BusinessMirror January 14, 2022

PHL seen to stay as 2nd top buyer of rice in ’22

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

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HE Philippines is projected to remain as the world ’s second-big gest buyer of rice in 2022 for the third consecutive year with import volume reaching 2.5 million metric tons (MMT), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said.

In its monthly global grain report, the USDA revised upward its rice import forecast for the Philippines both for 2021 and 2022.

The USDA explained that the country’s rice imports reached

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2.8 MMT from an earlier projection of 2.6 MMT, driven by “ fast import pace” from Vietnam, the country’s top supplier of the staple.

For this year, the USDA hiked its rice import forecast to 2.5 MMT from the 2.4 MMT estimate last month due to “expected strong buying from Vietnam.”

Despite the 300,000 MT yearon-year decline in expected rice imports this year, the Philippines will remain as the world ’s second-largest buyer of the staple for the third straight year, based on USDA data.

@jearcalas

This BusinessMirror file photo shows different varieties of rice being sold at a local market in Manila.

See “PHL,” A2

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Abroader broaderlook lookat attoday’s today’sbusiness business A broader look at today’s business A

Sunday, December 2021Vol. Vol.1717No. No.58 Friday,December January 14, 2022 9858 Sunday, 5,5,2021

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GIR RISES TO $108.89B AS OF END-DEC, A 12-MO HIGH nnn

MAP pushes policy reforms for recovery, human devt

By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

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HE country’s dollar reserves hit a 12-month high in December, after growing by more than a billion in the last month of the year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Thursday.

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

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‘DIGITAL DIASPORA’

Latest BSP data showed that the country’s gross internationPASSENGERS wearing face masks to protect themselves against Covid-19 board a jeepney at a terminal on Visayas Avenue in Quezon City on Thursday, Janual reserves (GIR) rose by $1.17 ary 13, 2022. Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade announced a “no vaccination, no ride” policy, starting Monday, January 17, banning unvaccinated resibillion to $108.89 billion as of dents of the National Capital Region and surrounding districts from public transport amid a surge of infections due to the Omicron variant. NONOY LACZA end-December 2021. This is the highest GIR level of the country for 2021.

The country’s GIR is the level of foreign exchange holdings that is being managed by the Central Bank during a given period. The GIR is a crucial compoBy Cai U. Ordinario largely unable to capitalize on the ame said since vaccinations began, nent of the economy as it is often @caiordinario global recovery,” the economists said. their study revealed there were two used to manage the country’s Higher vaccination rates allows recovery tracks. foreign exchange rate against OUNTRIES with higher vaccountries to reduce the severity The first track was observed in excess volatility. cination rates are likely to of disease, preventing deaths and countries like China, the Republic ByManuel Manuel Cayon consumers become more discernThe BSP said the latest GIR By T.T.Cayon consumers become more discernexperience faster economic hospitalization. This also helps govof Korea and Singapore which saw ingand and connected, werecovery areseeing seeing level represents a “more than ing connected, we are growth, according to economists ernments ease restrictions, allowthem benefit from the in incredibleinnovations innovations happening incredible happening adequate external liquidity buffrom the Asian Development Bank ing for greater economic activities. international trade, and high vacinthe theretail retail sectorthat thatcompletely completely in sector fer” equivalent to 10.3 months’ (ADB).

“Where vaccination coverage cinations allowed them to contain reimagine shopping experiexperireimagine shopping worth of imports of goods and In an Asian Development Blog, is relatively low, governments are the spread the ofthe Covid-19. ence,” Gunjan Soni, chief executive ence,” Gunjan Soni, executive payments of services and priADB Economic Research and Reforced to tighten restrictions if Co“Slow progress onchief vaccination or officer of the Zalora Group, told an officer of the Zalora Group, told an gional Cooperation Department vid-19 cases rise. As well as imposineffective containment are the commary income. online presentation itsby Trender online presentation ofofits Trender economist Irfan A. Qureshi and ing severe constraints on contactmon characteristics shared econoSee “GIR,” A2 Report 2021.

Report 2021.

Senior Economist Matteo Lanzafintensive activities, this results in mies lagging behind, which have been Shedescribed describedthe the“shoppers “shoppersofof She tomorrow”asas“digital “digitaland anddiverse diverse tomorrow” across Southeast Asia.” across Southeast Asia.” n US 51.1000 n japan 0.4458 n UK 70.0326 n HK 6.5589 n CHINA 8.0361 n singapore 37.9756 n australia “It’s a a digital digital diaspora,” diaspora,” she she “It’s said,citing citingGoogle Googletrend trendmonitormonitorsaid, ingthat thatshows shows40 40million millionnew newInIning ternetusers userscame cameonline onlineinin2021, 2021, ternet “bringingthe theinternet internetpenetration penetration “bringing SoutheastAsia Asiatoto75 75percent.” percent.” ininSoutheast “Infact, fact,eight eightout outofof10 10InterInter“In netusers usersininthe theregion regionare aredigidiginet talconsumers. consumers.Recognizing Recognizingthis this Internetand andelectronic electroniccommunicommunital Internet For one, one, the the Southeast Southeast Asia Asia shiftininadoption, adoption,brands brandsquickly quickly cationgadgets gadgetsbybytheir theirside. side.Google Google For shift cation Trender Report Report 2021 2021 byby Zalora Zalora expandedtheir theironline onlinepresence presencetoto trendshows showsMalaysian Malaysianshoppers shoppers Trender expanded trend showsthat that40 40million millionAsians Asiansmade made reachthese thesenew newdigital digitalconsumconsumspendclose closetoto99hours hoursonline onlineon on shows reach spend theirdebut debutininInternet Internetuse useand and70 70 ers,and andZalora Zalorareported reporteda a19-per19-peraverage,“and “andare arethe themost mostlikely likelytoto their ers, average, millionhave havemade madetheir theirfirst firstonline online centincrease increaseininnew newbrands brandsthat that value-driven.” million cent bebevalue-driven.” purchasewithin withinthe the2020 2020and and2021 2021 joinedthe theplatform platforminin2021,” 2021,”she she Singaporean shoppers shoppers are are purchase joined Singaporean period, many many ofof them them attracted attracted added. mostlikely likelytotoinvest investininluxury luxurypurpurperiod, added. most anddrawn drawninto intoactual actualpurchase purchasebyby Withmore moreSoutheast SoutheastAsians Asians chases, with with Google Google search search data data and With chases, productsales salespromotion promotionand anddisdisbrowsingnow nowand andgetting gettingthemthemshowinga a21-percent 21-percentyear-on-year year-on-year product browsing showing countofferings. offerings. selves more more online, online, the the average average increaseininSingaporeans’ Singaporeans’searches searches count selves increase

HE Ma n agement A s sociation of the Philippines (MAP) is pushing for more policy reforms for economic recovery, human development and well-being and shared prosperity and sustainability this year.

Newly-installed MAP President Alfredo Pascual highlighted on Thursday the business group’s major thrusts this year during the 73rd MAP inaugural meeting and induction of MAP 2022 board of governors. “ We w i l l put toget her a n agenda of polic y imperatives and push for their adoption for sustained recovery and continuing progress, whether through executive or legislative action.

In addition, we will advocate for good governance and the rule of law in the operation of and policy implementation by relevant public offices,” Pascual said.

He stressed the need for an enabling business environment to attract more investments, raisdisruptions to manufacturing and ing the importance of addressother export-sensitive sectors—for ing energy security, resolving example, by causing labor shortages foreign ownership restrictions or factory shutdowns,” they added. and enhancing ease of doing Based on the study, China has alshowsofofproducts, products, withhosts hosts and business in the country, among shows with and ready administered 156.41 vaccine guestsproviding providingmore moredetails detailsand and others. guests doses per 100 persons and saw its giving testimonies, Zalora said. giving testimonies, Zalora said.

Pascual said that more priManufacturing Purchasing Manwouldalso alsohelp helpbrands brands inwould vateItItsector participation in ininagers Index (PMI) increase to 50.2 novate on flexible sales promonovate on flexible sales promofrastructure development can while Korea administered 135.05 tions,such such giving discounts, tions, asasthe giving discounts, further help country given vaccine doses per 100 persons and and offering easier and attracand offering easier and its PMI improved to 51.2. its capital and expertise.attractivepayment paymentoptions optionssuch suchasasthe the tive buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) opopbuy-now-pay-later See “High,” A2 See “MAP,”(BNPL) A2 tion,which, which,ititsaid, said,emerged emergedasas tion, themost mostpopular popularoption optionamong among the Asian shoppers.

Asian shoppers.

37.2212 n EU 58.4891 n SAUDI arabia 13.6154 Source: BSP (January 13, 2022) Indonesia, for for example, example, InIn Indonesia, Google saw saw a a “10x “10x increase increase inin Google searchesfor fore-wallet e-walletservices servicesand and searches 15xrise riseininBNPL BNPLservices servicesininthe the 15x lastfive fiveyears. years.Other Otherappealing appealing last payment options options like like monthly monthly payment installments,toto00percent percentinterinterinstallments, estfees feeson oncredit creditcards, cards,provide provide est access toto quality quality products products and and talsavviness savvinessand andtaste tastefor forluxury luxury access tal serviceswhile whilealso alsoimproving improvingfi-fiandsustainability. sustainability. services and nancialinclusion. inclusion.

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AVAOCITY—A CITY—Aleading leading AVAO onlinebrand brandretailer retailerin inAsia Asia online seeingaasharp sharpbehavioral behavioral isisseeing shiftamong among consumers consumersand andbrand brand shift makersthat thatmay mayreinvent reinventand andinnovate innovate makers approaches, especially fromthe thelatter, latter, approaches, especially PESO exchange rates from asdata dataanalytics—since analytics—sincethe theonset onsetof ofthe the as pandemic—indicatethe theemergence emergenceof of pandemic—indicate morediscerning discerningconsumers consumersadaptive adaptiveto to more electronic,or oronline, online,shopping shoppingexperience. experience. electronic,

NMEDIA | DREAMSTIME.COM NMEDIA | DREAMSTIME.COM

‘High jab rates lead shift to faster growth’ Onlineshopping shopping platform noteslikely behavioral shift Online platform notes behavioral amongconsumers, consumers,brand brandmakers makersamid amidCovid Covid among C

@TyronePiad

News

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A2 Friday, January 14, 2022

MAP...

Continued from A1

“More broadly, I cannot overemphasize the need to have the private sector on board as an active and dynamic participant in our nation’s quest for sustained development and growth,” he added.

As for the work force, Pascual said that looking into the education system is also necessary apart from skills training.

He said MAP must focus on higher education by promoting academe-industry collaboration, which can enhance curricula, provide apprenticeships and allow further research, among others.

“We are also considering collaborations with educational and other institutions to implement strategic programs with longterm national impact,” the MAP official said. “We are particularly interested in programs that address critical business and social concerns, such as cyber security, health, and responsible social media.”

The group will also highlight the importance of environmental, social and governance aspects in promoting sustainability.

“It is also time to push for changing mindsets towards a more productive work force and a more robust business commitment to environmental sustainability, social justice, and good governance,” he said.

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Firms’ integrity, not just revenue stream, challenged in pandemic

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

A

@TyronePiad

PART from revenue streams and operations, corporate integrity was found to be challenged amid the pandemic as well, a survey by a professional services firm showed, prompting the call for better compliance monitoring on the part of businesses.

According to the 2022 Ernst & Young (EY) Global Integrity Report, more than half of the employees and officials across the world said that standards of corporate integr it y have either remained status quo or worsened in the last 18 months.

Nearly all of the respondents agreed that integrity is crucial but some 41 percent noted that the pandemic has made it “more difficult to act with integrity in business

dealings.”

Almost half of 10 board member respondents said that senior managers and high performers' unethical behavior are still being tolerated.

Some 34 percent also said that it was easier to bypass business rules in their respective companies. “ T he Cov id-19 pandemic has had a serious impact on integrity standards for companies around the world. The change to ways of

working throughout the Cov id-19 pa ndem ic h a s created a heightened risk of fraud and unethical behavior,” said Andrew Gordon, EY Global Forensic and Integrity Services Leader.

He explained that “hybrid working makes it difficult to undertake effective compliance monitoring, and fraud risk factors typically increase at a time of crisis because companies and individuals face more financial pressures.”

The EY study, on a positive note, obser ved that more investments in integrity and compliance initiatives were pursued in the past year.

About 53 percent of the respondents have a code of conduct, which is higher than 47 percent 18 months ago. More training programs were also launched, prov iding workshops on relevant regulatory or professional requirements.

“A l t h o u g h o r g a n i z a tions are investing more in communication and training programs, this is not enough. There is a worrying divide between investment in action and genuine change,” Gordon said.

The survey showed that the investments for integrity and compliance initiatives are not being communicated effectively.

For example, the majority or 60 percent of board member respondents said they have infor med the orga n i z at ion about t he impor tance of behav ing with integrity but only 30

percent of the employee respondents backed this claim.

The study also showed that board members have a markedly higher awareness level regarding policies on working from home and training on data privacy reg u lations, revea ling a gap between the views of the sets of subjects.

“A strong culture of integrity is vital, and businesses must review what is working and where there are issues to address,” Gordon added.

Meanwhile, 61 percent of the respondents agreed t hat reg u l at ion in d at a prote c t ion a nd pr iv ac y will bode well for the businesses.

“The business landscape has evolved beyond recognition in the last two years and there are many new c h a l lenges t h at leaders must address. Managing data integrity in a hybrid world creates new risks; and businesses must adapt their processes in line with these risks,” Gordon explained.

“Providing training programs that are effective and memorable is one key element of changing future conduct and behaviors to establish a culture of integrity. It’s people, not systems, that are ultimately responsible for fraud,” he added.

The study surveyed over 4,700 employees, managers and board directors across 54 countries and territories.

PHL...

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China is projected to remain the biggest buyer of rice this year at 4.6 MMT, down from last year's 4.75 MMT, according to USDA data.

The USDA, however, maintained its milled rice production forecast for the Philippines this year at 12.3 MMT, slightly lower than last year's recordlevel of 12.416 MMT. The USDA also kept its total consumption and residual forecast for the Philippines this year at 14.85 MMT, 400,000 MT higher than last year.

The BusinessMirror broke the story that the country’s rice imports last year expanded by 32 percent yearon-year to 2.771 million metric tons (MMT), the second-largest import volume by the Philippines in history.

(Related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/01/06/bpi-dataphl-rice-imports-jump-32-percentto-2-771-mmt-in-2021/).

Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) data released to the public earlier showed that total rice imports last year rose by 672,000 MT from the 2.099 MMT recorded in 2020.

Historical government data showed this is the second-highest rice import volume recorded by the Philippines.

BPI data showed that Vietnam remained as the country’s top supplier of rice as it accounted for 85 percent of the total import volume or about 2.36 MMT. The country’s rice imports from Vietnam last year rose by 29 percent from 1.828 MMT in 2020, based on BPI data.

Last year’s top rice importer was Davao-based Nan Stu Agri Traders with a total volume of 169,774.95 metric tons (MT), followed by Manila-based Bestow Industries Inc. at 129,339.28 MT, according to BPI data.

BPI data showed a total of 154 entities imported rice last year from Cambodia, China, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Pakistan, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. The figure was lower than the 193 entities that imported rice in 2020.

High...

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GIR...

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It is also about 8.8 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 5.9 times based on residual maturity.

“The month-on-month increase in the GIR level reflected mainly the national government’s [NG] net foreign currency deposits with the BSP and upward adjustment in the value of the BSP’s gold holdings due to the increase in the price of gold in the international market,” the BSP said.

Broken down, the country’s gold holdings grew from $9 billion in November to $9.3 billion in December. Gains from foreign exchange, meanwhile, expanded from $2.49 billion in November to $3.06 billion in December.

The country’s GIR consisted predominantly of foreign investments, which hit $91.74 billion in December—up from $91.5 billion in November.

ING Bank economist Nicholas Mapa said at this level, the Philippines’s GIR is at relatively healthy levels both from a current and historical perspective.

“Despite stark depreciation pressure on the local currency throughout the year, the Central Bank has managed to maintain a very decent stash of ammunition to stave off any speculative attack on the currency,” Mapa said.

The economist, however, warned of threats for the coming year.

“The advent and likely spread of [the] new Covid variant to start the year may delay somewhat the brisk pace of economic reopening witnessed to close out 2021. November trade data showed the overall balance of trade swung deep into the red [record of $4.7bn] and yet the Peso held relatively firm while GIR was only drawn down slightly,” Mapa said.

“This suggests that unlike 2021, the fate of the Peso [and the GIR] may be driven less in part by trade developments and more by external factors related to the imminent normalization of the Federal Reserve,” he added.

Among the Asean countries, Malaysia has administered the most vaccines at 142.13 per 100 persons, leading its PMI to improve to 50.9. This was followed by Thailand which has vaccinated 93.09 per 100 persons, and saw its PMI reach 50.1.

The Philippines, however, has vaccinated 47.8 per 100 persons, but has a PMI of 51.2. In the region, Myanmar, which has vaccinated 30.44 per 100 persons, had the lowest PMI at 43.7.

The economists said vaccinations should continue, especially in light of the omicron variant. This, they said, would be the only path to achieve a sustainable economic recovery this year.

“This new virus strain has the potential to dent growth and reinforce uneven progress in the region. While seemingly less lethal, the Omicron variant is significantly more transmissible than the previous strains. As a result, many economies in the region may need to resort once again to tighter restrictions—particularly those where vaccination coverage is still low,” the economists said.

Jabs: 114M so far

On Tuesday, the Palace reported 114.26 million vaccine doses have been administered. It added that the government was administering an average of 899,774 doses per day.

These doses were composed of 57.82 million first doses; 48.48 million were administered as second doses; 4.38 million were single doses; and 3.58 million were booster shots.

A total of 62.199 million Filipinos have received at least one dose while 52.86 million were considered fully vaccinated. The target population for vaccination is 111.57 million, based on the 2022 population estimates.

The Nation BusinessMirror

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UniTeam urges CHED to defer tuition increase

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HE BBM-Sara UniTeam is urging the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to defer the tuition increase it recently approved for 56 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) for the academic year 2021-2022 amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Former Senator and presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his running mate, Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte, appealed for the suspension of the impending increase as this would negatively impact the financial situation of many Filipino families.

“We are appealing to CHED to consider suspending the scheduled increase. There are still a lot of families struggling even at this juncture of the pandemic.

Allowing the hike in tuition and miscellaneous fees will be an added burden on families whose finances have not yet fully recovered. This may even lead them to stop sending their kids to school altogether,” the UniTeam said.

The team was reacting to a CHED memorandum dated December 6, 2021, stating among others that 56 private HEIs were given the go-ahead to increase their tuition and other school fees.

CHED has already released the said memo to its officials, regional offices, and presidents of private universities and colleges all over the country.

CHED Chairman J. Prospero De Vera III said the approval for the increase was in line with CHED’s guidelines on the recalibration of Miscellaneous and Other School Fees.

The current list was also based on the report of 15 CHED Regional Offices (CHEDROs) and a Commission en Banc Resolution dated November 9, 2021.

“We understand that private education institutions also need to generate revenues to sustain their operation. However, we still need to consider the capacity of a student’s family to pay the added fees. Let’s consider the situation of those who are hard-pressed due to the pandemic,” the UniTeam added.

The CHED’s list also showed 14 HEIs from the National Capital Region were allowed to increase their tuition and other school fees.

A breakdown of the CHED list showed the number of HEIs per region; Region 1-(eight HEIs), Region 3 -(seven HEIs), Region 4-(three HEIs), Region 5 (five HEIs), Region 6 (four HEIs), Region 7 (one HEI), Region 9 (one HEI), Region 10 (nine HEIs), Region 11 (three HEIs), and CAR (one HEI).

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Friday, January 14, 2022 A3

BI cuts on-site work force by at least 30% as Covid infections among personnel soar

By Joel R. San Juan

in Intramuros, and 25 come from other BI offices.

A total of 269 airport personnel are also quarantined, awaiting results of their Covid-19 tests.

The reduced work force will be implemented until January 22, according to Morente.

“We thank [Justice] Secretary Menardo Guevarra for considering our plight and approving our request to temporarily downgrade our work force amid this surge,” Morente said.

“The high number of BI personnel getting sick with Covid-19 is really affecting our operations,” he lamented.

@jrsanjuan1573

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HE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has reduced its on-site work force to at least 30 percent starting Thursday after recording a major increase in the number of Covid-19 cases among its frontliners assigned at the airports and BI offices.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said a total of 251 active Covid-19 cases among its personnel have been reported as of Tuesday, with 135 of them assigned at the airports, 91 at the BI’s main office

Solons to IATF: Go slow on Alert Level 4 declaration 130 Luzon NPA Can’t afford rebels yield in month-long A drive–AFP

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

MID rising cases of Covid-19 in most parts of the country, lawmakers are asking the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to reconsider the economic effects of an Alert Level 4 before imposing such restriction in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Instead, House Committee on People’s Participation Chairperson Florida Robes of San Jose Del Monte City in Bulacan and Rizal Second District Rep. Fidel Nograles urged the IATF to conduct another round of massive vaccination drive to protect outdoor workers amid the exponential increase in Covid-19 cases.

Robes said the Philippines has administered around 115 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines with 58 million receiving the first dose and more than 53 million fully vaccinated. Around 3.8 million had received booster shots.

Robes said with the figure, some 47.9 percent of Filipinos have been fully vaccinated which is still a long way to go before the country can achieve the 70 percent herd immunity.

“On the average only more than 300,000 doses are being administered daily so we need to again ramp up vaccination in order to achieve herd immunity much earlier,” Robes said.

Robes said her city has achieved an 82.89-percent vaccination rate of its target population because of the massive vaccination and information drive being implemented since last year.

“We need to have another massive vaccination drive like what we had last year when we allotted three days to ramp up inoculating at least 9 million people all over the country. The Filipino people should be given sufficient access to life-saving vaccines to give them better protection against Covid-19, especially the highly transmissible Omicron variant,” Robes said.

ACCORDING to Nograles, “We cannot afford to lose much-needed money as we respond to the Covid-19 pandemic that requires a lot of funds.

As such, I appeal to the IATF not to impose Alert Level 4 and instead, do everything not to reach the point that it will be necessary.”

He mentioned that the P3-billion weekly loss due to Alert Level 3 is already too expensive. “I think this is the reason why all of the mayors of Metro Manila also prefer not to further restrict economic activity,” he added.

Nograles said common workers would expectedly bear the brunt of a stricter quarantine status.

“Employees who live in Montalban and work in the National Capital Region will again have a hard time commuting. Worse, those affected by closures, even if only temporary will face even more problems. I hope we can consider these people before coming up with an abrupt decision,” he appealed.

Meanwhile, Robes said as of January 11, San Jose Del Monte City was able to vaccinate some 375,278 or 82.89 percent of its target population while 424,680 or 93.80 percent already received their first dose.

More than 38,178 received their booster shots.

On January 12, 2022, San Jose Del Monte City was able to confirm 157 new cases, raising the total active cases in the city to 1,375.

“We have a high vaccination rate in San Jose Del Monte because of the massive vaccination drive we do every single day. Mayor Arthur Robes has implemented ways to push up vaccination. We have night vaccination for workers and we go house-to-house to reach those who are unable to travel our vaccination sites. Because of this, we are able to achieve 82.89 percent vaccination. Only around 30,000 of our residents are unvaccinated and we are working hard to reach them so that all of us will be protected,” said Robes.

2 Clark Freeport squatter dwellers face illegal gun possession charges

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LARK FREEPORT—The Mabalacat City Office of the Prosecutor (MCOP) will file charges against two informal settlers in this free port for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

This was revealed in a resolution issued by MCOP indicating that they have “found probable cause to indict Ruben Rosero and Marlyn Mallari for violation of Republic Act 10591” or Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

Rosero and Mallari were found in possession of an M1 carbine rifle loaded with 13 live ammunition when they were asked to vacate a 6.5-hectare government property at Sitio Bana in Mabalacat City. The said area, which they illegally occupied, is owned by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and managed by Clark Development Corp. (CDC).

An Order to Vacate was initially issued by CDC to Rosero and Mallari last November 15, 2021. How-

ever, during the implementation and operation of the order, CDC Estate Preservation and Recovery Division (EPRD) officers, along with CDC Public Safety Division (PSD) security personnel and other CDC officers recovered the said firearm and ammunition from the makeshift structure of Rosero and Mallari. Aside from the rifle and ammunition, airguns and improvised “boga” (bamboo cannon) were also found.

CDC then forwarded a complaint

to MCOP with evidence, report, and receipt of the recovered materials. Requests for ballistic examination, spot report, and firearms verification were also asked by the state-owned firm.

A preliminary investigation was also conducted. However, only the complainant appeared during the said event while Romero and Mallari were a no-show and did not submit any counter affidavit. MCOP then resolved to file cases against the two respondents in court.

DPWH chief inspects NCR equipment assets DAR and NNC tie up aims to fight for disaster, emergency response readiness malnourishment in Nueva Ecija

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HE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has already begun checking equipment assets in Metro Manila to hasten the government’s disaster and emergency response.

Public Works Secretary Roger G. Mercado with Senior Undersecretary Rafael C. Yabut inspected on January 11, 2022 available assets at the DPWH National Capital Region (NCR) equipment depot along General Santos Avenue, Lower Bicutan, Taguig City to ensure prompt mobilization during disaster and provide immediate assistance and support to nearby surrounding areas of NCR. “At my direction, we start checking and monitoring the management of available equipment, including ancillary facilities and determine the equipment operational status and demand requirements,” said Mercado.

Also present at the inspection were DPWH Undersecretary Maximo L. Carvajal, Assistant Secretary Wilfredo S. Mallari, and DPWH NCR Director Nomer Abel P. Canlas.

Mercado lauded the DPWH-NCR and Bureau of Equipment for secur-

Morente said he sought the permission of Guevarra before lowering the number of its on-site work force in compliance with directives from the Palace.

Despite t he reduced work force, Morente noted that all BI offices would continue to operate during weekdays, from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

“We hope that the public bears with us as we reduce our manpower during this surge…Our frontliners are getting sick, but we will make sure that the delivery of our services remain unhampered,” Morente assured.

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PUBLIC Works Secretary Roger G. Mercado lead the inspection of DPWH equipment assets for operational readiness for disaster and emergency response. PHOTO COURTESY OF DPWH

ing the latest, state-of-the-art machinery, ready to be used for disaster risk reduction and management.

“With our available equipment assets, we are more than prepared to aid our kababayans in times of disasters,” said Mercado.

DPWH equipment may be a basic highway maintenance equipment and a quick response equipment at

the same time.

Basic highway maintenance equipment are essential to the execution of the mandated maintenance activities of the department.

On the other hand, quick response equipmentarewiththeprimarypurpose of restoring to normal traffic and safely passable affected national roads after calamity and emergency situations.

HE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the National Nutrition Council (NNC) in Central Luzon have formalized a partnership to boost the health and nutrition of children in the province of Nueva Ecija.

The DAR and NNC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) enabling four agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) to supply the Tutok Kainan: Dietary Supplementation Program (DSP) of the NNC with various agricultural products produced by the farmers.

The DAR-NNC joint project is being implemented under the government’s Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty or EPAHP program to meet the regular food requirements of the nutritional needs of children aged 6 to 23 months in 10 municipalities of Nueva Ecija.

These are Bongabon, Cuyapo, Gen. Mamerto Natividad, Laur, Pantabangan, Quezon, San Isidro, Sta. Rosa, Talavera, and Zaragoza.

DAR-Nueva Ecija Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II

Eden B. Ponio said in a news statement the project aims to prevent stunting by improving the diet of the target young children. Ponio added that DAR Nueva Ecija’s EPAHP linked up with other government agencies in a collective effort to fight hunger and at the same time encourage food production and livelihood programs.

The EPAHP is the banner program of the Task Force on Zero Hunger headed by Cabinet and concurrent Presidential spokesperson Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles.

The program specifically targets 6 to 23 month old children to prevent child stunting in the first two years of life or the period referred to as the First 1,000 Days.

The chairmen of the four ARBOs— Dr. Leonilo S. dela Cruz of Golden Beans and Grains Producers Cooperative; Renato C. Dela Cruz of Golden Harvest of Talavera MPC; Ernesto M. Palacio of Liberty Fisherman and Farmer's Association; and Petronilo G. Ucol of Panabingan MPC—have expressed their full support and commitment to the marketing agreement. Jonathan L. Mayuga

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

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T least 130 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and their supporters have yielded to the government in the northern and central parts of the country during a 45-day period, the military said as it accelerated its counterinsurgency efforts pursuant to President Duterte’s order to terminate the rebel movement before the end of his term.

The stream of surrenders from Central and Northern Luzon covered the period of December 1, 2021 up to January 13, 2022, according to Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command acting commander Major Gen. Andrew Costelo, who ordered soldiers to maximize their civilmilitary and combat operations in adherence to Duterte and the military leadership’s orders.

Among those who have yielded were 15 NPA regular members; 12 Milisya ng Bayan members and 102 members of mass organizations in Northern and Central Luzon, which are reportedly allied or fronts of the communist movement.

Just three days ago, Costelo said 50 members of a mass organization in Barangays Alfonso and Matue, both in Gregorio del Pilar, Ilocos Sur have surrendered to the Army’s 81st Infantry Battalion.

“Following the surrender was the presentation of the former mass base supporters to Hon. Alfonso Bailing, the Committee on Peace and Order in the municipality as he administered the Oath of Allegiance to the government and their formal dissociation from the communist terrorist movement,” 81st IB commander Lt. Col. Racii Alajandro Sotto reported to Nolcom.

Brig. Gen. Krishnamurti Mortela, commander of 702nd Infantry Brigade, which covers the area of Ilocos Sur, attributed the “continuous withdrawal” of support from to the effective joint operations of the military and the police, which are complemented by the cooperation of residents and the relentless conduct of the military’s Community Support Program (CSP).

“With the conduct of various community engagements geared towards addressing the needs of the people, the 81st IB led by Lt. Col. Sotto focused on the issues that are being exploited by the communist terrorists to deceive the community folks of Ilocos, thus bridging the gap that was once created by the deceptions and lies of communist terrorist groups,” Mortela said.

Aside from the surrender of the 130 individuals, the Nolcom also recovered a total of 17 firearms and three homemade bombs since December last year.

A4 Friday, January 14, 2022 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

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Senate readies new bill to revitalize livestock, poultry and corn industries

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By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

ENATORS are gearing up to draft a bill that seeks to bankroll programs that would revitalize the livestock, poultry and corn industries to increase farmers’ income while reducing prices of meat for Filipino consumers.

Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, said they would soon file a measure tentatively called the livestock development and competitiveness (LDC) bill that seeks to modernize the

livestock, poultry and corn sectors of the country and lower meat prices in the market.

“We have neglected the livestock industry until the African swine fever [ASF] came in. I did not think of it until the ASF came because our

livestock industry is private-sector led,” Villar said during a virtual Senate hearing on Thursday.

“We are really studying how to help the livestock farmers because of the hardships they experienced with ASF. This bill was delayed because we had to commission a study since there was none before.

I asked the Department of Finance [DOF] to make a study since we cannot write a bill without a basis, and it took them six months,” Villar added.

The proposed LDC bill, which is based on a study commissioned by the government, seeks to “promote the development and competitiveness” of the livestock, poultry and corn industries by creating an earmarked fund to these respective industries akin to the rice competitiveness enhancement fund.

In his presentation, economist Karlo Adriano, who is also a proponent of the study, pointed out that the livestock competitiveness enhancement fund (LCEF) for the livestock, poultry and dairy industries would have an earmarked fund of P6.3 billion based on the average tariff collections from 2015 to 2020.

The corn competitiveness enhancement fund (CCEF), which will be comprised of both the tariff collections from corn and feed wheat imports, would amount to P2.8 billion, Adriano added.

The creation of these two funds would increase the government’s national budget for the corn sector to P5 billion from the present P2.2 billion and livestock budget to nearly

P10 billion from the current P3.6 billion, Adriano explained.

The other salient points of the proposed LDC bill include the rationalization of government agencies concerned with the livestock, poultry and corn industries.

Based on the commissioned study’s recommendation, two government agencies would be created to oversee the development of the livestock, poultry and dairy sectors: first, the Philippine Livestock and Poultry Authority that would focus on the growth of the domestic sectors and second the Bureau of Animal Safety and Regulations that would oversee rules and regulations regarding meat trade.

Adriano pointed out that the current “fragmented government support structure leads to uncoordinated policies and efforts in developing the competitiveness of the country’s livestock, poultry, dairy and corn industries.”

The other provisions of the LDC bill include the crafting of value chain development road maps for the concerned commod it ies a nd t he e xempt ion from taxes and duties of farm inputs, veterinary and other supplies, equipment, machineries, breeders, etc. The LDC also has a provision that would allow the activation of Animal and Livestock Emergency Response Task Force (ALERTF) during pest and diseases-related emergencies.

“The LDC takes a holistic value chain approach which aims to promote the development and competitiveness of the local LPD

[livestock, poultry, dairy] and corn industries,” Adriano said. “[It will also] improve availability and affordability of nutritious and safe LPD products for 110 million Filipinos, who spend about 9 percent of their total household budget on LPD products,” Adriano added.

Like the rice trade liberalization (RTL) law and the RCEF, Adriano pointed out that the LDC and the funds that it will create are both profarmer and pro-consumer.

Adriano explained that the bill is pro-farmer since it hikes the budget of the national programs for their industries while creating a bureaucratic environment wherein there are streamlined government interventions or policies throughout the value chain.

Adriano pointed out the passage of the LDC bill would allow Filipinos in the bottom 30 percent of the population to save at least P125 every month in their meat expenditure while Filipinos in all income deciles would save P274 monthly.

Adriano noted that one of the key reasons why meat prices are expensive in the Philippines compared to neighboring countries is due to feed costs, which account for 60 percent of farmers’ production costs.

Citing industry data, Adriano said a 1 peso per kilogram increase in the price of yellow corn leads to a P0.55 increase for every kilogram of animal feed which in turns results in a P0.84 per kilogram increase in the prices of pork and chicken.

NPS lauds enactment of survivorship law for govt prosecutors

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EPARTMENT of Justice Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento has expressed his gratitude to President Duterte and lawmakers for the enactment of Republic Act 11643, otherwise known as the “National Prosecution Service [NPS] Survivorship Act.” Malcontento said Duterte’s signing into law of RA 11643 last January 11 “is a milestone” for the entire National Prosecution Service and will boost the morale of all prosecutors nationwide.

“It comes at a most crucial time where the pillars of justice are tested by the ongoing attacks against prosecutors, coupled with the continuing health crisis. During his time as prosecutor, President Duterte already knew and understood the serious predicaments and perils that prosecutors face every day in the performance of their duties,” Malcontento said.

“Indeed, the passing of the law is a milestone for the entire NPS and will definitely uplift the morale of all prosecutors who risk their lives and personal safety in furtherance of the administration of justice,” he added.

Malcontento said RA 11643 would provide survivorship benefits to the surviving legitimate spouse and dependent children of retired NPS prosecutors in the event death, thereby enabling the qualified heirs to receive all the retirement benefits of the deceased prosecutor.

The benefits provided in the law are also available to the qualified heirs of prosecutors who are already eligible to retire optionally at the time of their death.

Likewise, the law provides for a retroactive application for prosecutors who died one (1) year prior to its effectivity, in order to allow the widest and most meaningful application of the law for the intended beneficiaries. Malcontento noted that the NPS Survivorship Act was anchored on the Prosecution Service Act of 2010, which sought to strengthen the prosecution service.

The law, he said, paved the way for the Department of Justice’s high prosecution and conviction rates, making it the Most Trusted National Government Agency in July of 2021, under the leadership of Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra.

“The passing of the NPS Survivorship Act will undeniably strengthen the crucial role of prosecutors to act on all cases without fear or favor, in furtherance of the mandate of the NPS as gatekeepers of criminal justice,” the prosecutorgeneral added. Joel R. San Juan

Lloyd Lab eyes EUA application for Covid-19 vax in February

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @TyronePiad

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LOYD Laboratories Inc., a firm eyeing to start its production of Molnupiravir this month, is also aiming to apply for an emergency use authorization (EUA) by February for a Covid-19 vaccine that is currently under clinical trials.

Antonio Ligsay, medical consultant of the company, told the reporters on Thursday that a Phase III clinical trial is being conducted with Chinese pharmaceutical firm Livzon Mabpharm.

“We’re doing an interim analysis towards the end of the month.

We are locking the database next week so we can do the analysis,” he said.

The analysis will be done to determine if the vaccine is indeed effective. If all goes well, Ligsay said they would apply for an EUA next month.

The first two phases of the clinical trials were conducted in China, he said. Along with the Philippines, the third leg of the study is also being done in Indonesia and Russia.

It currently has 21,500 subjects, the bulk or 12,000 of which, are Filipinos.

Dubbed as “VO-1,” the vaccine is a fusion protein, making it “very immunogenic,” Ligsay explained.

“The other good thing with the vaccine is it is also fast to manufacture because it is a protein recombinant. You can make a billion doses in just a short time,” he added.

Currently, Lloyd Lab Business Development Director Christopher Bamba said the firm has a small facility that has the capability for local filling of pre-filled syringes.

“We also initially laid out the plan for the facility, which started last year,” he added.

As for its Molnupiravir project, Bamba said Lloyd Lab is just awaiting the EUA approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

It is ready to produce a minimum of 1 million capsules per batch of the Covid-19 oral therapy drug, both in dosages of 200 milligrams (mg) and 400 mg, he explained. A batch usually takes three to four days and is produced in blister packs of 10 capsules. The product is estimated to be 30 percent to 50 percent cheaper than its competitors.

With an EUA, Bamba said, locally produced capsules will be supplied to all hospitals and institutions like local government units. Lloyd Lab, with a compassionate special permit, is only currently supplying Recuenco General Hospital.

Bamba is anticipating great demand for the product as well. Based on the latest Covid-19 situation, he said that about 3.6 million capsules are needed for 20 percent of the active cases.

Earlier this week, the Board of Investment approved the application for registration of Lloyd Laboratories to produce Molnupiravir, granting it tax incentives under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE) law.

It has invested P24 million to expand its facility. In producing the drug, Lloyd Laboratories acquired a direct technology transfer from India-based integrated pharmaceutical organization Optimus Pharma.

“During times of national emergencies—whether due to natural calamities or global health crises—the importance of having local capability to supply critical and strategic products only serve to remind us of the imperative of ensuring the development of our local manufacturing industry,” Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said earlier.

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House reso backs calls for health breaks, academic ease amid Omicron onslaught

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

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ITH the alarming increase in virus cases, the chairman of the House Committee on Social Services has filed a resolution urging the education sector to heed students, parents, and teachers’ calls for health breaks and academic ease.

In unnumbered resolution, Quezon City. Rep. Alfred Vargas said the recent public health situation, including the spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, has further negatively affected the lives and well-being of millions of learners, students, parents, and teachers all around the country, and has even led some academic groups calling for an academic health break or academic ease.

Vargas cited a statement from the Quezon City Public School Teachers Association (QCPSTA) and other groups reporting a rise in the number of teachers, students, and parents falling ill since the start of classes last January 3.

He also said several universities have heeded the call for an academic health break so students, parents, and teachers can focus on their health and well-being. On the other hand, student groups have petitioned the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to implement a nationwide academic ease.

The lawmaker said the pandemic

“is as much a mental health issue as it is an issue of physical health.”

“With the alarming increase in Covid-19 cases affecting our fellow Filipinos’ mental well-being and the financial capacity of families— as well as the capacity of our learners and students to cope and adjust in a healthy way—government must explore innovative, compassionate, and proactive programs and policies that address these real concerns,” he said.

Vargas said government and other sectors must work together to help individuals, families, and communities cope with pandemicrelated stresses or recover from its adverse impacts.

“Amidst the changing policy landscape of this pandemic, the DepEd and the CHED have been supportive of the physical and mental health care needs of learners and teachers, recognizing the need to prioritize physical and mental resilience and well-being,” he said.

Vargas said he is encouraged by a recent DepEd memorandum giving authority to its regional offices and school division offices to suspend classes and other teaching-related activities over pandemic concerns.

“The solidarity of DepEd, CHED, state and local universities and colleges, and other higher education institutions in valuing, promoting, and protecting all stakeholders in education shall be invaluable in ensuring our nation’s resilience in the face of this pandemic,” he added.

New Palace order reconstitutes maritime inter-agency committee

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RESIDENT Duterte has signed Executive Order (EO) No.159 reconstituting the Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee for the Ratification and Accession to and Implementation of Maritime Convention (ICCRAIMC).

Previously known as the InterAgency Coordinating Committee on the Ratification and Implementation of Maritime Convention (ICCRIMC), the new inter-agency committee will still be chaired by the representative from the Department of Transportation.

It will be vice chaired by a representative from the Department of Foreign Affairs, while its members will come from the Department of Science and Technology, Maritime Industr y Authority, Philippines Coast Guard, Philippine Ports Authority, and Cebu Port Authority.

Also included among its members are representatives from the Department of AgricultureBureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Environmental Management Bureau, DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau, University of the Philippines (UP)-Marine Science Institute, and UP Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology.

Duterte said the creation of

the ICCRAIMC is part of the government’s measures to make the country a major maritime nation by giving premium to the protection of life and marine environment and improving the qualification of Filipino seafarers.

The new committee is tasked to “study new maritime conventions and instruments” for the purpose of being ratified by the country.

It will also develop and adopt a National Work Programme for the implementation and enforcement of the said instruments as well as review and endorse proposed legislation, national policies and administrative regulations for the said purpose.

The ICCRAIMC will also conduct information campaigns and seminars with policy-makers and stakeholders to raise awareness on the requirements and benefits of such International Maritime Organization instruments.

It will also facilitate capacity development initiatives for technical personnel, engage with stakeholders on issues relating to the maritime industry, and develop and implement a monitoring mechanism to assess the ratification or accession process.

EO 159 will take effect upon its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Samuel P. Medenilla

Friday, January 14, 2022 A5

PHL hits record 34,021 daily Covid cases; positivity rate at 47.9 percent

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By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

@claudethmc3

HE Philippines has hit a new record of single-day rise in Covid-19 case count on Thursday after 34,021 additional infections were logged, bringing the total number of cases to 3,092,409.

The positivity rate was also the highest after 47.9 percent turned positive out of 78,866 persons tested.

There were also 4,694 recoveries 82 deaths.

Of the 34,021 reported cases, 33,456 (98 percent) occurred within

the recent 14 days (December 31 to January 13, 2022).

The top regions with cases in the recent two weeks were National Capital Region with 16,793 or 50 percent, Region 4A (7,131 or 21 percent), and Region 3 (3,745

or 11 percent).

Of the 82 deaths, 37 occurred in January 2022 (45 percent), five in December 2021 (6 percent), two in November 2021 (2 percent), six in October 2021 (7 percent), 13 in September 2021 (16 percent), four in August 2021 (5 percent), two in July 2021 (2 percent), one in May 2021 (1 percent), seven in April 2021 (9 percent), two in March 2021 (2 percent), two in January 2021 (2 percent), and one in April 2020 (1 percent) due to late encoding of death information to COVIDKaya.

The DOH said that this issue is currently being coordinated with the Epidemiology and Surveillance Units to ensure information is up to date.

Of the total number of infections, 7.7 percent (237,387) are active, 90.6 percent (2,802,286) have recovered, and 1.71 percent (52,736) died.

There were 246 duplicates that were removed from the total case count. Of these, 180 are recoveries.

Moreover, 44 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation.

All laboratories were operational on January 11, 2022, but 7 labs were not able to submit their data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System.

Based on data in the last 14 days, the seven labs contribute, on average, 5.0 percent of samples tested and 6.6 percent of positive individuals.

Duterte signs law easing child adoption process

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

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HE newly created National Authority for Child Care (NACC) will soon take over the handling of all government matters related to childcare and adoption.

This after Duterte finally signed Republic Act (RA) 11642, or the Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act last week, which created the new quasijudicial agency.

In the House of Representatives, Northern Samar Rep. Paul R. Daza, principal author of the bill, said about 1.8 million Filipino children, who are waiting for loving homes, will benefit from the signing of the new law. The new legislation, he added, finally resolves the problem on abandoned and neglected children who are waiting to be adopted.

“I’m calling on prospective adoptive parents; I enjoin you to give a life-changing chance for children who have long been waiting for the fulfillment of their dreams to have families!” Daza said.

The NACC will take over the previous function of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the InterCountry Adoption Board (ICAB) relating to alternative childcare and adoption.

It will be headed by the Secretary of DSWD as ex-officio chair-

person and will include six other members to be appointed by the President for a non-renewable term of six years.

The six members should include a psychiatrist or psychologist, and two lawyers, who have at least served as Regional Trial Court judges, a social worker, and two representatives from nongovernment organizations (NGO) engaged in child-care and child placing activities.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM), ICAB, and DSWD were tasked to create the organization structure and plantilla positions of the NACC. Among the foremost functions of the NACC will be to declare a child legally available for adoption as well as handle matters concerning domestic administrative adoptions and adult adoption.

It will also be responsible for the implementation of RA 10165, or the Foster Care Act of 2012, RA 11222 or the Simulated Birth Rectification Act and inter-country adoption under Republic Act 8043 or the inter-country Adoption Act of 1995.

The NACC will have the power to impose penalties for the violation of the provisions of RA 11642.

The sanction may range from imprisonment ranging from six years to 12 years and a fine ranging from P50,000 to P200,000 depending on

the violation.

As part of the transition period for the implementation of RA 11642, concerned parties may withdraw all judicial petitions for domestic adoption pending in court so they may refile it to avail of the advantage of the new law.

Until the NACC is established, its functions in issuing Certificate Declaring a Child Legally Available for Adoption (CDCLAA) will temporarily remain with the DSWD’s Program Management Bureau.

RA 11642 will take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in newspapers of general circulation.

The new law also mandates the adoption process (non-relative, relative within 4th degree of consanguinity or affinity and cases of adult adoption) to become purely an administrative proceeding.

This means, the long judicial process—which previously governed adoption cases—is now a thing of the past.

The law is much anticipated. Prospective parents interviewed by legislators during deliberations shared their frustrations and agonies over the long court cases, not to mention the very high costs.

The law also provides that any Filipino citizen of at least 25 years age, who is in possession of full civil capacity and legal rights, has not been convicted of any crime involv-

ing moral turpitude, is of good moral character and can model the same, is emotionally and psychologically capable of caring for children, at least sixteen years older than the adoptee, and who is in a position to support the child, is allowed to adopt subject to requirements.

It added that NACC, a local government unit, or a child placing or the child-caring agency, which has custody of a child should exert all efforts using tri-media and any other possible means to locate the biological parents of the child and seek their consent.

If such efforts fail, the child shall, if applicable, be registered as a foundling and subsequently be the subject of administrative proceedings where said child shall be declared abandoned: Provided, that if the adoptee is an adult, the search for the biological parent is at the discretion of the adoptee.

It also provides that rescission of adoption may be implemented based on valid grounds.

The bill said adoptive parents may avail of paid maternity and paternity leaves as provided for under existing laws for biological parents.

“I have dreamt of a future like this—where our society allows adoptive parents and adopted children to enjoy the fullness of blissful family life, without the long and tedious court proceedings,” said Daza.

With Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

US: China’s maritime claims in South China Sea are ‘unlawful’. . . continued from a12 “Unclos does not exclude a coastal State’s historic rights that have been established in the long-term practice.

Relevant international judicial cases have recognized the historic rights,” China wrote in its August 16, 2021 communique to the UN Secretary General, in answer to the communication of New Zealand.

US made a separate fact-check on this claim by China and their findings show that “most States rely expressly on the provisions of the Convention with respect to outlying archipelagos.” There were “few cases” where other countries engaged in similar practice but other states protested formally.

However, the US has no claim over the South China Sea and the UN’s hand is tied in terms of policing China—with its veto power at the Security Council.

“With the release of this latest study, the United States calls again on the PRC to conform its maritime claims to international law

as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention, to comply with the decision of the arbitral tribunal in its award of July 12, 2016, in The South China Sea Arbitration, and to cease its unlawful and coercive activities in the South China Sea.,” the US State Department said in its press statement.

Public-transport ban on unvaxxed meant to protect all–DOTr. . .

It is important to note that the policy only takes effect while Alert Level 3 (or higher) is implemented to stem the surging cases of Covid-19, particularly with the spread of the highly infectious Omicron variant.

“Severe Covid-19 infections caused by non-vaccination result in an overwhelming of cases of hospitalization. The World Health Organization [WHO] has been very CLEAR: while Omicron causes less severe disease than Delta, it remains a dangerous virus, particularly for those who are unvaccinated.”

The agency also warned that if the number of public transport personnel infected with the virus keeps

rising, “we might face another shutdown just like what happened last year in the MRT-3, LRT lines, and PNR, as most front-facing passengers were infected with the virus.

WE WANT TO PREVENT ANOTHER PUBLIC TRANSPORT SHUTDOWN. We are doing everything we can to maintain and keep our public transport operations safe and running. It will be a much heavy burden for commuters if we experience a repeat of public transport closures.”

Businesses are at risk of a shutdown due to the surge in infections, it noted. “According to the Department of Trade and Industry [DTI], our campaign is all-encompassing. If we do

not act now, all industries and business sectors will be severely affected.

Either the businesses will minimize workers, cut down on some parts of their business, retrench employees, or shut down to cut down on losses or pay off debts. And this affects not only the business owners but people who will lose their job and all those who depend on them.”

The policy, it said, has legal basis: the Metro Manila Council Resolution last week on the guidelines for unvaccinated individuals. The Resolution prohibits unvaccinated individuals from boarding public transport.

The DOTr said its position does

not violate RA 11525, which states that vaccine cards shall not be considered as additional mandatory requirement for educational, employment and other similar government transaction purposes. “Access to public transportation is not among those enumerated in the prohibition.

The Administrative Code prevails, which mandates DOTr to provide safe transportation services to the general public.”

Nagkaisa’s plea

NAGKAISA called on the government to put a stop to such “heavyhanded lockdown measures” and replace it with “comprehensive,

people-centered, and health-based pandemic response” by consulting the private sector and labor groups.

“This requires more than widespread vaccination but also the employment of more compassionate, free, and accessible health protocol procedures,” Nagkaisa said.

Isko warns anti-vaxxer ralliers

MANIL A Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso has signed an ordinance regulating the mobility of unvaccinated individuals around the city.

“While it is true I agree [with the decision of Metro Manila mayors], we were the first city that banned the unvaccinated from malls. I

continued from a12

think that is a message already,” Moreno said.

The 47-year-old Aksyon Demokratiko presidential bet stressed that they need to impose restrictions on the mobility of those who remain unvaccinated as to prevent the further spread of Covid-19, particularly its highly-contagious Omicron variant.

Meanwhile, Moreno said criminal charges have been filed against four persons who participated in a “No to Vaccination” rally in Liwasang Bonifacio on Tuesday. He said lawbreakers or those who violate Manila’s laws will immediately be punished.

Samuel P. Medenilla

A6

The World BusinessMirror

Friday, January 14, 2022

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

Switzerland, Spain and UK add to talk of Covid endemic phase W

US hits North Korean officials with sanctions after missile test

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witzerland joined Spain and the UK in suggesting that the coronavirus pandemic may be shifting to an endemic phase.

Switzerland’s interior minister said the transition from pandemic to a stage where the country learns to live with Covid-19 like the flu may be in sight.

“We may be on the eve of a watershed, the transition from a pandemic phase to an endemic phase,” Alain Berset, whose ministry includes health, said at a media conference Wednesday.

Berset’s comments follow a call

by Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday to consider treating the crisis differently, given that the Omicron wave of infections hasn’t led to an equivalent surge in hospitalizations and deaths. Britain’s Education Secretary, Nadhim Zahawi, told the BBC on Sunday the UK is “on a path towards transitioning from pandemic to endemic.”

Meanwhile, Covid infection rates are falling in London, raising hopes that the Omicron outbreak is in retreat.

Infections for the UK increased to 4.3 million in the first week of January, up from 3.7 million a week earlier, the Office for National Statistics said. England accounted for the bulk, at just over 3.7 million, and the highest infection rate at 1-in-15.

But cases in London, which has been at the epicenter of the UK outbreak, dropped from 1 in 10 to 1 in 15. The hot spots are now the North West of England and Yorkshire and the Humber, where 1 in 10 people have Covid.

Signs that the virus may be retreating in the capital provide some hope that the worst may soon be over. A short, sharp surge in cases echoes the experience in South Africa, where Omicron was first reported.

Key developments:

Germany posts record cases for 2nd day

Germany registered a record number of new Covid-19 infections for a second straight day as the Omicron variant continues to spread rapidly in Europe’s biggest economy.

There were 81,417 new cases in the 24 hours through early Thursday, according to the latest data from the RKI public-health institute. The seven-day incidence rate per 100,000 people climbed to 428, moving closer to the all-time high of 452 scaled at the end of November.

Qantas cuts a third of capacity

Qantas Airways Ltd. is cutting domestic and international flight capacity as the Omicron variant sweeps through Australia and across the globe, reversing an expected pickup in travel.

Domestic capacity for the fiscal quarter started January 1 is expected to be about 70 percent of pre-Covid levels, compared to a previous forecast of 102 percent, the Sydney-based carrier said. International capacity is seen falling to around 20 percent of pre-Covid levels from 30 percent.

South Korea tightens rules for visitors

South Korea tightened rules for inbound visitors after infections among those who traveled overseas increased. Visitors will be required to take a PCR test 48 hours in advance, compared with 72 hours previously, beginning on January 20, according to a statement from officials.

Visitors are also required to take disinfected buses, trains or taxis upon arrival unless they are riding in their own car. The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases found among people who visited overseas rose to 391 from 200 in the second week of December.

Tokyo raises Covid-19 alert level

Tokyo raised its Covid-19 alert to the second-highest level on a fourtier system as the number of daily infections grows rapidly with experts warning that the Omicron variant is quickly replacing the Delta.

At an expert panel meeting on Thursday, the capital’s officials also raised the alert over the medical situation in the city by one notch from the lowest level. Japan’s capital is set to report more than 3,000 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, FNN reported, citing an unidentified official.

India parliament may work in shifts

A surge in coronavirus infections may force the Indian parliament’s upcoming budget session to be conducted in shifts, ANI news agency reported citing unnamed officials.

The federal Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs proposed the plan after more than 400 staff members tested positive ahead of the session expected to begin later this month, according to the report.

The country reported 247,417 new cases on Thursday morning, its highest surge since May 23. The total tally of confirmed cases now stands at 36.32 million.

HK experts recommend wearing two masks

High-risk people should consider wearing two face masks to guard against contracting the Omicron variant, two Hong Kong virus experts said, as the city attempts to stamp out an outbreak of the highly infectious virus.

Wearing a cloth mask over a surgical mask can “tighten the gap not covered by the surgical mask, which is often very loose,” said David Hui, a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and a member of the government’s scientific committee. He recommended the measure for high-exposure groups, people in outbreak areas and on public transport.

Toilet paper limits return to Australia

Australian retailer Woolworths reinstated a limit of two packs per

customer across toilet paper and analgesic products nationwide both in-store and online, according to a statement.

In the western part of the country, the retailer is introducing a limit of two packs per customer across mince, sausages and chicken products because of signs of excessive buying.

The company is experiencing supply chain challenges because of Covid-19 and high rates of absenteeism.

Japan to scrap quarantine for medical workers

Japan will allow medical workers who have been identified as close contacts of Omicron cases to keep working, after staff absences caused by a 14-day quarantine period stressed the health system in an area suffering from a large outbreak.

The health-care staff can continue working as long as they pass daily tests, the country’s health minister Shigeyuki Goto told reporters on Wednesday. The government is moving to allocate resources to those who need them the most as cases surge in Japan, which had all but snuffed out its wave of the Delta variant.

China detects Omicron in second port city

China detected Omicron in a second major port city, deepening concern of a wider outbreak at Beijing’s doorstep and raising the prospect that more foreign businesses might follow Toyota in halting operations along the northeastern coast.

Chinese officials said Thursday that at least one person has the more transmissible omicron variant in Dalian, a city of seven million. The patient showed no symptoms, but tested positive after returning from their college in the nearby city of Tianjin, where at least 137 other cases were traced as of Wednesday. A second person in Dalian has also tested positive with the virus, but the variant is unknown.

A broader spread of Omicron is bad news for China. With just three weeks to go before the winter Olympics are set to begin in Beijing, China has put in place some of the world’s toughest measures to stamp out the virus. Bloomberg News

A S H I N G T O N —T h e Biden administration on Wednesday slapped sanctions on five North Korean officials in its first response to Pyongyang’s latest ballistic missile test and later announced it will also seek new UN sanctions.

The Treasury Department said it was imposing penalties on the five officials over their roles in obtaining equipment and technology for the North’s missile programs. In addition, the State Department ordered sanctions against another North Korean, a Russian man and a Russian company for their broader support of North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction activities.

The Treasury’s moves came just hours after North Korea said leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a successful flight test of a hypersonic missile on Tuesday that he claimed would greatly increase the country’s nuclear “war deterrent.”

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations, tweeted Wednesday night that following designations by Treasur y and State the US is also proposing UN sanctions in response to North Korea’s six ballistic missile launches since September, “each of which were in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.”

A US diplomat said the US is continuing to coordinate with its council partners on the proposed new sanctions.

One of the five North Koreans targeted by Treasury is based in Russia, while the other four are based in China. All are accused of providing money, goods or services to North Korea’s Second Academy of Natural Sciences, which Treasury says is heavily involved in the country’s military defense programs. “ The DPRK’s latest missile launches are further evidence that it continues to advance prohibited programs despite the international community’s calls for diplomacy and denuclearization,” said Treasury’s chief of terrorism and financial intelligence, Brian Nelson. He referred to the North by the acronym of its official name: the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

The sanctions freeze any assets that the targets have in US jurisdictions, bar Americans from doing business with them and

subject foreign companies and individuals to potential penalties for transactions with them.

Shortly before the announcement, North Korea’s state news agency reported that the latest missile launch involved a hypersonic glide vehicle, which after its release from the rocket booster demonstrated “glide jump flight” and “corkscrew maneuvering” before hitting a sea target 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) away.

Photos released by the agency showed a missile mounted with a pointed cone-shaped payload soaring into the sky while leaving a trail of orange flames, with Kim watching from a small cabin with top officials, including his sister Kim Yo Jong.

The launch was North Korea’s second test of its purported hypersonic missile in a week, a type of weaponry it first tested in September, as Kim Jong Un continues a defiant push to expand his nuclear weapons capabilities in the face of international sanctions, pandemic-related difficulties and deadlocked diplomacy with the United States.

The UN Security Council initially imposed sanctions on North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006 and made them tougher in response to further nuclear tests and an increasingly sophisticated ballistic missile program.

In 2018, US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said the sanctions had cut off all North Korean exports and 90 percent of its trade and disbanded the pool of workers that North Korea sent abroad to earn hard currency—but Pyongyang has managed to evade some measures.

China and Russia circulated a draft resolution in November urging the Security Council to end a host of sanctions against North Korea including a ban on exports of seafood and textiles, a cap on imports of refined petroleum products and a prohibition on its citizens working overseas and sending home their earnings. It stressed the economic difficulties in North Korea and said these and other sanctions should be lifted “with the intent of enhancing the livelihood of the civilian population.”

China and Russia are both vetowielding members of the Security Council and whether they will support new sanctions on North Korea remains to be seen. AP

India, Britain launching Growing congestion at world’s biggest port talks on free trade deal

N

EW DELHI—India and Br ita in are l aunching talks on pursuing a free trade deal that is expected to boost bilateral trade by billions of dollars in one of the most ambitious negotiations to take place after Brexit.

Britain’s International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan is in New Delhi and will meet with Piyush Goyal, India’s minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Textiles. Actual negotiations kick off next week, officials said.

Both sides hope the deal will spark huge benefits for several industries, from food and drink to cutting-edge renewable technology.

The deal could potentially double UK exports to India and boost two-way trade by $38 billion a year by 2035, a British government statement said.

“A deal with India is a golden opportunity to put UK businesses at the front of the queue as the Indian economy continues to grow rapidly,” Trevalyan said, adding that Britain was keen to tap into the growing middle class in Asia’s

third-largest economy.

Her visit signals efforts from Britain, after leaving the European Union in 2016, to focus its trade policies in the Indo-Pacific region. India, once a British colony, is viewed as a favorable location given uncertainties over ties with China.

Investment from Indian companies already supports 95,000 jobs across the UK, the statement said.

Britain is angling for a deal that slashes barriers to doing business and trading, including cutting tariffs on exports of British-made cars and Scotch whisky.

In an interview with the Financial Times newspaper on Thursday, Trevelyan said “everything is on the table to discuss”, including broadening visa access for Indian students and skilled workers. She said she would like for a deal to be clinched by early 2023.

According to India’s External Affairs Ministry, India and Britain are focusing on five key areas, people-to-people contacts, trade, defense and security, climate action and health. AP

S

hips looking to avoid Covidinduced delays in China are making a beeline for Shanghai, causing growing congestion at the world’s biggest container port.

Shipping firms are making the switch to avoid delays at nearby Ningbo, which suspended some trucking services near that port after an outbreak of Covid-19, according to freight forwarders and experts. Ships are also re-routing to Xiamen in the south, Bloomberg shipping data showed.

Those diversions are adding to the new wave of congestion facing China’s ports as an increasing

number of cities deal with Covid outbreaks. The strict testing of workers and truckers ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday at the end of this month is further stressing already strained supply chains as the pandemic heads into its third year.

In the country’s technology hub of Shenzhen in the south, testing of residents and truckers to contain an outbreak means a queue of ships has formed at the port.

That’s caused the Shekou terminal to start restricting the acceptance of goods, meaning that from Friday full containers can only be trucked in three days before ves-

sels are due to arrive, the terminal operator said Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the northern Chinese city of Tianjin ordered workers to take a half-day break for Covid testing as officials try to contain the omicron variant.

Trucking capacity is estimated to be half of normal levels, and drivers are required to be tested daily before entering the port, said Alex Hersham, CEO of digital freightforwarder Zencargo.

That outbreak has now spread to the port city of Dalian, with two people who traveled there from Tianjin confirmed to have

the Omicron variant.

The influx of ships into Shanghai has delayed sailing schedules for container ships by about a week, said freight forwarders.

Those delays may then ripple outward to already back-logged gateways in US and Europe, they said. “ The port congestion issue will continue to impact restocking cycles this quarter, alongside the Omicron breakout and the impending Chinese New Year closures in China,” said Josh Brazil, vice president of supply chain insights at logistics intelligence firm project44. Bloomberg News

More than half of workers to consider quitting before returning to the office

W

orkers grew more uncomfortable about heading back to the office in the first week of the year and were much more likely to consider quitting if their employer demanded they return, a sign that companies’ efforts to get people back amid rising Covid caseloads face stiff resistance.

The share of remote workers who would consider leaving their

job if they were asked back to the office before they felt safe rose to 55 percent as of January 6, up from 45 percent just a week earlier, according to pol lster Morning Consult. More than 4 in 10 workers felt unsure about returning to the office, compared with 35 percent who said so on December 30.

People were also less likely to want to attend indoor sporting

events, go to the movies and dine out, Morning Consult’s weekly US survey found.

The findings come as Robinhood Markets Inc. said it would allow most employees to work remotely on a permanent basis, while companies including Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc. and Wells Fargo & Co. once again delay plans to bring employees back to their desks as the Omicron

variant sweeps through the US. The surge has led to staffing shortages with millions of Americans calling in sick, on top of those who have already quit, sapping the nation’s economic recovery. Employers are also unsure whether the Supreme Court will toss out the Biden administration’s proposed rule requiring worker vaccines or weekly tests, clouding the workplace situation even more. Bloomberg News

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Friday, January 14, 2022

A7

Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT

Name and Address of Employer: BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY, INC. Lot 4044 Molino Boulevard, Niog 3, Bacoor City, Cavite

Regional Office No. IV-A 4th Flr. Andenson Bldg. II, Brgy. Parian, Calamba City Telefax No.: (049) 545-7362

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

January 14, 2022

Position and Job Description

NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION FOR ALIEN EMPLOYMENT PERMIT (AEP)

Notice is hereby given that the following employers have filed with this Regional Office application/s for Alien Employment Permit/s.

11.

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

Position and Job Description

Monthly Salary Range

YULIN DING Chinese

Name and Address of Employer: KINPO ELECTRONICS (PHILIPPINES), INC. B7 L1, LTC-SEZ, Lipa City, Batangas Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

1.

Position and Job Description QUALITY ASSURANCE DEPUTY DIRECTOR Oversee the procedures for testing methods, materials, and products.

BEH SING HEE Malaysian

Monthly Salary Range

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Name and Address of Employer: ALUMART MANUFACTURING INC. GGBP, Buenavista II, General Trias, Cavite Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Php150,000.00 -Php499,999.00

12.

Name and Address of Employer: AMKOR TECHNOLOGY PHILIPPINES, INC. 119 North Science Avenue, LTI, Binan, Laguna Position and Job Description

MYUNGYUL YUM Korean

DIRECTOR / FACILITIES Responsible for the effective management of facilities engineering.

3.

HIDEYUKI NAMIKI Japanese

JOON BAEK Korean

Position and Job Description

5.

AYUMU KIDO Japanese

14.

ASSISTANT TECHNICAL ADVISER Responsible for the training and teaching of Filipino employees

6.

TAKASHI SATO Japanese

GENERAL MANAGER In-charge of general management and administration

Position and Job Description

GENERAL MANAGER Manage the over-all operation of the company

Position and Job Description GENERAL MANAGER Control the over-all operation of the company

7.

TAKUYA MATSUI Japanese

TECHNICAL / SALES ADVISER Provide technical advice as well as expertise to engineering and sales and marketing team.

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

8.

TAKESHI NAKAHAMA Japanese

Position and Job Description ADVISOR Provide technical and subject matter expertise in the areas of marine vessel operations

9.

ALEXANDER AUER Austrian

Position and Job Description

VICE PRESIDENT FOR PRODUCTION Oversee and manage the production operations

Php60,000.00 – Php89,999.00

Monthly Salary Range

10.

DEOKRAE KIM Korean

16.

Position and Job Description

COMPUTER SYSTEM ANALYST Troubleshoot software and hardware problems.

CHANGAN WANG Chinese

Php90,000.00 – Php149,999.00

Monthly Salary Range

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

Position and Job Description

PRODUCTION CONTROL DIVISION MANAGER Hire, train, and supervise impex/ procurement and planning members

Monthly Salary Range

Php500,000.00 above

Name and Address of Employer: FURUKAWA AUTOMOTIVES SYSTEMS LIMA PHILIPPINES, INC. Blk2 Lot3 Ph2a Jp Rizal Ave. Lima Technology Center, Lipa City, Batangas Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Monthly Salary Range

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00 TAKUYA FUKAO Japanese

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT DEPUTY DEPARTMENT MANAGER Administer all import and export goods and oversee delivery of all goods and manage distribution

Php90,000.00 – Php149,999.00

Monthly Salary Range

Php90,000.00 – Php149,999.00

Name and Address of Employer: YOU-WE PHILIPPINES INC. Brgy. Samnat, Tanauan City, Batangas Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

18.

Position and Job Description

Monthly Salary Range

JIANGXIAN ZHANG Chinese

QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER Quality control of aqua feeds

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

JIE YU Chinese

FINANCE MANAGER Build a financial system and maintain a normal operation

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

Monthly Salary Range

Php150,000.00 – Php499,999.00

19.

Name and Address of Employer: TOSHIBA INFORMATION EQUIPMENT (PHILS.), INC. 103 East Main Science Ave. Ext., SEPZ, Laguna Technopark, Binan City, Laguna Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Monthly Salary Range

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

Name and Address of Employer: BNK TECHNOLOGY INC. Unit H, 2nd Floor, Bea Alieson Building, Imus Buhay na Tubig, Imus City, Cavite Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE Field incoming help request from end user from the People’s Republic of China via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner consistent with Chinese standards.

ZHICHAO LI Chinese

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Monthly Salary Range

Name and Address of Employer: KTM ASIA MOTORCYCLE MANUFACTURING, INC. (KAMMI) IMI Building 1, North Science Ave., LTSEPZ, Biñan City, Laguna Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Monthly Salary Range

Name and Address of Employer: TOKAI DENSHI PHILIPPINES, INC. Lot 3, Block 2, Phase 2, CEZ, Rosario, Cavite

Name and Address of Employer: FUJITRANS LOGISTICS PHILIPPINES INC. 2f Unit 210-211 Crosstown Mall Brgy. Pulong Sta. Cruz, Sta. Rosa, Laguna Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Monthly Salary Range

17.

Position and Job Description

MOLDING DEPUTY DIRECTOR Supervise the CPPH molding production and oversee the daily functions of their organizations.

PING CHEN CHOU Taiwanese

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National Position and Job Description

Position and Job Description

Name and Address of Employer: SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Mall, Tower 2, Biñan, Laguna

Name and Address of Employer: XUDONG PHILIPPINES INC. CEZ, Rosario, Cavite Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

Php90,000.00 – Php149,999.00

Name and Address of Employer: RING ELECTRONICS (PHILIPPINES) CO INC. Blk 7B Cezia Road Phase 2 PEZA Rosario, Cavite Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

PRODUCTION MAINTENANCE Troubleshoot mechanical breakdowns

Monthly Salary Range

Name and Address of Employer: F-TECH S&F (PHILIPPINES) INC. FPIP II-SEZ, Sta. Anastacia, Sto.Tomas, Batangas Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

ZHIYONG TAO Chinese

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

15.

4.

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

Name and Address of Employer: CAL-COMP (PRECISION PHILIPPINES) INC. Brgy. Sta. Anastacia, Sto. Tomas, Batangas

Name and Address of Employer: 1000MM TRAINING SCHOOL INC. Balubad 2nd Silang, Cavite Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

GENERAL MANAGER Oversee business operations

Php60,000.00 – Php89,999.00

Name and Address of Employer: PRICON MICROELECTRONICS INC. 14 Ampere St. LISP 1, Cabuyao, Laguna Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

ZHEN RAO Chinese

Monthly Salary Range 13.

2.

Monthly Salary Range

Monthly Salary Range

20.

KIO YAMAMOTO Japanese

Position and Job Description

VICE PRESIDENT Manage budget and financial flow of the company

Monthly Salary Range

Php90,000.00 – Php149,999.00

Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at the DOLE Regional Office within 30 days from the date of publication.

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

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00 To avail of free job referral, placement, and employment guidance services, visit the nearest Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) or log on at http://www.philjobnet.gov.ph

A8

BusinessMirror

Friday, January 14, 2022

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

RUAN, YONGJIE Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 1.

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

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

2.

Brief Job Description: Assisting and organizing campaigns and developing marketing strategies.

3.

Brief Job Description: Assisting and organizing campaigns and developing marketing strategies.

12.

4.

Brief Job Description: Provide chat support to clients.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledge in computer and experience in Marketing Staff.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications / can multi-task and keen to details / able to speak Chinese and English fluently Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

5.

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

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledge in computer and experience in Marketing Staff.

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

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

YAN YWIN LIKE E-commerce Consultant (Chinese Speaking) Brief Job Description: Provide chat support to clients.

6.

FONG JUN CHENG E-commerce Consultant (Chinese Speaking) Brief Job Description: Provide chat support to clients.

Brief Job Description: Provide chat support to clients.

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

XING, XINGKUN Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 14.

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

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

20.

LEE, DONGHO Airport Manager 15.

Brief Job Description: Lead, direct and manage the day to day airline operation at the airport

21.

Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist shall answer incoming phone calls from clients and troubleshoot customer technical problems with computer software and hardware.

NGUYEN DINH PHUC IT Support Specialist Brief Job Description: The IT Support Specialist shall answer incoming phone calls from clients and troubleshoot customer technical problems with computer software and hardware.

ONG KO SIN IT Support Specialist 23.

Brief Job Description: The IT Support Specialist shall answer incoming phone calls from clients and troubleshoot customer technical problems with computer software and hardware.

EDI YANTO Operation Analyst 24.

Brief Job Description: Study, review and analyze quantitative data and provide reports to Operations Supervisors and Managers

BOSKALIS PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 3701, 3801 The Orient Square, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

DIENDER, BRAM Finance Project Controller

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

Brief Job Description: Responsible for working within all stages of project management. The primary role is to work closely with project managers to ensure that all budgeting, scheduling and coordination processes run smoothly

Basic Qualification: Higher professional education in Business Administration, Finance.

Skills in various ERP systems, preferably Infor LN and knowledge of IFRS and GAAP. Must have work experience of at least 5 years on international Dredging and reclamation projects.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

CASPO INCORPORATED 43/f, 45/f, 49/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue Corner V.a. Rufino Street, Bel-air, City Of Makati

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in airport operation, knowledgeable in the aviation regulations can speak Korean Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist shall answer incoming phone calls from clients and troubleshoot customer technical problems with computer software and hardware.

LIU, QINGTAO Chinese IT Support Specialist

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

ASIANA AIRLINES, INC. 6 The Salcedo Towers, 169 H.v. Dela Costa St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist shall answer incoming phone calls from clients and troubleshoot customer technical problems with computer software and hardware.

LIU, HAOYUAN Chinese IT Support Specialist

AMUSETECH BUSINESS OUTSOURCING 2/f Rivergreen Residences, 2217 Pedro Gil St., Barangay 880, Santa Ana, City Of Manila

16.

7.

19.

22.

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

FU, QIUHUA E-commerce Consultant (Chinese Speaking)

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION HU, XIN Chinese IT Support Specialist

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

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

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

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

No.

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

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

CHONG KAR MAY E-commerce Consultant (Chinese Speaking)

Brief Job Description: Provide chat support to clients.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

13.

LIU, ZHEN Chinese Speaking Marketing Staff

TAN MAN JIE AL SONGSAK E-commerce Consultant (Chinese Speaking)

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

AICE BRANDS ICE CREAM PHILIPPINES INC. U-204, Armal Bldg., C. Raymundo Avenue, Maybunga, City Of Pasig

HE, FEI Chinese Speaking Marketing Staff

11.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

8 STONE BUSINESS OUTSOURCING OPC 5-10/f Tower 1, Pitx Kennedy Road, Tambo, City Of Parañaque

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Basic Qualification: Extensive experience and good working knowledge of operational procedures and policies; ability to communicate fluently with Chinese, Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Indonesia, and English speaking clients Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

DYNAMIC STUDIO TECHNOLOGY INC. 5th To 10th/f Platinum Tower Building, Aseana Ave. Cor. Fuentes Street, Baclaran, City Of Parañaque

MAO, QINGYU Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 25.

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

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

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

8.

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

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

C’EST LA VIE EVENT MANAGEMENT INC. 230, Narra Street, Marikina Heights, City Of Marikina 26.

SUN, JUN Field Sales Consultant

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 17.

9.

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

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

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

10.

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

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

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

YAN, JIANG Chinese Speaking Admin Associate

Brief Job Description: The one responsible to “get the sale” using various customer sales methods.

Basic Qualification: Can research accounts and generate or follow through sales leads; can valuate customers skills, needs and build productive long lasting relationships; can meet personal and team sales targets

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

HAN, GUANGYUAN Chinese Speaking Program Designer

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 27.

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

CAPSLOCK INC. 7th & 8th Flr. Y Tower Bldg., Coral Way Drive Cor. Macapagal Ave., Barangay 76, Pasay City

HE, SHUJING Chinese IT Support Specialist 18.

Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist shall answer incoming phone calls from clients and troubleshoot customer technical problems with computer software and hardware.

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

LIU, YACHU Chinese Speaking Program Designer 28.

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

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

TRUONG HONG QUANG Chinese Speaking Program Designer 29.

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

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written

No.

30.

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

LY MY YEN Chinese Speaking Business Analyst

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

LIN, CHUYOU Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 31.

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

SUN, QINGXIN Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 32.

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

ZHOU, RUIXIANG Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 33.

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

34.

Brief Job Description: Lead, drive, review and guide the internal controls operations manager / team with the aim to maintain up to date risk assessment matrix and complete business reviews timely based on the associated risk identified.

SKUTOV, EVGENII People And Culture Business Partner Director 35.

Brief Job Description: Comprehensive knowledge of HR processes (org design, TA, talent management LR) knowledge of labor legislation. Understanding of the corporate P&C strategy and corporate values. Strong communication skills. Strong stakeholder management.

41.

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

WU, JIAQI Chinese Speaking Business Analyst 42.

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

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

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

YAN, QING Chinese Speaking Business Analyst 43.

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

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

JT INTERNATIONAL (PHILIPPINES) INC. Penthouse, W Office Building, 28th St. Cor. 11th Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

KHONJE, SANDERSON JACKSON NALIGONJE Internal Control And Compliance Lead Manager

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

VONG KIM TRANG Chinese Speaking Business Analyst

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

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

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

SUGIANTO Chinese Speaking Business Analyst 40.

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

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in accountancy and finance.

CPA mandatory, CIA a plus.

8 - 10 years in internal controls and compliance combined in multinational company

ZHANG, YIMING Chinese Speaking Business Analyst 44.

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

45.

46.

47.

Brief Job Description: Coordinate and oversee the technical and engineering activities of the department.

Responsible for planning engineering project.

Basic Qualification: Must have operational experience and organizational skills.

Bachelors Degree in Business or Management preferred Japanese Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

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

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

37.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the total financial organization of Reckitt PH and oversees all company financial activities

BUDHRAJA, SACHIN General Manager 38.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in leading the entire local organization by creating and communicating compelling vision, strategy and objectives to leaders and employees of Mead Johnson Nutrition Philippines to achieve its business goals.

54.

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

Basic Qualification: With atleast 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written

55.

56.

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

Basic Qualification: With atleast 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written

CHIOU, YA-HAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

HAN, YONGGUI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

48.

HU, YANTING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

QIN, LI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

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

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

Basic Qualification: Accounting or economics degree preferably with MBA

49.

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Basic Qualification: With extensive years progressive commercial experience (preferably in sales, marketing, medical) in consumer products company, preferably in food / nutritional business with not; Less than 15 years in leadership position / with working knowledge in (nutrition and health) consumer products, marketing, selling, and promotion industry with high level in industry contacts.

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

50.

51.

WANG, NANNAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

ZHAN, JINSHAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

SAI SWAM HLAING Myanmari Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

THANT ZIN TUN Myanmari Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LI, YAN-JUN Taiwanese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

TRAN DUC DONG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

Brief Job Description: Deputy General Manager primary responsibility is to oversee the day-to-day operations, assist to prepare all strategies for sales and marketing

LEE, CHANGHAN Architecture Section Leader Brief Job Description: Will manage, supervise and evaluate his assigned team.

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

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

FERREIRO LOPEZ, RICARDO RAFAEL Consultant For European Market 59.

Brief Job Description: In-depth knowledge of marketing techniques and best practices.

WANG, MINGLI Mandarin Speaking It/customer Support 60.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in both English and Japanese (read/write/speak) understand the basic corporate finance/ accounting and marketing.

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

Basic Qualification: Has an excellent managerial experience.

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Russian and English Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

Brief Job Description: Coordinate, respond and address inquiries of Chinese Speaking Customers, call center activities

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking foreign language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

TIGER RESORT, LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT, INC. Okada Manila, New Seaside Drive, Entertainment City, Barangay Tambo, City Of Parañaque

SAM, CHOU KEONG Director, Loyalty Marketing

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

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

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

SEQUOIA SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS INC. 37f Lkg Tower, 6801 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

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

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

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

SEATRACE INTERNATIONAL INC. 8310, Sampaguita Street, Santo Niño, City Of Parañaque

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

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

POSCO E AND C BRANCH OFFICE 9/f Philamlife Tower, 8767 Paseo De Roxas, Bel-air, City Of Makati

61.

WANG, KANG Chinese Customer Service

WONG YUAN ZHEN Malaysian Customer Service

OTA, KOSUKE Deputy General Manager

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

PLA MATELS (PHILIPPINES) CORPORATION Unit A Kingston Tower, Building B2 L1 Acacia Avenue, Mbp, Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa

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

MEAD JOHNSON NUTRITION (PHILIPPINES), INC. 2309, P. Tamo Ext, Magallanes, City Of Makati

GARG, PRABHAT Finance Director

53.

58.

MAYON MACHINERY RENTRADE, INC. Lot 32 Blk. 69, M. Roxas St. Cor. Bayani Road, Western Bicutan, City Of Taguig

36.

Basic Qualification: With atleast 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Sky Garage Bldg., Aseana Avenue, Entertainment City, Tambo, City Of Parañaque

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

FUJIKI, DAISUKE Manager For Engineering

No.

57.

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

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, international relations or any other related field. 7+ years of relevant experience in P&C (diverse experience in GSC/market, several locations preferred) 3+ years in people management position.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

52.

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

A9

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NEO INCORPORATED North Tower Centrum Bldg., Aseana Avenue, Entertainment City, Baclaran, City Of Parañaque

39.

YIN SU HWAN Chinese Speaking Program Designer

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Friday, January 14, 2022

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the development, maintenance and continuous improvement of loyalty marketing programs fo all mass and premium marketing segment of the casino business

Basic Qualification: Must have lived, studied and worked in macau for at least 10 years and is accustomed to its culture; must naturally speak and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

ZIGMA ASTAZONE INTERNATIONAL CORP. (ZIGMA ASTAZONE) Level 10-1 Fort Legend Tower, 31st Street Corner 3rd Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

BOB DEL CASTILLO SOMPIE Director Of Operations 62.

Basic Qualification: College Graduate

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the over all operations in Marketing Sales and Logistics.

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 *Date Generated: Jan 13, 2022

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

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

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

A10 Friday, January 14, 2022 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Next leader can build on growth momentum

T

he global economy faces a grim outlook amid fresh threats from Covid-19 variants and a rise in inflation, debt, and income inequality that could endanger the recovery in emerging and developing economies, according to the World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects report. It said global growth will decelerate to 4.1percent this year from 5.5 percent in 2021.

The WB said the fast-spreading Omicron variant will likely continue to disrupt economic activity in the near term. In addition, a notable deceleration in major economies—including the United States and China—will weigh on external demand in developing economies.

“The world economy is simultaneously facing Covid-19, inflation, and policy uncertainty, with government spending and monetary policies in uncharted territory. Rising inequality and security challenges are particularly harmful for developing countries,” said World Bank Group President David Malpass. “Putting more countries on a favorable growth path requires concerted international action and a comprehensive set of national policy responses.”

In the same report, the World Bank said the Philippines is poised to register the fastest growth in the Asean this year and the secondhighest growth in 2023. The country’s projected economic growth rate of 5.9 percent this year is the fastest growth expected in the Asean, while the 5.7 percent expected next year will be second only to Vietnam’s 6.5 percent. (Read, “PHL will post fastest growth in Asean—WB,” in the BusinessMirror, January 12, 2022).

A local think tank also painted a rosy economic picture for the country this year. The Philippine economy is poised to recover this year despite the Omicron variant and the uncertainties brought about by the change in administration, according to the First Metro Investment Corp.-University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Capital Markets Research (Read, “Think tank still sees PHL recovery in 2022 amid Omicron, polls,” in the BusinessMirror, January 11, 2022).

UA&P economist Victor A. Abola said GDP growth this year is expected to reach 6 to 7 percent. Full-year GDP growth in 2021, which will be officially released toward the end of the month, is expected to average 5.1 percent. The Philippines is also seen retaining its credit rating, as the government still has some fiscal and monetary space; and inflation is expected to slow with oil seen hitting $60 per barrel toward the end of 2022.

“The elections would be the bigger risk [for the economy compared to rising Covid-19 cases]. I mentioned that the elections have to be credible, more than anything. It doesn’t matter who is elected. It’s more whether the votes are counted properly and that’s being addressed by a number of civic groups so we can only hope that it really happens that way, that elections would be properly conducted,” Abola said, adding that the polls could slow GDP growth in the second semester, but “this is normal during presidential election years.”

With nationwide vaccinations still going on, and the current surge in cases brought about by the Omicron variant seen dissipating soon, there’s a good chance the country can sustain its economic growth in the aftermath of the pandemic. The next administration would do well to build on this growth momentum by choosing a good team of economic managers to make the Philippines a prosperous country free of poverty.

Since 2005

The need for improved testing Sonny M. Angara

Better Days

E

ver since Covid-19 cases started to surge with the coming of the New Year, anecdotal reports have since emerged about delayed RT-PCR results and long queues in swabbing stations.

Our colleague, Sen. Ping Lacson, even tweeted about waiting for two days for results—before deciding to just get another swab in the hopes of getting more prompt feedback.

Indeed, as the Department of Health (DOH) suggests, it appears that demand for testing has surged to unprecedented levels such that the existing network of laboratories across the country just couldn’t keep up.

On one hand, this could very well be a sign that the more transmissible Omicron variant has reached our shores. An infectious disease expert earlier remarked that the spike in Covid-19 infections in Metro Manila could already indicate “massive and uncontrolled community transmission” of the variant.

On the other hand, this also speaks to the continuing need for

Beating breadlines

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

Harald Eustachius A. Tomintz

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our health-care systems—including our network of diagnostic clinics and laboratories—to ramp up their surge capacity, or their built-in capability to handle such upticks in demand.

It’s important to note, however, that two years ago, the know-how to test for Covid-19 cases was concentrated in just one lab—that of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). That the country has been able to grow the diagnostic network to its present scale and at such a short time is no miniscule feat, born out of close collaboration between the public and private sector. Which is to say, the reports of delayed release of results underscore

T

he word “breadline” is sometimes used in English to mean the poverty threshold. It is a number that determines whether a person is poor in the traditional economic sense: If one does not earn an income surpassing this digit, they are then considered poor. Governments employ different means of determining their local breadlines, but possibly the most common is by approximating how much income is needed to purchase the necessities of life, which include, of course, food such as bread.

According to recent poverty statistics—updated and published by the Philippine Statistics Authority—the breadline for a family of five Filipinos in 2021 was P12,082 per month. Previously, the sum for a family of five in 2018 was P10,532 per month. Perhaps, unsurprisingly, the Philippine poverty incidence among families followed and increased from 16.2 percent to 18.0 percent as well. In short, income-based poverty has gone up.

Anecdotally, those escalations may not sound like a lot. For instance, if asked how much of the Filipino population is poor, people who feel and witness the realities of poverty daily may guesstimate higher poverty rates, such as 50 percent to 70 percent or more. This might be because they are using different, subjective,

or alternative definitions and ideas of poverty to define what it means to be poor, which are not necessarily wrong ways of looking at things.

In fact, it is healthy to be skeptical and critical of any statistic that declares poverty, especially for a large population like that of the Philippines. Even the official breadline only tells us how much it is assumed people need to eke out a generally bare and basic minimum existence.

What is important to nuance when discussing how many are considered poor is the prevalence of different kinds of poverty in our midst, as the experience of poverty goes beyond just not having money.

Further parsing puts government data into perspective and translates them into numbers we can scale more

that this collaboration should persist, and that the diagnostic network should continue to grow.

Testing for Covid-19 is an important pillar to our pandemic response, alongside our efforts to trace and treat. When diagnostics are hobbled by delays, it would be difficult for authorities to determine the full extent of infections, which in turn would hamper any further attempt to contain the spread. Many have called for mass testing with this reasoning, but no less than the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that mainly targeting those who are symptomatic would be a better, more efficient use of scarce resources.

That the costs of RT-PCR tests are prohibitive for many should not be glossed over though. This is why as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, we increased in the 2022 General Appropriations Act (more commonly known as the national budget), the items for Covid-19 Laboratory Network Commodities to P17.851 billion (P7.922 billion under the DOH-Office of the Secretary, and P9.92 billion as unprogrammed or standby funds). With these funds, government labs should be able to conduct Covid-19 tests free of charge.

We also included up to P100 million under the Department of Labor and

Employment for free Covid-19 testing for jobseekers.

One possible way of easing the overwhelming pressure on diagnostic labs to churn out RT-PCR results is for individuals to undertake rapid antigen testing at home, just as how it is practiced in other countries. These rapid kits are also much cheaper, hence would be more widely accessible.

The Food and Drug Administration has yet to approve any antigen test kit for home use in the country, however, though it is our understanding that steps are already underway for the respective certifications to be revised accordingly. Once such approval is granted, it is critical that the public is well informed about the proper way of handling such tests.

Clearly, the pandemic is not yet over. And if we are to ever get ahead and manage this crisis, it is critical that we do all that is needed to ramp up our testing capacity, alongside other interventions related to treating and tracing.

easily. What this shows is that the Philippines went from 4.04 million poor families back then to 4.74 million poor families now. Among individuals, the figure of 22.26 million poor people in 2018 grew to 26.14 million poor people in 2021. With a total population of over 100 million Filipinos—indeed closer to 110 million—that is one impoverished Pinoy out of every four or five!

In contemporary development studies, definitions and dimensions of poverty can and do include more than those who simply do not have enough money to get by. People who are not in good health are poor, as are those with no means to achieve their dreams, those who are not free to exercise their rights, and those who are excluded from partaking in society.

When one contemplates poverty by considering factors such as these, they certainly are not wrong.

All the aforementioned are related aspects of that horrible thing called poverty, which is, in a broader sense, a lack or deprivation. Such deprivation may still be present even if the majority is technically beating the breadline. There is truth to the idea that if a person does not have enough material wealth, he would experience other kinds of poverty, too. However, only gauging what poverty is on the level of basic needs and income is not enough to address the woes of the poor.

The ability to pursue a life worth living through economic empower-

ment is one sustainable antidote to poverty. Once people can more freely choose and follow what they truly desire and aspire for in life, they can find more ways to uplift themselves.

Unfortunately, this is easier said than done, for such empowerment requires an enabling environment that safeguards the wellness, rights, and capabilities of individuals. This, in turn, would allow flourishing and growth.

Regardless of how poverty is perceived, whether it is through a lack in income, health and well-being, the pursuit of freedom and happiness, or any other metric, we could probably agree that poverty is still prevalent. There has been much suffering due to the ravages of typhoons and disasters of late, on top of the continued difficulties faced by many people and businesses due to lockdown policies in the wake of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Perhaps, those running for office in the upcoming 2022 elections—an event creeping ever closer—would be up to the task of elaborating on how they would define and address poverty, for the consideration of the voting populace. These past years have caused a setback to the hardworking Filipinos striving to lift themselves out of being poor. Carving out a prosperous path for a stable and economically freer Philippines, among other goals, would be a very welcome thing.

Sen. Sonny Angara has been in public service for 17 years. He has authored and sponsored more than 200 laws. He is currently serving his second term in the Senate.

E-mail: sensonnyangara@yahoo.com | Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @sonnyangara

Mr. Harald Eustachius A. Tomintz teaches at the Department of Economics of the Ateneo de Manila University.

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Winnowing the chaff from the grain

Ma. Victoria Carpio-Bernido: Physicist, teacher & humanitarian November 17, 1961-January 6, 2022

Manny F. Dooc

Tito Genova Valiente

TELLTALES

T

here was a rich harvest of candidates for national positions —for president, vice president and senators—after the deadline for filing of certificates of candidacy closed on November 15, 2021. A total of 97 individuals had filed their COCs for president and 29 for vice president. An even bigger number of people, a total of 178, had sought to become senators representing various political groups and colors of the rainbow. It’s heartening that many Filipinos respond to the call of public service.

In fact, many are not even called but they come forward unbidden.

It’s not necessarily healthy for our democracy when eager and overzealous netizens who have virtually nothing to offer in terms of competence, knowledge, governance and administrative skills will crowd the election process. It is totally repugnant when demagogues under the guise of serving our people run for public office only to make a mockery of our elections and drag our electoral process in disrepute, or to cause confusion among the voters by the similarity of the names of the registered candidates. The Omnibus Election Code defines them as “nuisance” candidates and the Commission on Elections is empowered to deal with them motu propio by refusing to give due course to or cancel their certificate of candidacy. And our poll body has just done that.

The numbers running for national positions have been significantly whittled down after the Comelec had reviewed the list of candidates for each national position and canceled many names. The poll body released the 11 names included in the tentative list of presidential candidates, namely: Ernesto Abella, Gerald Arcega, Leody de Guzman, Isko Moreno, Norberto Gonzales, Ping Lacson, Faisal Mangondato, Bongbong Marcos, Jose Montemayor, Jr., Manny Pacquiao, and Leni Robredo. For vice president, only nine candidates remained, to wit: Lito Atienza, Walden Bello, Rizalito David, Sara Duterte, Manny Lopez, Willie Ong, Kiko Pangilinan, Carlos Serapio and Tito Sotto. The tentative number of candidates for senator was reduced to 64. The Comelec has cut down the length of the official ballot by 2/3 and made the election exercise more manageable.

Now that the Comelec has done its job, the final task of winnowing the true leaders from the false prophets will fall on our shoulders. In less than four weeks, the campaign period for the elective national offices shall begin.

Candidates whose political ads have been flooding the TV screens and the airwaves will soon be campaigning at every street corner, malls, markets and other public places. They will be omnipresent wherever voters gather. They will sell themselves at all costs even if they contradict themselves just to please the voters whenever and wherever it suits them. Voters should be more perceptive and discerning. To capture the imagination of the masses, many candidates have become more skillful in burnishing their credentials to attract voters’ attention. And it’s common to embellish their narratives and establish kinship with the audience to gain sympathy and support of the masses. Politicians, with the help of their spin masters, have become masterful in enhancing their reputation even if their actual achievements fall short of substantive results. This is typical of re-electionists or comebacking candidates who brag of their past achievements even if their records don’t bear them out. The people should fact-check their claims and measure their words against their performance. There’s no better

gauge than a track record. Performance, not promises, is a more reliable yardstick in selecting our candidate. Testimonials given by individuals favoring a particular candidate should not be taken on their face value. Many are partisan hacks that are paid to express the political views of their candidates.

Preposterous claims and promises made during the heat of the campaign should be dismissed outrightly. Politicians who brazenly make them should be penalized at the polls. Seeking an elective public office is a serious business. One should not make light of our elections and regard one’s conduct during the campaign as a joke, or normal part of the political game. Getting elected to a public office for a definite term is a solemn covenant with the sovereign people. No position is more noble than occupying an elective office, which is reposed only to one who deserves the people’s trust.

As the candidates employ many tools, both fair or through dishonest means, in campaigning using the social media, army of trolls, texts or phone calls, direct mails, web sites and surveys or polls, voters have within their means available measures to assess the qualifications and fitness of the candidates. The initial step is for the voter to gather as much information about the candidate. Voting for a candidate should be made on the basis of an informed decision since it’s one of the most critical choices we make in our life. Be objective in assessing his qualifications. What does he want to achieve in case he gets elected? Key to this is knowing the program of government or platform of the candidate and his political party. Listen to his speeches and interviews and find out his position and views on important election issues. They will telegraph his future actions and policies on the issues and problems that confront our country and people once he is installed in office.

Generally, a candidate’s appeal for votes is addressed to people’s emotions, not to the intellect. Many people vote based on their hearts, not on their minds. If you have the time, find out how the candidate supports his campaign. Is it funded by vested interests or big business?

It will give you some idea whether the candidate will be a mere puppet who will serve the interests of his or her masters or an independent leader who will prioritize the welfare of his or her people.

Electing the correct candidates to lead our country is not a superhuman’s task. At the polls, voters are not asked to reorder the arrangement of the planets, change the courses of the rivers or multiply the loaves of bread and buckets of fish to feed a starving multitude.

What confronts us is to perform a purely human function—using our intellectual and moral judgment to pick out from a set of aspirants our country’s leaders for the next three or six years. What makes it complex is if we allow our electoral process to be prostituted by corruption, vote buying, bribery, threats, deception, fraud and violence, which have characterized our elections in the past.

God forbid!

Friday, January 14, 2022 A11

annotations

I

T was on December 30, 2019 when we had Ma. Victoria CarpioBernido and Chris Bernido as guest in Savage Mind, a bookshop and cultural hub in Naga City. The pandemic was some two months away. It was Rizal Day and Kristian Sendon Cordero, the man behind the other SM, as we fondly labels the place, found out through another friend that the Bernidos were in the old city for the Christmas break.

Why not invite them to grace the first inaugural Rizal lecture series?

The thought that two physicists were to honor the day usually reserved for historians and pompous politicians given to pontifications, was an updated way to observe the death of a hero. Rizal himself was an educator and these two were teachers of the first degree. The activity, we told ourselves, was a way of making the day more relevant, and enabling the image of a mythic figure to assume a more appropriate place in our society.

When we planned to have the husband and wife in our small, then a relatively unheralded place, we already knew who they were and what they had accomplished. Victoria CarpioBernido and Christopher Bernido began their career in the University of the Philippines in Diliman and proceeded to earn their doctorate from the State University of New York Albany. The two also share a similar background: both belong to privileged families.

After getting their PhDs, Vicvic, as many of her friends and those who knew her called her, and Chris came back to the country. In UP, they as-

sumed the leadership in the university’s Institute of Physics. This was in the ’80s, a period in their academic life marked by researches and recognition from peers and other institutions.

Then came another turning point: in 1999, they made the decision to leave the Institute and be in Bohol. In many accounts, it was the wish of the mother of Chris that persuaded them to start another life in an old high school.

Imagine two scientists whose papers are vetted by national and international scientific bodies making their way to teach in a provincial high school. To follow the narrative arc of this adventure, we expect no less than a failure or at least a compromise—perhaps they stay for a few months, select good teachers, train them, and then leave again. Or, go for

the worst scenario: close the school.

But that did not happen.

The Central Visayan Institute Foundation (CVIF) in Jagna had a new lease in life.

Let the citation from the Ramon Magsaysay Award, which recognized them in 2010, speak of this magnificent transition: “It was not an easy transition but they faced the challenge in a determined, methodical way. In 2002, they introduced a revolutionary way of teaching science and non-science subjects, which they called CVIF D-dynamic Learning Program. A cost-effective strategy focused on strong fundamentals, DLP devotes 70 percent of class time to student-driven activities built around clear learning targets, aided by well-designed learning plans and performance tracking tools. The program also uses a “parallel-classes scheme,” in which “three simultaneous classes are handled by one expert teacher with the help of facilitators.”

The citation mentions how the Bernidos wanted to show “how poverty need not be an excuse to compromise on teaching and learning experience.”

These reputations and more preceded their presence before us on that cold night in December. We were in awe, but we tried not show it; we were honored and we expressed it as we listened intently to their stories. There are no miracles, Vicvic and Chris assured us. Poverty is still around. But many of their students

For some emerging economies, new Covid wave spawns new thinking

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By Shannon Sims | Bloomberg Opinion

eveloping nations brought to their knees by earlier waves of Covid-19—Brazil, India, Indonesia and others—are only now contending with the highly contagious Omicron variant that has been ripping for weeks through Europe and North America. With the advantage of watching it play out elsewhere, some are rejiggering policies so as not to eliminate the virus but to live with it.

In a way, the idea is old, not new.

In 2020, when the pandemic began, leaders of Mexico and Brazil rejected lockdowns and quarantines, saying the damage they’d bring outweighed the sickness and death coronavirus threatened.

They were mostly condemned for their thinking. But today, with large percentages of their populations vaccinated, the cost of lockdowns better understood and the relatively mild nature of Omicron, their old approach is gaining new currency in emerging economies around the world.

In Thailand earlier waves of the virus caused tight restrictions that choked the vital tourism industry, but this time, a lockdown, even a partial one, was off the table. Instead, the government shifted its overall approach in September to what it considers a more practical one—treating Covid as endemic in 2022, said the director-general of the Department of Disease Control in Bangkok. That’s a stark about-face in strategy from the country’s “zero-Covid” goal in 2020.

Indonesia was one of the hardesthit countries during the spread of the Delta variant in Asia, but the government recently cut short the mandatory quarantine period for incoming travelers, and life in Southeast Asia’s most populous country has continued, with offices, restaurants, gyms, places of worship and public transport operating at increased capacity. Something similar is going on in the biggest nation in Latin America. After seeing Western countries shorten their quarantine times,

Brazil’s health minister followed course, recommending on Monday a reduction from 10 to seven days for asymptomatic patients. Life there feels relatively normal, and with a mask you can do just about anything.

In Europe, a similar rumbling has started. On Monday, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of Spain became the first leader of a major European country to call on the European Union to debate the possibility of treating Covid-19 as an endemic illness like the flu.

Although the number of new cases in Argentina is at a record high, intensive care unit occupancy and deaths remain low. Likewise in Israel, where the number of “severely ill” on Jan. 4 was 125, versus a peak of nearly 1,200 a year ago. The nation has started a fourth vaccination shot for people over 60, the first in the world to do so. And in India, where the immunization rate is about 45 percent, antibody surveys suggest that most of the population has already had Covid in the past, which experts believe could lessen the impact of the coming wave.

Even when fatalities are low, the burden on hospitals and health systems can still be high, in part because the latest wave delays treatment for other illnesses and surgery. “While Omicron’s outcomes in terms of deaths is to be welcomed, there is significant evidence to suggests that we are not out of the woods yet,” and that “the number of hospitalizations could still put health systems under strain,” said Tom Moultrie, a professor of demography at the University of Cape Town who analyzes South African virus data. But the relatively

weak punch of this variant is nevertheless leading countries to revise their guidance. “For now, if governments feel that they can weather the surge in hospitalizations, relaxations may be appropriate,” he said.

While Covid has challenged the entire globe economically, emerging markets, with their large sectors of cash-earning off-the-books workers and cramped living conditions, were harder hit by lockdowns and closures. This week the World Bank cut the global gross domestic product growth forecast from 4.3 percent to 4.1 percent, reporting that while advanced economies are on pace to approach pre-pandemic output by 2023, emerging and developing economies will still lag behind.

Pandemic fatigue is adding to the shift. Crowded, mask-less New Year’s parties happened all across Brazil, and in many places, there is little political capital left for another lockdown. “People are in an atmosphere here as if Covid has already passed,” said Atila Iamarino, a biologist educated at the University of Sao Paulo and Yale who specializes in virology.

“They’re going out, having parties, thinking about Carnival.”

The message from the federal government in Mexico has been to go on with business as usual. The deputy health minister has said this wave will help the nation reach herd immunity faster. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who just announced that he’s gotten Covid for a second time, has pointed out that Omicron doesn’t seem to lead to severe disease. Plus, the vaccination rate in Mexico City is remarkable: 99 percent of adults. So despite the near all-time-high surge in cases, most of the country’s official lockdown color isn’t red or yellow, but green—no restrictions of any kind.

Chile, which imposed one of the most draconian lockdowns and also suffered among the worst death rates, hasn’t even started a debate on

have become competitive when it came to admissions to universities.

The old problem still exists: increase just a bit the tuition and the parents manifest their difficulty in meeting the said requirements. Each day is an exercise in prudence, understanding and educational management.

That night, we marveled at the combination of the two physicists: Chris was cool; Vicvic was a passionate speaker.

Ever since in high school, Dr. Mary Jane Guazon-Uy, the friend who made sure the Bernidos got our invitation, recalls how her dear Vicvic always spoke from the heart.

She could argue herself through the positions of her teachers and the Sisters of the Daughters of Charity in what was then the Colegio de Sta. Isabel (now a university). But Mary Jane, herself a doctor of medicine, a published writer, and a cultural leader in the city, also remembers a classmate who knew how to listen, and listen intently. “Vicvic would lend her ears to my silliest comments and ideas,” the good doctor shares the memory.

When asked why they gave up their career in the big city and, for that matter, in the international scene, Maria Victoria Carpio-Bernido has her words in the same citation from the Ramon Magsaysay Award: “For us, it has always been the bigger picture, the country. We both wanted to do something for the country.”

Looking back to that night of December 30 in 2019, we realized we were in the midst of two heroes, Vicvic and Chris. One is, sadly, gone now.

Dios mabalos, Maria Victoria Carpio-Bernido.

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

reimposing restrictions. But it might not have to: 87 percent of the country has received two doses and 58 percent have had a booster shot. The country is now launching a campaign for a second booster, with a third—a fifth dose—likely starting midyear.

There are some emerging economies choosing to meet the new wave with severe restrictions.

Lima and Delhi are under curfew.

In China, millions are in lockdown, with border curbs expected to last through the year, and Morocco has banned all international travel. Malaysia is set to suspend travel permissions for Muslim pilgrims headed to Mecca for umrah this month, and Vietnam’s premier directed local officials to ban public gatherings, especially Lunar New Year celebrations.

Some countries have done less well with vaccines than others, making policy decisions more complicated. In India, where a rising tide of infections looks on pace to set records and the hospital system is cripplingly underfunded, teenagers only just started receiving doses, and children are not immunized at all. Misinformation and vaccine hesitancy remain stubborn issues: In the Philippines, a 2021 poll found that 68 percent of the population were uncertain or unwilling to get the shot. And Russia and Vietnam ranked near the bottom in a Bloomberg Covid resilience ranking in December that measures virus containment, quality of healthcare, and vaccination coverage in the 53 biggest economies.

It’s the absence of public partying that has really started to grind on Brazilians, who’ve gone almost two years without a Carnival celebration. Local leaders just crushed those hopes: last week, Carnival was in essence canceled, first in Rio de Janeiro, and then across the country.

“The street carnival, by its very nature, makes it impossible to exercise any kind of inspection,” Rio’s mayor said in a web broadcast.

A12 Friday, January 14, 2022

PUBLIC-TRANSPORT BAN ON UNVAXXED MEANT TO PROTECT ALL—DOTR

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HE Department of Transportation imposition of a “no vaxx-no-ride” policy on public transport continued to reap criticism on Thursday, especially from labor groups, but the DOTr said that far from being “anti-poor,” it was in fact meant to protect the majority of the population, especially ordinary workers.

The coalition of the country’s largest labor groups slammed the government’s alleged “punitive measures” against people who remain unvaccinated against Covid-19.

Nagkaisa said the government’s movement restriction for the unvaccinated may backfire, causing people to resist getting free Covid-19 jabs.

“Recent moves such as the DILG’s [Department of the Interior and Local Government] order for LGUs [local government units] to list the names of the unvaccinated resemble more a witch-hunt to merely punish and shame people, instead of actually working on providing a systematic pandemic response,” Nagkaisa said.

Partido Manggagawa (PM), an affiliate of Nagkaisa, hit

the DoTr policy barring the unvaccinated from riding public transportation, for being “anti-poor.”

“This is patent discrimination on workers and poor who rely on public transport for mobility and commuting to work,” PM chair Renato Magtubo said in a separate statement.

“In contrast, rich people— vaccinated or not—are free to move around since they have cars to use. These unfair and biased policies disproportionately impact people in the laylayan [marginalized],” he added.

DOTr–We aim to protect all

The “no vaccination, no ride” policy was made to protect ALL—whether vaccinated or unvaccinated individuals—to safeguard those that are most at risk, our health-care system, and our exhausted medical workers amid the recent surge of Covid-19 cases recorded in the country, the DOTr said.

“The policy is for the benefit of the majority and the common good. Hence, we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause the riding public.

Continued on A5

‘Construction still shedding most number of workers’

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By Samuel P. Medenilla

sam_medenilla

HE construction and manufacturing sectors continued to shed the most number of workers this year, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

In its latest job displacement monitoring report obtained by BusinessMirror, DOLE tallied 3,284 permanently displaced workers from January 1 to 6, 2022.

Of these, 2,568 were retrenched

by 233 establishments, while the remaining 716 lost their jobs after 34 firms permanently closed down their operations.

“In terms of major industry group, most displaced workers were under

construction (35 percent share or 1,154) and manufacturing (15 percent or 506) sectors,” DOLE said.

Rounding up the top 5 sectors with the most number of permanently displaced workers are administrative and support service activities (442), other service activities (401), and financial and insurance activities (145).

“Retrenchment or reduction of workforce [RWF] was mostly observed in large enterprises (43 percent or 101) while there is a higher incidence of permanent closure in small enterprises (41 percent or 14),” DOLE said.

In terms of region, Metro Manila tallied the most number of affected workers with 1,947 followed by the Calabarzon (499), and Central Luzon (294).

DOLE registered 5,762 workers who were affected by flexible work arrangements (FWA) and temporary

closure (TC) of 168 establishments.

Reduction of workdays and compressed work week were the most commonly implemented FWA. “Majority of the establishments which adopted flexible work arrangements were small enterprises (42 percent or 63). On the other hand, a greater number of establishments under micro enterprise implemented temporary closure (58 percent or 11),” DOLE said.

In a Viber message, Labor Assistant Secretary Dominique R. Tutay told BusinessMirror it is still “too early” to determine if the latest displacement figures were already affected by the raising of the Alert Level in the National Capital Region (NCR) and other parts of the country earlier this month from 2 to 3 due to the recent surge in Covid-19 cases nationwide.

“Maybe we can compare data at the end of this week,” Tutay said.

US: China’s maritime claims in Comelec e-Rally South China Sea are ‘unlawful’ offers page for free

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome

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HE US State Department has scrutinized anew China’s claim over the South China Sea and found, as the United Nations arbitral tribunal did, that China’s assertions are “unlawful” and the claim “gravely undermines the rule of law” in the oceans.

The State Department’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs has been examining maritime claims of coastal states all over the world since 1970 to “assess their consistency with international law.” In its latest “Limits in the Seas” series published Thursday, the study is on China.

First in line of US scrutiny was China insistence that it owns South China Sea based on maps that show drawings of dash lines around the Sound China Sea. The US State Department appended its 2014 analysis on the dashed-line claim and cited a number of points raised

by The Hague-based special arbitral tribunal—whose verdict was sought by the Philippine government unilaterally in 2013.

According to the US State Department study, there is “no provision” in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) that allows countries to claim based on “historic rights.” It says there is no uniform understanding of what “historic rights” mean under international law. There were references on “historic bays” or “historical title” but those terms have limited scope to fishing rights or rights of access, and not claim on sovereignty, it added.

The US cited the Chamber of International Court of Justice (ICJ) judgement on its dispute with Canada over their maritime boundaries in the Gulf of Maine.

The ICJ said the Unclos provisions on exclusive economic zones, continental shelf and high seas override any arguments of prior usage or rights over a maritime area. “The Convention’s maritime zones and their geographic limits set forth the framework governing all parts of the sea, a framework from which no reservations are permitted,” the US State Department report read.

The US also debunked the ownership or sovereignty claims of China over the four island groups —Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands, Scarborough Shoal and Pratas Is-

land. It said China cannot claim sovereignty even on land features that are submerged or lowtide elevations in their natural states such as the Mischief Reef, Second Thomas Shoal and Reed Bank. “While taking no position on the PRC’s sovereignty claims to particular islands in the South China, the United States has rejected assertions of sovereignty based on features that do not meet the definition of an island or are not within the lawful limits of the territorial sea.”

The US also argued that China is not an archipelagic state and therefore cannot assert sovereignty over waters and submerged features within its claimed “island groups.” Archipelagic states, such as the Philippines, would need to draw archipelagic baselines and enclose such features within its island group to be able to assert sovereignty over submerged features and identify its maritime zones.

China has not done such thing, the US added.

What China did, said the repport, was draw straight baselines around each of the four archipelagos to justify its claims for maritime zones—12 nautical mile territorial limit and internal waters.

The US said the baselines drawn

by China on the four archipelagos were “inconsistent with international law.” Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, Vietnam, the United Kingdom and the US protested the baselines drawn on Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands, with France and Germany joining the protest in the case of the Spratlys.

“None of the four ‘island groups’ claimed by the PRC in the South China Sea...meet the geographic criteria for using straight baselines under the Convention. Additionally, there is no separate body of customary international law that supports the PRC position that it may enclose entire island groups within straight baselines,” the US report explained.

In a series of communiques to the UN Secretary General, China insisted that the Unclos “does not cover everything about the maritime order.” It cites the Unclos preamble that “rules and principles of general international law” still apply on matters that are not covered

by Unclos.

Continued on A5

to natl bets

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TARTING next month, qualified national candidates for the 2022 polls will be able to avail of the free “e-Rally Page” of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

In a brief statement on Thursday, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the page (https:// www.facebook.com/COMELECeRallyChannel) will be made available for “all bona fide candidates for the positions of President, Vice President and Senator, as well as to each participating Party-List Organization.”

“The Commission will issue the pertinent guidelines on how the candidates and party-list organizations can participate in the e-Rally channel,” Jimenez said.

He noted the channel aims to provide additional exposure to all national candidates.

The poll official said they will start airing materials from the said candidates in February 8, 2022.

Each night from the said date, Jimenez said they will allocate 3 slots (10 minutes each) for presidential aspirants, and another 3 slots for vice presidential candidates.

For senatorial candidates, it will be 5 slots per night (3 minutes each).

There will also be the same number of slots for party-list organization per night.

In the case of political parties, it will be 3 slots per night (10 minutes each).

In a related development, Comelec also reminded all candidates and political parties/coalitions that the deadline for them to register their official accounts, web sites, blogs and/or other socialmedia pages is on January 31, 2022.

The pages should be registered with the Comelec Education and Information Department (EID) through https://bit. ly/2022NLESocMed pursuant to Section 9 (c) of Comelec Resolution No. 10730.

Only the registered accounts can be used by candidates and political parties/coalitions for the endorsement of his/her candidacy or candidacies of its members.

Samuel P. Medenilla

Companies BusinessMirror

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Friday, January 14, 2022

DOE: Local power plants have enough coal supply

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By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

he Department of Energy (DOE) said it was assured by power plants that they have sufficient supply of coal for more than a month following Jakarta’s decision to ban the shipment of coal from Indonesia.

“The initial picture that we have is that all of them have met the 30 days requirement. Some of them may extend up to 45, 50 days,” DOE Director Mario Marasigan said during an online news briefing.

The agency’s Electric Power Industry Management and Energy Resource Development Bureau met with coal power plant generators the other day to discuss potential strategies to ensure sufficient coal supply.

“As per their report, their inventories are complete. There are ongoing discussions on how to address the

situation,” he said. Indonesia is the biggest supplier of coal in the country. The Philippines imported 69.51 percent of its 42.476 million metric tons (MMT) of coal supply in 2020.

In 2021, the country imported 2.3 MMT of coal monthly from Indonesia. Data from the DOE showed that as of October 2021, the Philippines acquired 96.88 percent of imported coal supply from Indonesia, 1.82 percent from Australia, 0.35 percent from Vietnam, and 0.94 percent from other exporting countries. Of the total 42.476 MMT of coal imported

in 2020, 30.49 percent came from local sources.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi sent a letter to his Indonesian counterpart, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Afirin Tasrif, to appeal for the lifting of the ban, saying the move would be “detrimental to economies that rely on coal-fired power generation systems like the Philippines.”

Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian earlier called on the agency to prepare for contingency measures to ensure sufficient coal supply and avert a possible increase in coal prices.

The ban has raised concerns that the country’s supply of coal for power plants which, if insufficient, could lead to widespread blackouts.

“Part of the contingency measures should be to ensure the adherence of coal-fired power plants to the 30-day minimum inventory requirement,” Gatchalian said.

Environmental group Greenpeace shared the same sentiment. While Indonesia has loosened its ban on coal exports due to pressure from trading partners including the Philippines, consumers will shoulder the

high electricity costs resulting from fossil fuel import dependence.

Also, the group warned that more energy crises will arise if governments would continue to depend on fossil fuel imports.

“This unfortunately shows how dependent we are not just on fossil fuels, but on fossil fuel imports. With no ambitious plans to boost clean and renewable energy in the energy mix, energy insecurity will be a recurring problem that will burden Filipinos and the world, on top of the climate and Covid-19 crises,” said Khevin Yu, Energy Transition Campaigner of Greenpeace Philippines.

The group also called on the DOE to ramp up its commitment to phase out coal by revising the Philippine Energy Plan so that it facilitates a “just and urgent transition” to renewable energy.

Yu said the DOE should increase the country’s renewable energy target to 50 percent by 2030, halt all plans for fossil gas, nuclear and all types of false solutions, and improve grid development for utility-scale solar and wind, which are abundant, indigenous, and free energy sources.

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PLDT installs more 5G sites in Cavite

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hilippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and wireless arm, Smart Communications Inc. (Smart), are expanding their reach in Cavite to deliver improved customer experience in the provinces.

They said Thursday that additional 5G base stations were installed across the province, including its capital Trece Martires City, and the cities of General Trias, Dasmariñas, Tagaytay, Cavite and Imus.

To date, 87 percent of Cavite’s cities and towns already have Smart 5G. Smart LTE is also available across Cavite, enabling high-speed mobile data service for customers with LTE handsets.

PLDT, through PLDT Enterprise, has also partnered with the provincial government of Cavite in rolling out fiber throughout the province.

Underpinning these LTE, 5G, and

WiFi services is PLDT’s fiber infrastructure, the country’s most extensive at over 715,000 kilometers as of end-November.

“Our mission is to make the province of Cavite the most technologically advanced, and the least stressful province to live in the country. We wanted a company with integrity, with a solid background, with a core competency to help us achieve our goals. I think PLDT has proved that over the years,” said Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla.

To date, Smart serves the most number of mobile users in the country at 40 million.

Smart has been cited as the fastest and most reliable 5G network by Ookla, the global leader in internet testing and analysis. With around 6,900 5G base stations across the country, Smart also operates the country’s widest 5G network. Lenie Lectura

SMC donation to Odette victims reaches ₧35M

‘7 out of 10 Pinoys keen to travel’ D

which signifies a more positive outlook on travel plans this year. But we are not letting our guard down.

We will be consistent in prioritizing the safety and well-being of our guests as they fly to their intended destinations.”

The survey also found that 60 percent of the respondents intend to travel domestically, with Palawan, Boracay, Cebu, Siargao and Bohol topping the list of preferred destinations.

“Should international border restrictions relax this 2022, 5 out of 10 Filipinos are also ready to travel abroad, picking Seoul, South Korea; Singapore; and Osaka, Osaka, Japan as their must-visits,” the airline said.

The survey results indicate that Filipinos will be traveling in smaller groups in 2022, preferring to travel

AllHome opens 2 stores

Grab enhances safety protocols

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llHome Corp., the big box retail arm of the Villar Group, on Thursday said it opened two stores in Metro Manila—its 56th and 57th branches—as part of the company’s expansion plans.

The company said its 56th branch is located at the Worldwide Corporate Center, the Villar-owned office and commercial complex along Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong.

“We continue to anticipate the country’s return to normal, and all economic signs point to the brisk recovery of the retail industry. We believe that Mandaluyong City, especially our current location along Shaw is a prime location,” AllHome Chairman Manuel B. Villar Jr. said.

“This location is a prime example of a market ready for ‘revenge shopping’ and they are the people who stand to gain from our full-line home center offering, range of products, services and exceptional shopping experience.” VG Cabuag

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mid the surge of Covid-19 cases in the Philippines, Grab—Southeast Asia’s leading superapp—announces key initiatives as part of its ongoing commitment to providing Filipinos with a safe and reliable platform for their everyday needs.

As of January, the Philippines is witnessing a resurgence of Covid-19 cases—breaching the 30,000 mark for new cases per day. The DOH has also declared that there have been reported cases of the more infectious Omicron variant in the country.

In light of these events, Grab Philippines is reaffirming its commitment to ensuring utmost safety and hygiene throughout its platform through the following measures: n Enhancing Grab’s Covid assistance fund for vaccinated Driverand Delivery-Partners. In light of the higher Covid positivity rate in the Philippines, Grab is increasing its Covid Assistance Fund by 4x to cover the potential loss of income and medical expenses of fully-vaccinated driver- and delivery-partners who have contracted Covid and may need to undergo mandatory quarantine, and those who may experience

with families (69 percent), partners (40 percent), and close friends (24 percent) over work colleagues, solo trips, and group tours.

“This also reflects the yearning of some Filipinos to reconnect with their loved ones from whom they were isolated in the past couple of years. Fifty three percent of respondents cited the need to be with families and friends as the main reason for deciding to push through with their travel.”

The airline said the total travel expense also “strongly influences” the plans of Filipino tourists this year. Only 13 percent of the respondents are willing to spend P30,001 to P40,000 in total for their travel, according to the survey.

“Frugality has been expected by air carriers given the economic im-

pact of Covid-19 and the long list of essentials in a pandemic, as well as the need to grow personal emergency funds,” the airline said.

“In line with this, Filipinos keep an eye out for bang-for-buck offers that can help them in their trips like complete tour package deals of Flights + Hotel + Tours and Activities, discounted Flight + Hotel bundles, and discounted Food + Activities bundles.”

The airline said the survey was conducted by big-data analytics firm Tangere in December.

AirAsia recently reported an 11-percent increase in seat sales on a week-on-week basis in the first week of January. The top five destinations which contributed to the increased seat sale include Tacloban, Cebu, Caticlan, Panglao and Davao.

espite the spread of new Covid-19 variants, 7 out of 10 Filipinos are still keen on pushing through with their planned air travel in the next nine months, according to the results of a survey commissioned by AirAsia Philippines.

The airline said the findings of the survey “validated” its forecast on the growing optimism of Filipinos towards travel and their increasing confidence in engaging with air transport.

“We are seeing that Filipinos are now much more confident to travel as we as a nation gain a better understanding of the pandemic and develop a more fitting culture of safety and vigilance,” Ricky Isla, CEO of AirAsia, said in a statement.

“At AirAsia, we are observing an uptrend in long-term bookings

side-effects from their booster shots. n Continuous strengthening of safety and hygiene measures on mobility and delivery services. Safety is a key priority for Grab. With the recent surge in COVID cases as well as the looming threat of the Omicron variant in the Philippines, Grab continues to raise the bar on safety and hygiene to minimize the risk of Covid transmission on the platform through the following: a. In support of the recent government policies concerning unvaccinated individuals, Grab is expanding its GrabProtect Program to include a weekly mandatory COVID testing for unvaccinated driver- and deliverypartners starting 17 January 2022.

Driver- and delivery-partners with negative COVID test results from Grab-accredited testing sites will receive bookings from the platform; b. Grab Philippines is also encouraging driver- and delivery-partners who are fully vaccinated for at least 3 months to get their booster shots from their respective LGUs; c. To ensure utmost safety and hygiene throughout the platform, driver- and delivery-partners are also urged to regularly disinfect their

vehicles and their gears, and observe public health protocols. n Discounted GrabCar rides going to and from vaccination centers.

Grab Philippines extends its GrabCar Bayanihan initiative by providing Filipinos with safe, reliable, and affordable rides going to and from vaccination sites. GrabCar Bayanihan is available for individuals who are completing their vaccination, and even for those getting their booster shots.

“Our fight against Covid is far from over—and even if many of us are vaccinated, we need to always keep our guards up to prevent breakthrough infections from impacting our homes and communities,” said Grab Philippines Country Head Grace Vera Cruz.

“By continuously enhancing our existing safety and hygiene protocols, we are supporting many Filipinos who rely on Grab for their everyday needs and livelihoods. Grab will continue to support the fight against Covid, and rest assured that we will continue to revisit, enhance, and tailor our safety and hygiene measures to better support our kababayans.”

Contributed photo

By VG Cabuag @villygc

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onglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) said its response efforts for provinces hit by typhoon Odette continues, with food and water donations reaching over P35 million.

SMC said its subsidiary, Petron Corp., has also managed to restore full operations in most of its damaged service stations in affected provinces.

San Miguel President and CEO Ramon S. Ang said repairing and reopening damaged fuel service stations has also been a priority for the company as these are critical to restoring business operations, transportation, as well as supporting relief operations.

Nearly all damaged stations throughout the regions are now operational, Ang said.

The company is also donating and sending some 24,000 liters of water from its Bulacan Bulk Water Project, to several communities in Visayas and Mindanao, to be delivered through partners such as the MWSS, the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy, a logistics partner and non-government organizations.

“The recovery of the Visayas and Mindanao regions from typhoon Odette is just beginning. There are still so many damaged structures and properties, business operations have yet to normalize, and a lot of our kababayans are still facing uncertainty in their daily lives. We’re committed to doing all we can to help in their recovery, both through providing relief, and getting all our operations back on track,” Ang said.

Included in San Miguel’s s overall relief efforts is the donation of about

100 tons of various food products to Southern Leyte, sent through the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the provincial and local governments. Some 18 out of 19 municipalities in Southern Leyte were devastated by Odette, according to the AFP. The company also partnered with the armed forces on an extended feeding program through its AFP Mobile Kitchen, which brings hot meals, including donated San Miguel food products, to various locations all over Cebu.

The donation included more than half a million pieces of assorted canned goods and another half a million packs of coffee.

Its food donations, coursed through local government units, the military, and nonprofit organizations, have reached Antique, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur, Bacolod, Bohol, Biliran, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Camiguin, Cebu, Dinagat island, Davao del Sur, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Iloilo, Leyte, Marinduque, Misamis Oriental, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Siquijor, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Tagoloan.

San Miguel Brewery has distributed relief goods, on top of providing water for the public, particularly in Mandaue City and Talisay City.

The company provided free water to its host communities as well as the University of Cebu and University of Cebu Hospital. Water in the said cities remains scarce, and recently, the company deployed aquatabs to purify water for drinking.

The company also conducted its own relief operations, distributing food donations to some 3,700 families in Mandaue and Mactan.

Companies BusinessMirror

Friday, January 14, 2022

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CLI reservation sales rise on robust housing demand

By VG Cabuag

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@villygc

egional property developer Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI) said it recorded reservation sales of P16.5 billion last year, 16 percent higher than the previous year’s P14.25 billion.

The company said it had sustained demand for housing in its geographic scope by launching 3,865 units in 10 projects worth P18 billion, more than the eight projects launched in 2020 worth P11.5 billion.

CLI Chairman and CEO Jose Soberano III said the company has expanded its projects since its listing in June 2017 and has now more than doubled its P7.7-billion sales that year.

“CLI launched more economic housing projects as affordable quality housing was in demand throughout the pandemic. We started to unveil higher-end projects when the economy began to open and recover,” Soberano said. By year-end 2021, the company’s completed projects were 96 percent sold-out while developments still under construction were 86 percent taken up.

Newly launched projects were

immediately sold out 70 percent.

Altogether, CLI’s portfolio is 85 percent sold out across different project stages.

CLI’s new offerings include beachfront condominium communities highlighting resort living. The first in a projected series is Costa Mira Beachtown Mactan offering 659 units valued at P3 billion.

The integrated beachfront community accounted for 17 percent of overall sales and was already 92 percent sold just a month after its market debut.

In terms of market category, CLI’s economic housing brand Casa Mira accounted for 41 percent; followed by the high-end Premier Masters at 31 percent; and the mid-market Garden Series at 27 percent.

Majority of the sales take up still comes from projects in Cebu accounting for 48 percent; followed by Iloilo, 17 percent; and Cagayan de Oro, 13 percent. The rest comes from Davao,

Ormoc, Bacolod and Bohol.

The company said it is ready to meet the sustained housing demand in the Visayas and Mindanao with fresh inventory to be released in 2022 to optimize CLI’s current landbank of 100 hectares valued at P12 billion.

Last year, it added some 40 hectares in its landbank and more properties are under negotiation.

Following the aftermath of Typhoon Odette, CLI is focused on assisting its stakeholders: employees, homeowners and communities in Cebu and the Visayas and Mindanao where it operates.

The firm offered emergency loans and free supplies for its employees; provided temporary coverings and secured power and water supply for its homeowners while clearing the roads in its properties; and offered P30 million worth of free roof repair for homes in CLI communities whose roofs were damaged by the strong category five winds.

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

T

he Asian Development Bank (ADB) has invested $60 million in a private equity firm to provide capital for companies based in South and Southeast Asia.

The ADB’s investment in Creador V L.P. (Creador V) aims to create investments in firms in the two regions in the hope of generating new jobs, increasing tax revenues, and improving access to health and financial services.

Creador V will provide growth capital primarily to middle-market companies operating in business services, consumer goods and services, health care, pharmaceuticals, financial services, and manufacturing in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam. Creador may also selectively consider investments to support businesses in Bangladesh, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

“Creador has evolved into one of the leading institutional private equity platforms in Southeast Asia,” said ADB Private Sector Investment Funds and Special Initiatives Division Director Janette Hall. “ADB is proud to continue our partnership with Creador as they remain focused on markets and sectors where ADB seeks to build out our equity portfolio.”

This is ADB’s third investment in a Creador-managed fund following investments in Creador III, L.P. in 2016, and Creador IV, L.P. in 2018.

As part of ADB’s investment, Creador will adopt gender initiatives to promote greater financial inclusion of women through investments.

Creador was established in 2011 and has since successfully launched five private equity funds, totaling

approximately $2 billion in committed capital as of December 2021. It employs 50 professionals across five offices in developing Asia.

Dollar bonds

The ADB raised $3.5 billion from the issuance of a 5-year global benchmark bond in the United States dollar bond market to boost its Ordinary Capital Resources (OCR).

ADB plans to raise as much as $36 billion from the capital markets in 2022.

“We are pleased with the support from our investors across regions in our first global benchmark of the year,” said ADB Treasurer Pierre Van Peteghem. “With an orderbook of over $5 billion, we are able to raise $3.5 billion in additional resources as we assist our developing member countries in overcoming the health, social, and economic impact of the pandemic.”

The 5-year bond, with a coupon rate of 1.5 percent per annum payable semi-annually and a maturity date of January 20, 2027, was priced at 99.431 percent to yield 8.73 basis points over the 1.25 percent US Treasury notes due December 2026.

T he transaction was leadmanaged by BofA Securities, Citi, Deutsche Bank, and JP Morgan. A syndicate group was also formed consisting of CIBC Capital Markets, DBS, ING, and Scotiabank.

The issue achieved wide primary market distribution, with 22 percent of the bonds placed in Asia; 48 percent in Europe, Middle East, and Africa; and 30 percent in the Americas. By investor type, 44 percent of the bonds went to central banks and official institutions, 41 percent to banks, and 15 percent to fund managers and other types of investors.

mutual funds

January 13, 2022

NAV

One Year Three Year Five Year

per share Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

230.44

-0.16%

-4.64%

-1.88%

-1.14%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.6269

22.68%

2.64%

3.65%

-2.24%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.1947

0.13%

-8.3%

-4.58%

-1.33%

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7558 -6.79%

-7.24% n.a.

-0.09%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.753

0.19%

-5.03% n.a.

-2.32%

First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a

1.36%

-3.15%

-0.04%

0.7723

0.55%

-4.57%

5.1052

First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

-1.5% -3.42% -1.4%

MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

95.22

-7.64%

-7.26% n.a.

0.84%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

47.3282

-0.56%

-3.43%

-0.32%

-1.66%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

494.99

-0.32%

-3.22%

-0.82%

-1.14%

Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d

1.1502

3.72% n.a. n.a.

-1.08%

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.3783

16.1%

1.32%

2.51%

1.62%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

36.1449

2.36%

-2.41%

0.74%

-1.23%

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.9302

0.1%

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.8792

0.21%

-3.82% n.a.

-1.19%

-2.74%

0.29%

-1.64%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

814.91

0.02%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.742

1.2%

-2.75%

0.25%

-1.64%

-6.54%

-2.76%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.7256

0.93%

-4.7%

-1.41%

-1.13%

-1.32%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.9287 - 0.43%

-3.09%

0.03%

-1.67%

United Fund, Inc. -a

-3.11%

0.77%

-1.39%

-2.52%

0.73% -1.63%

3.3894

0.62%

Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 109.6643

0.31%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

$1.1445

-11.04%

6.43%

5.59%

1.6%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.7911

4.83%

15.55%

11.15%

-3%

-0.42%

Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a

1.6849

-0.1%

-0.66%

-0.49%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.2739

-1.56%

-0.26%

-0.05%

-0.33%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.6698

0.47%

0.11%

1.3%

-0.79%

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.2112

5.13% n.a. n.a. 1.05%

NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a

2.0018

0.93%

1.73%

1.81%

-0.74%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.7405

-2.11%

1.39%

0.61%

-0.65%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.7321

-2.1%

0.87%

0.56%

-0.67%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.106

-0.51%

-0.65%

0.49%

-0.73%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.6153 0.04%

-1.65%

-0.1%

-0.87%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9792

-4.91% n.a. n.a.

-1.07%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.9332

-2.84% n.a. n.a.

-1.2%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.9216

-2.52% n.a. n.a.

-1.32%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

0.9492

5.31%

-0.39%

0.35%

-0.52%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a

$0.03742

-3.58%

1.85%

1.08%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

$1.0676

-10.75%

4.18%

3.45%

0.05%

2.61%

11.05%

8.2%

-2.18%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,2 $1.1794 - 0.67%

5.9%

4.16%

-1.6%

0.02%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.6974

-1.37%

Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

374.38

0.88%

2.88%

2.55%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.8856

-0.84%

0.57%

0.05%

0.05%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2461

0.94%

2.94%

3.87%

0.06%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.2521

-1.84%

1.8%

1.4%

0.03% 0.07%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4277 -0.92%

3.11%

1.86%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.3998

-4.92%

4.94%

1.46%

0.1%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a

1.322

0.12%

3.95%

2.88%

0.22%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9765

-0.19%

3.95%

2.68%

0.27%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0293

-0.95%

4.69%

1.98%

0.11%

3.19

-0.25%

4.6%

3.19%

0.08%

1.7338

-0.78%

3.77%

2.58%

0.18%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$489.12

1.24%

2.9%

2.43%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є219.59

0.1%

1.12%

0.97%

-0.19%

$1.2

-5.09%

2.01%

1.61%

-0.32% -0.38%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0259 -1.52%

-0.09%

1.32%

0.87%

PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

$1.0105

-7.05%

-0.89%

-0.94%

-1.2%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$2.4693

-1.65%

4.11%

2.29%

-1.45%

Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a

$0.062256

0.09%

2.97%

1.95%

-0.06%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.1326 -1.78%

2.87%

1.14%

-1.99%

Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a

2.56%

0.04%

First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0583 0.96% n.a. n.a.

131.24

1.05%

0.06%

Sun Life Prosperity Peso Starter Fund, Inc. -a,1 1.3163

0.05%

1.46%

2.74% 2.56%

2.53%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0607

0.75%

1.43% n.a.

0.01%

Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d 1.3837

19.73% n.a. n.a. 0.06%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a,d

$0.97

-2.02% n.a. n.a.

January 13, 2022

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

ASIA UNITED BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK CITYSTATE BANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK PHILTRUST RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BRIGHT KINDLE COL FINANCIAL FIRST ABACUS IREMIT MANULIFE PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE

44.25 129.5 96.1 25.85 6.74 9.59 59.1 9.2 20.2 56 104 19.98 113.4 98 1.7 4.08 0.61 0.81 950 210 2,750

44.4 129.7 96.2 25.9 8.4 9.68 59.2 9.52 20.25 57.5 114 20.5 113.5 98.4 1.71 4.13 0.7 0.84 955 214 2,800

43.8 127 95 25.5 8.4 9.54 57.7 9.02 20.4 56 104 20.7 113 100 1.63 4.05 0.61 0.84 946.5 210.2 2,700

44.3 130 96.5 25.9 8.4 9.69 59.2 9.2 20.4 56 104 20.7 114.9 100 1.7 4.14 0.61 0.84 950 210.2 2,750

43.8 126.8 94.9 25.5 8.4 9.47 57.65 9.02 20 56 104 20.7 112 96 1.63 4.05 0.61 0.84 946.5 209 2,700

44.3 129.7 96.2 25.9 8.4 9.68 59.2 9.2 20.2 56 104 20.7 113.5 98 1.7 4.14 0.61 0.84 950 210 2,750

3,700 2,573,810 3,731,700 47,300 100 187,600 6,477,920 28,700 199,200 300 100 400 1,312,440 70,890 438,000 405,000 1,000 19,000 570 640 110

163,560 332,141,230 356,129,966.50 1,214,480 840 1,799,564 380,353,009 263,678 4,013,225 16,800 10,400 8,280 149,263,078 6,965,861 738,250 1,661,160 610 15,960 541,215 134,352 302,250

INDUSTRIAL

AC ENERGY 9.51 9.52 9.06 9.55 9.06 9.52 34,393,300 322,128,002 1.07 1.09 1.09 1.09 1.06 1.09 82,000 89,080 ALSONS CONS ABOITIZ POWER 31 31.05 31.15 31.2 30.7 31 699,200 21,707,215 0.55 0.56 0.55 0.56 0.53 0.55 13,424,000 7,312,510 BASIC ENERGY 28.1 28.25 27.7 28.25 27.7 28.25 240,100 6,750,980 FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG 70.05 70.1 71.3 71.3 70 70.1 18,110 1,269,431 305.4 307 307 307 305 307 113,280 34,707,052 MERALCO 25.05 25.1 25.35 25.35 24.85 25.05 385,600 9,658,430 MANILA WATER PETRON 3.39 3.42 3.39 3.46 3.35 3.42 2,147,000 7,317,060 4.11 4.24 4.15 4.24 4.15 4.24 36,000 149,490 PETROENERGY PHX PETROLEUM 10.54 10.6 10.58 10.6 10.58 10.6 12,800 135,518 13.08 13.1 13.06 13.34 13.06 13.1 3,789,200 49,845,094 SYNERGY GRID 19.08 19.1 19.14 19.3 19 19.1 434,200 8,287,870 PILIPINAS SHELL SPC POWER 13.88 13.9 13.84 13.9 13.84 13.9 78,500 1,090,352 SOLAR PH 1.41 1.42 1.42 1.47 1.39 1.42 199,095,000 284,620,670 4.88 4.89 4.9 4.9 4.8 4.89 10,000 48,690 AGRINURTURE AXELUM 2.83 2.89 2.81 2.89 2.8 2.89 667,000 1,877,040 50.35 69 69 69 69 69 100 6,900 BOGO MEDELLIN 27.3 27.5 27.65 28 27.1 27.3 1,914,100 52,356,910 CENTURY FOOD DEL MONTE 15.1 15.28 15.02 15.48 15 15.28 26,800 405,032 8.89 8.9 8.98 9.1 8.84 8.9 4,144,400 37,222,539 DNL INDUS 19.6 19.8 19.7 19.8 19.56 19.6 1,247,200 24,481,528 EMPERADOR SMC FOODANDBEV 69.9 70 69.4 70.5 69.4 70 100,990 7,067,303 0.6 0.62 0.63 0.63 0.62 0.62 208,000 128,970 ALLIANCE SELECT 1.16 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.15 1.16 2,301,000 2,680,180 FRUITAS HLDG GINEBRA 115.3 115.4 118.5 122.3 114.6 115.3 123,100 14,565,290 229.6 230.6 222 230.8 221.8 230.6 1,099,660 251,573,714 JOLLIBEE KEEPERS HLDG 1.39 1.4 1.36 1.42 1.34 1.4 15,993,000 22,318,510 LIBERTY FLOUR 26 27.95 27.95 27.95 27.95 27.95 300 8,385 5.7 6.65 5.51 6.65 5.51 6.65 1,100 6,175 MACAY HLDG MAXS GROUP 6.41 6.59 6.34 6.6 6.34 6.41 31,400 202,812 MG HLDG 0.141 0.147 0.147 0.147 0.14 0.147 3,730,000 533,370 16.58 16.6 16 16.72 15.98 16.58 27,016,000 444,535,698 MONDE NISSIN SHAKEYS PIZZA 9.81 9.96 9.95 10.04 9.8 9.81 1,315,700 12,917,195 0.65 0.66 0.65 0.67 0.64 0.66 1,743,000 1,141,180 ROXAS AND CO 4.64 4.65 4.65 4.65 4.63 4.64 402,000 1,869,130 RFM CORP SWIFT FOODS 0.102 0.106 0.106 0.106 0.101 0.106 580,000 60,710 128.8 129.9 128 130 127.2 129.9 1,008,490 130,151,122 UNIV ROBINA 0.71 0.72 0.7 0.72 0.7 0.72 437,000 307,820 VITARICH CEMEX HLDG 1.03 1.04 1.04 1.05 1.03 1.04 926,000 963,950 14.8 14.82 14.66 14.8 14.66 14.8 216,100 3,197,978 EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP 6.6 6.7 6.6 6.7 6.6 6.7 116,800 774,357 HOLCIM 5.67 5.8 5.58 5.83 5.55 5.8 1,161,100 6,714,080 5.1 5.11 5.05 5.11 5.03 5.11 181,800 922,831 MEGAWIDE PHINMA 20.05 20.5 20 20.5 20 20.5 51,500 1,046,600 0.8 0.81 0.78 0.82 0.78 0.8 98,000 78,400 TKC METALS 0.88 0.89 0.89 0.89 0.87 0.88 1,240,000 1,088,590 VULCAN INDL CROWN ASIA 1.71 1.73 1.73 1.73 1.73 1.73 100,000 173,000 1.37 1.46 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 10,000 15,000 EUROMED 4.1 4.3 4.2 4.3 4.2 4.3 2,000 8,500 MABUHAY VINYL PRYCE CORP 5.7 5.79 5.61 5.7 5.61 5.7 29,300 166,349 20.15 20.95 20.8 20.8 20.8 20.8 500 10,400 CONCEPCION 2.2 2.21 2.21 2.22 2.17 2.21 9,385,000 20,625,130 GREENERGY INTEGRATED MICR 9.6 9.61 9.51 9.65 9.32 9.61 1,024,300 9,789,994 0.7 0.73 0.71 0.73 0.69 0.73 167,000 119,280 IONICS 6 6.05 6.02 6.05 6 6.04 10,300 62,062 PANASONIC SFA SEMICON 1.09 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 87,000 95,700 3.89 3.9 3.7 3.89 3.65 3.89 1,964,000 7,502,460 CIRTEK HLDG

HOLDING & FRIMS

ADB invests in Creador-managed fund

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ABACORE CAPITAL ASIABEST GROUP AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG ATN HLDG A COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT KEPPEL HLDG A LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP METRO PAC INV PRIME MEDIA SOLID GROUP SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP TOP FRONTIER

0.88 5.41 870 59.75 12.02 7.9 0.9 0.445 5.15 8.39 7.52 561 59.35 6.2 0.62 3.01 9.89 3.97 1.19 1.09 950 110.8 123.1

0.91 5.95 875 60 12.04 7.94 0.91 0.45 5.18 8.4 7.69 562.5 60 6.3 0.64 3.1 10 3.99 1.22 1.14 960 111.3 126.9

0.88 5.41 862 59.5 12 7.72 0.86 0.42 5.19 8.18 7.5 551 58.2 6.21 0.62 3.14 9.92 3.95 1.19 1.14 941 111.2 125

0.91 5.41 882 60.1 12.1 7.95 0.92 0.45 5.19 8.44 7.77 565 60 6.21 0.64 3.14 10.02 3.99 1.23 1.14 963.5 111.3 126.9

0.86 5.41 862 59 11.92 7.72 0.86 0.42 5.16 8.16 7.5 540 58.2 6.2 0.62 3.1 9.89 3.94 1.16 1.09 941 109.3 125

0.91 5.41 870 60 12.02 7.94 0.92 0.445 5.18 8.39 7.52 562.5 60 6.2 0.62 3.1 9.89 3.99 1.23 1.14 950 110.8 126.9

8,125,000 7,205,500 52,600 284,566 226,690 198,209,480 2,366,890 141,647,266 2,899,600 34,830,414 33,100 257,804 82,000 74,820 900,000 393,700 647,800 3,353,599 9,913,200 82,667,566 24,200 182,893 295,120 165,513,855 2,694,650 160,018,708.50 31,900 197,830 103,000 63,880 23,000 71,420 2,279,700 22,678,538 8,713,000 34,620,610 142,000 168,040 8,000 8,820 276,460 264,069,810 632,450 70,083,838 4,420 560,670

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.62 0.64 0.64 0.64 0.61 0.64 242,000 153,090 35.5 35.8 35.6 35.8 35.3 35.8 7,265,700 258,688,835 AYALA LAND AYALA LAND LOG 6.21 6.22 6.11 6.26 6.11 6.22 3,035,800 18,836,512 0.96 1.01 0.96 1.02 0.96 0.96 68,000 65,390 ARANETA PROP 49.75 49.8 50 50 49.65 49.8 591,400 29,438,123 AREIT RT A BROWN 0.77 0.8 0.77 0.81 0.77 0.81 4,000 3,120 0.73 0.74 0.73 0.73 0.73 0.73 13,000 9,490 CITYLAND DEVT 0.098 0.101 0.101 0.101 0.098 0.101 380,000 37,960 CROWN EQUITIES CEB LANDMASTERS 2.9 2.91 2.9 2.91 2.86 2.91 406,000 1,171,510 0.4 0.405 0.395 0.4 0.395 0.4 2,540,000 1,014,950 CENTURY PROP DOUBLEDRAGON 7.23 7.24 7.12 7.28 7.06 7.22 108,100 779,679 DDMP RT 1.79 1.8 1.79 1.8 1.78 1.8 9,077,000 16,293,450 6.76 6.78 6.78 6.78 6.76 6.78 74,900 507,812 DM WENCESLAO EMPIRE EAST 0.255 0.26 0.255 0.26 0.255 0.26 160,000 40,850 0.31 0.315 0.32 0.32 0.305 0.315 10,620,000 3,299,750 EVER GOTESCO 7.74 7.75 7.75 7.85 7.75 7.75 4,152,900 32,340,339 FILINVEST RT FILINVEST LAND 1.09 1.1 1.1 1.11 1.09 1.1 6,191,000 6,798,680 0.93 0.94 0.93 0.94 0.93 0.93 407,000 379,360 GLOBAL ESTATE 11.66 11.9 11.8 11.9 11.68 11.9 134,600 1,591,894 8990 HLDG PHIL INFRADEV 1.13 1.15 1.14 1.15 1.13 1.13 168,000 190,600 0.88 0.89 0.9 0.91 0.89 0.89 13,000 11,790 CITY AND LAND 3.24 3.25 3.15 3.26 3.13 3.25 25,273,000 80,904,060 MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED 0.23 0.233 0.225 0.234 0.222 0.23 6,920,000 1,569,560 20.25 20.35 20.15 20.6 20 20.25 972,400 19,882,990 MREIT RT 0.345 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.35 10,000 3,500 OMICO CORP PHIL ESTATES 0.485 0.495 0.49 0.495 0.48 0.495 3,004,000 1,467,915 2.24 2.25 2.15 2.25 2.11 2.24 2,628,000 5,760,660 PRIMEX CORP RL COMM RT 8.68 8.69 8.66 8.69 8.6 8.69 1,804,000 15,599,653 ROBINSONS LAND 19.14 19.18 18.8 19.18 18.8 19.18 2,656,700 50,627,024 0.209 0.21 0.208 0.21 0.201 0.21 680,000 138,020 PHIL REALTY ROCKWELL 1.48 1.5 1.48 1.5 1.48 1.48 213,000 315,300 2.58 2.61 2.61 2.61 2.61 2.61 25,000 65,250 SHANG PROP 2.71 2.79 2.8 2.8 2.71 2.79 91,000 253,120 STA LUCIA LAND SM PRIME HLDG 34.65 34.9 35 35.2 34.45 34.9 5,506,600 191,221,740 0.59 0.61 0.59 0.59 0.59 0.59 50,000 29,500 SOC RESOURCES 3.59 3.7 3.69 3.71 3.69 3.7 78,000 288,540 VISTAMALLS SUNTRUST HOME 1.08 1.12 1.09 1.12 1.08 1.12 677,000 735,340 3.48 3.5 3.49 3.52 3.45 3.5 600,000 2,087,880 VISTA LAND

SERVICES ABS CBN 13.54 13.56 13.6 13.6 13.3 13.56 96,700 1,300,286 14.36 14.4 14.26 14.5 14.26 14.4 1,191,300 17,139,878 GMA NETWORK MANILA BULLETIN 0.415 0.43 0.41 0.435 0.41 0.415 80,000 33,950 3,328 3,330 3,396 3,410 3,322 3,330 56,185 188,531,620 GLOBE TELECOM 1,900 1,904 1,865 1,912 1,854 1,904 198,710 376,216,130 PLDT APOLLO GLOBAL 0.072 0.073 0.072 0.073 0.071 0.073 47,020,000 3,377,370 31.4 31.45 31.05 31.7 31.05 31.4 5,883,400 184,859,290 CONVERGE 2.36 2.45 2.49 2.49 2.37 2.45 153,000 371,340 DFNN INC DITO CME HLDG 5.97 5.98 5.5 5.98 5.48 5.98 40,901,600 234,777,571 1.7 1.82 1.78 1.82 1.78 1.82 34,000 60,610 JACKSTONES NOW CORP 1.35 1.36 1.28 1.39 1.25 1.36 3,559,000 4,798,020 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.32 0.325 0.32 0.325 0.32 0.32 610,000 195,300 7.53 7.79 7.53 7.8 7.5 7.5 15,000 114,046 2GO GROUP ASIAN TERMINALS 13.6 14 14 14 14 14 2,200 30,800 CHELSEA 1.7 1.71 1.61 1.71 1.61 1.7 923,000 1,544,870 43.1 43.3 42.5 43.3 42.3 43.3 383,000 16,425,700 CEBU AIR INTL CONTAINER 202.2 203 196.1 203.4 196.1 203 961,200 192,134,937 24.5 24.7 24.75 24.75 24.5 24.7 16,500 404,360 LBC EXPRESS 5.43 5.44 5.3 5.5 5.25 5.43 1,103,000 5,904,589 MACROASIA METROALLIANCE A 1.1 1.17 1.1 1.17 1.08 1.17 10,000 11,040 0.85 0.87 0.86 0.88 0.86 0.87 168,000 146,090 HARBOR STAR 1.45 1.61 1.45 1.63 1.43 1.63 128,000 184,080 ACESITE HOTEL DISCOVERY WORLD 1.78 1.82 1.78 1.78 1.78 1.78 281,000 500,180 0.47 0.48 0.46 0.48 0.46 0.48 200,000 93,600 WATERFRONT 6.51 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.9 100 690 CENTRO ESCOLAR STI HLDG 0.345 0.35 0.34 0.345 0.34 0.345 500,000 170,650 1.34 1.36 1.35 1.35 1.35 1.35 97,000 130,950 BELLE CORP BLOOMBERRY 6.4 6.47 6.5 6.5 6.3 6.4 1,311,000 8,362,238 LEISURE AND RES 1.34 1.36 1.41 1.42 1.34 1.34 4,176,000 5,664,670 0.81 0.82 0.74 0.81 0.72 0.81 3,717,000 2,842,170 PH RESORTS GRP PREMIUM LEISURE 0.43 0.435 0.43 0.435 0.425 0.43 3,210,000 1,379,400 5.6 5.7 5.7 5.75 5.7 5.7 100,000 570,500 PHIL RACING 1.88 1.89 1.9 1.9 1.86 1.88 224,000 421,510 PHILWEB ALLDAY 0.61 0.62 0.58 0.61 0.57 0.61 74,002,000 43,887,240 5.5 5.62 5.46 5.5 5.46 5.5 18,300 100,570 BERJAYA 8.94 8.95 8.9 8.98 8.9 8.95 85,900 768,467 ALLHOME METRO RETAIL 1.4 1.41 1.37 1.42 1.37 1.41 262,000 366,970 37.15 37.35 36.9 37.95 36.75 37.15 2,903,600 107,971,060 PUREGOLD 58.5 58.6 58.2 58.75 57.75 58.5 954,060 55,886,705.50 ROBINSONS RTL PHIL SEVEN CORP 86.1 90.5 86.5 86.5 86 86.05 11,400 980,524.50 1.08 1.09 1.1 1.1 1.06 1.09 1,711,000 1,835,260 SSI GROUP WILCON DEPOT 28.3 28.4 28.45 28.65 28.25 28.3 4,399,700 124,929,640 APC GROUP 0.23 0.235 0.236 0.236 0.236 0.236 10,000 2,360 6.8 7 6.8 7 6.8 7 3,200 21,800 IPM HLDG MEDILINES 1.19 1.2 1.15 1.23 1.13 1.19 10,653,000 12,707,450 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.51 0.53 0.49 0.53 0.49 0.52 6,983,000 3,594,755 3.97 4 3.98 4 3.97 4 24,000 95,900 SBS PHIL CORP

MINING & OIL ATOK 6.26 6.27 6.63 6.63 6.26 6.27 35,000 223,277 APEX MINING 1.61 1.62 1.65 1.67 1.59 1.62 6,665,000 10,788,490 6.29 6.3 6.12 6.39 6.12 6.3 1,942,400 12,215,637 ATLAS MINING 5.2 5.3 5.1 5.3 5.09 5.3 8,500 43,750 BENGUET A COAL ASIA HLDG 0.27 0.29 0.29 0.29 0.29 0.29 110,000 31,900 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 20,000 56,000 CENTURY PEAK 4.71 5.19 5.19 5.19 5.19 5.19 1,000 5,190 DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL 2.15 2.16 2.16 2.19 2.12 2.16 17,518,000 37,887,980 0.184 0.196 0.183 0.184 0.183 0.184 140,000 25,730 GEOGRACE LEPANTO A 0.136 0.138 0.135 0.139 0.135 0.138 1,210,000 165,450 0.135 0.14 0.14 0.142 0.135 0.14 240,000 33,770 LEPANTO B 0.0097 0.0099 0.0097 0.0099 0.0097 0.0099 24,000,000 235,700 MANILA MINING A MARCVENTURES 1.38 1.4 1.37 1.42 1.35 1.38 3,366,000 4,664,420 1 1.03 1 1.01 1 1 40,000 40,040 NIHAO 5.66 5.67 5.45 5.69 5.43 5.67 26,962,700 150,921,165 NICKEL ASIA ORNTL PENINSULA 0.78 0.8 0.79 0.8 0.78 0.8 360,000 284,470 5.35 5.36 5.29 5.44 5.29 5.35 1,356,100 7,240,251 PX MINING 23.95 24 24 24.65 23.7 23.95 3,305,200 80,156,405 SEMIRARA MINING UNITED PARAGON 0.007 0.0073 0.0071 0.0073 0.0071 0.0073 42,000,000 302,600 33.25 33.3 31.4 34 30.55 33.3 706,300 23,097,650 ACE ENEXOR 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.01 2,900,000 31,100 ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 631,600,000 6,316,000 0.0094 0.0095 0.0094 0.0095 0.0093 0.0094 17,000,000 159,800 PHILODRILL 5.87 6.05 5.9 6.05 5.84 6.05 266,100 1,570,868 PXP ENERGY

PREFFERED HOUSE PREF B 99.9 101.5 100.5 100.5 100.5 100.5 500 50,250 100.8 101 100.9 101 100.9 101 10,000 1,009,964 HOUSE PREF A ALCO PREF D 512 525 525 525 525 525 390 204,750 103.3 104 103.3 104 103.3 104 1,000 103,475 BRN PREF A 42.2 42.5 41.9 42.5 41.5 42.5 262,300 11,042,465 CEB PREF CPG PREF A 102 103 103 103 102 103 260 26,660 100.8 101.2 100.8 100.9 100.7 100.7 29,040 2,926,164 DD PREF 106.4 107 107 107 107 107 990 105,930 EEI PREF B FGEN PREF G 102 105.2 105 105 102 102 34,330 3,519,982 99.5 101 101 101 101 101 10 1,010 MWIDE PREF 2B MWIDE PREF 4 99.5 100.5 99 100.5 99 100.5 2,600 258,050 100.8 101 101 101 101 101 4,980 502,980 PNX PREF 3B 995.5 997 995 997 995 996 9,260 9,215,900 PNX PREF 4 PCOR PREF 3A 1,047 1,060 1,043 1,059 1,043 1,059 740 774,250 1,097 1,100 1,145 1,145 1,100 1,100 415 460,350 PCOR PREF 3B 79 79.6 79 79.6 79 79.6 29,640 2,341,860 SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H 76.2 76.5 76.5 76.5 76.5 76.5 80 6,120 76.5 76.9 77.1 77.1 77.1 77.1 510 39,321 SMC PREF 2J 75.9 76 76 76 76 76 160 12,160 SMC PREF 2K

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 13 13.46 13 13 13 13 3,000 39,000 13.8 14.3 14.1 14.1 13.72 13.8 47,200 660,524 GMA HLDG PDR

WARRANTS TECH WARRANT 0.86 0.88 0.84 0.88 0.84 0.88 678,000 583,880

21,900 103,530,325 -102,679,342.50 -98,120 -19,360 148,616,142.50 -879,065 20,350,172 -463,382 -507,000 -800,950.00 541,215 2,102 302,250 64,350,721 17,440 -5,636,225 64,200 -379,315 34,287 8,593,030 1,846,745 -153,620 -22,545,236 -2,077,300 16,656 10,463,770 14,710 -240 21,438,145 -1,156,251.00 -3,842,394 -5,103,566 58,500 5,796,754 28,234,038 1,665,390 -5,510 -3,165 21,750 86,441,318 -2,595,389 200,000 -1,492,650 -6,665,106 31,200 3,121,306 -56,838 5,902,813 -84,238 -41,548 -8,032,860 1,981,624 325,230 4,267,450 81,551,790 -5,901,113 8,908,382 -162,752 -1,589,523 6,105,536 66,518,405 67,180,891 -1,545,735 13,658,820 8,745,080 -42,505,082 4,490 32,589,590 -6,069,707 4,549,690.50 -3,920 -78,210 -39,650 28,866 357,440 -315,000 1,548,628 -951,810 158,224 13,936,060 2,185,535 24,250 -866,450 -772,284 24,080,950.00 65,250 -8,370 98,881,475 73,960 -111,180 290,040 -21,710,140 65,480,305 20,580.00 -62,268,840 20,497,810 37,230 2,800 -16,500 -6,315 45,086,420 245,000 -432,936 6,900.00 -76,950 2,152,753 -702,650 39,770 3,443,170 692,525 -55,765,055 -6,510,253 -32,764.50 -457,160 -25,831,885 1,201,140 52,765 21,260 304,070 56,000 -3,178,520 -20,040 13,536,171 48,185 -6,095,730 -248,450 -6,596 -9,386,765 509,045 -

0% SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

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

1 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last July 8, 2021 (formerly, Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc.).

2 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last November 25, 2021.

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

ALTUS PROP ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MERRYMART

18.8 1.19 2.85 2.36

18.88 1.2 2.87 2.37

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

FIRST METRO ETF

109.8

111

19.04 1.22 2.82 2.35

19.04 1.22 2.85 2.4

18.7 1.18 2.82 2.32

18.88 1.2 2.85 2.37

140,800 454,000 9,000 5,815,000

2,653,268 542,530 25,590 13,838,140

- -3,520 321,800

109.3 111 109.3 111 17,100 1,880,856 129,646

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance

Customs files 166 cases vs errant traders, brokers

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

T

HE Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced last Thursday it filed a total of 166 criminal and administrative cases against erring importers and customs brokers last year.

The BOC revealed it filed a total of 103 criminal cases against 309 importers and customs brokers for violating Republic Act 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act) and other laws.

The BOC added it also filed at the Professional Regulation Commission about 63 administrative cases against licensed customs brokers.

Among the cases filed involved the unlawful importation of the following items: cigarettes (valued at P897.1 million); agricultural products (P293.9 million); general merchandise (almost

P253.2 million); medicines (P57.1 million); motor vehicles (P49.1 million); and other commodities (P63.1 million), data from the BOC Action Team Against Smugglers (Batas) revealed.

Erring individuals are also facing criminal cases due to unlawful removal and disarming of electronic BOC seals, according to the agency.

Based on preliminary data, the BOC collected a total of P645.77 billion last year, surpassing by 4.7 percent or P29.016 billion its full-year target of P616.75 billion.

The bureau attributed this feat to improved valuation, intensified enforcement operations against illegal importations, improved compliance by traders to customs laws, the gradual improvement of importation volume and government’s efforts to ensure unhampered movement of goods domestically and internationally.

Firm reaches more Pinoys in financial literacy project

IN this undated photo courtesy of the Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. shows people involved in the insurer’s financial literacy program. CREDIT: The Manufacturers Life Insurance Co.

T

HE Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. (Manulife) announced recently that its financial literacy program is expanding to benefit 300 students from six schools in Pasig, Makati, Baguio and Albay.

This marks the first time that the program will reach Filipino students beyond the National Capital Region, “teaching them smart money habits and helping enrich financial knowledge and behaviors at a young age,” the insurer’s statement read.

The insurer explained it started the program two years ago in partnership with a nonprofit group. The firm said the program “aims to equip students with learning kits.” These kits, the company added, include an activity journal based on Manulife’s modules that “teach children the basics of saving, budgeting and investing.”

In addition, the wholly-owned domestic subsidiary of Manulife Financial Corp. (MFC) said its employees will train volunteer teachers and parents so they can guide the students’ learning progress even while at home.

As of 02:50 p.m. of January 13,

2022, the share price of Manulife’s holding firm MFC hit a high of P950 and a low of P946.50 after opening trade at P946.50. Manulife didn’t say how much it is spending for the program.

The company said for school year 2021 to 2022, the program would include students from the following: Bambang Elementary School; Buting Elementary School and Francisco Legaspi Memorial School in Pasig; Pembo Elementary School in Makati; Guisad Valley National High School in Baguio; and, Gubat Elementary School in Albay. The firm said it has expanded the program after running it during the 2020-to-2021 school year at two public elementary schools in Pasig City: Francisco Legaspi Memorial School and Buting Elementary School wherein a hundred students participated.

Manulife said its program was a series of face-to-face weekend classes dedicated to teaching the value of saving and investing to Grade 6 elementary students. It added people involved tweaked the program “to address the demands of remote learning.”

BusinessMirror

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Friday, January 14, 2022

PHL banks managed to grow amid uncertainties last year

T

By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

HE local banking system managed to grow in terms of assets and deposits in 2021, amid uncertainty surrounding the pandemic last year.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said the Philippine banking system sustained its “solid footing” as evidenced by the continued growth in assets, loans and deposits as well as ample capital, liquidity buffers and loan loss reserves.

Diokno said that total banking

system assets posted an annual 7-percent growth to P20.4 trillion as of end-November 2021. Asset expansion was primarily funded by deposits, which increased by 9.2 percent year-on-year to P15.8 trillion over the same period.

Credit activity also showed signs of recovery as loans rose 4.3 percent

as of end-November 2021, reversing a 0.1 percent contraction a year ago.

The BSP governor attributed the improvement in loan activity to favorable market outlook, rising vaccination coverage in the country and the monetary officials’ credit-related relief measures.

“This indicates the continued trust and confidence of the public in the banking system. The strong performance of the banking system amid this crisis is due to its strong fundamentals supported by deep financial sector reforms,” Diokno said.

“The BSP’s timely and well-calibrated operational and prudential relief measures proved instrumental in helping banks cope with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic,” the central bank governor added.

Diokno also said the level of

I

Association World Octavio Peralta as non-profit organizations under the corporation law of the country.

The Pcaae is a young “association of associations,” having been launched in November 2013 as an advocacy organization to advance the association management profession, as well as to make associations better governed and sustainable. The Pcaae, which has 60 member-associations (including over 150 individuals), is supported by the Tourism Promo-

non-performing loans (NPLs) also remained “manageable” and within the BSP’s expectations.

As of end-November 2021, gross NPL ratio stood at 4.3 percent. While this is higher than the 3.8 percent ratio from a year ago, it is lower than 4.4 percent in October 2021. Diokno said with the still-elevated NPLs, banks’ reserves were “sufficient,” with an NPL coverage ratio of 87.1 percent.

Also, as of end-September 2021, the capital adequacy ratio of the universal and commercial bank industry further improved to 16.9 percent and 17.4 percent on a solo basis and on a consolidated basis, respectively.

These figures are well-above the 10 percent regulatory minimum required by the BSP and the 8 percent by the Bank for International Settlements, the BSP said.

Lawmakers OK proposals vs finance-system hackers

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

T

O promote and maintain a stable and efficient financial system, the House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries on Thursday approved a substitute bill regulating the use of bank accounts, e-wallets and other financial accounts.

Quirino Rep. Junie E. Cua, the panel chairman, said committee members have approved—in principle and subject to style—the proposed “Bank Account, Ewallet, and Other Financial Accounts Regulation Act of 2021.”

Cua said the committee is now preparing a report for the panel’s immediate final approval and for endorsement of the proposal to the plenary.

He explained that the proposal seeks to mitigate the rise in cybercrime incidents as the distinct lack of sufficient laws and penalties make it difficult to not only discourage cybercrime but also mete out disciplinary actions.

“The coronavirus pandemic accelerated the popularity of digital and ‘card-not-present’ transactions, which led banks to extend their reach and efficiency in the delivery of services to the public. As banking industry continually implements its digitalization initiatives

and enhances its cybersecurity systems, cybercriminals, however, continue to inflict harm by finding new and different wats to deceive the banks’ customers,” Cua said.

“The economic hardship brought about by the pandemic has led some to resort to ‘easy money’ or to look for funds obtained by dubious means or for little work, such as the buy-and-sell of bank accounts which phishers or cybercriminals use to avoid arrest and criminal liability,” the lawmaker added.

The proposal gives authority to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to investigate cases involving violations of the bill and to apply for cybercrime warrants and orders mentioned in Chapter IV of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Also, the bill prohibits any person to act as a “money mule,” which includes opening a bank, e-wallet or other financial account and using or allowing the use thereof, to receive or transfer or withdraw proceeds derived from crimes, offenses or social engineering schemes.

The bill also prohibits the opening of a bank account, an e-wallet account or other financial account under a fictitious name or using the identity or identification documents of another to receive or transfer or withdraw proceeds derived

from crimes or offenses.

The measure seeks to penalize any person performing any social engineering schemes.

It said social engineering scheme shall also be deemed committed when a person performs any of the following: makes any electronic communication to another person disguising as a trusted person or a representative of a financial institution or a trusted person; or, with intent to defraud or injure any person, uses electronic communication to induce or request any person to provide sensitive identifying information.

The bill, meanwhile, said if the offense was committed by a crime syndicate, in large scale or using a mass mailer shall be considered as economic sabotage.

The measure said any person found guilty as “money mule” shall be punished with imprisonment of prision correccional or a fine of at least P100,000 but not exceeding P200,000; or both.

Also, any person found guilty of social engineering schemes shall be punished with imprisonment of prision mayor or a fine of at least P200,000 but not exceeding P500,000; or both.

Under the bill, any person found guilty of any of the offenses that constitutes economic sabotage shall be

punished with life imprisonment and a fine of not less than P1 million but not more than P5 million.

Also, it provides that any person found guilty of aiding in the commission of any of the offenses shall be punished with imprisonment one degree lower than that of the prescribed penalty for the offense or a fine of at least P100,000 but not exceeding P500,000 or both.

The bill said when any of the punishable acts committed on behalf of or for the benefit of a juridical person, by a natural person who has a leading position within― based on (a) a power of representation of the juridical person provided the act committed falls within the scope of such authority; (b) an authority to take decisions on behalf of the juridical person (provided that the act committed falls within the scope of such authority); or, (c) an authority to exercise control within the juridical person—the juridical person shall be held liable for a fine equivalent to at least double the fines imposable and up to a maximum of P10 million.

The measure said an amount of P50 million shall be appropriated annually for the implementation of the proposal.

It also created a Congressional Oversight Committee to monitor and oversee the implementation of the proposal.

PDIC, DBP sign MOA for depositor-claims payment

O

FFICIALS of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for a multichannel disbursement facility (MCDF) as “a secure and convenient means to pay deposit insurance to depositors of closed banks,” according to the PDIC. According to the PDIC statement, the MOA will enable the state deposit insurer to avail of DBP’s MCDF for the prompt payment of deposit insurance claims of closed bank depositors.

Under the agreement, the state deposit insurer may avail of the MCDF as an additional deposit insurance claims payment option. The MCDF provides

a number of payment avenues for the convenience and safety of affected depositors. This includes Intrabank Credit Services and payment through the PESONet composed of participating banks and e-money issuers.

“This most recent collaboration of PDIC and DBP assures closed bank depositors of more convenience given PESONet’s wide range of affiliated financial institutions,” the PDIC statement read.

The MCDF will complement the current PDIC payment channels such as postal money orders, checks, cash-overthe-counter scheme with the Land Bank of the Philippines and real time gross settlement (RTGS) and/or bank transfer.

The statement said the agreement was signed by PDIC President and CEO Roberto B. Tan and DBP President and CEO Emmanuel G. Herbosa through a virtual ceremonial signing on December 29, 2021.

“The PDIC is constantly innovating to optimize technology and collaboration to improve its services for the depositing public,” Tan was quoted in the statement as saying. “This partnership with the DBP is a step towards that direction.”

The PDIC President added they “recognize the importance of interconnectedness of financial institutions in the country and we trust that this facility for deposit insurance payments will provide convenience and better accessibility for

A brief guide on the Philippine Association Community

thought of sharing with you a short piece on the local association community from the perspective of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (Pcaae).

The Philippines was colonized

by Spain for over 350 years and by the United States for 48 years, with a brief 3-year occupation by Japan during World War II. The association we know today has its roots over a century ago but gained more presence and prominence after the war. The La Cámara de Comercio de las Islas Filipinas (Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands) was founded in 1886, considered the oldest trade association in the country. Associations are listed

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tions Board (TPB), the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) and the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (Adfiap). It is currently the secretariat of the AsiaPacific Federation of Association Organizations. Based on anecdotal and on-the-ground accounts of the Pcaae, the following is the situation of associations here.

Before the Covid-19 global pandemic, associations in the country were vibrant and thriving in terms of running regular meetings, training programs and annual conferences and exhibitions. There was also an increasing trend of associations hosting international events in the country, especially those affiliated with

international associations. Associations were big players in the MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) industry.

However, when the pandemic unfolded, many associations were unprepared to cope with the ensuing lockdowns, travel restrictions and quarantines. The early adopters of technology and have reserve funds were quick to adjust to the new environment by engaging closely with their members and staff through video conferencing platforms while working from home. Webinars and e-meetings became commonplace in such a short time.

On the other hand, those that lagged behind in digitalization and were slow in adapting to the changes

in their midst struggled due to loss of revenue stemming from a decrease in membership dues and the postponement or cancellation of events.

This resulted in their inability to adequately engage with and provide needed services to members.

A crosscutting and pleasant development, however, is in the area of collaboration and in responding to the call by the government to help in combating the pandemic. For instance, associations of engineers and architects worked together to design and develop quarantine facilities while associations of the different branches of the medical field banded together to provide response, relief and rescue operations.

Overall, the resilience and adapt-

depositors of closed banks.”

The state deposit insurer assured the public that transactions under the MCDF are safe, secure and fully compliant with the “know-your-client,” or KYC, procedures of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Data Privacy Act and Anti-Money Laundering laws and regulations.

The PDIC is the government instrumentality mandated to protect the depositing public and promote financial stability through deposit insurance of up to P500,000 per depositor per bank.

Deposit insurance is a safety net and is paid by PDIC to depositors of banks ordered closed by the Monetary Board of the BSP.

ability of associations in the country during the pandemic is something to be proud of. Going forward and armed with lessons learned from the pandemic, associations here are not looking to return to where they were. Instead, they are tweaking their membership models and innovating their internal structures and processes to create more and better services to their members, to be more receptive to the needs of their staff, to collaborate with others, to reach out to the government and contribute more to nation building.

Octavio Peralta is the founder and volunteer CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives, the “association of associations.” E-mail: obp@adfiap.org

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Friday, January 14, 2022 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

Relationships BusinessMirror

Hang on, hold on

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

PHOTO BY ÖNDER ÖRTEL ON UNSPLASH

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CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Dave Grohl, 53; Jason Bateman, 53; LL Cool J, 54; Holland Taylor, 79.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Pour your heart and soul into whatever you do this year. Your drive and determination will lead to positive change. Keep up with what’s trending. Draw on your skills, and concentrate on making adjustments that help you stay ahead of the competition.

Refuse to let what others do or say stand in your way or cause you to second-guess your plans. Your numbers are 6, 13, 24, 28, 35, 39, 44.

I

HATE to be a Debbie Downer but by the looks of things, 2022—as the online joke goes—is turning out to be “2020, too.” That is, as far as the Covid-19 situation is in this country.

As I write this, the Department of Health (DOH) has reported 32,246 new Covid cases; of the 63,903 tested using the RT-PCR method, some 46 percent were recorded as positive for the virus. By the estimates of mathematician Dr. Guido David of the OCTA Research Group, however, if we include those tested via antigen kits, we would have to multiply the new Covid cases by 5. As such, the actual number of Covid-positive cases has likely reached 161,230.

With the quick rate of infections, even DOH officials admit the cases are likely caused by the Omicron variant. The UP-Philippine Genome Center in Diliman has said it will have a clearer picture of the dominant variant in the country by the end of January.

But are we surprised that we’re back in this situation again? No. Government’s approach to the Covid problem hasn’t actually changed. Except for renaming the community quarantine status to alert level status, it’s pretty much about restricting movement when Covid cases increase, reopening when the cases drop, lifting of border restrictions even to countries that have surging Covid infections, and once new variants are recorded and cases rise once more, we’re back to restricting everyone’s movement again.

In the meantime, contact tracing remains slow, mass or targeted testing of citizens is barely existent, and the enforcement of quarantine and health protocols is slack.

Speaking at a radio-TV show recently, Dr. Tony Leachon said lax border controls, for one, is to be blamed. “Basta isa lang makapasok,” he noted.

Government officials already knew Omicron infections were rising in many countries abroad, yet we still allowed Filipinos from these countries to return home. As it now turns out, the DOH has confirmed that most returning overseas Filipinos or balikbayans (homecoming Filipinos) were Covid carriers.

In fact in early December, two government officials who I usually contact for interviews on tourism, Covid-19, or vaccination stories separately told me that when it came to the entry of the Omicron variant to our shores, “it’s not a matter of if, but a matter of when.” They knew it was coming, yet they allowed it to happen.

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Touch base with enthusiastic people who contribute to something you want to pursue. You’ll have plenty of good ideas to share, and the information you receive will lead to fruitful prospects. Don’t take a risk with your health or reputation. HHHH

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Look at your finances and make adjustments that will help you save for something you want. Don’t get involved in joint ventures or a situation where you share expenses. A personal change will boost your ego. HHH

Look, I understand the simpering sentimentality of IATF members on this matter. After all, we can only take so much isolation from our relatives and friends. And, well, government had been itching to attract tourists to help out travel agencies and tour operators regain their livelihood.

But as we already discovered, some of these balikbayans skipped quarantine, a few hotels have been found allowing absentee-quarantine guests or permitting Covid-positive guests to book stays in their establishments, which was partly aggravated by lowering of people’s guard in public.

And as Leachon pointed out, instead of praising people for using home antigen kits, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III “scolds them by saying these home kits are fake,” because they were not registered with the local Food and Drug Administration. But why would they resort to antigen kits when testing isn’t free for citizens, unless they are symptomatic?

For those asymptomatic but suspect they are ill, they can hardly afford RT-PCR tests which range from P3,500 to P6,000 per person. If an entire family are Covid-suspects, imagine how much impact those tests will be on the household income!

(Last I heard, the DOH will soon be releasing an instructional video how individuals can selfadminister antigen tests. Too late the hero again, since such videos are already all over the Internet.)

On the upside, many Filipinos, who already suspect they are infected with the Omicron variant or have taken antigen tests that show them as Covid-positive, are staying home or isolating from the non-infected in their families. Mayors of many cities in Metro Manila report foot traffic

dropping in malls, thank goodness.

Meanwhile, many establishments are reporting staff shortages due to Covid infections among their ranks. Restaurants are temporarily suspending operations, banks have shortened working hours, even the Philippine Stock Exchange has reverted to the ‘90s and capped trading at noon.

Hospitals are also precariously experiencing similar staffing problems, so much so that DOH, again with the brilliant ideas, mandated shorter quarantine and isolation periods for fully vaccinated health-care workers. Medical frontliners are, of course, flabbergasted. They have said that this move won’t just put them at greater health risk, but will likely endanger the sick people they are caring for.

This is adding insult to injury considering many of them receive miniscule payouts on their special risk allowance, or none at all.

Now, government plans to prohibit unvaccinated citizens from taking public transportation. The problem is not the fact that they take public transport, it is again government’s inability to convince them of the benefits of getting vaccinated.

(Although I do admit, there are a few serious antivaxxers with disturbing reasons why they remain so, despite the science proving they are wrong.)

I apologize I can’t offer much hope or deliverance from our seriously f*cked-up situation. And I confess the only thing getting me through these days is work and mega-doses of comedies on Netflix. (I’ve already rewatched Schitt’s Creek and Seinfeld.) I guess we have no choice but sit tight until May rolls around and we can elect new leaders who could hopefully get us out of this mess. ’Til then, kapit ng mahigpit, Pilipinas.

Holiday binge? Detoxify with functional foods

By Teddy S. Manansala, RND, PhD THE best way to start the new year is to detoxify with food that aids in the transport, barrier, detoxification and immune system integrity in our bodies.

These are called “functional food,” which promotes gut health and prevents lifestyle-related illnesses like cancer, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases. A healthy gut means sufficient population of good bacteria and efficient nutrient absorption.

Why not adopt a diet which contains these healthy yet delicious food? Here are five categories to consider: 1. CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES These include broccoli, cauliflower, daikon radish, Brussel sprouts, cabbage and bell peppers.

Antioxidative and chemo-preventive, lutein in green vegetables reduces muscle degeneration and

improves visual problem. Their dietary fiber cleans out toxins, contains selenium and synthesizes seleno-compounds for additional health benefits.

2. HERBAL TEAS Peppermint, ginger, green and black teas are among such teas. Catechins may prevent diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and obesity. Tea contains digestive benefits and provides relief from constipation, ulcers indigestions.

3. BERRIES AND RED WINE Blueberries, strawberries, cabernet, merlot. High in polyphenols, these antioxidants activate the immune system, promote growth of good bacteria and support good digestion. It likewise improves blood circulation and reduces chronic inflammation associated with heart disease. Most of all, it contains anti-aging properties.

4. WHOLE GRAINS Such as oatmeal, cereals, millet, quinoa, brown rice, whole rye, wheat, bulgur, wild rice, barley and sorghum. These foods are high in nutrients, antioxidants such as phytic acid,

lignans, ferulic acid and sulfur compounds. Tannins in cereal grains help in urinary tract health. Being fiber-rich, whole grains promote healthy digestion and helps lower risk of cardiovascular diseases, obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

5. FERMENTED PRODUCTS Including yogurt, cottage cheese, kefir, aged cheese, tempeh, miso, pickles in brine, natto, kombucha, kimchi and sauerkraut. These are excellent sources of probiotics.

They aid digestion, help nutrient absorption, improve behavior and mood to prevent anxiety and depression.

Fermented food even supports heart health. n The author is a registered nutritionist-dietitian, and

a resident full-time and associate professor of the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Manila. He is also an adjunct faculty of Benilde School of Professional and Continuing Education for Nutrition and Dietetics program.

c

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Put your reputation first, and stick to your principles, regardless of what others do or say. Stick to what you know, and don’t deviate from your plans because someone does. Be smart when it comes to health and well-being.

Avoid excessive behavior. HHH

d

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Expand your interests and explore possibilities. Adapt your plans to include someone you like to spend time with, and it will bring you closer together. The information you receive will encourage you to make better financial decisions. HHH

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Put your heart on the line by expressing your feelings. Socialize with people who inspire you rather than those who are needy. Don’t let the decisions and changes that others make disrupt your plans. Do what makes you happy. HHHH

f

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Be observant and gather information. Listen to what others have to say, but don’t believe everything you hear. A relationship with someone close to you will require attention. A show of affection will ease tension and ward off an emotional incident. HH

g

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Do your best, and finish what you start. Keep busy, and you’ll avoid criticism, misunderstandings and emotional difficulties with a friend, relative or colleague.

Honor promises, do your fair share and stick to the truth, and you’ll be happy with what you achieve. HHHHH

h

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Make adjustments that support saving. Lower your overhead, and change your lifestyle to fit your budget. Getting the most for the least will ease stress and encourage a minimalist attitude.

Discuss your plans with someone who shares expenses with you. HHH

i

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Don’t be shy; if you have a question, ask. A detailed description of what you want and expect will help you avoid feeling let down when you ask someone to do something for you. Have a backup plan in place. HHH

j

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Look for a unique way to use your skills, and you’ll discover something you can offer at a premium. Explore and expand your interests, and you’ll capture attention from someone who can help you advance. HHH

k

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Put some thought into your home and surroundings, and you’ll come up with a plan that will help you implement adjustments that add comfort and convenience. Do the work yourself, and you’ll avoid having someone take advantage of you. HHHHH

l

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Emotions will surface if you let someone manipulate you.

Recognize what others are doing, protect your reputation and take pride in what you do. It’s OK to be different or to do your own thing. Personal growth is favored. HH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are articulate, entertaining and practical. You are energetic and insightful.

‘Local Anesthesia’ BY JOEY DEENEY The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg ACROSS 1 Press (down) 5 Raise objections 10 Longest human bone 11 Compliment 12 Tiny tot 13 Scottish city on the Clyde 14 One sketching part of a bird?

(Hint: This clue’s answer

ignores squares 2-4. Enter a

body part in those squares

to create valid, unclued Across

and Down answers.)

16 Bids the most 17 “Crossword,” e.g., grammatically 18 Intent 21 “___ alive!” (horror movie cry) 22 Fire up Microsoft’s search

engine? (... ignores squares 6-8 ...)

26 “... except that wasn’t the case” 27 Scorpion’s substance 28 Wildcat spotted in South America 30 Turn left, as a screw 32 Submerged sandbank 33 “Speak up already!”

34 The “So What” singer went

fast? (... ignores squares 6-8 ...)

37 One created Lake Mead 40 Youngest-ever U.S.

congresswoman 41 Not much, as of hand sanitizer 42 Perseverance rover’s org.

43 Extraordinary charged particle?

(... ignores squares 1-3 ...)

48 Pampers products 50 Tips off 51 Is jealous of 52 Takes in a good book 53 T-shirt style 54 Refuse to grant DOWN 1 *Caddie’s pegs (Hint: Each

starred clue’s answer ignores

its square in 14-, 22-, 34- or

43-Across.)

2 French for “mine” 3 Actress Olivia 4 Expecting a baby 5 Prepare, as a bath 6 Relieve

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 19 20 22 23 24 25 26 28 29 30 31 32 33 35 36 37

Throbbing headache “Until everyone comes home” org. “<<” letters on a remote *Reedy areas *Course of action *Brevity is the soul of ___ Chow 1914-18 conflict: Abbr.

Bygone bird A party to Las Vegas’ ___ Grand Idle periods Ear: Prefix *Null’s partner *Superlative suffix Prominent Toucan Sam feature Neighbor of Indiana *Inward-curving Desk’s portable substitute “Hey,” in Chile Four Seasons amenity *___ Antonio *Runs on TV *Cinco - tres Board game?

38 39 42 44 45 46 47 48 49

Warts and all Gym surface Studious and introverted, say *Instagram post, briefly *”That’s scary!”

Head for the hills Intend Actor Patel Certain Tripadvisor listing

Solution to today’s puzzle:

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Show BusinessMirror

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Friday, January 14, 2022

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Vlogging about this island paradise called Ticao

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LL islands are paradise. It is the unknowability of the place that it offers to the outsider that makes any shores separate from the mainland beautiful. But when vloggers and documentarians tremble at the mere mention of Ticao Island, I do not have the heart to tell them it is not entirely that, a paradise; that it is not a hidden island, metaphor or no metaphor.

I become, in other words, a vlogger, this individual whose naivety gets marketed into cuteness: Ah, where I am? What is this place? Where I am going? Those inquiries are meant to disarm the viewers who are supposed to be charmed by this adventurer’s lack of a sense of direction.

This quandary is not merely confined among travel vloggers; we see also this little-boy-lost affectation in the many documentarians from our local TV networks. Suddenly, farms become terra incognita for them. I recall this documentarian talking about the town of Camaligan in Camarines Sur, a town which is some 6 kilometers from the city of Naga, and separated only by a small bridge near a mall. If you did not check your map, you would have thought the reporter was in a village that could only be reached by the bravest of ethnographers.

The case of an island is altogether a different matter. Not as popular as Balesin or other tony destinations, Ticao, if we may use a cliché, is still shrouded in mist. Except for a few resorts, the island does not boast of hotels to suit the desire of the city tourist.

The Bikolanos from the mainland would not put even Ticao on the top of their list.

Having been born in Ticao, I grew up aware that

we were not Bicolanos. Even when we describe our language, we draw from the linkages with Samar and Leyte. Ticao gets a double whammy: we rarely call ourselves “Masbateño”, a term that refers to those in the mainland. Add to that the name these mainlanders affix to Ticao: Isla. We are the Island.

Different. Othered.

Exoticism is our default heritage. Think of travel vloggers descending upon this island and you have a community besieged by people who are there to rhapsodize on the material beauty and singularity of the surroundings. Whether this is an evolved protocol, many of these vloggers represent the ancient form of documentary, a narrative of stasis where people are the backdrop and the politics or sociology of the land is ignored.

One explanation for this segmented view of a territory is that these vloggers serve as the eyes for the people in the country where they come from. They are in Ticao not to side-glance at poverty but to focus the lens on the immeasurable expanse of white sand, the diving spots untouched by diving schools, the sheer majesty of white cliffs. And always, always the enchanting Katandayagan Falls, with its clear, clean water plummeting down to the sea to cap the visual diary of these visitors.

There is almost a uniformity in the vlogger’s approach to the island. But every now and then, a different person arrives, with a fresh take on the island, and this makes quite a difference.

This was Erwan Huessaff.

Last Saturday, we watched his vlog, The Hidden

Island, at Savage Mind, the current cultural hub in the city of Naga. My stake was personal: Will this guy do a good tribute to “my” island (note the sense of ownership, which I passionately share with the rest of the Tigaonons)?

We were unanimous: Heussaff had this sincerity and openness, a kind of “boot” or gentle manner which made his trip to the island less of an intrusion than an education. He was visibly interested in the place. There was no pretend curiosity, no sham eagerness. He was exploring the island and venturing into places that were the unbeaten path. He did not just stay on the quiet beach fronting the Alta Mar Resort of the Altarejos, perhaps the only place that could offer a sophistication otherwise not yet present in Ticao. He followed the tributaries of the river. When he jumped into that old water hole, a place I would not dare swim in, I, became a fan. It helped a lot that his command of the English language was way above the usual vlogger’s oral armament.

We knew he is an accomplished chef and we were curious what he would cook. He scoured the wooded areas looking for snails and gathered some shellfish.

With Ticao Pass behind him, he prepared the table for the show. Would he honor the cuisine of the island, which uses all kinds of coconut milk or “gata”? He did but this was where a quasi-riot erupted among us.

With the snails and the shellfish waiting for his ministration, Erwan Heussaff produced from somewhere a box or tetra pack containing a coconut milk processed in Indonesia. I was appalled! And offended. You were in an island where everything could be subjected to the power of the coconut milk and you opted to use a boxed version. Come on, Mr. Huessaff!

But let us not end all this badly. Savage Mind is extending an invitation that you, Mr. Huessaff, visit Bicol again—Naga first—so you could vlog some more. We will provide all the coconut and all the coco milk you would need. We would produce the milk from a traditional grater or “kudkuran.” Then, we would arrange a trip to Ticao again when the seas are calmer (although in the video you seemed fearless of the high waves) and where you would prepare a dish, this time with the coconut milk from the coconut tree and some of our local chefs to welcome you back.

Much deserved spotlight on Zanjoe

“AKO lang kasi ang willing mag-work ngayon e kaya siguro sa akin inoffer,” joked actor Zanjoe Marudo when asked how he landed the iconic role of the cheating husband in the much-anticipated ABS-CBN remake of Doctor Foster, titled The Broken Marriage Vow. This humility of Zanjoe’s is perfectly understandable. After all, netizens suggested more established or more bankable actors for the role, a fact that fuels the actor’s sense of self-deprecation, occasionally becoming even prickly. Of course he can’t say that he has worked hard for over 16 years to deserve such a role, or he has prayed for such a big break like this to come his way, or that he may be one of the few brave actors to accept a role he knows everyone would end up hating. But for some people to say he doesn’t deserve the role, that is another story.

Because for me, Zanjoe deserves the spotlight and based on the released trailer of The Broken Marriage Vow, he deserves this role too.

The trailer gives a glimpse of David Ilustre’s (Zanjoe) dual per-

sonality and web of lies as he juggles his relationships with his wife Dr. Jill Ilustre (Jodi Sta. Maria) and his younger mistress Lexy Lucero (Sue Ramirez). He is irresistible in the footage and I felt gigil, almost anger toward him because it is his character’s extramarital affair that will destroy his family.

David, an architect, seems to be the perfect husband and father to Jill and their only son Gio (Zaijian Jaranilla), lavishing them with love and affection.

When Jill, who becomes extremely suspicious about David’s actions, confronts him about his affair, he casually fools her by reassuring her of his commitment and denying outright that there’s another woman.

“Kaya kitang tingnan sa mata nang diretso. Wala akong ibang babae,” David calmly says.

The teaser also gives a sneak peek into David’s romance with Lexy and their secret rendezvous. “Sa ’yo ko lang nakikita ’yung halaga ko.

Kung mawala ka sa akin, mamamatay ako,” David proclaims to Lexy.

The Broken Marriage Vow, which is shot entirely in Baguio, also stars Jane Oineza, Angeli Bayani, Bianca Manalo, Ketchup Eusebio, Rachel Alejandro, Art Acuña, Empress Schuck, Joem Bascon, Brent Manalo, Malou Crisologo, Franco Laurel, Sandino Martin, Lao Rodriguez, Jet Gaitan, Jie Anne Armero, Migs Almendras, Avery Clyde, and JB Agustin, with the special participation of Susan Africa and Ronnie Lazaro.

The series will premiere first on the iWantTFC app (iOs and Android) and on iwanttfc.com on January 22, two days ahead of its TV broadcast.

Watch it also on January 24 at 8:40 pm on Kapamilya Channel, TV5, A2Z, Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page, iWantTFC, and TFC.

nnn

TO help our kababayans affected by Typhoon Odette get back on their feet, ABS-CBN has launched “Tulong-Tulong sa Pag-ahon: Isang Daan sa Pagtutulungan,” a series of fund-raising activities from different groups within ABS-CBN, starting with ABS-CBN shows and stars, with the goal of providing assistance to 100,000 affected families.

Isang Daan sa Pagtutulungan, which marks the second phase of ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN Foundation’s online fund drive for Odette survivors, runs from January 9 to April 18. It kicked off recently with By Request: A Benefit Concert featuring Regine Velasquez-Alcasid.

By Request will continue every night at 8 pm until January 18 with different ASAP Natin ’To performers who will encourage viewers to support the cause via virtual gifts on Kumu, Facebook stars, YouTube donate button, and QR codes while heeding their song requests. After Regine, Kyle Echarri also did a concert, followed by Ogie Alcasid. KD Estrada and Alexa Ilacad, Jed Madela, Yeng Constantino, Darren Espanto, and Erik Santos have also confirmed their participation in the coming days.

Since its launch last December 2021 via a benefit concert featuring over a hundred ABS-CBN stars, the first phase of the TulongTulong sa Pag-Ahon campaign, called “Andito Tayo Para sa Bawat Pamilya,” had raised P56,575,497 cash donations and P9,062,614 worth of in-kind donations.

Donors may also deposit to accounts of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc. through BDO (0039302-14711), BPI (4221-0000-27), PNB (1263-7000-4128), GCash, PayMaya, and PayPal accounts. More details are available on ABS-CBN Foundation’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts, and foundation.abs-cbn.com.

ZANJOE MARUDO

GMA unveils 2022 lineup of world-class programs

The Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews.

False Positive

LOVE and hope continue to reign as broadcast giant GMA Network brings viewers together with a fresh and exciting roster of worldclass programs for 2022.

In the afternoons, catch the highly anticipated return of the top-rating series Prima Donnas on January 17. Starring Jillian Ward, Althea Ablan, Sofia Pablo, the three Donnas are stronger and ready to take on new challenges that will come their way. Completing the stellar roster of stars are Katrina Halili, Wendell Ramos, James Blanco, Benjie Paras, Elijah Alejo, Will Ashley, Vince Crisostomo, Bruce Roeland, Allen Ansay and Sheryl Cruz, with Chanda Romero and the special participation of Aiko Melendez.

Launched last January 10 is the afternoon drama Little Princess, headlined by Jo Berry, Rodjun Cruz and Juancho Trivino. It follows the story of a little person who dreams of becoming a businesswoman despite growing up in a poor family. The drama also features Angelika Dela Cruz, Geneva Cruz, Chuckie Dreyfus, Therese Malvar, Lander Vera Perez, Gabrielle Hahn, Kaloy Tingcungco and Jestoni Alarcon.

Among a slew of shows coming to screens in the afternoons, GMA also offers the riveting legal drama series Artikulo 247 airing on February 14. Topbilled by Rhian Ramos, Benjamin Alves, Kris Bernal and Mark Herras, the series powerfully portrays the journey of a woman as she fearfully moves on from the consequences of her past entanglement with her boss and his wife.

Leading the stellar lineup of weekend game and variety shows is Family Feud, a popular franchise game show where two families compete by giving the most popular answer to the survey questions.

The much-awaited Philippine franchise of the SBS Korea Original Running Man Philippines airs this 2022.

Also on weekends, get ready for an action-packed adventure as the top-rating family fantasy drama Agimat ng Agila returns with more intense and exciting scenes for its second season, headlined

by Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. Also returning to the series is the stellar roster of cast headlined by Sanya Lopez as special guest, Elizabeth Oropesa and Benjie Paras, together with new cast members Gardo Verzosa, Betong Sumaya, Kim de Leon, Shanelle Agustin, and Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Rabiya Mateo.

Meanwhile, viewers across the globe will be treated to a slew of world-class dramas on the GMA primetime block.

From the big screen to primetime, the blockbuster movie franchise Mano Po continues its legacy on television with Mano Po Legacy: The Family Fortune, which premiered last January 3. Headlined

by Barbie Forteza, Sunshine Cruz, Maricel Laxa, and Boots Anson-Roa, the first installment in the new Mano Po Legacy series revolves around the members of a prominent Chinese-Filipino clan as they scramble to stake their claim in the family’s immense fortune after the business tycoon and leader of the family met an untimely death.

The well-loved first family is back every weeknight with First Lady, the most-awaited sequel to the hit TV series First Yaya, starring Gabby Concepcion and Sanya Lopez. Set after the events of First Yaya, the series will focus on the life of the new Acosta family after Melody marries the President and how they overcome familial struggles and national obstacles. Completing the Acosta family are

Cassy Legaspi, Patricia Coma, Clarence Delgado. Also returning to the series are Pancho Magno, Joaquin Domagoso, Maxine Medina, Kakai Bautista, Cai Cortez, Thou Reyes, Thia Thomalla, Glenda Garcia and Ms. Pilar Pilapil. Seasoned actress Alice Dixson joins the cast as its newest cast member.

New GMA actor Xian Lim is joined by versatile actress Glaiza De Castro in the new prime-time series False Positive. The story tells about a neglected wife, who is made to feel inferior by her husband’s utter disregard of her feelings and sense of value as an expectant mother. She malevolently vents all her frustrations in front of a magical fountain, and in a twist of fate the husband learns that a fetus has developed in his tummy.

As the country gears up for the elections this 2022, GMA is likewise all set to deliver the widest and most comprehensive coverage across all platforms through Eleksyon 2022. As part of its election advocacy “Dapat Totoo,” GMA News and Public Affairs presents The Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews. GMA’s first election-related special for 2022 is hosted by the multi-awarded, top-rating broadcast journalist, GMA News’ Jessica Soho. In a series of one-on-one interviews with presidential hopefuls in the coming national election, Soho asks the presidential candidates the most important questions that need to be asked—the issues that they have been involved with, the controversies thrown at them, their stand on pressing issues, and their plans should they be elected.

More information on these and a plethora of new shows and specials is available on www.gmanetwork.com.

A scene of early morning idyll during Erwan Huessaff’s exploration of Ticao Island in Bikol, as featured in his YouTube channel FEATR.

B6 Friday, January 14, 2022

EROC PH launches M1 Air Fryer for millennial living

SSS members, affected by Odette PH may claim assistance starting January 14

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HE Social Security System (SSS) will offer a Calamity Assistance Package to members and pensioners affected by Typhoon Odette starting January 14, 2022.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora C. Ignacio said that the Calamity Assistance Package consist of the Calamity Loan Assistance Program (CLAP) and Direct House Repair and Improvement Loan for members, and the three-month advance pension for pensioners in areas affected by Typhoon Odette as declared by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Members and pensioners in MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and CARAGA, as well as other areas that may be declared by the NDRRMC to be under the state of calamity due to typhoon, can avail of the SSS Calamity Assistance Package.

“It is unfortunate that the recent typhoon affected the daily lives and livelihood of our members and pensioners in these several areas.

Through the SSS Calamity Assistance Package, we can extend financial aid to our members and pensioners as they try to recover from the effects of Typhoon Odette,” Ignacio said.

SSS will offer the CLAP for its members and the Three-month Advance Pension to its pensioners until April 13, 2022. Meanwhile, the Direct House Repair and Improvement Loan will be open to qualified members for one year upon issuance and effectivity of SSS Circular No. 2021-020.

Calamity Loan Assistance Program

UNDER the CLAP, qualified members can avail of a loan amount equivalent to one month salary credit (MSC) computed based the average of their last 12 monthly salary credits (MSCs) rounded up to the nearest thousand or the amount they applied for, whichever is lower.

Approved loan proceeds will be credited to member-borrower’s account through the members’ registered Unified Multi-Purpose Identification (UMID) – Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Card, their active accounts with a Philippine

Electronic Fund Transfer System and Operations Network (PESONet) participating bank, or their Union Bank of the Philippines (UBP) Quick Cards registered in the Disbursement Account Enrollment Module (DAEM), which can be found on their My.SSS accounts.

The loan is payable in equal monthly installments for 24 months or two years.

It has an interest rate of 10 percent per annum, and the service fee of 1 percent of loan amount is already waived.

The first loan amortization will start in the second month following the date of the approval of the loan. The loan’s payment deadline is every last day of the month following the applicable month, but in case it falls on a weekend or holiday, payment may be made on the next working day. Late payments will incur a 1 percent penalty per month.

Three-month Advance Pension

RETIREMENT, disability, and survivor pensioners under the Social Security (SS) Program, and disability and survivor pensioners under the Employees’ Compensation (EC) Program pensioners may apply for a three-month advance pension. Interested SS and EC pensioners must be residents of the typhoon-affected areas declared by NDRRMC To apply, they must submit a properly accomplished Application for Assistance Due to Calamity/Disaster Form duly certified by their Barangay Chairman; or the said form together with a certification from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or NDRRMC to any SSS branch.

They can download the application form at www.sss.gov.ph or click this link: https://bit.ly/AdvancePensionForm.

Direct House Repair and/or Improvement Loan

SSS also extends financial assistance to its members whose houses were damaged or destroyed due to Typhoon Odette. Qualified SSS members may apply for the Direct House Repair and/or Improvement Loan. Under this, they can borrow a maximum loanable amount of up to P1 million.

Member-borrower will have a sixmonth moratorium for the loan’s monthly amortization and interest payments. They will only start paying their loan amortization of the 7th month from its approval and is payable in equal monthly installments.

Moreover, loan term will be in five, 10, 15, or 20 years, plus the moratorium of six months. However, the term must not exceed the economic life of the house or improvement after the repair and/or improvement were introduced (to be determined by the SSS) as well as the difference between the age of the applicant and 65.

Interested applicants can file their loan applications at the Member Loans Department in the SSS Main Office for those in the NCR, or the Housing and Acquired Asset Management Sections located in SSS San Pablo for those in Southern Luzon, SSS Cebu for those in Central Visayas, SSS Bacolod for those in Western Visayas, SSS Davao for those in Southern Mindanao, SSS Cagayan De Oro for those in Northern Mindanao, and SSS Zamboanga for those in Western Mindanao.

SSS has allotted P2.18 billion for the implementation of the Calamity Assistance Package, which will benefit an estimated 236,509 active members and pensioners in the typhoon-affected areas.

For more information, visit the uSSSap Tayo Portal at https://crms.sss.gov.ph.

Chevron Volunteer Week 2021 supports local businesses and provides sustainable aid to local communities

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HEVRON Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of Caltex brand of fuels and lubricants, held its second blended annual Chevron Volunteer Week (VW) with both virtual and realworld activities. In the recent series of activities, Chevron provided locallysourced aid to local communities while promoting a more sustainable lifestyle to the employee-volunteers through online workshops.

“During these trying times, it’s important for us to keep the essence of volunteerism alive. I’m glad that we are able to continue our Volunteer Week activities even virtually where Chevron employees are able to do their part in protecting the environment, supporting local farmers and businesses while helping as much as we can to those who are badly in need,” said Billy Liu, CPI country chairman and general manager.

VW 2021 started with Project Oh My Gulay wherein Chevron sourced vegetables from farmers in Pampanga and Nueva Ecija through partner St. Isidore the FARMer Learning Center Inc., a training center for the development of agriculture. The vegetables were donated to 80 families in Brgy. Pagibig sa Nayon in Quezon City together with three-daysworth of food supplies.

The second activity held was

RESIDENTS of Bgy. Pagibig sa Nayon, Quezon City getting their bags of vegetables and groceries good for two-days courtesy of Chevron employees.

Project Bokashi Compost, facilitated by Karen Pascua, a certified Bokashi Compost Mentor and Edible Urban Gardener.

Volunteers were taught the importance of food waste diversion and composting using Bokashi Technology.

Chevron also donated Bokashi Compost kits and grocery packs to 56 families in Tondo, Manila through St. John Bosco Parish and Bureau of Plant Industry’s Gulayan ni Juan, a community effort that helps families within Tondo to sustain their livelihood by selling local produce.

A staple activity in Chevron Volunteer Week is the annual Batangas Coastal clean-

up, held every September in time for the International Coastal Cleanup month. A total of 64 volunteers cleaned up the two-kilometer coastline in San Pascual, which straddles the Chevron Batangas Terminal.

Chevron volunteers removed debris and trash that could prevent sea turtles from laying their eggs on the beach. About 210 bags of nonbiodegradable trash and 100 bags of biodegradable waste with a total gross weight of 755 pounds (.3422 metric tons) were collected by the volunteers.

The last activity was Project Joy led by a certified KonMari consultant, Renalyn Tan Castillejos. Chevron volunteers learned the Konmari method wherein they had to let go of the things that don't spark joy anymore but can still be beneficial to those who are in need. All decluttered stuff from the volunteers were donated to the beneficiaries in Brgy. Malainen Bago, Naic Cavite, a relocation site for the poor families of Tondo, Manila.

Started in 2009, VW is a weeklong event where employees have the opportunity to volunteer their time to activities that help communities in need. It supports programs that promote livelihood, safety, health, education and the environment.

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ROC Philippines, an e-commerce smart home appliance brand, brings a new and affordable must-have kitchen commodity to the local market – the EROC M1 Air Fryer. This new air fryer from EROC features One Spin smart temperature control and a pressurized cooking environment that makes cooking easier and more efficient.

EROC’s newest smart kitchen appliance makes cooking easier for all the members of your household. With its capacity of 5.5 liters, you can cater meals for as many as 8 people!

The EROC M1 Air Fryer will be available on the brand’s official flagship store on Lazada and Shopee starting 19th January with the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of PHP 3,999.00. But as part of the brand’s grand launch, it will be initially available for only Php 1,999.00 from 19th to 21st of January! Furthermore, EROC will be holding a weekly Facebook lucky draw on EROC Philippines starting on 17th January where customers get the chance to win an EROC M1 Air Fryer for FREE.

One-Spin Air Fryer

FAST-PACED millennials establishing independent lives in the metro need kitchenware that can ease them into their new homes. This entails the need for smarter appliances that don’t come with hefty instruction manuals that are difficult to digest.

No experience in the kitchen? The EROC’s M1 Air Fryer is a great starter smart kitchen appliance with its smart temperature control that lessens the possibility of over or undercooking your dishes.

What also sets the EROC M1 Air Fryer apart is its simulation of a pressurized cooking environment made possible by its well-sealed cavity. Once the user pushes the frying basket and closes the air fryer, its 1400W high heating power is optimized to concentrate on the food being cooked, frying it to perfection.

Healthier Option

AIR Fryers come with many benefits that have catapulted them to the top of preferred kitchen appliances by Millennials and even Gen Zs. But what made Air Fryers popular among the younger generations is

their main proposition – they use way less oil compared to traditional cookware yet are still able to seal in the flavor.

Decreasing oil use for cooking reduces calorie and fat intake significantly. This helps users cut off unhealthy oils to better manage their weight. And in a country where hypertension-related diseases continue to be among the top causes of mortality, avoiding deep-fried food is highly recommended.

Water-Based Paint Rinse and Clean

THANKS to its application of patented “Water-Based Paint” on the frying basket and tray, the EROC M1 Air Fryer does not come with all the cleaning hassle. The water-based paint prevents the oil and other ingredients from sticking to the contacting surface of the frying basket and tray - very easy to rinse and clean.

Lastly, the M1 Air Fryer’s frying basket is made of heavy-duty steel. The EROC M1 Air Fryer has been tested by international standardization agencies, earning certificates from the European Union (EU) Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation; and the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive.

For more information on the EROC M1 Air Fryer, customers may visit EROC Philippines on Facebook.

Get ready for Baken, the all-bacon premium snack

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HE classic and widely loved breakfast staple that is bacon has been completely reimagined in an original and delicious range of bacon treats. Get ready to elevate snack and meal times as Baken prepares to launch its introductory range of products in Asia Pacific.

Baken is a premium, all-bacon snack and confectionery line born from our founders’ self-professed obsession with bacon. Growing up in the Philippines, friends and entrepreneurs Rachel Carrasco and Kelly Parreño, were raised to love porkalicious meals — eating crispy, crunchy bacon all the time. It is unsurprising that their porcine obsessions have followed them into adulthood; and building this bacon snack company has become both a dream job and a serious life mission.

After three years getting greasy in the kitchen, the pair have come up with four deliciously quirky products: Real Bacon Crisps, Bacon Cookies, Bacon Brittle, and Bacon Jam. All of them make the grade for cozy nights in with loved ones, as a reward after a hard day’s work, or really any time those cravings hit!

Smoky and salty with a crispiness that pushes the very limits of self-control, the Real Bacon Crisps are the OG product

Carrasco and Parreño first envisioned on their quest for snack supremacy. These are not bacon-flavoured chips, but ready-toeat, real bacon strips that promise a burst of flavour and satisfying crunch. While you’ll probably want to heartily consume them as is, they can also be enjoyed as a topping over dishes, in sandwiches and salads, and even desserts.

So unstoppable was the duo’s baconloving creativity that it spilled over into three more fun and unique spin-offs. The Bacon Cookies combine moreish bacon bits with the sweetness of chocolate chips, and are baked together into soft and chewy cookies. Bacon Brittle is an incredibly crunchy marriage of sweet and salty, where bacon bits are nestled in creamy and buttery caramel brittle. Finally, there is Baken Jam, a sweet and savoury creation overloaded with bacon bits and with a kick of zest that will surely enliven any condiment cabinet. Like the Real Bacon Crisps, all of these use 100 percent real bacon and no artificial substitutes.

Baken is launching soon in select markets in Asia Pacific, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines, Taiwan and Australia. Sign up at www.shopbaken.com to be among the first to know!

Sports BusinessMirror

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph

DJOKOVIC IN DRAW, BUT STILL IN LIMBO

China faces Omicron test weeks ahead of Beijing Olympics

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AIPEI, Taiwan—Just weeks before hosting the Beijing Winter Olympics, China is battling multiple coronavirus outbreaks in half a dozen cities, with the one closest to the capital driven by the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

With the success of the Games and China’s national dignity at stake, Beijing is doubling down on its “zerotolerance” Covid-19 policy.

Across China, more than 20 million people are in some form of lockdown, with many prevented from leaving their homes.

Tianjin, only about an hour from Bei jing, is on high alert, although it has refrained from imposing a complete lockdown such as that in Xi’an, a city of 14 million.

Instead, it has sealed off several residential communities and universities, canceled almost all flights, suspended high speed train service and closed highways. People leaving the city are required to present negative Covid-19 tests and receive special permission.

The city conducted mass testing for a second time for its 14 million residents on Wednesday, and asked them to stay put in their homes until they receive a negative result.

Tianjin’s proximity to Beijing makes the timing particularly fraught. During the Tokyo Olympics in July, Japan saw a widespread outbreak driven by the Delta variant.

Despite that, the disruptions for people in Tianjin remain relatively light.

“Everything is fine, the supermarkets and restaurants, you can go to all normally,” said Yu Xuan, who works at a university in Tianjin.

Wang Dacheng, another resident, said his father who has trouble walking was able to get tested in their apartment.

“Tianjin people are pretty optimistic, everyone’s been very calm and collected,” Wang said.

Elsewhere, in Xi’an to the west and several cities in Henan province, the measures are far more onerous, leading to complaints that people sequestered in their apartments were running out of food.

China has followed the uncompromising policy almost from the start of the pandemic, beginning with the unprecedented step of sealing off 11 million people in the central city Wuhan where the virus was first detected, along and other parts of Hubei province in January 2020.

It has been able to deal with local outbreaks through lockdowns, strict border controls and contact

tracing aided by increased digital surveillance.

The measures have kept the virus from spreading into a full-fledged national outbreak so far. The vaccination rate now tops 85 percent.

With the Olympics due to begin on February 4 and support staff already arriving, the task has become even more critical. Whether Beijing’ s safeguards will hold up in face of the Omicron variant is a crucial question.

“I think it truly is a critical juncture for China. Can it stave off Omicron?” said Dali Yang, a professor of Chinese politics at the University of Chicago.

China reported 124 domestically transmitted cases on Thursday, including 76 in Henan province and 41 in Tianjin. Authorities have reported a total of 104,379 cases, 3,460 of them currently active, and 4,636 deaths, a figure that hasn’t changed in

Filipino fighters out of SG card

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ILIPINO fighters Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado and Robin “The Ilonggo” Catalan were removed from Friday’s ONE: Heavy Hitters card because of health and safety protocols.

The card is set at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Miado was to take on Senzo Ikeda of Japan in the main card as he aims to stretch his win streak to three. Catalan, on the other hand, was to face Elipitua “The Magician” Siregar in the lead card in his first fight in a year.

Ikeda and Siregar will now

NOVAK DJOKOVIC’S fate in defending his Australian Open title remains uncertain. AP

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ELBOURNE, Australia—Novak Djokovic now knows he’ll face fellow Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in the firstround of his Australian Open title defense, if he’s allowed to play.

Djokovic’s visa status dominated attention until the moment the draw was conducted Thursday, after a postponement of 75 minutes, to determine the brackets for the men’s and women’s singles draws at the first major tennis tournament of 2022.

He was still in limbo after it.

The Australian immigration minister was still considering whether to deport the ninetime and defending Australian

face each other in a strawweight showdown on the main card.

Also cancelled was the co-main event match where Roman Kryklia defends his light heavyweight kickboxing world championship against Dutch-Turkish challenger Murat “The Butcher” Aygun.

The other fights—reigning women’s strawweight world champion Xiong Jing Nan against Japanese challenger Ayaka Miura in the main event and lightweights James Nakashima againsty Saygid Izagakhmaev—will go on.

Open champion, who is not vaccinated against Covid-19.

Top-ranked Djokovic had his visa canceled on arrival in Melbourne last week when his vaccination exemption was rejected, but he won a legal battle on procedural grounds that allowed him to stay in the country.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has been considering the question since a judge reinstated Djokovic’s visa last Monday. The tournament starts next Monday.

If he’s allowed to stay, Djokovic’s bid for a men’s record 21st major title could mean a quarterfinal against No. 7-ranked Matteo Berrettini and possibly a semifinal against Rafael Nadal or third-seeded Alexander Zverev.

He is tied with Nadal and Roger Federer on 20 Grand Slam titles, missing a chance for the all-time

record when he lost the US Open final to Daniil Medvedev last year.

Medvedev, who also ended Djokovic’s run at a calendar-year Grand Slam with that win in New York, is on the opposite end of the draw as the No. 2 seed in Australia. A finalist here last year, he could meet local favorite Nick Kyrgios in the second round, and also No. 5 Andrey Rublev, No. 9 Felix Auger-Aliassime, John Isner in his quarter of the draw.

He’s seeded to meet No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semis.

On the women’s side, top-ranked Ash Barty and defending champion Naomi Osaka ended up in the same section of the draw, meaning two of the best players in the tournament could meet in a fourth-round match that could have the feeling of a final.

After that, No. 5 Maria Sakkari or No.9 Ons Jabeur could be waiting in the quarterfinals.

Osaka, who has been ranked as high as No. 1, slid down the list because of her lack of matches in 2021 and is seeded 13th.

French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova and No. 8 Paula Badosa are in the same half of the draw, along with 2020 champion Sofia Kenin, who has a tough opener against fellow American Madison Keys and could meet No. 18 Coco Gauff in the third round.

In the other half of the draw, No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka has a firstround meeting against wild-card entry Storm Sanders and is seeded to

NARANJO: WE’RE JUST FINE

months.

Beijing’s Olympic bubble is even stricter than Tokyo’s, which was mostly effective in stopping transmission, despite some leakages, said Kenji Shibuya, research director at the Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research and a public health expert.

Beijing faces a potentially bigger risk because the more contagious Omicron variant has shown itself adept at evading vaccines.

Moreover, the lack of widespread outbreaks means the Chinese population is protected only by vaccines and not from antibodies produced by previous infections, said Dr. Vineeta Bal, a top Indian immunologist.

“The Olympics would be the first trial,” said Bal. Omicron “can easily travel in China.” AP

PEOPLE wearing face masks to help protect against the coronavirus look at a display of the Winter Paralympic mascot Shuey Rhon Rhon (left) and Winter Olympic mascot Bing Dwen Dwen near the Olympic Green in Beijing. AP

Editor: Jun Lomibao | Friday, January 14, 2022 B7

HIDILYN DIAZ and Julius Naranjo lift weights while in isolation.

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IDILYN DIAZ announced on Instagram on Wednesday night that she tested positive for Covid-19.

One day after, Diaz’s fiancé Julius Naranjo said they’re doing fine.

“We’re fine, training at home,” Naranjo, Diaz’s head trainer and strength and conditioning coach, said. “Hidilyn? She’s fine and both of us will be tested again soon.”

Naranjo, who also tested positive, added: “We’re doing some light workout despite the situation and we’re focused on getting better and preventing sickness.”

The couple lifted weights in their Eastwood City condominium on Wednesday to fight the infection.

Naranjo said they have no idea where they contracted the virus.

“At this point, we don’t know and we have to understand that there’re 33,000 cases in one day so this virus is everywhere,” he said.

“But the most important thing is we follow the S.O.P [standard operating procedure] and not to infect others.”

The couple got their two doses of AstraZeneca last year and also had their booster shot last January 4.

“We thank everyone who’re praying for us to get well soon,” Naranjo said.

Diaz has declared her intention to defend her gold medals at the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games in May and the Hangzhou Asian Games in September. Josef Ramos

EUMIR FELIX MARCIAL: On this site will rise my dream boxing gym.

Marcial flies to US on Saturday to resume professional career

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OKYO Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial will fly to the US on Saturday to resume his pro career, but not before supervising the start of construction of his dream boxing gym just behind his new home in Tagaytay City.

“As a professional boxer, I really need my own boxing gym so I can train comfortably and make my job easy while I am here in the country,” Marcial said on Tuesday. “And more importantly, this gym is another dream come true.”

Marcial, 26, will take a Philippine Airlines flight to the US by his lonesome.

“It’s time to focus on my

professional career, time to work hard and train smart there after focusing on my Olympic campaign last year,” he said. “I’m very excited as a professional boxer now.”

Marcial, who bagged the men’s middleweight bronze in Tokyo last August, beat American Andrew Whitfield in his pro debut in December 2020 in Los Angeles. He was one of four Filipino medalists in the Olympics—the others are weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz (gold) and boxers Carlo Paalam (silver) and Nesthy Petecio (silver).

MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons said Marcial will be handled by renowned strength and conditioning coach Angel “Memo”

Heredia for his next pro fight.

“The priority is for Eumir to train and fight sometime in April in a sixrounder,” Gibbons said.

Marcial said his gym will bear his name and will consist of a ring, complete equipment and sleeping quarters.

Marcial’s home is one of four brand-new houses and lots given to the Tokyo Olympics medalists as a reward for their success by Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Senator Francis “Tol” Tolentino Petecio and Paalam are his next door neighbors in Barangay San Jose in Tagaytay City. Josef Ramos

Women’s Tennis Association Finals winner Garbine Muguruza in the semifinals.

Muguruza is in same quarter as US Open champion Emma Raucanu, who opens against 2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens, and threetime major winner Simona Halep.

The draw ceremony was delayed amid uncertainty over Djokovic’s visa status.

It was was scheduled to be held at 3 p.m. local time, but a tournament official told waiting media that the ceremony had been delayed until further notice and declined comment.

It eventually started around 4:15 p.m. local time.

According to the 2022 Grand Slam Rule Book, if Djokovic is forced to pull out of the tournament before the order of play for Day 1 is announced, No. 5 seed Andrey Rublev would move into Djokovic’s spot in the bracket.

If Djokovic withdraws from the tournament after Monday’s schedule is released, he would be replaced in the field by what’s known as a “lucky loser”—a player who loses in the qualifying tournament but gets into the main draw because of another player’s exit before competition has started.

And if Djokovic plays in a match— or more—and then is told he can no longer participate in the tournament, his next opponent would simply advance to the following round and there would be no replacement. AP

MAGSAYO

Magsayo targets Russell’s crown

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ARK “MAGNIFICO” MAGSAYO shoots for Gary Russell Jr.’s World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight world title when they square off on January 22 at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

“I respect Gary Russell Jr., he’s a great champion, but I’m winning this fight on January 22,” the 26-year-old Magsayo told an online press conference for the title fight organized by Premier Boxing Champions. “I want to prove to the people everywhere that I’m the best featherweight in the world.”

Despite Magsayo’s going unbeaten in 23 fights with 16 knockouts, Russell (31-1 win-loss with 18 knockouts) belittled the Filipino’s capability.” Russel said “I see him as a good even-handed puncher, maybe he leans a little more to the right hand. He has good punching power, but none of that matters if you can’t hit your target.”

The Tagbilaran City pride already fought thrice in the US starting in October 2020 when he focused hard on becoming a world champion since turning pro in 2013.

“I’m going to show the world that I’m the best at this weight.

This is the fight that I’ve wanted for a long time,” he said. “I’ve been waiting patiently for my chance and I’m ready to do my best.”

Magsayo escaped with a split decision win against American Rigoberto Hermosillo in October 2020 in Los Angeles; beat another American, Pablo Cruz, in Connecticut last April via third-round technical knockout win; and over Mexican Julio Ceja through brutal 10th round knockout in August in Las Vegas.

He trains under the legendary Freddie Roach.

“I’m very thankful to my whole team for making this fight happen.

I’ve been training for three and a half months now, so I’m going to be well prepared for this fight,” Magsayo said.

Josef Ramos

B8 Friday, January 14, 2022

Motoring BusinessMirror

Editor: Tet Andolong

Mazda Philippines brings in the All-New Mazda BT-50

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Story by Randy S. Peregrino

FTER much anticipation, Mazda Philippines finally unveiled the All-New Mazda BT-50 representing the brand’s new era of adventure and active lifestyle mobility.

Rebuilt from the ground up, the latest generation of Mazda’s venerable pickup truck melds the simplicity and dynamism of Kodo Soul of Motion Design with the real-world practicality, durability, and versatility of a solid new platform.

“The All-New Mazda BT-50 is the pickup we have all been waiting for,” said Mazda Philippines president and CEO Steven Tan. “The new BT-50 brings power, stature, and prestige into the pickup market as it sits proudly among the rest of our Kodo Soul of Motioninspired lineup. It is a confident expression of strength and versatility tempered by style and boldness that will allow its driver to experience life to the fullest. Our customers will surely find in the new BT-50 the same premium quality, comfort, durability, and driving satisfaction that they have come to expect from every Mazda.”

Kodo Design with Jinba Ittai experience

At a glance, Mazda’s Kodo: Soul of Motion styling philosophy is evident. The brand’s three-dimensional signature wing highlights the overall look that anchors its sharp, sleek, and elegant LED headlamps. Its sculpted front bumper is seamlessly integrated into the front fascia creating a continuous, elegant flow of light and shadow.

The rear end, meantime, has combination lamps taking on a similar cylindrical mold as the headlamps. It makes it consistent with Mazda’s preference for a round light design theme. The truck’s low rake hood, and its pronounced crease lines that extend to the side mirrors, give the impression of dynamism and readiness.

Flared fender panels convey an expression of strength and resolve, as what customers would expect from a pickup truck. Its new two-tone finish 18-inch wheels also provide a stylish accent, power, and depth.

The tub’s wide 1,530mm opening, 490mm

depth, and 1,571mm length make the truck a versatile hauler. All variants come with a bedliner for added surface protection for the cargo bed. The 4x4 also has a functional roof rail for additional overhead cargo carrying ability.

Interior-wise, it follows a Human-centric design direction where every element lends itself towards a more comfortable, intuitive, and relaxed drive. From the bold dashboard to the sculpted door panels, the cabin exudes elegance. The molded front seats are covered in fine brown leather (4x4) or cool, high-quality black fabric (4x2), along with the padded leather knee pads and armrests. There are also matte-finished sculpted accents from the doors to the dash and the gloss finish on the air conditioning bezels.

Highlighted in the middle is a nine-inch Touchscreen LCD Infotainment System with Android Auto and Wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity functions. The eight-speaker surround setup consists of 6x9-inch woofers in the front and rear doors, on-dash tweeters, and unique roof speakers. In the meantime, the Multi-information Display in the meter cluster shows vital information in the line of the driver’s sight.

Cozy seats have a warmer and are electronically adjusted, while the helm has tilt and telescopic adjustments. The rear seats offer generous space with a Dual-Zone air conditioning system control and secret compartments underneath the rear seats. Bottle holders are everywhere and can even accommodate a 1.5-liter container. There are 2.1 ampere USB ports front and rear and AutoDimming rearview mirror.

Interestingly, the windshield has an infrared reflecting glass to dissipate heat entering the cabin. A new Remote Engine Start button on the key fob allows engine startup from up to 20 meters away, including the Keyless Entry and Walk Away Auto Lock systems. The cabin also has foam fillers in strategic locations to

The all-new Mazda BT-50 (4x4 variant).

Mazda Philippines

reduce noise, vibration, and harshness, apart from sound-insulating carpets and tighter door and window seals.

Power on Demand

Motivation comes from a 3.0-liter in-line intercooler-equipped variable-geometry turbo diesel engine (all variants). With a highpressure common rail system, heat-insulation coated pistons, and a double-scissors gear that reduces gear noise, the new engine delivers acceleration down low and operates smoothly.

Power output is at 187 hp at 3,600 rpm and 450 N-m of maximum torque at 1,600 rpm, thanks to the diesel engine’s electronically controlled Variable-Geometry System (VGS) Turbocharger. Transferring power is transferred via a strong and responsive sixspeed automatic transmission.

Ready for any surface and premium safety features

The all-new BT-50 4x4 variant is equipped with an electronically controlled Drive Selector. It features High/ Low options for both 4x2 and 4x4 drives. More so, there is an electronic Rear Differential Lock. For downhills, there is the Hill Descent Control. Impressively, the ground clearance is at 240mm with a wading depth of 800mm.

The all-new BT-50 is equipped with Mazda Active Safety Technology (MAST), pre-crash safety features that work in harmony to keep you protected at all times. There is an Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Autonomous

The interior with a Human-centric design direction.

Mazda Philippines

Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and Blind Spot Monitor (BSM). Other standard safety features are seven airbags (including Driver’s Knee Airbag and Front Side Airbags), automatic wipers, and Auto High Beam Control.

Signature Mazda ownership experience and pricing

Mazda Philippines offers a 5-Year Free Service Plan. The plan covers the expenses of periodic maintenance at either 6-month or 10,000-kilometer intervals, for up to 5

‘Son of a bitch’

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OU think The Beatles’ three-part, sixhour “Get Back” documentary massive enough to transcend the limits of creativity?

Think again, fellers.

Danny “Sir John” Isla, my fellow Beatlemaniac and the former Lexus Manila president, is about to rival that Disney+ blockbuster with his epic five-part take on CTL (Cesar T. Lee), the enduring founder of Toyota Alabang Inc. Here’s Sir John’s latest obra on CTL. “CTL and I are both fond of listening to good music. Nung kalakasan pa in the early 90s, CTL would always tag me along to Music Lounges, Hotel Lobbies and bars. Basta may singer or band playing, papasadahan namin yan because we both have critical ears for good sounds.

“Our auditory senses were even enhanced

by Hennessy X.O, the only alcoholic drink na pasado sa panlasa ni CTL. He would always have ample stock of that bottle in his office.

Mula noon, naging suplado na rin ako when it comes to drinks. Na-influence ako ni boss.

Pati sa yosi he’d tell me to throw away my local Marlboro, replacing it with a US blue seal pack of Marlboro Reds para kung magka-

cancer daw ako, sosyal ang dahilan.

“CTL would also tell me not to drink Fundador. Panghugas ng paa yan. Minulat nya ako sa kasosyalan. Mula noon, suplado na rin ako.

Tulad nya. Ha ha ha.

“We also went to sing-along bars. One of his favorites was the Bacchus at Intercon Hotel. People would go there to unwind by singing, karaoke style.

“The place was, of course, classy [hindi pwede si CTL sa chipipay na lugar]. Bacchus had compartmentalized bays, such that you wouldn’t see who was singing because of the partition. We went there to consume an X.O bottle and enjoy listening to different singing styles. Pag nasa mood si CTL, babanat sya ng kanyang walang kamatayang ‘Let Me Try Again’ by Frank Sinatra.

“One time, while we were casually dining and drinking, may kumanta na sobrang napakaganda ng boses. We were craning our necks to check her out, but we could not see her because of the partition. We asked the waiter kung kilala nya yung kumakanta. Customer lang daw and he didn’t know who she was. Because she was so

years or 100,000 kilometers, whichever comes first. The 5-Year Free Service Plan follows the comprehensive maintenance and parts replacement schedule recommended by Mazda Japan. Further, there is the 3-year Bumper-to-Bumper warranty included in every brand-new Mazda vehicle purchased.

The All-New Mazda BT-50 4x2 MT retails P1.390 million while the 4x2 AT version is at P1.430 million. As for the 4x4 AT, the retail price is at P1.790 million. Available colors are Concrete Gray, Gun Blue Metallic, Volcanic Red, Rock Gray, Icy White, Silver Ingot, and True Black. good, we wrote song requests coursed thru the waiter. As usual, yung requests may nakaipit lagi na crisp new bills with Ninoy’s sad face.

“After a series of requests, the waiter told us na ‘medyo napipikon na yata yung kasamang guy nung singer.’ We felt bad because there was no malice in our gesture. We were simply awed by the way she sang.

“Annoyed, we billed out and while on the way out, sinalubong kami nung guy introducing himself as a son of a governor.

“Medyo malakas ang dating kaya I introduced myself this way: ‘Nice to meet you, son of a governor. I’m Danny Isla and I’m a son of a bitch.’

“Dali-daling hinila ako ni CTL palabas to avoid trouble. Malakas lang loob ko noon kasi kasama namin si Kid, bodyguard ni CTL… LOL. “Guess what? The lady singer turned out to be Lani Misalucha!!! Kaya naman pala!! She must have been in her late teens or early 20s at that time.”

PEE STOP The sudden virus spike recently has thrown us again in virtual disarray.

My entire brood went for the anti-gen test last week—twice. By God’s grace, we were good each time. But a couple days later, my wife and I had dry coughs and stuffy noses. We wanted the RT-PCR but all testing centers we had called up were fullybooked. Irked, we stopped calling—protected by the thought that we didn’t have fever, body aches and fatigue, and difficulty in breathing, the omicron’s chief triggers. As I write this, we all feel fine. With God, the road is safe.