BusinessMirror February 17, 2021

224 solons back ₧420-B Bayanihan Part 3

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

A

T least 224 lawmakers called for the passage of P420-billion stimulus package proposal to help the economy recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, principal author of the measure, said these lawmakers, who came from the House supermajority, minority and independent blocs, have joined him as co-authors of the proposed Bayanihan to Arise As One Act or the Bayanihan 3 under House Bill (HB) 8628.

“Our economy will fall further unless we provide it with muchneeded intervention,” Velasco said.

“Bayanihan 3 will give our economy a big boost. It will encourage

spending among consumers and boost the confidence of MSMEs and other businesses. The bill, coupled with other timely and precise interventions, will help us recover faster from this pandemic,” he added.

The bill is currently pending with the Committee on Economic Affairs.

T he bi l l seek s to a l loc ate P108 billion for additional social amelioration to impacted households; P100 billion for capacitybuilding for impacted sectors; P52 billion for wage subsidies; P70 billion for capacity-building for agricultural producers; P30 billion for Internet allowances to teachers and students; P30 billion for assistance to displaced workers; P25 billion for Covid-19

treatment and vaccines; and P5 billion for the rehabilitation of areas affected by recent f loods and typhoons.

Under the measure, each household member will receive P1,000 regardless of their economic status.

On top of this, a P1,000 allowance will be provided to each student and teacher, and P8,000 for every displaced worker.

No less than President Duterte affirmed the merits of Bayanihan 3 when he thanked Co Wngress for pushing for the third installment of the government’s response to Covid-19 and its devastating impact on the economy.

“I thank Congress for understanding us and giving us the support, the critical support we badly need to discharge our duties,” the

President said in his televised public address last week.

Moreover, Velasco said that Bayanihan 3 signifies the strong commitment of Congress to aid the Executive Department in its efforts to address the many problems the country is currently facing amid the pandemic.

“The 18th Congress, in its remaining legislative calendar, will carry out its duty to craft laws that will help our countrymen recover from this pandemic,” the House chief said.

“We deemed it necessary to address all fronts in stimulating our economy back to health, and the Bayanihan 3 provides a holistic approach in addressing all our current woes,” he added.

See “Bayanihan part 3,” A2

RECOVERY, DESPITE

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Wednesday, February 17, 2021 Vol. 16 No. 129

P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 18 pages |

MGCQ, SLOW—EXPERTS HOUSEHOLD SPENDING TO GROW BACK IN 2021

By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

H

OUSEHOLD spending is expected to climb back to growth territory in 2021 on the back of improvements in the local labor market and easing in the imposed restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19, an international think tank said.

In an economic bulletin released on Tuesday, Fitch Solutions announced a forecast growth of 5.7 percent in the country’s consumer spending in 2021, after a 7.9-percent decline in 2020.

“We hold a positive outlook for the Filipino consumer over 2021…. All of our main consumer spending categories will return to positive growth in 2021,” Fitch Solutions said.

The research arm of Fitch Group said the expected improvement in the country’s consumer spending—one of the pillars of the Philippine growth

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea (in barong) gestures on Tuesday (Feb. 16, 2021) as he stands on the newly renovated Naia Runway 13/31, which was blessed, inaugurated and commissioned as part of continuing efforts by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to improve aviation services. DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and Naia General Manager Ed Monreal witnessed the unveiling. NONIE REYES

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By Cai U. Ordinario & Samuel P. Medenilla

@caiordinario @sam_medenilla

RESIDENT Duterte will act next week on the recommendation of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) to start a new round of easing on quarantine measures by March after consulting Cabinet members, Palace officials said on Tuesday.

This, as local economists said that while placing the entire country under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) by March—as Neda proposed—will boost household consumption, it will not be enough to propel such

to pre-pandemic levels.

On Monday night, Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said the InterAgency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has recommended

PESO exchange rates n US 47.9520

placing the entire country under MGCQ, the least stringent lockdown level, by March 1.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a virtual press briefing on Tuesday from Davao City, “The President is still studying the recommendation and he wants it to be discussed in the next Cabinet meeting on 22nd of this month.”

Besides recommending a country-wide MGCQ, Neda proposed: increasing the available capacity of public transportation; adjusting the age group of those allowed to leave their homes during the pandemic—from 15 to 65 years old, to 5 to 70; and allowing the pilot of face-to-face classes.

Roque said he is among the Cabinet members pushing for the easing of quarantine restrictions, to allow more businesses to resume.

Currently, he said, the economic impact of Covid-19 now outweighs its health-related effects. While Covid-19 infected over 550,000 people in the country, it also drove 23.7 million to hunger last year due to the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic.

The easing of quarantine restrictions is not expected to lead to a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases since most Filipinos still comply with minimum health standards such as wearing of face mask, Roque argued.

See “Recovery,” A2

story—will come from improved employment, which will result in better incomes in the Filipino family.

“The unemployment rate in the Philippines is trending downwards, from a high of 17.7 percent in the second quarter of 2020, to the current 8.7 percent over the fourth quarter of 2020. While this is still higher than a preCovid-19 environment [the unemployment rate averaged 5.1 percent over 2019], it does indicate that consumers will begin to see their disposable incomes improve,”Fitch Solutions said.

“This better outlook comes from expectations that there will be more jobs and better incomes, less quarantine restrictions and more businesses reopening. If the government is able to effectively inoculate its population over 2021, while at the same time gradually lifting restrictions, we believe consumer confidence will rapidly return to optimism,” it added.

See “Household,” A2

Much improved runway 13/31 at Naia inaugurated

By Recto Mercene

T

@rectomercene

HE upgrading of alternate runway 13/31 was completed on Tuesday, with officials hailing the timing as the country awaits the arrival of Covid-19 vaccines and the recovery of the aviation and tourism sectors.

Cabinet members led the inauguration of the extension of the cement overlay and the construction of an additional holding area (H5), seen to

boost the maximum allowable 40 to 50 flight movements per hour or a total of 240 flight movements per day.

Naia runway 13/31, better known as the domestic runway, used to be 2.6 kilometers long (2,600 meters) and 45 meters wide. It has been extended to 2,800 meters. The width remains the same.

The rehabilitation of the second runway cost around P470 million while the upgrading of Terminal 2 cost more than P500 million and both are now ready for operations, said airport manager, Ed Monreal.

n japan 0.4551 n UK 66.6868 n HK 6.1854 n CHINA 7.4527 n singapore 36.2531 n australia 37.2971 n EU 58.1658 n SAUDI arabia 12.7852

See “Runway,” A2

Source: BSP (February 16, 2021)

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Bayanihan Part 3…

Continued from A1

Among the salient features of Bayanihan 3, or HB 8628, is the allocation of P25 billion for Covid-19 treatment and vaccines.

Under Section 4 of the bill, the requirement of Phase IV trials for Covid-19 medication and vaccine stipulated in the Universal Health Care Law is waived to expedite the procurement of such medication and vaccine, provided that these are recommended and approved by the World Health Organization and other internationally recognized health agencies.

The bill also allows advance payment not exceeding 50 percent of the contract amount for the procurement of Covid-19 drugs and vaccines, unless otherwise directed by the President.

Bayanihan 3 will also provide entrepreneur some reprieve, by waiving registration and other related fees of micro, small and medium enterprises or MSMEs, and providing accommodation for the registration process and compliance of their businesses.

The bill also seeks to form the Bayanihan Council, which shall be tasked with ensuring that interventions are well-targeted to intended beneficiaries and funds are disbursed properly and in a timely manner.

Household...

Continued from A1

Fitch Solutions further noted that improvements will be seen across the board, across all sectors in consumer spending.

Furnishing and home spending is projected to grow the fastest for the year, according to Fitch Solutions’forecast at 12.7 percent. This will be followed by restaurant and hotel spending at 10.6 percent.

Alcoholic drinks and tobacco spending is expected to grow by 10.4 percent, clothing and footwear spending by 8.9 percent and recreation and culture spending by 7.3 percent.

Food and non-alcoholic drinks spending, which was the only sector that did not contract in 2020, is expected to grow by 5.3 percent in 2021. Fitch Solutions, however, warned that while some risks are already incorporated in their forecasts, vaccine delays will likely change the positive outlook for consumer spending.

“Our forecasts take into account risks that are highly likely to play out in 2021, such as the easing of government support, a reduction in restrictions and a delay in the vaccine roll out,” Fitch Solutions said.

“However, these are risks to the outlook that if they do start to play out will lead to forecast revisions,” it added. These include delays in the vaccine rollout, renewed restrictions and civil unrest.

“As of writing, the Philippines has not begun vaccinations yet. As such, we will continue to follow its progress and whether or not enough of the population are vaccinated over the year, in order to ease restrictions and spur a consumer recovery,” Fitch Solutions said.

Runway...

Continued from A1

M o n re a l a d d e d w i t h t h e s w i f t completion of the project as a preliminary improvement, it "is expected that the Naia’s maximum allowable commercial flight movement capacity will increase by 10 more flight movements per hour or a total of 240 commercial flight movements per day."

Under the rehabilitation plan are the interconnecting taxiways, as well as the 13/31 extension; the repair of deteriorated asphalt pavement areas; asphalt overlaying works for the entire runway pavement and exit connections; painting of runway pavement markers and guidelines, and other related works.

“Today I am very, very happy and full of gratitude. With the leadership of airport manager Ed Monreal, he continues to proceed with the improvements here at the Ninoy Aquino International Airports and all of its four passenger terminals,” said Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

FIST bill freeing firms from NPAs now a law P

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

RESIDENT Duterte signed into law on Tuesday the Financial Institution Strategic Transfer (FIST) bill, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said.

Seen to cushion the impact of the pandemic on the financial sector, the FIST bill allows financial institutions to offload nonperforming assets (NPAs) by selling them to asset management firms so they could lend more to pandemic-hit businesses.

NPAs refer to nonperforming loans (NPL) and real and other properties acquired in settlement of loans.

“FIST signed by PRRD today,

Recovery...

Continued from A1

Boost, but not quite

Placing the entire country under MGCQ by March will boost household consumption but not back to pre-pandemic levels, local economists asserted.

Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF) President Calixto V. Chikiamco told the BusinessMirror that consumption growth will return but will still be muted, especially with fears of unemployment still looming.

“There will be a boost if only because mobility restrictions will be eased, but until the pandemic is controlled and vaccination widespread, consumers will not spend wantonly and continue to save,”Chikiamco said.

“Also, as we are seeing, layoffs are continuing, especially as companies run out of reserves. Fear over job security will keep spending on a tight leash,” he added.

Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development (Acerd) Director Alvin P. Ang told the BusinessMirror there is enough consumption demand should the country be placed under the more lenient MGCQ. Ang expects consumption spending to increase this year due to low base effects.

In the second quarter, he said, household consumption spending could already be in the black.

In the fourth quarter of 2020, Household Final Consumption Expenditure (HFCE) contracted 4.5 percent. It posted an average contraction of 5.6 percent in 2020.

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed HFCE started contracting in the second quarter of 2020 at 13 percent, followed by the 7.2-percent decline in the third quarter.

Feb. 16, 2021,” Dominguez said in a message to finance reporters.

The finance department earlier said FIST would result in foregone revenues of P3.3 billion to P13 billion every year for the next five years as the measure provides tax incentives to defray the transaction and transfer costs of nonperforming assets to asset management companies.

Should all tax benefits be availed of in the next five years, the DOF “It looks like there is consumption demand because there was an uptick in December, but it did not cause a surge so people are confident based on the need to meet family and sharing.

It is critical that by this we are consistent in the protocols,” Ang said, partly in Filipino.

The return of more robust household consumption is not expected for at least a year.

Chua told the BusinessMirror that this could happen by mid-2022.

The middle of 2022 coincides with the Presidential elections. Election years, based on the country’s economic history, are boom years characterized by high GDP growth.

This has been termed as the country’s boomand-bust cycles which occur when the economy experiences strong growth one year and weak growth the next. In the case of the Philippines, bust growth occurs during non-election years.

“We need to balance Covid-19 and hunger concerns to achieve more confidence,” Chua said. “We expect to reach that [household spending going back to pre-pandemic levels] in mid-2022.”

Tracing, testing

Ultimately, reviving consumption spending and the economy will take more than loosening mobility restrictions.

Action for Economic Reforms (AER) Coordinator Filomeno Sta. Ana III told the B usiness M irror that vaccination and other measures to reduce transmission will bring back what was lost in the lockdowns.

Sta. Ana said it is understandable for Filipinos to feel the worst is over as vaccines are introduced in many parts of the world.

However, he reminded everyone that infections in the country remain high.

“The situation remains precarious; our infections remain high. It is when we relax our guard that things get worse. Germany serves as

also earlier said the “size of losses is manageable when compared to the potential risks from another possible financial crash.”

The finance department has also vowed to ensure that no public resources would be wasted as the incentives will be reviewed through a monitoring mechanism under the bill.

In the Philippines, NPLs saw substantial growth in the past year as lockdown protocols slowed down economic activities while pushing up joblessness.

Latest Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas data showed NPLs reached P391.67 billion as of end-December 2020, or 74.77 percent more than P224.11 billion year-on-year. This as total loan portfolio slipped by 1 percent to P10.86 trillion by the end of last year from P10.97 trillion in 2019.

Meanwhile, gross NPL ratio slowed down to 3.61 percent in

December from 3.78 percent in the previous month.

It was in December when the banking sector saw the NPL ratio dip for the first time in 2020. The banking industry started last year with a bad loan ratio of 2.16 percent in its books. The figure continued to rise month after month and peaked in November last year.

Still, the December figure is higher than the 2.04 percent notched in 2019. However, it is still below the Central Bank’s forecast of 4.6 percent for the year.

Apart from the FIST bill, the DOF is also pushing for the passage of other “economic recovery measures,” including the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) bill and the Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE) bill.

a concrete example. It was a success story but it is now under strict lockdown,” Sta. Ana said.

The Philippines needs to do better in “casefinding, testing, quarantining and contact tracing,” he added.

He agreed with former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cielito Habito’s estimate that it would take three or more years before the country recovers from what was lost during the pandemic.

Habito had noted that it took the Philippines five to six years to recover from the recession in the 1980s—which was not as bad as the recession caused by Covid-19.

“A V-shaped recovery is already out of the question. The scarring is already deep. We can expect some recovery this year, but this can be attributed to the low base,” Sta. Ana told BusinessMirror.

De La Salle University economist Maria Ella Oplas agreed and said the government has continued investing in infrastructure projects that will help provide jobs to millions of Filipinos.

Many businesses also invested in the provinces, where the costs of living and doing business are not as high as in megacities.

Oplas said the MGCQ will help increase job opportunities. With less stringent mobility restrictions, more establishments will open, more workers will secure jobs, and more consumers will be able to go out and spend, she said.

“The experience will disperse development from urban to rural,” Oplas said. “A lot of businesses closed but many opened up shop, especially among MSMEs.” Earlier, John Gokongwei School of Management Dean Luis F. Dumlao said “corona coma” was a term coined by renowned economist and Nobel winner Paul Krugman for what the lockdowns inflicted on the economy.

Dumlao said this has significantly affected the Philippine economy, which saw its trade deficit balloon and its overseas Filipino worker (OFW) remittances decline.

However, he said, one saving grace is remittances. Despite the number of workers who lost their jobs abroad, inflows from those who still had their jobs kept pouring in and offset the country’s trade deficit.

Nonetheless, as far as the pattern of recovery is concerned, Dumlao said it is appearing to be more of a “Nike swoosh” than a “V,” especially when it comes to the actual level of GDP. In terms of GDP growth, Dumlao said, there may be some credence to the claims of the administration that a “V” shaped recovery is going to happen. This is because, as Ateneo Dean of Social Sciences Fernando T. Aldaba said, there’s “nowhere to go but up.”

Hysteresis

Chikiamco said getting back to pre-pandemic levels will take time, and could even involve “economic scarring or hysteresis.”

He said this could happen when there is an overhang of fear and job insecurity for some time even after the end of the pandemic.

Hysteresis happens when the skills of workers, who were unemployed over a long period of time due to a recession, deteriorate, making them unemployable.

However, Ang said the recession is not over yet and should this happen to Filipino workers, it is not because of the economic downturn.

“If ever people remain unemployed even after the economy improves, it is not necessarily hysteresis but the change brought about

by Covid-19 to the underlying way of doing business,” Ang said. “[This] is the most likely case since Covid-19 changed business so some types of work are no longer needed by the new normal,” he added.

DA, PCA flag subtle threat to PHL coco oil in Senate bills Continued from A10

Sto. Domingo proposed that the type of healthy alternative oil could be determined by the government later on in the crafting of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) should the bills be passed into a law.

But for Dayrit, the definition of healthy alternatives as promulgated by the WHO is aimed at promoting polyunsaturated fats and tailored fats, which are produced by western oil manufacturers, such as canola oil and corn oil.

“They are really targeting coco

oil. What they are promoting [are] polyunsaturated fats and tailored fats which are synthetic fats. The campaign against coconut oil has been a long-standing campaign since the 1980s,” Dayrit said.

Nonetheless, the PCA, the DA, Dayrit, Sto. Domingo and even DOH representatives supported the bill’s intention to eliminate TFAs in the market to curb the risks they pose to human health.

Representatives from the DOH and the Philippine Society of Nutritionist-Dietitians Inc. threw their support behind CNO as an alternative to TFAs given its

various health benefits.

Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship Chairman Sen. Koko Pimentel said he will talk to the two authors of the bills regarding the stakeholders’ suggestions raised during the hearing.

If the authors are amenable to the proposals, then the bill will be amended and a technical working group will be formed afterwards. But if the two authors would not agree to the proposed changes then he will call for another committee hearing, Pimentel said.

“Let us remain focused on the objective of the law, which is the fight against TFA. We need to eliminate any language in the law that can be used, or mandate or directive, in discouraging the use of CNO or any other oil. That’s not the purpose of the law—not to promote an alternative oil—but to focus on TFA and get rid of this once and for all,” Pimentel pointed out.

“The definition of healthy alternatives is not essential to the law. The focus is the elimination of TFA in our food supply and other products,” Pimentel stressed.

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION Notice is hereby given to the public that due to business challenges and financial losses, CTMed Central Chain Corp. is shortening its term of existence up to February 28, 2021 pursuant to Sec. 136 of the Revised Corporation Code thereby closing its business on such date.

Anybody who has a claim against the said Corporation is advised to file his or her claim at 51 Pariancillo Villa, Valenzuela City.

BM-February 17, 24 and March 3, 2021

Detention period focus of second ATA hearing Continued from A10

“All these acts are preparatory acts and these are not new. These have been there since 1932 when the Revised Penal Code was crafted. If the ATA now provides as preparatory acts as crimes, are these provisions now void?” Peralta asked human rights lawyer Jose Manuel Diokno, one of the counsel and petitioners in the case.

Diokno, however, insisted that the ATA “does not employ the terminology preparatory acts,” as it simply says acts intended to, “and that gives us a whole broad possible interpretation.”

As for the longer detention period for persons arrested under the ATA without an arrest warrant, Peralta indicated that such provision might now be necessary since Article 125 of the RPC was introduced as early as 1932.

That year, he added, “probably the population of the country was even less than 1 million. So it was very easy to deliver a person arrested without a warrant within the period of 36 hours, there was no traffic then.”

He also noted that based on experience, cases are filed hastily before the courts because of the restrictive period of 36 hours.

However, Rep. Edcel Lagman, also a counsel-petitioner in the case, insisted that the 36-hour period to detain a person without a warrant remains “a good law,” and is consistent with the country’s undertaking under international conventions that mandates the prompt delivery to a judicial authority of any person taken into custody.

“Protection of fundamental rights should not be capsulized in the time-frame. Such guarantees are immutable and it should be respected under all regimes and under all eras,” Lagman said. However, Peralta maintained that even if there is no 14-day provision under Section 29 of the ATA, Article 125 of the RPC should still be amended because it is already obsolete.

“That has never been amended since 1932, and you can just imagine a person arrested without a warrant, for murder, what are the requirements that should be filed?

There is the autopsy, witnesses’ accounts, if there were objects recovered from the scene of the crime they will be referred to examiners .... How can they file the case within 36 hours?” Peralta added.

New plea for TRO

Meanwhile, Lagman sought the Court’s action on the petitioners’ plea for issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) to enjoin the implementation of the ATA, citing the arrest of 26-year-old activist Chad Booc, a petitioner in the case.

Booc was arrested on February 15 with five others during a police raid on the retreat house hosting Lumad children at the University of San Carlos in Cebu.

They are accused of training 19 minors in their custody to be “child warriors” for the communist group.

Lagman told the Court that petitioners and their counsels are seriously threatened with prosecution under the ATA. “All this would underscore the chilling effect of the ATA, which cows citizens into silence and are restrained or precluded from exercising their freedom of expression,” Lagman told the Court.

CJ Peralta directed Lagman to put into writing his reiteration of the issuance of the TRO so the Court can direct the Office of the Solicitor General to comment on the motion.

At the end of the oral arguments, Peralta decided to give t he OSG 10 d ays to submit its comment on the plea.

The Nation

A4 Wednesday, February 17, 2021 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

BusinessMirror

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SC junks BBM’s election protest vs Robredo

By Joel R. San Juan

@jrsanjuan1573

T

HE Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), has dismissed the electoral protest filed by former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. against Vice President Leni Robredo in connection with the vice presidential race last 2016.

At a news briefing, SC spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka said the PET’s decision was unanimous but could not provide further details as the official copy of the decision has yet to be released by the Court.

Marcos’s camp statement

MARCOS’S lawyer Victor Rodriguez issued a statement following the release of the PET’s decision, saying that“based on the official pronouncement made by the Presidential Electoral Tribunal today [Tuesday], the court unanimously voted to dismiss our second cause of action which is the manual recount and judicial revision.”

“However, as to the issue on how to proceed with our third cause of action which is the annulment of votes in Mindanao, the Tribunal has yet to decide on the matter.”

Hosaka added: “Out of the 15 members of the Tribunal who were present in today’s [Tuesday] meeting, I was informed that seven fully concurred in the dismissal, while eight concurred in the result.”

He said the SC will upload in its web site a copy of the resolutions detailing the reasons for the dismissal once these are available.

The PET’s decision came just few months after Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the justice assigned to the case, junked the petition for inhibition filed by Marcos camp who accused him of being biased and intentionally delaying the resolution of the case so that it would end up moot and academic, considering that the filing for candidacies in the 2022 national elections is already near.

Leonen was also a subject of an impeachment complaint filed before the House of Representatives for the delay in the resolution of cases assigned to him.

Marcos’s camp has denied any involvement in the filing of the impeachment complaint.

The Comelec declared Robredo as the winner in the vice presidential race in the 2016 election after she got 14,418,817 votes, which is 263,473 votes more than the 14,155,344 votes received by Marcos.

Marcos filed an election protest on June 29, 2016, claiming that the camp of Robredo cheated in the automated polls.

In his election protest, Marcos cited three causes of action—first, that Automated Elections System (AES) was compromised, hence, the integrity of the AES cannot be relied upon to declare a legitimate winner; the second requires the revision or manual recount of the actual ballots to determine the votes cast in all the 36,465 protested clustered precincts while the third cause of action sought the annulment of election results for the VP position in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and Basilan, on the ground of terrorism, intimidation and harassment of voters, as well as pre-shading of ballots in all of the 2,756 protested clustered precincts in these areas.

The PET has dismissed Marcos’s first cause of action for being “meaningless and pointless.”

On the other hand, Hosaka said the PET decided to release the committee report on the revision and recount of ballots on the three pilot provinces—Iloilo, Negros Oriental and Camarines Sur—involving 5,415 precincts.

Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguiao, who was then assigned to handle the election protest, submitted the report to PET last September 9, 2019.

Marcos’s camp sought Leonen’s inhibition from the case also based on his previous pronouncements in a number of landmark cases.

Marcos cited Justice Leonen’s harsh remarks in dissenting opinion in the SC decision allowing his father, the late strongman and former President Ferdinand Marcos’s burial at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani.

He added that prior to his appointment to the SC, Justice Leonen served as head of the government panel during the negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) under the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III.

DHSUD and Alpha-3 sign Wi-fi access pact for select socialized housing projects

By Cai U. Ordinario

R

@caiordinario

ESIDENTS of selected resettlement sites would soon enjoy Internet connectivity through Balai-Net, a service that will be provided by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

On Tuesday, DHSUD Secretary Eduardo del Rosario and Alpha-3 Technologies Chief Executive Officer Kristin Bangot signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that aims to provide a fast and secure community wi-fi service to government housing projects.

The Balai-Net project is expected to have a bandwidth of up to 100 mbps per household for a selected relocation site. This is a guaranteed 99.99 percent uptime and serves as a redundant network.

“This pact is part of the government’s efforts in providing Filipino families with modern housing communities nationwide equipped with necessary infrastructure facilities, including information technology,” del Rosario stressed.

Under the pact, Alpha-3 intends to partner with DHSUD and its attached corporations in establishing a linkage with the government housing sector as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.

The MOA covers the provision of Internet access to residents of resettlement sites nominated and selected by DHSUD, Social Housing Finance Corp. and National Housing Authority.

DHSUD and its attached corporations are responsible for identifying and selecting the resettlement sites eligible for the project.

Alpha-3 Technologies, meanwhile, would ensure quality and consistent Wi-fi service under the agreement. It will also install the necessary network infrastructure or make the necessary repair, replacement and maintenance of the Internet service.

“This undertaking is another proof that great things can be achieved through effective partnership between the government and private sector,” del Rosario said.

The Building Adequate, Livable, Affordable, and Inclusive (BALAI) housing program is designed for Filipino communities.

Economy BusinessMirror

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Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Wednesday, February 17, 2021 A5

DA panel submits reso on higher pork volumes for Duterte’s signature

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

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O stabilize pork prices, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has submitted its recommendation to President Duterte to increase the minimum access volume (MAV) of pork to 404,210 metric tons (MT).

During the joint hearing of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food and House Committee on Trade and Industry, Agriculture Secretary William Dar announced that the recommendation of the MAV Management Committee is now awaiting the signature of the President, who will issue the necessary document for implementation of the new measures.

“Last night [Monday], we have submitted to Malacañang the resolution by the MAV Management Council recommending an increase in the MAV for pork for the MAV year 2021 and is now awaiting for the President’s signature,” Dar told lawmakers.

At a news briefing in Davao City on Tuesday, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque confirmed the MAV Management Committee has already finalized its recommended quota for imported pork.

“They already have recommendation to the President. At the right time, I will announce what [would be] his decision and how much [pork] we will import,” Roque said.

The government has raised its proposed volume of imported pork this year to address the expected local demand for the food item. The current MAV is only at 54,000 MT. Moreover, Dar, citing current hog stock, said local farmers could only supply between 1.2 million MT and 1.3 million MT of pork, while demand for the said food item is at 1.6 million MT. Based on the DA’s simulation, the country may suffer a deficit of 388,790 MT, which translates to an 88-day shortage.

Using industry estimates on the impact of African swine fever (ASF), the country may have a shortfall of 530,871 MT. Under Republic Act 8178 or the Agricultural Tariffication Act, in case of shortages or abnormal price increases in agricultural products, whose quantitative restrictions are lifted under this act, the President may propose to Congress, revisions, modifications or adjustments of the MAV. Provided, however, that in the event Congress fails to act after 15 days from receipt of the proposal, the same shall be deemed approved.

The government is considering temporarily raising the MAV to bring down the high prices of pork in the country, particularly in the National Capital Region (NCR), as a result of dwindling stocks from local hog farms that were hit hard by ASF. Dar also said the tariff commission is finalizing its report and recommendations to the Cabinet committee on tariff and related matters regarding the DA’s separate

proposal to further lower tariff for pork for a period of one year.

The DA petitioned to lower the tariffs for in-quota pork imports from 30 percent to 5 percent for the first six months; and to raise it afterward to 10 percent for the succeeding six months.

The DA also petitioned to lower the outquota tariff for pork to 15 percent for the first six months and increase it to 20 percent for the next six months. Out-quota pork imports are slapped with a 40-percent tariff.

Meanwhile, the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines (ProPork) President Edwin G. Chen urged the agriculture department to set the price ceiling of pork products between P330 and P360.

“Setting the price ceiling of pork products at P330 to P360 will be more beneficial to hog producers than subsidy. This price ceiling will work for everyone. This will encourage hog raisers to produce more,” he said.

For his part, Dar said, the agency is open to a dialogue on the proposal to revise the price ceilings for kasim, pigue and liempo.

A 60-day price ceiling for pork products being sold in markets in NCR was imposed following the implementation of Executive Order (EO) 124 to ensure the food commodity remain affordable to most consumers.

EO 124 imposed a price ceiling for kasim/ pigue at P270 per kilo and liempo at P300 per kilo.

Long-term solution

IN his manifestation during the hearing, House Ways and Means chair and Economic Stimulus and Recovery Cluster co-chairman Joey S. Salceda said that a sustainable and long-term solution to issues of price and supply of pork is better feed supply and more modern support systems.

Salceda said that while direct importation of meat may lower consumer prices in the short term, the move may be unsustainable given the growing global demand for pork, and slower growth in global pork supply.

“The problem with livestock is feeds, feeds, feeds. We must explore options to expand our feed supply and diversify our sources of feed, including developing root crops. Only then can we acquire cost-competitiveness and comparative advantages in producing meat. In other words, to solve the issue of pork supply security even after the African swine fever crisis is over, it’s all about feeds,” Salceda said.

“We have a comparative advantage on corn, a key feed ingredient. But we do not have the kind of consolidated land needed for such other feed ingredients [like] soybean. This is what we may need to import,” Salceda said, offering feed importation as an alternative to direct meat importation.

“In 2020, global pork supply has only grown by 3 percent, but in some accounts, demand may have grown by as much as 13 percent, despite the pandemic and its impacts on income. This is a development

that will likely continue. Importing meat, then, may not be quite the quick solution we think it could be,” he cautioned.

Citing global examples of livestock development despite the initial lack of comparative advantage, Salceda said that “China, a leading pork producer, does not primarily produce its own feeds. In fact, it produces almost none of the soybeans it uses to feed its hog industry, but imports it from Brazil and the United States. This is something we might explore, instead of directly importing meat.”

The House tax chief also warned that the food price issues may be merely symptoms of structural problems in the country’s agriculture sector.

“On market efficiency, the importance of cold storage facilities and facilities that extend the shelf life of surpluses, to smooth over fluctuations in supply. I urge the Department of Agriculture and the committee to consider making these inputs as part of our infrastructure planning for agriculture,” Salceda suggested.

“I have consulted with key industry players on the production side of the livestock sector, and after studying their issues, my conclusion is that we must build the support system that will make us competitive, beyond merely solving supply deficiencies through importation. This will include modernizing logistics, post-harvest facilities, support for input production such as feeds, and more efficient value-chains,” the Albay lawmaker added.

“While the current food price crisis demands immediate action, we must not ignore the fact that this is merely a symptom of our structural vulnerabilities. As such, our actions must always have a view towards the structural and the long term,” Salceda explained.

The lawmaker also warned that unless key changes are made soon, the problem will continue to worsen every year.

“The Philippine population is growing by 1-2 percent every year. With Covid-19, we expect a baby boom that will mean another generation of more mouths to feed.

To add to this, with affluence comes more demand for food. That means, as we grow from a lower-middle-income to an uppermiddle-income economy, our food demand will grow faster than our own population,” Salceda pointed out.

“Finally, consumer preferences will not change. For better or for worse, Filipinos like pork, and I can do almost nothing to change that. Unless we decisively address supply, we will always face food crises every five to 10 years. This is no isolated incident,” Salceda added.

“There are only a handful of cold storage facilities in the Philippines. We also have practically no canning facilities for our farmers, to address surpluses in vegetables and other produce. Warehousing and milling of grains, our leading feed source, is dismal and wasteful,” he said. With Samuel Raphael Medenilla

DPWH allots ₧1.23B for feasibility studies of 82 infra projects Timely studies are crucial to successful project development as they lay the foundation for the implementation or civil works phase.

Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

T

HE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is spending P1.23 billion to study the feasibility of 82 infrastructure projects spread across the country.

DPWH Secretary Mark A. Villar said the amount, allocated under the general appropriations, will be used for the “feasibility studies, preliminary and detailed engineering design, economic analysis, technical studies, and traffic impact assessment” of the 82 projects.

“On top of thousands of ongoing projects under DPWH, 82 new high-impact projects are being studied so we can further improve road network across the country,” Villar said.

“Timely studies are crucial to successful project development as they lay the foundation for the implementation or civil works phase,” he added.

BM Luzon took the lion’s share of the pipeline with 33 infrastructure projects now receiving study funding.

This include the Samson Road to Nlex Connector Link Project (P36.9 million), the Alaminos-Lucap Bypass Road in Pangasinan (P11 million),andthesevenroadprojectsintheCordillera Administrative Region (P94.4 million).

It also includes funding for four projects in Region 2 costing P37.5 million covering Baybayog Bypass Road and Quezon-Delfin Abano Road; four projects in Region 3 costing P60 million covering San Miguel-Cabanatuan Road and San Leonardo-San Antonio Bypass Road and Concepcion-Mabalacat Bypass Road among others; seven projects in Region 4A costing P126.3 million which include the Batangas Grand Terminal Flyover, Cavite-Batangas Bypass Road, and Tanza-Nasugbu Road.

Likewise, it covers the funding for four studies in Region 4B costing P68.6 million

covering Sablayan-Sta. Cruz Diversion Road and Lubang Island Circumferential Road; and five in Region 5 costing P47.1 million which include the Sipocot Bypass Road and MaboloAlmeda Bypass Road among others.

The DPWH has 19 projects included in the pipeline for studies. It is composed of three in Region 6 costing P66.4 million covering Capiz-Aklan Coastal Road among others; six in Region 7 costing P106.2 million which covers Pamplona-Tanjay City-Bayawan City Road and Mambaling South Boulevard; and the 10 projects in Region 8 costing P108.9 million inclusive of Baybay-McArthur Road and Nabang-Gadgaran Diversion Road.

Mindanao has 29 projects for study, including four projects in Region 9 costing P71.4 million, which cover Sirawai-Tungawan Diversion Road in Zamboanga del Norte and PutikCampo Island Diversion Road in Zamboanga City; 11 projects in Region 10 costing P160.4 million, covering Iligan City-Magsaysay AgriIndustrial Road and Dansolihan-Camp Kibaritan-Languindingan Road; four in Region 11 costing P51.5 million, covering PanacanBunawan Flyover and Tagum City-Sto. Tomas Diversion Road; two in Region 12, costing P17.4 million inclusive of Bolebak-Pansud Alternate Road and Midsayap-Libungan Bypass Road; and eight in Region 13 which include the Libanga-San Miguel Road and NRJ SantiagoCantilan Road among others.

The Poblacion Sta. Maria-Malungon Road, an inter-regional road connecting Davao del Sur to Sarangani has also received study funding.

BusinessMirror

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

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8 STONE BUSINESS OUTSOURCING OPC 5/f To 10/f, Tower 4 Pitx #01 Kennedy Road Tambo Parañaque City

NO.

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS POSITION

DIAMONDSTONE INC. Unit No. Unit 2c Flr. One E-com Center Building Bldg. Lot No.4/f, Ocean Drive St. Mall Of Asia Complex Subd. District 4 Barangay 076 District 4 Pasay City

CHEN, YUANBING Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

2.

CHEN, ZENGLIU Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

3.

DENG, RONG Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

4.

HE, WENSHU Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

44.

5.

HUANG, ZIHUA Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

EASTERN GOLD CORPORATION 503 Nueva St Binondo Manila

6.

LAO MINH QUYEN Vietnamese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

45.

DONG, JUN Chinese

MARKETING AND SALES AGENT

7.

LI, YUTONG Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

46.

LI, SHAOYONG Chinese

MARKETING AND SALES AGENT

8.

MA, YUJIA Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

47.

LIN, WENYI Chinese

MARKETING AND SALES AGENT

9.

WANG, XIAN Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

48.

LIU, CHENGHAO Chinese

MARKETING AND SALES AGENT

10.

XU, SHU Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

49.

ZHONG, QIAOYING Chinese

MARKETING AND SALES AGENT

11.

ZHANG, TIAN Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

ECHOTECH SERVICES INC. 18/f Philamlife Tower 8767 Paseo De Roxas Bel-air Makati City

ZHANG, WENLONG Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

50.

LEE LAY YEAN Malaysian

MANDARIN FIELD MARKETING OFFICER

51.

TJAI POH KUAN Malaysian

MANDARIN FIELD MARKETING OFFICER

52.

XIANG, MINXING Chinese

MANDARIN SITE TECHNICAL OFFICER

53.

YU, RONGQUAN Chinese

MANDARIN SITE TECHNICAL OFFICER

1.

12.

ACCENTURE, INC. 7f Robinsons Cybergate Tower 1 Pioneer St Mandaluyong City 13.

RASHINKAR, NIKITA NAVAKETAN Indian

AZURE ADMINISTRATION SENIOR ANALYST

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

076 Pasay City 14.

CHEN, JIONG Chinese

SELLER SUPPORT ASSOCIATE

BAUER FOUNDATIONS PHILIPPINES, INC. Unit A To K 12/f Cyberone Bldg. 11 Eastwood Ave., Eastwood City Cyberpark Bagumbayan 3 Quezon City 15.

SCHOBER, PHILIPP Austrian

SOIL IMPROVEMENT AND DESIGN MANAGER

BAYVIEW TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 43/f Yuchengco Tower Rcbc Plaza Ayala Ave. Cor. Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Bel-air Makati City

43.

CHNG TING HUI Malaysian

CHINESE SPEAKING ADMIN ASSOCIATE

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

MARKETING EXECUTIVE

EXQUISEEN INC. Unit 1 & 3 14/f Shhg Law Center Sycip Law Center 105 Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City 54.

55.

HU, YONGJUN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING COGNOS DEVELOPER

ZHU, NI Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING HARDWARE TECHNICIAN

FUXINGYING CAIYUN HENTONG, CORP. 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th Floor Eton Ewestpod Chino Roces Avenue Cor. Yakal & Malugay Streets San Antonio Makati City 56.

BAI, LONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

16.

CHAROENSOOK, LADDAWAN Thai

CS CONTENT ADMINISTRATOR (MULTILINGUAL)

57.

CHEN, YANPING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

17.

LI, DONG Chinese

CUSTOMER SUPPORT (MULTI-LINGUAL)

58.

DENG, JIA Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

18.

LIU, YAO Chinese

CUSTOMER SUPPORT (MULTI-LINGUAL)

59.

HE, GUOJIA Chinese

19.

TRAN THI QUYNH TRANG Vietnamese

CUSTOMER SUPPORT (MULTI-LINGUAL)

60.

HONG, FEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

XIAN, LING Chinese

CUSTOMER SUPPORT (MULTI-LINGUAL)

61.

SHI, PEIJUN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

ZHU, XING Chinese

CUSTOMER SUPPORT (MULTI-LINGUAL)

62.

WANG, HONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

ELITE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE (MULTI-LINGUAL)

WANG, TAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

22.

CHANG, XIAOSHAN Chinese

63.

ELITE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE (MULTI-LINGUAL)

64.

WANG, JIANHUA Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

23.

ZUO, FANGYUAN Chinese WAHAB, SARFRAZ Indian

SALES EXECUTIVE (MULTI-LINGUAL)

65.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

24.

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66.

WU, YONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

67.

XIAO, JUN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

68.

XIAO, GUOYING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

69.

XIONG, SHUANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

70.

XIONG, TAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

71.

YANG, LU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

72.

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CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

73.

YU, YAOYANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

74.

YU, JING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

75.

ZENG, QINGHAI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

76.

ZHANG, PENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

ZHOU, LU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

78.

HE, YALEI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

79.

HUYNH PHUOC THANH Vietnamese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

20.

21.

BIG EMPEROR TECHNOLOGY CORP. Eastfield Center Cbp1, Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City 25.

SUN, JINGRU Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE

26.

CHEN, WENJUN Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

DUAN, XUWEI Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

28.

HUANG, YIKE Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

29.

LIU, QIANG Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

30.

LU, SHUFENG Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

NONG, JIE Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

32.

PAN, YIZHONG Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

33.

QU, HAINENG Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

34.

SHI, HUAIFEI Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

35.

WEI, MINGMING Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

36.

YANG, CHANGFU Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

27.

31.

CONCENTRIX DAKSH SERVICES PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Bldg. F Ayalaland Technohub Quezon City 37.

38.

LEE, SONG YOUNG South Korean

ADVISOR I, CUSTOMER SERVICE

YANG, EUN JEONG South Korean

ADVISOR I, CUSTOMER SERVICE

DA PROSPERITAS HOLDING INC. 16/f Tower 6789 6789 Ayala Ave. Bel-air Makati City 39.

HUANG, SHUMU Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING ADMIN ASSOCIATE

40.

LYU, BINBIN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING ADMIN ASSOCIATE

41.

LI, YANLI Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE

AYE CHAN NYEIN Myanmari

CHINESE SPEAKING FINANCIAL ANALYST

42.

77.

80.

LIN, MEIWEI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

81.

QUAN, GUIYAO Chinese

82.

WEI, YINYIN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

HOLCIM PHILIPPINES, INC. 7/f Venice Corporate Center Mckinley Town Center Pinagsama Taguig City 83.

NO.

COUNTRY CEO

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS POSITION

INFOVINE INC. 9/f Y Tower, Moa Complex Coral Way Drive Cor. Macapagal Brgy.

076 Pasay City

NO.

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

POSITION

121.

ZHANG, ZHIXIANG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

84.

CAO, LIANGLIANG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

122.

ZHANG, ZHI Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

85.

CHE, MENGLIN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

123.

ZHAO, HAO Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

86.

CHEN, MINGJUAN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

87.

CHONG, YIWEI Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

88.

CHOW KAI ZHI KENNY Singaporean

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

89.

FU, HUIFANG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

90.

FU, YU Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

91.

GAN, XUEWEN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

129.

GE, DEWEI Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

WANG, XINLEI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATION SERVICE PROVIDER

130.

GENG, SHIDA Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

GUAN, XIUZHEN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

131.

HU, YUAN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

LI, XIAORONG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

132.

LI, FENG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

ZHANG, TUAN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

133.

LIANG, DERUI Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

HU, GUANG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

134.

LIANG, SHUWEI Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

HUANG, BOWEN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

135.

LIN, JIANFEI Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

HUANG, CHIEN-LIN Taiwanese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

136.

LIU, LEI Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

LI, YING Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

137.

SU, ZIQIANG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

LI, BINYI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

138.

SUN, GELIANG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

LI, FANGFANG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

139.

SUN, LIANG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

PAN, JUNWU Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

140.

TAN, SHUANGPING Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

TANG, WEI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

141.

TANG, MIN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

WANG, HUIHUI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

142.

WANG, SHUANGSUO Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

WANG, LIN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

143.

WANG, XINDAO Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

WU, YONGRUI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

144.

WANG, ZHAOJIE Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

ZHANG, CONG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

145.

WEN, XIANLIANG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

ZHANG, WENXUAN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

146.

WONG WAI LOON Malaysian

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

ZHANG, GUOPING Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

147.

WU, YUJIE Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

ZHAO, HAOGUANG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

148.

XIE, LONG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

111.

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

ZHONG, MINGYANG Chinese

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

112.

XU, SHANSHAN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

113.

YANG, TIANLIN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

114.

YAO, LIJUAN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

115.

YEN, SHU-HSIEN Taiwanese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

116.

YONG CHEE WAI Malaysian

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

117.

YU, MIAO Chinese

118.

ZENG, TAO Chinese

92.

93.

94.

95.

96.

97.

98.

99.

100.

101.

102.

103.

104.

105.

106.

107.

108.

109.

110.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

ADRIAN, HORIACIPRIAN Romanian

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119.

120.

JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th Flr. Filinvest Bay City Brgy. 076 Pasay City 124.

ANGGELINA Indonesian

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

125.

KELWIN Indonesian

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

126.

KEREN Indonesian

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

127.

SHI, XIUYIN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

128.

WU, JIAN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

MEGA-WEB TECHNOLOGIES INC. 6,7,8,9,10,11/f Met Live Bldg. Edsa Cor. Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City

149.

CAI, LEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

150.

CAO, FANFAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

151.

CHANG, SHUAI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

152.

CHEN, LANHUA Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

153.

CHEN, XIAOYU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

154.

CHEN, ZHIHONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

155.

CHEN, XIUCHAI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

156.

CHEN, SIFANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

157.

CHEN, QICHENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

158.

CHEN, TAIYANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

159.

CHENG, YONGQIANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

160.

CHENG, XINMEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

161.

CONG, CHENGLONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

162.

DENG, DONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

ZHAN, YOUDONG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

ZHANG, HONG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

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POSITION

163.

DU, DAIGUO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

229.

WU, QIFU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

286.

MICHAEL TAN Indonesian

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

341.

MA, JIRIGALA Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

164.

GAN, XUELIANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

230.

XIAO, BO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

287.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

342.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

231.

XIONG, LIQIANG Chinese

MENG, QINGSHUAI Chinese

165.

GENG, YANBIN Chinese

NG YING JIE Malaysian

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

288.

OU, YANJUN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

166.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

232.

YANG, SHIJUN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

343.

GOU, XIAOYANG Chinese

SENG NWAN Myanmari

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

289.

PAN, YUHUA Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

167.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

233.

YANG, FAN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

344.

GUO, XIN Chinese

SURIANTO Indonesian

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

290.

345.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

SONG, OU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

234.

YANG, LIN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

168.

GUO, QIULIN Chinese

SUSANTI Indonesian

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

291.

TAN WEI LIN Malaysian

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

235.

YANG, ZHENG Chinese

346.

169.

GUO, WANSHAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

WANG, DUANYUAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

236.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

WANG, JIAN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

347.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

YANG, YANLING Chinese

292.

170.

GUO, DONG Chinese

WANG, PEIKUN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

237.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

WU, YANG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

348.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

YIN, XIAOFANG Chinese

293.

171.

HE, SHENGAN Chinese

WEI, DAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

WU, XIANGYU Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

349.

238.

YU, WEIFENG Chinese

294.

172.

HU, SHAOWEN Chinese

XU, WENDI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

173.

HUANG, SHICHENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

YUAN, MEIDE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

295.

239.

WU, YIDONG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

350.

YANG, FAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

174.

HUANG, NAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

240.

ZENG, AITING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

296.

YANG, ZHEN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

351.

YANG, SHIJIE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

175.

HUANG, ZHIHUA Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

241.

ZENG, FENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

297.

ZHOU, LEI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

352.

YAO, XUELONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

176.

JIANG, SHENGFEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

242.

ZENG, LEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

353.

ZHANG, ZHENSHUAI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

177.

JIANG, JUNNAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

243.

ZENG, GANCAI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

178.

LAN, XUEDAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

244.

ZHANG, HAIBO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

179.

LI, CHAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

245.

ZHANG, JIE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

SKY DRAGON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES CORP. # 103 Mezzanine Floor Edsa Mandaluyong City

180.

LI, ZEFENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

246.

ZHANG, HAILONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

300.

GUO, ZHAOHENG Chinese

181.

LI, DANFENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

247.

ZHANG, CHENGAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

301.

182.

LI, FANFAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

248.

ZHANG, HENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

183.

LI, SHAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

249.

ZHANG, QIAO Chinese

184.

LI, XIULI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

250.

185.

LI, TAISHAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

186.

LI, WEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

187.

LI, YANSONG Chinese

188.

LIN, XIQIN Chinese

189.

LIU, YANG Chinese

190.

LIU, XIAOLIN Chinese

191.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

SHEVRONE INC. Unit No. 2c Floor No. 4/f, Zone 10 Barangay 76, District 1 Pasay City 298.

TANG JIA WEI Malaysian

CHINESE SPEAKING ADMIN ASSOCIATE

354.

ZHANG, ZHICHENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

299.

ZHONG, XIAONI Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING ADMIN ASSOCIATE

355.

ZHANG, KUN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

356.

ZHANG, RONGHU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHINESE RESEARCH ANALYST

357.

ZHANG, TAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

JIANG, XIN Chinese

CHINESE RESEARCH ANALYST

358.

ZHAO, MIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

302.

LAN, JINGYAO Chinese

CHINESE RESEARCH ANALYST

359.

ZHENG, DECONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

303.

LI, PENG Chinese

CHINESE RESEARCH ANALYST

360.

ZHAO, XIBO Chinese

ZHONG, SHANGMING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

304.

CHINESE RESEARCH ANALYST

361.

CHIU, SHIH-MIN Taiwanese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

251.

ZHOU, FUTING Chinese

LI, SHIHAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

305.

CHINESE RESEARCH ANALYST

362.

HO NGOC LIEN Vietnamese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

252.

ZHU, MINGYU Chinese

SHI, QINGMEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

306.

363.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

TAN ZYN XUNG Malaysian

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

253.

MALAYSIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE

TENG, LONG Chinese

CHINESE RESEARCH ANALYST

SIM CHOON FONG Malaysian

364.

254.

MALAYSIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE

TIAN, BIN Chinese

CHINESE RESEARCH ANALYST

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

TEOH LAY CHI Malaysian

307.

TUN TUN NAING Myanmari

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE

308.

WANG, TAO Chinese

CHINESE RESEARCH ANALYST

365.

255.

BYAR BAE Myanmari

YANG, YI-PEI Taiwanese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

XIA, SHIFANG Chinese

CHINESE RESEARCH ANALYST

256.

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE

309.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

SAI KAUNG HTOO Myanmari

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. 5th To 8th Flr. Sm Southmall Tower 2 Alabang Zapote Rd. Almanza Uno Las Piñas City

LIU, ZHIQIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

257.

SAI SAI Myanmari

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE

192.

LIU, HUI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

258.

SENG AUNG Myanmari

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE

310.

193.

LIU, JUNJIE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

259.

YAN LI CHIN Myanmari

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE

TELFA OUTSOURCING SERVICES INC. Unit 3b Mrb 1160 J. Bocobo St., 072 Bgy. 670 Ermita Manila

194.

LIU, SHUAI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

260.

DAO THI BICH THUY Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

311.

195.

LIU, ZHIHUA Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

261.

THONG LY BINH Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

196.

LIU, JIAOTONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

197.

LIU, HUAFENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

NEWBAY INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY INC. 2/f Mezzanine Tower 1 The Enterprise Center 6766 Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas Makati City

198.

LU, JIANWEN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

199.

LUO, YUNHENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

200.

MA, DEPENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

201.

MA, QIUJIE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

202.

MAO, QIAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

203.

MENG, PENGFEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

204.

MO, LIANMING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

205.

PENG, TING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

206.

QI, FANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

207.

QIN, HAIQIANG Chinese

208.

SHI, TAO Chinese

209.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

262.

DENG, CHUNQIAO Chinese

MANDARIN TECHNICAL SUPPORT

OKKDA ASIA TECHNOLOGY INC. Unit 5b 5/f Marvin Plaza 2153 C. Roces Ave. Pio Del Pilar Makati City 263.

GINDER SINGH Indian

PRODUCT SPECIALIST

264.

HONG, SEUNG-HWI South Korean

PRODUCT SPECIALIST

265.

LI, ZHENWEN Chinese

PRODUCT SPECIALIST

266.

ZHENG, YANGWEN Chinese

PRODUCT SPECIALIST

PRIME GREAT COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES INC. 3/f To 8/f, Nissan Sucat Zentrum Building 8390 Dr. A Santos Avenue Bf Homes Parañaque City

TELEPHILIPPINES INCORPORATED Alphaland Southgate Tower 2258 Chino Roces Magallanes Makati City GREEN, ANGELA NICOLE American

VONG THE KIET Vietnamese

VICE PRESIDENT, CLIENT SERVICES

FOREIGN CUSTOMER SERVICE

TNC CHEMICALS PHILS., INCORPORATED U-15 C Petron Megaplaza Bldg. 358 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Bel-air Makati City 312.

WU, JEFFREY TSUNGLEE American

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

TRIVES TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION Tower 4 Bayport West Naia Garden Residence, Naia Road Tambo Parañaque City AN, HUAJIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

314.

CHEN, SHUQUAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

315.

CHEN, HAIPING Chinese

316.

313.

366.

LING, HONGSHUN Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

367.

HUANG, GUANGDA Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

VPC CORPORATE SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 11/f 100 West, Sen Gil Puyat Ave. Cor. Washington St. Pio Del Pilar Makati City 368.

ZHANG, YALAN Chinese

BILINGUAL MARKETING SPECIALIST

WESERV SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. 11f Net 2 Square 3rd Ave. Crescent Park West Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio Taguig City 369.

AGBOKOU, KOSSI MAWUNYO Togolese

HR ADMINISTRATOR

WISHLAND SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY INC. 28/f Techzone Condo Corp. 213 Buendia Ave. San Antonio Makati City 370.

CATHERINE LIM CING SING Malaysian

CHINESE LANGUAGE CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

371.

SHERINE LIM CING YI Malaysian

CHINESE LANGUAGE CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

CHENG, QIUPING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

372.

CHINESE LANGUAGECUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

317.

DAI, JIARONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

ROYSTAN REGIS RONALD Malaysian

373.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

INDONESIAN LANGUAGE CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

318.

GUO, JIANHUI Chinese

ARIANI RICHTER Indonesian

374.

FARLAND HENSKY SHEROL LIOGU Indonesian

INDONESIAN LANGUAGE CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

375.

FEREDI Indonesian

INDONESIAN LANGUAGE CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

267.

SHAO, JIE Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

319.

GUO, JINHE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

268.

WU, HONGJIE Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

320.

HONG, CHANYI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

269.

ZHAO, YUANYUAN Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

321.

HU, WENKE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

376.

RAHEL DIKA PUSPITA CHRISTIAN Indonesian

INDONESIAN LANGUAGE CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

SHI, WEICAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

270.

ZHOU, HE Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

322.

HUANG, WENYI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

377.

ANTHON Indonesian

INDONESIAN LANGUAGECUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

210.

SONG, JIANFEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

323.

LEI, QI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

378.

RAYMOND ROY Indonesian

INDONESIAN LANGUAGECUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

211.

SONG, TIANHUI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

S DIVISION HOLDINGS INC. U-gf A & 2-cd Seibu Tower 24th St. Cor. 6th Ave. Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

324.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

379.

PINTAKAM, PATIKOM Thai

THAI LANGUAGE - CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

212.

SONG, JIJUN Chinese

LI, HUI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

325.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

380.

SU, YIMEI Chinese

LI, JIANGYI Chinese

HO LAM MY CHAU Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE LANGUAGE CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

213.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

SA RIVENDELL GLOBAL SUPPORT, INC. 5th & 7th Flr. Star Cruises Ce Andrews Drive Newport City Brgy. 183 Pasay City

TANG, DAIJUN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

272.

LI, CHENGLONG Chinese

214.

CHE, JINWEI Chinese

326.

TANG, PING Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

273.

LI, YANGJUN Chinese

215.

CHEN, ZHOU Chinese

327.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

274.

CHO CHO LWIN Myanmari

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

328.

216.

TENG, ZHICHONG Chinese

LI, NANYAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

TIAN, ZHIDE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

275.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

276.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

LIANG, YONGFENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

277.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

LIANG, JIALONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

220.

WANG, QINGCHAO Chinese

HAN, YUXIN Chinese

331.

219.

WANG, KE Chinese

DUAN, TIAN Chinese

330.

218.

TIAN, ZHONGXIN Chinese

DONI SANTOSO Indonesian

329.

217.

LI, JIACHENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

278.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

LIAO, JIELU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

221.

WANG, SHENGHUI Chinese

HENDY DAPIDSON Indonesian

332.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

333.

279.

222.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

WANG, DENGWEN Chinese

HUANG, PING Chinese

LIN, PEIQUAN Chinese

280.

LIN, CHUNXIA Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

223.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

334.

WANG, HUATONG Chinese

KYAW ZAW HTET Myanmari

281.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

224.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

LIN, YIN Chinese

WANG, YUNLONG Chinese

LI, ZONGYUAN Chinese

335.

282.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

225.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

LIU, KE Chinese

WANG, ZHIXIN Chinese

LI, JIAQIANG Chinese

336.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

WANG, CHUANLIN Chinese

283.

LIU, SHAN Chinese

226.

LI, LE Chinese

337.

338.

WU, GUANGYU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

284.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

227.

MAY THAZIN Myanmari

LIU, LI Chinese

339.

LIU, DEQIANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

228.

WU, HONGCHENG Chinese

285.

MEE MEE TUN Myanmari

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

340.

LUO, CHEN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

271.

MIZUSHIMA, NORIKO Japanese

DIRECTOR OF CLIENT RELATIONS AND OPERATIONS

*Date Generated: Feb 16, 2021 In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on August 6, 2020, the name of ZUO, ZHEN under 8 STONE BUSINESS OUTSOURCING OPC, should have been read as ZOU, ZHEN and not as published.

In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on December 11, 2020, the name of CHENG, JIANGYU under 8 STONE BUSINESS OUTSOURCING OPC, should have been read as CHEN, JIANGYU and not as published.

In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on January 16, 2021, the company address of LIN, NANHUNG under WANFANG TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT, INC, should have been read as U-3501/02 35/F PBCOM TOWER, COR. AYALA AVE. & V.A. RUFINO ST., BEL-AIR, MAKATI CITY and not as published.

In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on January 21, 2021, the name of HO VING CUONG under NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION, should have been read as HO VINH CUONG 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 DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication.

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

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

A8 Wednesday, February 17, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Helping the pillars of PHL food security

E

ven before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, food prices have been rising steadily. The continuous growth of the world’s population and shrinking natural resources are major factors behind the spikes in commodity prices. Putting more pressure on prices is the emergence of animal diseases and climate change, which could drastically reduce food stocks.

These issues should be top of mind for participants to the third food summit, which will be held in April (See, “Govt, private sector to tackle agri issues in April,” in the BusinessMirror, February 15, 2021).

The National Food Security Summit (NFSS) tentatively set on April 7 to 8 was organized following the recent spikes in the prices of certain food items, including pork, which caused the inflation rate in January to breach the 2-4 percent target of the national government. The government, the private sector, and experts from the academe hope to address the current supply food problem as well as improve agricultural productivity and farmers’ income.

The government is banking on the NFSS to generate “novel ideas” that will boost food supply given the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic as well as animal diseases, such as African swine fever (ASF) and avian influenza. The Philippines, according to officials, need a new game plan to expand the access of all Filipinos to affordable food and achieve food security, as nearly half of the country’s population is experiencing hunger. For a country that has a large number of young people, ensuring their access to food is crucial to reaping the so-called demographic dividend, or the economic growth experienced by a country as a result of the change in its population structure.

As stakeholders search for new strategies, government must continue implementing reforms to address age-old problems that have plagued the agriculture sector. For one, the proposed National Land Use Act, which could prevent the conversion of lands for housing needs, has been languishing in Congress for three decades. This despite the fact that it is one of the priority bills of the Duterte administration.

The lack of crucial farm infrastructure is also a major stumbling block to improving farmers’ productivity (See, “PHL agri infra backlog pegged at P535 billion,” in the BusinessMirror, January 21, 2020). Warehouses and cold-storage facilities will enable farmers to minimize postharvest losses while farm-to-market roads and bridges will allow producers to deliver goods faster. The country’s farm infrastructure backlog was estimated at more than half a trillion pesos and this needs serious attention if the government is to achieve its goal of expanding people’s access to affordable food.

An official of the Department of Agriculture had estimated the socalled farm infrastructure backlog at P535 billion. About P330 billion is needed to build more warehouses, P100 billion for the construction of more rural roads and another P100 billion for cold-storage facilities, which will benefit fishermen. While the pandemic has made it imperative for government to channel resources to initiatives that will stop the spread of Covid-19, it must also find a way to allocate funds for these roads and facilities that are crucial to achieving food security.

Given all these challenges, we hope that the National Food Security Summit in April will craft a national food security plan that would boost food production and benefit the country’s farmers and fisherfolk—the pillars of the country’s food security. It’s about time we do something to help our food producers earn more and get them out of poverty. This is the best way to fight hunger in our country.

Since 2005

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business ✝ Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Founder Publisher Editor in Chief Associate Editor News Editor

T. Anthony C. Cabangon Lourdes M. Fernandez Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug

Senior Editors

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

Online Editor

Ruben M. Cruz Jr.

Creative Director Chief Photographer Chairman of the Board Ombudsman President Advertising Sales Manager Group Circulation Manager

Eduardo A. Davad Nonilon G. Reyes D. Edgard A. Cabangon Judge Pedro T. Santiago (Ret.) Benjamin V. Ramos Aldwin Maralit Tolosa Rolando M. Manangan

BusinessMirror is published daily by the Philippine Business Daily Mirror Publishing, Inc., with offices on the 3rd floor of Dominga Building III 2113 Chino Roces Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Makati City, Philippines.

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Printed by brown madonna Press, Inc.–Sun Valley Drive KM-15, South Superhighway, Parañaque, Metro Manila MEMBER OF

SSS services at your fingertips Aurora C. Ignacio

All About Social Security

T

wo years ago, I was one of the principal sponsors at the wedding of a daughter of a good friend. After years of trying for a child with her husband, my goddaughter finally saw those two red lines in the pregnancy test. Given the current pandemic, she reached out to me, worried about how she will notify the Social Security System (SSS) of her pregnancy without being exposed to Covid-19.

It has been almost a year now since we have been placed on lockdown to protect ourselves from a deadly virus—and it has brought varying degrees of difficulty for everyone.

As the number of cases continues to rise and the discovery of a new strain that is said to be more infectious, the rest of the society remain at home, particularly if they have no important transaction to do outside.

Government institutions and private corporations had to shift work processes online to continue serving their clients without disrupting service delivery.

It has been our vision at SSS to provide social protection through world-class service. We had to re-

shape the way we think to better serve our members. One of our primary concerns is how do we stay connected while being physically distant? Thankfully, modern technology has provided us a venue to do just that. The SSS mobile app developed three years ago provided a simple, fast, and easy way to serve our members.

We launched the SSS Mobile Application in 2018 to provide members a more convenient way to transact with SSS without the hassle of queuing in our physical branches.

Members can download the app for free through Google Play, Apple App Store, and Huawei AppGallery.

The services available in the SSS

Mobile App are not only limited to inquiries regarding membership information, contribution breakdown, status of benefit claims, salary loan application and outstanding balance, documentary requirements for membership and benefit claims, and location of SSS branches with location map.

The app also allows transactions for salary loan application for employed and individual members, generation of Payment Reference Number and downloading of the PDF file containing the PRN, submission of maternity notification for individual members, and updating of contact information. Employers can also update their contact information and view their profile, as well as post contributions, loan payments, and benefit claim reimbursements.

SSS has been continuously upgrading our mobile app through additional functionalities. In December 2019, SSS partnered with PayMaya to allow individual members to pay their contributions via SSS Mobile App. A year after, SSS added the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) as a collection partner to allow individual members to pay contributions via the app. We also re-enabled the submission of salary loan application in the mobile app to implement mandatory bank disbursement of loan proceeds.

As a result of these enhancements, the SSS Mobile App ranked first on the Google Play under the productivity category with over 7 million downloads. From 14,412,072 facilitated transactions via the SSS App in 2019, total transactions increased more than four-fold to 74,396,837 in 2020.

As younger generations enter the work force, we know it is imperative to embrace automation and digital transformation.

At this point, I am encouraging everyone to help us in promoting this service, especially to the older generations, so they can also experience the same level of safety and convenience when using the SSS mobile application.

I remember reading a quote from former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, who said: “The Number 1 benefit of information technology is that it empowers people to do what they want to do. It lets people be creative. It lets people be productive. It lets people learn things they didn’t think they could learn before, and so in a sense it is all about potential.”

Have a fulfilling week ahead!

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.

Vigorous preparation returns as Biden calls other leaders

By Aamer Madhani And Rob Gillies | Associated Press

W

ASHINGTON—A new-old ritual is taking shape in the Biden White House, one that starts with bulky briefing packages, war-gaming the “what-ifs,” and Oval Office discussions about how to talk to this or that particular US ally or adversary.

Twelve times since he took office, President Joe Biden has dialed up a world leader after reinstituting what was a long-held White House standard mothballed by Donald Trump: vigorous preparation. Gone are unnecessary digressions and over-thetop cajoling or haranguing of fellow heads of state.

The changes to telephone diplomacy have been about both style and substance as Biden has sought to send the message to foreign leaders—many embittered by Trump’s habit of berating his counterparts and conflating personal interests with US national security—that Biden is determined to reset the US relationship with the world.

“They’ve come cued in to the idea that they need to manage alliances really well right off the bat,” said Matthew Goodman, who served on the White House National Security Council staff during the Barack Obama and George W. Bush administrations. “It’s a central organizing principle as they look to turn the page

on Trump and get alliances back on track. The preparation for calls is part of that.”

Biden’s foreign policy will ultimately be judged on results more than form or preparation. But his approach so far is a marked change from Trump, who seemed to have better rapport with autocrats like Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un than with many historic US allies. The former president frequently strayed far from telephone talking points and advice his aides provided for his dialogue with world leaders.

Leaked conversation transcripts showed that days into his administration, Trump disposed with diplomatic niceties and hectored Mexico’s President Enrique Peña Nieto against publicly saying that Mexico would never pay for a southern border wall, a signature call of the president’s 2016 campaign. Trump also complained to Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull that he was forcing Trump to endure the most “un-

pleasant call” and was “worse than I am” for detaining refugees on small islands off Australia.

Most notably, the Republican president’s 2019 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy led to Trump’s impeachment after it was revealed that Trump had asked him to “do us a favor” and investigate Biden and his son Hunter’s activity in the country.

As was the practice with past administrations, Biden advisers are typically preparing the president ahead of calls with a package of written background information, including summaries of recent developments in the country, a recap of previous interactions with the leader, talking points on issues to highlight, as well as “if asked” notes to help shape the president’s response to hot-button issues that his counterpart might raise.

Trump aides realized early on that the president had little patience for briefing material or talking points.

At first, they offered him a six-page pre-brief with attachments ahead of calls, but that proved to be too long. So they did a one-page version.

Trump later was given note cards that typically contained just three talking points.

“Sweating the details on every single word in a memo didn’t mat-

ter, because communicating the right message on behalf of the United States didn’t matter to the president,” said Frances Brown, who served as a senior adviser on the National Security Council in the Trump and Obama administrations. “For an NSC staffer, it invited a bit of an existential crisis.”

Last week, Biden dialed up China’s Xi Jinping for a two-hour conversation in which he raised concerns about human rights abuses and unfair trade practices. Earlier, in a call with Putin, Biden condemned the jailing of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and pressed Putin on his nation’s involvement in a vast cyberespionage campaign in the US. Ahead of both calls, senior Biden administration officials previewed for reporters what the president planned to say, a step meant to help head off potential efforts by Beijing and Moscow to control public messaging about the conversations.

Biden’s first leader call as president went to Canada’s Justin Trudeau, the prime minister whom Trump once disparaged as “very dishonest and weak.”

For Biden, the chat with Trudeau was part tough conversation and part easy banter. Biden explained his decision to halt construction on the Keystone XL oil pipeline, a CanadaSee “Vigorous,” A9

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Two Moon and SOHO cigarettes: For export or the local market?

Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza

MAKE SENSE

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here is an ongoing case before the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) regarding the seizure of 238,300 cigarette packs carrying the brands Two Moon and SOHO and allegedly bearing no tax stamps to prove excise tax payment, which is in violation of Republic Act 10351 and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Regulations 7-2014 and 9-2015.

A report published by the BusinessMirror said the manufacturer of the confiscated cigarettes GB-BEM and its affiliate GB Global claimed the seized cigarettes were for exports, although authorities noted that the packs did not bear the required destination country, the name and address of the manufacturer, and the BIR assessment number of the manufacturer and exporter.

Because of such violations, the BIR also ordered the seizure of three cigarette-making lines and two cigarette-packing lines of GB GLOBAL, which, according to news reports, listed the names of Greg Lim and Benson Chua as the biggest shareholders and directors in the Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

The CTA, on October 27, 2020, granted GB’s request for an injunction and ordered the return of all those seized in the raid, including suspected fake cigarettes supposedly for export. This is now being challenged by the BIR. In my radio program with former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile dubbed “Dito sa Bayan ni Juan” aired over DZAR every Saturday, we’ve been getting a lot of queries and concerns from our listeners about this issue involving GB Global and the BIR. Some listeners ask obvious questions, like: Are these SOHO and Two Moon-branded cigarettes really for the export market? If, for instance, the intention of GB Global is to export the Two Moon-branded cigarettes to Thailand, how come there

Vigorous. . .

continued from A8

to-US project that Trudeau supports.

Biden also reminisced about his late first wife’s family ties to Toronto and his own 2016 visit to Ottawa when Trudeau honored him with a state dinner.

The two leaders discussed the coronavirus pandemic, the economy and two Canadians imprisoned in China in apparent retaliation for Canada’s arrest of a top Huawei executive, according to Canadian officials.

One senior Canadian official familiar with the call said Biden appeared well prepared for the halfhour conversation and noted that it went longer than any call the prime minister had with Trump.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who spent years flattering and courting Trump, said in an interview Sunday with CBS on “Face the Nation” that his conversation with Biden was “fantastic” and they had talked about issues like climate change, NATO, Iran and more.

The White House notably published an official photo of Biden meeting in the Oval Office with national security adviser Jake Sullivan and NSC senior director of European affairs Amanda Sloat as he prepared for his recent call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

James Carafano, a national security analyst at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said Biden with his first round of calls has been primarily concerned with sending the message that he’s turned the page on Trump.

But Carafano argues that the new

are packs that do not comply with the Thai Plain Packaging law? Why is it also that the characters printed on these Two Moon packs have no relevant meaning in Thai?

Concerns related to smuggling were also raised, like: If the cigarettes being manufactured by GB Global would suddenly end up in the Philippine market, isn’t this a form of smuggling also? This was asked after it was reported that Two Moon cigarettes with Thai Graphic Health Warning were being sold in Nueva Ecija, Bataan, and Zambales.

Some queries relate to fiscal matters, like: If your productions are for export, you don’t need to locate inside a special economic zone to get VAT and excise tax exemptions.

So why does GB Global need to set up operations at Angeles Industrial Park in Pampanga? Are there Bureau of Customs personnel guarding the gates of the Angeles Industrial Park to make sure the SOHO and Two Moon cigarettes will not be sold locally?

I’m sure these questions and concerns will be ventilated in the CTA hearings. In the meantime, should you find Two Moon and SOHO cigarettes being sold locally, report to authorities immediately so you can help President Duterte in his campaign against smuggling and tax cheats.

Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza is the chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries and Fight Illicit Trade; a broad-based, multisectoral movement intended to protect consumers, safeguard government revenues and shield legitimate industries from the ill effects of smuggling.

president has largely avoided detailing what that means in substance for US foreign policy.

“He hasn’t really gone beyond we’re going to work with friends and allies theme,” Carafano said.

Biden made clear his desire to return to diplomacy after Trump withdrew from the Obama-backed international nuclear deal with Iran.

Around the globe, considerable attention also is being paid to which countries haven’t made it onto Biden’s call list yet.

The new president has yet to speak with Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had a close relationship with Trump even as the US and Turkey were at odds over a number of issues, including Syria policy and Turkey’s decision to purchase Russia’s advanced anti-aircraft missile systems. The latter prompted Washington to expel Turkey from its F-35 stealth fighter program.

Biden on the campaign trail called Erdogan an autocrat, and as vice president was forced to offer an official apology in 2014 after suggesting Turkey played a role in the rise of the Islamic State group.

Israel’s former ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, on Wednesday tweeted a list of 10 countries that he said had received calls from Biden. “Might it now be time to call the leader of #Israel, the closest ally of the #US?” Danon posted.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said nothing should be read into the lack of a call so far. “It is not an intentional diss,” she said, and promised that a call to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was coming.

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 A9

Stepping forward with Spiritual Intelligence Dr. Carl E. Balita

Entrepreneurs’ Footprints

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risis calls us to act beyond the usual. This pandemic experience sets an unprecedented crisis that makes us reinvent ourselves. This is where the opportunities in crisis are derived. It gives us the opportunity to engage all that we’ve got to survive and thrive. All our intelligences need to be tapped to generate our best coping and growth—and this refers to the collective intelligence of the heart, the mind and the spirit. And the ultimate intelligence and the most fundamental that works in these trying times is our Spiritual Intelligence (SQ). The SQ is what will make us step forward toward who we really are—as individuals and as humanity. With SQ, we should be able to answer the question “what does it take to be human” amid and beyond the pandemic?

This pandemic may move us to re-boot our individual moral compass toward a better and different world. The quarantine enables us to have moments alone reflecting with our conscience and listening to that innate inner voice which all along knows the right things to do.

SQ can make us more purposeful, meaningful and responsible, regardless of our religion.

Defining Spiritual Intelligence

The rational and material intelligence, based on “what I think” is measured by the Intelligence Quotient. IQ discovery in early 20th century led to the measurements of left-brain linked rational, logical, problem solving skills. The emotional or social intelligence, anchored on “what I feel” is measured by Emotional Quotient. EQ in the mid 80’s asserts the right-brain linked power of emotions as source of human energy, information, connection and influence for personal, emotional and social abilities. Adversity Quotient was also introduced in 1997, a complementary framework that tells us how well one withstands adversity and the ability to surmount it and predicts who gives up and who prevails. The past columns of this writer featured these.

The Spiritual Intelligence which

foundation is on “what I am” and is measured by the Spirituality Quotient (SQ). It was attributed to Dana Zohar and Ian Marshall in a pioneering book “SQ Connecting with our Spiritual Intelligence.”

Spiritual intelligence is regarded as the ultimate intelligence and is the ability to access higher meanings, values, abiding purposes, and unconscious aspects of the self and to embed these meanings, values, and purposes in living richer and more creative lives. SQ is a transformative intelligence that allows us to break old paradigm and to invent new ones, to reframe problems and situations, to dissolve old patterns, to be open to finding new ones and to access energies that come from something beyond the ego, beyond just me and my day-to-day concerns.

The Twelve Applied Principles of SQ

Zohar asserts the twelve principles of SQ. In this article, these principles are translated into action agenda amid the pandemic toward the golden opportunity for us to apply as individuals toward recapturing the values that, together, humanity can do it.

We have to be attuned with the deepest values that we live for and for which we are willing to die for. It

is anchored on the self-awareness, which core is on who we are and which radiates on how we give this life forward to others as a gift to the God within us.

There is just too much of selfcentered pursuit without realizing that we swim and sink together in this pandemic battle. Living a vision and value-led life commits to excellence seeking for the best that one can give as a service not to self but for others.

Compassion is “to feel with” where yours is perceived and experienced as mine. Be it suffering or poverty, one need not pity but genuinely empathize to care for the poor because fact is I am also poor.

Humanity is trapped by the illusions of the past comforts and the anxieties of the future such that the present here-and-now is neglected and given less value. We tend to solve the new problem with old solutions, or with the same old solutions that led to the present problem, which is plain stupid. AQ calls it spontaneity and makes us drop the baggage and focuses to live, now!

As Humans are the most arrogant species in the planet entitled to consume it as if everything is for us, humility dictates that we are just part of and is connected to a big whole.

Listening to the voice within enables us to listen to each other with openness that your point of view is as valid and probably right and as invalid and probably wrong as someone else’s point of view.

The chaos brought about by our pandemic response challenges our ability to stand in the middle of, or even against, the crowd. It puts us in the room to be different and who has no obligation to just go along. Combined with humility, this principle enables us to make that difference.

Quantum physics, which is the expertise of Zohar, theorize that there is no such thing as separation, and therefore the world is an unbroken whole. Holism makes us realize that we are all part of the whole in a vast interconnected field, we become more cognizant of the implications of what we do in the lives of others

within our circles and even in the universe.

Celebration of diversity enables us to appreciate the beauty of and the potential development derived from a different point of view. It adds up to our expanding awareness of ourselves in the bigger context of life.

The volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world should make us ask infinite questions toward a finite answer. We should be able to ask, the deep fundamental question, why? This principle of SQ incites the better VUCA as vision, understanding, clarity and agility, which are what we need to move forward.

We need to positively use adversity and regard suffering as a means to grow. This is possible when we stand up not as victims, and as we convert setbacks as time-out moments to discover new ways.

The reset brought about by the pandemic in almost all aspects of our lives gives perfect timing for what SQ refers to as reframing—a change in paradigm. Business may want to see itself as generators of employment and wealth not for the narrow short-term mindset of profit but for the products, services and solutions for the betterment of society and humanity.

The sense of vocation gives greater meaning to what we do as we are convinced that we are all called to do something. With sense of vocation, we get more engaged to excellence in everything that we do because they matter.

The SQ’s challenge to achieve the personal consciousness of who we are, why we are here and what we can do, individually and collectively in a vast system adopting our temporal life in this universe, make us more alive inside as we continue to make footprints forward to become better persons contributing to the better future of a better humanity for a better universe, under one sacred supreme Being within and around us.

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

Covid-19 shots might be tweaked if variants get worse

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By Lauran Neergaard | AP Medical Writer

he makers of Covid-19 vaccines are figuring out how to tweak their recipes against worrisome virus mutations—and regulators are looking to flu as a blueprint if and when the shots need an update.

“It’s not really something you can sort of flip a switch, do overnight,” cautioned Richard Webby, who directs a World Health Organization flu center from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Viruses mutate constantly and it takes just the right combination of particular mutations to escape vaccination. But studies are raising concern that first-generation Covid-19 vaccines don’t work as well against a mutant that first emerged in South Africa as they do against other versions circulating around the world.

The good news: Many of the new Covid-19 vaccines are made with new, flexible technology that’s easy to upgrade. What’s harder: Deciding if the virus has mutated enough that it’s time to modify vaccines—and what changes to make.

“When do you pull the trigger?” asked Norman Baylor, a former Food and Drug Administration vaccine chief. “This is a moving target right now.”

Flu offers a model

The WHO and FDA are looking to the global flu vaccine system in deciding how to handle similar decisions about Covid-19 shots.

Influenza mutates much faster than the coronavirus, and flu shots have to be adjusted just about every year. National centers around the globe collect circulating flu viruses and track how they’re evolving. They send samples to WHO-designated labs for more sophisticated “anti-

genic” testing to determine vaccine strength. The WHO and regulators then agree on the year’s vaccine recipe and manufacturers get to work.

For Covid-19 vaccines, Webby said a critical step is establishing a similar surveillance and testing network to flag the mutations that matter. Today, there’s wide geographic variability in tracking and testing mutated versions. For example, Britain does more testing of the changing viral genome than the US. Three variants first discovered in Britain, South Africa and Brazil are worrisome because of combinations of mutations that make them more contagious.

On Sunday, US researchers reported a still different mutation found in seven variants that have cropped up in several states. No one yet knows if this mutation makes the virus easier to spread but the report, not yet vetted by other scientists, urges further research to find out.

How covid-19 shots are holding up

Just because a variant is more contagious doesn’t mean it also will be impervious to vaccination. But the variant first identified in South Africa is raising concerns. Columbia University’s David Ho put blood samples from people given the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines into lab dishes with the mutated virus. Vaccine-produced antibodies still protected, but they were much less potent.

Preliminary test results of two other vaccine candidates—from

Novavax and Johnson & Johnson— soon backed up those findings. Both still protected but were weaker when tested in South Africa, where that variant dominates, than when tested elsewhere. A far smaller test of the AstraZeneca vaccine in South Africa has raised questions about its effect.

“If the virus were able to make an additional mutation or two, it could escape even more,” Ho warned.

The real red flag

If fully immunized people start getting hospitalized with mutated virus, “that’s when the line gets crossed,” said Dr. Paul Offit, a Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia vaccine expert who advises the FDA. That hasn’t happened yet, but “we should get ready,” he added.

Moderna is about to explore one option: Could a third dose of the original vaccine boost immunity enough to fend off some variants even if it’s not an exact match?

Columbia’s Ho said it’s a good idea to test because people may “still have plenty of cushion” if their overall antibody levels are very high.

Adjusting the recipes

Major manufacturers also are developing experimental variant vaccines, just in case.

Covid-19 vaccines produce antibodies that recognize the spike protein that coats the coronavirus.

When the virus mutates, sometimes the spike protein is changed in key areas so the vaccine-produced antibodies have a harder time recognizing it.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are made with a piece of genetic code called messenger RNA that tells the body how to make some harmless copies of the spike protein that train immune cells. To update the vaccine,

they can simply change the payload: swap out the original genetic code with mRNA for the mutated spike protein.

The AstraZeneca vaccine and the Johnson & Johnson shot expected to roll out soon are made with cold viruses engineered to sneak a spike protein gene into the body. Adjusting their vaccines requires growing cold viruses with the mutated gene, a little more complex than the mRNA approach but not nearly as laborious as reformulating old-fashioned flu shots.

The Novavax vaccine also in final-stage testing is made with a lab-grown copy of the spike protein that also could be tweaked to match mutations.

Testing vaccines 2.0

First-generation Covid-19 vaccines were tested in tens of thousands of people to be sure they work and are safe—research that took many months.

Simply changing the recipe to better target virus mutations won’t require repeating those studies in thousands of people, Dr. Peter Marks, the FDA’s vaccine chief, recently told the American Medical Association.

FDA still is finalizing requirements, but Marks said the agency intends to “be pretty nimble.” If an updated vaccine is needed, tests in a few hundred people likely would be enough to tell if it triggers a good immune response, he said.

But an even bigger question: If only some places face vaccine-resistant virus mutants, would authorities want variant-only shots or vaccines that protect against two kinds in one jab? After all, flu vaccines protect against three or four different types in one shot.

A10 Wednesday, February 17, 2021

U.S. TRADE AGENCY GIVES BIR DIGITIZATION P39-M GRANT

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

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@BNicolasB

HE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)’s digital transformation to boost revenue collection would get $809,450 (about P38.85 million) from the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).

This after Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III and Chargé d’ Affaires John Law of the US Embassy in Manila (on behalf of the USTDA) signed the grant agreement last Tuesday. A statement said the grant is expected to provide the “much-needed financing” for BIR’s“Information Communication Technology Modernization Strategy and Data Center.”

The signing of the agreement comes as the government is hoping to raise more revenues this year to cover the expected higher budget deficit at P1.78 trillion or 8.9 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). State revenues were down last year after the GDP posted two consecutive quarters of contraction.

The BIR managed to surpass its adjusted collection target by taking advantage of digital reforms, according to Dominguez.

“Now more than ever, we need more revenues to fund not only our Covid-19 response, but also our economic recovery program,” Dominguez said in his speech during the signing ceremony that was held at the Department of Finance office in Manila.

“A highly efficient revenue collection system, therefore, is critical to help us recover strongly from this pandemic and build back the best possible future for our people,” he added.

In 2020, the finance chief said 85 percent or P1.66 trillion of the total collections of the BIR was coursed through electronic channels, which was 44-percent higher than in 2015.

Moreover, Dominguez said “almost 100 percent” of the tax returns filed was done online last year.

“These figures are projected to dramatically increase in the coming years as the BIR accelerates its digital transformation,” he said.

For his part, Law said he is “confident that this USTDA grant will lead to “further efficiencies, improved performance, increased security, reduced costs and greater transparency—all of which are not only vital to the BIR’s tax administration duties, but are extraordinarily important in further strengthening the confidence of the public in its government institutions.”

“This partnership for us illustrates our continued close collaboration on economic development and transparency, including, of course Philippine digital infrastructure modernization,”Law said. “The United States is proud and honored to be one of your partners in this effort.”

The US grant aims to assist the BIR in undertaking an in-depth technical assessment of its current ICT environment, developing an Enterprise Architecture roadmap/framework, and assessing the organizational framework of its Information System Group (ISG), including recommended restructuring and training programs.

For 2021, BIR and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) are targeting to collect a total of P2.698 trillion, higher by 23.2 percent from the P2.19 trillion downscaled target in 2020.

The BIR and BOC are tasked to collect P2.081 trillion and P616.7 billion this year, respectively. Last year, BIR collected P1.94 trillion, exceeding its P1.685 trillion downgraded target while the Bureau of Customs’ revenuetake stood at P539.7 billion, which was also above its adjusted goal of P506.2 billion.

DA, PCA flag subtle threat to PHL coco oil in Senate bills

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By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) opposed a provision of a Senate bill aimed at eliminating trans fatty acids (TFA) in the market as it may hurt the country’s prized coconut oil (CNO).

DA and PCA officials as well as coconut industry experts expressed apprehensions over a certain provision of Senate Bills 1916 and 1954 which they pointed out could discourage consumption of CNO. The two Senate bills seek to “protect Filipinos from the harmful effects of trans fatty acid and for other purposes.”

The proposed legislation aims to prohibit the manufacture, importation, distribution and sale of partially hydrogenated oils (PHO), and oils and fats with high TFA content, which increase the risk of death from any cause, particularly coronary heart diseases.

SB 1916 was filed by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay while SB

1954 was filed by Senator Francis N. Pangilinan.

The concerned government officials and stakeholders, in opposing the bill, zeroed in on the bill’s definition of “healthy alternative oils, fats and oilseeds.”

The two bills define the healthy alternatives to TFAs as “oil, fats and oilseeds rich in polyunsaturated fatty-acids or monounsaturated fatty-acids and with low levels of saturated fatty-acids. (SFA).”

The definition did not make any direct mention of CNO but PCA Administrator Benjamin Madrigal, Agriculture Undersecretary Evelyn G. Laviña and Dr. Fabian M. Dayrit pointed out that it subtly impacts CNO, which is high in SFA.

“We like to manifest our serious concern as there seems to be an erroneous enumeration of healthy alternative oils when the bills state that the same consists of those with low levels of saturated fatty acids,” Madrigal said.

Madrigal said their agency recommends that lawmakers “remove the phrase ‘with low levels of saturated fatty acids’ since the presence of saturated fatty acids do not equate to presence of TFA since these are two distinct types of fatty acids.”

Madrigal explained that naturally occurring trans fats, such as coconut oil, are “perfectly safe and healthy for humans, in contrast to industrially produced trans fats.”

Madrigal added that they have already made their manifestations before the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and International Coconut Community regarding their health advisories that could be detrimental to CNO. “We have placed our concerns for them to ensure to have a balance and evidence-based health advisories and reporting to ensure the public of healthy alternatives, and for them to know the risks as well as benefits of consuming products

Senate panel report seeks DOTr MVIS order’s revocation

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ENATORS sought the repeal Tuesday of a Department of Transportation (DOTr) order delegating to private operators the transport department’s motor vehicle inspection system (MVIS).

Sen. Grace Poe, who chairs the Senate Public Services Committee, confirmed that members of the panel moved to revoke DOTr’s Department Order No.2018-19, as well as “all accompanying issuances” delegating the motor vehicle inspection system to private operators.

In Committee Report 184 finding the Transportation department policy “half-baked,” the Senate panel cited “the need for such to go through the normal legislative process inherent in the power of Congress.”

It asserted that “in the meantime, the repeal of DOTr DO (Department Order) 2018-19 and all related issuances is recommended.”

The Poe panel report added: “While fees have been lowered for now and testing seems to have been made optional, the implementation of this flawed program must be stopped definitively pending the resolution of issues hounding it.”

The committee report detailed various concerns that exacerbated motorists’ plight, listing “issues on the legality of the MVIS privatization, lack of consultation and transparency in accreditation, inadequate number of inspection centers in operation, glitches in the system, and overall incompatibility of private motor vehicle inspection systems with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) IT and landscape of motor vehicles in the country, all remain unresolved without decisive action from the department.”

At the same time, it recommended that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee conducts further probe on the “highly anomalous transactions” surrounding the accreditation of Private Motor Ve-

hicle Inspection Centers (PMVICs) and officials involved.

Moreover, Senate probers found that “questionable issuances seem to have created a favorable environment for an oligopoly where only very few players can enter and succeed.”

The panel’s report also cited “inexplicable dark moments during the evaluation process and lack of transparency in the eventual accreditation of winning service providers bear badges of fraud which should be further investigated by the appropriate committee.”

It likewise reminded that older vehicles are also at risk of being unduly rejected under the current system, adding, “The absence of clear definition of roadworthiness, coupled with identified flaws in the inspection standards, almost guarantees that there will be errors in the test results; not only that this might lead to corruption, some also believe that it intends to facilitate the phase out of older vehicles without due process.”

The panel report also stressed that “the policy of ensuring only roadworthy vehicles ply our roads is commendable, however, a halfbaked policy is a bad policy and this committee won’t stand for it.” The lawmakers likewise pointed out that with only 24 PMVICs currently operational out of 458 originally targeted by the LTO, “the unclear non-compulsory status of the MVIS only leads to more confusion for motorists.”

Poe had earlier required the DOTr and LTO to submit the names of the companies and incorporators of the accredited PMVICs. The panel report noted that 12 out of 24 of them do not have enough capitalization to finance an expensive inspection center costing more than P50 million, and eight others registered as sole proprietorships contained no information as to their financial standing. Butch Fernandez

with known SFA,” he said.

CNO is high in SFA, with 64 percent of which being medium-chain triglyceride, a source of energy which has zero cholesterol.

Madrigal said studies have shown that CNO has a wide range of benefits such as lowering bad cholesterol in the body, has anti-obesity properties, is an antioxidant, and has anti-inflammatory and HIV-preventive features, among others.

Immune booster

Furthermore, a joint clinical study by the government has shown that virgin CNO can boost immune systems to combat the Covid-19.

Laviña reinforced Madrigal’s position on the issue and recommended that the definition of healthy alternative in the proposed legislation be changed to a definition that would help promote the use of CNO. Imagine Law project manager Maan Sto. Domingo explained that the definition of healthy alternatives lodged in the two Senate bills was introduced by the World Health Organization (WHO) as part of its REPLACE action package to eliminate industrially-produced TFAs. Continued on A2

Detention period focus of second ATA hearing

By Joel R. San Juan

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@jrsanjuan1573

HE Supreme Court on Monday continued with its oral arguments on the 37 petitions seeking to declare unconstitutional the provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 2020.

Dur ing his inter pel l at ion, Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta cast doubts on the claim of the petitioners that the definition of terrorism under Section 4 is vague, thus, violative of the people’s constitutional rights such as speech and expression.

Peralta also raised the necessity of amending Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code, which gives arresting officers a maximum of 36 hours to file a case against a person arrested and being detained without an arrest warrant.

The petitioners in the ATA case are questioning the constitutionality of Section 25 of the law, among other provisions, for allowing detention of a suspected terrorist without a judicial warrant up to 14 days from the time of detention, which may be extended for 10 days.

They argued that Section 4 of the ATA has expanded the definition of terrorism by removing predicate crimes and instead listed five offenses with vague wordings such as “acts intended to cause extensive interference with critical infrastructure.”

The petitioners maintained that this would make it easy for the government to penalize any form of dissent, putting activists at most risk.

However, Peralta said there are provisions in existing laws that also punish preparatory acts of crime, such as crime of proposal and conspiracy to commit a crime of treason, a crime of proposal and conspiracy to commit a crime of coup d’etat and crime of conspiracy of sedition.

Continued on A2

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Wednesday, February 17, 2021

SEC to public: Steer clear of bogus franchises, bitcoin

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By VG Cabuag

@villygc

he Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday has warned the public against investing in Jams Mart, Solmax Global Limited, Igniter 100, and BitAccelerate, which the agency said were disguised as cryptocurrency trading and franchising.

The groups have not secured the necessary licenses to offer securities for sale within the Philippines, the agency said in its separate public advisories against the said firms.

The SEC also revoked the certificate of incorporation of Chiyuto Creative Wealth Documentation Facilitation Services for operating an unauthorized investment program resembling a Ponzi scheme.

In its order of revocation issued on February 15, the SEC Enforcement and Investor Protection Department also imposed penalties totaling P9 million against Chiyuto and its single stockholder Patrocenio Calvez Chiyuto Jr. for administrative violations ofthe Securities Regulation Code.

Chiyuto was permanently disqualified from being a director of other corporations.

The EIPD issued the order after finding that Chiyuto has been offering and selling securities to the public through a double-your-money roulette game without the necessary license.

Jams Mart, meanwhile, is not registered with the SEC either as a corporation or as a partnership.

The group, which is headed by a certain Niño Luis A. Jamili, has been offering investments to the public through its franchise invest-

ment program, where investors are promised a return of up to 300 percent within one year.

Under the scheme, an investor may co-own a Jams Mart outlet with an investment of at least P75,000, in exchange for 5 percent of shares.

Every 5-percent share allocation guarantees a monthly 7-percent interest or P5,250, monthly sale shares of P4,750 and a fixed dividend of P4,750, for a total annual return of P225,000. Availing of the 100-percent franchising agreement for P1.5 million would entitle an investor to a 10-percent monthly interest and a 15-percent share in its monthly earnings, totaling a return of 300 percent for an entire year.

Solmax Global and Igniter 100, meanwhile, have been enticing the public to invest in its initial coin offering (ICO) through its Filipino Independent Marketing Partners.

Solmax and Igniter claim that they are based in London and are operated by Florian Krueger, Serge Meulenbelt, Abdul Rehman Sandhu, Steven Lubka, Thelma Dhlovu, Aarron Bates and Asim Mirza.

The SEC identified its local partners as Anna Lisa, Diane Sawali, Roberto Dulin, Aizel Alana, Ehmerson Ilagan, Jennifer Plata, Meri Reyes, Elphed Reyes Stephen

Carreon, Renmar Sombilon, Jemar Tarsita, Melchor Parojinog, Reynald Atillo, Fatima Atillo, Marilou Van Meeteren, Michelle Canay, Robinson Diaz, Ferzael Ebueng, Susan Borja Ramos and Jimbert Aton.

The groups’ ICO involves their cryptocurrency called “Equity Token” or “i100” valued at 0.38 pounds per token/share as of November 2020, with expectations that the price would increase once listed in the open market this year.

The investment packages range from £25 to £5,000, with a total guaranteed passive income of 1 percent per day for a total of 200 percent for 200 days. The investor could increase their returns to 2 percent per day for 100 days if they could recruit at least three more into the scheme.

The investor has the option to lock in their investment for a year in exchange for a bigger income, depending on the corresponding number of Equity Tokens or i100 shares derived from their chosen package. Based on a projected value of £6 to £8 per share once the tokens are listed, investing in Solmax and Igniter could allegedly generate returns of 1,500 percent.

The two firms also provide other income opportunities for investors, such as ranking bonuses, referral commissions, binary bonuses, matching bonuses, global pool bonuses, as well as car, travel, gadget incentives, among others.

Ponzi scheme

The SEC warned that Solmax and Igniter, despite claiming legitimacy abroad, may be operating a Ponzi scheme, wherein early-stage investors are likely to be paid out from investments of new investors instead of from the sale of legitimate products or services.

Both entities have not secured a license from the SEC to conduct its ICO within the Philippines. They are also not included among the registered banks, exchanges, or compa-

More motorists going cashless–SMC

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

D

IVERSIFIED conglomerate San Miguel Corp.

(SMC) said on Tuesday cashless transactions on its toll roads now account for 85 percent of its total toll transactions.

This penetration rate, according to SMC President Ramon S. Ang, is a welcome development, as motorists now favor RFID payments over cash, despite the availability of a few cash-based toll booths.

“Since December, and even through January and February, there has been a big improvement in traffic throughput at almost all our toll plazas, as majority of motorists have followed government’s safety protocol of using electronic toll collection.

We’re no longer seeing the kind of lines we used to have when majority of motorists were using cash payments,” he said.

SMC operates the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (Star), South Luzon Expressway (Slex), the Skyway System, Naia Expressway, and the Tarlac-

Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (Tplex).

“So apart from minimizing the risk of spreading Covid-19, especially now that there are new variants, the cashless system is also providing more convenience and ease of travel for motorists, especially now that more people are coming back to work and the economy is reopening gradually. This is definitely a big benefit to motorists,” Ang said.

While the government mandated the full shift to cashless toll transactions, it also gave more breathing room for motorists who have yet to avail of RFID stickers.

However, Ang said that at major toll plazas such as the Calamba toll gate, where there are still a large volume of motorists using cash, traffic congestion continues to be a regular occurrence in the area, as the buildup of cash motorists tend to block RFID users.

There are also incidences of RFID tags with insufficient balances, which causes traffic build ups at toll plazas.

The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) plans to

implement a three-strike rule for erring motorists that cause congestion due to insufficient balances.

Under the proposed three-strike policy, erring motorists will receive a reminder to load for the first offense, a warning for the second offense, and apprehension and pre-Covid penalties for those who commit the offense for the third time.

Ang said that the company will comply with TRB’s new policy as its system is able to monitor repeat offenders.

“We will continue to work to make necessary adjustments and improvements to support government initiatives and ensure that motorists will have better, safer journeys on our expressways,” Ang said. Ang said the company will comply with TRB’s new policy as its system is able to monitor repeat offenders. He also assured existing RFID users even more convenience in reloading and monitoring their Autosweep accounts.

Motorists can either top up or reload at any of the Autosweep Point-of-Sales, SMC Toll Gates, and accredited Merchant Reloading partners across the whole Luzon area.

Govt home lender net income drops by 9%

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

T

he Home Development Mutual Fund (PagIBIG Fund) saw its net income falling by 9 percent in 2020 from a record-high figure it posted in 2019 as a 91-day lockdown measure dampened housing loan takeouts.

Based on its unaudited financial statement, Pag-IBIG Fund’s net income slid to P31.18 billion last year from P34.37 billion in 2019. Total assets grew by 11 percent to 669.82 billion last year from P603.39 billion in 2019.

Pag-Ibig Fund CEO Acmad Rizaldy P. Moti attributed the year-on-year drop in its net income to the lockdowns imposed to contain the spread

of Covid-19 pandemic.

“We lost a total of three months due to the ECQ [Enhanced Community Quarantine] and modified ECQ from March 17 until May 31, then from August 4 to 18,” Moti told the BusinessMirror.

Despite this, Moti said they “did much better than expected” as they exceeded the Boardapproved “recalibrated” 2020 net-income target at P23.97 billion by 30 percent.

Last month, the government’s lender for housing said it was poised to achieve another milestone year in 2020. However, home loan releases declined starting March last year when strict community quarantine measures were imposed.

Pag-IBIG Fund’s home loan releases in 2020 only reached P63.75 billion, plunging by 26.47

percent from a record P86.7 billion in 2019. This was also 36.25-percent below their pre-lockdown target to release P100 billion in home loans by the end of 2020.

Home-loan releases dipped to P3.8 billion in March and P883 million in April; recovering in May when disbursements jumped to P1.2 billion and rose even higher to P2.9 billion in June as government began to ease mobility restrictions. By the end of the third quarter, Pag-Ibig Fund said home-loan releases had already recovered.

For this year, Moti said they are aiming to achieve the Board-approved net income target of P33.67 billion, which is 40.5-percent above the P23.97 billion adjusted target last year.

B1

nies engaged in digital assets with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

BitAccelerate, which also operates under the names itaccelerateproject. com, BA, and BitAccelerator, claims to be operating a crowdfunding international platform that provides investors both long-term active and passive income.

Investors could allegedly generate income from BitAccelerate’s compensation plans, depending on the number of referrals and/or membership fees they have gathered. The investor will then be asked to download the Telegram app, where they could input their investments through the BitAccelerate Bot. Investors could generate up to 350 percent maximum passive income from their investments, or a daily profit of about 2 percent to 8 percent.

BitAccelerate’s so-called smart contract partakes of the nature of securities through an investment contract, where investors need not exert any effort other than to invest or place money for them to earn a profit, according to the SEC. “Cryptocurrencies are very volatile and involve a higher degree of risk, making any promise of lucrative returns truly ambiguous,” the SEC said.

Senators set scrutiny of Duterte govt’s energy transition plan

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

T

he Senate is poised to mount an inquiry to scrutinize the Duterte administration’s energy transition plan in the wake of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) imposition of a ban against new coalpowered plants to fast-track the shift to cleaner energy.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, energy committee chairman, paved the way for the upcoming probe in filing a resolution to look into the DOE’s power supply transition plan.

The Gatchalian Resolution affirmed the importance of the country having a clear energy transition framework to meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement focused on reducing greenhouse gases emissions (GHG) through the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) to reduce the country’s GHG by 70 percent by 2030.

The senator was keen to know “until when will the coal moratorium be?”

Moreover, Gatchalian asked: “How can other technologies fill in the gap left by coal and how do we ensure that power cost will not increase while ensuring continuous supply?”

He noted that “at this point it is uncertain if the moratorium that was issued by the DOE is in the context of a larger energy transition plan and what the higher targets are for renewable energy (RE) and alternative fuels within a specific timeframe.”

Suggesting that “investing in renewable energy is the win-win solution for sustained economic growth in the country,” Gatchalian adds that “we can have cleaner air at a much cheaper price and RE investments can bring in lots of job opportunities especially since many of our kababayans lost their jobs during this pandemic.”

At the same time, the Senator recalled that the Philippines recorded a 5.4-percent jump in total GHG emissions from 123.3 million tons of CO2 equivalent (MtCO2e) in 2018 to 130 million MtCO2e in 2019, adding that as of 2019, the power generator sector has the largest share in total GHG emissions at 53.2 percent followed by the transport sector at 27.3 percent.

He added that the percentage of coal in the power generation mix increased to 54.59 percent in 2019 from 26.6 percent in 2009 while RE’s share in the power generation mix decreased to 20.79 percent in 2019 from 32.6 percent in 2009.

Gatchalian also cited a study done by Fitch Solutions, an American credit rating agency, showing the Philippines is expected to “continue its dependence on coal in the coming years” with coal accounting for 59 percent of the country’s energy mix by 2029.

The Senator stressed the need to “look into the country’s energy transition plan, or lack thereof, in aid of legislation, with the end view of developing and ensuring an equitable, secure and sustainable energy transition.”

B2

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Companies BusinessMirror

Yoshinoya to expand store network via deal with JFC

L

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

ocal fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) on Tuesday said it signed a deal with the local unit of Japan’s Yoshinoya to establish a joint venture that will operate and expand its store network in the Philippines.

The joint venture company with Yoshinoya International Philippines Inc. (YIPI) will now become the franchisee for the Japanese fast food in the Philippines.

Yoshinoya is a recognized Japanese restaurant brand globally, with over 2,000 stores worldwide.

Yoshinoya Philippines is a subsidiary of Asia Yoshinoya International SDN BHD and Yoshinoya Holdings Co. Ltd., the trademark owner of the Yoshinoya System.

It currently operates 3 Yoshinoya stores in the Philippines.

Its joint venture with Jollibee, meanwhile, plans to open 50 stores in the Philippines in the long-term.

“We are very pleased to enter this joint venture with the largest

food service company in the Philippines. Jollibee will certainly have a significant positive impact on Yoshinoya’s business in the country, with its extensive consumer knowledge, operational focus and presence in the Philippines. This partnership presents us a great opportunity to increase the potential growth of Yoshinoya in the Philippines,” Yasutaka Kawamura, president and CEO of Yoshinoya Holdings, said.

“We are truly thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with YIPI and grow the Yoshinoya brand in the Philippines. JFC will benefit from Yoshinoya’s experience and knowhow in Japanese cuisine. The Philippines remains JFC’s most important market and Yoshinoya will be

Commercial fishing given ₧2-B credit line

BusinessMirror file photo

E

xisting and prospective commercial fishing operators can now borrow to buy vessels for domestic or overseas use after staterun Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) Inc. opened a new P2billion credit window.

The LandBank said in a statement last Tuesday it opened its commercial fishing vessel financing program wherein eligible may loan up to 80 percent of the acquisition cost of the fishing equipment.

The fishing equipment may be brand-new, second-hand or refurbished commercial fishing boat and related equipment related to the business activities of the commercial fishing operators, the governmentowned bank added.

LandBank President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo was quoted in the

statement as saying they are looking to cover the requirements for fishing vessels “to assist more fishers in boosting their production and profit and contribute to ensuring food security in the country.”

Borromeo said eligible borrowers include commercial fishing operators from small-scale and medium-scale enterprises, cooperatives and large enterprises.

LandBank added that the loan would have an interest rate of 5 percent per annum for 3 years, subject to re-pricing thereafter, payable up to 10 years. LandBank said commercial fishing vessels are fishing boats, ships or watercrafts with gross tonnage (GT) of 3.1 and up. It added that the vessel to be financed by the loan must be in accordance with Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) standards as supported by a Marina “Certificate of Ship Registry.”

The bank said the boat to be financed should be in seaworthy condition, properly equipped with life-saving, communication, safety and other equipment and operated and maintained in accordance with the standards set by Marina.

Jasper Emmanuel Arcalas

a strong addition to our presence in the country. I am confident that this is the beginning of a long-term and much larger partnership,” Jollibee Chairman Tony Tan Caktiong said.

Jollibee operates the largest food service and restaurant company in the Philippines with 5 wholly-owned brands—Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon and Mang Inasal.

Foreign franchised brands currently being operated by the company in the Philippines include Burger King, with 98 stores; Pho 24 and Panda Express with one store each.

These brands contribute 3.5 percent to the Philippine business’ system-wide sales.

Yoshinoya is the company’s first ever Japanese food chain.

Yoshinoya’s contribution to Jollibee’s system-wide sales will not be significant yet as it has a very limited number of stores, but it has a huge opportunity to increase sales by taking advantage of the strong demand for food delivery, the company said.

Yoshinoya’s food, particularly its signature Gyudon beef bowl, holds

mutual funds

very well for delivery.

Jollibee said it aims to be the leading market developer of foreign restaurant brands in the country. In the long-term, the company said it plans to have close to 400 stores for its foreign franchised brands in the Philippines.

“JFC sees high potential for broad acceptance across the country for these foreign franchised brands as it expects expansion of the upper middle class in the country in the long-term. This will create demand for a wider variety of food products including those from foreign brands,” it said.

“The goal of these foreign franchised brands is to contribute to the sustainable growth of the domestic business by successfully building the brands and growing each brand to be the leader in its market segment. These foreign franchised brands also create benefits such as economies of scale, synergies in organization and supply chain allowing them to be profitable in a short period of time.”

February 16, 2021

NAV One Year Three Year Five Year Y-T-D per share Return* Return Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a 221.16 -7.83% -8.78% -1.4% -2.67% ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 1.332 7.82% -6.29% 4.6% 1.45% ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.0561 -9.17% -12.67% -2.88% -2.45% Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7761 -6.95% -7.85% n.a. -3.46% First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7085 -12.57% n.a. n.a. -4.46% First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a 4.806 -5.1% -6.9% -0.65% -2.74% First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,4 0.7151 -11.24% -10% -6.05% -5.88% MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a 99.09 3.93% -5.62% n.a.

-2.8% PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a 45.5819 -5.99% -6.82% 0.25% -2.7% Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 475.87 -6% -6.74% -0.49% -2.68% Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d,5 1.0589 7.19% n.a. n.a.

-3.5% Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a 1.1459 -6.53% -6.27% 0.29% -1.91% Philequity Fund, Inc. -a 33.8908 -5.82% -6.23% 0.96% -2.53% Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8844 -8.88% n.a. n.a.

-3.13% Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a 4.6639 -5.61% -6.41% 1.01% -2.66% Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a 780.32 -5.42% -6.29% 0.94% -2.66% Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 0.7043 -9.74% -9.94% -2.98% -2.03% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.5305 -10.49% -8.38% -0.6% -2.57% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8928 -5.71% -6.59% 0.77% -2.71% United Fund, Inc. -a 3.2504 -6.66% -5.45% 1.65% -2.07% Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 104.7359 -5.42% -6.07% 1.67% -2.62% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b $1.3611 32.75% 7.35% 12.46% 13.15% Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.8053 26.04% 12.63% n.a.

7.92% Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a 1.6607 8.69% -3.36% -0.15% -0.47% ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 2.2469 7.3% -2.8% 1.43% -1.68% First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.5792 0.82% -2.39% 0.25% -1.82% First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,1 0.1947 -9.9% n.a. n.a. -1.96% NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a 1.9522 1.2% -0.51% 2.12% -0.6% PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a 3.7241 0.99% -1.36% 1.26% -1.69% Philam Fund, Inc. -a 16.6634 0.99% -1.43% 1.22% -1.61% Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a 2.0652 -0.38% -2.7% 0.99% -1.38% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.5223 -5.15% -4.23% 0.04% -1.42% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 1.0066 1.86% n.a. n.a. -1.56% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.9273 -2.78% n.a. n.a.

-2.31% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.9099 -4.08% n.a. n.a. -2.49% Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.8771 -5.44% -4.82% -0.51% -1.19% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03887 -0.05% 3.39% 1.9% -0.64% PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b $1.2042 16.12% 4.57% 7.78% 4.69% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.7768 18.65% 9.45% 10.64% 5.85% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,3 $1.231 8.93% 5.08% n.a.

2.4% Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 371.7 3.62% 3.28% 2.78% 0.17% ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.9051 -0.15% 0.48% 0.18% 0.25% Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 3.2179 2.64% 4.31% 4.67% 0.1% Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a 2.2951 2.69% 2.85% 2.23% -0.04% First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4477 3.59% 3.39% 2.15% -0.22% Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a 5.58% 5.06% 2.87% -0.1% 4.6301 Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a,6 1.3224 5.35% 4.45% 2.72% 0.09% Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.974 5.01% 4.38% 2.65% -0.68% Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.0378 6.99% 4.5% 2.42% -0.4% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.2028 3.76% 4.72% 3.25% -0.1% Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a 1.7479 2.93% 3.97% 2.64% -0.4% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $485.5 3.01% 3.15% 2.8% 0.34% ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є219.62 -0.52% 1.07% 1.32% 0.2% ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.2699 4.53% 4.29% 2.87% -0.82% First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0264 1.54% 2.24% 1.59% -0.75% PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b $1.0914 -1.33% 1.34% 0.02% -0.12% Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.5318 3.46% 5.17% 3.21% -0.15% Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0626138 3.01% 3.33% 2.37% 0.47% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.2102 -1.36% 2.89% 2% -0.42% Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 130.04 2.93% 3.32% 2.58% 0.18% First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0493 1.77% n.a. n.a.

0.11% Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.2988 2.32% 2.94% 2.6% 0.17% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0539 1.38% 1.78% n.a.

0.14% Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d,7 1.1883 n.a. n.a. n.a. 5.2% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -b,d,2 $1 0% n.a. n.a.

2.04%

a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago. c - Listed in the PSE. d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU).

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

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

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

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

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

February 16, 2021

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

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

43.5 108.8 85.8 24.05 10.3 49.1 10.82 22.8 26 54.8 17.6 128.5 70.5 1.12 3.98 0.58 3.63 8.01 1.55 0.5 0.83 150.7 1.02

43.95 109 85.85 24.1 10.32 49.15 10.84 23 26.2 55 17.76 129 71 1.15 3.99 0.6 3.69 8.5 1.6 0.51 0.84 151 1.05

43.65 107.2 86 24.05 10.1 49 10.82 22.8 26 54.8 17.4 128.5 71.25 1.08 3.97 0.57 3.73 8.62 1.56 0.485 0.68 151 1.02

43.65 109.2 86 24.1 10.3 49.5 10.84 22.8 26.25 54.8 17.4 129.5 71.5 1.25 3.99 0.57 3.73 8.62 1.65 0.62 0.84 151.5 1.02

43.2 107.2 85.25 24 10 48.55 10.82 22.8 26 54.6 17.4 127.5 70.5 1.08 3.96 0.57 3.5 8.5 1.55 0.485 0.68 150.7 1.02

43.5 109 85.8 24.1 10.3 49.1 10.82 22.8 26 54.8 17.4 128.5 71 1.15 3.98 0.57 3.69 8.5 1.6 0.5 0.84 151 1.02

34,600 1,012,090 930,130 23,800 407,100 1,362,600 12,800 1,000 92,400 670 2,700 333,560 34,940 1,931,000 63,000 1,000 93,000 300 315,000 85,840,000 2,112,000 8,820 9,000

1,505,940 110,058,229 79,655,881 573,265 4,143,200 66,847,850 138,658 22,800 2,408,905 36,712 46,980 42,878,869 2,478,002.50 2,220,760 250,000 570 334,770 2,574 501,150 47,834,250 1,661,570 1,331,967 9,180

32,337,768 9,914,692.50 -390,245 -365,178 -4,726,450 -850,570 -6,011,118 10,932.50 -18,000 79,400 -711,900 314,130 -

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 7.78 7.79 7.59 7.89 7.59 7.79 21,770,200 168,872,888 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.31 1.32 2,662,000 3,535,330 ALSONS CONS 26.25 26.3 26.3 26.4 26.25 26.25 660,500 17,357,390 ABOITIZ POWER 1.14 1.15 1.13 1.17 1.08 1.15 100,084,000 112,615,220 BASIC ENERGY 29.8 29.85 29.95 30 29.55 29.85 815,800 24,299,170 FIRST GEN 76 76.3 75.5 77 75.5 76 229,480 17,356,791.50 FIRST PHIL HLDG 292.8 293.8 289 294 289 293.8 44,540 13,028,224 MERALCO 3.71 3.72 3.72 3.73 3.7 3.72 1,471,000 5,454,660 PETRON 3.88 3.97 3.97 3.97 3.88 3.88 8,000 31,400 PETROENERGY 12.62 12.76 12.62 12.9 12.62 12.76 444,300 5,702,524 PHX PETROLEUM 22 22.1 21.7 22.2 21.7 22 453,400 9,973,655 PILIPINAS SHELL 10.28 10.3 10.34 10.34 10.06 10.3 112,400 1,154,192 SPC POWER 13.94 14.6 13.92 13.92 13.92 13.92 500 6,960 VIVANT 7.15 7.18 7.1 7.35 7.05 7.18 1,214,100 8,717,257 AGRINURTURE 3.42 3.48 3.49 3.49 3.41 3.48 989,000 3,406,730 AXELUM 14.2 14.22 14.22 14.22 14.02 14.2 3,700 52,438 CNTRL AZUCARERA 17.8 17.88 17.98 17.98 17.42 17.8 1,329,700 23,669,612 CENTURY FOOD 9.11 9.18 9.3 9.4 9 9.18 172,800 1,596,596 DEL MONTE 7.27 7.28 7.25 7.29 7.18 7.28 371,100 2,680,817 DNL INDUS 9.92 9.99 9.91 9.99 9.91 9.99 354,200 3,521,470 EMPERADOR 67.35 67.65 67.95 67.95 67.25 67.65 35,750 2,412,521.50 SMC FOODANDBEV ALLIANCE SELECT 0.63 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.63 0.63 115,000 72,970 FRUITAS HLDG 1.61 1.62 1.6 1.63 1.56 1.62 27,466,000 43,826,580 GINEBRA 52.05 52.4 53.3 53.35 52 52.4 24,600 1,291,555 JOLLIBEE 179 179.3 180 180.5 178.8 179 514,770 92,431,206 LIBERTY FLOUR 35 35.45 34.3 35 34.3 35 1,200 41,760 6.62 6.65 6.7 6.7 6.61 6.65 230,600 1,529,622 MAXS GROUP MG HLDG 0.425 0.43 0.42 0.46 0.41 0.43 62,490,000 27,217,200 SHAKEYS PIZZA 7.38 7.45 7.5 7.51 7.18 7.38 66,300 489,566 ROXAS AND CO 1.18 1.19 1.21 1.21 1.16 1.18 3,255,000 3,821,130 RFM CORP 4.61 4.74 4.61 4.74 4.61 4.74 4,000 18,830 1.71 1.73 1.75 1.76 1.74 1.74 115,000 200,250 ROXAS HLDG 0.153 0.154 0.152 0.156 0.149 0.154 23,320,000 3,579,360 SWIFT FOODS 140.5 141.5 140 142 139.6 141.5 446,770 62,939,045 UNIV ROBINA VITARICH 0.92 0.93 0.93 0.93 0.91 0.93 2,360,000 2,169,420 VICTORIAS 2.25 2.3 2.25 2.3 2.25 2.3 3,000 6,850 52.15 53.8 52.1 52.1 52.1 52.1 10 521 CONCRETE A 1.39 1.4 1.39 1.4 1.37 1.39 3,091,000 4,294,320 CEMEX HLDG DAVINCI CAPITAL 6.99 7 8.01 8.2 6.7 7 8,804,000 64,999,746 EAGLE CEMENT 13.7 13.84 13.6 13.9 13.5 13.7 141,100 1,933,042 EEI CORP 8.67 8.68 8.2 8.7 8.12 8.68 1,461,200 12,386,143 6.32 6.33 6.3 6.32 6.21 6.32 1,017,800 6,386,225 HOLCIM 7.76 7.77 7.71 8.15 7.71 7.77 7,012,500 55,404,162 MEGAWIDE 10.64 10.7 10.88 10.88 10.5 10.6 10,500 110,648 PHINMA 1.52 1.53 1.79 1.8 1.51 1.52 10,011,000 16,305,710 TKC METALS 3.83 3.84 3.96 4.01 3.63 3.84 34,574,000 133,598,980 VULCAN INDL 152 170 151 151 151 151 1,000 151,000 CHEMPHIL 2.06 2.07 1.8 2.09 1.79 2.07 2,316,000 4,670,180 CROWN ASIA 2.26 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.3 427,000 957,300 EUROMED 5 5.05 5.08 5.08 5.05 5.05 7,600 38,413 LMG CORP 5.53 5.6 5.52 5.6 5.52 5.53 10,500 58,004 PRYCE CORP 21 21.1 21.2 21.75 21.1 21.1 77,900 1,648,640 CONCEPCION 3.98 3.99 3.31 4 3.31 3.99 71,852,000 265,162,590 GREENERGY 13 13.04 13.42 13.42 12.62 13 2,656,700 34,508,708 INTEGRATED MICR 1.3 1.32 1.3 1.4 1.26 1.3 4,905,000 6,543,710 IONICS 5.76 5.99 6.09 6.09 6.09 6.09 1,000 6,090 PANASONIC 1.53 1.57 1.59 1.63 1.52 1.57 4,277,000 6,748,320 SFA SEMICON 6.92 6.93 6.69 6.94 6.69 6.93 3,663,700 25,025,065 CIRTEK HLDG

10,832,837 -3,040,885 3,012,750 5,867,295 -16,876,640 -1,131,212 364,380 37,382 3,898,225 -30,900 -1,372,617 -45,510 -11,890,002 193,100 -39,689 118,995 -1,540,185.50 5,040 329,600 405,590.50 -25,662,832 1,324 -3,644,200 84,563 213,570 4,024,850 141,920 -227,230 -27,719 -735,484 4,501,487 -1,468,034 -9,192,126 78,000 3,872,570 -41,580 19,810 -1,086,020 -10,861,940 14,599,378 -85,790 79,940 76,930

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL 1.19 1.2 1.18 1.24 1.15 1.2 38,521,000 46,231,490 7.98 8.23 8.24 8.84 7.98 8.23 553,600 4,470,269 ASIABEST GROUP 792 793 782.5 796.5 782.5 793 187,300 148,510,040 AYALA CORP 42.45 44 42.3 44 42.3 44 1,756,000 75,680,340 ABOITIZ EQUITY 10.36 10.84 10.66 10.84 10.2 10.84 6,825,800 72,144,554 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.15 3.1 3.11 1,630,000 5,078,630 AYALA LAND LOG 6.9 7.09 7.1 7.1 7.1 7.1 100 710 ANSCOR 0.91 0.92 0.9 1.1 0.87 0.91 70,366,000 69,146,240 ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.94 0.95 0.91 0.97 0.91 0.95 16,976,000 16,050,360 ATN HLDG A 0.92 0.95 0.96 0.97 0.95 0.95 47,000 45,170 ATN HLDG B 5.35 5.38 5.38 5.41 5.35 5.35 665,400 3,586,960 COSCO CAPITAL 5.5 5.53 5.45 5.53 5.37 5.53 1,736,700 9,465,014 DMCI HLDG 8.78 9.1 8.79 8.79 8.79 8.79 6,100 53,619 FILINVEST DEV 3.09 3.28 3.06 3.06 3.06 3.06 3,000 9,180 FJ PRINCE A 0.24 0.245 0.226 0.33 0.226 0.245 27,550,000 7,626,510 FORUM PACIFIC 569.5 570 570.5 574 563 570 65,390 37,240,570 GT CAPITAL 3.76 3.8 3.79 3.83 3.78 3.78 1,137,000 4,320,260 HOUSE OF INV 66.5 67.4 65.5 67.4 65.4 67.4 592,330 39,587,083 JG SUMMIT 4.65 5.25 4.99 5 4.99 5 2,000 9,990 JOLLIVILLE HLDG 1.69 1.71 1.76 1.82 1.65 1.7 42,928,000 73,572,080 LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG 3.74 3.75 3.8 3.8 3.74 3.75 404,000 1,519,580 14.5 14.54 14.5 14.6 14.4 14.54 3,254,700 47,307,398 LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG 0.52 0.53 0.53 0.53 0.52 0.52 143,000 74,500 1.83 1.99 1.79 2 1.79 1.81 15,000 28,970 MJC INVESTMENTS 4.17 4.18 4.17 4.23 4.16 4.17 12,887,000 53,883,100 METRO PAC INV PACIFICA HLDG 4.9 4.98 5 5 4.8 4.98 220,500 1,081,904 PRIME MEDIA 1.52 1.53 1.48 1.55 1.42 1.53 9,340,000 14,043,270 REPUBLIC GLASS 2.81 2.89 2.94 2.94 2.94 2.94 3,000 8,820 1.28 1.32 1.36 1.36 1.28 1.28 398,000 526,080 SOLID GROUP 317 320 315 317 315 317 200 63,230 SYNERGY GRID 1,065 1,070 1,060 1,070 1,060 1,070 10,167,590 10,828,942,970 SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP 126.5 126.9 126.5 127.3 126.4 126.9 88,020 11,147,768 SOC RESOURCES 0.94 0.95 1.09 1.12 0.94 0.95 5,149,000 5,314,650 2.23 2.64 2.65 2.67 2.58 2.64 74,000 195,550 SEAFRONT RES 136.3 140 140 140 140 140 4,000 560,000 TOP FRONTIER 0.233 0.25 0.226 0.27 0.226 0.255 12,500,000 3,157,400 WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG 0.28 0.285 0.265 0.33 0.265 0.285 142,180,000 42,059,700

-4,219,860 41 -9,286,480 815,650 -16,385,284 -122,250 -401,060 60,634 621,321 1,315,460 -2,319,800 -2,677,433.50 -24,600 -10,565,462 -5,993,040 23,500 31,960 -100,067,040 -327,183 -31,200 -64,700

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.66 0.67 0.67 0.68 0.66 0.66 2,374,000 1,572,770 40.05 40.1 40 40.25 39.95 40.1 9,395,000 376,339,495 AYALA LAND 1.45 1.46 1.4 1.53 1.4 1.46 2,179,000 3,214,850 ARANETA PROP 33.9 34 33.9 35 33.85 34 2,012,300 69,521,285 AREIT RT 1.7 1.71 1.68 1.73 1.67 1.71 1,003,000 1,717,820 BELLE CORP 0.96 0.97 0.94 0.96 0.93 0.96 1,759,000 1,658,440 A BROWN 0.79 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.79 0.79 5,000 3,970 CITYLAND DEVT 0.151 0.152 0.153 0.153 0.149 0.152 1,470,000 223,580 CROWN EQUITIES 5.74 5.89 5.69 5.89 5.69 5.89 14,100 82,429 CEBU HLDG 5.1 5.12 5.13 5.13 5.08 5.1 592,800 3,018,815 CEB LANDMASTERS 0.415 0.43 0.425 0.435 0.405 0.43 27,940,000 11,780,550 CENTURY PROP 0.35 0.36 0.345 0.36 0.345 0.35 1,570,000 550,400 CYBER BAY 14.42 14.5 14.52 14.6 14.3 14.5 466,400 6,737,626 DOUBLEDRAGON 6.97 6.98 6.95 7 6.83 6.98 211,900 1,481,990 DM WENCESLAO 0.3 0.305 0.3 0.305 0.3 0.305 720,000 218,400 EMPIRE EAST 0.091 0.093 0.092 0.093 0.091 0.093 1,230,000 112,880 EVER GOTESCO 1.19 1.2 1.19 1.2 1.18 1.19 6,788,000 8,084,780 FILINVEST LAND 0.9 0.92 0.91 0.92 0.9 0.9 180,000 163,760 GLOBAL ESTATE 7.46 7.69 7.43 7.84 7.43 7.69 28,600 220,010 8990 HLDG 1.43 1.44 1.37 1.48 1.36 1.43 4,214,000 5,977,920 PHIL INFRADEV KEPPEL PROP 3.1 3.23 3.09 3.09 3.09 3.09 1,000 3,090 3.87 3.9 3.82 3.9 3.82 3.9 25,929,000 100,162,880 MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED 0.52 0.53 0.53 0.54 0.51 0.53 64,236,000 33,662,190 PHIL ESTATES 0.41 0.425 0.405 0.41 0.4 0.405 60,000 24,300 1.47 1.5 1.51 1.53 1.46 1.5 1,024,000 1,524,400 PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND 19.2 19.36 19.6 19.84 19.2 19.36 2,372,000 45,913,580 PHIL REALTY 0.3 0.305 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 560,000 168,000 1.44 1.45 1.44 1.46 1.43 1.45 1,302,000 1,887,820 ROCKWELL SHANG PROP 2.62 2.68 2.65 2.69 2.63 2.68 676,000 1,788,570 2.17 2.18 2.18 2.2 2.16 2.18 294,000 641,300 STA LUCIA LAND SM PRIME HLDG 37.5 38 37 38 36.9 38 4,986,800 186,742,700 VISTAMALLS 4 4.03 4 4.04 4 4 64,000 256,240 1.88 1.89 1.8 1.97 1.8 1.88 6,898,000 13,093,480 SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND 4.38 4.39 4.4 4.44 4.36 4.39 465,000 2,037,970

-79,200 71,359,560 -129,870 -11,547,120 36,100 24,590 -885,660 -111,550 -269,388 -2,756,110 -13,650 469,170 -8,250,820 -76,880 516,580 -15,472,938 23,040 56,680 73,179,850 -777,800 185,330

SERVICES

ABS CBN GMA NETWORK MANILA BULLETIN GLOBE TELECOM PLDT APOLLO GLOBAL CONVERGE DFNN INC DITO CME HLDG IMPERIAL ISLAND INFO JACKSTONES NOW CORP TRANSPACIFIC BR PHILWEB 2GO GROUP ASIAN TERMINALS CHELSEA CEBU AIR INTL CONTAINER LBC EXPRESS LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA METROALLIANCE A PAL HLDG HARBOR STAR ACESITE HOTEL DISCOVERY WORLD GRAND PLAZA WATERFRONT CENTRO ESCOLAR FAR EASTERN U IPEOPLE STI HLDG BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY PACIFIC ONLINE LEISURE AND RES MANILA JOCKEY PH RESORTS GRP PREMIUM LEISURE PHIL RACING ALLHOME METRO RETAIL PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL PHIL SEVEN CORP SSI GROUP WILCON DEPOT APC GROUP EASYCALL IPM HLDG PRMIERE HORIZON

12.4 6.88 0.485 2,046 1,371 0.242 18.82 5.4 17.96 1.78 0.184 2.16 3.2 0.54 2.66 8.7 14.88 4.5 50.7 122.1 16.02 1 5.53 3.05 6.36 1.39 1.48 5.16 10.16 0.55 6.55 600 8.5 0.41 4.49 7.76 2.06 1.71 2.15 2.64 0.485 6.3 8.45 1.42 38.8 57 103.5 1.38 17.92 0.445 7.05 5.15 2.79

12.48 6.89 0.52 2,052 1,374 0.243 18.84 5.41 17.98 1.88 0.188 2.18 3.23 0.55 2.68 9 15.5 4.57 50.75 122.4 16.58 1.02 5.55 3.09 6.49 1.4 1.51 5.2 10.88 0.56 6.96 650 8.61 0.42 4.69 7.8 2.1 1.74 2.19 2.65 0.49 6.5 8.46 1.43 38.85 57.55 103.7 1.4 17.98 0.46 7.18 5.3 2.8

12.34 6.76 0.495 2,040 1,363 0.238 18.5 5.5 17.2 1.83 0.188 2.05 3.1 0.63 2.63 8.5 14.68 4.54 50.1 122.2 16.58 1.04 5.7 2.95 6.4 1.4 1.51 5.8 10.9 0.56 7.02 600 8.13 0.405 4.5 7.94 2.11 1.75 2.15 2.65 0.46 6.5 8.45 1.42 38.8 57.95 105 1.35 17.92 0.455 7.5 5.15 2.8

12.48 6.9 0.55 2,058 1,383 0.244 19.1 5.6 18.02 1.89 0.191 2.7 3.23 0.64 2.75 9 14.68 4.57 51.85 123.4 16.58 1.04 5.7 3.25 6.7 1.43 1.51 5.96 10.9 0.56 7.02 600 8.13 0.42 4.7 7.99 2.11 1.76 2.15 2.7 0.49 6.5 8.5 1.43 38.9 58.7 105 1.42 17.98 0.46 7.5 5.15 2.98

12.3 6.74 0.48 2,040 1,363 0.233 18.14 5.3 17.1 1.78 0.182 2.05 3.01 0.52 2.62 8.4 14.68 4.42 50 121.1 16.02 1.04 5.5 2.95 6.34 1.39 1.51 5 10.9 0.54 7.02 600 8.13 0.405 4.5 7.75 2.06 1.71 2.15 2.62 0.46 6.5 8.44 1.42 38.7 57 103.5 1.35 17.9 0.445 7 5.15 2.71

12.48 6.88 0.52 2,046 1,374 0.243 18.84 5.4 17.98 1.89 0.188 2.16 3.23 0.54 2.68 9 14.68 4.5 50.7 122.4 16.02 1.04 5.55 3.09 6.49 1.4 1.51 5.2 10.9 0.56 7.02 600 8.13 0.42 4.69 7.8 2.06 1.74 2.15 2.65 0.485 6.5 8.45 1.42 38.8 57 103.5 1.4 17.98 0.455 7.05 5.15 2.79

204,300 1,310,500 1,290,000 9,325 69,905 849,720,000 11,071,600 3,309,800 53,107,500 27,000 18,650,000 1,661,000 12,471,000 635,705,000 1,377,000 144,500 1,900 3,105,000 794,220 1,311,570 1,700 102,000 2,791,800 2,737,000 44,000 1,110,000 199,000 3,535,800 200 7,402,000 1,700 90 1,000 1,240,000 83,000 2,149,500 42,000 543,000 1,000 6,157,000 31,320,000 42,200 702,900 1,733,000 789,000 1,251,890 38,450 3,175,000 216,200 8,340,000 38,200 1,100 224,502,000

2,525,690 8,932,075 667,400 19,073,760 96,011,435 203,223,300 208,165,314 17,722,532 937,607,050 49,500 3,472,310 3,817,220 39,131,130 364,146,390 3,689,240 1,271,402 27,892 13,905,970 40,319,555 160,362,560 27,570 106,080 15,524,404 8,416,950 280,899 1,561,290 300,490 18,851,227 2,180 4,031,270 11,934 54,000 8,130 510,350 386,320 16,886,930 87,770 934,360 2,150 16,296,920 15,026,250 274,300 5,946,430 2,465,760 30,630,750 72,163,767 4,006,598 4,382,070 3,879,836 3,756,850 272,979 5,665 633,832,140

-8,547,100 20,907,790 7,657,620 2,620,524 10,838,167 -17,376,436 -8,980 -10,700 4,677,440 -318,520 -104,080 -56,804 240,200 22,618,470.50 -67,638,880 2,080 -2,417,517 -30,690 -531,805 -152,300 -5,569,513 87,860 -1,985,620 -484,200 416,741 -1,059,250 -15,991,410 -51,384,783.50 91,462 41,010 679,312 -15,841,360

MINING & OIL ATOK 7.68 7.83 7.5 8.15 7.5 7.68 4,525,300 34,935,092 234,990 1.57 1.58 1.59 1.59 1.55 1.58 1,908,000 2,991,360 -525,560 APEX MINING 0.0046 0.0047 0.0048 0.0049 0.0044 0.0047 17,534,000,000 81,506,200 -1,280,900 ABRA MINING 6.45 6.46 6.48 6.51 6.3 6.45 806,000 5,175,481 ATLAS MINING 3.02 3.08 3.12 3.12 3 3.1 19,000 57,750 BENGUET A 2.9 3 2.95 2.95 2.9 2.9 30,000 87,410 -70,010 BENGUET B 0.315 0.33 0.34 0.34 0.315 0.33 3,030,000 994,800 COAL ASIA HLDG 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 12,000 33,600 33,600 CENTURY PEAK 12.38 12.4 12.06 12.5 11.98 12.4 265,000 3,249,874 DIZON MINES 2.7 2.71 2.73 2.74 2.66 2.7 9,987,000 26,983,330 12,892,740 FERRONICKEL 0.52 0.53 0.54 0.56 0.52 0.52 10,417,000 5,536,700 GEOGRACE 0.16 0.161 0.167 0.167 0.154 0.16 79,560,000 12,713,610 LEPANTO A 0.16 0.161 0.17 0.17 0.159 0.16 2,110,000 339,240 LEPANTO B 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.01 88,800,000 888,700 MANILA MINING A 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.01 26,700,000 267,400 45,600 MANILA MINING B 1.64 1.65 1.74 1.74 1.59 1.64 3,327,000 5,503,160 18,020 MARCVENTURES 2.77 2.85 3 3 2.75 2.77 634,000 1,790,690 28,000 NIHAO 5.51 5.52 5.67 5.67 5.4 5.52 2,923,300 16,056,855 631,796 NICKEL ASIA 0.455 0.465 0.45 0.475 0.45 0.465 2,210,000 1,017,800 1,000 OMICO CORP ORNTL PENINSULA 1.19 1.22 1.28 1.28 1.17 1.22 11,066,000 13,452,940 -252,280 PX MINING 4.53 4.56 4.5 4.62 4.5 4.57 360,000 1,647,950 -366,110 SEMIRARA MINING 12.7 12.8 12.88 12.98 12.7 12.7 973,500 12,490,422 -1,109,736 UNITED PARAGON 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 232,900,000 2,475,600 16,500 ACE ENEXOR 20.85 20.9 22 22.2 20.6 20.9 431,600 9,128,960 253,885 ORNTL PETROL A 0.013 0.014 0.013 0.014 0.013 0.013 208,300,000 2,783,600 0.013 0.014 0.015 0.015 0.013 0.014 54,200,000 776,900 -39,100 ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL 0.014 0.015 0.014 0.015 0.013 0.015 533,000,000 7,585,800 67,200 PXP ENERGY 10.3 10.32 10.28 10.4 10.1 10.3 1,471,300 15,135,474 -273,286

PREFFERED HOUSE PREF B 100 100.5 100.5 100.5 100 100 2,240 224,870 517.5 528 528 528 528 528 50 26,400 AC PREF B1 509 550 509 512 509 509 14,480 7,376,320 AC PREF B2R 100.9 101 101 101 100.9 100.9 21,390 2,160,333 -2,102,820 DD PREF 106.6 108 106.3 106.6 106.3 106.6 1,450 154,423 FGEN PREF G 503 515 504 504 504 504 980 493,920 GLO PREF P 1,003 1,030 1,002 1,030 1,002 1,030 15 15,170 GTCAP PREF A 1,035 1,036 1,034 1,036 1,034 1,036 4,000 4,139,010 GTCAP PREF B 100.6 101 101 101 101 101 13,780 1,391,780 MWIDE PREF 99 100 99 99 99 99 11,000 1,089,000 MWIDE PREF 2A 101 101.3 101 101.3 100.9 101 29,490 2,978,244 MWIDE PREF 2B 106.5 107.5 106.7 107.5 106.5 107.5 5,360 572,138 PNX PREF 3B 1,013 1,019 1,013 1,014 1,013 1,013 6,280 6,362,320 PNX PREF 4 1,095 1,096 1,095 1,095 1,094 1,095 3,000 3,284,260 PCOR PREF 3A 1,115 1,130 1,129 1,129 1,115 1,115 25 28,155 PCOR PREF 3B 79.9 80 79.9 80.3 79.9 80 7,490 599,190 SMC PREF 2C 79.3 79.75 79.35 79.45 79.3 79.3 853,030 67,645,613.50 SMC PREF 2F 75.7 77 77 77 77 77 153,300 11,804,100 SMC PREF 2G 77.5 78 77.5 78 77.5 78 51,290 4,000,615 SMC PREF 2H 78.9 79 78.9 78.9 78.9 78.9 600 47,340 SMC PREF 2I SMC PREF 2K 76.5 76.7 76.85 76.85 76.25 76.5 7,770 593,089.50

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 12.3 12.32 12.5 12.5 12.32 12.32 11,800 145,736 -27,104 6.52 6.68 6.67 6.68 6.52 6.68 518,300 3,447,085 -1,318,702 GMA HLDG PDR

WARRANTS LR WARRANT 0.87 0.9 0.89 0.89 0.87 0.87 82,000 71,760 8,800

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ALTUS PROP 21.5 21.9 22.9 22.9 21.25 21.5 638,300 13,995,755 33,600 3.05 3.06 3.04 3.08 3.01 3.05 1,443,000 4,368,490 96,720 ITALPINAS 5.92 6 6 6 5.9 5.92 15,500 92,141 KEPWEALTH 2.85 2.98 3.1 3.3 2.84 2.85 505,000 1,538,520 MAKATI FINANCE 7.33 7.34 7.57 7.71 7.34 7.34 33,660,900 251,572,892 -1,016,250 MERRYMART

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

FIRST METRO ETF 106 106.7 105.5 106.5 105.5 106 55,290 5,860,823 75,288

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Cashless is the way to go for MSMEs, says PayMaya exec

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio Contributor

C

ashless is the way to go in the country’s business landscape, especially for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

At the recent launch of the Philippine e-Commerce Roadmap 2022 organized by the Department of Trade and Industry, digital financial services provider PayMaya noted that based on industry estimates, digital payments have already surpassed cash in terms of consumer preference for mode of payment in online shopping, with the company processing over P95 billion for online commerce transactions alone in 2020.

Meanwhile, PayMaya has made life easier for sellers in Viber, Messenger, Instagram, and other social media and chat apps to accept cashless payments through the Payment Links and QR Ph features of the PayMaya app.

Sellers only need to generate a Request Money link or get their QR Ph code by going to the PayMaya app, clicking the User Profile icon on the top-left portion, and tapping on the QR code icon next to their name and mobile number.

Once they have generated a payment link or saved a screenshot of their QR Ph code, they can easily send these to their customers via social media and chat apps to instantly receive cashless payments for their orders.

Meanwhile, it said buyers only need to tap on the link sent by the seller or scan or upload the seller’s QR Ph code through the PayMaya app to make a payment. When they do this, the seller’s PayMaya account details will automatically be filled in on their PayMaya app, and they can just enter the amount or press “Pay” for faster and easier payments.

“Since last year, we have seen a tremendous increase in the number of online and chat sellers using our PayMaya app, driven by shift to digital because of the pandemic. That’s why we have developed the necessary tools and programs such as our Payment Links and QR Ph features, on top of other solutions, to make e-Commerce payments as easy as sending a message via chat,”Shailesh Baidwan, president of PayMaya said in a news statement.

Payment Links allow any PayMaya user with an upgraded account to generate a request money link that already integrates the amount that their buyer needs to pay for faster and more convenient transactions.

Moreover, PayMaya’s QR Ph-enabled code, on the other hand, allows sellers to instantly receive payments from other PayMaya users or from 18 other banks and financial institutions currently participating in the QR Ph initiative of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) via InstaPay. All they have to do is send their PayMaya QR code to their customer. In turn, their customers can simply save the QR code and choose it when using PayMaya or their own QR Ph-sending financial app.

QR Ph is the national QR code standard launched by the BSP in 2019 and PayMaya was the first e-Wallet to adopt it among other local financial institutions.

The BSP had earlier noted that person-to-person transactions through QR Ph surged 5,678 percent just a year after it launched, with PayMaya as one of its pioneering participants. Meanwhile, the DTI in 2020 saw a surge in business name registrations and renewals, with over 88,000 names signed-up for online stores alone.

Baidwan pointed out these payment options enable online sellers to easily send to buyers via social media or through chat apps such as Viber and Messenger, which have increasingly become the focal points of online commerce as consumers increasingly prefer using digital tools for their everyday needs.

“We continue to work with the government and our partner merchants to bring in game-changing innovations in the payments space. Filipinos are adept in using digital tools such as social media and chat apps, and at PayMaya, we are here to make it easier to pay and get paid,” Baidwan said.

BusinessMirror

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Wednesday, February 17, 2021 B3

To greener pastures: ‘Plantita’ turns love affair with plants to a thriving enterprise

By Roderick L. Abad

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@rodrik_28

Contributor

TUCK at their homes for so long due to the prolonged implementation of enhance community quarantine, plantitos and plantitas— the titles that refer to those that have bought, planted and even named their plant companions—have risen as a household trend amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

What started as a mere hobby to while away time and boredom, however, has unexpectedly paved the way for the popularity of gardening that could be a profitable livelihood and key to food security.

Thirty eight-year-old Joanne Bondoc, who started their familyowned urban garden shop called Lush Herbs and More together with her younger siblings Joshua and Jan Michael, could attest to that.

“Since we love preparing homecooked meals and tea concoctions, my affair with growing herbs started last May 2020 due to the pandemic and for personal consumption,” she told the BusinessMirror in an e-mail interview.

Living in a serene community in Tarlac, fresh and organic herbs and spices are somehow difficult to find in nearby grocery stores, according to her.

The lack of these leafy green or flowering parts of a plant, as well as dried seed, fruit, root, bark, or other plant substances has opened a chance for her to grow homegrown flavorings or garnishing right at their own backyard.

“From fresh herbs to value-added products such as dried herbs, herbal tea, jam, jellies, extracts and so on, there’s a lot of endless possibilities and opportunities with herbs,” she said.

Starting small

UNLIKE other plantitos and plantitas out there who have just found their inclination to growing plants amid the unprecedented health crisis, Joanne already had developed a green thumb at a young age.

“My parents used to have an orchid shop in the early 1990s which heavily influenced our interest in gardening,” she recalled.

As the pandemic creates demand for online selling, gardening and growing food for own consumption, she decided to put again into good use this experience by establishing

their own urban garden shop that sells fresh herbs and nutrient-packed superfood plants.

Luckily, she and her family, were able to develop their 240 square meter vacant lot before the pandemic.

It serves as a mini and improvised nursery and home of different herbs, spices and fruit bearing trees in repurposed containers.

With a starting capital of P25,000, they bought seeds, motherplant, seedling bag, basic gardening tools and equipment. The amount also covered other related overhead expenses to start the business.

“Harvesting our own produce at home is such a rewarding and satisfying experience,” the self-confessed plantita said. “We realized that this will be an interesting and profitable business.”

Budding livelihood

LOCATED at Mangga 1-B, Matatalaib, Tarlac City, Lush Herbs and More was formally established in July 2020 in line with the Department of Agriculture’s Basic Urban Gardening initiatives that the siblings wanted to promote in their neighborhood.

“My sister [Joanne] was diligently posting her planting efforts in Facebook and we got inquiries if we are going to sell these herb plants,” shared Joshua, head of marketing communications. “We started selling to friends and relatives then later on we decided to establish Lush Herbs and More so we can cater our local community.”

Starting by just selling 15 different kinds of culinary herbs and mulberry seedlings, it now has expanded to 20 kinds of culinary herbs and added different categories, such as medicinal herbs, aromatherapy herbs, rare aromatics and spices, and edible flowers.

To make the business a stand out amid competition, he emphasized the need to be creative and innovative while making a social impact.

JOANNE Bondoc, head of operations of Lush Herbs and More, is hands-on in tending their own produce.

LUSH Herbs and More offers exclusive herb care guide that budding plantitas and plantitos can access on their mobile devices.

encourage our customers to consider organic farming practices by using natural ways in all aspects of gardening. Using vermicast and fermented plant juice are one of the most effective medium to fertilize our plants, while mild solution of neem oil and water for pest management.”

Sustainable future growth

FRESHLY harvested mint from Lush Herbs and More urban garden shop.

THE organically grown herbs are transferred to nicely designed pots ready for sale. photos courtesy of foodganda

For instance, he cited their initiative to have personally curated packages in sustainably sourced packaging, such as herbs in hand-woven pandan bag or kit that involves engaging activities such as DIY Mojito and Gin & Tonic.

In support of budding plantitas and plantitos, Joanne added that they came up with an exclusive herb care guide that customers can access on their mobile devices. It also comes in QR code format in gift cards.

“Our mission is to provide highquality herbs with best customer experience journey and create fun, memorable gardening experience at home,” she said.

Working on a limited space, the Bondoc family has turned to container gardening to maximize the potential of their urban garden shop. They have also began growing grafted fruit-bearing trees and spices in repurposed green plastic drums.

To realize their dream of having an urban beekeeping business, they decided to acquire stingless bee colony last November 2020. This honey-producing venture complements well the Lush Herbs and More as the bees serve as good pollinator of high value crops they grow in the garden.

Flourishing business

DESPITE the ongoing pandemic, the year 2021 kicked off to a good

start for urban garden shop given the growing market needs for fresh and organic culinary herbs and public interest in gardening.

“We were able to get inquiries outside Tarlac province but we cannot accommodate to ship yet,” shared Joanne, who also serves as the head of operations.

Due to the huge demand, she said they need to source to local farmers and suppliers in Northern Luzon and Southern Luzon for herbs and Mindanao to source several spices.

“In this way, we are helping our local farmers by bringing their products among different areas,” she said.

Conceding that the business does not always run smoothly, Joanne admitted that they also face some problems typical to such kind of an agricultural venture.

“Since we are on a small-scale production yet, its more on the environmental challenges such as pest management and changes with the weather,” she said.

Recognizing that weather and pest can often be unpredictable and can easily damage plants, she pointed out their need to anticipate and devote time and effort to mitigate these difficulties.

Going organic is also a way for their business to thrive, Joanne said, adding that, “As much as possible, we also

SEEING that the demand for food will keep on increasing further given the current situation when the country and the rest of the world are still reeling from the Covid-19 pandemic, the head of operations of Lush Herbs and More strongly believes that urban gardening will likewise continue to flourish even after the health crisis.

For Joshua, on the other hand, he is bullish that the herb business will still meet the market demand and provide profitable entrepreneurial opportunities as the DA intensified its call for communities and households to start vegetable gardening and launch nationwide programs to help boost food security in the country.

Expecting all of these could happen in the near future, this start-up currently being ran by the three siblings together with two other family members seeks to expand soon and be able to provide employment opportunities for others, Joanne revealed. Product differentiation, building good relationships to customers, pricing schemes, and improved customer retention are some of the business strategies in the pipeline, she disclosed.

“Aside from introducing and adding new product offerings for our local community, we are hoping that Lush Herbs and More will be a social enterprise in the future by promoting health and well-being through herbs, growing and selling herbs to fund community programs within the garden and the local community that help people engage with the natural environment,” she stressed.

J&T Express awards 10 ‘Certified Lokalista’ start-ups for craftsmanship, innovation

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EN start-ups have been “Certified Lokalista” by J&T Express Philippines for their local craftsmanship and innovation.

This recognition is given through the company’s campaign named as such to small and medium enterprise online-based businesses established by their founders’ hard work, creativity, and nationalism.

They were adjudged according to content (50 percent) or the power of storytelling in describing their offers, creativity (30 percent) of their communications as they conveyed their ideas, and authenticity (20 percent) or the genuineness of and the extent to which they used homegrown materials for the products.

Garnering a ratings score of 98.33 percent, Craftcha claimed the No. 1 spot from more than a thousand of entries nationwide.

Based in Pasig, this online business offers discarded items such as

flour sacks, cloth scraps, old jeans, and outdated clothing converted into tote bags, pants, masks, and everyday items.

“We put up a business that advocates cloth waste management in minimizing plastic bag use. Coupled with our interest in crafting goods, creativity, resourcefulness, and concern with the environment, these drove us to continuously create goods that are sustainable and purposeful. Craftcha takes pride in its environmentally friendly, functional, and sustainable products,” said Merlita Manicad, founder of Craftcha.

Second placer Philocalist by Venus, on the other hand, is a Makatibased coffee and tea shop that was built through the owner’s experience as a flight attendant that gave her a more in-depth understanding of how other cultures produce their own beverage.

Owner Venus Hate recalls how she came up with the idea of putting such start-up from a lay-over in Japan where she observed how “Japanese people love and enjoy coffee drips and loose-leaf tea.”

For third placer Arts and Crafts Handicrafts Store, owner Sheila-Ann Soriano has fulfilled her childhood aspiration to establish this business that offers woodworks handcrafted by her very own father who has been in the industry for so long.

“We cater the exact needs and wants of clients. We craft clients’ imagination with elegance, creativity, and craftsmanship,” she shared.

With the originator’s advocacy to create change in the society, fourth placer Made By Pearl Sewing Services was founded by Jo Anne Pearl Tadeo to provide consumers eco-friendly alternatives, such as washable and reusable cloth diapers, drool pads for baby carriers, back

towels, cloth menstrual pads, face masks, and produce bags, among others.

“Made by Pearl believes in the power of innovation. We knew right off the bat that we wanted to provide solutions from our long-standing problems,” she said.

The fifth winner, Uniquely Online Store and Gawang Pinoy Shoe, uplifts the livelihood of Filipino artisans through locally-made women’s shoes and sandals from Marikina City and Liliw, Laguna.

“By selling these products, we are alleviating the livelihood of our hardworking shoe makers while also showcasing the talent of Filipino artisans. We are immensely proud that our shoemakers can create sophisticated shoe designs built with 100 percent quality,” said co-owners Mary Chris Koh and Leo Fe Barte.

The other J&T Certified Loka-

lista winners are Germano’s Chili, owned by Gerome Panlilio, which offers chili garlic products; Meridian Pet Supplies by Ivy Tirazona, which caters to the pet needs of Quezon City residents; CHYReativehandSZ

by Diana Marquez, which creates and distributes sewn and crocheted products; Batik Atbp, Mikel Mendoza’s souvenir shop that promotes the culture of indigenous people in Northern Luzon; and Lorna’s Gourmet, built by Eugenio and Ma. Lucille A. Dalida, that sells gourmet tuyo. Each of the 10 winners will get P20,000 worth of services from J&T Express.

“Filipino entrepreneurs, especially those who went above and beyond amid the mobility restrictions brought about by the pandemic, deserve to be supported and recognized for their creativity and tenacity,” said J&T Express Philippines Vice President Zoe Chi. Roderick L. Abad

Banking& Finance BusinessMirror

B4 Wednesday, February 17, 2021

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Credit card use seen to recover

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N industry group is anticipating credit card loans to gain some recovery this year as more business activities resume after government moves to ease lockdown measures amid increasing number of Covid cases.

Credit Card Association of the Philippines (CCAP) Executive Director Alex B. Ilagan told the BusinessMirror that the growth in credit card borrowings this year, however, will not be the same yet prior to the pandemic.

“As the economy starts to open up, we also expect to see some recovery in the number of credit cards being issued, as well as, usage volume, albeit lower than the double digit growth rates seen in prior years,” Ilagan explained.

He told the BusinessMirror that credit card loans slipped by over 8 percent last year compared to 2019 because of the contraction in the number of cards and lower card usage volume. The CCAP blamed these to the economic slowdown after government ordered the closure of borders and restricted mobility.

According to latest data from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), credit card receivables stood at P405.677 billion as of end-September last year. That figure is 2.21-percent lower than the year-on-year figure of P414.878 billion. In

2019, the banking industry’s credit card borrowings stood at P456.735 billion.

The end-September record represents 3.94 percent of the total loan portfolio of the banking system in the said period.

Of this figure, bulk or P405.576 billion was extended by the universal and commercial banks. The balance, P101 million, was provided by the thrift banks.

Nonperforming credit card loans for the period reached P30.385 billion, which is 7.49 percent of the total credit card receivables and 0.30 percent of the total loan portfolio.

As of end-December 2020, CCAP noted that the average industry default rate improved to 8.4 percent from 11.5 percent in September last year.

“This can be attributed to various risk mitigation measures and debt forbearance programs implemented by credit card issuers in the latter part of the year,” Ilagan explained.

Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

The environment and Edsa on my mind

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We must all be on board to ET me start by stating this road-use objective. the obvious: we all have In Executive Order 774 a direct stake in pro(December 2008) “Reorganiztecting the environment. We ing the Presidential Task Force all know about greenhouse on Climate Change,” it was gases, which contribute to the already declared: “The new greenhouse effect when the paradigm in the movement of heat of sunlight is “trapped” in men and things must follow a the atmosphere and produces simple principle: ‘Those who the climate-warming change Santiago F. Dumlao Jr. have less in wheels must have that, in turn, brings about more in road.’ For this purpose, the system shall those ill-consequences we now are experiencing. favor non-motorized locomotion and collective There is increased heat and drought. Water transportation (walking, bicycling, and the mansources are being depleted. We experience rising powered mini-train).”The purpose was to reduce warmer temperatures and likewise colder temthe consumption of fossil fuels. peratures. Ocean temperatures are rising, sea levThe National Transport Policy (September els are also rising, wind patterns are changing and 2017) and its implementing rules and regulations their severity as typhoons are more destructive. reiterated “the prioritization of people-mobility Agricultural yields are seen to be reduced. There’s over vehicle-mobility.” (Section 129 of IRR) The flooding and soil erosion more frequently now. tragedy is that, where the objective of transporIt has occurred to me that it is not enough tation is to move people to points of destination, just to be aware of climate change and wail in and that’s why we have roads, these roads in efdesperation, but to do our individual part to mitifect have come to serve the movement of vehicles gate its ill effects. I’d like to suggest to my readers more than people. Why? Because the road space that it is in reducing air pollution on the roads used by vehicles is disproportionately much more where all of us can do our part, specifically, air than by individuals. And at Edsa, we were hardly pollution in Edsa. This principal road artery conmoving in fact. Perhaps we can change this benecting Metro Manila cities has been the source cause we need to. of heavy air pollution from vehicle congestion, It’s a waste of space, says Tony Oposa, the and all of us who use Edsa are accomplices to the champion environmentalist. “A person standing degradation of our urban environment. So let’s up occupies about one-eight (1/8) of a square do something about it. meter. Sitting down he occupies about oneJust to put a bit of context to my proposal. fourth (1/4) of a square meter. Using a car, he will Carbon dioxide is the major greenhouse gas that occupy 13-15 square meters, and the vehicle is contributes about 75 percent of emissions. It can not yet even moving.” It is also a waste of time, linger in the atmosphere for a thousand years. and all who have used Edsa know this too well.

Carbon dioxide is produced burning fossil fuels, Let me now go to my point. Let’s all make Edsa like coal, oil and natural gas. A US study reports the focus of our joint efforts to do our small, inthat indeed the largest source of greenhouse dividual part, yet can produce significant results. emissions is from human activities when fossil fuel Let’s pursue through government-private sector is burned for electricity, heat and transportation. partnership making Edsa a rationalized roadThe principal culprit in Metro Manila’s air sharing reality giving priority to public transport pollution is the motor vehicle. This fossil-fueled against private cars, assigning as well pathways modern invention has been the major source for bicycles and pedestrians in equal prioritization of toxic emissions so visible and felt in our Edsa as already mandated by official policy. This will traffic congestion. We might note that a typical reduce fossil-fuel emissions drastically, enhanced passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of by the removal from the road of old polluting carbon dioxide per year. (USD EPA, March 2018) vehicles and the replacement of combustion enWhen the pandemic lockdown got all the vegines with electric-powered transport. Moreover, hicles off the road, we all saw how the air in Edsa let us line Edsa with trees and plants not just for and other streets became so differently clean. beautification but to absorb the carbon dioxide Auspiciously, the lockdown provided the emissions which is the way the biological carbon singular opportunity to introduce the Bus Rapid cycle works. In turn, plants exhale oxygen which Transit (BRT) concept to Edsa. Since the road was people inhale. relatively free of traffic, it was an opportune time In sum, let’s favor people over cars. That makes to make a drastic change—dedicating the inside sense. After all, just a few have cars. The majority lane of Edsa to public buses moving by central need public transport. control in orderly, well-timed intervals. It is now Can the road-sharing concept be done? In working to speed-up the transport of people fact, some of our LGUs have experimented with along the busiest of highways. And no more buses this concept. There are examples in other counovertaking and blocking each other, fighting to tries too. get passengers because the bus drivers are now You will be hearing more about this and let’s compensated with fixed salaries, not dependent hope all will get on board. on passengers picked up. Have we noticed this?

It’s really a direction towards a more rational way Santiago F. Dumlao Jr. past president of the Finex, is the of using roads. And this is just the beginning of a full implementation of proper Road Sharing current Secretary-General of the Association of Credit Rating with good consequences to the environment.

Agencies in Asia.

Finex free enterprise

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Image BusinessMirror

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Preventing virtual burnout

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NOW find myself hopping from one meeting to the next. Since I started alternately working from home and at the office, there are times when I look at my calendar and cringe at the long hours of virtual meetings and talking to disrupted metallic voices and distorted video feeds.

As much as technology has made work easier for everyone, it has also intruded on personal space and time. Not that I am complaining, but there are days when I have to drag myself in front of my laptop to join a web meeting. I thought I was alone until I read about Zoom fatigue.

According to Caroline Reinach Wolf in her article published in Psychology Today, titled “Virtual Platforms are Helpful Tools But Can Add to Our Stress,” there is such a thing as Zoom fatigue. She says it is “the tiredness, anxiety, or worry resulting from overusing these virtual platforms.” Of course, this is not limited to just one virtual meeting platform but extends to every possible virtual meeting application and the accompanying exhaustion from staring at a screen for long periods of time.

The reason why we get tired from repeated virtual meetings is the absence of nonverbal cues to help us decipher what is said, or, conversely, how we are understood. Add to this is the silence when you are speaking which can seem like talking to a wall. I know of one person who kept on talking and we could not hear her, so we had to boot her out of the call just to get her attention. These technical disruptions and communication delays can add to the frustration of conversing clearly to a faceless group.

Our attention span is also limited and can get easily distracted by things around us, especially when you do not have your own quiet and personal space at home to do your work. If we are not distracted by our environment, we also are strained psychologically by appearing at our best all the time especially when the meeting is being recorded. And as if we are not stretched enough, we do work on the side and we all have the tendency to chat, reply, or altogether do something else while in a meeting which can leave us feeling drained.

And then there are the e-mails that come in well after our working hours. The availability of communication tools in our mobile devices adds to the strain and keeps us reachable at a moment’s notice, further blurring the lines between work and personal life.

How then do we cope with the cyber-burnout we experience from excessive virtual meetings and video conferencing?

This may not be avoidable but do not accept video calls which are not valuable to your time. If the requester does not include an agenda, politely ask why the meeting was set. This way you can gauge if you can excuse yourself from the meeting, or even if you need to prepare something in advance. An agenda is a good way for you also to understand if your presence is needed, or if you can send someone as a representative.

During the meeting, try to focus on what is being discussed. Sure, the meeting might be recorded, and you can later review it but being present during the meeting will save you time. Know how to take down notes and use key words to remind you of the context of the discussion. If you can mute notifications from other applications, do so.

While in the meeting, choose a view layout in your video call that lets you focus on just one thing at a time—either the speaker or the presentation.

Doing so will help reduce distractions on screen and help you focus on what the speaker is talking about.

A gallery view will make you feel cramped because you will tend to look at all the participants and their backgrounds and soon enough, you will find yourself not listening to the speaker at all. Make it a point to focus on just one screen at a time.

If you can, allow participants to turn off their video so people can focus on the discussion. Have you ever noticed that when you are given a group picture, you always look for yourself first? And notice also that you are more interested in the pictures where you are present? Same thing goes for web calls. You will

spend most of your time looking at yourself or your own video or profile picture. Now I understand why my company prevents us from changing our display profile picture. If you can, turn off your video—this not only helps you focus more on the discussion, it can also save bandwidth.

It also goes without saying to remember to rest your eyes occasionally. A helpful tip is to set a time to look away and stare at something far. This will help your eyes relax and give you a needed break from screen time. You might also want to stand up and stretch your arms and legs to increase your circulation and prevent stiffness from being in the same position for a long time. If it does not need to be a video meeting, try to call or just e-mail. There are meetings which could be just an email or a quick phone call. If a web call is really needed, shorten it as much as possible. This will ensure everybody has enough time to get to their next meeting, and frees up time for others to do actual work and not be caught up in endless meetings. Be mindful of time spent for meetings and if you can, block off certain times in your calendar for a no-web meeting.

Technology has come a long way in ensuring work is done easily and efficiently. But as Billy Cox once said, “Technology should improve your life, not become your life!” And while there is a need for organizations to thrive in the new normal, you should not sacrifice your well-being. Let technology work for you and not the other way around. After all, technology is an enabler. In the end, you are still more valuable than any piece of equipment. n

Fighting burnout begins with making smart food choices THE effects of the pandemic to our physical health couldn’t be more emphasized, but this is also pushing the limits of our mental health. It’s making us experience what psychologists call crisis fatigue, as we’re now always on our toes looking out for other threats and stressors such as isolation, heavier loads at home and work, unemployment or economic loss, and civil unrest—all on top of our usual concerns.

Crisis fatigue kicks in when stressful events happen for an extended period. A Filipino plant-based brand produced by Unilab’s natural products company Synnovate Pharma Corp., Sekaya (www.sekaya.com.ph) explains that the human body is built to deal with bouts of stresses with the help of stress hormone cortisol, which can help fight inflammation, manage blood pressure, and protect overall health and well-being.

But if you’re always on the edge for a longer time, excessive cortisol levels may have debilitating effects on your body. You’ll experience anxiety and irritability and have high blood pressure and heart palpitations. These may cause you to feel more tired and burned out, which may affect how you deal with people and everyday challenges.

According to Dr. Rolando Balburias, a General Internal Medicine and IFM Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, while exercising, meditating and establishing a daily routine can help us lower our stress levels and manage fatigue, we should also factor in what we eat. “It’s not just the hormones that are responsible for making us feel burnt out.

What we eat also plays an important role because the lack of micronutrients, enzymes and antioxidants in our body can cause energy deficiency—making us feel fatigued and stressed easily.” Here are some smart eating habits that we should keep in mind especially now that we’re dealing with long-term stress. n CHOOSE CARBS WISELY. Carbohydrates provide energy for our body, but highly refined carbs like sweets and white bread may cause carb crash. “To keep your energy up the entire day and prevent getting the afternoon slump, it’s important to eat unrefined carbs and foods high in fiber such as brown rice, spinach, kale, peas, beets, barley grass, and malunggay,” says Balburias. n EAT FOODS THAT FIGHT INFLAMMATION. Stress

can cause inflammation, which is the body’s response to stressors. “The problem comes when you have chronic stress as it also causes chronic inflammation, which can be damaging to your health,” Balburias points out. Chronic inflammation affects the brain’s ability to reach and maintain

a level of alertness, leading to exhaustion. It’s also a common precursor or symptom of some health problems like depression and cardiovascular disease.

“You can prevent inflammation by turning to antiinflammatory eating. Start by eating the rainbow or eating colorful plant foods that are high in antioxidants like leafy greens, berries, whole grains, ginger, and turmeric,” he says. Omega-3 can also be beneficial in fighting chronic inflammation. Fish may be what’s most associated with Omega-3, but it can also be sourced from soy, pecans and walnuts. n STAY HYDRATED. Dehydration can aggravate fatigue since the body depends on water to lubricate joints, regulate temperature, ensure proper digestion, help transport oxygen to the cells and more, Dr. Balburias explains. “Staying hydrated throughout the day is a must, it’s not an option.

Water can help you power through your exercises and daily tasks at home and at work.” n LEARN HOW TO USE PROTEIN EFFICIENTLY. Insufficient protein intake can also contribute to fatigue as this macronutrient helps the body repair and build tissues and provides a longer-lasting energy source. To maximize how our body uses protein, Dr. Balburias recommends spacing it out over the day’s meals and snacks instead of loading it up in one sitting. “It would be also wise to eat your carbs with protein, since the latter takes longer to digest and absorb.

When you eat it with a carbohydrate, it also slows the release of sugar into your bloodstream. You get sustained energy without the crash.”

To increase our protein without stuffing our body with meat, the doctor suggests going for healthier plant protein sources, such as whole grains, beans and other legumes, and nuts. With the many stressors that we face in our modern lives—even before Covid-19—burnout seems inevitable. But it doesn’t mean that we should accept it as it is, especially given burnout has also kept us from living our lives to the fullest and reaching our full potential. Beating burnout may feel like an uphill battle, but a simple tweak in our eating habits, along with adopting a healthier outlook on life, can help do the trick.

People less likely to contribute to a virtual public good if they know many others are already doing it

By Anjana Susarla Michigan State University WHILE people tend to contribute more to a virtual public good if they see others doing the same, this effect reverses if they become aware too many people are participating, according to research that I conducted over the summer. Public goods are things that many people share. They can be physical, such as highways, clean air and blood banks, or virtual, like a free online encyclopedia or mobile traffic app.

Combining methods from geography, urban planning and big-data analysis, my co-authors and I studied millions of postings by users of a mobile navigation app called Waze, in which users voluntarily post traffic-related updates and road conditions in real time. All users of the app benefit as more of them freely contribute information about traffic accidents and road closures. Economists describe this as contributing to a public good.

We found that displaying the “density” of users’ activities on Waze—that is, real time information on how many people are on the app in one’s geographic location—can encourage participation from others in the area, just as it does in the real world. If you see a lot of people donating blood in your local neighborhood or many parents volunteering in your local school, it may motivate you to do the same.

But we also found evidence of a strong “bystander effect” that reverses this after a certain threshold is reached. The bystander effect refers to the phenomenon that an individual’s likelihood of engaging in a helpful act decreases when bystanders are present in a critical situation. Paradoxically, our motivation to contribute to a public good could also decline when we see others doing something. For example, if you saw a lot of people donating blood, you may decide that they don’t need your blood too.

The idea is that people perceive less urgency or motivation to help others when others are present, akin to a diffusion of responsibility.

With more public goods moving online—for example, in-person pledge drives seeking charitable donations now happen through crowdfunding web sites, such as Kiva or GoFundMe—it’s important to study how the motivations and behaviors of people change in a virtual setting.

Users’ motivation to contribute to public goods in the physical world depends on what is termed “impure altruism,” also known by economists as “warm glow giving.” That is, participation is heavily influenced by an individual’s motives for public recognition.

My research shows that the same effects that happen in real life also seem to occur virtually, suggesting these online spaces should be designed in ways to overcome the bystander effect to encourage more participation. This can be done, for example, by offering nonmonetary rewards for participation such as virtual badges or making it feel like a game.

Other researchers are also looking into how to influence the behavior of people in virtual spaces.

Some scholars suggest, for example, that participants in primarily digital environments need digital nudges and interventions to enhance a sense of community and create a shared sense of social self on these digital spaces.

Studies from social question-and-answer sites in China seem to suggest that commitment toward the site, a shared language and shared vision seem to foster a sense of participation.

Other studies suggest that rather than viewing such online public good platforms in terms of the immediate needs of an information seeker, these platforms should be designed for their long-lasting value to a community of users.

THE CONVERSATION

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B6 Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Staying fit at SM seaside City Cebu GBP’s mangrove project to transform Toledo into eco-tourism destination

AT the launch were Leah Diaz, GBP First Vice President - Cebu Operations (third from left) and Mayor Joie Perales (third from right) together with the City Council, Toledo City department heads and barangay officials.

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LOBAL Business Power Corporation (GBP), through subsidiaries Cebu Energy Development Corporation and Toledo Power Co., recently launched the Toledo Mangrove River Park Project to support the local government’s efforts

to make Toledo City an eco-tourism destination in Cebu Province.

A joint venture between GBP and the City of Toledo under the administration of Mayor Joie Perales, GBP will finance the infrastructure component of the

project, monitor its construction and rehabilitate mangroves through propagule planting activities.

The project, encompassing Barangay Ibo, Barangay Poblacion and Barangay Tubod, will consist of a 300-meter stretch of boardwalk.

It also aims to establish livelihood programs and encourage community participation in the protection of coastal resources and preservation of the natural mangrove habitat.

“We, at GBP, are dedicated to help our surrounding communities grow as the company grows. The soon-to-be Toledo Mangrove River Park is one of GBP’s initiatives in creating a balanced development for the society, economy and the environment,” said Leah Diaz, GBP First Vice President - Cebu Operations.

The launching was attended by the City Council, Toledo City department heads and officials of the three barangays.

GBP, through its subsidiaries, is an independent power producer in Visayas, Mindanao and Mindoro, with a total gross capacity of 1,091 MW.

JSSP provides CCP with laptops

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HE Johann Strauss Society of the Philippines (JSSP) extends its continuing support to the Cultural Center of the Philippines led by CCP president Arsenio J. Lizaso, in improving its facilities through the procurement of eleven new office computer laptops and external hard drives to be given to 11 CCP departments. The JSSP is represented by its president Olga Severino Martel and chairman Fortune Ledesma.

JSSP was founded in 1998 to promote art and culture by organizing special events such as concerts and musical programs to raise greater awareness for art and culture to a wide spectrum of society and to raise funds for cultural and charitable causes.

It also organizes activities that will encourage civic, charitable and social awareness among the youth.

FROM LEFT: JSSP president Olga Severino Martel, CCP president Arsenio J. Lizaso, JSSP chairman Fortune Ledesma and JSSP assistant secretary Ditas Posadas.

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in our country. It also recognizes our heritage as a homegrown marketing communications agency” shares Paul Perez, the agency’s Managing Director.

Over the past few months, the 14-year-old agency has picked up Digital, PR, and Design accounts complementing their core service of brand activation.

Current client roster includes Sanofi, Mondelez, Visa Philippines, Sports Central, Sysu International, Australian Embassy, Troo, Cancer Coalition Philippines. It has partnered with other international agencies as well without presence in the country to manage and implement projects locally.

“Since the beginning, we have always been sharing brand stories by creating memorable experiences to connect brands with their consumers.

With our additional services, we are expanding the platform on how we can share and tell truthful brand stories that inspire and move consumers into action” added Perez.

Sarah Salido, who heads the agency’s media relations group shared “As the media landscape is changing fast, so are we. And as we owe it to our Clients to be Updated. That’s the least we can do for them.”

The use of a locally developed font complimented by the bright optimistic colors you see in the sorbetero cart captures the dynamic role of marketing communications in building brands. The new logo has an exclamation point formed like a bell that represents the simple tool to grab attention which is achieved when one tells a good story creatively.

General Manager Cris Jose excitedly shared “So, from great experiences using activation the agency now embraces crafting great compelling brand stories utilizing PR and Digital. This is what we live for”. www.tgsc.ph

Push Ups, Twister Rings, Dips, Traverse Wall, an Inverted Wall, and Rope Climbs.

Guided sessions are offered to the public at the 3F Amphitheater 2 beginning this February 13 and will be every Saturdays and Sundays at 5PM via pre-registration for limited slots. Photos show former PBA player and now Cebu City Councilor Dondon Hontiveros using the pull-up bar, and other members of the Obstacle Course Race community in Vis-Min area getting fit.

Cathay Land launches Berkeley Suites condominium at South Forbes Golf City

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Grupo Sorbetero rebrands to TGSC CTIVATION specialist The Grupo Sorbetero Company adapts to fast changing times by rebranding to simply TGSC! “Our rebranding is not just about a name or logo change. It captures our response to the fast-changing marketing communications landscape

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S part of its Stay Fit program to provide the community with a safe space for outdoor activities, the Skypark at SM Seaside City Cebu recently opened first-ever Roofdeck Ninja Obstacle Course in the Visayas in partnership with Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation and the United Vismin OCR (Obstacle Course Race) Community. This pop up facility includes an over 6 ft Wall with an Underwall, Through Wall, Pull ups, Monkey bars, Rings, Inclined

ETERAN real estate developer Cathay Land expects to generate P1.2 billion in sales from Berkeley Suites, its latest mixed-use condominium project at South Forbes Golf City, a 250-hectare township located in the SilangSta Rosa growth hub which is just a short 20-kilometer drive south of Metro Manila.

Cathay Land President Jeffrey Ng cited the new 8-storey mid-rise condominium as a very good and wise investment.

Breaking from tradition with its new U-shaped design, residents can expect an abundance of fresh air coming from Tagaytay flowing through the entire development. Together with the concept of live, work and play integrated to the backbone of the project, Berkeley Suites comes loaded with multiple amenities such as two-level Commercial Center, TV Room, Function Room, Study Lounge, Pocket Gardens and the Aquatrium with lap and kiddie pool.

Foremost, Ng said Berkeley Suites is located beside the CALAX Laguna Boulevard Interchange and within arm’s

length of the SLEx Sta. Rosa Exit. “This location places future residents with easy reach of prime locations in the metro such as Alabang, Makati and BGC to name a few,” said Ng. The first 10-kilometers of the CALAX Laguna segment which begins at Mamplasan and currently ends at Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road is already open, which signals the project’s high potential.

Upon the completion of the CALAX Cavite segment in the coming months, he said, travelling westbound towards the CAVITEx and ultimately the NAIAx will be nothing short of a breeze. “The recently opened SKYWAY stage 3 also opens the condominium and township’s potential to our kababayans in the North who wish to venture southwards to get a slice of the famous idyllic southern lifestyle. While the upcoming 50.3 km CTBEX will further unlock the development’s potential to the further southern region of Batangas,” Ng pointed out.

For inquiries, call 8635-7777 or visit southforbes.com/berkeley.

Sunshine Place offers online Beginners’ French lessons

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EARN one of the most spoken languages worldwide at Sunshine Place as it offers online Beginners’ French lessons.

Learning a new language sharpens the mind, improves brain power and decision-making skills. It also helps strengthen the first or second language.

Classes start beginning February 15, 202. It will be held every Mondays and Thursdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.

The course is designed to develop the students’ competencies in several areas: Pronunciation, Vocabulary, Grammar and Conversation. The course will provide the students the basic skills that will enable them to communicate in French. Students will be provided with complete explanation on grammatical usage with corresponding dialogues for every topic introduced.

Module soft copy and certificate of completion will also be provided.

Classes will be conducted by Susana D. Cabrera, a member of Association Professor de Francais aux Philippines APFP (Association of French Teachers of the Philippines).

Cabrera took up French language training at Centre International D’Etudes Françaises Universite Catholique de L’Quest Angers, France from March – July 1989. She is currently teaching French Language for Hospitality Management and Tourism management students on a part time basis at Manila Tytana Colleges, South East Asia Institue of Trade and Technology and First Asia Institute of Technology & Humanities.

For two years, she taught at the Institute of Hospitality Management & Tourism of the Far Eastern University and three years at the Collage of International Relations of the Lyceum of the Philippines University. She has also taught the French language to secondary students at Reedley International School.

She has trained caregiver trainees at San Augustine School of Nursing.

She is also connected with language centers such as LVG Language Tutorial Center and MGGT Language Tutorial Center. At MGGT Language Tutorial Center, she has provided French language training for Tourism and Hospitality Management apprentices bound for European and North American countries.

To enroll or know more please contact M. (0917) 515-5656 or Email: online.sunshineplace@gmail.com https://www.sunshineplaceph.com/ classes/foreign-language/french Follow Sunshine Place Online: Website: www.sunshineplaceph.com www.sunshineplace.com.ph Facebook @SunshinePlace56Jupiter Instagram @sunshineplaceph YouTube Sunshine Place: Senior Recreation Center

BusinessMirror

Editor: Tet Andolong

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 B7

Ideal countryside living The Pavilion (Clubhouse) with a swimming pool and kiddie pool

Idesia Lipa

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By Roderick L. Abad

ODAY’S preference of homeseekers has undoubtedly changed alongside these difficult times as they factor in the flexibility of their place of residence to do their daily activities at the comfort of their abode even under the “new normal.”

According to P.A. Alvarez Properties and Development Corp. (P.A. Properties) Chairman Romarico Alvarez, homes have indeed become not only a shelter to stay safe from Covid-19 pandemic, but are now serving as a workplace, a gym, a church, a restaurant, a theater, and a school.

He bared that there is now an increasing number of clients looking for housing projects that take into consideration stay-at-home productivity, such as visual comfort, presence of “breathing spaces” within

the house, features that prioritize natural light, shield from noise pollution, and access to nature.

“Homebuyers now look for developments that respond to the new realities of home schooling and working, as well as a healthier, more self-sufficient lifestyle,” he said during the recent formal launch of Idesia Lipa in Batangas.

Fortunately, the real-estate industry has been open-minded and adaptive to changes, thus, indicating its resilience amid the unprec-

edented health crisis.

“The housing sector has enjoyed a strong, bullish run over the past decade and has in fact, managed to bounce back stronger after every crisis—the Asian financial crisis from 1998 to 1999 and the global financial crisis in 2009, just to name a few,” noted the founder of the Lagunabased community developer.

This property segment, he said, will surpass this unprecedented pandemic as attested by the launch of P.A. Properties’ third major project with its Japanese partner, Hankyu Hanshin Properties Corp. (Hankyu).

Rural living at Idesia SET for completion by the last quarter of 2023, a new modern sanctuary will rise at the heart of the progressive province of Batangas perfectly suited to those who prefer exchanging city life to a less stressful countryside lifestyle.

Idesia Lipa is a master-planned horizonal project that could provide future residents a vibrant community amid a picturesque and tranquil environment.

“We would like them to appreciate nature more, and breathe fresh air.

At the same time, should they decide to work from home or connect with their friends and relatives, there is a strong infrastructure that would link them to the rest of the Philippines. This community also has a strong transport link should they decide to go out and explore more of the countryside and its interesting destinations,” explained Jonathan Lu, president of P.A. Properties.

The 11.37-hectare development is designed to offer 747 residential units suitable for every homebuyer’s preference, requirement and financial capability. The Aria Regular will have 227 townhouses, each with a total floor area of 42 square meters on 60-sq-m lot area. There’s also the Aria End composed of 136 units, each with 42-sq-m floor area on 60-sq-m lot area.

A more premium home design like the Talia Single Attached will have a total inventory of 191, with a floor area of 52.25 sq m on 80-sq-m lot area per unit. The more spacious is the Gaia Single Detached, wherein

Amphitheater at the Togetherness Zone

each of the 193 units will have 63sq-m floor area on 100-sq-m lots.

Evoking the serene countryside ambience, Idesia Lipa boasts of topnotch amenities, such as the Serenity Zone that will feature Sakura Garden with Gazebos, Reading and Meditation Garden and Lagoon; the Wellness Zone, which will offer basketball court, tennis courts, children’s playground, jogging paths and pet park; and the Togetherness Zone that will have The Pavilion (Clubhouse) with a swimming pool, kiddie pool, indoor fitness area (gym), and amphitheater.

Following the success of Idesia in Dasmariñas, Cavite, Alvarez noted their apparent observation in this Lipa project that rural and suburban neighborhoods are becoming more attractive to today’s set of homebuyers, partly because they could now work at home, have less time to commute, and could easily access the transport road network that is being developed in case they need to go out.

In fact, it is just a stone throne away from the province’s major

administrative, medical, commercial, financial, agro-industrial, and cultural centers, not to mention its ever-growing business-process outsourcing industry.

For homeowners who need to go to Metro Manila, there is the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road or Star Tollway that connects Lipa City to the South Luzon Expressway and Skyway. Adjacent Bypass road is now being constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways to further improve accessibility.

“While there will always be buyers who will prefer living within the city because their jobs don’t allow for remote work, there will be other homebuyers that will be tempted away from the madding crowd, the hustle and bustle of city life—to a place that is quite far but still enjoys modern-world amenities and within commuting distance from whatever things or services they might require. This is what Idesia Lipa is all about: live in a rural setting but have the luxuries of city living right on your doorstep,” Alvarez stressed.

Tagaytay Highlands introduces contactless turnover Federal Land builds

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By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

HE property sector is adapting to the conditions in the new environment by utilizing digital technology. This ensures both vendors and buyers will be safe and healthy during the transaction. Major developers are leading the way to implement safety measures such as virtual tours and virtual selling.

In its commitment to uphold the safety of its clients and employees, Tagaytay Highlands, a leisure development of the SM Group of Companies, recently introduced an innovative approach to adhere to safety protocols as its physical turnover on-site goes online. According to the company, the current health situation in the country has prompted them to adapt to the way of doing business in the so-called new normal.

Make way for Tagaytay Highlands’ virtual turnover—a procedure where the developer officially hands over the property to the buyer in real-time via Google Meet or Zoom. Moreover, a

Despite the prevailing issues and restrictions on physical contact, Tagaytay Highlands initiated the virtual turnover to support its property owners toward their journey of building their dream home.

customer service officer provides a step-by-step procedure to the client on the property inspection until signing of acceptance documents. The company said a turnover is a special occasion for

every new homeowner toward becoming a fullfledged member of the community.

During the turnover orientation,Tagaytay Highlands provides important details about

the turnover documents and orients the new homeowner on matters to be expected in regarding the property. To complete the experience, the client is briefed on the house construction/move-in guidelines. Sealing the deal is the confirmation of client’s acceptance of the property which is done through digital signing of the turnover forms.

To ensure there are no hassles in the schedule of the property turnover, Tagaytay Highlands coordinates with the client’s schedule. Meanwhile, the Customer Service Officer sets the date as per client’s preferred day within the issued month.

After the official turnover, the developer endorses the client to the Homeowners Association to further familiarize the client not only with the property, but also with the Tagaytay Highlands community of their purchased property.

Despite the prevailing issues and restrictions on physical contact, Tagaytay Highlands initiated the virtual turnover to support property owners to help them achieve the building of their dream home.

Home

Protect your family with 3M Air Cleaning Filter Sheets

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OR most of us, living in these extraordinary times has made optimum health the primary objective in our lives once more. With our priorities coming into much clearer focus, we are fast regaining appreciation for things that we used to take for granted.

This is especially significant now that people are spending more time than ever in their domiciles—from adults working from home to children coping with online learning. We’d like to safeguard our families’ health 24/7 but unfortunately, allergens and pollutants like smoke, pet dander, and fumes from household chemicals can accumulate in our homes. Some of these are trapped in our air-conditioners and spread around each time the units are switched on. More often, these are the common causes of allergies and other respiratory illnesses.

So how do we ensure that air quality in our abodes remains clean and untainted? For those looking to preserve good air quality at home, the best solution is 3M Air Cleaning Filter Sheets. This innovative product from 3M captures 93 percent of PM2.5 particles and outperforms ordinary AC screens by at

least 60 times.

“As we rediscover the joy of spending more time at home, it’s incredibly important to make sure that the air we breathe is clean and healthy,”

said Lai Mei Yip, Command & HEM Portfolio Manager of 3M. “This is why we’re proud to offer 3M Air Cleaning Filter Sheets as an absolute must-have for all families.”

Yip added, “The better the quality of air, the better we feel to face each day’s challenges.”

The 3M Air Cleaning Filter Sheets work effectively by first pulling in the allergens and small particles, traps it, then finally delivers cleaner air.

It addresses the common household dust, pollen, dust mite debris, mold pores and pet dander.

Each pack contains 4 sheets of 8” x 13” and 2 filter-change Koala indicators that also turns black to help you notify when it’s time to change the AC Filters.

To install the 3M Air Cleaning Filter Sheets, remove and clean the plastic mesh screen that comes with your air-con units. Cut the filter sheets following the shape and size of the builtin plastic mesh screen. Place the 3M Air Cleaning Filter Sheets vertically onto the center of the plastic mesh screens. Allow gaps on each side.

Use the double-faced adhesive tape to attach the filters to the mesh screens. Install the plastic mesh screens with 3M Air Cleaning Filter Sheets back into the air-conditioner. Replace filter once every 1-3 months.

You can buy the 3M Air Cleaning Filter Sheets at select supermarkets nationwide.

resilience into communities

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HE next normal is here and in this new era, more people are realizing the importance of safe and self-sufficient communities.

At the height of the community quarantine, mixed-use developments grant residents easy access to essential goods and services like groceries and supermarkets, banks, and pharmacies. And as consumer preferences shift, integrated communities offer diverse features and opportunities to support and cultivate different lifestyles.

With the ongoing pandemic, real-estate developer Federal Land continues to see increased demand for its township developments such as Metro Park in Pasay City and Grand Central Park in Bonifacio Global City (BGC).

“After a year of extraordinary circumstances, Filipinos are now looking for more than just a good place to sleep in when it comes to finding their home,” Federal Land Inc. Executive Vice President Catherine C. Ko said. “The comfort they feel inside their homes needs to extend to the areas outside their doors, into what we now call the ‘outside world’ for Filipinos to feel safe and secure in their environment. This is how communities offer value for our residents—living in our communities has allowed our residents to continue with their lives with minimal disruption, in a mixed-use community where almost everything that they need is within reach.”

Resilience built into developments

Federal Land designs and builds communities that provide residents a pleasant living experience through retail podiums, indoor and outdoor malls, and open spaces surrounding its residential properties. The integration of key establishments in Federal Land’s communities offers residents immediate access to essential goods and services. With its continuous drive to improve, the developer goes the extra mile to future-proof its properties by updating features based on learnings from the previous projects.

The quarantine restrictions have highlighted the importance of adapting living space to function not only as a home, but also as an office and for recreation. In BGC, Federal Land’s Grand Central Park offers luxury residential developments with spa-

cious unit layouts and extra rooms that can be used as an office or classroom. In Bay Area, Metro Park’s resort-inspired condominium residences offer alternative spaces to work-from-home and landscaped gardens for relaxation.

With the heightened concerns on safety and sanitation, Ko said that the company has rolled out major safety regulations in its malls and existing properties and upgraded its sanitation facilities in accordance with IATF’s guidelines.

Additionally, Federal Land’s in-house property management team is trained to respond to and resolve residents’ issues that range from maintenance and upkeep to emergency response. Critical staff was housed onsite during the quarantine lockdowns to minimize disruptions to regular servicing and maintenance.

Property management teams’ communication lines are open 24/7 to serve the needs of the residents.

As the retail segment tries to recover from pandemic-related losses, Federal Land continues to offer new shops and services to address residents’ needs and gradually recover the foot traffic in its mall establishments. Japanese global retailer UNIQLO recently opened in FLI’s Metro Park in Bay Area, complementing the township’s existing retail offerings.

A new era of integrated communities

Integrated communities continue to prove valuable in supporting their residents’ lifestyles as the world adapts to the “next normal.”

“When we plan our spaces, we always keep in mind the right mix of retail, food, and services, as well as the important segments of residential, commercial, retail, industrial, and office to improve our homeowners’ quality of life,” Ko said.

Change for most industries is expected given the uncertainties brought about by the pandemic, and communities will continue to evolve to complement the local market context.

“Federal Land is committed to provide a better living experience through safer and connected spaces within strategically planned communities,” Ko concluded.

Sports BusinessMirror

B8

| Wednesday, February 17, 2021

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

SEAG-bound athletes to start training in four venues in April

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By Josef Ramos

HE country’s athletes to the 31st Southeast Asian Games that Vietnam is hosting in November will start training in four venues starting in April.

Ramon Fernandez, chef de mission to the Vietnam SEA Games, said bubble training centers will be set up at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) in Manila, PhilSports Complex in Pasig City, Teachers’ Camp in Baguio City and the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

“We have identified these training centers to get our athletes going for the SEA Games,” Fernandez, also a Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) commissioner, told BusinessMirror on Tuesday.

As this developed, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino started discussions with national sports associations (NSAs) officials and set a March 23 deadline for the submission of their entries.

Fernandez said that PSC Chairman William Ramirez wrote the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) last Monday seeking an approval for SEA-Games bound athletes to start training collectively.

“We already asked the IATF of our intention and [National Task Force Against Covid-19] Secretary Carlito Galvez responded that they will work on it,” Fernandez said.

An approval from the IATF would mean that the RMSC and PhilSports would no longer be quarantine and healing centers for Covid-19 patients.

Fernandez said he also met with Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President Vince Dizon on Tuesday on the use of the New Clark City as training facility. He was joined in the meeting by his

deputies Pearl Managuelod of muay and Atty.

Alberto Agra of obstacle sports.

“Secretary Dizon told us they can transfer all the Covid-19 center to one place and they have around 400 rooms available for our athletes,” Fernandez said.

Athletes in athletics and swimming would be using the Capas facility.

“They are looking for our athletes to use their venues although they will charge us for a few [expenses] for the regular upkeep,” Fernandez said. “We can start the regular training by April.”

“We’ll work with the PSC and the NSAs and we will assist them with protocols to ensure a safe training bubble modeled after the successful PBA [Philippine Basketball Association] bubble,” Dizon told BusinessMirror.

Team Philippines will vie in 38 of the 40 sports programmed in the Vietnam SEA Games which are set from November 21 to December 2.

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FINGERS CROSSED

ORLD champion Nesthy Petecio and veteran Carlo Paalam stand as the country’s brightest hopes to earn tickets to the Tokyo Olympics after the International Olympic Committee Boxing Task Force (BTF) announced in a virtual meeting on Monday that the World Qualifiers for the Games were canceled.

Petecio is the No. 2-ranked featherweight in the world while Paalam is No. 12 in men’s light flyweight.

Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (Abap) secretary general Ed Picson told BusinessMirror that the BTF will go to the world and continental rankings in filling up slots in the men’s division (186 across eight weight classes) and women’s category (100 across five weight classes).

“But our hopes do not solely rest on Nesthy and Carlo because there are certain quotas allotted for each of the continents,” Picson said. “Everyone else in the bubble still have chances.”

Paalam ranks outside the top 10 but Picson stressed he has a fighting chance under the continental quota rule for qualification.

Petecio

paalam

Middleweight Eumir Felix Marcial and flyweight Irish Magno qualified for Tokyo from last year’s qualifiers in Amman, Jordan, barely days before the global lockdown amid the Covid-19 pandemic was enforced.

The BTF has taken over the function of organizing the boxing competitions in the Olympics after the International Boxing Association was suspended by the Olympic body in 2019. The suspension remains in effect.

The world qualifiers were originally scheduled for May 2020 in Paris but was postponed for this year because of the pandemic. The uncompleted qualifiers in the Americas and Europe, however, will push through, but had to be moved back to May and June, respectively.

“The BTF explained that because of time constraints and safety concerns, it was

Players can reveal, hide injuries at Aussie Open

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OVAK DJOKOVIC came clean, or so it seemed, right after his third-round victory at the Australian Open, about pain in his midsection after an awkward, torsotwisting slip.

Asked that night about being ready for his next match, Djokovic replied: “I know it’s a tear, definitely, of the muscle.... I don’t know if I’m going to step out onto the court or not.”

Narrator: He did. And not only was the 17time major champion back in Rod Laver Arena two days later—he played well enough with that bothersome and bandaged abdominal to reach the quarterfinals. This time, when reporters inquired, Djokovic clammed up.

“I know what it is,” said Djokovic, who

plays Alexander Zverev on Tuesday, “but I don’t want to talk about it now.”

Unlike in certain team sports—think of the National Football League’s “doubtful” or “questionable” designations accompanied by listings of specific body parts in a nod to gamblers, rather than the “upper body” or “lower body” vagueness often used in the National Hockey League—Grand Slam

NOVAK DJOKOVIC feels pain in his midsection after an awkward, torso-twisting slip. AP

decided to forego the world qualifiers,” said Picson, who attended the online meeting along with more than 30 other boxing federation officials in Asia.

“This might prove beneficial to our cause, because some of our boxers are ranked highly among those who have not yet qualified. I hope we get at least two more in Tokyo,” Abap president Ricky Vargas said.

Picson said that despite the cancellation of the world qualifiers, the Filipino aspirants will remain in training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy bubble in Calamba, Laguna.

Inside the bubble are Magno, Petecio and fellow women boxers bantamweight Aira Villegas and lightweights Quesedian Riza Pasuit and Analene Cellon.

Also in Calamba besides Paalam are Rogen Ladon (52 kgs), Marvin Tabamo (52 kgs), Ian Clark Bautista (56 kgs), Junilardo Ogayre (56 kgs), James Palicte (63 kgs), John Paul Panuayan (60 kgs), Mario Fernandez (56 kgs), Marjon Pianan (69 kgs) and Samuel dela Cruz (64 kgs). Rio 2016 Olympian Charly Suarez is also set to join the bubble.

The Olympics are set from July 23 to August 8. tennis leaves it up to individual players to decide whether to disclose or discuss injuries before they compete.

Some are more forthcoming than others.

Some go back and forth.

“Depends what you have,” 2019 US Open finalist Daniil Medvedev said.

It’s a big deal in a sport where fitness is key and it’s not unusual to see players stop midmatch or not show up at all because of injuries.

There was one example of each Monday, when Casper Ruud retired after the second set against Andrey Rublev, and Matteo Berrettini gave Stefanos Tsitsipas a walkover.

While players and coaches are not required to reveal anything to the media, Grand Slam rules dictate that anyone withdrawing before a singles match, or quitting during one, must be seen by a tournament doctor. AP

NBA stresses strict protocols will be enforced in All-Stars

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ARTIES may be part of National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star weekend next month.

They just won’t include NBA All-Stars.

Players taking part in All-Star weekend in Atlanta will largely have to remain in their hotels when not at the arena, the league told teams on Monday, and all players and coaches—whether part of All-Star events or not—will have to continue getting tested daily for Covid-19.

The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association agreed on those rules, the league said in the memo laying out the health and safety protocols that will apply during the break. The league plans to announce starters for the All-Star Game on Thursday, and the reserves on February 23.

The first half of the season ends March 4, and All-Star event participants arrive in Atlanta on March 6. The game and skills contests are March 7 and—for some teams—games will resume March 10, or a day earlier than initially planned. Other teams will resume play on March 11 and March 12.

All-Star participants will be traveling to

Atlanta by private planes or cars, facilitated by the NBA, and must arrive by 7 p.m. on March 6.

They’ll be tested that night and again on gameday morning.

Each player can bring up to four guests, examples of which include family members, longtime close friends, agents and child-care providers. In some cases, players may be permitted to bring up to six guests, provided the additional names on their list are their children. They will not be permitted to exceed the list of four for additional friends or agents.

All guests will have to participate in seven days of at-home quarantine—with exceptions for essential activities—starting February 27, and return four negative coronavirus tests from March 2 through March 5. AP

Juico hopeful on Obiena’s Olympics bid

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HE Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) is optimistic on pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena’s chance of winning a medal of any color in the Tokyo Olympics.

Patafa President Philip Ella Juico expressed confidence on Obiena’s bid to end the country’s 85-year Olympic medal drought in athletics following the 25-year-old Tondo native’s impressive result in several indoor meets around Europe the past few weeks.

In the five tournaments Obiena had three podium finishes—including two gold medals in separate meets in Germany—in five tournaments he competed in since the latter part of 2020. Over the weekend, he set a new national indoor record of 5.86 meters in bagging the silver in the Orlen Cup in Lodz, Poland.

The inspiring outcome made Juico all the more positive about Obiena giving Philippine athletics its first Olympic medal since Miguel White clinched a bronze in the men’s 400-meter hurdles in the 1936 Berlin Games.

“Without being over confident, we are very bullish about his chances. The past few weeks had been an indication of where he’s headed for, given the new things that he’s doing together with his coach and therapist,” Juico told the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday.

“It’s a combination of talent, hard work and technology, and they’re using this in the right amount and in the right quantity just like a recipe for a good meal,” Juico said. “He’s very confident, he’s very upbeat about his chances.”

Obiena, son of national coach Emerson Obiena and handled by Ukrainian Olympic gold medalists Vitaly Petrov, will see action again in the Copernicus Cup on Wednesday also in Poland and then participate in one more event to close out his indoor campaign.

Eric Cray, Kristina Knott and Natalie Uy are also aiming to qualify for the Tokyo Games.

Cray just competed in two tournaments in Alabama last month and is set to see action in a Texas meet. Knott, meanwhile, will compete in Arkansas on February 21 before entering a two-month bubble in Austin, Texas, where she will join events confined within Texas and neighboring states.

Juico said Uy has an outside chance to qualify because the vaulter is currently recuperating from a wrist injury.

William Morrison, on the other hand, chose not to target Tokyo to concentrate on the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, Juico said.

“Morrison is fixing a personal problem that requires his attention. He officially told us he’ll just concentrate on the SEA Games and the Paris Olympics in 2024,” said the former chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission in the session presented by San Miguel Corp., Go For Gold, Milo, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

JORDAN CLARKSON scores a season-high 40 points to send the streaking Utah Jazz past the Philadelphia 76ers, 134-123, in a matchup of conference leaders in the National Basketball Association on Monday night despite a career-best 42 points from Ben Simmons. Clarkson hits a career-high eight 3-pointers and Donovan Mitchell adds 24 points to help the Jazz overcome an early 14-point deficit. Utah (23-5) has won eight straight games and 19 of 20. AP

Lakers in peril Al Mendoza alsol47@yahoo.com

THAT’S ALL ANTHONY Davis is injured. Will it affect the future of the Los Angeles Lakers?

In a sense, yes. That is, if the injury would cost Davis the season. As I write this, the 6-foot-10 Davis is due for an MRI. There is no doubt that Davis is LeBron James’s inseparable partner in the Lakers’ “Deadly Duo.” They proved that last year when they powered Los Angeles to the National Basketball Association (NBA) championship as the Lakers snapped a 10-year losing drought.

It was LA’s 17th crown overall, tying the NBA record set by the Lakers’ arch-rivals, the Boston Celtics.

The Lakers seemed bent on breaking their tie with the Celtics as they are doing pretty well in the Western Conference this early.

Until Sunday.

Davis aggravated his Achilles injury

against Denver in a game that saw the consistently prolific Nikola Jokic complete a triple double of 23 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists in leading the Nuggets to a 122-105 victory.

It was Jokic’s sixth triple double of the season as both teams rekindled the intensity of their 2020 Western Conference finals decisively won by the Lakers, 4-1.

But more significantly, the loss broke the Lakers’ seven-game winning streak—all because Davis reinjured his right Achilles.

It happened in the second half, rendering the Lakers lame both in defense and offense the rest of the way.

With 2:39 left in the third quarter, Davis bumped legs with Jokic, sending Davis to limp his way to the dressing room after shooting his free throws.

“I don’t want to mess around with this type of injury,” said a dejected Davis. “Just trying to figure out the best steps.”

Previous to this, Davis, who had 15 points in 14 minutes last Sunday, missed two games last week with tendonitis of the Achilles.

Still, the Lakers won both matches without him—and also Alex Caruso—all because James’s all-around game held.

James was still at his usual best in the Denver game, even as he missed his own triple double by a solitary feed in collecting 22 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

I’m sure James, last season’s MVP (Most Valuable Player) for the fourth time in as many Finals appearances, can continue producing superlative performances.

But without Davis, the absence could take its toll on James in the long run. Acid test.

THAT’S IT Even as Austria’s Dominic Thiem, seeded No. 3 and the reigning US Open champion, got ousted by Bulgaria’s No. 19 Grigor Dimitrov in straight stunning sets (Thiem was blanked in the third set, 6-0), the Australian Open plods on resiliently. The event bucked a virus spread two days ago, blocking 30,000 fans from entering the stadium and offering ticket refunds. The lockdown will last five days. Hang in there, mate!