going with our Byaheng Do30 agenda, how we have shown the past three years that we stand tall, united, and resilient and that we shall embody discipline, integrity, and competence in the next three years,” she said.

The Byaheng Do30 is the current promotion vehicle of the mayor of her administration’s platform of government.

Duterte-Carpio also asked the regional Department of Trade and Industry “to ensure that the price freeze memorandum of the DOH, the price tag, suggested retail price and other pertinent regulations on all goods and commodities are strictly implemented.”

“Business permits of stores caught selling overpriced items and hoarding food and other supplies shall be canceled and their establishment padlocked,” she said.

Meanwhile, the provincial government of Davao de Oro said it would establish this week a task force for the emerging and reemerging infectious diseases.

Mind your pets in times of disasters, calamities, group tells animal lovers

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

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HE People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on Tuesday urged pet owners to include their pet cats and dogs in planning for disasters.

PETA issued the appeal following recent natural disasters such as the Taal Volcano’s eruption and strong typhoons where pets and domestic animals are left behind to fend for themselves by their owners as they flee to safety.

According to PETA, as natural disasters can happen when they are least expected, it is better for their owners to included them in their emergency evacuation plans.

Animals feel fear and panic during volcanic eruptions, typhoons, floods, and other natural disasters, and they’re equally at risk of injury and death and that planning ahead for emergency situations can mean the difference between life and death for everyone, including beloved animal companions, PETA said in a news statement.

PETA animal rescuers were among the first to conduct its unique search and rescue missions in areas hit by disasters, such as the recent Taal volcanic eruption in Batangas where volunteers continue to aid distressed animals abandoned by their owners.

To avoid tragic deaths of domestic animals, PETA issued tips on how to properly care for pets, whether they are cats, dogs, or farm animals, that

our government officials and health officials are also given the trust,” Bravo explained. “We always want good information; not those that will bring panic or fear mongering.”

Seeing that the national approach to such health issues is “reactive or curative” rather than “proactive or preventive,” Pagdanganan pointed out the need for openness to handle them well.

The former Bulacan governor underscored that this could be applied in the government’s procurement system since the cost of health care in the country continues to increase.

In fact, he said, two years ago the total health-care expenses here was recorded at P799.1 billion, 54 percent or about P413 billion of which still came out of the patients’ pockets.

“That’s why transparency and good governance are very important because they will result to quality health-care service and bring down the cost of medicines, including the vaccines,” he said in mixed Filipino and English.

owners keep at home.

Have an animal-emergency kit on hand. It should include a muzzle, a harness and leash, a carrier, bottled water, dry food, and water bowls. If you have a cat, have some litter and a small litter tray ready to go. The kit will be helpful if you must grab your animals quickly or if you encounter an animal in need of help. You might also include blankets to cover carriers in order to help keep animals calm during transport.

Make sure your animal companions have collars with current ID tags. Ensure that you have a recent photo of your animals for identification purposes.

Hotels often lift their “no pets” policies during emergencies but you

should keep a list of hotels that always accept companion animals just in case. Take a muzzle with you, as some hotels or evacuation centers only allow dogs if they’re muzzled.

Include your local animal shelter’s phone number on your list of emergency contacts—the shelter may be able to provide information during a disaster.

According to the group, often during natural disasters, people could have taken their animals with them but didn’t because they thought that they’d be gone only for a few hours.

“Hours can turn into days or even weeks, and many animals suffer and die as a result. Good intentions aren’t good enough—always take your animals with you,” the group said.

In case authorities force pet owners to leaveanimalcompanionsbehind,PETA recommends some measures like: Never tie up animals outside, leave them caged, or keep them in a vehicle unattended. Leave them in a secure area inside your home.

Leave out enough water to last at least 10 days. Fill every sink, bowl, pan and a plastic container with water and make them accessible to your animals. Never leave just one container of water—it may spill. If your toilet bowl is free of chemicals, leave the toilet seat up to provide animals with one more source of water, but it shouldn’t be their only source.

Leave out enough dry food to last at least 10 days. Opened canned food will quickly go bad.

from grad rites after ‘misbehavior’

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

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HILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Gamboa ordered on Tuesday the relief of the entire Regional Training Group of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) following the release of pictures and video clips of 16 police trainees holding a drinking session inside the police dormitory.

The PNP chief also warned the trainees, who are currently undergoing investigation for their conduct, would barred from entering the police force, which, he said, is still currently undergoing the process of internal cleansing.

“I will do everything to discipline my men. A while back there was a graduation. There were 16 recruits who misbehaved and I promised them you are not going to get any appointment in the PNP. You will get terminated because from the very start, it has been like that,” Gamboa said.

“I caused the relief of the entire Regional Training Group for administrative investigation. I want to show the public that you can trust us, that we will do everything to discipline our men,” he added.

According to NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas, the police recruits committed misconduct after pictures and videos circulated in social media that showed them holding a drinking session inside their dormitory at the NCRPO’s training center.

The regional training director identified the police trainees, issued appropriate delinquency report and conducted a formal fact-finding investigation.

Sinas said that while the investigation is ongoing and “pending for the convening of academic board and due process,” the police trainees “are temporarily held in abeyance and not included in the list of graduates for February 10, 2020.”

“We want to ensure a strong sense of foundation for our future law enforcers that will become a remarkable contribution to the quality of service the PNP has to offer to the Filipino people,” he said.

“The new breed of Metro cops should not only be physically fit, emotionally balanced, mentally sharp, morally upright but most of all, perpetually disciplined,” he added.

A4 Wednesday, February 12, 2020 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

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House panel dangles hefty IRA to LGUs to gain Cha-cha support

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

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HE chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments on Tuesday assured that provinces, cities, towns and barangay communities will get their right amount of share in the internal revenue allotment (IRA) under the proposed Charter change (Cha-cha).

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City, the panel chairman, said the committee is now consolidating the proposals of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), including the Mandanas ruling, which will increase IRA shares.

According to the lawmaker, most of the administration task force’s

proposed amendments jibe with those contained in its committee’s initial report.

Currently, Rodriguez said, the Department of Finance has opposed the immediate implementation of the Supreme Court ruling because of its negative impact on the country’s finances.

At present, the lawmaker said IRA is computed based on “internal revenue taxes,” or those collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and these do not include collections by the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

But he said the Supreme Court ruling expanded the base to include not only taxes collected by the BIR but Customs as well, and other impositions, including half of value-

added tax from the autonomous Muslim region, 60 percent of levies from the exploitation of natural wealth, and half of VAT on the sale of goods and properties.

Moreover, Rodriguez, citing a study undertaken by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), said local government units (LGUs) would have a total of P1.116 trillion in IRA, in 2022, with the SC ruling.

They would be allocated only P855 billion if IRA were computed based on the present formula, he added.

“For this year, P649 billion is appropriated in the national budget as the LGUs’ IRA, which represents the share of local governments from national taxes,” Rodriguez said.

Citing the DILG study, Rodriguez

said the expanded IRA ruling would give provinces an additional P268 billion, while cities, towns and barangays would gain P268 billion, P397 billion and P233 billion, respectively.

He also said that in the case of Camarines Sur, its IRA would increase

by P1.140 billion to P4.85 billion, while Makati’s share would jump by P556 million to P2.364 billion.

The town of Taytay in Rizal would have P263 million more, from P856 million to P1.119 billion, he said.

The DILG heads the Inter-Agency Task Force on Constitutional Reform, which President Duterte has created to push for the administration’s Cha-cha proposals. The group is composed of nine agencies.

The task force has submitted its recommendations to the Rodriguez

NEDA MAY SOON DON DEDP NAME, DROP SECRETARIAT ROLE IN DBCC

By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

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HE National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) will soon be renamed as the Department of Economics and Development Planning (DEDP) but would drop its role secretariat of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC).

The House Committee on Economic Affairs has approved a substitute bill to the Neda Act, now known as the Economics Development Planning Act (EDPA) of 2020. The bill will still be discussed at the House Committee on Appropriations before it is discussed at the plenary.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia expressed optimism that there is still a fairly good chance that the EDPA will be passed within the year. “[Passing the law this year] is very doable,” Pernia told reporters after the House Committee on Economic Affairs approved the proposed substitute bill on Tuesday. It only took the committee around 15 minutes to approve the EDPA. Neda Undersecretary for Planning and Policy Rosemarie G. Edillon said the Senate is also receptive to the changes in the proposed bill. The bill is also expected to be discussed at the Senate within the week.

She explained that the proposed changes in the Neda Act, apart from the name of the agency, includes the change in the name of the Neda Board to the Economics and Development Planning Council (EDPC).

Just like the Neda Board, the EDPC would still handle approvals and will be chaired by the President. The EDPC will be vice chaired by the EDPC Secretary, and will include all the chairmen of the inter-agency committees under the EDPC. While the DEDP will continue to serve as secretariat for all inter-agency committees covered by the EDPC, the only interagency committee that it will not serve as secretariat is the DBCC. Albay Rep. Joey S. Salceda, who is the primary author of the Neda Act now the EDPA, said the DBCC requires data that Neda does not have because these pertain to budgets which is outside the scope of Neda’s functions in government.

“You do not have an exhaustive database, the budget, the budget foundation. And you don’t have budget hearing. Otherwise, Neda has to have its own budget hearings,” Salceda told Edillon at the committee hearing.

Apart from this, the substitute bill will expand the manpower of Neda to about 2,000 staff nationwide from the current 1,600 complement.

This will largely be due to the addition of six offices and staff—Strategic Foresight and Futures Staff; Innovation Staff; Project Evaluation Staff; Knowledge Management and Communication Staff; and Development Planning Training Staff.

Further, Edillon said the DEDP will also have more regional staff offices which will enable the proposed department to provide regional and sectoral allocations, particularly for the use of the DBCC. “We will provide the technical inputs and what we hope to do is to provide more rigorous analysis, as to the regional allocation, sectoral allocation of the budget,” Edillon said.

The proposed agency will still direct the government’s planning and investment programming processes; ensure equitable distribution of opportunities, income, and wealth; and increased productivity.

The DEDP will also formulate the country’s continuing, integrated, and coordinated policies, plans, and programs for development, as well as foster a culture of planning across all government organizations.

The agency will also help ensure the vertical and horizontal alignment and coherence of national and subnational policies, plans, programs, and projects as well as oversee the country’s public investment program.

committee, which is holding another public hearing on the group’s proposals today (Wednesday).

Among its suggestions is the inclusion of the essence of the SC ruling on expanded IRA in the Constitution.

Among the other Cha-cha proposals of the DILG-led task force are provisions against political dynasties and turncoats, election of senators by region, five-year term for members of the House of Representatives and local officials, lifting of limitations on foreign investments, and state subsidy for political parties.

Earlier, the task force underscored the need to constitutionalize the Mandanas ruling because it will ensure the “just and fair” share of the LGUs in the computation of

DPWH opens P10.93-B bidding for 8 road, bridge projects in Zamboanga Peninsula

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

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HE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has allocated roughly P10.93 billion for eight road and bridge projects for the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Implemented under the Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project (IGCMRSP), the department is seeking bids for the following projects— Gutalac-Baliguian A lternative Road and RT Lim-Siocon Road in Zamboanga del Norte; CuruanSibuco Road in Zamboanga City and Zamboanga del Norte; and the Siay-Gapol Road and Guicam Bridge in Zamboanga Sibugay.

The three other deals are—the Lalil-Sikkiat Bridge, TongsinahPaniongan Bridge, Malassa-Lupa Pula Bridge.

The P1.11-billion Gutalac-Baliguian Alternative Road Project involves the construction of 7.18 kilometers of concrete road with seven bridges.

The P2.03-billion RT Lim-Siocon Road Project covers the paving of 24.52 km of road with seven bridges.

Spanning 33.03-km road with two bridges, the Curuan-Sibuco Road Project costs P1.91 billion.

The Siay-Gapol Road Project, which has a price tag of P1.37 billion, covers 18.93 km of road and three bridges; while the P1.19 l-billion Guicam Bridges Project spans

CITY CLIMBERS Armed with ropes, hooks and detergent, a two-man maintenance team fearlessly climb a skyscraper to clean and

create a glossy shine on the glass façade of a newly constructed call center building at W. Diokno Boulevard in Pasay City. ROY DOMINGO

323 Zambo del Sur farmers get livelihood aid from DAR, DSWD

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

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@jonlmayuga

VER 300 farmers belonging to different agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (Arbos) in Zamboanga del Sur recently received livelihood grants from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

This as the DAR, through the Convergence on Livelihood Assistance for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Project (Claap), provided a total of P7million fund assistance for the agrivet enterprise and swine production livelihoods to 11 different Arbos in the province.

“These livelihood projects under Claap will benefit the farmer-beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program [CARP], as well as nonARBs of the 11 Arboss,” said DAR Undersecretary for Support Services Emily O. Padilla.

A total of 323 farmers received the livelihood grants.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also provided technical assistance in the review and approval of the project proposals.

“Both livelihood projects manifest the tangible existence of DAR’s programs, projects, and services which contribute to the success of CARP implementation in the community,” Padilla said.

“These projects serve as an encouragement for other farmers to actively participate and

become members of farmers’ organizations,” she added.

Eight Arbos were given hogs to raise, while three were provided with agrivet enterprises, DAR Regional Director Faisar Mambuay said.

“The Arbos with the swine production has two ways in earning from their chosen livelihood because aside from selling the hogs to the market, they can also produce meat products like tocino and longganisa because some of these Arbos have meat processing facilities,” said Mambuay.

“The agrivet enterprise, on the other hand, is a very good source of additional income for our farmers because of the products like pesticides, fertilizers and feeds are a bit cheaper than those bought at commercial agrivet stores. Also, farmers are likely to buy from another farmer, so their market is already set for them,” he added.

Claap is DAR’s collaboration with the DSWD. It aims to expand and increase farmers’ access to economic opportunities.

The DSWD allocated and transferred to the DAR a total of P1 billion for the conduct and provision of social preparation, technical capacity building, and capital assistance.

The DAR, for its part, allotted P186-million worth of manpower, technical and management skills, capacity building training for the farmers.

the IRA, which is not limited to the national internal revenue taxes but also includes customs duties and other taxes collected by the BOC. “Such action cannot be undertaken by mere legislation, since the guarantee of just and fair share of the LGUs in the IRA is in the Constitution itself. As such, it requires an amendment of the Constitution, not just a mere legislation,” it added.

Also, the task force said the increased share from IRA will resolve the perennial problem of unfunded mandates being passed by the national government to the LGUs. “The increase in IRA share is an effective tool to empower the LGUs in their spending priorities,” the task force added.

540.80 meters with 667.20 bridge approach linking Lutiman, Zamboanga Sibugay and Olutanga Port.

“We’re inviting willing civil works contractors to join our procurement round for these five core subprojects under the Asian Developmentfunded IGCMRSP. Bidding process will be undertaken within the first quarter of 2020 as pre-bid conference is scheduled February 26, and bidding submission is on March 17, 2020,” Public Works Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office Operations and Technical Services Emil K. Sadain said.

Meanwhile, the three Tawi-Tawi bridge projects under IGCMRSP core sub-projects are also targeted for procurement by the second quarter of 2020 he said.

The Lalil-Sikkiat Bridge spans for 380.80 lineal meters and costs roughly P1.2 billion. The Tongsinah-Paniongan Bridge has a price tag of P1.46 billion, and will span for 380.80 lineal meters. Last, the Malassa-Lupa Pula Bridge, which spans for 480.60 lineal meters, costs P680 million.

Currently, three core projects under the IGCMRSP are already under construction namely: Alicia-Malangas Road and Lutiman-Guicam-Olutanga Road in Zamboanga Sibugay; and the Tampilisan-Sandayong Road in Zamboanga del Norte. The whole program’s goal is to improve transport network and achieve inclusive economic development in Mindanao.

PMFTC Inc. bags Top Employer awards, EQUAL-SALARY certification

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HILIP Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp. Inc. (PMFTC), the local affiliate of Philip Morris International (PMI), has garnered back-to-back recognition validating its stature as one of the country’s employer of choice.

The company was recently conferred the Top Employer Philippines by the Top Employer Institute, and secured again the Equal Salary Certification for its commitment to advocate equal pay regardless of gender in the workplace. PMI was also named Top Employer Asia-Pacific 2020.

The Top Employers Institute is the global authority on recognizing excellence in human resource practices, which subjects organizations vying for Top Employer certification to stringent vetting process. Established more than 25 years ago, the institute has worked on accelerating the impact of work force strategies and enabled companies to improve workplace environment.

“The certification process consisted of a detailed critical assessment of our practices and programs which was conducted by the Top Employer Institute, in the following areas—Talent Strategy, Workforce Planning, Talent Acquisition, Onboarding, Learning & Development, Performance Management, Career & Succession Management, Compensation & Benefits, and Culture. It was

a stringent vetting process, which took six months, and in December 2019 we received the certification,” Andreea Chiriac, PMFTC’s Director of People and Culture said.

To date, there are only 11 companies in the Philippines that were awarded this recognition.

On top of the local and regional accolades, PMI also received the Global Top Employer Award for three consecutive years. Involving affiliates in 49 countries, the award reaffirms the company’s consistency and excellence in offering enriching and dynamic work environment, and exceptional developmental opportunities for its employees around the world.

Following another rigorous assessment, PMFTC for the second time has secured a certification from EQUAL-SALARY, an organization that works in collaboration with the Geneva University Employment Observatory in recognizing companies that provide equal compensation for men and women.

“In 2019 PMFTC went through the second audit in order to maintain our EQUAL-SALARY certification and we obtained it. We are proud to have reached this milestone, which proves that we stand true behind our commitment to equal pay among men and women in our organization,” PMFTC President Denis Gorkun said.

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BusinessMirror

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng • Wednesday, February 12, 2020 A5

Poultry raisers must help govt fight avian flu–BAI

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By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

he Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) urged poultry raisers to cooperate with the government and report unusual mortality in their farms amid the resurgence of avian influenza (AI) in Asian countries, including China.

The appeal to poultry raisers was made by the BAI in a statement, where it asked farmers to participate in the government’s surveillance activities for bird flu.

BAI, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture, issued the statement on Tuesday in light of the

reported outbreaks of A1 subtype H5 in neighboring countires.

The latest report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) indicated that Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) reported 24 new outbreaks of H5N2 and H5N5, while India reported one new outbreak of H5N1 in poultry in

January. China reported three new outbreaks of H5N6 in non-poultry farms.

“Ongoing outbreaks are still present in Afghanistan, China, Chinese Taipei [Taiwan], India and Korea [DPR] in poultry [subtypes H5N1, H5N2, H5N5, H5N6, H7N9], and by Afghanistan and China in non-poultry [H5, H5N6, H7N9],” the report read.

BAI reminded poultry growers to raise ducks in a close confinement, and observe good animal husbandry practices, as well as practice biosecurity measures.

Furthermore, BAI said poultry raisers should prevent the comingling of ducks with other avian and swine species, as ducks may carry the AI virus.

In an earlier briefing, BAI Director Ronnie Domingo said the agency is closely monitoring wetlands and possible landing areas of migratory birds which may carry the dreaded virus.

Experts said migratory birds in the Candaba swamp may have been one of the sources of the H5N6 bird flu outbreak in 2017. The government was forced to cull thousands of fowls to contain the bird flu outbreak which started in Pampanga.

As a precautionary measure, the DA has ordered temporary import bans on domestic and wild birds, and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen, and countries that have confirmed AI outbreaks. This is aimed at preventing the entry of the virus into the country.

Manila ordered the slapping of the ban on poultry products from the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and China.

Under the government’s AI Protection Program manual, the BAI shall conduct surveillance in identified critical areas in terms of the introduction of AI virus on a biannual basis.

Hundreds of pigs culled in Benguet due to ASF

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A TRINIDAD, Benguet—A total of 224 pigs have been depopulated over the weekend in Barangay Beckel here and Camp 1 in Tuba town after samples were taken from piggeries tested positive for African swine fever (ASF).

Dr. Meriam Tiongan, the provincial veterinarian, said the “1-7-10” protocol was implemented to prevent the possible spread of the virus.

Tiongan said 189 pigs were culled within the 1-kilometer radius of the ASF “ground zero” at Sitio Obulan in Barangay Beckel after blood samples of pigs in a backyard piggery tested positive of the virus last week.

The 35 others were culled at a commercial piggery in Camp 1 days prior to the discovery of the case in Barangay Beckel.

At least eight sitio (hamlets) in Barangay Beckel—Sapsing, Bakung, Marlboro Country, Gungel, Pagal,

Live pigs have been prohibited to enter Benguet province. The provincial government has ordered a temporary lockdown on the entry of live pigs into the province and Baguio City after samples taken from two piggeries tested positive for African swine fever. PNA photo courtesy of Redjie Melvic Cawis

Central, Ulnai and Busi—were affected from the depopulation of the 189 pigs, which was the livelihood of

31 families in the area.

She said hog raisers initially refused to depopulate the pigs but eventually

gave in after explaining that culling was necessary to ensure the ASF would not spread to nearby piggeries.

“It was difficult considering that ordinary residents owned them, saving them for the tuition of their children, or were raised to be butchered for the observance of a traditional practice of offering to the gods,” Tiongan said.

Following the ASF outbreak in Luzon last year, President Duterte approved a P1-billion fund to compensate hog raisers whose pigs were culled.

Under the “1-7-10” protocol, those found within the 7 km are subject to regular blood testing. Those pigs cannot be sold or brought out of the area.

Animals within the 10-km radius but beyond the 7 km are subject to monitoring, and owners must report the condition of the animals and inform authorities if any of the pigs get sick. PNA

Aboitiz unit turns over China pork prices head toward 1.3 million ‘bangus’ fry record high on supply concerns to Capiz fishermen

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boitiz food business unit Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corp. (Pilmico) said it recently turned over 1.3 million bangus fry to help Capiz fishermen rebuild their fish stocks that were depleted by Typhoon Ursula (international code name Phanfone).

Pilmico’s Aqua Feeds team, the Roxas City government and Sagana Agricultural Supply launched “Bangon Capiznon.” It aims to provide fishermen in Capiz the necessary seed stocks and technical support to revive their aquaculture production.

For farmers engaged in cage operations, their fry allocation will be reared in assigned nurseries, and will be distributed to them once their fish reach 3 inches to 5 inches—the suitable size for stocking in cages.

“True to our brand promise of being a Partner for Growth, Pilmico is here to assure our fish farmers that, together, we can recover and revive the aquaculture industry here in Capiz,” said Richard Rafio, category manager for AquaPilmico Feeds, in a statement.

Roxas City Councilor and Presiding Officer for Agriculture and Fisheries Moreno Gonzaga lauded Pilmico and its initiatives for helping the affected fish farmers. Pilmico is the first feed company in Roxas City to give direct support to its aquaculture operators.

“Malaking tulong ito hindi lamang sa mga taga-Roxas City ngunit sa muling pagbangon ng buong Capiz [This will greatly help not only Roxas City residents, but also in the recovery of the entire Capiz.],” said Gonzaga.

Through projects like Bangon Capiznon, Pilmico continues to advance business and communities, ensuring farmers are equipped with adequate solutions to grow and uplift their businesses.

Roxas City, dubbed as the country’s “seafood capital” due to its abundant fish and seafood production, was one of the places severely damaged by Typhoon Ursula that ravaged the country last December 2019.

The typhoon caused P1 billion worth of damage to the farm sector, according to the Department of Agriculture. In a bulletin report, the DA’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (DRRM OpCen) said over 62,000 farmers and fishermen in Mimaropa, Western and Eastern Visayas were affected by Ursula.

The volume of production loss on rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock and fisheries reached 17,659 metric tons, according to DA-DRRM OpCen. The fisheries sector suffered the brunt of Ursula’s damage as it accounted for almost 60 percent of the recorded losses.

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he rapid spread of the coronavirus in China has failed to dampen a scorching pork rally, with prices heading toward a record high on supply concerns in the world’s biggest meat consumer.

Pork prices surged 116 percent from a year earlier in January after almost doubling in December, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics.

An extended Lunar New Year break in some areas, as well as labor shortages and road blockades are hurting pork supplies, according to the Chinese agriculture ministry. Meanwhile, some consumers are shunning poultry in favor of pork, further boosting prices, the ministry said.

China’s consumer prices rose the fastest in more than eight years last month, with food prices jumping the most since 2008. Even before the coronavirus outbreak, prices were expected to rise sharply due to the normal spike in demand around the Lunar New Year, and after African swine fever killed millions of pigs. Wholesale prices are now just 4 percent below their record high in November.

“We expect pork prices to stay robust,” at

least in the first half of the year because the number of hogs fell before the new year, said Lin Guofa, senior analyst at Bric Agriculture Group, a Beijing-based farm consulting firm.

The coronavirus attack has also hurt restocking at some pig and chicken farms, Lin said.

Poultry trade

Pork prices may also get support from the negative impact of the coronavirus on the poultry business.

Road blockades, imposed to stop the spread of the virus in several areas, including top animal breeding provinces of Shandong and Henan, have prompted some hatcheries to kill chicks as the birds could not be moved, said Li Qiang, head of Shanghai JC Intelligence Co. Restocking of chickens could be affected in the first half of the year, he said.

Poor restocking earlier this year could lead to a drop in domestic output of poultry, which is often used to substitute pork, Lin said. The sector was also hit by a bird flu outbreak, with Hunan and Sichuan provinces culling 18,000 and 2,261 chickens, respectively.

Bloomberg News

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Bureau of Cust

A BusinessMirro

Wednesday, February 12, 2020 | www.businessmirror.com.ph

THE BUREAU OF CUSTOMS

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HE highlights of performance of the Bureau of Customs in 2019 are indicative of the impact of focused policy implementation and stringent reform initiatives.

The concerted efforts of the BoC team led to a total collection of 630.47 billion pesos, 37.47 billion pesos up over the 2018 collection of 593.0 billion. The 6.3% revenue growth over the previous year reflects not only the persistent and aggressive collection programs as well as the result of revenue derived from non-traditional sources such as additional payments from alerted shipments found to be undervalued, post-clearance audits and public auctions conducted nationwide.

TRADE FACILITATION

IN pursuit of improved and efficient operations in trade facilitation, several projects were instituted in trade facilitation, namely, the ASEAN Single Window Live Operation and the Authorized Economic Operator Program.

The ASEAN Single Window Live Operation enables the Bureau of Customs to interact with counterpart organizations in the ASEAN

Region as part of the integration build up of the ASEAN Economic Community. The Authorized Economic Operator Program is part of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, a step forward towards a more modern and customerfriendly system.

Another 2019 highlight was the significant reduction in yard utilization rates, in both the Port of Manila and the Manila International Container Port. From 88.35% in 2018 , yard utilization rate was brought down to 71.20% at the Port of Manila, and from 90.10% down to 72.66% at MICP. Among the many processes that have been reviewed and upgraded, the simplified and decentralized Processing of Applications for BOC Accreditation has reduced the number of processing days from the previous 5 to 7 days to 3 to 5 days, with a consistent zerobacklog rate of efficiency in accreditation on a weekly basis.

The handling of inquiries and

resolution of concerns have been done in a timely and professional manner through the BOC-Customer Assistance and Response Services of BOC-CARES. In 2019, all 49,909 concerns and inquiries were acted upon with a 100% response rate.

BORDER PROTECTION

THE all-out efforts of the BOC against smuggled goods in 2019 have brought in a total value of 20.584 billion pesos of goods seized. The value of seized goods is 4 times that recorded in 2018.

In fulfilling its mandate in the area of border protection, the BOC’s intensified anti-smuggling measures resulted in a 76.96% rate of effectiveness of all issued alert orders. This has meant an additional revenue collection of 40.9 million pesos.

Another means to address smuggling operations is the Issuance of Letters of Authority, which have led to the confiscation of infringing and illicit goods. The seizure of smuggled goods found in the establishments that were inspected contributed an additional 80.7 million pesos to the overall revenue collection.

On the anti-illegal drugs campaign, vigilance and sustained interagency coordination led to the seizure of 3.58 billion pesos worth of illegal drugs, as well as the arrest of 70 persons.

REY LEONARDO GUERRERO | Commissioner, BOC

To ensure the integrity of the transactions and full compliance with customs rules and regulations, the BOC revoked accreditation of 196 importers and 55 customs brokers. In this regard, 27 criminal cases were filed, involving 128 individuals and 21 customs brokers, while 11 cases against customs brokers were filed in the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

ANTI-GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

THE intensity of the anti-graft and corruption drive has resulted in the filing of various cases against erring customs employees, with 152 administrative cases transmitted to the Ombudsman. The campaign has also led to the dismissal of 17 BOC personnel and the suspension of 4 others. In addition, 7 BOC personnel have been charged with criminal cases before the DOJ.

ADMINISTRATION INITIATIVES AND IMPROVEMENTS BASIC equipment and various logistical needs have been procured according to government regulations, with the bulk focused on ICT equipment that would upgrade and improve operations efficiency. Total procurement for 2019 was 434 million pesos.

To facilitate the continuing drive to enable skill and competency upgrades in both technical and operational areas, 269 trainings attended by 5,481 participants were conducted. Furthermore, the BOC’s duly appointed representatives attended 80 local and international meetings and engagements.

10-POINT PRIORITY PROGRAM OUTPUT RATES

THE accomplishment ratings of the 10 priority programs for 2019 are the result of the actions and projects implemented in relation to each of the programs. Of these 10, 6 priority programs achieved an accomplishment rating of 90% or higher.

1. Enhancement of BOC

Information Technology System: 93% Eight IT systems were implemented or upgraded as follows: Goods Declaration Verification System, National Value Verification System, Alert Order Monitoring System, Document Tracking System, Customer Care Portal System, OCOM Dashboard System, Balikbayan Box and Parcel Tracking System and WCO Cargo Targeting System (CTS). Other system enhancements include the procurement of a high-performance server, the upgrade of the fire eye system (firewall), implementation of the e2m Stabilization Plan and the replacement of e2m system in coordination with the World Bank, which is on-going.

2. Filling up of Vacant Plantilla Positions: 100% Personnel complement was increased to 3,425 in 2019 from 2,856 in 2018, for a 54.67% fill-up of the authorized 6,264 plantilla positions of the BOC. A total of 1,016 personnel were hired and promoted in 2019. The target for 2020 hiring and promotions is 1,000 personnel.

3. Provision of Incentives for BOC Employees: 83% For achieving and surpassing the 2018 collection target of 584 billion pesos by 1.4 billion pesos, a 345 million peso reward was recommended and provided to the BOC employees.

4. Restructuring of BOC Organization: 95% A proposal for the restructuring of the BOC as well as the implementation of the Customs Border Police Force (CBPF) was submitted to the Department of Budget and Management for review.

5. Enhancement of BOC Facilities: 56% In 2019, five enhancement projects were completed, namely, construction and renovation of the BOC Situation Room, Customer Center, BOC Conference Room and Port of Legaspi Customs House. The ongoing construction projects include the construction of the tempo-

rary office of the Port of Manila and the repair and rehabilitation of the Customs Clearance Area Office at TIPO Gate, Port of Subic.

6. Enhancement of Cargo Clearance and Examination Capabilities: 92% As part of operations upgrade, a total of 58 x-ray machines were acquired in 2019, bringing the total number of scanning equipment to 117 units.

7. Enhancement of Intelligence and Enforcement Capabilities: 89% To improve threat-monitoring and detection and risk management, state-ofthe-art surveillance equipment was acquired and a Cargo Targeting System was activated.

8. Codification and Harmonization of All Implementing Rules and Regulations, CMOs and CAOs: 94% In connection with the effort to consolidate all pertinent issuances and policy documents, various orders and issuances were signed and published. The BOC Citizen’s Charter was revised to reflect the improved and streamlined processes.

9. Creation of a Quality Management System and Integrity System: 78% As a necessary requisite to institutionalizing quality management and integrity systems, audits were conducted in various collection districts resulting in 82% compliance to COA Audit Observation Memoranda. The internal audits also resulted in the compliance and lifting of previous Notices amounting to 326 billion pesos. Certification processes to achieve ISO Standard recognition and accreditation were also undertaken, with the Port of Batangas receiving the ISO 9001:205 standard in 2019. Various offices and ports are in the process of securing ISO 9001:2015 certification, including the Office of the Commissioner, the Management Information System and Technology Group, the Ports of Davao, Manila and Cagayan de Oro, and the sub-ports of Dumaguete,

toms@118years

ror Special Feature

www.businessmirror.com.ph |Wednesday, February 12, 2020

2019 ANNUAL REPORT frontline transactions. Implementation and institutionalization of “No-Contact Policy” in transactions 3. Improvement of Risk Management System. Systems and processes will be streamlined, new technologies will be acquired and compliance mechanisms will be reinforced to improve risk management.

4. Implement Customs Modernization Program. Customs Modernization Project will be implemented with funding support from the World Bank with the following 4 components: nCustoms Reform & Modernization Support nInstitutional Development

Mactan, Iligan and Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT).

Public recognition and acknowledgement of the impact of initiatives and reforms have also been forthcoming. The BOC successfully reached the Initiation status under the Performance Governance System (PGS), with a Gold Governance Trailblazer award, as conferred by the Institute for Solidarity in Asia. The BOC was also recognized as one of the top implementors and advocates of the Electronic Freedom of Information (eFOI) Portal. It also received a Recognition of Excellence Award from OpenGov, another nod to the BOC’s efforts in transparent operations and commendable use of technology as a public sector organization.

10. Pursuit of the Passage of Customs-Related Legislative Measures: 90% Seven legislations were filed in Congress as part of the effort to enable laws that would facilitate improvements in Customs administration and operations. These include: nHouse Bill No. 783 – entitled, An Act Providing for a Classification System for Third Parties under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. nHouse Bill No. 784 – entitled, An Act Providing for the Acquisition of the Services of a Private Auction House that shall Undertake All Public Auctions at the Bureau of Customs, Amending for this Purpose Republic Act No. 10863, Otherwise Known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act nHouse Bill No. 800 – entitled, An Act Amending Republic Act No. 10863 Otherwise Known as the ‘Customs Modernization and Tariff Act which authorizes the use of 1% of its annual income derived from collection of duties and taxes to upgrade and modernize its equipment and in-

formation and technology equipment and systems. nHouse Bill No. 2591 – entitled, An Act Amending Section 440 of the Republic Act 10863, Otherwise Known as the CMTA which seeks to amend the tenor of Section 440 from a Voluntary Program on Advance Customs Clearance to a Mandatory Advance Clearance and Control on Containerized Cargoes. nHouse Bill No. 5278 – entitled, An Act Requiring the Declaration of the Value of Imported Goods in Shipping and Airline Documents and Prohibiting Fraudulent Alteration of Cargo Manifest, Bill of Lading, and Airway Bill Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 10863, Otherwise Known as the “Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. nHouse Bill No. 5548 - entitled, An Act Amending For The Purpose Sections 102, 119, 201, 307, 402, 405, 407, 431, 802, 806, 1135, 1100, 1129, 1147, 1400 And 1226 And Deleting Section 709 Of The Republic Act No. 10863 Otherwise Known As The Customs Modernization And Tariff Act. nHouse Bill No. 781 – entitled, An Act Exempting the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Internal Revenue from the Coverage of the Republic Act No. 6758, Otherwise known as the Salary Standardization Law, as amended, and for other purposes.

THE WAY FORWARD: 10-POINT PRIORITY PROGRAM FOR 2020

AS a consequence of the progress that has been made in 2019, the priorities of 2020 are defined as follows: 1. Continue the fill-up of plantilla positions. Recruit 1,000 more employees to fill up vacant plantilla positions.

2. Full automation of

nICT Modernization nProject Management Support 5. ISO Certification of Customs Units/Offices and PGS Compliance.Continue the conduct of ISO internal audit on the different offices, ports and sub-ports of the Bureau and to spearhead ISO-related trainings for the Bureau.

6. Enhance Trade Facilitation. nImplementation of the Authorized Economic Operator Program; nPromote Advance Ruling System for importation and exportation; nIntensify Post Clearance Audit; nImprove Goods Classification & Valuation Support;

nEnhance Pre-Arrival Processing for air shipments and consignments; nIntroduce Voluntary Pre-Shipment Inspection for containerized cargo; nImprove availment of Provisional Goods Declaration; nImprove availment of Release under Tentative Assessment; and nImplement Electronic Payment for Informal Entry.

7. Rationalize Penalty Regime.Implement stiffer penalties to improve compliance to Customs rules and regulations.

8. Enhancement of Management and Technical Skills. Avail of trainings and seminars through Japan International Cooperation Agen-

A7

cy (JICA) and World Customs Organization (WCO) programs.

9. Enhance Stakeholders Engagement. Improve BOC external website and conduct more frequent and wider consultations.

10. Intensify Border Protection.Acquire additional scanning and detection equipment and to hire and train additional border protection personnel.

The Bureau of Customs is determined and committed to continue contributing to the reform and development agenda as envisioned under the leadership of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Its unwavering focus on improving revenue collection and uncompromising drive to eradicate graft and corruption and other illegal activities in the Bureau are on top of the must-do targets in 2020.

The World

A4 Wednesday, February 12, 2020 • Editor: Angel R. Calso A8

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China’s daily death toll from virus tops 100 for first time B

EIJING—China’s daily death toll from a new virus topped 100 for the first time and pushed the total past 1,000 dead, authorities said on Tuesday after leader Xi Jinping visited a health center to rally public morale amid little sign the contagion is abating.

Though more offices and stores in China were reopening after the extended Lunar New Year break, many people appear to be staying home.

Public health authorities are closely monitoring whether workers’ returning to cities and businesses resuming worsens the spread of the virus.

In a bid to boost morale, Xi was featured on state broadcaster CCTV’s main news report on Tuesday night visiting a community health center in Beijing and expressing confidence in the “war against the disease.”

The country’s president and leader of the ruling Communist Party was shown wearing a surgical mask and having his temperature taken before expressing his thanks to health workers on behalf of the party and government. “We will most definitely win this people’s war,” Xi said.

Xi’s appearance comes amid questioning of the government’s handling of the crisis, particularly the failure of local officials in the worst-hit city of Wuhan to clarify the extent of the crisis. Public anger has been inflamed over the death of a young doctor from the virus who had earlier been threatened along with seven others by police for warning online of the potential for a major outbreak as early as December.

Xi paid his respects to health workers, but much of his message was focused on calling for citizens to follow the party’s dictates and aimed at minimizing the potentially massive economic impact of the outbreak.

“The fundamentals of China’s long-term economic development remain unchanged and the impact of the novel coronavirus epidemic on the economy is short-lived,” Xi was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua News Agency.

Xi called for “greater efforts to minimize the impact of the epidemic on the economy” and for attention to be paid to “preventing large-scale layoffs,” in a likely nod to the precarious situation of Chinese workers on the fringes of the economy with little security and few benefits.

The virus outbreak has become the latest political challenge for Xi, who despite accruing more political power to himself than any Chinese leader since Mao Zedong, has struggled to handle crises on multiple fronts, including a sharply slowing domestic economy, the trade with the US and push-back on Chinese increasingly aggressive foreign policies.

The National Health Commission said in its daily update 108 deaths had been reported over the previous 24 hours, increasing the total to 1,016 deaths in mainland China since the illnesses began appearing in December. The total is well beyond the toll of the 2002-03 outbreak of SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, which is caused by a different corona-

IN this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping (left), wearing a protective face mask, gets a temperature check as he visits a community health center in Beijing on Monday, February 10, 2020. China reported a rise in new virus cases on Monday, possibly denting optimism that its disease control measures like isolating major cities might be working, while Japan reported dozens of new cases aboard a quarantined cruise ship.

PANG XINGLEI/XINHUA VIA AP

virus related to the current pathogen.

The number of newly confirmed cases fell slightly to 2,478 from 3,062 the day before, bringing the total to 42,638 on the mainland, some of whom have since been cured and released from hospital.

The crossing of more grim thresholds is dimming optimism that the near-quarantine of some 60 million people and other disease-control measures might be working.

In Hong Kong, authorities evacuated an apartment block after two cases among its residents raised suspicion the virus may be spreading through the building’s plumbing.

It was reminiscent of the SARS outbreak that killed hundreds in the semi-autonomous Chinese city. The biggest number of connected cases in that outbreak were in one apartment complex where the virus spread through sewage pipes.

Britain, meanwhile, declared the virus a “serious and imminent threat to public health” and said it would forcibly detain infected people if necessary. France tested scores of children and their parents after five British tourists contracted the virus at a ski resort.

The director general of the World Health Organization said that the agency is still unable to predict where the outbreak is heading but that he

Virus outbreak stretches limits of strained public health systems

B

ANGKOK—The virus outbreak that began in China and has spread to more than 20 countries is stretching alreadystrained public health systems in Asia and beyond, raising questions over whether everyone can get equal access to treatment.

Authorities in Wuhan, the city at the center of the outbreak, have been ordered to confine people suspected of having the illness in “quarantine camps” reminiscent of makeshift hospitals seen a century ago during the outbreak of Spanish flu.

The hundreds of cots lined up side by side in such facilities illustrate the Everest-sized difficulties of isolating and treating thousands of patients at a time. So do scenes of people begging for treatment and being turned away from hospitals inundated with patients.

Rong Qin, who lives with her newborn son and three-year-old daughter, mother, father and husband in a two-bedroom apartment in Wuhan, appealed for help in a post on Weibo, a Chinese microblog, saying she and her father were infected and she was worried for the rest of the family.

“I was told that even if we have confirmation of infection from the hospital we have to wait for beds. As far as I know, there are already many people queuing up for help,” she said.

The problems most evident in Wuhan are a worrying specter for health officials in many other places, as the numbers of people infected has surpassed 40,000 with more than 1,000 dead. Officials are trying to reassure the public, while moving to ensure adequate supplies of drugs and other medical necessities.

Several countries outside China that have big caseloads, such as Japan, France and the US, have relatively ample resources for isolating and treating patients. Lower-income countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka and Cambodia have reported one case each.

At a meeting of the World Health Organization in Geneva last week, delegates from various countries including Sudan and Bangladesh sought reassurances of support for their overburdened public health networks.

A representative from Sudan said it had managed to create an isolation ward using local resources. But since

the country is already battling six other major disease outbreaks and also facing international sanctions, it’s short of about $2 million of the funds it needs.

Scott Pendergast, the WHO’s director for Health Emergencies Strategy, said the estimated cost for beefing up the capacity of public health systems to respond to the virus could amount to $675 million in February-April, not including research or the economic impacts of travel restrictions and other measures. The extra cost of handling just 10 imported cases was estimated at $1.5 million, he said.

“It’s an estimated response cost that will have to be augmented by bottomup planning at the country level together with partners,” Pendergast said.

“All countries are at risk and need to prepare for [the newly identified coronavirus]. Partners will prioritize countries with weak health systems and significant gaps in preparedness capacity for technical and operational support,” says the draft WHO plan for handling the outbreak.

In Thailand, which has confirmed 32 cases of the virus, health officials are visiting the contacts of known infected people one-by-one to follow the potential spread of the virus.

New cases have continued to emerge in the tropical holiday destination and hub for medical tourism.

“Our Thailand system is one of the best in the world,” Thanarak Plipat, deputy director general of the Health Ministry’s Disease Control Department, said recently. But he added, “No country is prepared for a global pandemic.”

Most people in China have at least rudimentary access to health care. The country has a tradition of community clinics dating to the days of “barefoot doctors.” But few have coverage for catastrophic illness.

In Wuhan, three big facilities have been converted into makeshift hospitals, providing 3,800 beds for patients with mild symptoms of the virus. The city plans to convert more facilities into hospitals for emergency treatment and examinations, state television reported. Two new hospitals, one with 1,000 beds and the other with 1,500, were also quickly built. AP

believes there is still an opportunity to contain it.

“In recent days, we have seen some concerning instances of onward transmission from people with no travel history to China,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“The detection of the small number of cases could be the spark that becomes a bigger fire, but for now, it’s only a spark.”

The Beijing city government told residential compounds in the capital to close their gates, check visitors for fever and record their identities. The government also warned people to strictly abide by regulations requiring wearing of masks in public and to avoid group activities.

More than 440 cases have been confirmed outside mainland China, including two deaths in Hong Kong and the Philippines.

Of those, 135 are from a cruise ship quarantined in Yokohama, near Tokyo. Japan’s Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said the government was considering testing everyone remaining on board of the 3,711 passengers and crew on the Diamond Princess, which would require them to remain aboard until results were available.

Britain issued its “imminent threat” declaration after a British man who caught the virus in Singapore in January appeared linked to several other confirmed cases in Europe. Five Britons, including a nine-year-old boy, contracted the virus in the French Alpine ski town of Contamines-Montjoie after staying in the same chalet as the British man. AP

As Asia panics, one country wins praise for approach to virus

A

S governments in Asia struggle to reassure their populations over the coronavirus, public health experts say Singapore’s approach in communicating to the public is providing a model for others to reduce panic, rumors and conspiracy theories.

In a nine-minute recorded message on Sunday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said “fear can do more harm than the virus itself” amid reports of long lines and hoarding at local supermarkets. He then laid out steps residents can take to help prevent the spread of the virus, like exercising good hygiene, while assuring them that the city had enough supplies of enough goods.

Moreover, he reassured Singaporeans that the virus didn’t appear as deadly as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in 2003, meaning that most people would likely experience a minor illness. He also said the government would change its approach if the virus became widespread to avoid overwhelming hospitals, adding he would keep them “informed every step of the way.”

The speech, posted on social media in three languages, appeared to have an immediate impact: The long queues at supermarkets throughout the city-state on Friday night returned to normal levels as of Sunday. That alone proved notable in a region where governments have struggled to get the message right, spurring panic buying and confusion over how to protect themselves from the outbreak.

The strength of Singapore’s risk communication was reflected in the strength of their response more broadly, World Health Organization spokesman Olivia Lawe-Davies said in an e-mail. “Before the detection of the first case in Singapore, preparedness activities were already under way for the rapid detection and response to 2019-nCoV, including enhanced surveillance and communication with the public and health-care workers.”

Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, leader Carrie Lam’s mixed messages on wearing masks and shutting the border with mainland China has stirred mistrust. Nurses have gone on strike and residents have violently opposed quarantine sites, while residents have struggled to buy toilet paper, hand sanitizer, rice and other staples for more than a week. Bloomberg News

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Thai army chief: Gunman was not treated fairly in land deal

Wednesday, February 12, 2020 A9

US says Chinese military stole 145 million Americans’ data W

THAILAND Army chief Gen. Apirat Kongsompong speaks during a press briefing in Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday, February 11, 2020. Kongsompong apologized and send his condolences to the families of victims of the mass shooting, conducted by Thai army soldier on Saturday, February 8, 2020, and confirmed the Army will compensate those who are affected by the incident.

AP PHOTO/GEMUNU AMARASINGHE

B

ANGKOK—Thailand’s army commander said on Tuesday the soldier who killed 29 people in a shooting rampage had not been treated fairly in a land deal involving his commander, and such arrangements would have to be halted.

The gunman killed his superior officer and the officer’s mother-inlaw, stole weapons and a vehicle, and headed to a popular shopping mall in a northeastern city where he holed up for hours before security officers killed him.

Gen. Apirat Kongsompong said at a news conference at army headquarters in Bangkok that such arrangements would have to be halted.

“The perpetrator did not receive fair treatment from his superior and the relative,” he said. “They were involved in a land purchase deal that had gone wrong. We will investigate further about who else is involved in the issue.”

Sgt. Maj. Jakrapanth Thomma started his rampage on Saturday by killing Col. Anantarote Krasae, his commanding officer in the 22nd Ammunition Battalion, and the officer’s 63-year-old motherin-law, a real-estate dealer who marketed to local soldiers, at Anantarote’s home.

The gunman then stole heavy weapons from an army camp and shot people at random from the stolen army vehicle en route to the Terminal 21 Korat mall in the City of Nakhon Ratchasima. He holed up in the airport-themed mall overnight before security forces cornered and killed him.

Apirat deflected criticism over how the army safeguards its weapons, describing the theft of arms as the criminal act of an individual.

He admitted to shortcomings in some military procedures, but said the gunman took advantage of his military rank to confuse guards and gain access to the weapons.

Apirat said the security for

arms depots is up to standard, but will be reviewed.

Military affairs specialists have suggested systemic problems with security of army and police weapons, pointing to repeated leakage through theft and force.

The shooting raises serious questions about stockpile security, said Michael Picard, research director of GunPolicy.org who until recently was based in Bangkok.

“It is alarming if that’s all it took—that one guy was tasked with guarding/monitoring a well-stocked armory,” Picard wrote in an e-mail interview. “It’s possible that the assailant used his rank and knowledge of the base to bypass controls, but this still shows that the level of control over this base’s armory was woefully insufficient in terms of manpower and access restriction.”

Prime Minister Prayuth Chanocha asked Cabinet members and civil servants to dress in black as an expression of sympathy for the shooting victims. He said King Maha Vajiralongkorn has offered royally sponsored funeral rites and cremations for all of the dead.

The death toll of 29 surpassed Thailand’s last major attack on civilians, a 2015 bombing at a shrine in Bangkok killing 20 people that was allegedly carried out by human traffickers in retaliation for a crackdown on their network.

Some of the 58 wounded are still in critical condition.

Terminal 21 Korat will reopen on Thursday with a Buddhist ceremony, Building Department Administrator A mnuay phor n Sankong said.

Thai media reported two people had been arrested for making threats online to carry out similar shootings. One was a former soldier who told police he had been drunk and arguing with his girlfriend, and the other was a 16-year-old who told police he posted a threat for fun, the Bangkok Post reported. AP

A SHINGTON—Four members of the Chinese military have been charged with breaking into the computer networks of the Equifax credit reporting agency and stealing the personal information of millions of Americans, the justice department said on Monday, blaming Beijing for one of the largest hacks in history to target consumer data.

The hackers in the 2017 breach stole the personal information of roughly 145 million Americans, collecting names, addresses, social security, and driver’s license numbers and other data stored in the company’s databases. The intrusion damaged the company’s reputation and underscored China’s increasingly aggressive and sophisticated intelligence-gathering methods.

“The scale of the theft was staggering,” Atty. Gen. William Barr said on Monday in announcing the indictment. “This theft not only caused significant financial damage to Equifax, but invaded the privacy of many millions of Americans, and imposed substantial costs and burdens on them as they have had to take measures to protect against identity theft.”

The case is the latest US accusation against Chinese hackers suspected of breaching networks of American corporations, including steel manufacturers, a hotel chain and a health insurer. It comes as the Trump administration has warned against what it sees as the growing political and economic influence of China, and efforts

by Beijing to collect data for financial and intelligence purposes and to steal research and innovation.

The indictment arrives at a delicate time in relations between Washington and Beijing. Even as President Donald J. Trump points to a preliminary trade pact with China as evidence of his ability to work with the Communist government, other members of his administration have been warning against cyber security and surveillance risks posed by China, especially as the tech giant Huawei seeks to become part of new, high-speed 5G wireless networks across the globe.

Experts and US officials say the Equifax theft is consistent with the Chinese government’s interest in accumulating as much information about Americans as possible.

The data can be used by China to target US government officials and ordinary citizens, including possible spies, and to find weaknesses and vulnerabilities that can be exploited — such as for purposes of blackmail. The FBI has not seen that happen yet in this case, said Deputy Director David Bowdich, though he said it “doesn’t mean

ATTY. Gen. William Barr speaks during a news conference on Monday, February 10, 2020, at the justice department in Washington, as Principal Associate Deputy Atty. Gen. Seth Ducharm looks on. Four members of the Chinese military have been charged with breaking into the networks of the Equifax credit reporting agency and stealing the personal information of millions of Americans, the justice department said on Monday, blaming Beijing for one of the largest hacks in history. AP PHOTO/JACQUELYN MARTIN

it will or will not happen in the future.”

“We have to be able to recognize that as a counterintelligence issue, not a cyber issue,” Bill Evanina, the US government’s top counterintelligence official, said of the Equifax case.

The four accused hackers are suspected members of the People’s Liberation Army, an arm of the Chinese military that was blamed in 2014 for a series of intrusions into American corporations.

Prosecutors say they exploited a software vulnerability to gain access to Equifax’s computers, obtaining log-in credentials that they used to navigate databases and review records. They also took steps to cover their tracks, the indictment says, wiping log files on a daily basis and routing traffic through about three dozen servers in nearly 20 countries.

Besides stealing personal information, the hackers also made off with some of the company’s sensitive trade secrets, including database designs, law-enforcement officials said.

Equifax, headquartered in Atlanta, maintains a massive repository of consumer information that it sells to businesses looking to verify identities or assess creditworthiness. All told, the indictment says, the company holds information on hundreds of millions of people in America and abroad.

None of the accused hackers is in US custody. But officials, nonetheless, hope criminal charges can be

a deterrent to foreign hackers and a warning to other countries that American law enforcement has the capability to pinpoint individual culprits. Even so, while China and the US committed in 2015 to halt acts of cyber espionage against each other, the Equifax intrusion and others like it make clear that Beijing has continued its operations.

A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington did not return an e-mail seeking comment on Monday.

The case resembles a 2014 indictment that accused five members of the PLA of hacking into American corporations to steal trade secrets. US authorities also suspect China in the 2015 breach of the federal Office of Personnel Management and of intrusions into the Marriott hotel chain and health insurer Anthem.

Such hacks “seem to deliberately cast a wide net” so that Chinese intelligence analysts can get deep insight into the lives of Americans, said Ben Buchanan, a Georgetown University scholar and author of the upcoming book, The Hacker and the State.

“This could be especially useful for counterintelligence purposes, like tracking American spies posted to Beijing,” Buchanan said.

Barr, who at an event last week warned of Beijing’s aspirations of economic dominance, said on Monday the US has long “witnessed China’s voracious appetite for the personal

data of Americans.”

“This kind of attack on American industry is of a piece with other Chinese illegal acquisitions of sensitive personal data,” Barr said.

The criminal charges, which include conspiracy to commit computer fraud and conspiracy to commit economic espionage, were filed in federal court in Atlanta.

Equifax last year reached a $700million settlement over the data breach, with the bulk of the funds intended for consumers affected by it.

Equifax officials told the Government Accountability Office the company made many mistakes, including having an outdated list of computer systems administrators. The company didn’t notice the intruders targeting its databases for more than six weeks. Hackers exploited a known security vulnerability that Equifax hadn’t fixed.

While company stock has recovered, Equifax’s reputation has not fully. The company was dragged in front of Congress no less than four times to explain what happened.

The company is about to start paying out claims on its $700-million settlement, of which more claimants have opted in to getting a cash settlement than accept credit counseling.

So many claims have been made for the cash that the lawyers suing Equifax and the Federal Trade Commission have warned claimants that the chance of getting the full cash value of the settlement was unlikely. AP

Suicide bombing near military High-level North Korean defector to run for South Korean parliament academy in Kabul kills six S

K

ABUL, Afghanistan—A suicide bomber targeting a military academy in the Afghan capital on Tuesday killed at least six people, including two civilians and four military personnel, the Interior Ministry said.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing in Kabul, but both the Taliban and militants from the Islamic State group regularly stage attacks in the city, targeting Afghan forces.

Along with the six killed, 12 other people, including five civilians, were wounded in the attack, said Nasrat Rahimi, the Interior Ministry spokesman.

The attack happened at a police checkpoint near the entrance to the Marshal Fahim military academy, located on the outskirt’s of a western Kabul neighborhood, he said. Local TV channels showed images of Afghan security forces blocking off the main road leading to the blast site from far away.

The academy has been attacked in the past. Last May, a suicide bomber killed

six people there. The school is sometimes called “Sandhurst in the Sand,” in reference to the famous British school. It’s named for Mohammed Fahim, the country’s late vice president and a military commander of the Northern Alliance that fought the Taliban. It was inaugurated in 2013 and British troops in Afghanistan oversaw the establishing of the academy’s officer school and training program.

The academy was also the site where US Army Maj. Gen. Harold J. Greene lost his life—the highest-ranking US military officer to be killed in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Greene, then-deputy commander of Nato’s transition force in the country, was shot and killed by an Afghan soldier in a socalled insider attack that was later claimed by the Taliban in August 2014.

The Taliban today control or hold sway over nearly half of Afghanistan, and are at their highest since the 2001 US invasion that ousted the Taliban who harbored the late al-Qaeda terror network leader Osama bin Laden. AP

EOUL, South Korea—A high-profile North Korean defector said on Tuesday he’ll run in upcoming parliamentary elections in South Korea as part of his efforts to help South Koreans understand the true nature of North Korea and map out a better unification policy.

Thae Yong Ho, a former minister at the North Korean Embassy in London who came to Seoul with his family in 2016, is the most senior North Korean diplomat to defect to South Korea. Since his arrival here, Thae has openly criticized North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s nuclear ambitions and expressed skepticism over Kim’s denuclearization commitment made during now stalled diplomacy with President Donald J. Trump.

Thae told reporters on Tuesday he decided to run in the April 15 elections on the ticket of the conservative opposition Liberty Korea Party after agonizing over how to contribute to South Korea with his knowledge on North Korea.

Thae said he’s spoken in conferences, and written many articles to let the South Korean people know about North Korean strategies.

But Thae said he’s found an acute divide in

South Korea on how to view the North is a major obstacle toward unification and that he was deeply frustrated with what he called “a wrong direction” that South Korea’s liberal government has taken on its North Korea policy.

Thae apparently refers to South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s push to expand ties with North Korea, and resume joint economic projects despite a standstill in the US-North Korean nuclear diplomacy. Moon has said improved inter-Korean ties would help facilitate US-North Korean diplomacy.

“I know about North Korean systems and its government more deeply than anyone else in South Korea,” Thae said. “I’d like to legislate and realize a practical unification policy based on a free democracy order... rather than just sending unconditional aid to North Korea or taking an unconditional confrontation with it.”

When North Korean residents aspiring for freedom witness him being elected to South Korean parliament, Thae said they’ll be provided with new hopes and that “a genuine unification that we want would approach us one step closer.”

If Thae is elected, he would become the

second North Korean defector to win a seat in South Korea’s single-chamber National Assembly. Former North Korean Cho Myung Chul, who came to South Korea in 1994, served as a proportional representative for a predecessor of the Liberty Korea Party from 2012 to 2016.

The Liberty Korea Party said on Monday it will field Thae in a Seoul constituency in the elections.

It’s rare for senior North Korean officials to defect to South Korea. About 33,000 North Koreans have fled to South Korea in the past two decades, but most are women from rural towns near the border with China who fled to avoid poverty.

After coming to Seoul, Thae has said that he decided to flee because he didn’t want his children to live “miserable” lives in North Korea and he was disappointed with Kim Jong Un. Thae said he initially had some hopes for Kim, but eventually fell into “despair” after watching him execute officials and pursue development of nuclear weapons.

North Korea has called Thae “human scum,” and accused him of embezzling government money and committing other crimes. AP

A10 Wednesday, February 12, 2020 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Helping nCoV affected sectors

E

ven before affected communities could fully recover from the phreatic eruption of Taal Volcano on January 12, the Philippines was dealt another blow. This time, it came in the form of a virus, which is believed to have originated from the city of Wuhan in China. The outbreaks have spread to other countries, including the Philippines where authorities confirmed the death of a foreigner due to the virus—the first death recorded outside of China.

The outbreaks of the 2019-novel coronavirus (nCoV) have forced countries, including the Philippines, to impose a ban on the entry of Chinese tourists as a precautionary measure given the fact that there is no existing vaccine that can fight the virus. However, the closure of the country’s borders to Chinese tourists also means that the Philippines would have to live with fewer dollars as China has become the top source of tourism revenues for the country (See, “Beyond tourism, virus to cost P20B a month,” in the BusinessMirror, February 10, 2020).

Unfortunately, tourism is not the only sector that is bearing the brunt of nCoV’s onslaught. Last week, traders revealed to the BusinessMirror that Chinese buyers have canceled their orders for Philippine Cavendish bananas, a development that could make it difficult for exporters to grow export receipts by 6 percent this year (See, “NCoV fallout: Chinese buyers halt orders for PHL bananas,” in the BusinessMirror, February 7, 2020). China has become an important market for Philippine bananas in recent years, with receipts reaching $1.448 billion in January to September 2019, 47.76 percent higher than the previous year’s record of $979.93 million.

Outside of the Philippines’s borders, economists are scrambling to measure the real impact of the virus, given the importance of China to the world’s industries. The virus has also brought together businessmen in the Philippines to find means to cushion the impact of nCoV on the tourism sector (See, “Airlines, hotels cut rates to boost domestic travel amid nCoV crisis,” in the BusinessMirror, February 10, 2020). The Tourism Congress of the Philippines told this newspaper that resorts and airlines will focus on domestic programs to cut losses from the nCoV travel ban.

Policy-makers and the private sector should follow the lead of resorts and airlines so they can help other economic sectors weather global headwinds, such as trade tensions and the nCoV. Now is the best time to look at how sectors, such as agriculture, could come out stronger after the nCoV crisis is over. Exporters of Cavendish bananas are in need of immediate help, and would need more in the coming months if the halt in shipments would continue.

The disruption in trade should also give policy-makers the impetus to strengthen programs that will ensure the country’s food security. The Philippines is still a net food importer even after years of pouring billions of money on the agriculture sector. The country imports many food items, even monggo or mung beans, which is widely consumed by the poor.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) indicated that the country bought 31,603.86 metric tons of mung beans valued at $26.85 million (P1.36 billion) from January to November last year. Monggo, which is also used as a raw material for making other food items, can be grown in the Philippines. Government should encourage the cultivation of these types of food crops as this will benefit Filipino planters, and ultimately, the consuming public.

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The value of revisiting the VFA Teddy Locsin Jr.

Free fire Conclusion

2

. Recent actions by the US have shown its renewed commitment to its defense obligations to the Philippines through the pronouncements of Secretary of State Mike R. Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper during their visits to Manila in 2019.

In addition, in the FY 2020 US National Defense Authorization Act signed into law on December 20, 2019, the US Congress has tasked both the Secretaries of State and Defense to submit a report on a strategy to preserve and strengthen Philippines-US military alliance, including the appropriate support to enhance Philippines’s defense capabilities, particularly in the seas.

This derives from the provision of the NDAA, which states: “...an armed attack on the armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft of the Republic of the Philippines in the Pacific, including the South China Sea, would trigger the mutual defense obligations of the US under Article IV of the Mutual Defense Treaty [MDT]…”

This is an unequivocal commitment that had been conveyed mainly verbally in the past. It is now in writing. In short, in a military engagement, the sinking of a Philippine vessel triggers an American response.

The regular presence of US Forces, including those conducting Freedom of Navigation Operations in the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, serve as a deterrent to aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea. Corollary, the MDT is a deterrent to any attack from any power.

The termination of the VFA will very likely dilute the US’s commitment to the MDT. 3. The existing goodwill and friendly relations between the Philippines and the US may be compromised.

The historically robust and friendly relations between the Philippines and the US are further strengthened by the high level of trust and confidence between the Philippines and the US. With the termination of the VFA, overall relations may be adversely affected and various areas of bilateral and multilateral (involving both countries) cooperation may be put in jeopardy.

In this regard, it may be recalled that President Donald J. Trump, just a year into his presidency, showed

special preference to the Philippines by coming to Manila for the Asean Summit in 2017. This led to the country’s highly successful hosting of that event. Trump has not attended any Asean Summits since—those hosted

by Singapore in 2018, and Thailand in 2019.

4. Philippines-US robust economic relations may be affected.

The US is the Philippines’s thirdlargest trading partner at $18.70 billion (as of end 2018), and our biggest export market and our fourth-largest import source.

The Philippines also enjoys preferential treatment on its exports to the US as a beneficiary of the US Generalized System of Preferences, and will continue to be such until December 31, 2020. The GSP was reauthorized on March 23, 2018, after Trump signed the Omnibus Spending Bill which included GSP renewal language.

Our GSP exports account for 16 percent of our total exports to the US, valued at an estimated $1.7 billion in 2018.

It may be noted also that the Philippines currently enjoys a trade surplus with the US, with our exports outpacing our imports by as much as $371.98 million (as of June 2019).

5. The healthy state of our bilateral trade, investments and tourism may be imperiled.

The US is the Philippines’s fifthlargest source of investments accounting for some P12.9 billion in 2018.

The US is also the Philippines’s third-largest tourism market with over 1 million tourist arrivals in 2018.

Finally, in respect of Official Development Assistance, the US is the largest source of grants (there are no loans) accounting for 36.89-percent share of total grants in 2018 (at $886.47 million).

6. US Assistance facilitated by the VFA may dry up.

From 2016 to 2019, the US provided substantial development assistance in the amount of $336.306 million (P16.8 billion). This amount funded programs for scholarships and seminars, and projects on

education, health, environment, agriculture and fisheries, trade, labor, and governance. This brings total US Assistance to the Philippines for the same period to $904.93 million.

Let me conclude with some basic and incontrovertible facts and principles, valid at all times and in all places in the conduct of foreign affairs.

1. An MDT is a promise and a threat. It is a mutual promise by two countries to defend one another from attack as if that attack were made on the other.

2. As a promise, the MDT is only as good as its performance or delivery when it is triggered.

The poet Robert Frost said, “The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected.” We will not know how real it is until we or the US is attacked. Then we must, as we should, declare and make war on its attacker whatever the cost to us. Failure forfeits our claim to be a real sovereign state whose word is its bond. This is called “prestige” in international relations. In a mutual defense arrangement, no one counts the cost of performance because, while it exists, both parties draw down on its main benefit.

And what is that benefit? It is deterrence. The geographical proximity of the Philippines to the most likely aggressor against the US—or against the Philippines given the MDT and its supportive arrangements in Edca, and the VFA is a severe deterrent. That proximity means the response will be near instantaneous. In mutual defense there is to be no second thought nor any second wasted in response. In warfare, time is power and money.

Hence, while the MDT abides, the Edca was adopted to shorten the response time by prepositioning military assets closer to the possible theater of war so as to reduce the cost of keeping the mutual defense vibrant and effective. Under Edca we have given the US five access locations in the Philippines.

It has developed one. No one can say the US is hungry to stretch the extent and duration of its passing and never permanent but always necessary presence in the Philippines. Concomitant with the Edca is the VFA which provides a template governing the behavior of US military personnel while they are in the Philippines on a visit, for say joint military exercises. We have a similar agreement with Australia.

We might have one with Japan.

3. It has been proposed to abrogate the VFA with the US. It has also been said that the MDT and presumably the Edca are to remain in place. That is not entirely up to us.

The US may see no need to continue with Edca without the VFA because its military capability depends on

human operators whose behavior need to be regulated, such as how they are to be dealt with when and if they commit crimes.

4. The MDT without the VFA and Edca may be compared to a deflated balloon. For all practical purposes it becomes an extra large rubber for an Asian—far more elastic than he can ever need for its purpose, and more suitable as a shower cap than a prophylactic against foreign aggression.

5. Can any other power or powers replace the US? It is rationally inconceivable to have a MDT with any military power except one that is too far to meddle in one’s internal affairs but with a strong and long enough reach to hit the mutual enemy. Thus, logically we can only have a military alliance with Russia in the far north and the US in the far east across the Pacific. But Russia does not want to take on the US. Nor does China, as Foreign Minister Wang Yi told our President.

6. While the Philippines has the prerogative to terminate the VFA anytime, the continuance of the agreement is deemed to be more beneficial to the Philippines compared to any benefits were it to be terminated.

Terminating the VFA will negatively impact the Philippines’s defense and security arrangements, as well the overall bilateral relations of the Philippines with the US and, perhaps, even on the subregional and multilateral level. Our contribution to regional defense is anchored on our military alliance with the world’s last superpower. There are, of course, irritants which need to be addressed but the DFA has taken steps to clarify with the US certain items pertaining to the VFA to avoid any issues in the implementation of agreement.

However, it must be said that the VFA is the logical target when the country’s sovereign justice system, modeled after the American system no less, is disrespected. When US senators demeaned the Philippine justice system, which is the mirror-image of that of the US, by demanding the release of an accused properly charged by two rulings of our Supreme Court, it insulted the most basic aspect of sovereignty— the monopoly on justice within its territory. On top of which, the US senators insulted their own justice system after which ours is faithfully modeled. Therefore, there is value in revisiting the VFA to address issues of sovereignty, such as jurisdiction and custody.

An early resumption of bilateral clarificatory talks should serve as a basis, as well as a jump-off point, for a review of the VFA. At this point, we would like to open ourselves to questions from the floor. Thank you so much.

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Germany is one of the biggest Brexit losers

By Andreas Kluth Bloomberg Opinion

A

somber feeling is spreading among Germany’s elites, as the long-term implications of Brexit sink in. Of the European Union’s 27 member-states, Ireland obviously has the most to fear from the United Kingdom’s departure. But Germany may be second.

That’s because Brexit changes not only the remaining EU but also Germany’s role within it—and in ways the Germans have for half a century been trying to avoid.

European integration, starting in the 1950s, was for West Germany a way of atoning for its own nationalist and belligerent past. Its citizens were eager to subsume part of their identity in a “postnationalist,” rules-based, non-militarist and largely mercantile entity, in return for being accepted again by their neighbors. Occupied by three of the Allied Powers, they didn’t have full national sovereignty, so they didn’t worry about ceding more of it to Brussels.

To move this European project forward, the Germans relied on different kinds of support from the Allies. To build the structures that later became the EU, they needed France. The French, however, especially under President Charles de Gaulle, saw “Europe” differently—as reconciliation with Germany, yes, but also as a new vector to project French power, the better to keep the mightier “Anglo-Saxons” at bay.

Those Anglo-Saxons were, of course, the United States and the UK, the other two powers the West Germans needed.

The US protected them against the Soviets, and kept international order generally. And the Brits were basically a smaller, more familiar—and European—version of the Americans and, thus, a welcome counterweight against the French.

In fact, German Francophilia was always less a phenomenon than a policy, imposed top-down; by contrast, German Anglophilia spread from the bottom up (even if it wasn’t often reciprocated). It helped that the Brits after the war competently ran and rebuilt

northwestern Germany—the ancestral homelands, as Germans noted tonguein-cheek, of the Anglo-Saxons, and the Hanoverian kings of England. Once the Beatles showed up in Hamburg, it was basically love all the way.

The West Germans also had political motivations for wanting to hug the UK inside the European club, against the stubborn resistance of de Gaulle. Germany and France have always had clashing economic traditions. The French one, called dirigisme, is based on state intervention and looks askance at free markets and free trade. The German one, called ordoliberalism, is based on restricting the state to narrow functions (such as antitrust) and, otherwise, leaving markets and trade pretty free.

The Germans, thus, saw the Brits, like the Dutch, as more naturally aligned in values than the French. Having the UK in the club meant that the “north” could gang up in the Council of Ministers (the body in Brussels where memberstates decide policy). And it did. A fluid “Nordic” bloc has usually had enough votes to veto “southern” ideas it didn’t like, even as the European club expanded its membership. Projects driven primarily by the Brits and Germans include the single market, rigorous competition policy and liberal trade deals. Projects they successfully prevented (at least until now) include a European “industrial policy,” which tends to be French code for coddling national champions.

Brexit means that the center of gravity in the EU has now shifted southeast, in the European Parliament but above all in the Council. With the UK, the north (defined as Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Ireland and the Netherlands) had a blocking minority of 36.8 percent. Without the UK, that share has dropped to 27.8 percent, too small for a veto. Even when Austria and the Baltics are included, the north can now be overruled.

Other fault lines crisscross this political geography that are just as treacherous for Germany. They run not only between north and south but also between west

and east. For example, the Visegrad four (Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary) have joined to reject the EU’s migrant policy, which they see as dictated by Germany after the refugee crisis of 2015, and they’ve rallied support from Germany’s traditional partners, such as Austria. Depending on the issue, other alliances are constantly taking shape, often aimed against the largest member-state, Germany.

Geographically and politically, Germany thus finds itself, once again, squeezed in the uncomfortable middle.

Historically, this tension is known the German Question, and has repeatedly led to troubles. Owing to its “awkward scale,” as one former West German chancellor put it, Germany was always either too weak (in the 17th and 18th centuries), or too strong (in the late 19th and early 20th) for the continent to be stable. Other powers either ganged up against it or were dominated by it. As the writer Thomas Mann memorably put it, the continent is forever condemned to choosing between “a German Europe” or “a European Germany.”

Having the UK in the EU mitigated that dilemma. Britain was weighty enough—economically, demographically, militarily—to balance Germany, France and the continent. And nobody was happier about being balanced than the Germans, for the last thing they want is to be forced to lead, knowing that this will invariably rekindle old resentments against them. Brexit means that balance is gone again. The German Question is back.

The Brits shouldn’t have been surprised that Germany wasn’t more forthcoming during Brexit negotiations; for Germans, the cohesion of the EU, and the relationship with France, simply takes precedence. Nonetheless, many Germans have regrets. Some are pushing for a German-British Friendship Treaty to complement whatever deal the EU and the UK come up with.

Unspoken is an almost primal plea: Dear Brits, please don’t leave us continentals to ourselves.

Wednesday, February 12, 2020 A11

SSS: Making life easier for the elderly Aurora C. Ignacio

All About Social Security

I

asked some individuals what’s the first thing that came across their mind when they hear the word “SSS.” Some said, “for private workers.” Some said, “monthly premiums,” while others said, “long queues.” But what amazed me was that more than half of the random persons I asked said “SSS is pension.”

It’s indeed true that SSS is pension. SSS is the institution you can rely on when you reach old age. But it saddens me that no one think of SSS as “savings.” The pension a pensioner receives when he reaches the qualifying age is a product of his savings during his productive years. It is a savings fund you can rely on in times of contingencies.

It is not just a fund for retirement but for six other types of benefits, too, which includes sickness, maternity, disability, funeral, death and unemployment.

Since the SSS has been popular for its benefit for those who have retired from the work force, we value them as much as we value our actively paying members. We are always finding ways to make services easier for them, even right at their fingertips, while enjoying their coffee with their loved ones.

One of the programs we launched in 2015 and 2018, in our desire to help our retirees, was the online submission of application for retirement benefit through the SSS web site and an online appointment system, respectively. Yes, you can file your application using your mobile phone or desktop computer even while browsing your Facebook

news feeds, or while playing your “Candy Crush Saga” games.

You just have to v isit the SSS web site at sss.gov.ph, create and register your account at the My.SSS facility, and you may now start your online retirement application process.

This program is available for voluntary and land-based OFW members who are no longer working, who are at least 60 years old upon the date of the submission of retirement claim, and all members who are at least 65 years old upon the date of submission.

Also, the member must satisfy the following conditions to qualify for the queue-less application process: at least 120 monthly contributions prior to the semester of the month of submission; is qualified for retirement per Online Eligibility Inquiry; has no canceled SS number/s; has no outstanding Stock Investment Loan Program/ Privatization Loan Program/ Educational Loan/Vocational Technology Loan balance; has no submitted/pending retirement/settled death/funeral/ total disability claim; has no dependent child/children; and is not an underground/surface mine worker or a racehorse jockey.

Through the My.SSS facility, you

Upgrading teachers’ position classification and compensation: A solution to salary dilemma of public-school teachers

By Antonio G. Papa, PhD

T

he implementation of salary standardization law 5 (SSL-5) on January 1, 2020, caused further dismay among publicschool teachers. This eventuality results to their demoralization and demotivation—causing a dilemma on their part.

According to teachers, “the salary increase is unfair on their part, compared to the members of Military and Uniformed Personnel.” Both groups were promised with salary increase

by President Duterte in July 2016.

The MUP has been granted with sumptuous salary increase in 2018.

While the salary increase of teachers has just been included in the current SSL covering all government personnel, including the members of MUP. Analysis showed that with SSL-5, members of the MUP are, again, favored with an average of 59-percent salary increase across ranks, and the entry level for MUP during the first tranche (2020) got 100-percent salary hike.

In my personal assessment, the SSL are fair enough based on the gradation of jobs and positions with the corresponding equitable compensation. Hence, public-school teachers should not blame their dilemma, as far as salary increase is concerned, to this measure being implemented by the government.

Problem within DepEd

Putting our sight on the right perspective, one could see that many of the public-school teachers are underemployed, that the Department of Education (DepEd) is a government office composed of underemployed human capital.

Why is this so? Because underemployment is operationally defined thus: “The incumbent’s job is way below his qualification, and his compensation is not commensurate with his qualification.”

This is especially true to those teachers who are in the service for decades, however productive they are,

they could not move for promotion because they had limited options for upward mobility in their career, they could just occupy Teacher 1 to Teacher 3 or to a limited plantilla items of Master Teacher (MT) positions.

To me, this is the root cause of the dilemma among teachers—the limited positions in their position classification.

It was reported that in DepEd, as of June 2019, there is a total 879,056 authorized teaching positions (Bueza, 2020). This figure is distributed to just six teachers’ position as follows: Teacher 1—486,453; Teacher 2—139,487; Teacher 3—212,384; MT 1—41,854; MT 2—16,810; and MT 3—68.

The below figures show a meager room for upward mobility for teachers. This scenario strongly supports my honest observation that DepEd is a government bureau of the underemployed, using the National Budget Circular 461, the governing policy for promoting the mentors of the higher education institutions (HEIs), as my frame of reference.

Imagine, if the report is correct, there are only 68 Master Teachers 3 holders in the entire country. I fervently hope that the number is not true because, if so, the highest paying teachers in the DepEd are just 0.7 percent of their entire population—the cause of dismay among them.

Another problem is the process of promotion: the practice of chain promotion for the vacant positions.

While there is no problem about it, the so many qualified applicants for promotions compared to a very few vacancies will result to another dilemma for DepEd, because as I see it—those who did not get the posi-

tions succumb to demoralization and demotivation, which will result to a declining performance. A climate or culture that is not so favorable in a government agency.

The counterparts of publicschool teachers among HEIs do not feel the discrepancy as far as salary increase, per SSL, is concerned.

Their position classification and compensation are on a par with other government employees and officials in the country.

The upgrading of DepEd’s position classification and compensation is my advocacy since 2009. My article, published in The Philippine Star on August 13, 2009, titled “Teaching and rewards,” had in its last part a postscript: an unsolicited advice for the officials of DepEd. Likewise, in my two articles published in The Manila Times, titled “Why I devoted my productive life to teaching” (March 14, 2009) and “Win-win situations for DepEd teachers” (September 12, 2019), I reiterated my advocacy for them, that their position classification and compensation be patterned with that of the HEIs’ NBC 461, so that they could be treated equally with their counterparts.

As a comparison and to justif y fairness among mentors, the following shows the actual situations:

In the above comparison, one could decipher the big discrepancy between assigned positions in DepEd and HEIs, only two ranks for DepEd but there are three ranks for HEIs. So, the approved higher sub-ranks for Teacher positions must be filled up. Likewise, the creation of three other sub-ranks for Master Teacher position has been strongly justified.

Another trivia about salary grade, in state universities and colleges, another form of HEIs, the rank and subranks of Professor 1 to 6 have their equivalent salary grade 24 to 29. And the ultimate position, College Professor for SCs and University Professor for SUs with a SG of 30 (equivalent to the salary of department undersecretary and commissioner of constitutional bodies).

In my personal assessment, the SSL are fair enough based on the gradation of jobs and positions with the corresponding equitable compensation. Hence, publicschool teachers should not blame their dilemma, as far as salary increase is concerned, to this measure being implemented by the government.

The real problem of teachers

The appropriate action

Many public-school teachers at present are underemployed because for so long, they are occupying positions and receiving remunerations way, way below the supposed compensations based on their current qualifications. Except, of course, for those who are new in the system.

The urgent solution

Revise the position classification and compensation of DepEd, patterned with that of the HEIs’ NBC 461. Then, implement the newly

approved Teacher 4 to 7 positions as authorized by Duterte (Briones, 2020). Simultaneously, propose for additional positions from MT 4 to 6 with the corresponding funding appropriations for the immediate approval of the Cabinet members and the President.

The first step is to conduct a mass evaluation for all the teachers occupying permanent plantilla positions.

No exception at all. The results will serve as the baseline data for requesting for fund allocation. Then, based on their qualifications and the results of the evaluation, reclassify their own plantilla position, such that said plantilla position will be co-terminus with the incumbent.

Then the plantilla item that is being occupied by a particular teacher will be upgraded and correspondingly reclassified every three years based on the performance and achievements of that particular teacher. The common criteria for evaluation (CCE) and the qualitative criteria for evaluation (QCE) will guide both the teachers and the evaluators. So, the upward movement of a teacher is based on his quantitative and qualitative performance for the period.

Per NBC 461, the evaluation and upgrading of the incumbents has a three-year interval.

With these development, everybody in the DepEd will have a fair chance of being promoted and

can conveniently submit the application for retirement through the eservices menu on your Web account.

You may also update your contact information in your profile module and enroll your single savings account in the Bank Enrollment under the E-services menu, where the proceeds of your retirement benefits shall be credited. Once your application is successfully submitted, you will generate the acknowledgment receipt of successfully submitted application with claims reference number.

For those who are not qualified for the online submission of application, you don’t have to worry because you may submit your application via over-the-counter transaction in SSS. By using also the My.SSS facility, you may book for your appointment with the branch of your convenience. You may view the list of documentary requirements you need to submit in line with your retirement application so when the time of your appointment comes, all your documents are ready.

These are some of the amendments we made to continually improve our services for our members, and we will continue to do more in the years to come. I do hope that when I randomly ask individuals some time from now, they will not only know the SSS for its pension or a burden for the monthly deductions in their pay slips but, instead, view it also as a savings.

Savings not only for them but for their beneficiaries, too. As what we’ve always been saying, Buti na lang may SSS! 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.

equitably compensated, sooner or later. This scenario is what I see as the win-win situation for DepEd. Thus, if the suggested urgent solution and appropriate action are implemented, then public-school teachers will be very proud of their teaching career and their chosen profession.

If the members of the MUP are given the appropriate privilege on salary increase because they are really considered as in charge of the country’s security and safety, as well as peace and order. Equally, public-school teachers must be given the same treatment since they are the vanguards of our future generations—they are also in charge of the basic education of our children.

Their performance today, in honing the knowledge system, training for youths’ skills proficiency, and inculcating the positive or favorable attitude among the youths, will manifest of what kind of citizens we will have in the country in the future.

To all concerned government entities and private sector, let us join hands in giving our teachers the support that they need.

In fact, teachers are also human beings and with their own respective families who have, what Abraham Maslow called, their own respective “basic needs.” Thus, whatever cost it will take for this advocacy, the government must provide for teachers’ job satisfaction. Once satisfied, they will perform well in the classrooms for the benefit of the young population of the country.

Antonio G. Papa, PhD is a retired university professor at the College of Economics, Management and Development Studies, Cavite State University in Indang, Cavite. After retirement, in 2018, he also served as a scientist 1 and consultant at Marinduque State College in Boac, Marinduque. He is a graduate of both master of science and PhD degrees in extension education at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, in 1986 and 1991, respectively.

A12 Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Senate OKs reso asking Duterte to delay VFA end

S

By Butch Fernandez

@butchfBM

ENATORS crossed party lines on Tuesday and adopted Resolution 312 prodding President Duterte to reconsider a Palace plan to end the Philippines’s Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, hours after Manila sent the termination notice.

Principally sponsored by Senate President Vicente Sotto III

with Senate Minority Leader Frank Drilon and Senator Panfilo Lacson

“It is my view that the better way to go is to review the agreement and ask the executive department to reconsider its intent of abrogation while the Senate, who is a partner in this agreement, is reviewing it.”—Sotto

as coauthors, Resolution 312 was unanimously adopted even as administration Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who was earlier denied a US visa, abstained.

“That (Resolution 312) is the sense of the Senate... for the President to reconsider because we want to review the VFA,” Sotto said, adding, “It appears that the President does not want to review

the VFA.” Hours before the Senate majority vote for the resolution, Malacanang Palace announced it had directed Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. to sign and send the termination notice to Washington.

Locsin, who on February 6 had outlined at a Senate hearing the Philippines’ gains from the VFA and had advocated a “vigorous review” of the treaty and not an outright abrogation, confirmed later on Tuesday he had done as ordered and the letter was received by the US Embassy in Manila.

The actual termination will take place 180 days after the notice.

See “VFA,” A2

House ‘carefully reviewing’ ABS-CBN case

T

HE leadership of the House of Representatives said it is now “carefully reviewing” the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN Corporation, which is set to end on March 30.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said in line with the President’s

legislative agenda, the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN is among the issues affecting the nation that Congress has been considering.

“This is why we continue to work closely with Malacañang regarding the important issues affecting the country, including the passage of

NORTHEAST MONSOON AFFECTING THE COUNTRY as of 4:00 pm - February 11, 2020

the national budget, and several priority bills of the President such as securing sources of revenue to fund free quality education and universal healthcare.”

Cayetano also said the Congress will fulfill its constitutional mandate to review and decide on the

the franchise issue, despite the Office of Solicitor General’s pending action before the Supreme Court asking for the forfeiture of the legislative franchise of broadcast network.

“This constitutional duty of Congress does not preclude other branches of government to do as [they see] fit with regard to this matter. But neither should it divest Congress of its powers nor will their actions stop us from doing what we must do,” Cayetano added.

He was apparently referring to the quo warranto petition filed with the Supreme Court on Monday by Solicitor General Jose Calida, seeking to cancel ABS-CBN’s franchise even though the House is supposed to hold hearings on it.

Cayetano also reiterated Congress’ commitment to conduct an impartial hearing “where those who are against or in favor of the renewal may make their case.” He noted that this is consistent with the President’s stand on the protection of the freedom of expression.

As to the timetable for the hearings, Cayetano said that “there are certain interests who want to rush this process; we stand by the leadership of the 18th Congress and The Committee in Legislative Fanchises on how to prioritize urgent and important legislation.

“We also commit that the 18th Congress shall study this issue from all aspects in order to protect the interest of the public,” he said.

Meanwhile, Cayetano urged the network to do some “soul-searching” to reflect on “how we have all reached this point.”

Gag order?

Meanwhile, Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza said he has being gagged by the chamber following his push for the urgent scheduling of hearings on several bills renewing the franchise of ABS-CBN. Atienza said he was supposed to continue his privilege speech regarding the renewal of the franchise.

According to Atienza, he could not help but suspect the immediate adjournment was connected with the ABS-CBN franchise issue.

The plenary immediately adjourned after the national anthem or five minutes after opening it.

“What other reason can I think of? You can really tell when people are hiding something. Tomorrow, Wednesday, I will again raise it and I hope they will not adjourn again,” he added.

For his part, Majority Leader Martin Romualdez said the session was adjourned “due to lack of quorum.” Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

STATE DEPTBROWN OFFICIALFOX LISTS THE QUICK JU OVERTERMINATION THE LAZY DOG. THE VFA IMPACT LAZY DOG

By Rene Acosta

@reneacostaBM

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HE country’s termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States will mostly affect the military-to-military activities between Manila and Washington, including the freedom of navigation patrols that the US military even conducts in the South China Sea. “All the freedom of navigation operations, all the exercises, all the joint training, having US military personnel in port, on the ground, on the flight line does require that we have a mechanism that allows that, and that’s why the VFA is so important,” US Department of State Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs R. Clarke Cooper said.

Cooper spoke via a telephonic conference with journalists from Asia on Monday, the eve of the Philippines’s handling of a letter to the US Embassy in Manila, informing Washington of its decision to scuttle the VFA. The treaty, Filipino officials had earlier admitted, has continuously trained Filipino soldiers.

“I cited several times the significant amount of military-to-military activities that we conduct with the Philippines—not only in the United States, but particularly in the Philippines. This is where that impact would probably be mostly felt,” Cooper said.

“I would just say from an assessment standpoint, we’re looking at what would be an immediate impact [on] all those joint military-tomilitary activities that we currently enjoy right now between Manila and Washington,” he added.

According to Cooper, the Philippines and the US hold 300 engagements, including training activities under the VFA annually, and this is why, from a “critical operational standpoint,” the agreement must exist, so that those exercises take place unimpeded.

Malacañang Palace issued the order to the Department of Foreign Affairs to send the termination notice to Washington, despite efforts by senators to rush a resolution asking President Duterte to hold off the decision pending a thorough review of the VFA by the treaty-ratifying chamber.

Viral window. . .

Continued from A1

Meanwhile, calamansi producers could also benefit from the situation as a substitute to lemons, since China is the country’s top source of lemons. From January to November 2019, the Philippines imported 15 million kilograms of lemons worth $18 million from China, PSA data showed.

China is also the country’s number one supplier of garlic.

However, Villegas said it is too late for farmers to increase garlic production as it is already near harvest season.

China is also the Philippines’s top supplier for certain farm products— apples ($114 million), grapes ($36.95 million), pears and quinces ($26.675 million), and mandarins ($22.125 million).

Former Tariff Commissioner George Manzano told the BusinessMirror farmers may be encouraged to produce more munggo if prices of the commodity from China become too expensive.

Manzano said importers may shift to other suppliers to purchase farm products if prices in China become more expensive, especially for goods that are not locally produced such as apples and lemons.

Philippine Institute for Development Studies (Pids) senior research fellow Roehlano M. Briones said

At a Senate on February 6, DFA Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. outlined the Philippines’s gains from the VFA, and advocated a “vigorous review” of the treaty, which he described as the anchor of all bilateral agreements embodying defensemilitary cooperation between the Philippines and America. Notably, these are the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) and the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).

President Duterte’s decision for abrogation followed a series of incidents that Malacañang said had riled the President, the latest being the US’ cancellation of the visa of former Philippine National Police chief and now Senator Ronald dela Rosa.

However, officials, including Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana favor its retention due to its defense and security benefits.

The abrogation was made as Cooper disclosed that both sides are scheduled to meet next month to discuss their bilateral defense relations, including the VFA. The US official admitted that without the agreement, the engagements and training activities may not take place although it will not affect, for now, the equipage of the Armed Forces of the Philippines through the US’ foreign military sales and excess defense articles programs.

“Without a VFA, it puts at risk things like these engagements, like these exercises. So again, from an interagency standpoint at home in the United States, and from the inter-ministerial standpoint in Manila, there’s a recognized, broad value of not only maintaining our Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement that will beget further procurements and interoperability between the US-Philippine alliance, but the very practical application of a Visiting Forces Agreement that enables these activities like port calls, like engagements, like exercises,” Cooper said.

“And the Visiting Forces Agreement provides a framework that engenders us to do those activities.

Absent that agreement, we do put at risk those activities that the different defenses, the different services in the Philippines, very much value,” he added.

the impact of China’s economic slowdown due to the 20190-nCoV on the country’s farm trade would be minimal.

Briones sees trade, particularly movement of goods in China, going back to normalcy by early April.

“The worst will be over by end of next month. There will be a slight impact on farm trade in the very short run from several weeks and next month,” he told the BusinessMirror.

“The physical movement of traders is being constrained by the travel bans and lockdowns.

Even Hong Kong is on lock down, so naturally we cannot expect any more trade,” he added.

Br iones sa id C h i n a wou ld eventually lift the lockdowns, which can be sustained only up to a certain point. “Once the incidence of the new disease declines, then the lockdowns could be relaxed and things can go back to normal.”

He also doesn’t see traditional farm imports from China being greatly affected by the lockdowns since these goods are supplied by established institutions and not roving traders.

“This can be handled through purchase order. Only roving traders are affected by the limited movement of people and goods in China due to the national movement lockdown,” he said.

World Feature BusinessMirror

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Wednesday, February 12, 2020 A13

Coronavirus storytellers challenge China’s official narrative of outbreak

By John Leicester & Dake Kang

B

The Associated Press

EIJING—After nearly a week of roaming China’s epidemic-struck city, filming the dead and the sickened in overwhelmed hospitals, the strain of being hounded by both the new virus and the country’s dissentquelling police started to tell.

Chen Qiushi looked haggard and disheveled in his online posts, an almost unrecognizable shadow of the energetic young man who had rolled into Wuhan on a self-assigned mission to tell its inhabitants’ stories, just as authorities locked the city down almost three weeks ago.

Until he disappeared last week, the 34-year-old lawyer-turned-video blogger was one of the most visible pioneers in a small but dogged movement that is defying the ruling Communist Party’s tightly policed monopoly on information.

Armed with smart phones and social-media accounts, these citizenjournalists are telling their stories and those of others from Wuhan and other locked-down virus zones in Hubei province. The scale of this nonsanctioned storytelling is unprecedented in any previous major outbreak or disaster in China. It presents a challenge to the Communist Party, which wants to control the narrative of China, as it always has since taking power in 1949.

“It’s very different from anything we have witnessed,” said Maria Repnikova, a communications professor at Georgia State University who researches Chinese media.

Never have so many Chinese, including victims and health-care workers, used their phones to televise their experiences of a disaster, she said. That’s partly because the more than 50 million people locked down in cities under quarantine are “really anxious and bored, and their lives have pretty much stopped.”

Official state media extol the Communist Party’s massive efforts to build new hospitals in a flash, send in thousands of medical workers and ramp up production of face masks without detailing the underlying conditions that

are driving these efforts.

Chen did just that in more than 100 posts from Wuhan over two weeks. He showed the sick crammed into hospital corridors and the struggles of residents to get treatment.

“Why am I here? I have stated that it’s my duty to be a citizen-journalist,” he said, filming himself with a selfie stick outside a train station.

“What sort of a journalist are you if you don’t dare rush to the front line in a disaster?”

A video posted on January 25 showed what Chen said was a body left under a blanket outside an emergency ward. Inside another hospital, he filmed a dead man propped up on a wheelchair, head hanging down and face deathly pale.

“What’s wrong with him?” he asked a woman holding the man up with an arm across the chest.

“He has already passed,” she said.

Chen’s posts and vlogs, or video blogs, garnered millions of views— and police attention.

In an anguished video post near the end of his first week in Wuhan, he said police had called him, wanting to know where he was, and questioned his parents.

“I am scared,” he said. “I have the virus in front of me, and on my back, I have the legal and administrative power of China.”

His voice trembling with emotion and tears welling in his eyes, he vowed to continue “as long as I am alive in this city.

“Even death doesn’t scare me!” he said. “So you think I’m scared of the Communist Party?”

Last week, Chen’s posts dried up. His mother broke the silence with a video post in the small hours of Friday. She said Chen was unreachable and appealed for

In this image from video taken on February 4, 2020, and released by Chen Qiushi, Chinese citizen-journalist Chen speaks in front of a convention center-turned makeshift hospital amid a viral epidemic in Wuhan in central China’s Hubei province. Armed with smartphones and social-media accounts, Chen and other citizen-journalists in China are telling stories from the deadly epidemic in their own words, defying the ruling Communist Party’s monopoly on information. Chen disappeared last week after garnering millions of views online. Courtesy of Chen Qiushi via AP

help in finding him.

Later that evening, his friend and well-known mixed martial artist Xu Xiaodong said in a live broadcast on YouTube that Chen had been forcibly quarantined for 14 days, considered the maximum incubation period for the virus. He said Chen had been healthy and showed no signs of infection.

On Sunday, Xu tweeted that despite pleading with authorities for a call with Chen, he and others haven’t been able to get in touch.

Police also came knocking last week for Fang Bin, who has been posting videos from Wuhan hospitals, including footage of body bags piled in a minibus, waiting to be carted to a crematorium.

Fang, a seller of traditional Chinese clothing, filmed a testy exchange through the metal grill of his door with a group of four or five officers. The footage posted on YouTube offered a glimpse into how the security apparatus is working overtime to keep a lid on public anger about the spread of the virus.

“Why are there so many of you?” Fang asked. “If I open the

door, you’ll take me away!”

Chen reposted that video on his Twitter feed—one of his last tweets before his disappearance.

The death of a Wuhan doctor last week focused attention on earlier attempts to suppress speech, and its consequences. Police had accused Dr. Li Wenliang of spreading rumors after he raised alarm in December about the outbreak. He succumbed to the virus, bringing an outpouring of grief, along with anger at authorities for how he had been treated.

Wuhan police referred a request for comment to Hubei provincial authorities. Repeated calls to the Hubei foreign affairs office rang unanswered, playing instead a prerecorded message: “Don’t believe rumors, don’t spread rumors.”

For Gao Fei, a migrant worker detained after criticizing Chinese President Xi Jinping over the virus outbreak, the doctor’s death and Chen’s disappearance are “a wakeup call for the Chinese people.”

“The No. 1 reason our government couldn’t control this is because they always conceal the truth

and block information from citizens,” he said from his hometown in Hubei.

Gao, a welder who had rushed home from southern China right before the lockdown, went to hospitals and drugstores, and shared what he saw online. After tweeting that Xi’s measures were against humanity, he was detained with drug users and a “rumormonger” who pointed out overcrowded hospitals.

He admires Chen’s bravery and push for social progress. “He’s the spine, the backbone of China,” Gao said.

Since graduating from law school in 2007, Chen has worked as a waiter, hotel cleaner, voice actor, police reporter and, eventually, a TV host, launching a budding media career. He passed the bar in 2014 and began practicing in Beijing, In 2018, Chen started a video blog on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, and quickly amassed over a million fans for his legal commentary.

He ran into trouble last year after posting videos of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Traveling

to the semiautonomous Chinese city, he attended both a patriotic pro-Beijing rally and a protest march, showing both sides to give his mainland audience a balanced perspective. In response, authorities shut down his Chinese socialmedia accounts and called him back to the mainland.

From Wuhan, Chen has broadcast on YouTube and Twitter, which are blocked in China. Only people who use a virtual private network, or VPN, can see the videos. His YouTube page sports the motto: “Don’t sing the praises of the wealthy and powerful, speak only for the common people.”

Some of his posts were tinged with dark humor. Chen posed in a plastic bottle with its bottom cut off over his head, looking like a spaceman. He showed two men, one wearing a sanitary towel, the other incontinence pants, in lieu of soldout face masks.

Others posts shouted defiance.

“Letting people speak cannot cause deaths,” he tweeted on January 28. “Not letting people speak can cause many deaths.”

Syrians scramble for refuge in last opposition frontier

By Sarah El Deeb The Associated Press

B

EIRUT—Throughout Syria’s civ il war, Maad a lKhalaf helped other Syrians find shelter in the opposition enclave in the northwest as they f led government militar y advances around the country. Now he’s the one in need of refuge as a swift offensive overwhelmed his home village.

He joined hundreds of thousands in Idlib province scrambling to escape the widening, multifront assault by President Bashar Assad’s forces, squeezing into whatever structures they can find in a shrinking territory.

“There is no house of concrete or of mud or even a chicken coop that is not inhabited,” the 41-year-old al-Khalaf said. “People are in dire need of any shelter. Even a tent sometimes is not available.”

The son of a prominent landowning family in Qmenas, an ancient Aramaic village, al-Khalaf fled with his family of five to a nearby town as the bombs began to fall. Within three days, that was swept up in the offensive, as well, so they ran farther—to a village near the Turkish border, 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the front line.

There, they now live in a tent on a piece of farmland donated by a relative. More relatives moved in, as well. Winter wind sweeps through the new settlement, where 30 families huddle in 15 tents set up in the mud, sharing one toilet, one sink and a huge sense of relief that they are out of harm’s way, at least for now.

Nearly a quarter of the 3 million people in Idlib and surrounding areas have surged north as Russian-backed government forces advanced in recent weeks, deter-

mined to capture the last remaining opposition-held territory. Terrified families piled on trucks and vehicles, sitting on top of mattresses and blankets, clogging sludgy rural roads in harrowing scenes of exodus that have been recurrent in Syria’s conflict, now in its ninth year.

Around half the territory’s population had already been displaced from other parts of Syria, so formal camps are full. People are setting up tents in farms or sheltering in half-constructed buildings with no windows or doors in temperatures below freezing.

Almost half of the 700,000 uprooted since December 1 are children, the UN estimated. Schools have stopped, 26 immunization centers closed, threatening new outbreaks of diseases, and some 53 health facilities no longer operate, including three directly hit in air strikes or shelling. More than 370

civilians were killed since December, according to the UN. While it may not be the biggest single wave of displacement— nearly a million were on the move after a government offensive a year ago—this may be the most dire.

“This is truly the worst humanitarian crisis because of lack of resources, the surge in displacement over short periods, weaker emergency responses and because shrinking areas outside of government control means a major problem in providing shelter,” said Mohammed al-Shami, a coordinator for the area’s Response Coordination Group, which works with UN agencies to assess needs.

For the millions who refuse to live under government rule, this is their last frontier with few places to run to.

Turkey, the opposition’s last friend, is already home to 3.6 million refugees and won’t open the

concrete blast walls it erected along most of the border for a new wave.

In one swift move over just a few days, government troops captured more than 600 square kilometers (230 square miles). The forces’ immediate goal seems to be to control the strategic highway running across Idlib and linking northern Syria to Damascus.

An opposition fighter said the government and Russia have adopted a typical “scorched Earth campaign” that drove them from areas along the highway. He called opposition losses “catastrophic,” speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the military situation.

The rapid advances sparked rare clashes with Turkey, which has troops in the region to monitor a 2018 cease-fire deal. Turkey has sent in thousands of reinforcements, but the buildup didn’t stop government advances, only deep-

ening the panic among residents and their skepticism over Ankara’s motives.

The opposition fighter said it remains “ambiguous” why Turkey has been unable to stop the government troops.

Turkey says it has coordinated its deployment with Russia. Aron Lund, a Syria expert, wrote that Turkey may be seeking new leverage with Russia, which has “positioned itself as Idlib’s kingmaker.”

Ultimately, he said, neither Moscow nor Ankara will want to let Idlib ruin their strategic relationship.

Russia, meanwhile, has thrown its weight behind Damascus’s push.

Nothing, including hospitals, has been spared.

Opposition activists said Russian warplanes were behind an air strike on the main hospital in Ariha village in late January that killed at least 10 people. Moscow dismisses the allegations.

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In the ad material of Notice of filing of application for Alien Employment Permits published on December 13, 2019, the Company name of Mr. Zhu. Keqiang under UE HOLDINGS GROUP INC. should have been read as SUNCITY GROUP MANILA, INC. 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 NCR Regional Office located at 967 Maligaya St., Malate, Manila, within 30 days after its publication.

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

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

BusinessMirror

A32 Wednesday, February 12, 2020 Republic of the Philippines

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Chinese Customer Service Representative

73

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. CAIFENG XU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

74

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. YING LIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

75

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. CHONGYAO LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

76

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XIAOLONG DONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

77

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. QINGBO HU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

78

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JUNXIANG FAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

79

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JIANGCAI SU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

80

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. CHUNYU YUAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

81

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HONGQI LIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

82

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. DAYONG CONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

83

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. ZHEN LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT Regional Office No. IV-A 4th Flr. Andenson Bldg. II, Brgy. Parian, Calamba City Telefax No.: (049) 545-7362 February 12, 2020

NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION FOR ALIEN EMPLOYMENT PERMIT (AEP) Notice is hereby given that the following employers have filed with this Regional Office application/s for Alien Employment Permit/s.

Name and Address of Company/Employer

1

SEOKNAM, INC. Phase III, CEZ, Rosario, Cavite

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National Mr. NAM JIN KANG / Korean

Position and Brief Description of Functions Manager

CUTECH PROCESS SERVICES PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 4C Maptan Building, Pallocan Kanluran, Batangas City, Batangas

Mr. NAVEEN KUMAR VELUSAMY / Indian

3

SUZUKI PHILIPPINES INCORPORATED CIP I, Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna

Mr. MASAYUKI KODERA / Japanese

4

PHIL-NIPPON TECHNICAL COLLEGE INC. Madison South, Brgy. Batino, Calamba City, Laguna

Mr. TAKASHI MUTO / Japanese

5

OHTSUKA POLY-TECH (PHILIPPINES), INC. LISP 1, Bgry. Diezmo, Cabuyao, Laguna

Mr. KIKUO NAKAYAMA / Japanese

6

TSUKASA ELECTRIC PHILIPPINES INC. FPIP, Sta. Anastacia, Santo Tomas, Batangas

Mr. HIROSHI SAKURAMORI / Japanese

7

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Ms. XIAOLING XIA / Chinese

8

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. GUIYUAN YIN / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

9

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. LINZI XU / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

10

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. JINGHUI XIA / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

11

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. HAIPING WU / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

12

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. YONGWANG HUANG / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

13

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. YAHUI LUO / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

14

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. ZHUANGJIE TAN / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

15

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Ms. YUE WANG / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

16

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. HAIZHONG QIN / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

17

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. BO XU / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

18

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. YONGXIANG LU / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

19

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. SHAOXIAO WEI / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

20

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. HONGJIE MO / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

21

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. KUNLIN ZHANG / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

22

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. GANG YANG / Chinese

23

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. JIASHUANG YANG / Chinese

24

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. WENJUN NI / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

25

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. XU LUO / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

26

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. SIFAN PANG / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

27

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. JIE LONG / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

2

PAUT Specialist Inspector

Group Head - Assembly

Education Department Adviser

Vice President Maintenance and Technical

President/General Manager

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

28

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. YONGJIA WEI / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

29

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. YANCHI ZHOU / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

30

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Ms. DONGQIN TAN / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

31

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. RONGZHONG WANG / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. CAI WEI / Chinese

32

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

Chinese Customer Service Representative Malaysian Customer Service Representative

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Name and Address of Company/Employer

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Brief Description of Functions

84

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HAO XING / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

85

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. BOWEN DONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

86

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. XIAOYU LONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

87

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. WEIQING CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

88

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JIAN YANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

89

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. XIAOYUN LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

90

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. CHENYANG LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

91

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JUNLANG LIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

92

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. WEI WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

93

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JINYANG SHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

94

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. LIKE LIN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

95

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. YAN ZHOU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

96

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XIGANG GONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

97

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JINYU LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

98

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. BAOXIN QI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

99

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JIAOLONG CHANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. CHONG THUY LINH / Vietnamese

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

100

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 101 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. DONGMING JIN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

102

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HUA HUANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

103

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YADONG BAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

104

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. FENG ZHANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

105

106

107

108

109

110

111

112

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YUNHAI ZHANG / Chinese Ms. JIANJUAN WEN / Chinese Mr. CHUAWEI ZHAO / Chinese

Mr. YI SHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. CHONGYI LIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HAN BAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 115 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. KUI ZHANG / Chinese Mr. KANGJIE WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative Chinese Customer Service Representative

Position and Brief Description of Functions

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. XIAOXIAO LI / Chinese

120

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. MARIA / Indonesian

Indonesian Customer Service Representative

121

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HAI LIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

122

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. VU THI HONG THAI / Vietnamese

123

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. LIANG YANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

124

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XIN JIN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

125

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. ZIQIANG JI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

126

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JIAWEN HUANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

127

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. GUAN WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

128

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HONGPENG DONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

129

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. SHICHANG SONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

130

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. WEI CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

131

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HONGPENG YU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

132

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. WEI ZHENG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

133

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. LIANGJUN GAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

134

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. BAIRU LIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

135

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XIAOCHEN LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

136

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YANXIANG REN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

137

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. LINGLING WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

138

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. QINGBING SHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

139

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XIAOPENG WEI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

119

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 113 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

114

Mr. CHENGDONG YU / Chinese

Name and Address of Company/Employer

Wednesday, February 12, 2020 A33

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

PHILIPPINE ADVANCED 140 PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY, INC. CEPZA, Rosario, Cavite

Mr. GENICHI HOSOBUCHI / Japanese

TOMS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION 141 DIP-SEZ, Maguyam Rd., Silang, Cavite

Mr. MITSURU MATSUI / Japanese

Production General Manager

HTS CORPORATION 142 Premiere International Park, Batino, Calamba City, Laguna

Mr. SUNGMIN LEE / Korean

Production Manager

HTS CORPORATION 143 Premiere International Park, Batino, Calamba City, Laguna

Mr. JINWOO JEONG / Korean

SUZUKI PHILIPPINES INCORPORATED 144 CIP I, Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna

Mr. TAKESHI KITAHARA / Japanese

Ms. SHU-LIEN LIN / Taiwanese

Marketing Manager

Marketing Manager

Mr. JIANGPENG XUE / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. HUAWEI LAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SHING HUNG PLASTICS COMPANY INC. 145 FPIP, Sta. Anastacia, Santo Tomas, Batangas SHING HUNG PLASTICS COMPANY INC. 146 FPIP, Sta. Anastacia, Santo Tomas, Batangas

Ms. SHU-LIEN LIN / Taiwanese

Consultant

Mold Sr. Manager Group Head for Quality Assurance/Production Engineering and Facilities Management

116

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. SHAN WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

117

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. ZHAO HU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SOLID CEMENT CORPORATION 147 Sitio Tagbac, San Jose, Antipolo City, Rizal

Mr. TRINIDAD VIRGEN PONCE DE LEON / Mexican

Solid Expansion Project Deputy

118

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. MANLIN LIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SOLID CEMENT CORPORATION 148 Sitio Tagbac, San Jose, Antipolo City, Rizal

Mr. OMAR FILOMENO GONZALEZ HERNANDEZ / Mexican

Solid Expansion Project Officer

Name and Address of Company/Employer

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Brief Description of Functions

Electrical Foreman

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 162 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. BAKRI / Indonesian

Electrician Specialist

Mr. BAHARUDDIN MARULI TUA SILALAHI / Indonesian

Electrician Specialist

Electrician Specialist

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 163 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. DAVID FERNANDO SIMANJUNTAK / Indonesian

Electrician Specialist

Electrical Foreman

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 164 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 165 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. ALBERTUS SIAHAAN / Indonesian

Electrical Supervisor

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 166 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. TOGAP MARISI SIPAHUTAR / Indonesian

Electrician Specialist

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 167 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. DANIL MANALU / Indonesian

Electrical Foreman

168

ARKTECH PHILIPPINES INC. FPIP, Santo Tomas, Batangas

Ms. JU YOUNG HUH / Korean

Engineering Specialist

169

ARKTECH PHILIPPINES INC. FPIP, Santo Tomas, Batangas

Mr. TAKUYA ARAKAWA / Japanese

Solid Expansion Project Deputy

SOLID CEMENT CORPORATION 150 Sitio Tagbac, San Jose, Antipolo City, Rizal

Mr. RAFAEL IVAN VILLARREAL ONTIVEROS / Mexican

Solid Expansion Project Officer

SOLID CEMENT CORPORATION 151 Sitio Tagbac, San Jose, Antipolo City, Rizal

Mr. PEDRO ALEJANDRO ZARZOSA RIVERO / Mexican

Solid Expansion Project Officer

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 152 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. BUDI GRUMER MARWANDI SIMBOLON / Indonesian

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 153 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. RONALD JIMMI SIMARMATA / Indonesian

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 155 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. TOBER ABIDAN SITORUS / Indonesian

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 156 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. BINSAR HOTMAN PANGARIBUAN / Indonesian

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 157 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. ANGGIAT PARULIAN PANGGABEAN / Indonesian

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 158 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. SUHADI / Indonesian

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 159 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. LINDUNG PARDOSI / Indonesian

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 160 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. ZAKHARIA SILABAN / Indonesian

Position and Brief Description of Functions

Mr. ISHAK / Indonesian

Mr. CARLOS CISNEROS CARRILLO / Mexican

Mr. ARNOT OMPUSUNGGU / Indonesian

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 161 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

SOLID CEMENT CORPORATION 149 Sitio Tagbac, San Jose, Antipolo City, Rizal

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 154 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Name and Address of Company/Employer

Electrician Specialist

Electrician Specialist

Electrician Specialist

Electrical Foreman

Electrician Specialist

Technical Adviser

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 the DOLE Regional Office within 30 days from the date of publication.

Please inform the DOLE Regional Office if you have an information of any criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

Electrician Specialist

Electrician Specialist

ATTY. NEPOMUCENO A. LEAÑO II OIC, Regional Director

To avail of free job referral, placement, and employment guidance services, visit the nearest Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) or log on at http://www.philjobnet.gov.ph AEP20201007337

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Companies BusinessMirror

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

B1

Loss from Taiwan ban may hit ₧2.3B in just 6 wks; PHL carriers push domestic tourism

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

T

this year, and the DOT will unlikely meet its 9.2-million arrivals target for 2020. While final numbers have yet to be released, Romulo Puyat earlier said arrivals last year may have slightly missed DOT’s 8.2-million target. From January to December 27, 2019, foreign tourist arrivals were marked at 8 million.

Clemente said hardest hit by the travel ban on China are “Boracay, Bohol, and Cebu. Cancellations have been experienced; in Boracay alone, as much as 40 percent of its expected arrivals have cancelled.

We don’t have exact estimates yet, but for sure the one-month revenue was wiped out.”

The TCP chief earlier told this paper how the tourism stakeholders and airlines were banding together to provide deep discounts to local travelers to boost domestic tourism while the nCoV rages. (See,

Special to the BusinessMirror

HE widening of the Philippines’s travel ban due to the novel coronavirus (nCoV) crisis to include Taiwan is expected to add more losses to the local tourism industry.

This developed as the Department of Tourism (DOT) finally came out with an initial assessment of tourism revenue losses due to the travel ban on persons coming from China, Hong Kong, and Macau, placing it at P14.8 billion. In a document submitted to the Senate Committee on Tourism chaired by Sen. Nancy Binay, the DOT projected revenue losses reaching P53 billion from February to April 2020 on 691,625 arrivals from these markets.

The estimate assumes an average daily expenditure of $120.60 and average length of stay of nine months.

BusinessMirror’s own estimates using DOT receipts data for 2019 and airline losses from canceled flights to China and its administrative regions indicated losses to the industry of at least P27 billion for February and March alone. (See, “’19 nCoV travel ban could spell P27-B loss for tourism sectors,” in the BusinessMirror, February 3, 2020.)

Using tourism receipts from Taiwan in 2019, an additional $45 million or P2.3 billion in revenue may be forgone by the local economy for half

of February and the entire month of March. This does not include losses by the airlines, which are currently hard-pressed to reschedule bookings of passengers after the Taiwan ban was announced Monday night.

Passengers who arrived on Tuesday from Taipei, except for Filipinos and Philippine permanent resident visa holders, were turned away at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, several news outlets have reported.

The Taiwanese market only rebounded in 2019 after previous years’ sluggish arrivals owing to the negative sentiment of the Taiwanese on the Philippines, with public opinion surveys tagging the Philippines as “second most hated country”. DOT data showed arrivals grew a mere 2.4 percent to 222,934 in 2018. From January to November 2019, however, arrivals from Taiwan surged at some 51 percent to 336,004, due to the DOT foreign office’s intense marketing push. (See, “DOT pushes mar-

keting amid decline in Taiwanese arrivals,” in the BusinessMirror, June 28, 2018.)

Taiwan is also an important stop

“Airlines, hotels cut rates to boost domestic travel amid nCoV crisis,” in the BusinessMirror , February 10, 2020.) Clemente, along

Tourism stakeholders meet with President Duterte on Monday evening at the SMX Convention Center to inform him of their joint program to push domestic tourism, with the novel coronavirus crisis expected to cut the foreign visitor arrivals, especially from China. (From left, back) Cebu Pacific CEO Lance Gokongwei, Philippine Airlines President Gilbert Santa Maria, Tourism Congress of the Philippines President Jose C. Clemente III, Duterte, Sen. Bong Go; (front row) Air Asia Philippines owner Mikee Romero and CEO Ricky Isla, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat, and Philippine Hotel Owners Association President Arthur Lopez. Photo from Puyat’s Facebook page

to and from the Philippines, with some foreign carriers from Europe, North America and Taiwan using Taipei as a layover point.

Meanwhile, in the same press briefing, Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) president Jose C.

Clemente expressed optimism that tourism arrivals would pick up by the second half of the year. “We’re lucky the Western markets are still holding. That’s the bright spot. The projected arrivals from North America and Europe are still holding; we’ve

SC gives ABS-CBN 10 days to reply to OSG plea to revoke its franchise

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

T

HE Supreme Court has directed television giant ABSCBN Corporation and its subsidiary ABS-CBN Convergence to answer within 10 days the quo warranto petition filed by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) seeking the revocation of its legislative franchise.

SC spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka said the magistrates issued the order during its regular en banc session on Tuesday.

“Acting on the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General [Jose] Calida in behalf of the Republic against respondents ABS CBN Corp. and ABS CBN Convergence Inc., the Supreme Court in today’s En Banc session, required the respondents to file their comment to the said petition for quo warranto within a non-extendible period of 10 days from receipt of notice,” Hosaka said.

The order to comment also covers Solicitor General Jose Calida’s prayer for the issuance of a temporary restraining order or writ of preliminary injunction to enjoin ABS-CBN Corporation from further operating the KBO (Kapamilya Box Office) channel and offering it to the public.

The ABS-CBN Corporation’s franchise will expire on March 30, 2020, while the ABS-CBN Convergence’s franchise will expire on June 30, 2022.

The KBO channel has an estimated nine million subscribers.

“The action of the Court right now is to require the respondents to comment on the petition for quo warranto which includes a prayer for issuance of a TRO and Writ of Preliminary Injunction,” he added.

The SC, however, was silent on the motion by Calida to conduct an oral argument on the petition in order to hear the parties on the merits of the petition. “There was no order setting the case for oral arguments.”

Reacting to the OSG’s filing of the quo warranto petition, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said

the House of Representatives need not wait for the SC’s decision on the quo warranto case before it proceeds with its deliberation on the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN. “The filing of the petition for quo warranto seeking the forfeiture of ABS-CBN’s franchise is independent of and separate from the legislative process of granting the renewal of the said franchise upon expiration of its term in March,” Guevarra said.

As news broke of Calida’s quo warranto filing on Monday, the House of Representatives was thrown into turmoil, with lawmakers blaming the chairman of the Committee on Franchises for not scheduling hearings on several bills to renew ABSCBN’s franchise. Others blamed Speaker Alan Peter Cayateno for lack of leadership in coaxing action on an important case.

Several lawmakers deemed Calida’s move as an infringement on the constitutional mandate of Congress to grant franchises.

PCCI BACKS BELLO PROGRAMS The national

leaders of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the largest business organization in the country, recently paid a courtesy call on Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to pledge their support to his programs promoting industrial peace and improving employeeemployer relations. Photo shows Bello (center) with DOLE officials and PCCI officers, (from left) Assistant Secretaries Benjo Benavidez and Nikki Tutay, PCCI Director William Co, PCCI Honorary Chairman and Treasurer Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., PCCI President Benedicto Yujuico, PCCI Director George Barcelon, PCCI Director Edgardo Lacson, and Labor Undersecretary Ana Dione.

only experienced minimal cancellations with most rebooking to end of the year.”

But he told the BusinessMirror separately that because of the uncertainty of the situation, foreign tourist arrivals “will definitely drop”

with Romulo-Puyat, Philippine Hotel Owners Association President Arthur Lopez, Philippine Airlines president Gilbert Santa Maria, Cebu Pacific CEO Lance Gokongwei, and Air Asia Philippines owner Mikee Romero, met with President Duterte on Monday evening to discuss their domestic tourism campaign.

Romulo Puyat later told reporters Duterte would be leading the push for domestic tourism by visiting Boracay, Bohol and Cebu in the next few weeks.

Lopez-led FGen creates 160-M preferred shares, OKs sale of stake in hydro arm

By VG Cabuag @villygc

& Lenie Lectura @llectura

T

HE board of Lopez-led First Gen Corp. (FGen) has approved the company’s increase in authorized capital stock after it created some 160 million in preferred shares, which it will use to raise cash. The board also approved the sale of its entire stake in a hydro subsidiary to another subsidiary.

In its disclosure, the company that owns the power assets of the Lopez group said it will increase its authorized capital stock to P13.2 billion from P11.6 billion after the creation of the said shares.

The new Series I preferred shares, with a par value of P1 per share, are entitled to cumulative dividends, non-voting, nonparticipating, redeemable at the option of the company and with a dividend rate to be determined by the board of directors.

This will be discussed for stockholders’ approval during the May 13, 2020 annual meeting.

“The amendment to increase the authorized capital stock will give the corporation increased financial flexibility to raise cash for its various projects and/or to pay debt,” it said.

San Isidro

Meanwhile, the board ap-

proved the sale of First Gen’s 100 percent stake in FGEN San Isidro Hydro Power Corporation to FG Mindanao Renewables Corp. (FGMR).

The sale will result in San Isidro being a 100 -percent direct subsidiary of FG Mindanao.

FGMR is a 100 percent direct subsidiary of First Gen Mindanao Hydro Power Corp., which has a Hydropower Service Contract (HSC) with the Department of Energy (DOE) for a proposed hydroelectric project to be located in Mindanao.

“The restructuring will allow First Gen Mindanao Hydro Power Corp. to request the DOE for the assignment of the HSC to San Isidro, which will be its 100 percent indirect subsidiary,” it said.

FGen claims to be the largest clean and renewable Independent Power Producer in the Philippines, with a total installed capacity of 3,490 megawatts as of end 2018.

In 2016 it declared that it would not develop, finance, or operate any coal fired power plants.

Aside from hydro, First Gen power plants run on natural gas, geothermal, wind and solar. These plants have a combined capacity of 3,492 MW at the end of 2019.

FGen shares were last traded at P20.85 apiece.

B2

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Companies BusinessMirror

Did ERC let Iemop collect fees from consumers? Solons ask

T

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

HE House Energy Committee wants to know from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) if it allowed Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (Iemop) to collect 1 centavo for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) from the consumers’ monthly electric bill.

Iemop is the operator of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM). Its predecessor, Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC), used to collect this amount as per approval from the ERC in 2014.

“The 2014 ERC approval was given to PEMC and not for Iemop. Can that approval given to a government-

owned and -controlled corporation be transferred to a private corporation? That’s the number one issue for me. How can a private corporation collect that?” asked Nueva Ecija Rep. Rosanna Vergara, member of the House Energy committee.

In a recent public hearing, Iemop officials said PEMC sought approval

Firm tells DOE of interest to explore Mindoro-Cuyo basin petrol reserves

T

HE Department of Energy (DOE) has received an application to explore petroleum reserves in Mindoro-Cuyo basin, a nominated area submitted by an undisclosed firm.

The nomination of an area for exploration is one of the two ways by which investors can participate in the DOE’s Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program (PCECP). The process for this option begins by requesting the DOE for an Area Clearance.

The other option is choosing an area from the 14 Pre-Determined Areas (PDAs) offered by the DOE. The identity of the nominating party “cannot be disclosed to protect the integrity of the bidding process,” the DOE replied when asked who nominated area No.5 or the MindoroCuyo basin.

The nominated area is subject to counter challenge by other prospective bidders. Deadline for the submission of documents by counterproponents is set at 60 calendar days from date of publication by the nominating party.

The nominating party published the existence of its application last January 31, the

DOE said. Challengers have until March 31 this year to make a counter offer. The DOE has scheduled on the same day the opening of the bids.

“Such information, along with those of the parties who submitted counterproposals, if any, during the 60-day challenge period following the publication of the nominated area, shall likewise be disclosed during the opening of bids,” said the DOE. The DOE has so far received four other bids for nominated areas.

These are in Sulu Sea Basin, Ragay Gulf and Northeast Palawan Basin. Two applications were filed to explore areas in Northeast Palawan.

“We actively welcome all PCECP applications, as each one has the potential to bring us closer to desire to maximize the exploration, development, and utilization of our indigenous energy resources to help us attain energy security and independence,” Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi earlier said.

PCECP was established to help reinvigorate petroleum exploration and development activities in the Philippines. Lenie Lectura

in 2014 and that it filed its own application in January 2019.

“We would like to ask ERC. The only one that can answer this is ERC. Iemop applied in January 2019, but I don’t know if ERC has approved this, if this is still pending. We would like to know what happened. At the end of the day, we want to unburden the consumers,” said Vergara, who added that ERC officials would be summoned at the next hearing.

ERC did not reply when sought for comment.

Iemop, Vergara said, is supposed to be a n independent market operator. However, she said, there could be conflict of interest because the president of IEMOP, Richard Nethercott, is married to an assistant secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE) while another Iemop official, who has since resigned, is also married to the president of National Transmission Corp.

mutual funds

“The law says that if you are married to someone who is in the government that has control on the entity you are involved in, then that is a violation of RA 3019 or the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act. I don’t know how they will explain that, but there’s probably conflict of interest there,” she said.

Nethercott admitted at the last hearing that he is married to a DOE official but claimed that there is no conflict of interest, saying a legal opinion from Iemop was sought on the matter.

He also admitted that National Transmission Corp. president Melvin Matibag was also married to one of the incorporators of Iemop but has since resigned.

However, Vergara said the relationships cast doubts on Iemop’s independence. “The independence is already subject to question, whatever you say,” Vergara had told Nethercott.

February 11, 2020

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

February 11, 2020

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

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

53 150.5 85.8 25.1 11.14 58.3 32 51.5 20.7 173 59 0.8 17.98 3.65 1.13 0.42 0.77 172 1845 1.1

53.5 152 85.85 25.15 11.16 59.05 32.1 51.6 20.8 173.1 59.2 0.88 18.48 3.79 1.15 0.435 0.81 173.8 1870 1.14

53 150.2 86 25 11.16 59.75 32.05 51.85 20.7 173.2 59.6 0.81 18 3.8 1.15 0.48 0.8 172 1880 1.08

53 152 86 25.1 11.2 60.5 33 54.3 20.7 174.9 59.7 0.81 18.5 3.91 1.15 0.48 0.81 173.8 1880 1.1

53 150.2 85 25 11.14 58.3 31.8 51.5 20.7 172.9 59 0.8 17.98 3.6 1.15 0.42 0.8 171.6 1875 1.08

53 152 85.8 25.1 11.16 58.3 32 51.5 20.7 173.1 59 0.8 18 3.65 1.15 0.42 0.81 172 1875 1.1

1000 403860 1318290 148500 52800 1002830 177100 1210 64600 154780 9760 382000 181000 436000 17000 10600000 12000 940 65 139000

53000 61340730 113120935.5 3720785 589110 59211947.5 5,685,590( 62716.5 1337220 26794380 580928.5 306500 3266496 1606830 19550 4641800 9710 161538 122125 152630

5638043 37613218 175700 -121640 -18332759.5 2,730,469.9997) -9836.5 55890 -10387921 -383128.5 -1990300 42500 44720 130630

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 2.09 2.11 2.02 2.12 2 2.09 2893000 5991290 ALSONS CONS 1.18 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1000 1250 ABOITIZ POWER 32.5 32.7 31.75 32.7 31.65 32.7 476200 15494540 BASIC ENERGY 0.212 0.223 0.223 0.223 0.223 0.223 20000 4460 FIRST GEN 20.85 20.95 21.2 21.2 20.65 20.85 2749800 57369060 FIRST PHIL HLDG 66.8 67 66.8 67 66.8 67 27550 1841948 MERALCO 276.8 277 279 282 277 277 79200 22036166 12.86 12.88 13.04 13.2 12.72 12.88 11830600 152519406 MANILA WATER 3.5 3.59 3.49 3.59 3.46 3.59 446000 1581020 PETRON 11.7 11.9 11.7 11.9 11.68 11.9 26300 309808 PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL 30.15 30.2 30.9 30.9 30.1 30.2 135300 4108185 9.16 9.28 9.29 9.29 9.15 9.16 32000 293647 SPC POWER VIVANT 14.2 15.1 15.1 15.1 15.1 15.1 5000 75500 7.93 7.94 8.46 8.6 7.51 7.94 3858300 31135769 AGRINURTURE AXELUM 2.89 2.9 2.87 2.93 2.78 2.9 2806000 8008430 BOGO MEDELLIN 88.5 99.95 99.95 99.95 99.95 99.95 10 999.5 CENTURY FOOD 15.02 15.3 15.02 15.04 14.98 15.02 460100 6905778 DEL MONTE 4.5 4.6 4.6 4.6 4.5 4.6 44000 199920 DNL INDUS 8.95 9.1 9 9.1 8.8 9.1 537500 4862907 EMPERADOR 7.25 7.26 7.32 7.32 7.25 7.26 6123900 44398285 SMC FOODANDBEV 76.85 77 78 78 76.8 77 64330 4962834.5 0.6 0.62 0.62 0.63 0.6 0.6 1672000 1025020 ALLIANCE SELECT FRUITAS HLDG 1.99 2 2.06 2.07 1.95 2 38689000 77804340 35.55 36.9 35.55 36.9 35.55 36.9 200 7245 GINEBRA JOLLIBEE 191.9 192 191 193.9 191 192 811210 155720996 6.51 6.84 6.51 6.52 6.51 6.52 10500 68379 MACAY HLDG MAXS GROUP 10.12 10.2 10 10.26 10 10.2 742500 7510074 1.84 1.86 1.83 1.85 1.83 1.84 174000 320190 PEPSI COLA SHAKEYS PIZZA 9.39 9.4 9.4 9.5 9.39 9.39 17300 163375 ROXAS AND CO 1.57 1.61 1.62 1.62 1.56 1.61 600000 946770 ROXAS HLDG 1.51 1.68 1.51 1.51 1.51 1.51 5000 7550 UNIV ROBINA 152.4 153.4 155.3 155.3 151.5 153.4 690320 106211396 VITARICH 1.12 1.14 1.13 1.15 1.12 1.12 3633000 4093330 VICTORIAS 2.4 2.54 2.4 2.54 2.4 2.54 6000 14540 CONCRETE B 59.15 69 62 62 59 61 1610 96393 1.41 1.42 1.43 1.44 1.39 1.42 2574000 3616060 CEMEX HLDG 12.1 12.46 12.02 12.1 12.02 12.1 2800 33808 EAGLE CEMENT 9 9.08 8.6 9.08 8.6 9.08 561700 5053350 EEI CORP 10.4 10.46 10.38 10.48 10.3 10.46 916500 9526642 HOLCIM 14.46 14.5 14.6 14.6 14.44 14.5 237600 3445676 MEGAWIDE 9.9 9.99 10 10 9.8 9.99 33700 331469 PHINMA TKC METALS 0.99 1 0.93 1.06 0.91 1 864000 867840 VULCAN INDL 1.02 1.03 1 1.05 1 1.02 2598000 2667520 CROWN ASIA 2.15 2.16 2.14 2.15 2.14 2.15 30000 64450 EUROMED 3.01 3.09 3.07 3.79 3 3.09 24344000 81538600 LMG CHEMICALS 4.09 4.42 4.5 4.5 4.09 4.09 6000 26590 MABUHAY VINYL 3.08 3.23 3.11 3.27 3.1 3.1 20000 62340 PRYCE CORP 4.71 4.86 4.71 4.71 4.71 4.71 30000 141300 CONCEPCION 30.1 31.9 30.15 30.15 30.15 30.15 2900 87435 1.58 1.59 1.66 1.66 1.55 1.58 4749000 7515850 GREENERGY 6.51 6.6 6.55 6.6 6.5 6.6 41700 273927 INTEGRATED MICR 1.27 1.28 1.3 1.3 1.24 1.27 600000 750310 IONICS SFA SEMICON 1.27 1.28 1.34 1.37 1.24 1.28 4140000 5383370 CIRTEK HLDG 10.4 10.42 10.2 10.42 9.84 10.4 2170000 22108024

3208509.9997 -1155950 29626315 414813.5 -4720574 -52088482 942120 -3120555 -75500 489023 454220 3393012 1360232 38787500 -422391 -641910.0002 -11543139 -4079078 -18370 -11444 -8000 -56292905 11299.9999 12000 11950 -1311770 -1210 4293494 379304 -2104146 179390 -43540 -3015 3482890 62420 -193118

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL 0.87 0.88 0.87 0.88 0.87 0.88 2212000 1926160 ASIABEST GROUP 9.91 10.18 10.28 10.28 9.84 10.18 10400 103334 AYALA CORP 755 755.5 761 761 747.5 755.5 254890 192811425 ABOITIZ EQUITY 51.75 52.05 52 52.25 51.5 52.05 247570 12880049 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 10.46 10.52 10.54 10.7 10.38 10.5 13419100 140953026 AYALA LAND LOG 2.61 2.64 2.7 2.7 2.61 2.61 624000 1633410 ANSCOR 6.05 6.29 6.04 6.35 6.03 6.05 130500 787898 0.68 0.7 0.69 0.73 0.68 0.68 535000 377280 ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.89 0.9 0.91 0.91 0.86 0.89 2309000 2039050 ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B 0.91 0.92 0.9 0.94 0.9 0.94 302000 271840 6.54 6.57 6.15 6.57 6.15 6.57 14840500 93547076 COSCO CAPITAL 6.1 6.11 6.08 6.13 6.06 6.11 3424700 20896973 DMCI HLDG 0.233 0.235 0.221 0.221 0.212 0.212 160000 35270 FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL 726 727 717 730 717 727 168370 122003710 HOUSE OF INV 4.92 5.39 6.24 6.24 4.9 4.9 4400 23834 JG SUMMIT 71.8 71.9 71.8 72 70.5 71.9 586120 42096335.5 LODESTAR 0.485 0.495 0.5 0.5 0.49 0.5 113000 55900 LOPEZ HLDG 3.77 3.78 3.88 3.88 3.7 3.77 295000 1108860 LT GROUP 10.54 10.58 10.5 10.64 10.48 10.54 10625200 112012690 MABUHAY HLDG 0.56 0.58 0.56 0.58 0.56 0.58 6000 3380 METRO PAC INV 3.15 3.17 3.23 3.23 3.15 3.15 24075000 76492870 4.33 4.79 4.28 4.28 4.28 4.28 5000 21400 PACIFICA HLDG PRIME MEDIA 1.15 1.16 1.12 1.17 1.1 1.17 94000 103750 REPUBLIC GLASS 2.74 2.8 2.75 2.75 2.75 2.75 10000 27500 SYNERGY GRID 171 184.5 175 184.5 175 184.5 40 7195 SM INVESTMENTS 1000 1003 1000 1001 990 1000 165480 165325587.5 135 135.1 135 136 135 135.1 170220 23007935 SAN MIGUEL CORP 0.78 0.81 0.81 0.81 0.81 0.81 13000 10530 SOC RESOURCES SEAFRONT RES 2 2.3 2.02 2.02 2 2 4000 8030 TOP FRONTIER 169.7 170 170 170 169 170 420 71264 WELLEX INDUS 0.215 0.222 0.205 0.215 0.205 0.215 190000 40550 ZEUS HLDG 0.195 0.2 0.193 0.2 0.192 0.195 1940000 374640

1740 -118265 5299734 19162204 2620 166417 -20160 270000 2548874 -6449445 -12324325 -9208740 -917640 21650745.9998 21351900 -6104705 118634 -23798 -0

NAV One Year Three Year Five Year Y-T-D per share Return* Return Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a 241.02 -10.63% -1.55% -2.74% -4.32% ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 1.2531 -20.99% -3.68% -4.99% -9.33% ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.3751 -19.6% -5.78% -5.6% -8.24% Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.8398 -12.26% n.a. n.a. -6.39% First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.8144 -7.73% n.a. n.a.

-4.11% First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a 5.0775 -9.68% -0.35% -2.74% -4.71% First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,6 0.8086 -9.63% -4.21% n.a.

-5.27% MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a 94.97 -22.26% n.a. n.a.

-8.09% PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a 48.6678 -8.21% 0.43% n.a.

-5.1% Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 508.34 -7.86% -0.38% -2.32% -4.59% Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d, 8 0.992 n.a. n.a. n.a.

-3.7%

PROPERTY Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a 1.2296 -7.87% 0.26% -1.4% -4.45% ARTHALAND CORP 0.78 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.78 0.8 885000 692850 ANCHOR LAND 8.81 9.69 9.05 9.69 9.05 9.69 3600 32694 Philequity Fund, Inc. -a 36.135 -7.91% 1.2% -1.19% -4.65% AYALA LAND 43.6 43.65 44 44 43.5 43.65 11287900 492622505 ARANETA PROP 1.65 1.72 1.66 1.66 1.66 1.66 25000 41500 Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,1 0.9739 -7.34% n.a. n.a.

-4.34% BELLE CORP 1.53 1.54 1.52 1.59 1.51 1.52 314000 484610 A BROWN 0.63 0.64 0.65 0.65 0.64 0.64 72000 46180 Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a 4.9597 -7.39% 1.12% -0.58% -5.05% CITYLAND DEVT 0.79 0.82 0.79 0.79 0.79 0.79 12000 9480 0.178 0.182 0.177 0.178 0.177 0.178 2490000 441220 CROWN EQUITIES 828.12 -7.43% 1.06% -0.73% -5.04% Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a CEB LANDMASTERS 4.48 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.48 4.49 323000 1449410 0.49 0.495 0.49 0.495 0.485 0.49 2320000 1138550 CENTURY PROP Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 0.7861 -14.23% -2.56% -4.51% -7.67% 0.365 0.38 0.365 0.365 0.365 0.365 10000 3650 CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON 18.74 18.76 18.48 18.74 18.04 18.74 365400 6783074 Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.9588 -9.03% 0.29% -1.49% -5.95% 8.99 9 9 9.08 8.99 8.99 493900 4445291 DM WENCESLAO 0.385 0.39 0.39 0.39 0.39 0.39 160000 62400 EMPIRE EAST Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.9504 -7.7% 0.91% n.a.

-5.04% FILINVEST LAND 1.46 1.47 1.45 1.46 1.44 1.46 4713000 6847000 United Fund, Inc. -a 3.4978 -6.48% 2.34% 0.29% -4.26% GLOBAL ESTATE 1.05 1.06 1.05 1.06 1.05 1.05 214000 224900 8990 HLDG 14.7 14.76 14.8 14.8 14.7 14.7 854800 12575640 Exchange Traded Fund PHIL INFRADEV 1 1.02 1.02 1.04 0.99 1 2866000 2885760 MEGAWORLD 3.99 4 4.05 4.05 3.98 4 15595000 62420240 First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 111.1184 -7.12% 1.76% 0.2% -4.99% MRC ALLIED 0.213 0.215 0.202 0.215 0.202 0.215 11120000 2330340 PRIMEX CORP 2.04 2.05 2.05 2.05 2.04 2.05 445000 908350 ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b $0.9949 0.41% 3.44% -0.04% -3.26% 24.65 24.75 24.55 24.85 24.45 24.75 465500 11468000 ROBINSONS LAND 0.305 0.31 0.31 0.31 0.31 0.31 90000 27900 PHIL REALTY 2.53% Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.4136 16.87% 9.71% n.a.

ROCKWELL 2.07 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.07 2.07 143000 301980 3.06 3.2 3.22 3.22 3.2 3.2 4000 12820 SHANG PROP Balanced Funds STA LUCIA LAND 2.5 2.55 2.55 2.55 2.49 2.55 2060000 5151470 SM PRIME HLDG 42.6 42.7 42.3 43 41.5 42.7 11615400 492379735 Primarily invested in Peso securities 5.1 5.24 5.24 5.24 5.1 5.24 51200 263416 VISTAMALLS SUNTRUST HOME 1.83 1.84 1.79 1.86 1.77 1.83 2552000 4673570 ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a 1.5324 -11.86% -3.84% -4.82% -1.95% VISTA LAND 6.48 6.49 6.5 6.5 6.46 6.49 668600 4339257 ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 2.0969 -9.92% -2.83% -2.6% -3.86%

SERVICES First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.5611 -4.4% 0.76% -2.52% -2.68% ABS CBN 16.56 16.7 16.6 16.7 16.02 16.56 510800 8410186 GMA NETWORK 5.39 5.4 5.42 5.45 5.39 5.4 892000 4836509 First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,5 0.2184 n.a. n.a. n.a.

MANILA BULLETIN 0.53 0.55 0.68 0.7 0.52 0.53 49306000 29475700 MLA BRDCASTING 11.02 13.78 11.02 11.02 11.02 11.02 100 1102 -4.42% GLOBE TELECOM 1994 2006 1993 2006 1986 2006 21230 42390495 PLDT 1010 1012 1022 1027 1002 1010 117935 119198245 NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a 1.9313 0.48% 1.75% -0.02% -1.62% APOLLO GLOBAL 0.046 0.048 0.048 0.048 0.046 0.048 5300000 249000 0.107 0.11 0.106 0.111 0.106 0.107 5520000 601630 ISLAND INFO PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a 3.6971 0.98% 0.59% -1.02% -2.43% ISM COMM 2.22 2.23 2.07 2.3 2.07 2.23 111633000 247451340 1.75 1.87 1.77 1.77 1.75 1.76 10000 17610 JACKSTONES Philam Fund, Inc. -a 16.5423 -0.19% 0.53% -1.11% -2.47% NOW CORP 2.17 2.18 2.17 2.21 2.13 2.18 1393000 3020510 0.244 0.248 0.245 0.249 0.244 0.244 1320000 323070 TRANSPACIFIC BR Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a 2.0813 0.34% -0.26% -2.09% -3.9% 3.42 3.45 3.4 3.7 3.4 3.42 3011000 10770770 PHILWEB 8.9 9 9 9 8.9 8.9 15500 138516 2GO GROUP Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.7228 -3.26% 0.86% -0.85% -3.65% CHELSEA 4.53 4.62 4.5 4.7 4.5 4.62 590000 2705650 Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d,2 0.9906 -1.11% n.a. n.a.

-2.47% CEBU AIR 79.35 82.95 80.6 82.95 79 82.95 122870 9842359 INTL CONTAINER 126 126.1 127.3 127.3 126 126 607060 76501328 Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d,2 0.9574 -4.24% n.a. n.a.

-3.91% LBC EXPRESS 12.86 12.88 12.9 12.9 12.9 12.9 100 1290 MACROASIA 10.4 10.5 10.98 11.1 10.5 10.5 2329700 25003888 Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d,2 0.9522 -4.73% n.a. n.a.

-4.13% METROALLIANCE A 1 1.04 0.99 1.05 0.95 1.04 40000 40220 METROALLIANCE B 0.97 1.14 0.96 0.96 0.96 0.96 3000 2880 Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.931 -4.37% 0.04% -2.08% -4.49% 7.35 7.4 7.15 7.35 7.15 7.35 2900 21013 PAL HLDG HARBOR STAR 1.14 1.17 1.17 1.19 1.13 1.18 471000 544260 Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ACESITE HOTEL 1.32 1.4 1.35 1.35 1.3 1.31 200000 265640 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.049 0.05 0.054 0.056 0.048 0.049 57130000 2871400 Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03888 8.97% 3.16% 2.13% 1.7% DISCOVERY WORLD 1.81 1.99 2 2 1.82 1.82 13000 25100 WATERFRONT 0.56 0.57 0.58 0.58 0.56 0.56 2522000 1421910 0.65% -1.08% PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -a $1.0267 5.48% 3.85% CENTRO ESCOLAR 6.52 6.98 6.52 6.52 6.52 6.52 1100 7172 FAR EASTERN U 890 900 890 890 890 890 10 8900 Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $3.989 12.81% 7.55% 4.34% 2% STI HLDG 0.57 0.58 0.59 0.6 0.57 0.58 5038000 2917990 BERJAYA 2.67 2.69 2.63 2.75 2.63 2.69 312000 836420 Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,7 $1.1449 8.92% 4.5% n.a.

1.43% BLOOMBERRY 8.84 9 9 9.11 8.8 9 2679100 23949609 PACIFIC ONLINE 2.08 2.09 2.09 2.09 2.03 2.09 17000 35050 Bond Funds LEISURE AND RES 2.15 2.16 2.1 2.16 2.1 2.1 65000 137440 Primarily invested in Peso securities PH RESORTS GRP 4.1 4.5 4 4.5 4 4.5 28000 112790 0.5 0.52 0.495 0.51 0.495 0.5 294550000 147283500 PREMIUM LEISURE ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 358.61 3.9% 2.68% 2.23% 0.23% 9.78 9.8 9.98 9.98 9.8 9.8 60200 592361 ALLHOME 1.87 1.88 1.88 1.9 1.87 1.88 882000 1655030 METRO RETAIL ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.9071 1.88% 0.48% -0.61% 0.27% 38.6 38.7 38.5 38.6 38.3 38.6 556300 21458610 PUREGOLD 75.2 75.95 75.5 75.65 74.55 75.2 535830 40251056 ROBINSONS RTL Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 3.1333 4.88% 5.15% 5.17% 0.55% 140.1 147.9 146 146 140 140 2410 342506 PHIL SEVEN CORP 2.2 2.22 2.16 2.22 2.15 2.22 575000 1247880 SSI GROUP Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a 2.2364 4.27% 2.04% 1.78% 0.51% WILCON DEPOT 18.8 18.88 18.9 18.9 18.72 18.88 349100 6578982 APC GROUP 0.4 0.405 0.4 0.41 0.395 0.4 420000 168750 First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.3622 5.93% 2.16% 1.25% 0.13% EASYCALL 7.38 7.65 7.45 7.65 7.36 7.65 7700 56986 GOLDEN BRIA 422 431.6 420 437 415 422 72430 30892492 Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a 4.3854 11.85% 1.47% 0.29% 2.08% IPM HLDG 5.41 7.59 6.7 7 6.7 6.8 2200 14950 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.32 0.33 0.325 0.33 0.32 0.33 1960000 635200 Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.7798 5.65% 2.76% 1.14% -0.22% SBS PHIL CORP 8.69 8.7 9.1 9.24 8.7 8.7 196500 1715676 Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a 0.9677 6.29% 1.05% 0.01% 0.35%

MINING & OIL Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.0848 9.02% 3.98% 2.22% 0.29% ATOK 9.51 10.4 10.9 10.9 10.9 10.9 100 1090 APEX MINING 0.99 1 1.02 1.02 0.99 0.99 1277000 1270440 Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

1.6991 7.96% 3.38% 1.63% -0.12% ABRA MINING 0.0014 0.0015 0.0014 0.0015 0.0014 0.0015 118000000 175500 ATLAS MINING 2.24 2.4 2.38 2.38 2.23 2.23 110000 251570 Primarily invested in foreign currency securities COAL ASIA HLDG 0.27 0.275 0.275 0.275 0.275 0.275 80000 22000 CENTURY PEAK 2.98 3 3 3.03 2.98 2.98 919000 2764150 ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $471.07 4.54% 2.68% 2.72% 0.61% 6.48 6.49 6.69 6.73 6.48 6.49 3400 22370 DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL 1.29 1.3 1.3 1.33 1.29 1.3 3490000 4540850 ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є220.58 2.97% 1.78% 1.28% 0.39% 0.198 0.205 0.209 0.209 0.198 0.205 160000 32810 GEOGRACE LEPANTO A 0.092 0.095 0.093 0.095 0.092 0.095 2580000 238520 ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.2133 6.09% 3.11% 2.36% 0.51% LEPANTO B 0.09 0.094 0.093 0.094 0.089 0.094 6440000 580540 0.0077 0.0078 0.0077 0.0077 0.0077 0.0077 5000000 38500 MANILA MINING A 1.45% 1.45% 0.78% First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.026 4% MARCVENTURES 0.72 0.77 0.78 0.78 0.78 0.78 1000 780 NIHAO 1 1.02 1.02 1.02 0.99 1.02 5000 5010 PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -a $1.1068 5.68% 1.33% -0.15% 1.06% NICKEL ASIA 2.61 2.68 2.51 2.68 2.51 2.68 7066000 18279490 OMICO CORP 0.47 0.5 0.465 0.56 0.465 0.48 1520000 787550 Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.4445 10.25% 3.58% 2.94% 1.69% ORNTL PENINSULA 0.67 0.68 0.65 0.7 0.64 0.68 135000 87820 Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0607686 6.02% 2.36% 1.91% 0.75% PX MINING 2.85 2.89 2.85 2.89 2.8 2.89 473000 1345610 SEMIRARA MINING 20.05 20.3 20.3 20.3 19.98 20.3 548000 11012821 Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.2486 11.22% 3.3% 2.86% 2.31% ACE ENEXOR 7.3 7.39 7.4 7.47 7.21 7.39 104100 758001 0.0099 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.0099 0.0099 284600000 2845890 ORNTL PETROL A Money Market Funds ORNTL PETROL B 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 2500000 27500 0.01 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 15600000 171600 PHILODRILL Primarily invested in Peso securities PXP ENERGY 8.44 8.49 8.6 8.6 8.39 8.5 227500 1918401

ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 126.27 3.88% 2.91% 2.22% 0.39% PREFFERED HOUSE PREF A 99 101 99 99 99 99 30 2970 First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a,3 1.026 2.49% n.a. n.a.

-0.03% AC PREF B1 500 505 500 505 500 505 2060 1030300 ALCO PREF B 100.1 104.8 99.5 99.5 99.5 99.5 100 9950 Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a 1.254 5.76% 3% 1.64% -0.21% CPG PREF A 101 101.1 101.1 101.1 101.1 101.1 930 94023 SMC FB PREF 2 1007 1010 1005 1005 1005 1005 50 50250 3.65% 2.92% 2.42% 0.32% Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.2687 FGEN PREF G 104.1 107.8 107.8 107.8 107.8 107.8 2100 226380 Primarily invested in foreign currency securities 972 999 987 990 987 990 1500 1482970 GTCAP PREF B MWIDE PREF 100 100.2 100.2 100.2 100 100 37390 3739600 Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0394 2.05% n.a. n.a.

0.21% PNX PREF 3A 101.5 102.3 101.5 102.3 101.5 102.3 5860 599430 PNX PREF 3B 106.1 109.2 109.1 109.2 109.1 109.2 650 70920 Feeder Fund PNX PREF 4 1050 1055 1031 1054 1031 1054 5450 5716350 PCOR PREF 3A 1050 1051 1050 1050 1050 1050 15000 15750000 Primarily invested in foreign currency securities PCOR PREF 3B 1062 1070 1062 1070 1062 1070 3505 3726310 SMC PREF 2C 77.1 77.5 77.5 77.5 77.5 77.5 23670 1834425 ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -b,d,4 $0.99 n.a. n.a. n.a.

0% SMC PREF 2E 75.1 75.15 75.1 75.1 75 75.05 53000 3976516.5 a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago. c - Listed in the PSE. d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU).

1 - Launch date is January 3, 2019. 2 - Launch date is January 28, 2019. 3 - Launch date is February 1, 2019. 4 - Launch date is November 15, 2019.

5 - Launch date is September 28, 2019. 6 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last October 12, 2018 (formerly, One Wealthy Nation Fund, Inc.).

7 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last October 9, 2019. 8 - Launch date is December 09, 2019.

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

22675 129096995 -41500 448000 -9900 1793778 -4425500 -3583040 44150 -20064220 -104500 -2793120 -2080 -126394890 9053 5606330 -68528195 2219789.9997 62000 24400 17250 -36900 404680 1019595.5 -4624565 -759010 7172 579999.9998 -5370 -2304973 2090 20000 -14242900 1240 -638690 -11618090 -20846674.5 332640 121300 5479183.9997 -4278270 135500 -4237600 -17100 -122656 -139461 22000 -582655 -

SMC PREF 2F 76.7 76.95 76.7 77 76.7 77 19000 1459075 SMC PREF 2G 75.4 75.5 75.3 75.3 75.3 75.3 1400 105420 SMC PREF 2H 75.1 76 75.1 75.1 75.05 75.05 6700 503095 SMC PREF 2I 75.25 75.9 75.8 75.8 75.2 75.25 27560 2088401

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 14.72 14.74 15.1 15.1 14.54 14.74 353800 5237404 -3332676 GMA HLDG PDR 5.17 5.2 5.23 5.23 5.2 5.2 504100 2621740 -2613420

WARRANTS LR WARRANT 1.07 1.14 1.05 1.13 1.05 1.13 19000 20270

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ITALPINAS 3.39 3.47 3.63 3.64 3.35 3.39 509000 1814460 1240230 KEPWEALTH 10.4 10.42 9.75 10.42 9.7 10.4 849300 8705433 -14354 XURPAS 0.79 0.8 0.8 0.81 0.79 0.79 536000 425580

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

FIRST METRO ETF 110.6 111.2 112 112 109.8 111.2 50110 5557751 79980

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Revenue from Mile Long property likely reached P205.76M–DOF

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

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he government’s net income from rental and parking fees from its 2.2-hectare Mile Long property in Makati City likely reached P205.76 million as of January 2020 since the time it took over its management in mid-2017.

Citing a report by the Privatization Management Office (PMO), the Department of Finance (DOF) said in a statement last Tuesday that the government has so far collected P262.68 million from August 2017 to January 2020 from tenants occupying the Mile Long Property.

On top of this, the PMO is also expecting to collect another P2.56 million in receivables.

This brings the actual and estimated total collections from the prime lot to P265.25 million as of January, according to Chief Privatization Officer Gerard L. Chan of the Department of Finance (DOF)attached PMO. After deducting actual and estimated expenses amounting to P59.48 million, the government likely gained a net income of P205.76 million over the last 28 months that the PMO has been managing the property, Chan said.

The property is almost 73 percent occupied as of January.

The Mile Long property has a total of 312 rental units, of which 227 are occupied by 131 establishments, leaving 85 units available for occupancy.

Of the 85 available units, 22 are already reserved for the Supreme Court (SC), Chan said.

The SC has already signified its intention to house some of its offices in the Sunvar Plaza portion of the Mile Long lot.

Chan earlier said the government has so far been earning around P7 million a month in net income from

the property since the government took over.

The DOF said that for 14 years, the government did not collect anything in rental fees from the prime Makati lot’s former lessee, Sunvar Realty Development Corp., prior to PMO’s takeover due to the then-pending legal case over the property.

Last Thursday, President Duterte issued Administrative Order (AO) 21, which gave the PMO the authority to enter into an agreement with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) for the redevelopment of Mile Long.

According to the AO, the revenue from the property will also be used to fund other priority programs of the government, as recommended by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

A technical working group (TWG) will formulate the redevelopment and privatization plan for the Mile Long Property, according to Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III. He said the TWG will meet this week to finalize the plans and timetable for the project.

Mile Long was previously leased for 35 years to Sunvar Realty prior to a court order for the company owned by the Prieto family to vacate the property. Sunvar insisted its lease contract for the property was above board and should have been honored by the government until its supposed expiration in 2027. It became the subject of a court case after the Solicitor General accused Sunvar of owing the government P1.66 billion worth of rentals for the property.

Duterte became vocal about his opposition to Sunvar’s lease of the Mile Long property in 2017 and accused the firm of failing to pay the necessary fees for it.

At that time, the President said he will sell the property so he could use the proceeds to build houses for uniformed personnel.

Bond funds jump into Korea on bets virus will spur rate cut

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lobal funds are gorging on South Korean bonds as concerns the coronavirus outbreak will hurt the trade-reliant economy boost bets for a rate cut.

Foreign investors have been net buyers for 21 straight days through February 10, according to data from the Financial Supervisory Service.

Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase & Co. both say the Bank of Korea (BOK) could lower its policy rate by 25 basis points at the end of February.

Rate-cut bets are getting stronger as Chinese measures to contain the viral outbreak disrupt supply chains to pose a threat to global economic growth. Just last month, a US-China trade deal and signs of a recovery in the key chip industry saw the BOK sound more upbeat about the economy.

“Markets now agree the BOK will have to ease once for sure because

the virus is most likely to hit Asia’s growth,” Lee Mi Seon, an analyst at Hana Financial Investment Co. said.

The forecasts for easing when the BOK meets on February 27 are picking up pace, with the banks joining an earlier call by Orange Life Insurance Ltd. Economists had earlier predicted that the BOK will sit out the virus outbreak due to concerns about a real estate bubble and rising household debt. Foreign funds have bought $7.5 billion of Korean government bonds from January 9. The benchmark 10year yield has slipped 9 basis points over that period.

Traders have been ratcheting up bets that central banks in Asia will be forced to ease as a potential economic slowdown in China takes a toll on other countries in the region due to their stronger trade links. The Bank of Thailand and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas cut rates last week.

Bloomberg News

Credit Suisse Asset Management revives ETFs after BlackRock sale

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redit Suisse Asset Management is getting back in the exchangetraded fund game nearly a decade after it effectively exited the business by selling its European unit to BlackRock Inc. The Swiss firm plans to convert three of its index funds into ETFs that will trade on Deutsche Boerse AG, Borsa Italiana and SIX Swiss Exchange AG, it said in a statement last Monday. The asset manager will introduce products “where they exhibit efficiency advantages over index funds,” according to the release.

It’s a comeback of sorts for the money manager, which oversees 132 billion Swiss francs ($135 billion) in index products across the region. Credit Suisse sold its European business to BlackRock in 2013, helping catapult the New York-

based firm into the regional leader with 44 percent market share. Since then, rival UBS Group AG has gathered more than 65 billion euros ($71.2 billion) into its products as demand surges among technology-savvy investors like robo advisers.

“In order to serve those clients, we want to be able to offer ETFs, bringing our indexing capabilities to a format that’s traded on an exchange,” Valerio Schmitz-Esser, head of Credit Suisse Asset Management index solutions, said in an interview.

Although still a fraction of the $4.6 trillion US market, the European ETF scene is becoming increasingly cutthroat, with Goldman Sachs Asset Management starting its business in the region last year. Bloomberg News

Wednesday, February 12, 2020 B3

Makati’s bid to collect ₧3.246B from Smart gets Court approval

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By Joel R. San Juan

@jrsanjuan1573

HE Court of Tax Appeals (CA) has given Makati City the gosignal to conduct inspection of Smart Communications Inc. corporate financial records in connection with the city’s bid to collect alleged deficiency franchise taxes and fees for the years 2012 to 2015 amounting to P3.246 billion from the telecommunications company.

In its 13-page decision issued last February 5, the CTA’s Second Division through Associate Justice Jean Marie A. Bacorro-Villena affirmed the resolution on the case issued by the Regional Trial Court of Makati City (RTC Branch 133) on June 28, 2019 and August 7, 2019.

The resolution granted the Makati City government’s motion for production of inspection of documents while the August 7, 2019 resolution denied petitioner’s motion for reconsideration.

The controversy stemmed from the petition for review filed before

the trial court by Smart on July 27, 2008, seeking the nullification of the Makati City government’s notice of assessment (NOA). The local government unit (LGU) held the company liable in the amount of P3.246 billion.

In its answer to the petition, the city government invoked Rule 27 of the Rules of Court and sought to direct Smart to produce certain documents related to its assessment.

The trial court eventually granted the Makati City government’s motion on the ground that the documents sought were relevant to the resolution of the case.

This prompted Smart to elevate the case before the CTA where it prayed for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) and/ or a writ of preliminary injunction against the implementation of the trial court’s order.

“Given the tenor of the case brought before the RTC, this Court finds petitioner’s records (in relation to their gross sales/receipts during the taxable years subject of the NOA material to the issue of the assessment veracity,” the ruling said.

The tax appellate court is also unconvinced with Smart’s claim that its due process is in peril if the trial court order is implemented.

Smart also questioned the “relevancy” of some of the documents sought particularly those pertaining to its nationwide revenues, including revenues from other localities, which Smart said “contain information referring to matters outside respondent Makati City’s territorial jurisdiction and pertain to taxable period that it can no longer be assessed for,” It claims opening its books is “improper” since this would allow Makati City “to take inconsistent stances since the latter already upheld the validity and correctness of its NOA yet it could take another look at it to validate the assessment’s accuracy” On the other hand, the Makati City government contended that

the documents sought are not confidential in nature to warrant their non-production in court and pointed out that the documents is necessary following the firm’s failure to provide the city with a breakdown of gross sales/receipts of its branches.

Sought for production were the firm’s general ledger, particularly the consolidated book for the years 2011 to 2014 and Makati branches and sales offices. Likewise sought were the following: sales book for the same year and cash register book; general journal book; application form and billing assessment from other LGUs; schedule and summary of payments; breakdown of gross sales; quarterly and monthly value-added tax returns and summary/breakdown of other income of branches and offices from other localities.

“Incidentally, although it is true that petitioner’s records may contain information relating to tax matters outside Makati City’s jurisdiction, the said document sought by private respondents remain as parts thereof,” the CTA pointed out.

Associate Justices Juanito C. Castaneda Jr. and Cielito N. MindaroGrulla concurred in the ruling that upheld a June 28, 2019 resolution

by Judge Augusto Jose Y. Arreza of the Makati RTC against Smart on the petition for certiorari it filed against the City of Makati and City Treasurer Jesusa E. Cuneta.

Pru Life UK cites gains in financial literacy talks

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ru Life Insurance Corp. of UK has cited the gains of its investment talks the insurer held around key cities in the country.

These talks were aimed to empower its existing and potential clients in making better informed financial decisions.

“This is one of Pru Life UK’s longstanding commitment to champion financial literacy and inclusion among Filipinos. We [made] our fund manager, Eastspring Investments [Singapore Ltd.], part of this investment forums, not just to share their expertise but as well as know the sentiment of our customers,” Pru Life UK Vice President for Investment Marketing Mark Anthony Valino was quoted in a statement as saying. “This event opens doors of opportunities for Filipinos who want

to widen their financial portfolios that include international markets and assets using the Philippine Peso to access these.”

The roadshows also showcased Pru Life UK’s latest investment offering, the PRULink Global Market Navigator Fund (GMN) which is managed by Eastspring Investments, the Asian asset management of Prudential plc. The PRULink GMN is a peso-denominated multi-asset fund that gives higher return potential by capitalizing on a diversified pool of global assets, including equities, bonds, currencies and cash.

Eastspring Investments has been managing the underlying funds of Pru Life UK’s investment-linked life insurance since they were pioneered in the Philippines in 2002.

This photo shows Ken Wong, client portfolio manager and portfolio specialist of Eastspring Investments in Hong Kong, talking about investing fundamentals and strategies during Pru Life UK’s investment trend talks. Photo courtesy of Pru Life Insurance Co. of UK

Treasury inversion is not about the US, but the whole world

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he US yield curve is flirting with another broad-based inversion, reigniting Wall Street fears over the fate of the American economy.

A growing chorus of voices is being swayed by another notion: the signal might say more about the state of the world than the US business cycle.

Treasuries now make up more than half of the world’s haven assets, double the share they accounted for during the global financial crisis, according to Eurizon SLJ Capital. That complicates matters when the spread between long-term and short-term yields inverts: what used to be a reliable American recession indicator is instead an barometer of investors diving for cover worldwide.

It’s a narrative that makes a lot of sense as the threat from the coronavirus continues to grow, and it revives the frantic debate from last year about how much predictive power the yield curve actually has left.

“In a grab for safety and duration, everyone is going for US Treasuries,” Gregory Faranello, the head of US rates at AmeriVet Securities in New York, said. “The yield curve inversion is a signal now of global growth issues, and not really reflecting what is going on in the US.” After a respite early last week, the curve is once again flattening,

with the spread between yields on three-month and 10-year Treasuries inverting once more on Monday. This followed an earlier inversion starting January 30 that was caused by growing angst about the coronavirus and an equity sell-off.

Pessimistic view

Bond yields typically rise alongside the maturity of debt because they provide compensation for the effects of inflation. If yields on a 10-year note are lower than those on a threemonth bill, it suggests investors have a pessimistic view of growth and inflation a decade from now.

Global hunger for US bonds helps explain American exceptionalism in growth, currency markets and stocks, according to Stephen Jen, chief executive officer at Eurizon SLJ. He predicts that by 2022, US government debt will account for twothirds of the world’s pool of haven bonds thanks to large issuance and quantitative easing by other central banks. His calculations are based on the outstanding amount of government debt in the US, Japan, and the three largest European economies, subtracting the portion that is owned by central banks.

“The US might, perversely, thrive because of troubles elsewhere,” Jen

said. “When US Treasury yields fall due to shocks outside of the US that may or may not have an impact on the US economy, it often provides added stimulus.”

It’s a view Federal Reserve officials are playing close attention to as global risks from the virus mount.

In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Fed Vice Chairman Richard Clarida played down the inversion and said the negative spread is “really driven not so much by an outlook for the US economy, but globally.” When there’s uncertainty money flows to America, he said, so current yield moves don’t reflect the US outlook.

Campbell Harvey is credited with drawing the link between the slope of the yield curve and economic growth.

The professor at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business says corporate America is much more attuned to the yield curve signal and will take preventative action.

“CFOs and CEOs are more aware and aren’t likely to take on the risk of just ignoring it,” Harvey said. “They are being a little more cautious now.”

Prior inversions

The gap between the yield on three-month and 10-year Treasuries slipped to as low as about minus six basis points on January 31. The spread—which has inverted before

each of the past seven US recessions—had initially fallen below zero in March 2019 as economic conditions deteriorated at the height of the US-China trade war. The difference between two-year and 10-year yields, which was negative as recently as September, remains above that mark at roughly 17 basis points.

On Wall Street, strategists at JPMorgan Chase & Co. still see plenty of reason to fret the slope of the curve. Their favorite indicator—and a part of the curve that remains inverted—is the gap between two-year forward and one-year forward rates, which can shed light on the bond market’s expectations of what the Fed will do.

In this case, it shows a “rising probability of a more protracted Fed rate cut cycle extending to 2021,” said Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou, a strategist at the investment bank.

For now, there aren’t many other alarm bells in an American economy with unemployment rates near 50year lows and the longest stretch without a recession since World War II. Even so, economists forecast that GDP growth will slow to 1.8 percent compared with 2.3 percent in 2019, and it’s too early to determine whether the coronavirus outbreak in China will significantly affect the US economy. Bloomberg News

B4 Wednesday, February 12, 2020

PPA adopts strict nCoV prevention measures in ports

Comerchee seeks to support Filipino MSMEs, technopreneurs & business-minded individuals

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OMERCHEE, a Filipino-based Social Retail platform had a grand launch on January 28 at the Great Eastern Hotel in Quezon City. The event was organized by IMPACT CODE Inc, a non profit media organization in partnership with VY Domingo Jewelers Inc along with partner merchants of social enterprises like Villa Socorro Farm, Glorious Industrial Development Corporation, and Jonathan Yabut Consultancy & Ventures, among others.The project was initially developed in line with the advocacy of IMPACT CODE Inc. to help provide a viable income and livelihood opportunities for work at home and work from anywhere individuals; for OFWs and their families; and for various organizations who need to raise funds for their socio-civic programs as well.

COMERCHEE is an online marketing collaborative platform that seeks to support Filipino MSMEs, technopreneurs, creative offering membership discounts on product purchases coupled with an opportunity to resell products purchased online or offline using product catalogs, business kits, marketing collaterals, videos, etc.

Members get additional commissions through an affiliate marketing system for online marketing of products and a referral bonus for every membership invite. Comerchee incentivized their customers to share with a “Share what

you Love” concept. When customers share their own code with others, they receive money out of the purchases done by using their affiliate code. This idea of social selling gives anyone the power to share their favorite items with anyone on any social site and get earnings or rewards for doing so.

Comerchee Global Ambassadors John Rey and Camille Rose who entertained the guests through a musical number.

Viva Artist Avon Rosales also graced the event tagging along Oomph TV (Viva Communications) young content creators. With a night of fun, music and cocktails, Comerchee showcased its line of personalized and customizable products and gave away personalized name jewelry

to those who pre-registered in the event.

Comerchee gives one the opportunity to create one’s own brand and merchandise designs on hundreds of customizable products ranging from jewelry to clothing and accessories to beauty products.

As it aims to empower entrepreneurs, Comerchee offers a complete turnkey solution to those who would want to put up an online jewellery shop or a fashion store, etc. with a ready inventory of products for as low as P488. They also offer their affiliates training on e-commerce, digital marketing and social media. Comerchee has a range of packages to choose from on their site. For more information, visit www.comerchee.com and you can avail of our free trial membership promo.

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HE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is adopting stringent prevention measures against the deadly Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) encompassing all PPA-controlled ports nationwide after the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the first nCoV case Thursday.

PPA General Manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago has directed all port managers to double the measures from general thermal scanning to individual checks if a passenger reaches a certain body temperature level.

As early as the first report of outbreak in China involving the nCoV, the agency has immediately put into place frontline defense against the possible entry of the virus in the country via the ports.

“But with the recent confirmation from the DOH, we immediately deployed the ports’ safety, health and security personnel to immediately craft additional prevention measures on top of the general advisories from the DOH,” Santiago said.

“We are also in close coordination with Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security vessel boarding teams so that essential information that may need swift action could be provided to the ground personnel,” Santiago added.

“Early detection plays a significant role in the prevention of the entry of the virus via our ports, that is why we are asking the DOH to augment the existing number of scanning machines as well as digital thermometers in our ports and at the same time deploy additional health and quarantine personnel to secure our ports,” Santiago stressed.

He added that dedicated nCoV Malasakit HelpDesk shall be provided in the ports in order to facilitate the processing of reports for possible victims. Face masks and sanitizers shall also be distributed to frontline employees.

Digital and traditional visual advisories on how to prevent or avoid contraction of the virus are likewise being posted in conspicuous places inside and outside the ports.

The ports with high concentration of passengers and tourists include the North Harbor in Manila, Batangas, Mindoro, Bohol, Davao, Palawan, Zamboanga, Bicol, among others.

The measures being adopted by the PPA is in line with the earlier pronouncements of the Department of Transportation to reduce the risk of virus contamination via the ports.

The travel ban issued by Malacañang early Friday is also a welcome development in guarding the ports, Santiago added.

Get great deals this February with Toyota’s price slash

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RIVE home your dream Toyota this love month as Toyota Motor Philippines is once again offering great deals and flexible payment schemes on its best-selling models!

With light payments as low as P6,593 a month or affordable down payment as low as P83,550, you can already own a vehicle with Toyota's signature q u a l i t y , durability, and reliability. You can even enjoy cash savings as much as P125,000.

F r o m February 1-15, enjoy P30,000 discount on the Avanza, Innova, Rush, Hilux, FMC Hiace GL Grandia, and FMC

Hiace Commuter Deluxe. Pay Light (Low Monthly Plans) schemes are also available for the Avanza, Rush, and Hilux.

From February 1-29, get 5-year extended warranty on top of the P125,000 discount on the locally-assembled flagship passenger car Toyota Vios, Discounts, Pay Low (All-In, Low Down Package), and Pay Light are also available for the pre-FMC Hiace Commuter and Wigo.

Up to P20,000 trade-in rebate is also available for the following models: Vios, Innova, Fortuner, Avanza, Corolla Altis, Hilux (except Cab and Chassis, and FX), Wigo, Rush, and pre-FMC Hiace Commuter.

For more information on all the available deals, visit www.toyota.com.ph/ priceslash.

Head on to any of Toyota’s 70 dealerships nationwide, or visit Toyota’s pages at www.toyota.com.ph, ToyotaMotorPhilippines (Facebook and Instagram), and @ToyotaMotorPH (Twitter) for more information on Toyota’s latest promos and offers.

Foodpanda riders left work to help affected families

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HEN calamity strikes, it interrupts a lot of plans. For a few hours in Tagaytay and Tacloban, foodpanda riders interrupted their schedules to bring affected families companionship and good food through the Global Soup Kitchen.

It aims to help affected families by bringing smiles through the warmth of food. Over the last two years, foodpanda partnered with different communities in Manila, Cavite, and Cebu to bring warm meals to more than 1,000 special children. Given the recent calamities, foodpanda riders continue to extend its reach to Tagaytay and Tacloban. In total, the riders were able to deliver love and food to a total of 300

families and 1,200 evacuees. As a food delivery service, foodpanda continues to make food more accessible through the Global Soup Kitchen. With each success it has, the company will

continue to give back and bring its mission of giving good food to everyone closer to the people. Follow us on: Facebook: foodpanda philippines Instagram: foodpanda_ph

SSS extends aid to Taal eruption victims

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HE state-run Social Security System (SSS) on Tuesday extended its Calamity Assistance Package (CAP) to members and pensioners who were affected by the recent eruption of Taal Volcano.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora C. Ignacio said the pension fund allocated more than P284.92 million worth of financial assistance to benefit more than 28,680 affected members and pensioners.

“We sympathize with our members and pensioners who are now temporarily displaced due to the ongoing earthquakes and ash fall brought about by the volcanic activity of Taal Volcano. We want to assure our members and pensioners that they can rely on SSS for their immediate financial needs during these difficult times,” Ignacio said.

Qualified regular-paying SSS members who are residing in calamity-

stricken areas which are declared by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) as under state of calamity may avail of the calamity loan assistance and Direct House Repair and Improvement Loan while pensioners may avail of the advance three-month pension.

Areas declared by NDRRMC under the state of calamity are the provinces of Batangas and Cavite. On the other hand, members and pensioners who are residents of other areas that may also be declared under the state of calamity are qualified to avail of the CAP once officially declared by NDRRMC. The CAP includes a loan assistance program, which is separate from the regular salary loan, allows members to borrow up to P20,000 depending on their monthly salary credit, and financial assistance for pensioners wherein they can advance their

pensions equivalent to three months.

SSS is expecting more than 10 percent of the affected paying members in the areas mentioned above to apply for the CAP thus, it allocates more than P284.92 million for the program. It is broken down into P277.5 million allotted for the calamity loan while the remaining P7.42 million are for the advance three-month pensions of qualified pensioners.

Based on the SSS Circular 2020002, applicants are required to be registered on the My.SSS facility for easier facilitation of their billing letters.

“Our members and pensioners who are not yet registered on the My.SSS facility may use their mobile phones to register so they can avail of the program. SSS e-centers are also available in our branches and our employees are ready to assist them,” Ignacio said.

LEBRON TOPS ON TEAM U.S.A. POOL FOR TOKYO LEBRON JAMES, along with Chris Paul, are among 44 players announced by USA Basketball on Monday as finalists for the team that will play in the Tokyo Games this summer. AP

Sports BusinessMirror

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| Wednesday, February 12, 2020 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

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By Tim Reynolds The Associated Press

EBRON JAMES is considering a return to the Olympics.

James—a two-time gold medalist and three-time Olympian—was among 44 players announced by USA Basketball on Monday as finalists for the team that will play in the Tokyo Games this summer.

James played in 2004, 2008 and 2012, helping the US win gold in his most recent two appearances.

The pool includes 19 players who have won a total of 31 gold medals in either Olympic or World Cup competition for the Americans—including nine players who captured the Olympic title for USA Basketball in Rio de Janeiro four years ago.

“I’ve always maintained that equity is important,” USA Basketball Managing Director Jerry Colangelo told The Associated Press. “And you earn equity by participating. So, we think they’ve earned the right to be named to the overall roster for USA Basketball. It’s pretty elite. It’s a tremendous pot, and the good news is they’ve all said they want to play.”

James has played in 68 games for the US national team, and has said several times over the past year or so that he is thinking about another Olympics—after sitting out the Rio Games for a variety of reasons. Part of the interest in participating this summer is to have the chance to play for US Coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs.

“It’s a possibility,” James said in December.

There will be no tryouts. USA Basketball will pare the list down to a 12-person Olympic team by early June, those decisions to be made by a selection committee—and to be based in part on player availability and health. Training camp will start in early July, potentially as little as two weeks after the end of the NBA Finals. The Olympics start July 24.

“I want to play,” said Portland’s Damian Lillard, one of the finalists. “I think, looking at my career and all the stuff I want to accomplish before it’s over, winning a gold medal at the Olympics is on the list. I was happy to see my name on there, obviously, and hopefully I’ll be a part of the team.”

USA Basketball officials, including Colangelo and Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs, have met with players in a variety of ways over the past several weeks. Some talks have been directly with players, some with their agents, some with their NBA clubs, sometimes a combination thereof—and, Colangelo noted, there were some instances where players reached out directly to express interest.

If they’re on the list, that means USA Basketball is convinced they want to play.

“I feel very good about the response,” Colangelo said.

Also included in the pool: 15 of the 16 players from the US who are scheduled to play in Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game, and all 12 members of the team that represented the US at last summer’s Basketball World Cup in China—where the Americans managed only a seventh-place finish after roughly three dozen players who were on the list at some point dropped out along the way.

The nine players still in the mix from the 2016 Olympic team: Sacramento’s Harrison Barnes, Miami’s Jimmy Butler, San Antonio’s DeMar DeRozan, Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Paul George, Golden State’s Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, and Toronto’s Kyle Lowry.

Back from the 2012 Olympic champion roster: the Los Angeles Lakers’ James and Anthony Davis, Durant, Houston’s James Harden and Russell Westbrook, Cleveland’s Kevin Love and Oklahoma City’s Chris Paul. Back from the 2008 goldmedal squad: the Lakers’ Dwight Howard.

And those with World Cup or world championship gold medals for USA Basketball, but no Olympic gold to this point: Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Cleveland’s Andre Drummond and Denver’s Mason Plumlee.

James and Paul won Olympic gold at Beijing in 2008, and James was part of the team that won bronze at Athens in 2004. If James joins this team, he will become the second four-time men’s basketball Olympian for the US—joining Carmelo Anthony.

“I’m looking forward to coaching the US Olympic Team, and I’m excited about the potential and possibilities this team has,” Popovich said.

The Olympics could be a return to the court for players like Durant and Thompson, who have missed the entirety of this NBA season with injuries. Durant’s recovery from Achilles’ surgery is at the point where he’s doing some oncourt work and Thompson has said he would like to play if his surgically repaired knee is up to the challenge.

The 25 other players who are finalists for this summer’s team but do not yet have Olympic or World Cup gold for the US: Miami’s Bam Adebayo, San Antonio’s LaMarcus Aldridge, Washington’s Bradley Beal, Phoenix’s Devin Booker, Indiana’s Malcolm Brogdon, Boston’s Jaylen Brown, Utah’s Mike Conley, the Clippers’ Montrezl Harrell, Brooklyn’s Joe Harris, Philadelphia’s Tobias Harris, Boston’s Gordon Hayward, New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram, the Lakers’ Kyle Kuzma, the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, Lillard, Milwaukee’s Brook Lopez, the Lakers’ JaVale McGee, Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton, Utah’s Donovan Mitchell, Indiana’s Victor Oladipo, Boston’s Marcus Smart and Jayson Tatum, Indiana’s Myles Turner, Boston’s Kemba Walker and San Antonio’s Derrick White.

“The reason we have this big roster is a lot of things happen, a lot of variables,” Colangelo said. “And what’s to say what’s going to happen from an injury standpoint between now and June. We don’t know. So we have the rest of the season to monitor, to watch. But when we select our 12, they will be 12 who are absolutely in with all fours.”

NHL cool to Olympic participation despite I.I.H.F. assurances T

HE National Hockey League (NHL) remains reluctant to reverse course and compete at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing despite new assurances from Olympic officials to lift various major stumbling blocks, which also have the backing of the league’s players.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly significantly tamped down hopes of the world’s best players returning to the Olympics for the first time since 2014 by referring to recent talks as being “very preliminary,” and leaving open many unanswered questions.

“We aren’t there yet. In fact, we aren’t even close to being there,” Daly wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press on Monday. “At this point in time, we continue to believe that the negatives outweigh the positives.”

At the same time, Daly raised another concern by suggesting the issue of Olympic participation might be resolved easier if it were tied to ongoing negotiations to extend the league’s collective bargaining agreement with its players. The two sides are scheduled to spent the next two days

in CBA talks in Toronto.

NHL Players Association (NHLPA) Executive Director Don Fehr responded by telling AP he hoped the NHL wasn’t moving the goal posts on the union in regards to the issue of Olympic participation, with the Beijing Games taking place before the current CBA expires.

“I can’t figure out why anybody would not want to go and take advantage of this opportunity, because it doesn’t come around every day,” Fehr told AP by phone.

“We think and have always thought that a matter like this should be addressed on its own merits, and it seems to us that the merits on this one are crystal clear, pellucidly clear,” he added.

The setback in discussions comes a week after NHL and NHLPA officials attended a meeting in New York where the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) provided mostly verbal—but few written—assurances addressing many concerns that prompted the league to decline to participate at the Winter Games in South Korea. The NHL had participated in the previous five Olympics.

Among the long-standing issues IIHF chief Rene Fasel addressed included paying for players’ travel and insurance costs. Another issue was providing the league, and union, access to video and still images to allow both to market its players.

Daly called the meeting “positive,” but said the league continues to have “valid reservations” over how Olympic

participation disrupts its schedule by having to shut down the regular season for two weeks once every four years.

Messages left with Fasel and the IIHF was not immediately returned.

Fehr was encouraged following the meeting.

“The impression I had coming out of the meeting was that there ought to be a way to get this done to everybody’s satisfaction,” Fehr said.

Fehr doubted the Olympics issue would be raised during talks this week, by saying, “the NHL needs some time to go through and digest, and think through what happened at the last meeting, as we do.”

Though there’s no firm deadline yet set on the NHL sending players in 2022, Fehr hoped an agreement is reached well before Fasel’s term as IIHF chief expires in September.

Differences over Olympic participation have the potential of derailing talks after both sides showed good faith in September, when they ensured three more seasons of labor peace by not using an opt-out clause. Such a move would have terminated the existing CBA this September.

Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf wasn’t surprised when informed how the NHL might attempt to fold Olympic participation into labor talks given how a large majority of players favor representing their respective countries.

“Why do you think that is?” Getzlaf told AP with a laugh.

“They’re a business. If they put that into negotiations, that

means it’s a leverage chip for them that they’re going to try to use against us.”

New York Islanders NHLPA representative Anders Lee said the chance to compete in Beijing should be as important to the NHL as it is to the players.

“There’s a lot of things that go into this, and there’s a reason why China: It’s a draw,” Lee said. “It’s a great thing for our game. That’s why it’s so important to both sides.”

Fehr noted the two sides have enough issues that need to be settled in negotiations without having to introduce competing at Beijing into the mix. He did note, however, a desire to establish a long-term international calendar of events that would include Olympic participation and the revival of the league- and union-sponsored World Cup of Hockey, which was last played in 2016.

“We can only hope that as these discussions continue, whatever the initial reactions are, will give way to the facts and circumstances,” he said. “My view, and this is a personal view, if you take advantage of the opportunities when they come.”

Daly responded by saying Fehr is entitled to his point of view regarding the value of NHL Olympic participation.

“But so are our owners,” Daly said. “We participated in five consecutive Olympic Games, beginning long before Don was involved in our league. We have a pretty good sense of the positives and negatives associated with participation.” AP

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Utah’s Jordan Clarkson eludes a double team by Dallas’ Jalen Brunson (13) and Maxi Kleber. AP

CORONAVI

SHORTAGE OF CHINA-M HOCKEY STICKS IMPER T

CLARKSON LIFTS JAZZ OVER MAVS D

ALLAS—Jordan Clarkson scored 25 points before fouling out, Rudy Gobert stayed perfect from the floor against Dallas this season and the Utah Jazz beat the Mavericks, 123119, on Monday night.

Gobert was 7-of-7 shooting after making all eight attempts in Utah’s home victory last month.

He finished with 17 points and 16 rebounds. The 7-foot-1 center has made 17 consecutive shots against Dallas going back to last February 23.

Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a season-high 33 points and Kristaps Porzingis added 28 for the Mavericks in their seventh straight game without injured All-Star point guard Luka Doncic.

The second-year sensation, who has a sprained right ankle, could return for the final game before the All-Star break. The Mavericks are 3-4 in their second stint without Doncic, both because of a right ankle sprain.

Donovan Mitchell and Bojan Bogdanovic scored

23 points apiece, with each hitting key baskets late in the fourth quarter to help the Jazz hang on after they led by 23 points in the first half.

Bogdanovic had a pair of clutch three-pointers a night after the Croatian forward became the National Basketball Association’s first player with multiple buzzer-beaters this season, hitting a 3 that beat the Rockets in Houston, 114-113.

Mitchell, who was 8 of 12, connected on a tough turnaround jumper for a late seven-point lead. Utah shot a season-high 59 percent and was 15 of 35 from long range.

Clarkson was 10 of 17 and had eight assists and five rebounds. He fouled out with four minutes remaining as the Jazz won their third straight game since a five-game losing streak that followed a 19-2 stretch.

Hardaway scored 14 points in the third quarter, when Dallas cut a 21-point halftime deficit to three before the Jazz finished the quarter on a 17-4 run.

In Los Angeles, Rajon Rondo’s Los Angeles Lakers teammates have been encouraging him to be more aggressive and shoot the ball instead of trying to distribute it to everyone. On Monday night, he took the advice to heart.

The 13-year veteran point guard scored a season-high 23 points, including 15 in the second quarter, as the Lakers rolled to a 125-100 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

“He’s always had that confidence but he wants to get everyone involved. We’ve been on him to shoot those shots and he showed you all what he can do. He does it in practice all the time,” Anthony Davis said.

Los Angeles put the game away in the second, which was only the fifth time in Rondo’s 13-year career he has scored 15 or more in a period.

“We dared Rondo to shoot from the perimeter and he made us pay,” Suns coach Monty Williams said.

The Lakers had dropped three of their

last four at Staples Center but didn’t have any problems against the undersized Suns. They outrebounded Phoenix by 30 (59-29) along with a 58-38 advantage in points in the paint.

The Suns had only one big man suit up after Deandre Ayton injured his left ankle in Saturday’s loss to Denver. Dario Šarić and Aron Baynes have also missed extended time due to injuries.

Davis had 25 points and 10 rebounds but it was a big game for the bench. Besides Rondo, Dwight Howard had 14 points and 15 rebounds.

It is the Lakers’ 40th win of the season, the first time since 2010 they have reached that before the All-Star break.

“It was a great game for our bench. Rajon had great pace all night and he was taking all the looks he was getting. Dwight controlled the glass,” said LeBron James, who had 17 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.

Mikal Bridges scored 18 points for Phoenix, which has lost six of seven. Cheick Diallo—who started in place of Ayton—added 15 points.

Jevon Carter and Ricky Rubio scored 13 apiece.

“It’s tough with the size difference and you are missing three rotation bigs. You can always have a plan until the ball comes off the rim,” said Devin Booker, who had 10 points after going just 2 of 11 from the field. “When they have three big guys crashing the boards they can still get tip outs.” AP

US to field WNBA players in 3-on-3 Olympic qualifier

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EW YORK—USA Basketball will have a team of WNBA players available to qualify for 3-on-3 at the Olympics.

Kelsey Plum, Allisha Gray, Katie Lou Samuelson and Stefanie Dolson headline the 11 players invited to a training camp this week in Chicago. From the pool, the selection committee will choose four women to represent the US at the qualifying tournament in India from March 18-22.

“I’m very excited to have the opportunity,” said Plum, who helped the Americans win gold in the 5-on-5 World Championship in 2018. “Anytime you put on a USA jersey it’s a great thing.”

The US spent the last few months getting the professional players into tournaments to move them up in the FIBA 3-on-3 rankings. While the players have a lot of experience playing 5-on-5, they are still relatively new to 3-on-3.

“It’s definitely a quicker and more fast-paced game,” Samuelson said. “You need to quickly transition from offense to defense.”

The 3-on-3 rules are made for up-tempo competition. There’s one 10-minute period,

making 3-on-3 a lot quicker than its 5-on-5 counterpart. A game can end even sooner if a team scores 21 points in less than 10 minutes.

If the game is tied after 10 minutes, it goes into overtime, where the first team scoring two points wins. There’s also a 12-second shot clock.

Plum and Samuelson, who just finished a stint with the 5-on-5 US national team, weren’t worried about the lack of 3-on-3 experience.

“We have time to play together and grow,” said Samuelson, who won a gold medal for the US at the Under-18 World Cup in 2013.

Two of the four members of the qualifying team must be in America’s top 10 for total points.

Plum is currently second followed by Gray, Samuelson, Kelly Faris and Layshia Clarendon.

Dolson is 10th on the list.

The selection committee can choose anyone else from the pool for the other two spots on the qualifying team. Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu is No. 1 on the points list for the US, but she won’t be available as her college team will be in the middle of the NCAA Tournament.

The top three teams from the qualifying tournament in each gender will advance to the Tokyo Games. If the Americans qualify, their rosters could be a little different for the Olympics. As of now, two players must be a country’s top 10 as of May 22. The other two players on the team must have a minimum of 3,600 points. Fiba has changed who is eligible a few times over the past year.

The American women have dominated 5-on-5 at the Olympics, winning six consecutive gold medals. They’ve struggled lately in 3-on-3. They finished fifth in 2018 after not qualifying in 2017. They didn’t qualify for last year’s World Cup, either.

While the women’s qualifying team will be made up of pros, the men’s team will have seasoned 3-on-3 players in the mix.

Robbie Hummel, Kareem Maddox and Damon Huffman lead the way. That trio helped the US men win their first 3-on-3 world title last year as the Americans finished 7-0 in the tournament. AP

Bryan brothers to make last Davis Cup appearance for US

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Bob (left) and Mike Bryan have won a record 16 men’s doubles Grand Slam titles as a pairing. AP

HITE PLAINS, New York—Twins Bob and Mike Bryan will bid farewell to the Davis Cup by playing in the team competition for the final time when the United States hosts Uzbekistan in Hawaii next month.

US Captain Mardy Fish announced his roster on Monday, with the Bryan brothers joined by Taylor Fritz, Reilly Opelka and Tommy Paul in the best-of-five series in Honolulu on March 6 and 7.

The matches will be played on an indoor hard court.

The winning country will qualify for the Davis Cup Finals at Madrid in November.

The 41-year-old Bryans have won a record 16 men’s doubles Grand Slam titles as a pairing. They also helped the Americans win the 2007 Davis Cup. The last time they played together for the United States was in 2016.

HE coronavirus’ impact on life in China has reportedly led to a “major shortage” of National Hockey League (NHL) sticks.

As reported by the Boston Globe, the sticks are made in small batches in factories in China, but with work and travel having been brought to a halt in the country since late last month due to the coronavirus outbreak, the National Hockey League (NHL) has not been able to obtain new stock.

During last week’s NHL match between Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings, NBC Sports hockey analyst Pierre Maguire claimed that an equipment manager for one of the two teams told him there was a “major shortage” of sticks and that most of that team’s players were “using a one-stick limit for practice and maybe two for games.”

“A lot of players, especially the better more skilled, scoring-type players, they’re worried about where their next batch of sticks are coming from,” he said. “It’s a big problem.”

Hockey stick manufacturers disputed Maguire’s claims, but admitted they are concerned.

Bauer Hockey, CCM Hockey and True Hockey all make their pro sticks, used by approximately 75 percent of the NHL’s players, in China.

In an e-mail, Bauer Hockey chief executive Ed Kinnaly said the manufacturer was monitoring the “fluid and dynamic global situation.”

Kinnaly expects no impact to retailers worldwide, which he said are stocked through to the end of the season. He added that Bauer’s custom stick operation had been stopped, but operations are set to restart today.

Li Na, Chinese athletes make donations to fight outbreak

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etired Chinese tennis player Li Na has donated RMB3 million ($430,000) to assist with the work to treat the coronavirus outbreak.

Li, who won the French Open in 2011 and the Australian Open in 2014, made the donation through a charity foundation in Beijing.

The former world No. 2 was born in Wuhan, the city where the outbreak originated. She is one of the sports star hailing from the city who have made contributions so far.

Footballer Hao Junmin, who was

ORGANIZERS of the skateboarding championships urge national governing bodies and related parties to withhold making travel plans until an event update.

Skateboarding event in Singapore on hold

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RGANIZERS of this month’s Asian Street Skateboarding Continental Championships in Singapore advised participants to withhold travel plans due to the spread of coronavirus.

The competition, a qualifying event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, is scheduled for February 19 to 23 at Somerset Skatepark.

Coronavirus has infected 33 people in Singapore so far.

Organizers urged national governing bodies and related parties to withhold making travel

They have said that 2020 will be their final season on tour, wrapping up with the US Open in September.

Fritz, Opelka and Paul are all 22 years old. Paul is making his debut as a member of the US Davis Cup team.

Top-ranked doubles player Robert Farah, meanwhile, was cleared to play after the International Tennis Federation (ITF) accepted on Monday he tested positive for an anabolic agent from eating contaminated meat in his native Colombia.

Farah was provisionally suspended on January 21, preventing him from playing in the Australian Open with longtime doubles partner Juan Sebastian Cabal. They won the two previous Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon and the US Open and were the doubles team of the year in 2019.

Farah’s sample given out of competition last October tested positive for Boldenone. He denied wrongdoing. AP

appointed as one of the captains of the Chinese national team last month, donated RMB500,000 $71,000) to a district charity foundation in Wuhan.

Wang Shuang, the 2018 Asian Women’s Footballer of the Year from 2018, donated RMB600,000 ($86,000) after being caught with her family in the lockdown in Wuhan during the Lunar New Year.

The outbreak caused her to miss the Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifiers in Australia.

Another tennis player from the area, Zheng Qinwen, donated all of the prize money she made from the qualifying rounds of last year’s Wuhan Open—RMB10,000 ($1,400).

This follows on from the donation pledges of snooker player Liang Wenbo and swimmer Xu Jiayu. Insidethegames plans until an event update.

“Singapore, the hosting country of the upcoming Asian Street Skateboarding Continental Championship 2020, has seen an increased number of cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus in recent days,” a statement on the World Skate website said.

“A number of precautionary measures have been put in place by the Singapore Ministry of health to control the spread of the virus, and the organizers of the event are continuing to maintain a high level of vigilance with regards to the situation,” the statement said.

“At this point we are advising NGB and related parties to withhold making travel plans until further notice, “ the statement added. “In addition, there is a remaining travel restriction on people with travel history to high infection territories.”

Insidethegames

Virus is no

Al Mendoza | alsol47

THAT’S ALL IT is but right and proper that the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) leadership had to step in and make the bold move to scrap all sporting events in the wake of the nCoV (novel corona virus) scare sweeping not only the country but practically the entire universe.

As the saying goes, better safe than sorry.

The events’ indefinite suspension had the similar effect of a number of towns in Batangas getting locked down despite residents’ vehement objections when Taal Volcano erupted last month.

With that harsh decision by Phivolcs that practically shooed thousands of townspeople out of their comfort zones while being lumped into evacuation centers, what prevailed was public safety over a possible disaster of unimaginable proportion.

It was a gamble that amounted to untold sacrifice and suffering for the displaced citizens.

But it was worth it.

OK, no eruption happened, but it did not mean our Phivolcs officials were wrong. Let’s be thankful, instead, because our officials had chosen the safe side and not “suicide”—to use a bit of street lingo.

And with the virus from China’s Hubei province

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Thailand sweeps PHL gals in badminton tilt opener

IRUS CRISIS

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MADE RILS NHL TEAMS “We have backup stock in the US and Canada to meet these needs, and we are working closely with equipment managers to understand their inventory levels and ensure players have what they need,” Kinnaly told the Boston Globe.

The only major stickmaker that does not appear to have been affected by the situation is New Balance-owned Warrior, which provides around 22 per cent of the NHL’s total. All of its sticks are made in Mexican city Tijuana.

“We are open for business,” Dan Mecrones, who is responsible for Warrior’s pro league and player endorsements, told the Boston Globe. “We are prepared for anything that comes our way.”

“You don’t like to take a situation like this where it’s a health scare and there’s a lot of concerns out there,” he said. “From our perspective,

we will take any type of business that came our way to help out the situation, as well. We would be helping the game if we can provide the equipment that others couldn’t.”

The World Health Organization has declared coronavirus as a global emergency. More than 900 people have died and there are more than 40,000 cases in 28 countries and territories, with the vast majority of these in China.

The International Ice Hockey Federation recently cancelled four tournaments due to be held in Asia because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The four Challenge Cup of Asia events—two in Thailand and two in the Philippines—were scheduled to take place this month.

Insidethegames

THE sticks are made in small batches in factories in China.

Sport climbing donates 10K breathing masks

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THE former world No. 3 Li Na donates close to half a million dollars through a foundation.

Tongan athletes remain in Wuhan

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onga National Olympic Committee SecretaryGeneral Takitoa Taumoepeau confirmed that there are Tongan athletes currently quarantined in Wuhan, due to the outbreak of coronavirus in the Chinese city.

Fifty-two Tongan athletes and officials from swimming, table tennis, boxing and weightlifting are currently in Wuhan, as reported by Radio New Zealand.

Their flights back to Tonga, via Hong Kong, were cancelled due to the outbreak of coronavirus in the city.

Taumoepeau confirmed that the athletes were all well and the Tongan Government was working on bringing them back.

joke

7@yahoo.com

through mainly its largest city, Wuhan, giving us, presently, a huge scare, our sports officials have taken the bull by its horns, so to speak, in a bid to herd athletes and stakeholders out of harm’s way.

The virus—transmitted through droplets thus far—is no joke. It has killed nearly a thousand already in China (one Chinese death was reported in Manila last week), with nearly 8,000 confined in hospitals mostly in China. Hundreds more are being observed for possible symptoms of the virus, scores of them being treated outside China.

PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez and his fellow top guns are to be commended for their swift action in responding to the call of the times: avoiding crowd-inviting seminars and events to be held within the next few months.

Already, 32 China-based Filipinos were brought to the Athletes’ Village in New Clark City from Wuhan City for quarantine procedures—together with a flight crew of six and 13 medical workers. If they don’t show signs of contamination within 14 days, they’d be allowed to go back home to their families.

Otherwise, they’d be confined in hospitals for treatment.

“We are postponing major events of the PSC as a

“They are good, they didn’t contract the virus and they are in a very remote place from Wuhan,” he said.

“But I think our Government here is trying to negotiate and uplift them from where they are instead of going to Wuhan where all the flights are uplifting the various citizens from.”

He also revealed that the situation would not affect Tonga’s preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, with only one athlete among the group aiming to qualify.

“The team that went to China, they were in the development level so apart from the swimmers, the female swimmer, the other sports they’re not trying to qualify,” he said. Insidethegames safety measure against the novel coronavirus,” said Ramirez. “Seminars and other events that will have groups of people exceeding 40 are shelved indefinitely.”

Already considered scrapped is the Asean Para Games set March 20-28 at the New Clark City, Subic and Metro Manila.

“We have a board resolution advising the Paralympics body to postpone the games,” Ramirez said.

Other events postponed were the National Sports Summit 2020, Philippine National Games, Batang Pinoy and Children’s Games.

PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez has also advised NSAs to study travels for their athletes and coaches but qualified that it is “for the NSAs to make” the final decision.

I would insist that travels abroad by our athletes for either further training or competition be indefinitely scrapped, too, to avoid harboring regrets—if not the “I told you so” refrain—later.

As I said, the current virus is no joke. It kills—easily, as there is no vaccine for it yet.

THAT’S IT What happened to June Mar Fajardo—a possible season-ending shin injury— is another screaming proof of how uncertain an athlete’s career is. As the country’s highest paid cager for being the undisputed king of basketball, how much is Fajardo going to lose while not being suited for San Miguel Beer games in PBA 2020?

Let’s pray for his complete recovery.

HE International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) sent 10,000 breathing or face masks to China to help with the coronavirus crisis.

The federation made the delivery to the Chinese Mountaineering Association as a “small gesture of support,” the governing body said. IFSC member countries are now being encouraged to also do what they can to help.

“These items shall be distributed to those who are currently unable to access them, contributing to keeping the spread of the virus at bay,” an IFSC statement said.

The IFSC also reached out to its member federations, encouraging them to support the sport climbing community and the wider population of China.

The outbreak, which originated in Chinese city Wuhan, has already forced the cancellation or postponement of numerous sporting events.

Three IFSC events which are due to be held in China in April–the Asian Championships and a World Cup in Chonqing, and a World Cup in Wujiang–are being monitored to see if they will go ahead.

These competitions are due to be part of the qualification pathway for sport climbing’s Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020.

“First of all we would like to send our best wishes to those affected by the coronavirus and to those who are directly or indirectly suffering because of the epidemic,” IFSC President Marco Scolaris said. “At the same time, the health of our athletes and of all the people that work for our Member Federations is our main concern.”

Insidethegames

hailand gave host Philippines a rude awakening with a five-game sweep on opening day of women’s action in the Badminton Asia Manila Team Championships on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Renovated to fit standards for the recent 30th Southeast Asian Games, the iconic venue revealed its beauty as a four-court badminton arena to hold the Asian tilt that stakes ranking points for qualifications to the Tokyo Olympics.

But the visiting Thais were of a superior caliber, sweeping the Filipinos in five matches capped by the singles defeat of top local bet Sarah Joy Barredo.

Barredo bowed to Chasinee Korepap, 14-21, 15-21, following the unsuccessful campaigns of Nicole Aira Albo and Bianca Carlos.

Albo opened the day with a lopsided 8-21, 10-21 loss to Busanan Ombangrungphan,

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ESPITE its triple-tower threat severely depleted, Ateneo remains the elephant in the room when the defending women’s champion Lady Eagles stake their volleyball crown in the 82nd season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

The novel coronovirus did little to rattle organizers to postpone the tournament opening on Saturday and featured a four-game bill between University of the East and University of the Philippines,and Far Eastern University and University of Santo Tomas—both in the men’s and women’s sides.

Not even the postponement of other big leagues could stop the crowd-hoarding volleyball season, with the anticipated Ateneo and De La Salle battle highlighting the weekend playdates on Sunday.

“All systems go,” UAAP Executive Director Rebo Saguisag. “At the moment, we will proceed with the schedules.”

Of course, the collegiate league gives emphasis on the virus crisis that dealt major blows across other sports events in the region.

“Rest assured, the UAAP is committed to ensuring the safety of our student-athletes, the coaches and the officials,” Saguisag said. “Nothing comes more important than everybody’s health.”

Coach Oliver Almadro, who steered the winning Season 81 team, sees no reason for the favorites’ tag in the women’s tournament.

Minus the big names—Maddie Madayag and Bea de Leon—Almadro tries to temper expectations with the huge void now filled by hitter Kat Tolentino and other reliables.

Aside from Tolentino, named the Best Opposire Spiker last year, Ponggay Gaston is sure to have heavy minutes along with the four

THE coaches of the member schools make the traditional post for the coming volleyball wars.

NONIE REYES

rookies on board led by Faith Nisperos.

The La Salle game in the opening assignment sounds pressure for the reigning titlists, but Almadro said the whole tournament would be a tough grind.

“We prepared against La Salle, but UAAP is a long tournament. You cannot say that we give our focus to a single team because we have two rounds. Every match matters,” he said.

In the men’s side, National University guns for its third-straight title with the Southeast Asian Games silver-medal winning national team

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SAN SEBASTIAN’S Reyann Canete scores against Jacqueline Acuña and Venice Puzon of Lyceum.

NONOY LACZA

AN Beda University secured the last Final Four slot after sweeping Mapua University, 25-19, 25-17, 25-19, on Tuesday in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 95 women’s volleyball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Maria Viray led the Lady Red Spikers with 12 points, two blocks, three aces and 12 excellent digs and The victory was the second straight for the Lady Red Spikers, who tied University of Perpetual Help at third spot with a 6-2 won-lost record.

Francesca Racraquin added 12 points and Daryl Racraquin contributed 22 excellent digs and eight excellent receptions for the Red Lioness.

“We are happy that we secured a seat Final Four,” San Beda coach Nemesio Gavino Jr.said.

“But we need to be hungier in the semifinals.

Jonina Fernandez finished with seven points and 10 excellent receptions and Lorraine Barias chipped in seven points for the Lady Cardinlas, who fell to 1-7.

Red Warriors in hot start with two golds in fencing

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while Carlos bowed to Pornpawee Chochuwong, 15-21, 12-21.

In doubles, the Filipinos—Alyssa Leonardo and Theo Pomar—lost to Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongval, 21-12, 21-13.

Korepap paired with Phataimas Muenwong to take down Geva de Vera and Chanelle Lunod, 21-10, 21-8.

The national team hopes to recover from the devastating losses when it takes on a heftier Indonesian side on Wednesday.

“We want to brush off the pressure because Indonesians are good players,” Barredo said. “But we will fight.”

In men’s group play in the afternoon, Ros Leonard Pedrosa was on the receiving end of the same beating against Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen, 21-12, 21-8.

Ramon Rafael Bonilla

LADY EAGLES KEEP FAVORITES’ TAG

San Beda snatches last Final Four berth in NCAA

NIVERSITY of the East (UE) set in motion its “eight-peeat” bid by winning two men’s gold medals while Ateneo’s Maxine Esteban shone on opening day of UAAP Season 82 fencing action on Tuesday at the Paco Arena.

CJ Concepcion provided the Red Warriors’ 1-2 finish in men’s individual saber, while two-time MVP Sammuel Tranquilan ruled the men’s individual epee.

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Concepcion beat Tranquilan, 15-8, in an all-UE final. Tranquilan returned in the afternoon with a 15-12 victory over Ateneo’s Jian Miguel Bautista for the epee gold.

Esteban jumpstarted Ateneo’s back-to-back title bid by winning the women’s individual foil for the second year in a row.

A bronze medalist in the 30th Southeast Asian Games, reigning MVP Esteban retained her

crown by beating De La Salle’s Divine Romero, 15-7, in the final.

“I’m very happy but the competition is not yet done,” the 20-year-old Esteban said. “I’m concentrating on my game tomorrow because it is more important.”

Esteban is focusing on the women’s individual saber, which she ruled last year, on Wednesday. She will also compete in

members Joshua Retamar and Ricky Marcos loading the lineup.

“We trained in Japan for 12 days. The team really focuses on improvement because it’s going to be a tough competition,” Bulldogs Head Coach Dante Alinsunurin said.

It will be a historic volleyball season as each playdate will follow an alternating division schedule instead of the previous set where men’s games are played in the morning followed by double-header afternoon matches on the women’s side.

Ramon Rafael Bonilla San Beda faces Lyceum of the Philippines for its last assignment in the eliminartions on Friday.

San Sebastian College eliminated Lyceum, 25-20, 25-18, 20-25, 25-16, in the other match. Four players posted double-digits for the Lady Stags—Shannai Requireme and Reyann Canete with 14 points each, and Jamille Carreon and Kamille Tan with 12 apiece.

BaliPure player Jewelle Bermillo finished with 16 excellent digs and 14 excellent receptions while Alexia Sison had 12 excellent sets for the Lady Stags, who are eighth with a 2-6 card.

“This a big boost for the players for their next games,” Lady Stags coach Norvie Labuga said.

Monica Sevilla finished with 15 points, Ciamelle Wanta added 10 and Alexandra Rafael 11 as the Lady Pirates fell to 3-5 at seventh spot.

The Stags, meanwhile, defeated the Pirates, 25-14, 25-23, 25-20, 17-25, in men’s action.

Kier Tibayan led the Stags with 17 points, while Charles Del Rio and Harvie Dizon both chipped in 12 points for the team which improved to 2-6 won-lost.

Reynald Honra had 15 points and Robbie Pamitan added 12 for the Pirates, who fell to 1-7. individual epee.

“I know that the other teams are stronger.

But I think we want to win more than them,” said Esteban, who is entered in all of six events.

David Lumahan of De La Salle and Daniel Britanico of Ateneo bagged the men’s individual saber bronze. Lumahan and Edcel Dizon of University of Santo Tomas also reached the podium in men’s epee.

UE’s Anne Nicole Baring and Queendenise Dalmacio took the women’s individual foil bronze medals.

NCAA IN FULL Sports CONTROL BusinessMirror

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| Wednesday, February 12, 2020 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

By Ben Nuckols The Associated Press

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ASHINGTON—As Congress considers whether to allow college athletes to receive endorsement money, the NCAA and its allies spent at least $750,000 last year lobbying lawmakers to shape any reforms to the organization’s liking.

The NCAA last fall said it would allow athletes to “benefit from the use of their name, image and likeness,” and is crafting rules to put in place for its 1,100 member-schools. But the organization has turned to Congress to step in as more and more states follow the lead of California, where a law set to take effect in 2023 clears the way for athletes to earn endorsement money.

Organizations representing athletes have no paid lobbyists, leading to concern among some reform advocates that the deep-pocketed NCAA is shaping the debate. The NCAA’s pressure campaign comes as the Senate prepares for a committee hearing Tuesday on player compensation.

“The NCAA is going to fight for the status quo,” said Ramogi Huma, executive director of the National College Players Association.

Rep. Mark Walker, a North Carolina Republican who introduced a bill last spring that would guarantee players the right to earn money from their name, image and likeness, told The Associated Press “there’s no question” the NCAA’s lobbying has been effective.

“The NCAA is already at a position of power,” Walker said. “Otherwise, you would have seen progress.... There’s been little to nothing done in this arena, and had the student-athlete had proper representation on the federal level, we’d be much further down this path than we are.”

The NCAA spent $450,000 last year on lobbying, according to disclosure forms reviewed by the AP. Of that total, $240,000 went to an outside firm, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck,

and $210,000 went to its in-house lobbyists.

That’s the most the organization has spent on lobbying in any year since 2014. And it got some help from two of the Power Five conferences.

The Atlantic Coast Conference hired lobbyists last year for the first time, giving at least $210,000 to the law firm DLA Piper and another lobbyist, Tom Korologos, to influence Congress on “legislative and regulatory proposals affecting intercollegiate athletes,” disclosure forms show.

The Big 12 Conference has worked with lobbyist Kenny Hulshof, a former Republican congressman from Missouri, for several years, but it paid him less than $5,000 per quarter before ramping up its spending last year, records show.

In the last six months of 2019, the Big 12 paid Hulshof $90,000—some of it specifically to address Walker’s bill.

In total, the NCAA and the two conferences spent at least $750,000 on lobbying last year.

The NCAA’s ability to spend big on lobbying is a symptom of the larger problem, according to advocates for player compensation: a college sports system that generates $14 billion a year from athletes who are compensated only in scholarships and other education-specific aid.

“The NCAA is a well-heeled organization and college athletes, not by accident, don’t have the kind of organizational power or influence that the NCAA does,” Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat who supports giving players more earning power, told the AP. “You have to be more assiduous in soliciting the opinion of athletes than you do the NCAA.” The NCAA and its allies have a big reason to increase their spending: If Congress does nothing, athlete-friendly laws like the one in California will take effect around the country.

Huma said 28 states are considering action to grant additional rights to college players.

Tom McMillen, president and CEO of the Lead1 Association, a trade group for Division I athletic directors, shrugged off the influence of lobbying.

“You can have all the lobbyists in the world, but it doesn’t really make a difference,” he said. “This is a complicated process, getting something done through Congress in any kind of timely fashion.”

While he is not a registered lobbyist, McMillen, an 11-year NBA veteran and former Democratic congressman from Maryland who wrote a book in 1992 on the corrupting influence of money on college sports, is an eloquent advocate for the NCAA’s position. He said it’s essential to have “guardrails” on player compensation.

A panel discussion last month at Georgetown University’s law school was striking for the uniformity of participants’ views on the subject.

McMillen appeared alongside Donald Remy, the NCAA’s chief legal counsel, and Amy Perko, CEO of the Knight Commission—a reformminded nonprofit. All three agreed restrictions had to be placed on name, image and likeness compensation to avoid wrecking college sports as we know it.

“We are all committed to preserving the system of college athletics that exists nowhere else in the world,” Remy said.

McMillen said if player compensation reform was not done properly, it could lead to the “full professionalization of our college campuses.”

Among the restrictions he said were necessary was a safeguard against players being paid exorbitant sums of money for endorsements or personal appearances, turning the compensation into “an end-around to pay athletes corruptly.”

Such deals could influence recruiting and destroy competitive balance, he said.

In a December meeting with Murphy and Sen. Mitt Romney, a Utah Republican, NCAA President Mark Emmert said “everyone agrees” schools shouldn’t be able to use big endorsement deals to gain a recruiting advantage.

In fact, there’s plenty of dissent on that subject. Advocates for athletes say there is plenty of corruption in recruiting already and

Old problems undermine Dortmund’s Bundesliga bid

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ERLIN—Erling Haaland’s sensational start only papered over the cracks at Borussia Dortmund.

It isn’t Erling Haaland’s fault— The 19-year-old the team’s problems are at the Haaland scored other end of the field. AP a hat trick in his debut in only 23 minutes. He racked up seven goals in his first three games. But the tall Norwegian striker was held scoreless for the first time on Saturday as Dortmund slumped to a 4-3 that concerns about excessive money flowing loss, hurting the club’s Bundesliga title bid. to players are a stall tactic by the NCAA and its It wasn’t Haaland’s fault—the team’s allies. problems are at the other end of the field.

“In no other industry, in no other context on Dortmund was leading 3-2 at Bayer a college campus do we tell someone that we are Leverkusen but conceded two goals in 81 going to curb your value,” said Ricky Volante, CEO seconds, only days after it was knocked out of the of the Professional Collegiate League, an upstart German Cup in a 3-2 loss at struggling Werder competitor to the NCAA that intends to pay Bremen. salaries to college players.

“When you concede so many goals and put Volante said he is concerned that no one yourself in such stupid positions, you can’t win is effectively countering the NCAA’s messaging games,” Dortmund player-manager Sebastian in Washington. The work falls mostly to the Kehl said. “The third goal was deserved, we had NCPA—which is funded in part by the United the game under control, but then we were way Steelworkers—and the Drake Group, a nonprofit too passive. We have to keep doing well going that advocates for academic integrity in college forward and defend together. It’s not only a sports and a frequent critic of the NCAA. AP

problem for defenders. It’s about all the work when we don’t have the ball.”

Dortmund’s work with the ball is fine. The team has scored 19 goals in four Bundesliga games since the midseason break. Along with Haaland, the team boasts an impressive attacking lineup in Marco Reus, Julian Brandt, Jadon Sancho, Thorgan Hazard and emerging talent Giovanni Reyna. World Cup winner Mario Götze has remained mostly an unused substitute on the bench.

But mistakes in midfield and defense have been costly all season. Manuel Akanji, Mats Hummels, Raphaël Guerreiro and Axel Witsel were at fault against Leverkusen, though no Dortmund player is blameless over the whole season.

Dortmund has already conceded 32 goals in 21 league games—a lot more than any of its title-chasing rivals.

Dortmund Coach Lucien Favre has tried variations from his favored 4-3-3 formation, switching at times to three defenders with two wingers dropping back to help out, but the issues remain.

“We’re not closing down crosses. We’re not attacking the ball. We’re not decisive enough defending in the penalty area,” Dortmund Sporting Director Michael Zorc said. “We’ve had these problems for a while. That’s the main reason we’re not higher in the table.” AP

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Trust

EAR God, when did we never trust You, oh Lord? We often rest our confidence in You most of the time. From the Psalms 46:1,2—“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will not we fear, though the Earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” We commend our spirit, Lord, and trust You forever.

Amen.

GIVE US THIS DAY SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • lifestylebusinessmirror@gmail.com

Life BusinessMirror

MAKING OSCAR HISTORY, ‘PARASITE’ WINS BEST PICTURE D3

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

No handshakes at meet and greet? Tech show adapts to virus CHINESE smartphone brand Huawei says it will attend the industry’s biggest global event this month in Barcelona while more companies reported losses due to China’s efforts to contain a disease outbreak. AP

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BY KELVIN CHAN The Associated Press

ONDON—A major European technology trade fair has a low-tech idea for reducing virus risks: go hands-free.

Organizers of this month’s Mobile World Congress (MWC) show are advising attendees to adopt a no-handshake policy, threatening to dampen visiting executives’ ability to meet and schmooze customers. Show organizers also plan to step up cleaning and disinfecting and make sure speakers don’t use the same microphone. Some companies, meanwhile, are pulling out or scaling back plans.

MWC is an important networking and lobbying opportunity for mobile industry executives and government officials from around the world. It’s the world’s biggest wireless industry trade fair, held in Barcelona, Spain, on the other side of the globe from the virus outbreak’s Chinese epicenter.

More than 100,000 people were expected to attend this year, with about 6 percent from China. The coronavirus has now infected more than 31,400 people globally and killed more than 630, most of them in China.

The latest turmoil for MWC came Friday when Sweden’s Ericsson, a major supplier of telecom infrastructure gear, said it was pulling out of the February 24 to 27 event because it feared the health and safety of employees and customers “cannot be ensured.” While there’s little sign of a mass exodus in the works, the departure of Ericsson is a blow to the show because it’s one of the biggest exhibitors.

South Korean tech company LG also withdrew earlier in the week.

Other companies are adjusting or scaling back their plans to adapt to travel and quarantine measures. The Chinese tech giant Huawei, a major sponsor, is assigning European staff to the show. Eric Xu, serving a six-month term as rotating chairman, is scheduled to hold a media briefing by video because he’s unable to get to Spain with enough time to undergo the two-week selfquarantine period.

Jean-Baptiste Su, principal analyst at Atherton Research in San Jose, California, said he’s decided not to attend because of virus worries.

“I just didn’t want to take a chance,” he said.

“It’s that bad.”

Su said many participants were coming from China, and “we don’t know much about how the transmission of the virus works.”

He added that people he knows at big Silicon Valley companies are “on the fence” about attending, and their employers say it’s OK if they don’t want to.

Ericsson said it decided to withdraw after “an extensive internal risk assessment.”

“Ericsson has thousands of visitors in its hall each day and even if the risk is low, the company cannot guarantee the health and safety of its employees and visitors,” the company said.

Dropping out might affect Ericsson’s business, though the damage would be limited, said Richard Fogg, CEO of techfocused public relations agency CCgroup who has attended Mobile World for 17 years.

More important is the signal it sends.

“Ericsson could be the start of a domino rally,” Fogg said. “It gives smaller vendors permission to potentially pull from attending.” (According to recent reports from technology news sites, global players Sony and Amazon have also pulled out of MWC—Ed.) However, he said there was not much discussion among his clients yet of the virus.

He said cost is also a factor because exhibitors have already paid their fees.

The show’s organizers, GSMA, said it regretted and respected Ericsson’s decision to pull out.

“Ericsson’s cancellation will have some

impact on our presence at this time and will potentially have further impact,” the group said.

Organizers and local authorities have been scrambling to contain worries about the virus this week.

Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau said MWC will go ahead “in a completely normal way” despite the virus and cancellations.

“I hope there are no more announcements like those” by Ericsson and LG, Colau told Catalan television channel TV3 on Friday. “I am told that all necessary precautions are being taken” so that the event can be held as safely as possible, she said.

Mats Granryd, director general of the GSMA, told The Associated Press on Wednesday, before Ericsson’s announcement, that he doesn’t “foresee this [as] more than a sort of a blip.”

Microsoft said its plans to participate remain unchanged—for now.

“The safety of our employees is a top priority and we will evaluate the situation and adjust plans as necessary,” the company said.

But LG said on Tuesday that it was dropping out to remove “the risk of exposing hundreds of LG employees to international travel which has already become more restrictive as the virus continues to spread across borders.” A day later, Chinese tech company ZTE said it was scrubbing the press launch for its new devices. ZTE also said it was adopting measures including disinfecting its exhibition stand daily and making sure it’s staffed by employees from countries outside China, mainly from Europe.

Granryd said a few small Chinese companies based in Wuhan, China, where the virus first emerged, have also pulled out. ■

AFFORDABLE LTE SMARTPHONES THAT WORK BEST WITH GLOBE LTE SIM CARDS THE accessibility of smartphones has made it easier to adapt to a digital lifestyle. Digital consumption continues to expand as more and more people are browsing social media, using mobile apps, and watching online videos as part of their everyday life. Buying groceries, booking a laundry service, and monitoring your expenses are just some of the activities that can already be done online these days. With constant innovation, more features are expected to be developed in the future.

There are an estimated 76 million Internet users in the Philippines, or 71 percent of the total population (Digital in 2018, We Are Social and Hootsuite). Moreover, in 2018 the data traffic of Globe grew by 59 percent compared to 2017.

There is an LTE smartphone for every digital user. Budget is one consideration, and the availability of flexible pricing enables more people to own one. There are also varying features to consider, from the basics such as a camera, to sophisticated ones like facial recognition. There is an LTE smartphone that matches one’s level of digital fluency.

More important, these digital experiences are made better with LTE-capable smartphones that work best with Globe LTE SIM cards compared to the obsolete and old 3G SIM cards. They enable customers to enjoy the benefits of having a digital lifestyle.

Having an LTE smartphone and an LTE SIM makes downloading a favorite game, movie, or pictures easier and faster. It also lets them download and store bigger files, giving more games or movies to enjoy.

Check out the latest affordable LTE-capable phones at shop.globe.com.ph, Lazada and Shopee. You can also have your old SIM cards upgraded to LTE for free at any Globe store. It is a fast and convenient way to make the most out of your digital experience.

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Pet Corner BusinessMirror

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Judge upholds Maryland ban on pet stores’ sale of cats, dogs A COLUMBIA, Maryland, federal judge on February 7 threw out a lawsuit that challenged Maryland’s newly enacted ban on the sale of dogs and cats by retail pet stores, a statute billed as a check against unlicensed and unsanitary “puppy mills.” AP

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By Michael Kunzelman The Associated Press

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Christina Ricci, 40; Darren Aronofsky, 51; Josh Brolin, 52; Arsenio Hall, 64.

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Look for an opening or a new beginning, or take it upon yourself to learn something that will help you advance. If you want change, it’s up to you to do the groundwork necessary to achieve the goal you set.

HHH

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Speak from the heart. What you say to others will make a difference if you are trying to get the support you need to bring about positive change. Ask for help, but find out what’s expected in return. HHH

c

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Look at the big picture and analyze what others do, say and respond. Weed out anyone who appears suspicious or who is offering the impossible. You can move forward only if you build your ideas and plans on solid ground. HHH

d

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Your charm will win over even your toughest critic. Use your creative imagination to dazzle those you want to impress. Your relationships will improve if you show compassion and offer help. Love and romance will enhance your personal life. HHHH

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Make changes if that’s what you want. Don’t sit around waiting for someone else to step in and take over. If you’d like things done your way, do them yourself. A partnership should be based on equality.

HHH

f

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You’ll have an interesting view of what’s going on around you. Observe and make decisions based on what you see and hear. A steady pace and strategic input will help you get what you want within your budget.

HHHHH

showcasing their animals in pet stores.

“As such, the Act does not expressly distinguish between in-state and out-of-state breeders and brokers,” Hollander wrote.

The lawsuit also said animal welfare organizations have made unfounded claims that pet stores are fueling the growth of puppy mills. The suit claimed the ban effectively shifts the sale of puppies from regulated retailers to unregulated sources, such as sellers placing ads on the Internet or in newspapers.

“Internet pet sales have a notoriously high incidence of fraud and scams which will only increase against Maryland residents once the ban takes effect,” the suit said. The judge said there are “certainly grounds to support plaintiffs’ belief that, in effect, the cure is worse than the disease.”

“But, whatever the Act’s soundness, that is a judgment committed to the legislature,” Hollander

added. Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, signed the legislation into law in April 2018 after the state Senate unanimously approved it and the House passed it, 129-8.

The defendants include the state Senate’s finance committee and Maryland Atty. General Brian Frosh, whose office will be responsible for enforcing the ban.

The first law of this kind took effect in January 2019 in California. Unlike Maryland’s blanket ban on the sale of dogs and cats by pet stores, California law prohibits pet stores from selling a dog, cat or rabbit unless it came from an animal shelter or rescue group.

Some local governments, including in Maryland, already have enacted similar measures.

Maine also recently enacted a law prohibiting the sale of cats and dogs in stores, and New York is contemplating a pet store ban similar to Maryland’s, Hollander noted. n

Animal shelter says ‘world’s worst cat’ is up for adoption BAKERSVILLE, North Carolina— The “world’s worst cat” is available for adoption—just ask the Mitchell County Animal Rescue organization in North Carolina.

The shelter about 55 miles (89 kilometers) northeast of Asheville is waiving adoption fees in the hope that someone will take the cat named Perdita off their hands. The group says on its Facebook page, “We thought she was sick. Turns out she’s just a jerk.”

Today’s Horoscope

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Pay attention to what you can accomplish, not what you cannot. Your aim should be to make the most progress, not pursue a dead end.

Don’t let emotions take over or cause you to make poor decisions. Use your intelligence and charm to find out what you need to know to move forward without risk or damage to important relationships. Your lucky numbers are 3, 11, 16, 21, 28, 33, 42.

C

OLLEGE PARK, Maryland—A federal judge on Friday threw out a lawsuit that challenged Maryland’s newly enacted ban on the sale of dogs and cats by retail pet stores, a statute billed as a check against unlicensed and unsanitary “puppy mills.”

Four pet stores, a dog breeder and a dog broker sued in August to block the law, which took effect January 1. Maryland was the second state after California to pass such restrictions on the sale of dogs and cats.

The law bans pet stores from selling dogs and cats but encourages them to collaborate with animal welfare groups to “showcase” dogs from shelters, animal control units and “local breeders.”

US District Judge Ellen Hollander, who also denied the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction blocking the law’s enforcement, said she found ample evidence that state lawmakers had a “rational basis” for enacting the statute.

“Protecting consumers, reducing financial support for mill breeders, and encouraging pet adoption are indisputably legitimate state interests,” she wrote in her 79-page decision.

Hollander said the plaintiffs essentially argued that lawmakers improperly tried to harm pet stores by siding with animal-rights groups.

“This argument is without merit. Siding with one group does not necessarily signify hostility toward another,” the judge wrote.

The pet stores have said the ban will put them out of business. One of the plaintiffs, Just Puppies, closed “for a period” after the law took effect last month, said plaintiffs’ attorney Jonathan Kagan. The ban already has “significantly impacted” the stores that have stayed open in hopes of getting a favorable court ruling, he added.

Kagan couldn’t immediately say if his clients would appeal the ruling. “We’re still trying to digest it,” he said.

Maryland’s law encourages animal welfare organizations to collaborate with retail pet stores to showcase cats and dogs for adoption or purchase from “local breeders,” according to a summary of the legislation prepared by state analysts.

The pet stores argued the ban is unconstitutional, violating the Commerce Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Their suit said the legislation’s intent to facilitate sales from local breeders discriminates against out-of-state breeders and brokers.

The judge said the law is a “poorly drafted statute” that doesn’t define the terms showcase and local breeders. But she agreed with the state that the law does not carve out a special exception for local breeders to sell cats or dogs through pet stores or preclude out-of-state breeders and brokers from

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A tongue-in-cheek profile of the foul-tempered feline says her dislikes include “dogs, children, the Dixie Chicks, Disney movies, Christmas and last but not least...hugs.” It says she likes lurking, pretending to be sick and “staring into your soul until you feel as if you may never be cheerful again...”

It adds, “She’s single and ready to be socially awkward with a socially awkward human who understands personal space. ”

Shelter Director Amber Lowery says four-year-old Perdita came to the facility on Christmas Eve, The Charlotte Observer reported. Since then, the shelter has had to warn visitors that Perdita’s attempts to draw passersby to her cage are actually a ruse that will not end well.

“I’m looking at her right now, and she’s rolling around in her little bed, looking all sweet and cute, but the minute you try to rub her, she slaps

you. We thought she was in pain and took her to the vet and he said: ‘No, this cat is just a jerk’,” Lowery told the newspaper. Her Facebook post has drawn thousands of “likes”—and a follow-up post says more than 50 applications to adopt her have been submitted. One person wrote on the shelter’s Facebook page that they hoped Perdita finds “the goth home of her dreams.” The shelter replied, “Us too...like soon.” AP

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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Take better care of your health and well-being. Refuse to let anyone upset you or cause unnecessary stress. Deal with demanding people directly if you want to avoid stewing over something that may or may not happen. Take control. HHH

h

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Use your creativity, imagination and desire to be unique to your advantage. How you approach others will make a difference in the outcome of what you are trying to accomplish. A personal change will draw compliments. HHH

i j

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Trust in yourself and your ability to get things done on your own. If you count on someone else, you will be disappointed. What someone tells you and what he or she does will not coincide. HHH CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Accept the inevitable and do your own thing. The changes that come about will turn out better than anticipated. Focus on home, family and stability. Refuse to let someone’s unexpected reaction dictate how you feel or how you move forward. HHHHH

k

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): A secretive approach will be in your best interest. If you are too emotional or vocal about the way you feel or what you are doing, someone will take advantage of you. A poker face is favored. HH

l

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Offer to lend a helping hand. You will gain respect and build the resources you need to increase your chance to advance. A personal change will draw compliments and interest. HHHH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are determined, ambitious and proactive.

You are unpredictable and secretive.

‘in the zone’ BY JEFFREY WECHSLER The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Auntie played by Angela Lansbury 5 Improperly off base, briefly 9 Candy store?

14 Green sci.

15 Showed up 16 Lively dance 17 Buffer zone?

20 Backyard border, sometimes 21 Be sweet on, in tween-speak 22 Trim, as expenses 23 “___ thanks!”

25 Air freshener options 27 Drop zone?

32 noitcerid s’eulc sihT 33 London or New York neighborhood 34 With 65-Across, what a bad cook supposedly can’t even do 37 Bordeaux buddy 38 The Cat in the Hat star Mike 40 “Whether ___ nobler in the mind...”: Hamlet 42 Get-rich-quick offer, often 45 51 is a notable one 46 Get ready for a trip

47 Strike zone?

50 The Gettysburg Address, for one 53 Morales of Titans 54 Shower (with) 55 Gets under one’s skin 59 Like some Peruvian pyramids 62 Time zone?

65 See 34-Across 66 Quarry chunk 67 Baum princess 68 Coasters on hills 69 Enter and Tab 70 Lively dance DOWN 1 What gears should do 2 Bengay target 3 Sound choice for a special occasion?

4 Like an ingenious solution 5 Merkel’s “Oh!” 6 Imitate a banshee 7 Ritzy hotel chain 8 Onion relative 9 Massage therapist’s workplace 10 Submarine weapon

1 Poe’s middle name 1 12 Hybrid tennis garment 13 Bounding animals 18 Texting button 19 Seoul : won :: Mexico City : ___ 24 Polite assent to Twain’s Aunt Polly 26 Inexperienced reporter 27 Old carrier hidden in “Jetway” 28 Alteration targets 29 Word with “family” or “flush” 30 Bordeaux sweetie 31 Sophia of Grumpier Old Men 35 Stress, in a way 36 Elementary school parasites 39 Like wise advice 41 Atrium view 43 Was a lookout for, perhaps 44 Soft shoe, briefly 46 Prepare to handle 48 Rotor sound 49 “In your dreams!”

50 Ejects forcefully 51 Peloton Bike part 52 Best of the best 56 Progressive concern?

57 Carotenoid-rich green 58 Dispatch, as a dragon 60 High point 61 McDonough of Sonic the Hedgehog 63 Places with IVs 64 Delivery room VIPs

Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

Show BusinessMirror

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CONSUMED with emotion, Joaquin Phoenix accepts the Best Actor plum for Joker. PHOTOS: AP

RENÉE ZELLWEGER with the Best Actress Oscar for Judy.

BONG JOON-HO makes Oscar history with his Best Director win for Parasite.

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

BRAD PITT with the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood.

Making Oscar history, ‘Parasite’ wins best picture L

By Jake Coyle The Associated Press

OS ANGELES—In a milestone win that instantly expanded the Oscars’s horizons, Bong Joon-ho’s masterfully devious class satire Parasite became the first non-English language film to win best picture in the 92-year history of the Academy Awards.

Parasite took Hollywood’s top prize on Sunday night, along with awards for best director, best international film and best screenplay. In a year dominated by period epics—1917, Once Upon a Time...

In Hollywood, The Irishman—the film academy instead went overseas, to South Korea, to reward a contemporary and unsettling portrait of social inequality in Parasite.

True to its name, Parasite simply got under the skin of Oscar voters, attaching itself to the American awards season and, ultimately, to history. The win was a watershed moment for the Academy Awards, which has long been content to relegate international films to their own category. But in recent years, to diversify its membership, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited many more overseas voters.

Multiple standing ovations greeted Bong’s several wins. “I am ready to drink tonight,” Bong said, prompting roars from the crowd. Unexpectedly called up again for best director, Bong saluted his fellow nominees, particularly Martin Scorsese, and concluded: “Now I’m ready to drink until tomorrow.”

After the Dolby Theatre had emptied out, the Parasite team still remained on the stage, soaking in their win. Backstage, Bong was still gobsmacked. “It’s really f—-ing crazy,” he told reporters, clutching his awards. The victory for Parasite—which had echoes of the surprise win by Moonlight over La La Land three years ago—came in a year when many criticized the lack of diversity in the nominees and the absence of female filmmakers. But the triumph for Parasite, the Palme d’Or winner at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, enabled Hollywood to flip the script and signal progress, nevertheless. No Korean film had ever won an Oscar before.

In doing so, the film academy turned away another history-making event, again denying Netflix its first best-picture win despite two contenders in The Irishman and Marriage Story, and a big-spending awards campaign blitz.

Sam Mendes’s audaciously conceived World War I film 1917, made to seem one continuous shot, had been the clear favorite heading into Oscars, having won nearly all the precursor awards, including top honors from the Producers Guild, the Directors Guild, the Golden Globes and the BAFTAs. In the end, 1917 went home with three awards for its technical virtuosity: Roger Deakins’s cinematography, visual effects and sound mixing.

All of the acting winners—Brad Pitt, Renée Zellweger, Joaquin Phoenix and Laura Dern—went as expected. While Pitt, notching his first acting Oscar, had regaled audiences with one-liners in the run-up to Sunday, he began his comments on a political note.

“They told me I have 45 seconds to speak, which is 45 seconds more than the Senate gave John Bolton this week,” Pitt said, alluding to the impeachment

hearings before mentioning director Quentin Tarantino. “I’m thinking maybe Quentin does a movie about it.” Pitt said the honor had given him reason to reflect on his fairy-tale journey in the film industry, going back to when he moved to Los Angeles from Missouri. “Once upon a time in Hollywood,” said Pitt.

“Ain’t that the truth.”

Zellweger completed a comeback, winning her second Academy Award for her fragile but indomitable Judy Garland in Judy. Dern won for her performance as a divorce attorney in Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story. Accepting her first Oscar, Dern thanked her in-attendance parents, “my legends, Diane Ladd and Bruce Dern.”

Phoenix, long one of Hollywood’s most respected actors, took best actor for his limber but morose Joker.

In his acceptance speech, Phoenix spoke deliberately about a host of issues, including sexism and racism in the film industry, ecological disaster and vegetarianism. “I’ve been a scoundrel in my life. I’ve been selfish, I’ve been cruel at times and hard to work with. But so many of you in this room have given me a second chance,” Phoenix said. When people guide each other toward redemption, he added, “that is the best of humanity.”

He concluded quoting a lyric of his deceased brother, River Phoenix: “Run to the rescue with love and peace will follow.”

For the 87th time, no women were nominated for best director this year, a subject that was woven into the entire ceremony—and even into some attendees’ clothing. Natalie Portman wore a cape lined with the names of female filmmakers who weren’t nominated for their direction, including Lulu Wang (The Farewell), Greta Gerwig (Little Women) and Mati Diop (Atlantics).

Coming on a rare rainy day in Los Angeles, the ceremony was soggy and song-heavy. Some performances, like Eminem’s performance of “Lose Yourself,” were unexpected (and drew a wan response from Scorsese). All of the song nominees performed, including Elton John who won with his longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin for their “Rocketman” tune.

The hostless ceremony opened on a note of inclusion, with Janelle Monae performing “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” and her own song, “Come Alive,” with an assist from Billy Porter. “I’m so proud to be standing here as a black queer artist telling stories,” Monae said. “Happy Black History Month.”

Two former Oscar hosts, Chris Rock and Steve Martin, provided the opening monologue. “An incredible demotion,” Martin called it. Martin also reminded that something was missing from this year’s directing nominees. “Vaginas!” Rock replied.

Awards were spread around to all of the best picture nominees, with the lone exception being Scorsese’s 10-time nominee The Irishman. When Bong mentioned his admiration of Scorsese, an impromptu tribute broke out, with the Dolby Theatre giving Scorsese a standing ovation.

Netflix didn’t go home empty handed. Aside from Dern’s win for Marriage Story, the streamer’s American Factory won best documentary. The film is the first release from Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions. n AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr contributed to this report.

D3

EMINEM rocks the house with his live performance of “Lose Yourself,” which won the Oscar Best Song 17 years ago.

D4

Image BusinessMirror

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

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Too young to have a heart problem?

Heart disease knows no age IF the death of Taiwanese-Canadian model-actor Godfrey Gao in the latter part of last year shocked the world, it was because of his age and cause of death. At 35, Gao, the first Asian to model for Louis Vuitton, was at the prime of his life when he collapsed from a heart attack while competing in the reality show Chase Me. Attempts to revive him both on set and in the hospital were unsuccessful.

Granted, Gao, according to news reports, had been filming for 17 hours straight when the unthinkable happened. Still, a heart attack isn’t something associated with someone of his profile, so young and fit—or so we think.

This Heart Month, top Philippine hospital Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed, www.makatimed.net. ph), through its Heart Station, gets to the heart of the matter—Are you too young to have a heart problem?

Old man’s disease, it is not. For years, heart disease has been thought of as an illness of the middle-aged and elderly, a condition that happens over time and through the cumulative effects of bad habits like smoking, drinking, drugs, lack of exercise, unhealthy food choices and lifestyle.

That cardiovascular disease now affects those around Gao’s age or younger “is no longer a rare occurrence or a surprise,” says Saturnino P. Javier, MD, section chief of Cardiology. The culprit? Genetics, family history and undiagnosed, or untreated congenital abnormalities certainly increase one’s chances of developing heart disease.

But so do a host of lifestyle choices. “A preference for fast food, processed food and alcohol coupled with a sedentary lifestyle of smoking, and sitting all day with gadgets lead to obesity, which, in turn trigger the onset of diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure—risk factors of cardiovascular disease,” Javier says. “The role of drugs, alcohol, and stressful situations cannot be underestimated.”

While people in their 20s and 30s tend to feel invincible at this time in their lives, they should also be aware of the subtle signs of a possible heart problem. “Symptoms include breathlessness, palpitations, fatigue, chest pain, weakness and edema,” he explains. “Other symptoms not immediately associated with heart problems are pain in the left arm, jaw, back, neck, shoulder blades, and the upper abdomen.”

Interestingly, women with heart disease experience their own set of symptoms. “Excess fatigue, cold sweats, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and even fainting are among the warning signs that they tend to dismiss or mistake as flu,” Javier points out.

“But it should also be emphasized that heart disease can be present with no symptoms at all. That is why we also refer to it as a silent killer,” he explains.

Heart disease may know no age, but it’s also something that can be avoided or managed at best with practical solutions. Javier advises, “First, have yourself checked by a family physician to get a baseline of your overall health, including your heart condition. Find out if you have any preexisting conditions and what you can do to address them. And see your doctor regularly to monitor your health.”

The simplest, of course, is revamping your lifestyle.

This solution affects not only your heart in a good way but your overall health, too. “Exercise regularly, eat more fruits, vegetables and quality protein, and avoid smoking, drinking, or drugs,” says Javier.

Parting ways SUI GENERIS CARLO ATIENZA

biblisko@gmail.com

I

T is never easy to leave behind an organization which has shaped your career and given you professional opportunities while also indirectly shaping your personality and character. The work may have been challenging and occasionally pushed me to my limits, but the rewards, on hindsight, have been satisfyingly enough to prepare me for the next chapter of my career.

When I told my leaders that I was going to resign, I thought it would be very difficult for me because there were several ongoing projects and the team is hard pressed for deliverables every month. But surprisingly, instead of what I thought would be a negotiation, my leaders taught me several lessons on priorities, and letting people develop into the best version of themselves.

When I informed my senior director I was going to leave the company, the first thing she asked was: “What is your plan?” I sensed she wanted to understand what could have made me think of resigning. I told her an opportunity has presented itself which in the long run will benefit me and my family. And when I told her where I was moving, she was pleasantly surprised, and I could feel she was really happy for me. At that point, she said that she is not the kind of leader who would stop somebody from pursuing an opportunity, especially as good as the one I told her. I said I was sorry to be leaving at such an untimely point when we are about to launch a new tool, and she said something which I will not forget. She said that I should not apologize for wanting something better for myself and my family. Of course, my leaving the organization will disrupt the work but she also said that work will always be there. And in time, they will find someone to replace me but that would be their problem later on. I also told her I will render the 30 days so that I can transition the work properly and smoothly. I try my best to keep good relations with people I work with because I never know if we would cross paths again. And if we do

I realized from talking to my leaders how invested they have been not just in what I can do for the organization but in my professional and personal growth, as well.

They were not just after what I could do for them and the organization, but also interested in what I can get out of my future organization. not, I would still feel at ease because I am leaving the organization on a good note.

Since my project was global in scope, I also had to talk to the global head of my department. I did not know how he would react to my resignation but like the logical and analytical person that he is, he asked me three things—Is the organization I am moving to going to push my career forward? Second, is it something I enjoy doing? And third, is the compensation better? He also added, if the first two are satisfied, the third is actually a bonus considering that financial remuneration and being satisfied with your pay would ultimately follow the first two. But those questions surprised me.

I answered all his questions as best as I knew how, and I was surprised he still gave me advice on how to navigate through it when I am already at my new job. He probably noticed how skeptical I was looking at him because he suddenly said he is not the kind of person who would dissuade me from grabbing a good opportunity, and even though I was leaving, he wanted to make sure I made a sound decision. As my manager, he said he would like for me to stay because the work has been laid out for the year, and there is a need for me to be there. But he reiterated that is not the kind of person he is— instead, he is one who would not keep me from a good opportunity as long as I was able to answer his three questions. Which I did. The organization I am moving to provides a good opportunity for me to maximize my writing, which I also enjoy doing. I also plan to retire in this new organization because they provide a competitive benefits package all the way to when I eventually retire.

I said I was sorry for leaving the company but he said that there is really never a good time to resign.

Work will always be there, and there will always be more to do. Ideally, we resign when we have a successor and we have prepared that person to take on the work we are doing. But in this instance, the opportunity is already there, and I can only maximize the time I have left in the company to prepare whoever will take on my responsibilities.

I realized from talking to my leaders how invested they have been not just in what I can do for the organization but in my professional and personal growth, as well. They were not just after what I could do for them and the organization, but also interested in what I can get out of my future organization. They may have been sad but they were also hopeful and wished me well on the next chapter of my professional development. I guess they also knew they have done all they could to mentor me and support me when I was still learning the ropes of managing people. Last year has been a tumultuous time for the organization and we all stuck it out, and became resilient in pushing ourselves to deliver what needed to be done.

I am leaving the organization but it does not mean I am parting ways with the people I have struggled with and accomplished so much. I am leaving confident that the next set of leaders have a good foundation to build on to create their own accomplishments and legacy. I am leaving with the blessings of my leaders who have taught me that people are more important than the work they do.

And as people managers, we can only hope that we have done all we can so they can pursue becoming the best version of themselves. ■

Healthway Medical now officially part of the Ayala health group AYALA Healthcare Holdings Inc. (AC Health), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ayala Corp., has completed the acquisition of a 100 percent of Healthway Medical. This came after Ayala Corp. made a regulatory filing on January 15.

Upon the completion of the transaction, AC Health took over ownership of seven mall-based Healthway Medical specialty clinics and 40 corporate clinics across the country. This will supplement AC Health’s existing clinic portfolio which includes 70 FamilyDOC primary care clinics

and 10 corporate clinics.

“This transaction is aligned with AC Health’s efforts to expand its reach across the health-care industry,” the disclosure read.

“Healthway’s seven specialty clinics and 40 corporate clinics integrate with the health-care’s ecosystem under AC Health’s current portfolio of primary health-care clinics, retain pharmacies and health technology platforms,” it added.

Healthway Medical currently offers outpatient services, such as specialty consults, imaging,

laboratory, specialized diagnostics, ambulatory surgical services, dental services and physical therapy. “Through Healthway’s specialty clinics that offer a comprehensive range of outpatient services, AC Health will be able to serve a broader based of patients that require more than basic diagnostics and primary care,” Ayala Corp. said.

“Additionally, the company looks to tap into potential synergies, including patient referrals, sharing of medical professionals, and integration of diagnostics and pharmacy services,” it added.

BusinessMirror E1 | Wednesday, February 12, 2020 • Editor : Tet Andolong

Alecza exterior

Bria Homes: Bringing more money in the Villar group

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

B

@brownindio

RIA Homes, a subsidiary of Golden Bria Holdings, continues to boost its position in the mass housing market as it is set to launch eight projects in the first quarter alone in 2020.

BettinA interior

Pambansang Pabahay backdrop

As the third-largest mass housing developer in the Philippines with over 50 projects nationwide, it aims to achieve higher objectives highlighted in their corporate branding of “Ang Pambansang Pabahay ng Pilipinas.”

The new projects will be located in Biñan (Laguna); Danao (Cebu); Montalban; Pililla, Cagayan de Oro City; Mako (General Santos); General Trias (Cavite) and Naga (Camarines Sur). The projects have a total value of P15 billion.

In Laguna alone, Bria will be developing four housing projects. BRIA Homes President and Chief Operating Officer Red Rosales said the government’s infrastructure developments in the Calabarzon area have boosted the demand for Bria homes, “The construction of expressways like the Cavite-Laguna Expressway [Calax] has enabled greater access to Bria’s projects,” he said.

In a recent media interview, Rosales said the company has achieved tremendous success since the property’s development scene five years ago, stressing “Bria Homes has already made its mark by providing quality and affordable homes in the lives of thousands of Filipinos.”

Moreover, Bria Homes is not resting on its laurels. It is also expanding its product line to fulfill more dreams and cater to more people from all walks of life by building their presence in the eight areas geared for expansion.

“Bria Homes Executive aims to cater a bigger market neighboring the existing ones within the in-demand areas: Alaminos, Pangasinan; Cagayan de Oro; Maco, Davao de Oro; Pililla, Rizal; and Naga, Camarines Sur,” Rosales said.

This year, Bria Condominiums also aims to reach new heights by establishing its new

ALECZA interior

line of condominiums for young professionals and starting families. These projects will soon rise

on the following key cities: General Trias, Cavite; General Santos, South Cotabato; and Tagum,

Davao del Norte.

“Bria Homes Cityville will also make its entrance this year

in inner-city developments of Montalban, Rizal; and Danao, Cebu. These 5-hectare developments will surely provide relief to professionals at the end of every day’s grind, right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city,” he said.

“You will start seeing our presence in commercial areas in the near future,” he added.

Rosales said Bria will be also expanding its product line from mass housing to economical housing market with a price range of up to P3 million by going into the vertical housing market by building condominiums near the inner parts of the city. He said a 1 hectare would be ideal for condominium development.

“We will be targeting the middle market in our condominium projects,” he said.

Bria is quite bullish in 2020 as it sees more opportunities in the affordable housing market as the backlog is around 6.5 million units. Bria aims to achieve a double-digit growth this year.

In the past three years, Bria achieved a fourfold growth.

In response, Bria has launched their Elyana model which has a price of P550,000.

Rosales said they want to cater to the young market and it is using the digital platform to promote the brand, the youth market wants to get touchpoint information, according to Rosales.

He said their videos on YouTube have been strong driver for sales of Bria projects. “Thanks to social media, our agents had a very wonderful time last December,” he beamed.

Aside from developing housing unit, Rosales said Bria is committed to deliver quality and clean homes. Furthermore, it also aims to deliver a faster turnover of the units so the homeowners will not face additional expenses in their housing bills.

Business

E2 Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Women in Real Estate (WIRE) Amor Maclang

first dibs in real estate Part Two

AJ Rocero IWG (International Workplace Group)

THE f lexible workspace sector has reached a tipping point. Following many years of continuous growth, global demand for temporary offices, meeting rooms and co-working areas is set to explode.

By 2020, 50 percent of all workers will be remote most of the time.

This what makes the f lexible workspace sector one of the most exciting growth markets in the world. It is also why many now view it as the next franchise frontier.

Regus now wants to accelerate its global growth with franchise partners worldwide, and we can provide partners with a highly attractive return on their investment. At the dawn of 2020, the demand for flexible workspace

The original and current members of WIRESaldana

continues to surge, and the sector is experiencing an estimated year-on-year growth of 24 percent.

What’s more, it’s widely reported that 50 percent of all workers now work remotely half of the time— and, by 2022, the global mobile work force will be made up of 1.87 billion people. A large proportion of the international work force now needs access to high-quality, professional workspace, meeting rooms and on-demand office space that’s based outside of a single, central headquarters—and IWG is increasingly seeing large corporations explore how to incorporate flex-space into their company’s real-estate portfolio.

Ivy Almario President, Atelier Almario

AS an interior design firm whose practice includes, residential, hospitality and commercial work, we are happy to note that the demand for interior design in all these market segments is strong and consistent. In the residential segment, the completion of many high-end condominium projects in Ortigas, Rockwell, Makati and at BGC has cascaded to more projects in this market segment.

While in hospitality, places like Siargao, Siquijor, Bohol, Davao and Iloilo are booming, too, that’s why new hotels and guest accommodations are being constructed, needing the professional services of master planners, architects, interior designers and engineers.

While the demand to design and fit-out commercial offices is still a 1.5 billion industry. Happy to say that 2020 bodes well for our industry while, we as designers, rise to the challenge of delivering relevant designs that are environmentally friendly and sustainable.

The role of the home

Personally, the start of this new decade has brought with it strife, cataclysm and even a hint of a pandemic. The challenges on a person’s psyche were stretched to the limit.

Threats caused by fires, eruptions and viruses rendered us humbly vulnerable, all the more reason for our homes to be our cocoon.

Homes will become our bastion of comfort and safety. How will this translate to how we fix the interiors of our home. Chances are, color palettes will change from cold to warm. Our preference for the cold industrial gray will be taken over by warmer taupes, beiges, and I even dare say browns, olive greens, yellows and ochres.

We may even begin to layer our walls, as treasured possessions which bring out happy memories are dusted off and layered on our walls. Layering is comforting. We will also begin to introduce live plants in our interiors ushering in biophilic design. Biophilic design increases our connectivity to nature...what happens in our homes, makes their way into our offices. I think that the loft style, open space work environment will be further enhanced by the introduction of live plants, too, as we opt to use natural air filters to improve the quality of our indoor air. Hospitality-inspired office spaces have been the norm, more so now, when all we want to be is comforted!

Sheila Lobien Chief Executive Officer, Lobien Realty Group Inc.

Despite of the “noises” at the start of 2020 (like the Taal Volcano eruption, coronavirus, a lower GDP growth reported for 2019, etc.), we at Lobien Realty Group still believes that the real-estate industry, as whole, will have another banner this year.

Office space take-up will be driven by the POGOs and the resurgence of the BPO industry.

We see the POGOs to aggressively close out available office spaces in bulk, positively affecting residential and commercial spaces that are near these buildings. BPOs, on the other hand, will continue the rebound as seen in 2019, which benefit the office space market, as well.

Charmaine Uy Senior Vice President, Daiichi Properties

The property market saw robust demand in 2019, and we expect a continuation of that growth this year.

One of the main drivers that we see are the increasing infrastructure developments, which would bring about greater connectivity and open up more opportunities in the property market. Meanwhile, the recent challenges we’re facing are temporary hiccups; the country’s resiliency amid natural disasters and global issues can pull the market through and sustain the growth trajectory we’re on.

Bask in nature’s bounty at The Belvedere

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ATURE is said to be the perfect antidote to stress.

Many medical experts agree that communing with nature has healing benefits that can do wonders to your health and wellness amid today’s frenzied kind of lifestyle. It has, in fact, become an essential nowadays to immerse oneself in lush green parks and wide open spaces, and enjoy some fresh air. Unfortunately, it has also become increasingly difficult to find such within the dense concrete jungle of the city.

Good thing that property developers are now working doubly hard to provide a more calming and healing environment to help residents and future homeowners better cope with the daily grind. One developer who has long been advocating nature as an essential part of its numerous projects is trusted home builder Sta. Lucia Land Inc. For decades now, the Sta. Lucia Group has gone at great lengths to incorporate nature’s bounty in its projects across the country, a move that did not go unnoticed for most home buyers.

“We are well aware of the need to incorporate various elements that could help our project provide a much better quality of life for our residents and stakeholders. Life now has become even more challenging and, thus, we try to promote a more relaxed and comfortable environment in all of our projects,” said Sta. Lucia Land Inc. President Exequiel Robles.

“Case in point would be our Colinas Verdes Residential Estates and Country Club in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan. Nature is undisturbed in Colinas Verdes, with its rolling terrain rising from the southwest entrance to the northeast tip. You can enjoy stunning views of the Sierra

Madre mountain range or the city skyline, particularly that of Quezon City and Manila Bay, along the development’s 280-meter high point,” Robles added.

For those wanting to bask in such a coveted living experience, The Belvedere at Colinas Verdes may be the right investment choice for you. This latest premium development from Sta. Lucia Land can offer that much sought antidote to a highly stressful, fast-paced lifestyle in the city.

An exclusive residential enclave, The Belvedere offers stunning vistas, large spacious residential estate lots and all the first rate amenities synonymous to the high life, thus providing future residents that much desired lifestyle of comfort, convenience and ultimate relaxation.

“Sta. Lucia Land is determined to go beyond just providing high-quality developments. We want to take an active stance in providing modern urban dwellers sanctuaries where they can truly relax, unwind, rejuvenate and, most important, heal and recover from the daily stresses of life. Our legacy, after, all lies not only in our

ability to provide homes for every hardworking individual but to ensure that lives are improved and changed for the better,” Robles related.

Future homeowners of The Belvedere can look forward to living in a flood-free community, and enjoying weekends in the clubhouse’s various amenities that include swimming pools, tennis, badminton and basketball courts, bowling lanes, game room, massage and sauna rooms, and children’s playground, among others. There will also be an abundance of landscaped open areas, considered to be a luxury nowadays. Lot cuts start at 300 square meters thus assuring homeowners that much needed space to move around.

“If you are looking at having nature as your neighbor or backdrop, then The Belvedere at Colinas Verdes is the right investment for you. We are truly proud of this project because we know that what we are offering is not just a premium development but a lifestyle experience that perfectly fits the needs of modern day dwellers,” Robles concluded.

sMirror

Editor: Tet Andolong

E3

Enhanced Polo Park welcomed by Valenzuela locals

Local hero statues Dr. Pio Valenzuela and Dr. Jose Rizal's depicting their good friendship during the Philippine revolution. The statues, commissioned from renowned artist Julie Lluch, overlook the almost 400-year-old belfry of San Diego de Alcala Church, or Polo Church. Clinton Ramos/VC PIO

Restored Dr. Jose Rizal monument looks good as new as the structure adds to the “old town feels” ensemble of the historic Polo Park. Clinton Ramos/VC PIO

By Roderick L. Abad

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@rodrik_28

S part of Valenzuela City government’s public work projects in the pipeline, the P21 million worth rehabilitation of Polo Park has been recently inaugurated with a fresh, green landscape.

The enhanced landmark, formerly called as The Old Town Square of Polo (Liwasang Rizal), is now teeming with a fountain, a memorial marker commemorating war veterans, a statue of Dr. Pio Valenzuela and Dr. Jose Rizal made by esteemed artist Julie Lluch, and the refurbished Rizal Monument.

Parkgoers can enjoy the scenery while seated on the benches. Wi-fi is provided for added convenience.

What makes it a standout are the untouched, growing trees sur-

rounding the park and breathable space, providing not only shade but a “cooler, fresher” air.

Studies show that even a single tree can have a profound cooling effect in cities through the process of “evapotranspiration,” where leaves release water into the air.

Trees are also found out to lessen a person’s physiologically equivalent temperature by 7 degrees Celsius to 15 degrees Celsius, making the usual 32-degree Celsius day out here cooler amid the scorching heat of the sun.

Newly renovated Polo Park visitors left in awe as inauguration ceremonies ended with fireworks display. Clinton Ramos/VC PIO

Su r rou nded by r ivers a nd swamps, Polo Park is a center of trade, symbolizing the city’s economic prosperity.

Geri launches townhouse, duplex villas in Southwoods City

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EGAWORLD subsidiary Global-Estate Resorts Inc. (Geri) is launching a new residential project inside the 561-hectare Southwoods City at the boundaries of Biñan, Laguna, and Carmona, Cavite.

The Upland Villas will be rows of two-story townhouses and duplex villas in modern and tropical architecture within the 26-hectare Pahara residential village.

Each unit has its own living and dining areas, kitchen, maid’s room, common bathroom, lanai at the ground floor, and bedrooms and bathrooms at the second floor. Each unit also comes with a two-slot carport.

With exclusive access to Pahara residential village, future residents of Upland Villas will also be able to use the Pahara clubhouse and amenities,

which include a swimming pool, fitness center, jogging paths, children’s playground, multipurpose function area, yoga and reflexology garden, meditation and aromatic gardens, as well as landscaped open spaces.

One of the unique features of Upland Villas is the surrounding Flower and Herb Gardens, where residents can enjoy private moments with nature.

“Set within the exclusive enclave on the hills of Southwoods City, Upland Villas is a unique residential offering where one can relax and enjoy the beauty of its natural surroundings. More important, since we have easily sold out the lots of Pahara, this is an opportunity to own a property within this sought-after village inside Southwoods City,” said Rachelle Peñaflorida, vice president for sales and

marketing, Megaworld Geri.

Only 65 units will be offered in Upland Villas, which is expected for completion in 2024.

Geri is expected to generate around P1 billion in sales from this new residential project.

To date, Geri has already launched three residential developments inside Southwoods City, with a total of 2,237 units and lots.

The company has also launched two office towers in the townships, offering 46,000 square meters of office spaces under Megaworld Premier Offices.

Home to the award-winning Southwoods Mall, the expansive Southwoods City is surrounded by a golf course and has its own exit at the South Luzon Expressway.

Funded by the Department of Budget and Management via the “Green, Green, Green” program, this is the first in a series

of restoration and conservation projects of the local government unit (LGU).

Prior to this, the city has opened parks for urban renewal since 2015. First of which is the Valenzuela City People’s Park, which opened on February 14, 2015.

The 1.3 hectares of land adjacent to the City Hall is known as a family-oriented place equipped with CCTVs and has an interactive dancing fountain with lights, exercise area, a pavilion, life-size chessboard, picnic tables, children’s area, playground, Aero Circle, zoological spaces and an amphitheater that can house up to 2,000 persons.

Likewise, the LGU ventured into a public-private partnership to build the Valenzuela Town Center just beside the park, providing options for food choices, event gatherings and the like.

On February 17, 2019, the city opened its first Family Park located at Barangay Karuhatan, a main convergence area known for its accessibility.

With the projects slated to pre-

serve heritage sites and provide more parks in the city, Valenzuela is expected to receive more accolades in improving its livability index.

In 2014, the city was ranked second at the Liveable Cities Design Challenge for its Comprehensive Disaster Preparedness Plan.

It bagged the second spot in the Cleanest Air in Southeast Asia in 2018 by IQ AirVisual Switzerland and Greanpeace International, as well as the second safest city in Southeast Asia in the same year

by Numbeo.

With the objectives to create more sustainable parks, improve on landscaping and provide for more environment-friendly street fixtures and shading, Polo Park’s inauguration is just one of the many projects to watch out for as the city marks its 400th foundation anniversary in 2023.

Restoration and conservation efforts of the Arkong Bato, Dr. Pio Valenzuela’s Residence and the Church of San Diego de Alcala’s 400-year old belfry are also under way.

community

Solane provides cooking stations for Taal evacuees

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undreds of evacuees affected by the eruption of the Taal Volcano became beneficiaries of the relief operations organized recently by top liquefied petroleum gas solutions provider Solane. Food, cooking equipment and Solane LPG were generously provided to evacuees who were able to use the Solane LPG cooking stations set up by volunteers from the company.

“Solane is happy to be giving back to the community in any way we can. Through this tragic incident, we saw the opportunity to step up by setting up cooking stations so we can provide hot and freshly cooked meals to as many evacuees as we can,” said Isla LPG Corp. (ILC) CEO Ruben Domingo.

Solane conducted a series of relief operations in various evacuation sites. At the Batangas Provincial Sports Complex, a team of Solane volunteers put up a cooking station to offer noodles and coffee to at least 3000 estimated evacuees. At the Batangas Provincial Capitol, where more than 700 evacuees stayed, the Batangas Divers Association partnered with Solane to provide LPGs for their cooking station. Meanwhile, in Barangay San Jose, Batangas, Solane donated five sets of stove and LPGs to at least 900 evacuees.

The Taal relief operation is one of the several outreach initiatives of Solane in Batangas.

Solane also regularly holds community drives, such as barangay

health initiatives, sports tournaments to promote a healthier lifestyle and good camaraderie, and Balik Eskwela to provide educational materials and school equipment to public schools.

Also, ILC Canlubang plant recently celebrated its unprecedented 1 million man-hours safety milestone. This achievement is a testament to the company’s commitment in ensuring a culture of safety, and creating a habit of excellence among its employees.

For a six-year-old plant which was only established in 2013, this achievement is no small feat as it requires full commitment and consistency from all members of the ILC Canlubang plant.

Regie Reyes, ILC operations executive, gives credit to employee dedication, competen-

cy, and strict implementation of rules and guidelines for the plant’s success in realizing the 1 million man-hours safety achievement. “It is our utmost priority to keep employees safe so we strive to provide the best and safest working conditions for our people,” said Reyes.

Despite this accomplishment, however, the plant’s personnel are not letting up in its effort to continue their culture of safety and excellence. Plans to sustain its best practices are already in place, which includes further strengthening their communication and coordination system, and gathering LFI (Learning from Incident) from the LPG industry so that they can be incorporated in enhancing the plant’s own safety guidelines and procedures.

Entrepreneur BusinessMirror

E4 Wednesday, February 12, 2020 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Filipino-owned logistics app’s lower cost rivals foreign-backed players

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By VG Cabuag

@villygc

NEW Filipino-owned logistics application, which aims to compete head on with foreign-backed apps, was launched on Wednesday. The new app, dubbed as the Carga Backload Solution application, hopes to tap those empty trucks that go back to their respective areas nationwide.

Carga has launched the new application, which the company said, hopes to help small and mediumsized firms that operate outside of Metro Manila.

Company Chief Executive Officer Samson Lato said they have a fleet of about 150 trucks owned by five companies, which include his own firm that has a fleet of about 20 units.

“There are about 480,000 trucks registered at the LTO [Land Transportation Office], and most of these are private trucks that deliver their own cargo. They have the same problem of returning empty,” Lato said during the media launch of the app.

Logistics apps like Transportify and Lalamove, both backed by foreign-owned companies, carry front-loads, but they normally return empty to their respective garages.

These firms’ rates usually include a

double charge, one for going to the delivery area, and the other one for going back.

Carga’s app will only use those trucks that go back empty.

“The Carga app envisions to ease traffic congestion by reducing the volume of empty trucks on the road.

It also helps small and medium enterprises meet their cargo and shipping

The enterprising owners of Carga, the country’s first backload solutions app for truckers and shippers, launch the pioneering logistics solution for micro, small and medium enterprises. Leading the app’s media launch is Carga Chief Executive Officer Samson Lato (right) and company officers Allan Catu; Michael Jethro Lato; and Arlene Lato.

needs without having to purchase their own trucks,” the company said.

The idea behind the backload solution business was born because of Lato’s personal experience on ferrying engineering materials and equipment for their company, MJAS Zenith. The company would frequently dispatch truckloads of materials to their branches in Cebu and Davao via Roro, only to have these trucks return to Manila empty.

“Why not optimize all resources and the truck’s travel home by carrying load?” Lato asked.

It offers several vehicle model options like forward and semi-forward trucks, as well as four to 12-wheeler trucks from its own fleet and partner corporate and private truckers. Carga

regularly dispatches trucks all over Luzon and to any point in the Visayas and Mindanao via Roro. It still has to offer products for containerized cargo, which also return empty.

The Carga app envisions to ease traffic congestion by reducing the volume of empty trucks on the road. It also helps small and medium enterprises meet their cargo and shipping needs without having to purchase their own trucks.”—Company News Statement

Biz registration count in Pangasinan increases 25.16 percent in 2019–DTI

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AGUPAN CITY—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recorded a total of 14,931 registered businesses in Pangasinan in 2019, up by 25.16 percent from 11,930 in 2018.

In an interview last Friday, DTI-Pangasinan Provincial Director Natalia Dalaten said majority of these were in trading with 7,252 business names registered, followed by personal services with 6,340, manufacturing with 879, agribusiness with 284, and industrial services with 176.

Most of the industries, except agribusiness, increased in number with trading posting the highest from 5,280 in 2018, to 7,252 in 2019, she said.

“Manufacturing boosted from 702 in 2018, to 879 in 2019; personal services from 5,393 in 2018, to 6,340; industrial services from 116 to 176; while agribusiness decreased from 439 to 284,” she added.

Meanwhile, some 3,000 business names were already registered with DTIPangasinan as of January 2020, excluding those that registered online through the Business Name Registration System

The Department of Trade and Industry records 14,931 businesses registered in Pangasinan in 2019. The number is 25.16 percent higher than previous year’s 11,930. PNA photo by Hilda Austria

(BNRS), Dalaten said.

“We are still encoding online registrations. We also encourage business name renewals online. Through the BNRS, there is no need to go to any DTI offices unless they are encountering some problems with our online system,” she said.

The BNRS, she added, was created last year to cater to business single-proprietors

who live in far-flung areas, or are too busy to visit DTI offices or Negosyo Centers.

“There were some technical problems encountered but by the end of 2019, it was already functional,” Dalaten said.

For business name online registrations and renewals, proprietors may visit www.dti.gov.ph and click the “BNRS Next Gen.” PNA

KFC opens franchising opportunities to Filipino entreps

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o bring “finger lickin” good fried chicken to every Filipino, Kentucky Fried Chicken is now inviting entrepreneurs to be part of the iconic KFC legacy as pioneer franchisees. This is KFC’s first time in its decades-long operations in the Philippines to partner with local investors, bringing its world-famous flavors to more corners of the archipelago.

A history of chicken crafted and fried to perfection

Colonel Harland Sanders made history when he gave Kentucky a taste of his original fried chicken recipe back in 1940. Since then, KFC has grown into over 21,000 restaurants across 130 countries, becoming one of the most iconic brands in the world.

KFC opened its first Philippine store in 1966, bringing its signature “11 secret herbs

and spices” chicken recipe to Filipino taste buds. The brand has since expanded into more than 300 stores today. With its famous Original Recipe chicken formula and signature gravy, KFC has innovated and diversified its menu through the years, creating dishes like the popular, no bread sandwich, Double Down and no dough pizza, Chizza.

KFC offers a unique opportunity for prospective franchisees to deliver worldclass chicken and gravy goodness right to their neighborhoods. Given KFC’s globally set operational standards, entrepreneurs can create jobs within their communities through their very own KFC store.

KFC provides top-notch support that encompasses all business franchising fundamentals, including business development, marketing and operations. Unit franchisees will be equipped with all the necessary tools

Carga’s app will start operating starting today and will begin accepting applications from the truckers and the shippers, as well.

Lato promised a cheaper rate of about 10 percent of the shipping rate, compared with its competitors that offers between 20 percent to 30 percent.

Set to start accepting cargo on February 6, Carga paves the way for accessible delivery of goods and commodities for everyone, anytime, nationwide. So far, its service area is from Aparri down to Davao.

With Carga’s transparent pricing and flexibility, shippers and truckers can find the best deals, ensure reliable and cost effective transport, hasten farm to market transportation, and create more business opportunities.

“Carga will charge per volume.

Our rates are 40 percent to 60 percent cheaper than regular logistics rates since its back load only,” said Carga Chief Information Officer Allan Catu.

to maximize their stores’ potential, from selecting the optimal site, promoting the store, to managing daily operations.

Given the company’s world-class standards, entrepreneurs are ensured the full benefits of franchise ownership while enjoying a hassle-free management experience as KFC Philippines will handle the full operations of the stores.

To be part of this exciting opportunity, business and property owners may apply and be considered to avail themselves of the franchise. The franchisee’s investment cost will vary depending on the location and preferred store type.

Entrepreneurs interested in operating their own KFC franchise can contact the KFC Franchising Team through e-mail (franchising@kfc.ph), landline (+632)8 370 1393), and mobile (+63)917 818 2927).

Entreps told to tap socmed to boost sales

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usinesses are encouraged to use social media to attract more customers and become reliable amid highly competitive market place.

“Why do business on social media? Because everyone is on social media. No matter what country, everyone is on social media,” Gladys Lacorte, community team lead at Canva PHL, said in a seminar organized by the Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB).

She said someone goes to social media if he wants to learn about a business. To master social media, Lacorte advised entrepreneurs to find their focus, set goals, define style, make it visual, tailor content, plan ahead, and build community.

Lacorte added that businesses should first determine the social-media platform where they spend most of their time in which they can start making social-media pages for their brand and company.

“If your business for example is international, I would really suggest Facebook, because Facebook is all over the world, except for China. Facebook is the key,” she added.

Lacorte also underscored the need to set “attainable” goals for social-media followings. “In social-media pages, yes you do post content, but how many people react, how many likes, how many shares, how many comments?,” she said.

In defining style in social media, Lacorte urged particularly exporters to identify items they are selling to clients to create mood board, wherein they can arrange the images to “get a feel of look and what you want to tell the world.”

“Everything you post on social media is an extension of your brand so make sure that your content is unmistakably you,” she said, noting the importance of the personality of brands depending on the target market.

To create graphics for social media, Lacorte said they have to followthe 3Cs—color, contrast and clarity. “Always tailor your content,” she added. “Follow other brands and study their strategy, and think how you would apply it into your brand. How do they do it?”

Lacorte further said entrepreneurs should also plan ahead by setting time for their content considering any trends. “Always make sure that you jump on the positive trend. Let’s not talk about the negativity because people will react, and will reshare any negative content even fake news,” she said.

Lacorte said they have to build community, noting it is about human connections. “It is important to think about what will you post, it is important to think about your brand, it is important to stay within your brand character and personality. But the No. 1 thing on social media is to connect with your followers, to your people,” she added.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

MSMEs urged to adapt 3 I’s in global biz environment

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio Contributor

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icro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) need to pursue the so-called 3 Is (improvement, integration and innovation) to compete and survive in the competitive global business environment.

Association of Filipino Franchisers Inc. (AFFI) President Jorge Noel Wieneke III, at news briefing on February 7, 2020, said some MSMEs have stepped up and adapted to changes to be able thrive in the digital economy. However, a big number of MSMEs have not joined the technological bandwagon, he noted.

To encourage more MSMEs to embrace the digital road map, he said the AFFI will push them to pursue the 3 Is. “Many MSMEs have to learn to fully embrace technology by integrating new systems that will help improve and innovate their business,” he said.

Although the 3 Is are catalysts in business development trends this year, Wieneke said AFFI observed millennial consumer behavior remains as a major influencer of business trends for 2020.

For one, some as young as 18 years old already earn enough money, those who work mostly in business-process outsourcing (BPO) companies to transform them into “entitled spenders.”

Second, most companies now look at skills and high aptitude toward technology even without a college degree.

“Also, there is a noted increase in the number of freelance professionals due to ‘off-site’ or ‘remote’ office setups, where even those with existing jobs can accept extra work at home, thereby increasing their buying capacity,” he pointed out.

With this shift in buying power of consumers, Wieneke said this might boost the local economy and, thus, will help expand the field for more SMEs, and other business start-ups.

Some business trends that AFFI sees will experience a boom this year include those that provide “convenience,” such as online shopping, which will continue to level up due to technology, delivery services because of the so-called shared services business, such as Grab, and the like. There will also be the prevalence of specialty cuisines minus an actual restaurant, or store, and more home made products will emerge, while old and traditional food will flourish due to available delivery platforms.

Home services like car wash, air-con cleaning, pet grooming, and even personal wellness services will also grab a piece of the spotlight because it can now be rendered at everyone’s doorstep.

And after the ice scramble, siomai, milk tea, waffle, shawarma, and the mango graham craze, more original brands with new food concepts will crop up, those that will cater to the taste buds of Filipinos.

Meanwhile, the government through the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has established the Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) to assist and enable MSMEs in adopting technologies to boost their competitiveness.

Under SETUP, MSMEs are offered various types of services/interventions to identified clusters or sectors.

These services include technology selection, technology acquisition, technology training, process and equipment design, packaging, productivity improvement, quality assurance, standardization, materials identification/ selection, waste management, product improvement and intellectual-property right protection.

Wieneke urged the public to attend the upcoming 18th Franchise and Business Expo organized by AFFI on February 28 and 29, up to March 1, 2020, at the World Trade Center, Pasay City. The event features some of the best savvy start-up businesses, and the best and most successful ventures across various industries in the country today.

AFFI has 221 members who own a total of 16,093 outlets, 36 percent of which are company owned while 64 percent are franchised, generating annual sales worth P 54.07 billion and providing employment for 96,000 Filipinos.