BusinessMirror January 19, 2021

MDM TARIFF BROUGHT

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Tuesday, January 19, 2021 Vol. 16 No. 100

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P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 18 pages |

BACK TO 5% BY NEW E.O. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas launched on Monday the 5000-Piso Lapulapu Commemorative Banknote and Medal to kick off the 99-day countdown to the 500th anniversary of the “Victory at Mactan.” On its obverse, the banknote depicts a young Lapulapu, an image of the battle of Mactan, the Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines (QCP) logo, and the Karaoka—the large outrigger warships used by native Filipinos. The BSP also presented a medal, with the markings, “Lapu Lapu” above an image of the Lapu-Lapu Shrine in Cebu; and the logos of the QCP and the BSP on the obverse.

Its reverse, meanwhile, shows the markings “Battle of Mactan,” a rendition of the said battle, and the date “27 April 1521.” Story on page A10. PHOTOS FROM BANGKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS

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By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla & Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

ONCERNED over the possible spike in the prices of processed meat products due to higher tariff for mechanically deboned meat (MDM) of chicken and turkey, President Duterte finally signed a new executive order (EO) bringing down the import duty for the food additive to 5 percent.

On Monday, Malacañang disclosed Duterte signed EO 123 on January 15, 2021, reimposing the rate stipulated under EO 82, which is 5 percent.

EO 82 expired on December 31, 2020, which caused the tariff

for MDM for chicken and turkey to revert to its original rate at 40 percent.

Duterte approved the recommendation of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) to restore the 5-percent

BSP gov undergoes medical procedure for ‘minor head accident’

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HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced on Monday that Governor and Chairman of the Monetary Board Benjamin Diokno underwent a medical procedure on Sunday after a “minor head accident.”

The BSP said Diokno’s accident caused a blood clot to form, which required a medical procedure to address. “According to his medical report, prognosis for the governor’s complete recovery is ‘very good’ as he was awake and conversant an hour after the procedure. He is

expected to be discharged from the hospital in four to five days and is anticipated to return to work subsequently,” the BSP said.

In line with this, the governor has appointed Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila Jr. as officer-incharge (OIC) of the BSP while he recovers. Diokno, in a message to the Monetary Board and BSP staff, said “The procedure went well and I’m now on my way to recovery.

Meanwhile, I’m designating Francis Dakila as OIC BSP Governor while I’m recuperating.” Bianca Cuaresma

PESO exchange rates n US 48.0530

tariff for MDM to prevent possible inflation as prices of processed meats go up.

MDM products serve as key component for hot dogs and canned luncheon meat, among other socalled everyday fare for ordinary households.

“Upon the effectivity of this Order, all articles, which are specifically listed in Annex A hereof and are entered into, or withdrawn from warehouses in the Philippines for consumption, shall be levied the MFN [most favored nation] rates of duty as therein prescribed,” Duterte said in his two-paged EO 123.

Among those listed by Annex A of EO 123 for coverage of the 5-percent tariff are mechanically deboned or separated meat of chicken and turkey.

The new EO will be in effect—

until December 31, 2022—after it is published in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Once EO 123 expires, the tariff for chicken MDM and turkey MDM (out-quota) will revert to 40 percent.

President’s discretion

The Neda said the effectivity of the EO that set the tariff rate for MDM at 5 percent was based on the discretion of the Office of the President.

In a message to the BusinessMirror, Neda Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Rosemarie G. Edillon said the decisions surrounding the setting of the 5-percent tariff were “thoroughly discussed” at the Technical Committee of Tariff and Related Matters (TCTRM).

Continued on A2

NEDA BATS FOR KIDS GOING OUT MORE TO HASTEN RECOVERY

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ONTINUING to impose mobilit y restr ictions on children affects the economy’s ability to recover from the pandemic, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

In a statement, Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said preventing families, including children, from leavingtheirhomesduringthepandemic significantly affected the country’s consumption spending.

Consumption spending is the primary driver of the Philippine economy. It accounts for about 70 percent of the country’s economic growth.

“The Philippines has a young population, as 40 percent are 20 years old and below, and it is their activities with their families that help spur growth in various sectors. However, with children not allowed to go out, the economy suffered from dampened demand,” Neda said in a statement.

However, Chua maintained that the economy is strong enough to recover if the government allows it to. He also reiterated the need for sufficient and safe public transport as well as the need to boost demand by allowing family activities with strict enforcement of minimum health standards.

“The reality today is that the virus is not going to go away easily and we will have to live with it for a longer period of time,” Chua

said. Apart from boosting consumption, measures that will help the country’s recovery momentum include the immediate passage of key reform bills.

This includes the Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST) Act; the Government Financial Institutions’ Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE) Act; and the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act. Further, Chua said the economic recovery of the Philippines will be driven by the 2021 budget including the P1.1-trillion infrastructure program.

“Our recovery program consists of a series of legislations.

First is the Bayanihan II, which was extended to June 2021. It provides emergency support and special powers for the government to swiftly address this crisis,” said Chua.

Quarantines have resulted in GDP contractions of 16.9 percent and 11.5 percent in the second and third quarters of 2020, respectively.

Each day of General Community Quarantine cost the National Capital Region, Region 3, and Region 4A around P700 million in wages. Moreover, reverting to Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine could cost NCR and adjacent regions around P2.1 billion in wages a day. Cai U. Ordinario

n japan 0.4630 n UK 65.3617 n HK 6.1975 n CHINA 7.4137 n singapore 36.1464 n australia 37.0296 n EU 58.0769 n SAUDI arabia 12.8117

Source: BSP (January 18, 2021)

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Tuesday, January 19, 2021

MDM importers’ refund hangs; BOC to heed EO

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By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE Bureau of Customs (BOC) said it will follow Duterte’s executive order and collect 5-percent tariff on imports of mechanically deboned meat (MDM) of chicken and turkey until end-2022.

Customs Assistant Commissioner and spokesman Vincent Philip Maronilla told the BusinessMirror the BOC will release a memorandum soon following the issuance of the new EO. “We just follow orders,” Maronilla said in a phone interview.

According to the EO 123 s. 2021, the President’s directive to retain the 5-percent tariff on chicken and turkey MDM would be effective upon publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

It is not yet clear, however, when the EO was published.

The copy of the EO was uploaded in the web site of the Official Gazette on January 18 (Monday) but the EO was signed by the President on January 15 (Friday).

Maronilla said they will still need to check with the Official Gazette when the EO was officially published for them to determine the specific start date of collection of 5-percent tariff.

“If it was immediately published on January 15, then on [January]

15 it should be implemented,” he said.

Maronilla said, however, it is “most likely” that the memorandum to be issued by BOC would already clarify the exact date of the start of collection of the 5-percent tariff.

Asked whether BOC would grant the request for refund of importers of products brought into the country before the EO’s issuance, Maronilla said they will have to refer the matter to the BOC’s legal service department.

But Maronilla, who is a lawyer, said he personally believes the EO did not include a retroactive provision on the application of 5-percent tariff on these products.

Without the retroactive provision in the new EO, Maronilla earlier said BOC would not grant importers’ requests for a refund of the tariff differential over these MDM imports, just like what happened in 2019.

In 2019, BOC and the meat processing industry had a dispute over the collection of tariff differential

over MDM imports.

Maronilla earlier said the meat processing industry was seeking a refund of about P100 million to P200 million but BOC believed back then that the industry was not entitled to a refund because the EO 82 did not contain a retroactive provision.

Until now, the case has yet to be resolved.

The President is allowed to increase, reduce, or remove existing rates of import duty upon the recommendation of the National Economic and Development Authority if Congress is not in session. Congress was on recess until January 17.

According to EO 23 issued in 2017, concessionary rates on certain agricultural products should go back to 2012 levels once the quantitative restriction (QR) on rice is removed and converted into ordinary customs duties.

The rice trade liberalization law, which removed the QR on rice, took effect on March 5, 2019.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Abalos: MMDA hiring more traffic enforcers for Edsa

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HE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is hiring additional traffic enforcers to improve the traffic management in Edsa.

“We need additional traffic enforcers to improve our traffic management efforts,” said MMDA Chairman Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. The hiring process is expected to be completed within three months.

The MMDA currently has 2,187 traffic enforcers manning the major thoroughfares in Metro Manila.

About a fourth of the traffic enforcers are senior citizens.

Teroy Taguinod, MMDA Traffic Discipline Office head, said those in the vulnerable sector like senior citizens, pregnant women, and those with medical conditions are exempted from reporting for work due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Those who do not report for work are 64 senior citizens, 25 workers with comorbidities, and six pregnant women. The MMDA is considering offering early retirement

to the senior enforcers.

“To provide economic relief and for humanitarian consideration, we will allow relatives of said traffic enforcers, who are senior citizens, to apply and submit their applications, provided that they will be able to pass the examination and training requirements,” Abalos stressed.

On Monday, Abalos met with the officials of the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) to discuss issues concerning traffic management in the National Capital Region, particularly lack of traffic enforcers, among others.

Abalos said he sought assistance from Police Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Alejandro, head of PNP HPG NCR, to augment the work force of MMDA, with the aim of adding visibility to Metro Manila’s major thoroughfares.

According to Abalos, Alejandro pledged to provide 180 HPG members to man traffic along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue.

Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

MDM TARIFF BROUGHT U.K.-BOUND OFWS MUST SHOW COVID-FREE STATUS BACK TO 5% BY NEW E.O. F OREIGN travelers, including overseas Filipino workers (OFW), must now be tested for Covid-19 before they can enter the United Kingdom (UK), according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Citing the report from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), DOLE spokesman Rolly Francia said the new re-

quirement took effect on January 18, 2021.

“Starting at 4 am today UK time, all [travelers] who will be entering London must present proof that they are negative for Covid.

This includes incoming OFWs,” Francia said at a press briefing on Monday.

He said the requirement will also take effect for those traveling in other areas in UK and violators

will be fined 10,000 pounds.

The British government implemented the new policy after it recently registered a surge in the number of infected cases, especially after a new more infectious variant of Covid-19, B117, spread among its population.

As of January 17, 2021, the World Hea lt h Organi zat ion (WHO) reported 3.3 million confirmed cases of Covid-19 in UK.

International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) Director Alice Visperas said there are currently 1,203 OFWs, who were infected with Covid-19 in UK. Most of them are nurses.

Of the Covid-infected OFWs, 79 were reported only between January 14 and 17.

Visperas said they have yet to get reports of any OFW who tested positive for B117. Samuel P. Medenilla

PHL to get ‘fair share’ of 18% remaining global vax supply Continued from A10

Galvez said the country has entered term sheet agreements with Novavax for 30 million doses, AstraZeneca for 17 million doses, and Sinovac for 25 million doses.

Priority

According to Galvez, areas with high Covid-19 cases such as Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Davao will be given priority for the vaccination rollout where 24,668,128 sectoral priorities have been selected as follows: 1,762,994 frontline health workers; 3,789,874 indigent senior citizens; 5,678,544 remaining senior citizens; 12,911,193 remaining indigent population; and 525,523 uniformed personnel, which accounts for more than 22 percent of the country’s projected

population of 108.8 million, as of the third quarter this year.

Galvez said those who will be vaccinated also include teachers and social workers in the public and private sectors followed by all remaining government workers; essential workers in agriculture, the food industry, transportation and tourism; sociodemographic groups in significantly higher risk areas other than the senior citizens and indigent population such as those persons deprived of liberty, persons with disabilities, and Filipinos living in highdensity areas; overseas Filipino workers; other remaining work force; and the remaining Filipino citizens.

The government is set to launch a nationwide Covid-19 program,

which aims to establish a sustainable and fully integrated vaccine deployment and immunization program against Covid-19. The program will utilize the framework of a whole-of-nation and wholeof-society approach in collaboration with the national government agencies, local government units and the private sector. Some LGUs have already earmarked funds for the Covid-19 vaccination of their constituents.

Meanwhile, Duque said the government vaccine road map seeks to promote safe, equitable and cost-effective immunization of Filipinos; full recovery of the economy and normalcy of the lives of the people; and sustainable public immunization for the next three to five years.

He believes the country may

reach herd immunity within the year if there is enough global supply of Covid-19 vaccines that the country can access and utilize.

For her part, House Committee on Health Chairman Angelina Tan said that the briefing comes in light of the need to expedite the Covid-19 immunization program as well as ensure that it is safe and effective and that all agencies concerned are on the same page.

“We cannot afford to make mistakes at this critical juncture in our fight against the pandemic.

We have to be on time for the Covid-19 inoculation drive. We need the vaccine rollout to be ready without compromising its safety and efficacy in order to build the trust and confidence of the public,” Tan said. With Butch Fernandez

Finex: Sign FIST bill into law, instead of Cha-cha Continued from A10

The financial executives agree that revising economic provisions

in the Constitution will make the country a more attractive investment destination, but they have

some reservations.

“Hav ing sa id t hat, we are strongly opposed to any initiative

at this time to amend the Constitution,” the group said. “It is akin to undertaking house renovation while the family struggles to pay for the food, basic education, hospitalization expenses and other basic necessities badly needed by the family.”

“We call on Congress to tackle the legislative initiatives on the economy at the earliest possible time, rather than devote its time and the country’s meager resources to a highly controversial and divisive issue at this time,” Lim concluded.

Continued from A1

This includes the setting of the 5-percent tariff, which according to Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua, was arrived at because it was the “prevailing” rate.

“This [tariff rate] is the recommendation of the CTRM [Neda Board Committee]. Needless to say, the matter has been thoroughly discussed at the TC-TRM. As to the effectivity, that was really a matter for the OP [Office of the President] to determine,” Edillon told the BusinessMirror.

On Monday, sources also said the legalities of the Executive Order went through the scrutiny of the Department of Justice and the legal team of the Office of the President.

This process includes not only the effectivity of the EO but also whether the rate will be retroactive. This is reviewed taking into consideration “previous issuances and related laws, rules and regulations for consistency.”

Prior to the new EO, the Bureau of Customs set the MDM tariff rate at 40 percent after EO 82 expired on December 31, 2020.

EO 82 initially set the MDM tariff rate at 5 percent after the country finally set a tariff for rice by virtue of the passage of the Rice Trade Liberalization (RTL) law.

Industry hails move

The Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (Pampi) lauded Duterte’s decision to issue the EO. The group, which petitioned for the retention of the lower tariff on the imported raw material, said the executive order is consistent with the administration’s “well-defined policy to promote the domestic manufacturing sector, generate employment, protect consumers and ensure economic growth.”

“In seeking the retention of the 5-percent tariff on MDM, Pampi had urged the government to assess minimum tariffs on imported raw materials used in manufacturing that are not locally available,” it said in a statement on Monday.

“MDM is not locally produced.

It is a primary raw material in the production of processed meats such as hot dogs, sausages, canned meat products and similar items which provide the protein needs of our people at affordable prices,” it added.

Their products, particularly canned products, are among the “must items” in relief packs being distributed by government agencies during emergencies, the group added.

Meat Importers and Traders Association (Mita) President Jesus C. Cham said it would be “better” if the government maintained the lower MDM tariff for 5 years in line with the tariff review of the government.

Cham explained that processors would have to go through the same process of petitioning before the Tariff Commission if they seek an extension of the 5-percent tariff in two years.

“It would be better to do 5 years, incorporating in the upcoming revision of duty rates. Now processors will have to go through this again after 2 years, expending needlessly valuable energy and resources,” he told the BusinessMirror.

“A realistic assessment would show that [Philippines] will not be able to produce MDM competitively in the next 5 years,” he added.

Certain industry quarters of the industry earlier opposed the retention of the 5-percent tariff, arguing that a higher 40-percent tariff would result in a P5 billion additional revenue for the government.

The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) claimed that the additional revenue could be used to vaccinate about 11 million farmworkers.

However, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar supported the retention of the lower tariff to keep the prices of processed meat products affordable to Filipino consumers.

The meat processing industry has warned for years now that a reversion to a 40-percent tariff on imported MDM, a key raw material used to produce hot dogs, luncheon meat, among others, would jack up retail prices of processed meat products.

Last year, San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc. (SMFBI) Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Strategic Planning Group Rita Imelda Palabyab projected retail prices of hot dogs rising about P20 per kilogram if the tariff rate applied on MDM of chicken reverts to 40 percent. Local economists have also backed the recommendation of the economic team to keep the 5-percent tariff on MDM. With Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

A4 Tuesday, January 19, 2021 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

The Nation BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

HPAAC tells govt: We’ll keep close watch on implementation of vaccination program

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco Correspondent

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HE Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against Covid-19 (HPAAC) on Monday vowed to closely watch processes of the government’s vaccination program to ensure that all legal procedures are complied with.

In a media forum on Monday, HPAAC’s Dr. Antonio Dans also urged Filipinos to be vigilant to ensure that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) remain free from political or economic pressures.

“We will watch the processes closely to ensure that it will not violate any law. Why? Because this is the people’s money, they will use our tax money here,” Dans said in Filipino.

He stressed that Fi lipinos should have the factual information and to demand full accountability of the national Covid-19 vaccination program.

Core legal processes and public health values must be protected and upheld, Dans said.

Scientific process

HE explained that all new vaccines undergo stringent scientific processes to ensure safety and efficacy but due to the current pandemic, an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) is given to Covid-19 vaccines that show favorable preliminary results.

He added that expert bodies evaluate the benefits against the risks, and cost-effectiveness of mass vaccination.

At this stage, only national government transacts directly with

companies to: 1) ensure proper handling 2) closely monitor adverse effects 3) ensure distribution that is consistent with public health strategy.

He added that the decision-making processes for vaccine selection may be complex.

However, Dans noted, that there are panels of experts with the right qualifications to ensure the integrity of science in public health choices:

The Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) makes recommendations based on the scientific literature on what vaccines can be included in the selection process (i.e., vaccine portfolio)

FDA grants EUA to vaccine applicants after thorough risk-benefit analysis

HTAC further studies the vaccines with EUA if they meet the cost-effectiveness threshold for the

intended benefits to the population; an HTAC approval is required for any vaccine purchase that involves public funds

The National Immunization Technical Advisory Group oversees the prioritization and distribution process

National Adverse Events Following Immunization Committee monitors possible side effects of vaccines Dans added that it is also the civic duty of the Filipinos to understand the process and ensure that these bodies, particularly the FDA and HTAC, remain free from political or economic pressures.

While the scientific publication of China’s Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine has yet to be published, Dans asked the public to refrain from giving early judgment. Many raised doubts on the 50 percent efficacy rate of Sinovac.

This was echoed by HPAAC member Dr. Aileen Espina, saying the public should first wait for the data of any Covid-19 vaccine.

“All vaccines will undergo a process],” she said as she appealed to the public to “withhold judgement.”

Pfizer

MEANWHILE, the DOH said that they are expecting Pfizer to submit a report to the FDA to be able to make a decision on its EUA after 29 deaths in Norway were linked to the vaccine of Pfizer.

Once evaluation and conclusion is done, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said, “that is the time that the FDA can decide on the EUA of Pfizer here in the country.”

But for now, Vergeire said, the EUA stays. “For us here, their EUA remains on status quo,” she said.

PSA report bares poor human-waste disposal DAR launches nationwide practice in parts of Metro, Calabarzon areas ARB profiling program

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

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ESPITE rapid urbanization, regions such as Metro Manila and Calabarzon still have areas where open defecation occurs, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Based on the results of the 2020 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (APIS), while Metro Manila and Calabarzon have the least number of cases of open defecation, there are still less than 25 cases recorded in these regions.

PSA said open defecation refers to the disposal of human feces in fields, forests, bushes, open bodies of water, beaches or other open spaces, or with solid waste.

“Urban [80.9 percent] and rural [79.9 percent] areas had almost similar proportions of families with access to basic sanitation facilities,” PSA added.

“The number of rural residents with families practicing open defecation [5.6 percent] is higher than that of urban residents [1.6 percent],” PSA added.

Overall, based on the APIS, of the 25.848 million families na-

tionwide, around 3.3 percent still endure open defecation.

T he highest incidence nat ionw ide i s re corde d i n t he Bangsamoro Autonomous Reg ion in Musl im Mind anao (BARMM) where 19.6 percent of the 683,000 families who still resort to open defecation.

This is followed by Western Visayas where 11.1 percent of the 1.907 million families in the region still do not have proper sanitation facilities inducing them to resort to open defecation.

Meanwhile, data also showed that basic sanitation facilities in Metro Manila are enjoyed by 79 percent of the 3.449 million families in the region in 2020. This is less than the 79.8 percent recorded in the 2019 APIS. Data also showed that limited sanitation facilities, covered 19.4 percent and unimproved sanitation facilities at 1.5 percent. In 2019, while limited sanitation was at 14.9 percent and unimproved facilities at 4.9 percent.

For Calabarzon, basic sanitation facilities covered 87.4 percent of the 3.97 million families in the region. This is lower than the 88.7

Military dismantles 3 NPA guerrilla fronts in Calabarzon

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EMBERS of the New People’s Army operating in Southern Tagalog have lost three guerrilla fronts amid the military’s intensified drive against insurgency.

The manpower strength of a guerrilla front is equivalent to a company-size formation, or from a few dozens to 200, in the military.

The dismantling of the three fronts have effectively put an end to the NPA’s “terroristic” activities in most parts of Calabarzon, according to the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division (2nd ID).

Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Gilbert Gapay conferred the battle streamer awards to various military units in the successful dismantling of 13 NPA fronts across the country,

while urging military commanders to simultaneously address and defeat all remaining weakened communist guerrilla groups by 2021.

Three of the 13 fronts broken operated in Southern Tagalog.

The military is optimistic that the stepped up campaign will finally end the insurgency.

Maj. Gen. Greg Almerol, commander of the 2nd ID, lauded his men and the other units for breaking up the rebels’ guerrilla fronts.

“These achievements were made possible by the relentless efforts and commitment of our soldiers and the unity of all levels of government through the different Task Forces to End Local Armed Conflict in pursuit of the much-coveted peace for our country,” he said.

percent recorded in 2019.

In terms of limited sanitation facilities, this covered 10.9 percent and unimproved sanitation facilities at 1 percent. In 2019, limited sanitation was at 8.4 percent while unimproved facilities, 1.7 percent.

The PSA said improved sanitation facilities are those designed to hygienically separate excreta from human contact.

These include wet and dr y sanitation technologies.

Wet sanitation technologies include flush and pour flush toilets connecting to sewers, septic tanks or pit latrines while dry technologies include ventilated improved pit latrines; pit latrines with slabs; or composting toilets.

Basic sanitation facilities include the use of improved facilities that are not shared with other households, while limited facilities mean the use of improved facilities shared between two or more households.

PSA said unimproved sanitation facilities means using pit latrines without a slab or platform, hanging latrines or bucket latrines.

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HE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) intends to build a comprehensive profile of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) nationwide that would enable government to gauge farmers’ economic status after having been awarded with lands through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Launched in the province of Nueva Vizcaya, the profiling program is part of the effort to determine the state of the country’s land reform initiatives way back 48 years ago, way before the implementation of CARP in 1987.

DAR Secretary John R. Castriciones said the move, dubbed as “Kumustasaka” is meant to validate the existing owners, the crops planted, and the kinds of support services needed to enhance farm productivity.

The Kumustasaka, which is on pilot-testing stage, seeks to pinpoint the real farmer-beneficiaries to whom the DAR intends to extend much-needed assistance, he said.

“The idea here is to find out if the farm lots that had been distributed to them are still being tilled by them.

We also wanted to know their cur-

rent economic status and what do they need to increase their farm produce and increase their income,” the DAR chief said during the farm visit, which he dubbed as “ARBisitahan.”

Kumustasaka and ARBisitahan work in unison as DAR officials and staff visit the farmer-beneficiaries right at their respective homes and find out how they stand economically after awarding to them their farm lots.

Undersecretary for Support Services Emily Padilla said that they are also meant to pinpoint who are the actual farmer-beneficiaries.

Padilla said she observed in past distribution by the DAR of farm inputs to farmer-beneficiaries: “Some of them are not actually farmer-beneficiaries.”

“We want to make sure that all the assistance that the DAR extends are given to the rightful farmer-beneficiaries,” she said.

For her part, Undersecretary for Planning, Policy and Research Virginia Orogo said the activities will be of great help for the DAR to figure out how far the government’s land reform program has gone after 48 years of implementation.

Jonathan L. Mayuga

BI bars departure of 12K travelers in ’20 in drive vs human trafficking

By Joel R. San Juan

@jrsanjuan1573

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LOSE to 12,000 Filipino travelers were prevented from leaving the country last year as part of the Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) campaign against human trafficking and illegal recruitment.

However, the figure was 70 percent lower compared to 2019 where 38,522 travelers were barred from boarding their flights.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said 9,411 out of 11,706 passengers were stopped at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

“Travel restrictions and international flight suspensions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic naturally caused a tremendous drop in the number of Filipinos who traveled abroad in 2020,” Morente said, noting that the ban on travel due to the pandemic was only lifted in October.

Morente said the numbers would indicate that even a pandemic would not discourage human traffickers and illegal recruiters from continuing their illegal activities.

“Thanks to our vigilant immigration officers at the ports, many of these suspected human trafficking victims were intercepted and rescued before they could leave,” Morente added.

BI intelligence chief Fortunato Manahan Jr., who supervises the BI’s Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU), also reported that 295 passengers were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) as possible trafficking victims.

Manahan said the most common reasons for preventing a passenger from leaving are failure to present required documents, carrying fraudulent documents, and misrepresentation.

Morente also reminded aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) not to fall prey to illegal recruiters and human traffickers when travel returns to normal.

“These illegal recruiters will sweet talk their victims and take advantage of the hardships that some of our kababayan face to make them agree to below-standard arrangements,” he explained.

NBI forensic exam on Dacera case complete, DOJ chief says

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HE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has wrapped up its forensic examination of tissues taken from the remains of flight attendant Christine Angelica Dacera, who was found dead following a New Year revelry with male friends inside a hotel in Makati City.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, however, did not disclose the results of the forensic examination, saying that he would leave it up to the NBI to disclose its findings.

Likewise, the DOJ secretary said the agency would still have to compare its findings with the Makati Medical Center (MMC) that reportedly also conducted laboratory tests on the 23-year-old Dacera.

He said the NBI is also set to look into the contents of the information in the mobile phones of those who have been tagged as persons of in-

I understand that some of them have undergone drug testing, and the rest will also be tested. I’ll leave it to the NBI to divulge the results.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra

terests in the investigation.

“The NBI digital forensic team will now proceed to examine the data in the mobile phones of the persons of interest,” the justice chief added.

The NBI earlier conducted drug tests on the male individuals who rented rooms 2207 and 2209 at

BM

the City Gardens Grand Hotel in Makati City on the night prior to Dacera’s death.

Video footages showed that Dacera and her male friends occupied room 2209 of the said hotel to celebrate the New Year but they were also seen going in and out of room

2207 which was being occupied by another group of male individuals.

The result of the NBI’s forensic examination and other evidence obtained are expected to be presented before the Makati Prosecutor’s Office, which is currently conducting preliminary investigation on the incident which the police earlier said was a rape-slay case.

However, the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office ordered a reinvestigation because the evidence presented by the police were insufficient to establish the alleged crime.

“I understand that some of them have undergone drug testing, and the rest will also be tested. I’ll leave it to the NBI to divulge the results,” he added.

Dacera’s friends have insisted that there was no foul play in her death.

Joel R. San Juan

Belmonte urges Arayat, Pampanga LGU to lift entry restriction on QC residents

Q

UEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Monday strongly denounced the Arayat, Pampanga local government’s decision to restrict the entry of Quezon City residents to their municipality, stressing that the move is “totally without basis, can cause undue panic, and is tantamount to discrimination.”

In a news statement,

Belmonte said “for the enlightenment of the Arayat local government unit, who obviously did not refer to official news reports and health experts, we would like to emphasize the following points again:”

The traveler who tested positive for the UK variant of Covid-19 did not foot in Quezon City at any time upon his return

to the country from Dubai last January 7.

The said patient stayed in a quarantine hotel as part of the 14-day mandatory quarantine period. He was tested on January 7 upon arrival. The day after, it was confirmed he was Covid-19 positive. His sample was sent to the Philippine Genome Center.

On the night of January 13,

the city government and the City Health Department were informed by the Department of Health (DOH) that he has the socalled UK variant. Since January 8, he has been staying at a facility where he remains up to this day for treatment.

A total of 143 individuals who are considered contacts have been identified,

quarantined and are closely being monitored. Among them are more than 30 health-care workers and barangay workers who assisted and cared for the patient when he was transferred from the quarantine hotel in Manila to the isolation facility in Quezon City after he was tested positive for the virus.

All but one of the traveler’s

eight close contacts are now in quarantine while awaiting their test results while there are intensified efforts to contact the last one.

“For the above-mentioned reasons, we appeal to the Arayat Pampanga LGU to reconsider its earlier order and allow QC residents to enter its jurisdiction,” Belmonte stressed.

Economy BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

DOH issues clarification on reported vaccine prices The Covax prices are almost 300 percent lower than the market prices. In as much as we want to disclose the price list of these vaccines, our negotiations are bounded by a confidentiality agreement.

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco Correspondent

T

HE Department of Health (DOH) on Monday clarified that vaccine prices reported on published and online platforms “are not, in any way, the negotiated prices” that the government and the manufacturer have agreed upon.

The DOH argued the vaccine prices reported by the Senate to have come from the agency were not even “indicative” market prices based on the rates offered by different manufacturers generated for the purpose of estimating the proposed budget for the country’s vaccination program.

“The DOH urges the public to trust and respect the process that the country, through vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez, is undertaking to ensure that Filipinos are afforded the best vaccines at the most ideal prices,” the DOH said.

Galvez, also the National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 chief implementer, earlier cautioned the public that the prices of vaccines circulating online and in many publications are market prices and not the Covax prices that were in the government’s negotiations with vaccine manufacturers.

“The Covax prices are almost 300 percent lower than the market prices.

In as much as we want to disclose the price list of these vaccines, our negotiations are bounded by a confidentiality agreement,” Galvez said.

Galvez said that the government maintains a portfolio of vaccines which contains all the brand names and manufacturers of vaccines that are under development.

From this portfolio, he said, the government identifies the companies it will negotiate with.

“All our decisions are based on the recommendations of our vaccine experts who have seen promising results in the candidate vaccines,” he said,

BM stressing that the government remains steadfast in its battle against Covid-19.

He said the government will leave no stone unturned to ensure that “all Filipinos are safe and bring a greater sense of normalcy to our nation.”

“Finding ways to address this health crisis has been very challenging, not just for the Philippines but for countries all over the world. With almost 2 million deaths globally, around 10,000 of which come from our country, our efforts to lower our mortality rate has remained among our main priorities.

Hence, despite the limited supply and massive global demand for the vaccines, we were able to negotiate and secure over 100 million vaccine doses at a lower price, or the same price offered to the Covax facility,” he explained.

As the country races against time to obtain access to safe and effective vaccines, the government immediately commenced negotiations with many vaccine makers from various countries, even as their products were still under the third phase of clinical trials.

“Nevertheless, we want to assure our countrymen that all vaccines to be purchased by the government will undergo the stringent evaluation and selection process of the Food and Drug Administration [FDA] to ensure their safety and efficacy.”

HereiteratedthatonlyFDA-approved vaccines, whether for an Emergency Use Authorization or for clinical trials, will be used in inoculating Filipinos.

Regardless of brand names or country origin, he said, “All vaccine candidates will undergo the same rigorous regulatory review procedures.”

“We expect the first batch of vaccines to arrive by next month. Hence, we encourage our countrymen to look beyond brand names and get immunized once the vaccines are available in their area.

We all want to protect ourselves and our loved ones. And getting the vaccine is one of the best ways to achieve this,” he said.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Tuesday, January 19, 2021 A5

Fuel-marking program nets P180B in revenues from Sept ’19 to Jan ’21–DOF

T

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE government has raked in nearly P180 billion in revenues since it started implementing the fuel-marking program back in 2019.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), through its partners SGS Philippines and SICPA-SA, marked a total volume of 18.29 billion liters of fuel from September 3, 2019 until January 14 this year, based on an infographic shared by Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III to reporters.

During the period, BIR and BOC

collected a total of P178.8 billion in duties and taxes from its fuel-marking program.

Taking the lion’s share of revenues was BOC with P154.43 billion, while BIR earned P24.37 billion.

In terms of fuel type, diesel cornered the bulk, or 61.22 percent of fuel marked, followed by gasoline (38.25 percent) and

kerosene (0.53 percent).

Most of the fuel marked was in Luzon (74.06 percent), then Mindanao (20.94 percent) and Visayas (5 percent).

Petron topped the list of 22 companies that participated in the fuelmarking program after it had the most volume of fuel marked at 4.19 billion liters, equivalent to a 22.92percent share of the total.

Trailing Petron is Shell with 19.72-percent share or 3.6 billion liters, followed by Unioil with 10.51 percent, or 1.92 billion liters, Seaoil with 8.23 percent or 1.5 billion liters, and Phoenix with 7.71 percent or 1.4 billion liters.

Fuel marking makes use of a unique chemical marker that can be embedded at a molecular level in

petroleum products—gasoline, diesel and kerosene—thereby enabling authorities to test, identify and distinguish petroleum products with paid excise taxes.

Under Republic Act 10963, or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN), petroleum products that are refined, manufactured or imported to the Philippines such as, but not limited to, unleaded premium gasoline, kerosene, and diesel, shall be marked by an official marking agent after payment of taxes and duties.

Spearheaded by the Department of Finance, the BOC, and the BIR, the fuelmarking program was launched with the aim of halting illegal importation, manufacturing and other fraudulent activities relating to the use and sale of petroleum products in the country.

Rice stocks down 10.7% Extension of lifeline rate subsidy in Dec, as corn gains 20.9% in electricity bill gets Senate nod

T

HE country’s rice inventory as of December 1 fell by 10.7 percent to 2.766 million metric tons from last year’s 3.098 MMT, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported.

In its monthly rice and corn stocks inventory report, the PSA said the latest nationwide staple stockpile was also 12.4 percent lower than the 3.158 MMT recorded in November.

The PSA said bulk of the rice inventory, or about 58.5 percent, were from households, while the 28.7 percent and 12.8 percent were kept in commercial warehouses and National Food Authority (NFA) depositories, respectively.

Rice inventory held by households grew slightly to 1.618 MMT from 1.607 MMT recorded in the same period of last year. Rice stocks in commercial warehouses were at 794,710 MT, while those in NFA warehouses were estimated at 352,980 MT. “In contrast, decreases of 21.3 percent and 26.6 percent in rice stocks were noted in commercial warehouses and NFA depositories, respectively,” the PSA said in its report published on Monday.

“Meanwhile, all sectors recorded

excrements in rice stocks compared with the previous month’s levels. Rice stocks inventory in households, commercial warehouses, and NFA depositories,” the PSA added.

In the same report, the PSA said the country’s nationwide corn inventory grew by 20.9 percent to 960,950 MT from last year’s 794,870 MT. However, the volume was 6 percent lower than last month’s inventory of 1.021 MMT, the PSA added.

“Of this month’s total corn stocks, 36.6 percent were from households and 63.4 percent were from commercial warehouses,” it said. Corn stocks in households were estimated at 351,990 MT while the remaining volume of 608,960 MT was with commercial warehouses, according to the PSA. “Relative to the previous year’s level, corn stocks in the households rose by 93.1 percent, whereas stocks in commercial warehouses were lower by 0.6 percent,” the PSA said.

“Compared with the previous month’s level, corn stocks in the households increased by 1.6 percent while stocks in commercial warehouses decreased by 9.9 percent,” the PSA added. Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

S

EN. Sherwin T. Gatchalian said low-income households can look forward to a continued subsidy in their electricity consumption bills in the next 10 years, after Senate Bill 1877, extending the implementation of subsidized electricity rate to marginalized end-users—particularly those households consuming not more than 100 kilowatt hour (kWh) or less per month—was passed on third and final reading on Monday.

“This is a big relief to our countrymen who continue to suffer from the loss of jobs and livelihood, worsened by the pandemic. With this measure, they are assured of sustained assistance that they have enjoyed for two decades now,” Gatchalian said, partly in Filipino.

The Senate Energy Committee chairman remains optimistic that the bill will see its enactment before the expiration of the Lifeline Rate provision under Section 73 of Republic Act 10150 otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform

Act (Epira) of 2001 on June 26 this year.

If passed into law, some 5.5 million households stand to benefit from the socialized pricing mechanism until June 2031 and have an estimated annual savings of P900 on electricity expenses, Gatchalian said.

Under the bill, qualified marginalized end-users are either those who are householdbeneficiaries under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), or who have applied and have been certified by their respective distribution utilities based on criteria set by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), taking into account the poverty threshold set by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

This will be the second time that the Lifetime Rate provision will be given a 10-year extension.

It was first extended for 10 years in 2011.

The lifeline rate subsidy being paid by non-lifeline consumers in the Meralco franchise is P0.0478 per kWh.

Can the Philippines achieve a comprehensive, fast and secure delivery of vaccines as needed within 2021?

By Michael K. Raeuber

to meet the market demand for vaccines, from accreditation, to financing, purchasing, warehousing, and distribution, and provides emergency vaccination to frontliners, to the very young, the very old, and to the poor who cannot afford to buy vaccines.

However, it is expected that government decides on vaccines with the highest efficacy for the lowest possible price, if not donated or otherwise given for free.

The more ‘capitalist approach’

I

T is my pleasure to provide specific suggestions for a comprehensive, efficient, fast, safe, and secure delivery of Covid-19 vaccines, as severely needed to:

Save lives to achieve herd immunity ASAP;

Open-up the market and promote the continued growth of our economy;

Safeguard our jobs and develop new ones; and

Restore some civil liberties and rights as soon as possible, curtailed for understandable reasons to address the pandemic.

Upfront, there are several ways to approach this

The more ‘socialist approach’­ THE government decides and controls all commercial aspects

GIVEN that the government’s more socialistic approach is unlikely to create the high rate of vaccination fast and create the needed herd effect, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should allow the commercial import of vaccines ASAP so that the private sector can have their employees vaccinated. Everybody else will also have then retail access to the needed vaccines.

A combination of both

A COMBINATION of both the more “socialistic” and the more “capitalistic” approaches is the way forward to achieve the desired vaccination effect quickly.

That will require that the FDA accredits vaccines but only if proven effective and safe, initially for emergency use and soon after for commercial use. The

government further focuses on safeguarding vaccines’ delivery to the poor free of charge and ensuring that the country’s entire geography is covered and commercially unattractive areas are also supplied.

NGO personnel and institutional donors are appreciated to assist the government in expanding the delivery of vaccines to areas beyond the government’s capacity for fast delivery, tapping into available resources of private enterprises.

The force of a free market will ensure that those demands are met most efficiently as possible, paid by a client capable of buying it at market-driven prices. In my view, the combination of both is needed ASAP.

The best way to do this is by utilizing all stakeholders, government (national and local), NGOs, private businesses, all organized along market-driven principles, but in the spirit of a real socially inspired market economy.

Not enabling that potential could spell the difference of one year versus three to five years to remove the current threat caused

by Covid-19!

If the private sector is fully engaged, there is sufficient capacity to store and distribute efficiently all presently needed vaccines as long as they are available for import.

Paperwork such as a required NDAs (Non-disclosure agreements) should never delay such a challenge.

Freedom of choice

Way forward

AS we have a government whose power and funding emanated from the people, they probably should have the freedom to choose not only their doctors and dentists, but also medicines and vaccines as long as they are approved based on efficacy and safety by the relevant government agencies: In a pandemic, the government has a vital role in organizing an adequate response for its citizen’s best possible protection and delivering solutions, here vaccines, to the population.

C A N it be done t imely a nd physically—from vaccine arrival through storage to delivery throughout the country to the final injection? It can. Allow me to highlight a few points: Let’s look at a 100 million doses vaccination process requiring -70C temperature: 400.000 doses of the vaccines requiring -70C temperature fit into one specialized freezing cabinet, so 100 units, which can be purchased (some of them were already), spending just $2 million

delivery in a few weeks. $1 million was already spent by just one company for that purpose. So, at a P40 million doses capacity for storage and assuming only 10 million to be withdrawn for delivery and injection in one month, 60 million will be supplied within six months. After that, the units would be available for other vaccines but hopefully not for the next pandemic.

Pfizer, which is the only one requiring such low temperatures for storing, has delivered dry-icedbased packaging, which allows a time window of 10 days for delivery. So, where is the problem?

Moderna’s vaccine requires a storage and delivery temperature of minus 20C, which can easily be handled by all presently operated reefer trucks and cold stores all over the country. So again, where is the problem?

Reefer containers capable of maintaining a -35 C degree environment are also available in sizeable numbers equipped with available mounted gensets. They can be positioned in the remotest areas, even those without electrical power, as long as diesel is available.

AstraZeneca/Oxford University’s vaccine, FDA approved by several countries, including the UK, Argentina, and India, is probably the most cost-effective vaccine in

the market. It is available at an exproducer facility cost of only $2.50 per dose, perhaps one of the ideal vaccines for the Philippines, as it is cheap, effective, proven safe, tested, and easy to store and deliver under similar conditions as many common medicines.

In conclusion, the quickest economic restart, recovery, and future growth of the economy, safeguarding livelihoods and resurrecting jobs, is in re-empowering millions of people certified immune people, effectively vaccinated, or having gone through the sickness and survived, by the affirmation of their freedom to move, travel, produce and consume ASAP. As indicated by the Department of Health last Friday, such vaccination “passport” will be created and issued so that “safe” people can be easily be identified and their freedoms restored.

So, let’s look forward to a Covid-free environment within this year, through a transparent and efficient distribution of vaccines, as fast as possible.

Michael K. Raeuber is the Group CEO of the Royal Cargo Group of companies and is the vice chairman of the Integrity Initiative Inc. Feedback is welcome; please contact him at michael.raeuber@ royalcargo.com

BusinessMirror

A6 Tuesday, January 19, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS NO.

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS POSITION

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

NO.

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS POSITION

COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS PHILIPPINES, INC. 5th And 6th Floors, 8/10 Upper Mckinley Building Mckinley Hill Cyberpark Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

ZHANG, ZHAOXIN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

ZHANG, JIANQIANG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

3.

CHENG, YIDONG Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

4.

DAI, SHENG Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

FU, ZHICAN Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

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GUO, SHIPENG Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

7.

HUANG, WEI Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

43.

LIU, DAN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING MARKETING SPECIALIST

8.

LI, YAN Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

44.

LONG, YAN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING MARKETING SPECIALIST

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VINAYAGAMOORTHY, VANISUBRAMANI Indian

ASSOCIATE-PROJECTS

WINDHA OCTINELLA HARYANI Indonesian

SR. PROCESS EXECUTIVE

CONCENTRIX DAKSH SERVICES PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Bldg. F Ayalaland Technohub Quezon City 42.

HAN, HYEJIN South Korean

ADVISOR I, CUSTOMER SERVICE

DA SUCCESS BUSINESS TRADING INCORPORATED 2503 The Finance Centre 26th Street Corner 9th Avenue Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

ZHU, ZHOU Chinese

9.

LI, QIUJIAN Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

45.

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MAO, XIANDONG Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

EASTERN GOLD CORPORATION 503 Nueva St Binondo Manila

11.

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MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

46.

12.

OU, MEI Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

13.

PENG, SHANG Chinese

14.

MANDARIN SPEAKING MARKETING SPECIALIST

CHEN, FA Chinese

MARKETING AND SALES AGENT

47.

GONG, LIJIAO Chinese

MARKETING AND SALES AGENT

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

48.

HUANG, HONGBING Chinese

MARKETING AND SALES AGENT

TRAN VAN QUY Vietnamese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

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LI, JIAN-YOU Taiwanese

MARKETING AND SALES AGENT

15.

XIE, JING Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

50.

LIN, BIN Chinese

MARKETING AND SALES AGENT

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YANG, YANZHAO Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

51.

PAN, FEI Chinese

MARKETING AND SALES AGENT

17.

YANG, WEIJI Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

52.

SONG, REN Chinese

MARKETING AND SALES AGENT

ZHANG, JIARONG Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

53.

TANG, YUANLU Chinese

MARKETING AND SALES AGENT

ZHANG, PENG Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

FIRST GREAT COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES INC. Lot 5 Sta. Agueda Cor. Queensway Pagcor Drive Sto. Niño Parañaque City

18.

19.

ALASKA MILK CORPORATION Corinthian Plaza Bldg. P. De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City 20.

RAHMAN, SHAIKH HASEEB UR British

RAHMAN, SHAIKH HASEEB UR British

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

076 Pasay City 21.

LE KHANH PHUNG Vietnamese

22.

LE NGOC HUONG QUYNH Vietnamese

SELLER SUPPORT ASSOCIATE SELLER SUPPORT ASSOCIATE VIETNAMESE LANGUAGE

BIG EMPEROR TECHNOLOGY CORP. Eastfield Center Cbp1, Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City 23.

WANG, XUEQING Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

BILLION DRAGON OUTSOURCE PHILS., INC. One Townsquare Place Bpo Bldg. Alabang Zapote Rd. Almanza Uno Las Piñas City 24.

WU, JIANBIN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)

CAPSLOCK INC. 7th & 8th Flr. Y Tower Bldg. Coral Way Drive Cor. Macapagal Brgy.

076 Pasay City 25.

GONG, CHEN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

54.

GAO, JIAQUAN Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

55.

RUAN, CHAOZHONG Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

FLYING DRAGON NETWORK PHILIPPINES INC. Malate Bayview Mansion 1781 M. Adriatico Street 076, Brgy. 699 Malate Manila 56.

AN, DIFEI Chinese

57.

GAN, LONGWEN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

58.

HUANG, XIAOLIAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

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LI, RONGPENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

60.

LI, WEIBIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

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LUO, YI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

62.

PENG, YE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

63.

QI, TONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

64.

WANG, MINGJU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

26.

HUANG, CHUANWEI Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

65.

WANG, QI Chinese

27.

LI, JUNXIAN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

66.

XU, XINGYING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

67.

ZHU, YAOBING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

68.

GERALD LOOI CHING WERN Malaysian

MALAYSIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE

28.

LI, SHAOXUN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

29.

LIAO, FANG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

30.

LONG, YANG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

MA, JIA Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

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XU, SHENG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

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XU, ZUNSONG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

31.

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YAN, BIN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

CASTELIS ASIA INC. Unit 202 2/f Riverbend Bldg. 1869 P. Domingo St. Kasilawan Makati City 35.

OBINCHU, GODFREY OMASIRE Kenyan

IT OPERATIONS MANAGER

CHAN CHUN CONSTRUCTION PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Unit 4, 14th Flr. The One Executive Office Bldg. No. 5 West Ave. Cor. Col. Martinez St. Nayong Kanluran 1 Quezon City

36.

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WANG, CHIEN-HUA Taiwanese LIU, KUN-YEN Taiwanese

ELECTRICAL AND INSTRUMENTATION CONSULTANT

FORTUNEGATE HOLDINGS PHILIPPINES, INC. 5/f Ag New World Manila Bay Hotel 1588 1588 Mh Del Pilar St. Cor. P. Gil St. 076 Bgy. 699 Malate Manila 69.

PROJECT CONSULTANT

LEE, YAO-LIN Taiwanese

TAIWANESE EQUIPMENT SUPERVISOR

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

FUXINGYING CAIYUN HENTONG, CORP. 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th Floor Eton Ewestpod Chino Roces Avenue Cor. Yakal & Malugay Streets San Antonio Makati City 70.

71.

72.

CHEN, ZHONGQIN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE-MANDARIN SPEAKING

HUANG, MEIJIA Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE-MANDARIN SPEAKING

WANG, BAOYU Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE-MANDARIN SPEAKING

GATEWAYSOLUTIONS CORP. 8/f Edsa Cor. Sultan Brgy. Highway Hills Mandaluyong City 73.

SHI, TIANCONG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

GENX SPORTS & MEDIA PRODUCTION CORP. 11/f Aseana I Bldg. Bradco Ave. Aseana City Tambo Parañaque City 74.

PROJECT CONSULTANT

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JIA, MENGXUAN Chinese

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CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

ZHANG, RUITIAN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

NO.

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS POSITION

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

NO.

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

POSITION

113.

FENG, XIANG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

114.

HAO, DONGHUI Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

115.

JIANG, JIACHAO Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

116.

LI, YUHUI Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

117.

LIU, XIAOQIAN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

118.

LIU, YATING Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

119.

LUO, CUIHONG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

120.

MA, XIAOKANG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

121.

MENG, PENGYUAN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

122.

PAN, WEI Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

123.

PAN, YUCHEN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

124.

SHI, YUQUAN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

125.

XIAO, QINGXIA Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

126.

XIAO, YAN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

127.

YANG, XUE Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

77.

LAN, JINGSONG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT

78.

HAN, BIN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

79.

HUO, WENJIE Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

80.

KOO REN CHIAT Malaysian

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

81.

OU, YANG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

82.

REN, XISHENG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

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CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

84.

TIAN, FAN Chinese

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85.

TWAN KYI PHUE Myanmari

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86.

XIAO, SHOUMENG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

87.

YU, QI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

128.

ZHANG, TING Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

88.

LI, YUHUA Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

129.

ZHOU, XIHONG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

130.

CHONG NGOC PHUNG Vietnamese

IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

GLOBE TELECOM, INC. 2/f, Globe Telecom Plaza Pioneer Cor. Madison Brgy. Barangka Mandaluyong City 89.

CALIRO, JOSEPH PAUL American

CONSULTANT

90.

CHERUKURI, KRISHNA KARTHIK Indian

CONSULTANT

IDNPLAY CORPORATION 8/f Burgundy Corporate Tower 252 Sen. Gil J.puyat Ave. Pio Del Pilar Makati City

JINDINGYUAN BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3-9/f Filinvest Cyberzone Bldg. A, Bay City Brgy. 076 Pasay City 131.

GAN, YUNYUN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

132.

LI, GAOBO Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

133.

LIAO, ZHIHUA Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

91.

APRIANTI NOVITA SARI Indonesian

INDONESIAN-SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE

134.

LIN, MEIYAN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

92.

CALVIN WIJAYA Indonesian

INDONESIAN-SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE

135.

MO, CHENGJIAN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

93.

MIRWAN SYARIF Indonesian

INDONESIAN-SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE

136.

NIM PHAN PHONG Vietnamese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

94.

NATASYA DEBRA APITULEY Indonesian

INDONESIAN-SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE

137.

SU, TIANCI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

INDONESIAN-SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE

138.

95.

RISKY KEVIN SETIAWAN Indonesian

TAN, QINLIANG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

INDONESIAN-SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE

WANG, HAO Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

96.

SAUR PARLINDUNGAN SITUMEANG Indonesian

139.

140.

WU, PINGSHUN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

97.

SONNY INDALAO Indonesian

INDONESIAN-SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE

141.

XIAO, ZIWEN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

98.

TJOA ADI GUNAWAN WIBOWO Indonesian

INDONESIAN-SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE

142.

XU, CHAO Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

99.

YOSEF HENDRY WIJAYA Indonesian

INDONESIAN-SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE

143.

YU, ZIHAO Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

THAI-SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE

144.

100.

ONGKHULICHAIKUN, KITTICHET Thai

YUAN, XIAOHONG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

145.

VIETNAMESE-SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

101.

PHAN DAC THIEN Vietnamese

ZHANG, JIAJUN Chinese

146.

ZHOU, CONG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

INTEGRATED SYNERGY CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION 21 Floor Tower 1 Insular Life Corporate Centre, Insular Life Drive, Fcc Alabang Muntinlupa City 102.

OKAMURA, MITSUYA Japanese

CIVIL CONSTRUCTION MANAGER

INTEGRITY GLOBAL GROUP, INC. 2/f-3/f Ayala Malls Circuit A.p. Reyes Ave. Carmona Makati City 103.

DENG, CHENGGUI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

INTEGRITY GLOBAL GROUP, INC. 2/f-3/f Ayala Malls Circuit A.p. Reyes Ave. Carmona Makati City 104.

ONG PING PING Malaysian

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

INTERCOMP LINK SOLUTIONS INC. 14th Floor, Filinvest Three Bldg. Northgate Cyberzone Filinvest Alabang Muntinlupa City

KONGANBUDDIES MARKETING INC. 12/f Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St. Bel-air Makati City 147.

SEEPERSAUD, MICHAEL MERVYN Guyanese

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

148.

ADIYANTO CHANDRA Indonesian

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

149.

ANTONY SALIM Indonesian

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

150.

ERWIN Indonesian

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

151.

GUNTUR DWI PUTRA Indonesian

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

152.

GUNTUR WIJAYA Indonesian

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

105.

CHENG, KONG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)

153.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

106.

HUANG, MENG Chinese

HARYANTO Indonesian

154.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

107.

QI, DALIN Chinese

JEFFRI Indonesian

155.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

108.

WANG, XIANG Chinese

JIMMY SAPUTRA Indonesian

156.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

109.

WANG, HUAYUAN Chinese

KRISTIN Indonesian

157.

MADELINE ARDEN Indonesian

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

158.

MICHALE, TANYAMA Indonesian

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

I.T TECHNICAL MANDARIN

159.

RICKY Indonesian

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

ITECHNO SPECIALIST INC. 10/f Aseana I Bldg. Bradco Avenue Aseana Business Park Tambo Parañaque City

160.

RIDDICK Indonesian

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Floor Six West Campus Mckinley West Fort Bonifacio Taguig City 110.

WANG, HONGCHAO Chinese

111.

CHENG, JIANYONG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

161.

RINTO Indonesian

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

112.

FENG, SHUANG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

162.

SANNY Indonesian

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS NO.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

POSITION

NO.

163.

SOEN SU YAKA Indonesian

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

213.

164.

SUARDI Indonesian

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

165.

SUSANTO Indonesian

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

MARKETROLE ASIA PACIFIC SERVICES, INC. 26/f, 27/f, 28/f The Enterprise Center Tower 1 6766 Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City 166.

167.

CHAN, MUNG SZE Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

LUO, CHANGYONG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

168.

TIET PHUOC CUONG Vietnamese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

169.

XIE, ZHENYI Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

170.

ZHANG, LUEMOU Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

MEGA-WEB TECHNOLOGIES INC. 6,7,8,9,10,11/f Met Live Bldg. Edsa Cor. Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City 171.

BU, JIANPU Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

CHEN, HONGLIN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

CHENG, XIAOJIE Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

174.

CHENG, RONG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

175.

HU, LINA Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

176.

HUANG, HOUHUA Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

177.

LE THI PHUONG Vietnamese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

172.

173.

178.

LI, HONGLIANG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

179.

LONG, ZHIJUN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

NIU, YUANYUAN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

181.

QIU, JUNJIE Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

182.

SUN, WENLI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

180.

WANG, XIAOYONG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

184.

WANG, YIXIN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

185.

WANG, CHENGPIN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

183.

XIE, QINGGUI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

187.

XU, CHANGJIN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

188.

ZHANG, WEIYUE Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

ZHANG, XIAORAN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

ZHANG, LYU Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

186.

189.

190.

191.

192.

193.

ZHANG, CHAO Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

ZHAO, ZHIMIN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

ZHOU, KAI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 1331 Pearl Plaza Bldg. Quirino Ave. Tambo Parañaque City 194.

CHEN, CHAOFAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

195.

CHEN, LU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

196.

CHU, HAOZHI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

197.

CHUNG RAYMOND Malaysian

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

198.

CONG, XIAOJUN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

199.

DENG, XIAOLONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

DONG, JI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

201.

FAN, HUI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

202.

FENG, HAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

203.

FU, TONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

204.

GAN, RONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

205.

GAO, FENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

GAO, BIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

207.

GONG, HUANHUAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

208.

GUO, JINHAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

209.

GUO, HAITAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

210.

GUO, BINBIN Chinese

211.

HAO, LONGTAO Chinese

212.

HE, QIN Chinese

200.

206.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS POSITION

NO.

HE, FUKUN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

214.

HU, MINGLIANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

215.

HUANG, JIARUI Chinese

216.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

POSITION

NO.

275.

CHWAY LYIN Myanmari

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE

THE SIRQO GROUP, INC. 10 Jupiter St. Bel-air Makati City

276.

DIN MOE OO Myanmari

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE

324.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

277.

HTAI KYI Myanmari

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE

HUANG, YAFEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

278.

HTAN KWAE SEINT Myanmari

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE

217.

HUANG, SHUIXING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

279.

LE TAL SHONE Myanmari

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE

218.

HUANG, DACHENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

280.

LI LI WIN Myanmari

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE

219.

JIANG, JIAHAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

281.

SHAN SHAN Myanmari

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE

220.

KE, MINGFA Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

282.

SOE WIN TUN Myanmari

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE

221.

LI, XUE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

283.

YONE EAIN Myanmari

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE

222.

LI, WEIYING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

284.

THONG VINH CUONG Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

223.

LI, ZAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

224.

LI, XIAOYU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

POWERPORT DATA SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY INC. 16/f, 17/f, 18/f & 19/f Corporate Tower Alphaland, Makati Place, 7232 Ayala Avenue Extn. Bel-air Makati City

225.

LI, PENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

226.

LIANG, SHUANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

227.

LIAO, YING Chinese

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

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

286.

228.

LIN, XINMIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

229.

LIU, ZHANGBIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

ROYAL DANISH EMBASSY, MANILA 11/f, 11th Corporate Center 11th Ave. Bonifacio Global City Taguig City

230.

LIU, ZHIQIANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

231.

MA, RUIZE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

SA RIVENDELL GLOBAL SUPPORT, INC. 9-11 Flr., The Biopolis Bldg. Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City

232.

MENG, XIANGWEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

288.

CHEN, MING Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

DONG, XINGKUN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

285.

287.

CHEN, TING Chinese

CHU, SHUN Chinese

PORSGAARD, LOTTE BRETH Danish

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

VISA & CONSULAR OFFICER

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

FRANKS, CHRISTOPHER LEWIS British

POSITION

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

TIANYU TECHNOLOGY INC. 42/f Pbcom Tower Ayala Avenue Cor. V.a Rufino Street Bel-air Makati City

325.

326.

327.

LI, DENGPENG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

LIU, XUN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

PENG, SHASHA Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

TIGER RESORT, LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT, INC. Okada Manila, New Seaside Drive Entertainment City Barangay Tambo Parañaque City 328.

SUGIYAMA, YOSHIHIRO Japanese

CHEF DE CUISINE

TIGER RESORT, LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT, INC. Okada Manila, New Seaside Drive Entertainment City Barangay Tambo Parañaque City 329.

CHEN, YING-AN Taiwanese

DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL MARKETING

TIGER RESORT, LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT, INC. Okada Manila, New Seaside Drive Entertainment City Barangay Tambo Parañaque City 330.

PARK, YEONHO South Korean

DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL MARKETING (BD)

TONY & JACKEY BEAUTY SALON CORP. 2/f Zen Bldg. 647 Nakpil St. 076, Bgy. 697 Malate Manila 331.

LEE, SEONG RYUN South Korean

HAIR STYLIST

TOPJUAN CONSULTING, INC. Imet Bpo Metropolitan Park Metrobank Ave., Roxas Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City 332.

CAI, YINGYING Chinese

ADMIN OFFICER

233.

PENG, XUEFENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

289.

234.

QIN, YUANJIE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

290.

DUAN, TAO Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

235.

QIN, MENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

291.

DUONG THAI BAO Vietnamese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

333.

BAI, ZHENYONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

236.

SHI, RUI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

292.

GUO, JUNCHAO Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

334.

DING, WENXI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

237.

WANG, LISONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

293.

HOU, JINGJIA Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

335.

HE, CHENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

238.

WANG, YANXIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

294.

HUANG, YUFENG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

336.

HU, ZHIMING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

239.

WANG, FEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

295.

LIU, HUA Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

337.

HUANG, JIASHENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

240.

WANG, PENGCHENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

296.

LUO, LONGYU Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

338.

JIA, HAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

241.

WANG, TING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

297.

LUO, JINXUN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

339.

LI, CHEN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

242.

WANG, SHUAIFEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

298.

LUO, HUAIZHAO Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

340.

YU, HUI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

243.

WU, TAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

299.

LUO, WENCAI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

341.

ZHANG, JINWEN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

244.

WU, ZHIQIANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

300.

MA, JIANGUO Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

342.

HON YONG SHENG Malaysian

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

245.

WU, JIANWEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

301.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

246.

WU, ZHONGLONG Chinese

NGUYEN TRUONG THE BAO Vietnamese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

302.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

343.

LI, HAICAN Chinese

I.T TECHNICAL MANDARIN

247.

XIN, SHUANGWU Chinese

PENG, JUN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

303.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

344.

CHEN, ZHAO Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

248.

XU, HUIWEN Chinese

REN, YUJIE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

304.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

345.

GUO, JINGLIN Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

249.

XU, RUIJIE Chinese

SU, QIAOBIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

305.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

250.

XU, QIANG Chinese

THACH SOC KHA Vietnamese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

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

306.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

346.

251.

XU, ZHENGUANG Chinese

WANG, FUYUAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

GUO, SHUNLI Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

307.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

347.

252.

XU, DONGHUI Chinese

WEN, HUAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

LI, MENGXIANG Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

308.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

348.

253.

XU, KUIHUA Chinese

WEN, JIA Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

LIAO, LIANFANG Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

309.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

349.

254.

XUE, YUE Chinese

XIONG, KE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

LIU, YUYI Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

310.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

350.

255.

YAN, BO Chinese

XU, PENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

LIU, JIAQI Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

311.

YE, LU Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

351.

256.

YANG, CHAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

LYU, SHUJIANG Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

312.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

352.

257.

YAO, ZHIJIE Chinese

ZHA, YASHUANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

MA, SONGCEN Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

313.

ZHANG, KUANLIANG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

353.

258.

YE, ZHIANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

WANG, YONG Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

314.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

354.

259.

YU, JIADONG Chinese

ZHOU, WEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

YU, YONGTAO Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

260.

YU, XIAOLEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

261.

YU, PENGZHEN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

262.

YUAN, ZHEN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

SHOPEE PHILIPPINES INC 37/f Net Park 5th Avenue E Square Crescent Park West Bgc Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

263.

ZHANG, YONGMING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

316.

264.

ZHANG, YUAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

265.

ZHANG, ZHIHUI Chinese

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

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

ZHANG, YUHUI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

266.

267.

ZHENG, KAIYAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

268.

ZHENG, WEIGUO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

269.

ZHU, FEILONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

270.

ZOU, BO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

271.

TAN MING HUI Malaysian

272.

SHIMIZU PHILIPPINE CONTRACTORS, INC. King’s Court Bldg. 1 5/f 2129 P. Tamo St. San Lorenzo Makati City 315.

YONEKAWA, TOMOYA Japanese

RAINELLI, ANTHONY Italian

CONSTRUCTION MANAGER

ASSISTANT MANAGER, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (BD OPS)

317.

HAPREMPOOL, KITTANU Thai

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

318.

HLAING MIN THU Myanmari

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

319.

TIAWISES, ROSSARIN Thai

RESEARCH ANALYST

TELFA OUTSOURCING SERVICES INC. Unit 3b Mrb 1160 J. Bocobo St., 072 Bgy. 670 Ermita Manila 320.

LEE YEW FEI Malaysian

MANDARIN ADMIN SPECIALIST

MALAYSIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE

321.

HSU, WAN-PING Taiwanese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE

AH KYIN Myanmari

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE

322.

HE, ZHIXIANG Chinese

MANDARIN TECHNICAL SUPPORT

273.

AIKE YEE Myanmari

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE

274.

CHAIN LI ZING @ LILI Myanmari

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE

TELUS INTERNATIONAL PHILIPPINES, INC. Units 23/f, 31st/f - 37th/f Discovery Centre Adb Avenue, Ortigas Center San Antonio Pasig City 323.

NDIFON, VIVIAN BERI Cameroonian

A7

FRENCH OPERATIONS CSR II

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

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

ZAPPORT SERVICES, INC. 36/f Burgundy Corporate Tower 252 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Ave. Pio Del Pilar Makati City 355.

ARISTIONO Indonesian

INDONESIAN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICER

356.

GEORGE LEVI IMANUEL SYAUTA Indonesian

INDONESIAN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICER

357.

INDRA KURNIAWAN Indonesian

INDONESIAN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICER

358.

IRFAN PRANATA Indonesian

INDONESIAN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICER

359.

RENALDI Indonesian

INDONESIAN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICER *Date Generated: Jan 18, 2021

In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on January 16, 2020, the position of MIAO, XINPENG under FLYING DRAGON NETWORK PHILIPPINES INC., should have been read as CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE and not as published.

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

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A8 Tuesday, January 19, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Saving lives

F

light attendant Christine Dacera’s untimely death bears painful evidence of the country’s lack of emergency medical services and the need to improve our capacity to deal with health emergencies.

The police report on the case and her companions’ narratives seem to say help came too little too late for Dacera.

Clark Rapinan, one of her companions at the City Garden Hotel, said hotel employees were “quite slow” helping them get medical aid for Dacera.

Rapinan told ANC news in a recent interview that they asked hotel employees to help them revive Dacera. The hotel’s first responders could not perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. They had to bring her in a wheelchair to the hotel’s clinic, where another employee performed CPR on her.

The police report also said Dacera was not brought immediately to the hospital because there was no ambulance available. Hotel employees tried to request for a vehicle from barangay officials but, in the end, had to bring her to the hospital themselves when no help was provided.

Dacera was declared dead on arrival. But could her life been saved if she got prompt and proper emergency medical treatment?

If this can happen in Makati, the country’s richest city and financial capital, how much more in remote or rural areas, far from any hospital or medical facilities?

The government has a 911 hotline that is supposed to respond to all kinds of emergencies, free of charge. It was launched in August 2016 through President Duterte’s Executive Order 56, which made 911 the nationwide emergency hotline, replacing PATROL 117.

The EO asks all local government units to establish and run 911 call centers within their areas of jurisdiction, under the supervision of the National Call Center operated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The E911 hotline is a DILG-run security and development program that provides response and emergency assistance to people in distress. “Calls coursed through this number include those that require police assistance, fire reports, emergency medical assistance, search and rescue, and even those that concern chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive materials,” DILG said.

The DILG announced in September that this 911 service has resumed full operation after a brief hiatus, due to several of its Emergency Telecommunicators (ETCs) having contracted Covid-19.

The DILG said it has four teams, with 18 ETCs each, that work round the clock on a 24-hour work shift, handling emergency calls.

Did Dacera’s companions, the hotel employees or barangay Poblacion officials try to call the 911 emergency hotline? Did they even know there was one? Or did they fail to get through?

This bears looking into. It is important for citizens to be able to immediately call for help in whatever emergency, contacting a reliable, fully functioning 911 service. The lines should not only be working but there must also be ambulances and other vehicles with proper equipment and personnel, ready to respond within minutes of an emergency.

There’s a Senate bill 1573 authored by Sen. Sonny Angara, which seeks to improve and strengthen emergency medical services throughout the country. If enacted into law, it would mandate local government units (LGU) to establish emergency dispatch centers with adequate and qualified personnel equipped with emergency transport vehicles like ambulances.

The measure also stipulates that each LGU, hospital and health-care facility should have a minimum number of positions for Emergency Medical Technicians, the salaries of which should be included in the annual financial requirements of their respective institutions. The National Telecommunications Commission would be tasked to ensure a working 911 emergency hotline, while the Department of Health and DILG would establish the nationwide emergency medical services network.

Congress should swiftly pass this vital measure. It should be implemented along with the CPR law (Republic Act 10871), which requires cardiopulmonary resuscitation training as part of the country’s basic education curriculum.

Filipinos should be taught and trained to do CPR, which is an essential, life-saving skill. The Philippine Heart Association, which lobbied for the CPR law, said administering CPR when someone’s heart stops beating increases the victim’s survival rate by 25 percent and keeps vital blood flow to the heart and brain, therefore preventing brain and organ damage.

Every loss of life is a tragedy. But we should also learn something from it, do everything we can to prevent the same tragedy from happening again, and save a life the next time around.

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A

series of good news greeted 2021. The government is making progress in arranging supply agreements with top vaccine makers. It has managed to contain Covid-19 cases in the country despite the recent holidays that reunited many of us with our families. And the Philippines continues to enjoy the goodwill of foreign creditors after receiving a stable credit rating from a major debt-rating agency.

Such developments were much better than the start of 2020 when we witnessed the wrath of Taal Volcano, whose erratic activity disrupted the vibrant economy of Calabarzon. Thick ashes blanketed parts of Cavite, Batangas and Laguna provinces, and Metro Manila in January last year. Then came the news that an unknown virus was causing people to fall sick in China. It was not long after that Covid-19 became the biggest threat to civilization in 2020 and reached almost every nation on Earth. That was last year.

There are signs we are making a gradual recovery from the deep gross domestic product contraction in the second and third quarters of 2020.

Merchandise exports, for example, grew 3 percent in November 2020, the highest year-on-year increase since March 2020, when the country

began imposing restrictions due to the pandemic.

A full recovery, however, will only happen if we address the health crisis—the root cause of the problem. I am happy to note that the national government has secured supply deals for millions of Covid-19 vaccines from the likes of Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Sinovac, Serum Institute and the COVAX Facility of the World Health Organization.

Local government units, especially in Metro Manila, deserve to be recognized for initiating to secure vaccine supplies on their own for free distribution to their residents. This means the national government can distribute the vaccines to less progressive towns in the country that do not have the capability or the funds to purchase them.

Some of the vaccines are expected

to arrive in the second quarter, but most of them will come in the second half of 2021 until the early part of 2022. The government’s goal is to inoculate most of the population as fast as it can so we can achieve herd immunity, or the stage where the virus is no longer a threat to the population.

It might be a lengthy and arduous process, but at least it gives us hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel. While we are waiting for herd immunity to happen, our economy is raring to bounce back with full force, especially as the development of infrastructure projects continues.

Last week’s opening of Skyway Stage 3, one of the major infrastructure projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways, in collaboration with the private sector, is a welcome development this year insofar as decongesting Edsa and other major roads in Metro Manila is concerned.

This means more areas in the north—such as Bulacan and Pampanga—and Laguna and Cavite in the south will attract more and more investors, especially now that commuting to these areas takes only about an hour from Metro Manila.

I am not alone in expressing optimism on the economy. A recent survey by the Social Weather Stations shows that 42 percent of Filipinos now expect the economy to be in better shape in the next 12 months.

Foreign analysts also took notice of local developments.

International debt watcher Fitch

Why the West seems to be falling apart

Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug Lorenzo M. Lomibao Jr., Gerard S. Ramos Lyn B. Resurreccion, Dennis D. Estopace Angel R. Calso

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2021 looks auspicious

John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

I

just had my first haircut in a year. Actually, it was my first haircut in 20 years as I stopped being “partially bald” and started having a “shaved head” in 2001.

We think of fundamental changes evolving slowly but as we look back there is a defining moment. I shaved my head in January 2001 to try it, and then shaving became a habit like a haircut.

We have heard about the shift to “work from home.” But it is unlikely that this will define the workplace over the next decades. However, there has been a fundamental workplace change that has evolved in the past 20 years but could be defined by a moment in 2009.

When I was a young man there were two career choices. You learned a skill—cooking, welding, or diesel

mechanics, for example—became an apprentice and worked to become a master at your trade. The other choice was to continue your education to a “white collar skill” such as doctor, lawyer, or accountant. Either way, you did your 30 years, had a retirement party, and collected your pension.

Some went on to own the company, but most were—the 1930s Japanese term—“salarymen,” whitecollar workers in the large bureaucracy of a business or government.

Artists, musicians, writers, and the like were outside of the mainstream work force. There was a mystique and envy of those who turned

on the corporate world and gave up job security for job freedom.

With the 21st century came the formalization of the “gig” workplace. But in 2009 Uber was founded and changed the equation.

People now seek the opportunity to “freelance” and make a few extra bucks on the side.

But that fundamental change created a new class of people that British economist Guy Standing called in his 2014 book, The Precariat. The term comes from “precarity,” meaning a risky existence, lacking predictability, and job security.

Uber “employees” and others started with “I have this cool new job that lets me work my own hours.”

Then it was, “The Precariat class is the most deprived British class of all with low levels of economic, cultural and social capital.”

From “No boss” and “Immediate access to fun and flexibility” it goes to “No benefits; No paid nothing.”

Like a child who wants ice cream at bedtime. But for some, like Standing, a “precariat” needs to be taken care of, and desires deserve to be provided by society. And by society he really

Ratings kept the Philippines’s investment-grade credit rating of “BBB” with a “stable” outlook on the back of favorable growth prospects, a manageable fiscal situation despite the Covid-19 crisis, and the government’s vaccination plan.

The debt-rating agency has noted the country’s declining infection rate. The drop, said Fitch, is a reflection of “an effective government response to the crisis,” adding this reduces the risk of renewed lockdowns.

The government has spent P2.66 trillion, or 14.7 percent of the GDP, as its direct response to address the pandemic, including the largest social protection program in history that provided emergency cash grants to low-income families and wage subsidies to workers in small businesses.

Other factors working in favor of the Philippines are the rising gross international reserves, which reached a record $109.8 billion at the end of 2020. The level is equivalent to 11.7 months of imports and other external payments, or way above the international standards of just three months.

I am confident the Philippines will report more positive economic data in the coming weeks that will justify the further reopening of the economy. Declaring widespread lockdowns as we have experienced in the past is no longer an option.

They do more harm than good to the economy.

For comments, e-mail mbv.secretariat@gmail. com or visit www.mannyvillar.com.ph.

means those that go to work every day. Standing wants a “universal income” so that certain people can work if and when they want to and still have all the benefits of a real job.

It is absolutely a fact that Big Business has taken advantage of the Precariat situation to lower labor costs and raise profits with the cooperation and encouragement of Big Government. Further, the unaffordability of health care, higher education, and local government has skyrocketed. But untouchable special interests depend on everhigher costs to fund their increasingly rich future.

The elite Few created the Precariat for their own benefit and now want to “print money” and give it away as the solution to unaffordability.

This solution only transfers the rising risk of systemic collapse to the entire economy. That is one reason, it seems, that the social fabric is unraveling before our eyes.

E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.

Opinion BusinessMirror

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Tax base: Local business taxes

A scourge to mankind, a bane to the entire world Manny F. Dooc

TELLTALES

Fulvio D. Dawilan

Tax Law for Business

I

T is often said that taxes are the lifeblood of the government.

This is true and it applies both to the national government as well as to the local governments. Thus, local governments units (LGUs) are also granted the power to create their own sources of revenues by no less than the constitution. The Local Government Code of 1991 (LGC) further defined that power.

Pursuant to this power, LGUs have enacted their respective tax ordinances aimed at imposing taxes on properties and business activities located or conducted within their respective jurisdictions.

There are a number of activities and properties that are the subject of local taxes, and the more significant sources of revenues of LGUs are the local business taxes.

These business taxes are computed as certain percentages of gross sales or receipts made by a business for the preceding year.

These taxes, together with other fees and charges, accrue on the first day of January of each year, and are usually required to be paid before the business permit is issued. It is this time of the year when some LGUs flex their power to collect the taxes due, not only for the present year, but also for the local business tax assessments for previous years.

The imposition of local taxes often leads to disputes between the local tax authorities and taxpayers in their jurisdictions. Disagreements notwithstanding, businesses are often forced to pay for fear of not getting the permit and risk having the business closed.

And what are the usual reasons resulting in the disputes between the tax authorities and their taxpayers? There are lots of them.

One is the proper tax base for the local business tax. To ensure collections of taxes higher than that of the previous year, some LGUs would require businesses to pay local taxes based on sales or receipts more than that of the previous year. And in some cases, the basis is not actual financial data but assumptions. And even this period of renewal, some LGUs are continuing that practice as if they are not aware of the unusual conditions businesses faced in the previous year.

This needs a revisit of the proper tax base for the computation of local business taxes. The LGC specifically provides the bases for the imposition of local business tax to be the gross revenue or gross receipts for the preceding calendar year. So, as a rule, the local business tax due for the year should either be computed as a percentage of gross revenue or gross receipts for the preceding calendar year.

And these two are not the same.

The difference is significant because while generally the tax may be computed on the gross receipts or gross revenue, there are specific types of business, such as the service providers, where the tax base is the “gross receipts.”

As early as 2007, in GR 176667, the Supreme Court made a distinction between gross revenue and gross receipts as basis for local business taxes. In that case, the LGU assessed the taxpayer based on the gross revenue as reported in the taxpayer’s financial statements for the previous year. The LGU proceeded on the assessment, taking the position that the “gross receipts” is synonymous with gross earnings/revenue. Ruling against the LGU’s position, the Court noted that “gross receipts” is different from “gross revenue.”

Gross receipts include money or its equivalent actually or constructively received in consideration of services rendered or articles sold, exchanged or leased, whether

Tuesday, January 19, 2021 A9

actual or constructive. In contrast and taking cue from the accounting rules, the Court stated that “gross revenue” covers money or its equivalent actually or constructively received, including the value of services rendered or articles sold, exchanged or leased, the payment of which is yet to be received. With specific reference to services, revenue is recognized when the services have been rendered. In other words, revenue is recognized when the earning process is complete, whether or not the selling price is collected.

The Court of Tax Appeals, in subsequent cases, echoed this decision of the Supreme Court. In CTA AC 217, July 13, 2020, the Court invalidated a local tax deficiency assessment computed based on kilometrage, which is in turn based on income. The taxpayer, being a contractor/service provider should be taxed based on gross receipts.

Similarly, in a recent case (CTA EB 2157, January 07, 2021), the Court declared the assessment void, the deficiency tax assessment having been computed on a tax base (gross value of the taxpayer’s shipments) that is not in accordance with the mandates of the law. As in the other cases, the rules require the businesses in which the taxpayer belongs to pay tax based on gross receipts.

Since the taxpayers involved in these cases were specifically subject to local tax based on their gross receipts in accordance with the rules applicable to them, the Court concluded that the tax base should be the gross receipts of the preceding year and not gross revenue of the preceding year. It was error on the part of the LGU to have computed the business taxes due on the gross revenue. To do so may result in double taxation, where revenue is taxed at the time when the revenue is accrued and again when the selling price is collected.

While the issue on those cases revolved around the differentiation of the gross revenue and gross receipts as the tax base, it emphasizes the rule that local business taxes cannot be imposed on a tax base that is not provided in the law. LGUs could not compute the tax on any other bases, either at the time of the renewal of business licenses or in subsequent examinations, other than those provided in the rules.

While taxes are indeed the lifeblood of the government, the same should not be used as tool to destroy. As justice Holmes said, the power to tax is not the power to destroy while the Court sits. Tax administrators should therefore implement the tax rules for the benefit of both the taxpayers and the government. That is a duty.

They should not wait for the Court to mediate for a tax law to be properly implemented.

The author is the Managing Partner of DuBaladad and Associates Law Offices (BDB Law), a member-firm of WTS Global.

The article is for general information only and is not intended, nor should be construed as a substitute for tax, legal or financial advice on any specific matter. Applicability of this article to any actual or particular tax or legal issue should be supported therefore by a professional study or advice. If you have any comments or questions concerning the article, you may e-mail the author at fulvio.dawilan@ bdblaw.com.ph or call 8403-2001 loc 310.

N

ormally we celebrate milestones—golden wedding anniversary, centennial foundation of an institution, 20,000-career points in basketball, and other outstanding achievements—but not this time. Two million deaths worldwide on Friday, caused by the dreaded coronavirus, is a tragedy of catastrophic proportions. The US has recorded the most number of deaths, which has now reached 400,000, followed by Brazil (210,000) and India (160,000). It took more than nine months since the virus appeared in Wuhan, China for the entire world to reach 1 million deaths, but it took just 3.5 months for the virus to claim another 1 million lives.

In March last year, Trump declared that his government would have done a very good job if it could keep the death toll to 100,000, and he boldly predicted that normality would return in his country by June.

Ten months later, the numbers are still surging and the pandemic remains as the biggest problem of the incoming US administration. Trump is banished from his office but the rampaging coronavirus stays. Crossing the 2-million mark in a little over one year is simply staggering and mind-boggling. That’s more than the total population of many cities and provinces in the Philippines. That is almost four times greater than the 557,000 total deaths, both military and civilian, our country suffered during the Second World War, considered as the deadliest military conflict in history. Covid-19 is definitely one of the worst pandemics. Together with cholera, the Black Death, the Spanish Flu, the bubonic plague and the small pox, these pandemics had killed hundreds of millions of people.

What a scourge to mankind; what a bane to the entire world.

What is deeply concerning is that the virus mutates over time.

Now, we have the new variant, first discovered in the United Kingdom, which is shown to be more contagious than the current strain. It is easily transmissible and spreads faster, although not necessarily more lethal. What is certain is that this new strain will further spike the infections around the world. It was reported that the Philippines now has one confirmed case—a man returning from Dubai was found afflicted with this new variant and is currently under isolation and treatment. If uncontained, our active caseload may go up, which may overburden our hospitals and limited medical facilities. More coronavirus patients may crowd our health-care system around the country and stretch our resources to their limits. Thus, instead of easing our response to the pandemic, our authorities may impose tighter re-

Still, our brightest hope is the arrival of the vaccines. Many countries have already distributed jabs and rolled out massive vaccination programs. Our country, however, is hobbled by serious issues such as funding, selecting the right vaccine, logistics, and people’s resistance to vaccination.

strictions. Heightening the restrictions to adequately respond to the threat will only stymie our efforts to open up our businesses to boost our economy. An added concern: What if the vaccines won’t work against new variants, which may emerge later?

If getting one vaccine is already a logistical nightmare for us, providing the right vaccine for each variant would be unimaginable.

Still, our brightest hope is the arrival of the vaccines. Many countries have already distributed jabs and rolled out massive vaccination programs. Our country, however, is hobbled by serious issues such as funding, selecting the right vaccine, logistics, and people’s resistance to vaccination.

The Senate is still conducting its investigation on the matter and our hope is that the vaccination program will not be politicized. Likewise, we trust that the usual bureaucratic tape will not imperil its roll out. Let’s take our lessons from the experience of other countries. It seems that the US inoculation program leaves much to be desired. Trump promised to have 20 million Americans vaccinated by the end of 2020 but it had only given about 7 million shots. The UK, Canada and many other rich countries failed to hit their targets.

The Philippines should adopt Israel’s inoculation program, which has

already vaccinated 25 percent of its total population in just one month of roll out. I trust that our authorities are fully prepared to launch an intensive, faster and equitable roll out once the vaccines start coming.

The crisis is far from over. Only last week, the US posted the highest number of deaths at 4,400 in one day.

We should continue to be vigilant as ever, if not more. Let’s not get tired of wearing facemasks and shields and constantly observe social distancing.

Washing hands should be regularly practiced and everyone should reduce interaction with people outside their homes and avoid crowds. This virus is vicious and its virulence knows no bounds. My New Year’s wish is for the IATF and our health experts to say that we have tamed the virus and that we can now slowly go back to normal.

As a senior citizen many times over, it depresses me whenever I hear that a colleague, a classmate or a former co-worker died from Covid-19 or related illness. And it wrenches my heart that I cannot even pay my last respect and personally console with the family of my dear departed. Now that the full horror of the pandemic has finally dawned on all of us, we cannot afford to suffer from another disaster that displaces workers from their jobs, distances human beings from their loved ones, decimates people and destroys the economy. We’ve read and learned about lethal events and calamities in the past from history books and we were astounded how such disruptive and destructive events could visit mankind. Actually living through a pandemic and experiencing its horrors in our own lifetime is just unthinkable. We pray that our progeny will be spared from this monumental grief.

Defense challenges await Biden: From Kim Jong Un to budgeting

By Peter Martin | Bloomberg Opinion

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lobal events have a way of forcing presidents to focus on defense—even when they’re reluctant to do so. President-elect Joe Biden is unlikely to be an exception, despite his pledge to zero in on fighting the coronavirus and healing the battered US economy.

Here are defense issues likely to confront Biden—and Lloyd Austin, his nominee for defense secretary, if the retired Army general wins Senate confirmation and a congressional waiver from a law that restricts former military officers from taking the top civilian post:

North Korea

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un may stage missile tests to compel the new president’s attention to his expanding nuclear arsenal, as he did early in Donald J. Trump’s term.

In an initial sign that Kim is determined to force his way onto Biden’s agenda, his regime appeared to stage a military parade this month as part of a party congress that declared the US its “biggest main enemy” and predicted that Washington’s “hostile policy” toward Pyongyang would continue.

President Trump lavished Kim with the attention he craved, veering between threats of unleashing “fire and fury,” imposing “maximum pressure” sanctions and claiming that a “love affair” developed in two unsuccessful summit meetings and one brief handshake along the North Korea-South Korea border. Yet the entire time, Kim was building up his nation’s nuclear arsenal and improving on its missile technology.

Biden has criticized Trump’s “made-for-TV summits” and promised “a sustained, coordinated campaign with our allies and others— including China—to advance our shared objective of a denuclearized North Korea.”

Iran

Tensions between Washington and Tehran are also high as the Trump era ends. Critics had ex-

The military’s role in domestic turmoil remains far from settled.

Critics said the Pentagon was too slow to mobilize the National Guard to end the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, and other Americans may be unnerved by the massive show of force mobilized to head off disruption of Biden’s inauguration. pressed concern that Trump could order a military strike against Iran, and Iran has made so-far unfulfilled pledges to retaliate for the US killing last year of a top general, Qassem Soleimani.

Biden has pledged to return the US to the multinational nuclear accord with Iran that Trump renounced, and then press to expand its reach. But that won’t be easy, as Iran has been breaching limits in the agreement.

Israel is also determined to dissuade the US from returning to the deal.

China, Russia

Trump’s 2017 National Defense Strategy identified “great power competition” with China and Russia as the defining theme for America’s defense policies, supplanting the concentration on international terrorism that followed the September 11 attacks. That focus is unlikely to change under Biden.

Although the new administration will seek to work with China on issues such as climate change, it also will continue efforts to counter the country’s expanding military presence in the contested South China Sea, as well as its frequent military maneuvers around Taiwan. The new administration is likely to continue “freedom of navigation operations” at sea, which carry a risk of direct confrontation, as well as close coop-

eration with US allies such as South Korea and Japan.

Tensions with Russia are also likely to be an early focus after US officials unearthed a sweeping cyber attack on US government and private sector networks for which it holds Russia responsible. US Cyber Command will be central to the military’s efforts to respond to the threat, together with possible sanctions and other retaliatory measures available to Biden.

‘Endless wars’

Although Trump promised to bring American troops home from “endless wars,” Biden will have to weigh the risks involved in extracting remaining US forces from combat zones.

That’s especially true in Afghanistan where, despite a fragile peace accord, an American departure would risk a return to militant rule by the Taliban and potentially a safe haven for terrorist groups including al-Qaeda and Islamic State.

Christopher Miller, Trump’s acting defense secretary, announced on Friday that US troop levels in Afghanistan and Iraq have been drawn down to 2,500 in each country.

Defense spending

While Biden has ruled out calls for major reductions in the military budget, defense spending is nevertheless likely to be flat at best under his administration. Progressive Democrats favor defense cuts in areas such as the US nuclear arsenal to help fund a progressive agenda at home, while fiscal hawks may look to keep spending tight after successive rounds of fiscal stimulus during the pandemic.

Speaking at a virtual event in December, General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Pentagon’s “desired” real growth in spending of 3 percent to 5 percent isn’t likely. He said the Defense Department needs a “reality check” on its likely budgets.

Flat spending will mean tough choices over US military deployments overseas, as well whether to cut back spending on older “legacy” weapons—which have entrenched

congressional cheering sections for the hometown jobs they create—in order to pursue more innovative alternatives such as autonomous vessels and robots. It also will raise doubts about the Trump administration’s plan to add 82 new Navy ships over the next five years, 37 more than previously projected.

Battling Covid-19

The military also will continue to play a major role in the fight against Covid-19.

“The next secretary of defense will need to immediately quarterback an enormous logistics operation to help distribute Covid-19 vaccines widely and equitably,” Biden wrote in a December opinion piece in The Atlantic. He said Austin is especially well-suited to the task because he “oversaw the largest logistical operation undertaken by the Army in six decades—the Iraq drawdown.”

Civilian-military relations

Controversy surrounding Austin’s appointment, and the waiver he’d need, highlights another thorny challenge for Biden: the need to heal civilian-military relations, which are arguably more contentious than at any time since the Vietnam War. During the last year, military leaders resisted Trump’s efforts to call in active-duty troops to quell sometimes-violent protests over racial injustice. But National Guard units played a major role in strifetorn cities.

The military’s role in domestic turmoil remains far from settled.

Critics said the Pentagon was too slow to mobilize the National Guard to end the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, and other Americans may be unnerved by the massive show of force mobilized to head off disruption of Biden’s inauguration.

Within the military, the next defense secretary will face unresolved social justice questions, from the congressionally approved effort to rename military bases named after Confederate heroes to evidence of far-right extremists among the troops and persistent cases of sexual abuse. Bloomberg Opinion

A10 Tuesday, January 19, 2021

BSP, QUINCENTENNIAL BODY LAUNCH LAPU-LAPU BANKNOTE AND MEDAL

T

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas launched on Monday the 5000-Piso LapuLapu Commemorative Banknote and Medal to kickoff the 99-day countdown to the 500th anniversary of the “Victory at Mactan.”

BSP Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Francisco Dakila, Jr. and Senior Assistant Governor Dahlia D. Luna presented the banknote and medal to Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, who received the items on behalf of President Duterte.

On its obverse, the banknote depicts a young Lapu-Lapu, an image of the battle of Mactan, the Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines (QCP) logo, and the Karaok—the large outrigger warships used by native Filipinos.

Mea nwhi le, t he reverse shows the Philippine eagle, or the Manaol, which symbolizes clear vision, freedom, and strength; and which embodies the ancient Visayan belief that all living creatures originated from an eagle.

Also featured are a coconut tree—which was food the people of Samar provided to Ferdinand

Magellan and his crew—and Mount Apo—the mountain where the circumnavigators found directional clues to their intended destination of Maluku or the Spice Island.

The BSP also presented a medal, which features the markings, “Lapulapu” above an image of the Lapu-Lapu Shrine in Cebu; and the logos of the QCP and the BSP on the obverse. Its reverse, meanwhile, shows the markings “Battle of Mactan,” a rendition of the said battle, and the date “27 April 1521.”

“The BSP and NCQ [National Quincentennial Committee] have collaborated on this commemorative banknote and medal to celebrate the heroism of Lapu-Lapu and his warriors, and to familiarize the present generation with the country’s rich pre-colonial history,” said OIC Dakila.

The celebration of the 500th anniversary of Lapu-Lapu’s victory and the special part the Philippines played in the world’s circumnavigation are collectively referred to as the 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines (QCP).

Stronger Amla now closer to enactment

PHL to get ‘fair share’ of 18% remaining global vax supply

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By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

@joveemarie

ATIONAL Task Force Against Covid-19 Chief Implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. vowed on Monday to get a fair share of the remaining 18 percent of the global supply of Covid-19 vaccines.

During the House Committee on Health’s hearing on the government’s vaccination program, Galvez said 80 percent of global supply has gone to rich countries.

“The reality is that more than 80 percent of the global supply has already been pre-procured by rich countries while the 2 percent has been preprocured by Covax [as of December 4],” he said. Covax is the World Health Organizationled facility that is meant to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines around the world.

“So we only have remaining 18 percent. So, we along with other countries are trying their best to

negotiate with different vaccine companies to get a fair share of the vaccines for the remaining 18 percent of global supply,” he added.

According to Galvez, several countries have bought vaccines more than their population, citing Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, United States, Japan, Uzbekistan, Nepal, EU, Mexico, India, Brazil and Russia.

Currently, Galvez said, there is a vaccine shortfall for at least 2 billion people in the world.

“The national government approach is to pool national volumes to get a seat at the negotiating table and to secure the most vaccines at

the best prices,” he added.

Galvez said the government has allocated P82.5 billion for the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines for Filipinos.

‘Pattern of Covid overprice’

Also on Monday, the senator who first sought the hearings to get government to unveil its vaccine roadmap said the two hearings held thus far broke the pattern of overpricing in various Covid-related products, including the price for the Sinovac vaccine.

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said Monday.

“I think this is what happened here. When the Senate started to look into it—I delivered the privilege speech and requested for the Committee of the Whole hearing in December—when the matter was probed, and because of the senators’ questions, the vaccine prices were brought down,” he said, partly in Filipino, in a media interview.

“The price first cited was P3,600 and that came from the Department of Health. It didn’t come from us, it was submitted for a budget debate last December. So that is one good result of this Senate investigation, the price of Sinovac went down,” he added.

Pangilinan said the pattern of

overpriced Covid-related products has been thwarted in previous Senate hearings.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, in a privilege speech Monday, agreed that Pangilinan’s resolution that led to the COW hearings helped expose the seeming overprice of Sinovac.

Pangilinan said decisions on the choice of vaccines should be made on the basis of science.

Efficacy and safety should be the priority, highlighting the significance of relying on medical experts, he added.

First quarter arrival

At the briefing also attended by Health Secretary Francisco Duque, Galvez announced that the first doses of vaccines available for distribution are expected to arrive by the first quarter of this year.

Also, Galvez announced that the Philippines will get 20 million doses from Moderna through a tripartite agreement between the government, privave sector and the US drugmaker.

Currently, the Philippines is negotiating with Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson (Janssen Pharmaceutica), Novavax, AstraZeneca, Sinovac, Gamaleya and Moderna for Covid-19 vaccine.

Continued on A2

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HE Senate, voting 21-0, passed on third reading Monday a reinforced A nt i-Money L au nder i ng A c t (Amla), inching closer to bicameral talks with the House of Representatives to hammer out a reconciled final version of the remedial legislation.

In seeking its early enactment, Senator Grace Poe, principal sponsor of Senate Bill 1945 strengtheing the Amla, said early enactment of the bill updating the existing law is “crucial to the Philippines’s economic comeback in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Poe, who chairs the Committee on Banks, pointed out “there are cracks in our financial institutions that some people have used to their advantage,” adding that “with the Amla amendments, their days are numbered.”

The lawmaker gave assurances that the Amla amendments, as crafted, will confront “emergent risks and challenges facing our financial system and at the same time, protective of the money of the people, including hardearned cash of overseas Filipino workers.”

She added that the awaited legislation will be finalized soon as the Senate and the House of Representatives panels convene a conference committee meeting to hammer out a reconciled final version.

Among others, the remedial legislation updated provisions in the existing law to curb money laundering and terrorist financing activities, including amendments focusing on the “inclusion of offshore gaming operators and service providers introduced as different set of covered persons from casinos.”

Moreover, proponents introduced adopted prov isions dea ling w ith ta x cr imes covered by A mla and their proposed threshold. It also included a section on infor mation secur it y and confidentia lit y,

POE: “Being on the grey list could put Filipino nationals and businesses under tighter scrutiny that could upset investors as it means additional paper costs, paperwork, high interest rates and processing fees.” and a system of incentives and rewards.

The senator said the measure was crafted as “a response to the key findings” of the mutual evaluation report which evaluated the Philippines’s compliance with the 40 recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Money Laundering.

“If we fail to act now, the FATF Asia Pacific Joint Group or APJG will place the Philippines in the so-called ‘grey list’ along with countries like Albania, Pakistan, Panama, Syria, Uganda, and Zimbabwe,” said Poe. She explained that “being on the grey list could put Filipino nationals and businesses under tighter scrutiny that could upset investors as it means additional paper costs, paperwork, high interest rates and processing fees.”

She also noted that the “enhanced due diligence” to be imposed on the Philippines could translate as well to higher costs of remittance for the millions of overseas Filipino workers sending money to their families. “We have come this far in reforming the Amla, for the sake of good governance, transparency and enhanced financial systems. There’s no turning back until we have a stronger law,” said Poe. Butch Fernandez

The city government of Manila has started offering free drive-through swab tests, as national government officials are preparing guidelines for tagging certain parts of the country under a “new normal” tag from the current general community quarantine which covers most parts of the nation. ROY DOMINGO

Finex: Sign FIST bill into law, instead of Cha-cha

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @Tyronepiad

I

NSTEAD of focusing on amending economic provisions of the Constitution, a business group urged the government to pick the “low-hanging fruits” to improve business activities, including enacting the bill aimed at tempering the surge of nonperforming assets (NPAs).

“We respectfully request the President to sign into law the Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer Bill [FIST], which was ratified by Congress before its Christmas break,” Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex) President Francisco ED. Lim said

in a statement on Monday.

The FIST bill allows financial institutions to get rid of their NPAs by selling them to asset management firms or FIST companies. That way, they can attain better management of their debt levels during this pandemic.

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

According to the latest data from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, gross NPL ratio stood at 3.81 percent as of end-November 2020, which is higher than 2.19 percent for the same period in 2019.

The FIST bill is just one of the legislative measures highlighted

by Finex.

“There are low-hanging fruits which Congress can focus on to help the country successfully emerge from the pandemic and make it more attractive to investors,” Lim said, pointing to the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) bill and the Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE) bill.

He said “there are also efforts to put in place a new stimulus package to revive and restore our economy to normalcy.”

CREATE will cut the corporate income tax (CIT) immediately to 25 percent from 30 percent upon

effectivity, bringing it closer to the average of 21.65 percent in the A ssociation of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) region. The CIT will then be reduced further by 1 percentage point every year from 2023 to 2027 until it reaches 20 percent.

GUIDE, meanwhile, proposes a P55-billion budget for Philippine Guarantee Corp., Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines, allowing them to extend more financing to small and medium enterprises.

These are the matters that the government should focus on for now, Finex said, instead of Charter change.

Continued on A2

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Companies BusinessMirror

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

B1

Globe upgrading stations to fast-track shift to 4G

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By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

lobe Telecom Inc. on Monday said it plans to upgrade its existing stations in certain cities in Visayas and Mindanao to 4G sites, as it promotes the use of the technology as the standard for mobile Internet in the Philippines.

Joel Agustin, the company’s SVP for program development, said Globe is replacing its old 3G radio equipment with 5G-ready 4G infrastructure in the cities of Bacolod, Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro. This initiative, he said, will result in “better connectivity to customers because of faster and more advanced technologies.”

“Boosted by the positive feed-

back we received from customers who noted significant improvements in their call, SMS and data services after the site upgrades, we are upgrading more areas with the newest available technology that will respond to their needs better.

We want our customers to make the most of the opportunities that are now available to them through better connectivity,” he said.

So far, Globe has upgraded its

network into 5G-ready 4G infrastructure in 199 cities and towns in Metro Manila, Rizal, Quezon, Albay, Oriental Mindoro, Bataan, Leyte, Agusan del Sur, and Pampanga, among others.

Agustin said his group is fasttracking its shift to 4G this year, as 3G technology is quickly becoming obsolete in the global scene.

This initiative is part of Globe’s three-pronged strategy for network upgrades, which includes aggressive cell site builds; upgrading its cell sites to 4G using many different frequencies; and the fiber migration of Filipino homes nationwide.

Globe has committed to provide “first world Internet” in the Philippines this year.

The telco said in December that it has set its sights on further expanding its services to other underserved areas in Visayas and Midanao.

Globe has undertaken various network modernization activities in Cebu City, Davao City, Cagayan

Ayala Land: AREIT now owns The 30th

By VG Cabuag @villygc

P

roperty developer Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) on Monday said it has completed its deal to transfer the ownership of the The 30th commercial development to its real estate investment trust (REIT) unit, AREIT Inc. Ayala Land transferred the property located in Meralco Avenue in Pasig for P5.1 billion.

The 30th is a commercial building with a total gross leasable area (GLA) of 74,704 square meters composed of a 19-storey office tower with a GLA of 47,871 sq.m. and a 4-storey retail podium with a GLA of 26,833 square meters.

Ayala Land previously owned 54 percent of the The 30th. The development is currently under a 36-year land lease agreement between ALI and the land owner, MBS Development Corp. ALI will assign the land lease contract to AREIT as part of the condition of the sale, it said.

The 30th was completed in 2017.

The office tower currently has an average occupancy of 94 percent.

The office building is predominantly leased to business-process outsourc-

ing firms of about 87 percent of GLA. Standard office lease terms are fixed for a period of 5 years and renewable for another 5 years.

The retail podium is operated by North Eastern Commercial Corp.

(NECC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ayala Land under the Ayala Malls brand. NECC will pay a monthly guaranteed building lease to AREIT for a period of 36 years, in line with the land lease term of the property.

With this transaction, AREIT will not be subjected to volatility risk from retail operations.

Office and mall lease rates are increased annually by 3 percent to 5 percent.

“The disposition of The 30th Commercial Development is part of ALI’s commitment as AREIT’s sponsor to support AREIT’s growth plans. The funds raised will be reinvested by ALI into ongoing and future commercial leasing projects in Metro Manila and other key regions in the Philippines within one year from the date of the receipt of such proceeds,” the company said.

“Furthermore, ALI as shareholder shall be entitled to additional dividends derived from the higher distributable income generated by

AREIT as a result of the transaction.”

AREIT, meanwhile, received multiple international awards and citations in 2020 as the first REIT to list in the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) last year.

The said IPO was named the South East Asia Deal of the Year by FinanceAsia, which commended AREIT’s “determination and dedication to opening the Philippines’s equity market to the REIT sector” in spite of multiple regulatory hurdles.

FinanceAsia considered the listing an important step forward for the PSE as it brought additional liquidity to the market.

The Asset Country Awards 2020 cited AREIT as the Best IPO in the Philippines for breaking barriers as the first ever REIT in the country.

The Asset’s annual Triple A recognition represents the industry’s most prestigious awards for banking, finance, treasury and the capital markets.

The AREIT initial public offering was also instrumental in garnering for Ayala Land the 2020 Best Investor Relations for a Corporate Transaction award in South East Asia from United Kingdom-based IR Magazine.

Solon: Shell should stay listed on PSE

A

lawmaker on Monday said he hoped Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. will remain a public company after it permanently shut down its oil refinery in Batangas.

Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel said in a statement that Shell should remain listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) for the sake of the minority holders, which include state-owned pension funds.

The company, which supplies about a fifth of the petroleum products in the country, has shut down its 58-year-old, 110,000 barrel per day oil refinery in Batangas City.

The company converted it into an oil import terminal.

Pension funds Government Service Insurance System owns 15.82 million shares in Shell or about 5.4 percent, while Social Security System (SSS) holds 7.76 million shares or about 2.6 percent.

The Philippine unit of Royal Dutch Shell plc sold 291 million shares to the public at P67 per share in 2016, in compliance with Republic Act 8479, or the Downstream Oil Industry Regulation Law of 1998.

The law required an entity engaged in the oil refinery business to go public within 3 years from the effectivity of the law or within three years of the start of refinery operations.

“Congress specified the provision pursuant to the mandate of the 1987 Constitution for the state to encourage private enterprises to broaden their base of ownership,” Pimentel said.

“Shell’s case is different because it was compelled by law to go public. It did not voluntarily conduct an IPO [initial public offering]. In fact, we recall that Shell dillydallied about going public and managed to defer its IPO for 14 years only because Congress

did not specify a penalty if oil refiners failed to go public within the prescribed deadline,” he said.

Shell eventually conducted its IPO after the Department of Energy during the Aquino administration called the company’s attention to its delayed listing.

Petron Corp., meanwhile, is already a public company since 1994, or 4 years before the passage of the 1998 law.

Petron has also suspended the operations of its 180,000 barrel per day oil refinery in Limay, Bataan, to minimize losses due to deteriorating margins.

Both companies have found it more profitable to import readyto-use petroleum products into the country, instead of refining crude oil into diesel, gasoline, LPG, jet fuel, fuel oil and kerosene, among others.

Chevron Philippines, meanwhile, has no refinery and just imports its goods. VG Cabuag

de Oro City, Mandaue City, LapuLapu City, Bacolod City, Iloilo City, and Boracay in Aklan.

It has secured a P5-billion loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines to help bankroll the company’s general financing and corporate requirements for capital expenditures, a disclosure to the stock exchange showed.

Globe saw its bottomline dropping by a tenth in January to September 2020, as the pandemic forced consumers and enterprise customers to cut their telco expenses, slightly trimming the company’s revenues.

The telco’s net income stood at P15.89 billion during the period, a 10-percent decline from P17.68 billion the year prior. The 3-percent reduction on its operating costs and sales expenses was not enough to offset the 3-percent decline in operating revenues to P119.59 billion from P123.42 billion as well as the 6-percent increase in depreciation charges to P26.58 billion.

Fruitas sets its sights on doubling revenues

F

ood and beverage kiosk operator Fruitas Holdings Inc. on Monday said it is targeting to increase its income by 5 times and to more than double its revenues through 2025.

The company said it is targeting to record a net income of P500 million within the 5-year period, from the current annual earnings of more than P100 million. Revenues, meanwhile, are expected to jump to about P5 billion from the P2 billion it posted in 2019.

The company said it needs to expand its network to about 2,000 locations by 2025, or double its current number of kiosks and store network.

“We are confident that we will be able to achieve or even exceed our medium-term targets. We have encountered similar challenges in the past and have overcome them by relying on our strengths. We continue to be mindful of near-term risks and fast-evolving client preferences. But we remain nimble to adjust our business model and take advantage of opportunities,” Lester Yu, the company’s president and CEO, said.

For the three quarters of 2020, the company’s revenues reached P628.61 million or just half of the previous

year’s P1.39 billion, as the pandemic took its toll on its operations.

For the same period, it posted a loss of P32.22 million, down from the previous year’s income of P53 million.

Fruitas said it expects a strong rebound this year and said it is targeting to register an average annual revenue growth of 30 percent to 40 percent every year through 2025.

“Fruitas intends to mirror the revenue growth trajectory from 2015 to 2019 when it grew revenues from P310 million in 2015 to P1.95 billion in 2019. It also aims to increase net margin from around 6 percent in 2019 to 10 percent by 2025,” the company said.

To do this, the company said it needs to fortify and seize leadership positions in other product segments, innovate on existing products, venture into both new products and geographical regions, expand its network of kiosks and stores and sharpen existing processes to increase margins.

Fruitas earlier said it has allocated between P240 million to P270 million in capital expenditures this year, a chunk of which will be used for its expansion and acquisition of another firm. VG Cabuag

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Companies BusinessMirror

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

January 18, 2021

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

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

43.65 109.5 84.45 25.5 7.4 10.38 48.3 11.24 22.25 27.85 55.5 18.78 135.9 70.5 0.96 4.25 4.34 6.94 1.64 0.45 900 0.79 152.5 2,190 1.02

43.9 109.6 84.7 25.6 8.5 10.4 48.5 11.5 22.3 27.9 55.6 19 136 71 0.99 4.27 4.36 7.3 1.66 0.46 995 0.82 154 2,200 1.07

43.65 111.4 85.3 25.6 7.31 10.34 49.05 11.78 22.3 27.95 55.65 18.88 137.5 70 1 4.75 4.6 6.94 1.69 0.45 890 0.81 153 2,188 1.02

43.9 111.4 85.3 25.75 8.5 10.5 49.1 11.78 22.5 28 55.65 19 137.5 71.5 1 4.75 4.61 6.94 1.69 0.49 900 0.82 154 2,190 1.06

43.55 109 83.95 25.5 7.31 10.34 48 11.5 22.25 27.8 55.5 18.5 134 70 0.96 4.16 4.3 6.94 1.6 0.44 890 0.8 152.5 2,188 1.02

43.9 109.5 84.7 25.5 8.5 10.38 48.5 11.5 22.25 27.9 55.5 18.9 136 71 0.99 4.25 4.36 6.94 1.66 0.46 900 0.82 152.5 2,190 1.06

4,400 192,135 2,232,160 244,437,455 1,862,870 157,648,462.50 64,900 1,662,985 400 3,281 509,200 5,293,412 2,661,800 128,323,615 300 3,478 1,200 26,820 210,700 5,884,105 1,570 87,263.50 76,100 1,433,148 598,340 80,950,983 9,190 648,024 135,000 133,420 1,455,000 6,265,860 584,000 2,579,590 600 4,164 495,000 801,820 2,750,000 1,263,350 1,370 1,227,920 379,000 303,950 1,580 242,623 460 1,007,370 10,000 10,240

INDUSTRIAL

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

6.55 1.32 26.3 1.86 31.9 81.2 295 16.48 3.75 3.7 11.78 20.4 9.92 13.5 7.62 3.3 70.85 15.02 18.2 8.43 7.3 9.94 67.5 0.64 1.73 51.75 192.5 39.8 6.79 0.495 7.56 1.23 4.59 1.75 0.14 155.4 0.94 2.31 53 55.2 1.43 5.85 13.72 7.33 6.65 8.14 9.7 1.96 1.54 139 1.85 2.3 4.37 4.44 5.3 21.85 3.07 9.27 1.49 6 1.47 7.25

6.56 1.33 26.35 1.87 32 81.5 297 16.5 3.8 3.74 11.96 20.45 9.93 14.78 7.74 3.38 76.8 15.5 18.24 8.44 7.31 9.95 68.2 0.65 1.77 52 194 39.85 6.83 0.5 7.59 1.27 4.77 1.76 0.143 158.6 0.95 2.4 54.9 59 1.44 5.95 13.9 7.39 6.66 8.15 9.8 1.97 1.55 140 1.88 2.35 4.6 4.52 5.38 22 3.08 9.3 1.5 6.05 1.5 7.27

6.49 1.39 26.15 1.55 32 81.9 297 16.76 3.85 3.64 11.8 20.3 9.98 13.3 7.75 3.38 71.1 14.52 18.5 8.03 7.4 9.9 68 0.64 1.75 51.95 194.1 40.7 6.85 0.41 7.65 1.24 4.77 1.76 0.141 156.3 0.95 2.31 54.95 55 1.47 5.45 14 7.3 7.06 8.07 9.7 2.25 1.22 130 1.9 2.4 4.36 4.52 5.21 22 3.05 9.2 1.31 6.34 1.46 7.21

6.75 1.42 26.6 2.03 32 81.9 297 16.76 3.87 3.74 12.1 20.6 10 13.3 7.8 3.38 76.8 16.3 18.5 8.44 7.4 9.95 68.4 0.64 1.79 52 194.1 40.7 7.02 0.57 7.65 1.27 4.77 1.76 0.143 158.6 0.96 2.4 54.95 55.2 1.47 5.85 14 7.34 7.08 8.18 9.7 2.25 1.58 140 1.9 2.4 4.6 4.52 5.31 22 3.2 9.47 1.68 6.34 1.53 7.52

6.44 1.3 26.15 1.45 31.1 81.5 293 16.5 3.75 3.6 11.72 20.3 9.92 13.3 7.56 3.3 71.1 14.52 18.2 7.89 7.3 9.82 66.95 0.64 1.73 51.5 191 39 6.78 0.38 7.55 1.21 4.59 1.75 0.132 154.8 0.93 2.3 52.4 55 1.42 5.45 13.6 7.3 6.56 8.01 9.65 1.8 1.22 130 1.87 2.25 4.25 4.52 5.21 21.85 3.05 9.2 1.31 5.55 1.45 7.16

6.55 1.32 26.35 1.86 32 81.5 297 16.5 3.75 3.74 11.96 20.4 9.93 13.3 7.74 3.38 76.8 15.02 18.2 8.43 7.31 9.95 68.2 0.64 1.77 52 194 39.8 6.79 0.5 7.56 1.27 4.59 1.75 0.143 158.6 0.94 2.4 53 55.2 1.43 5.85 13.9 7.33 6.66 8.14 9.65 1.97 1.54 139 1.87 2.3 4.6 4.52 5.3 22 3.08 9.27 1.5 6.05 1.5 7.25

27,582,600 3,924,000 1,540,300 870,821,000 306,200 38,650 232,290 761,600 1,862,000 275,000 58,300 141,400 167,900 300 1,053,700 889,000 130 45,100 1,022,800 171,700 3,668,200 1,150,500 281,340 687,000 28,832,000 137,970 695,290 6,000 472,100 163,240,000 103,000 6,493,000 5,000 55,000 3,460,000 284,010 5,798,000 10,000 1,000 550 8,192,000 121,100 84,800 173,100 3,706,300 1,255,400 34,900 10,718,000 37,149,000 290 96,000 1,960,000 408,000 4,000 63,500 13,400 16,067,000 628,500 17,617,000 7,700 2,024,000 11,191,100

50,813,445 29,885,950 -259,854 -25,301,330 159,555 174,158.00 -12,933,862 -127,000 -914,830 95,480 322,000 -71,250 436,000 -157,080 -

180,324,676 5,366,670 40,525,195 1,560,450,630 9,741,015 3,153,954 68,682,148 12,614,202 7,062,400 1,016,480 691,404 2,882,355 1,670,537 3,990 8,037,527 2,979,570 9,813 708,922 18,652,072 1,408,663 26,849,521 11,353,092 19,108,280.50 439,680 50,946,470 7,173,696 133,919,214 237,485 3,233,283 79,786,450 780,778 8,064,920 23,130 96,750 484,690 44,756,183 5,446,110 23,270 52,968.50 30,326 11,825,540 683,955 1,172,702 1,265,636 25,043,529 10,176,902 337,535 21,645,910 55,022,250 40,246 180,420 4,544,440 1,778,450 18,080 336,183 293,875 50,355,650 5,832,081 26,564,630 46,569 3,010,420 81,599,600

26,502,216 -145,600 -15,126,535 297,210 1,266,515 -1,541,910.50 -10,704,414 -577,046 -953,250 358,900 -173,125 3,992 -86,359 -96,610 1,127,582.00 -7,317 -6,435,074 -661,650 1,617,026.50 343,300 4,263,546 -50,993,288 -46,859 -7,974,200 450,938 3,221,630 -1,849,561 425,940 -37,630 51,234 -106,739 4,314,695.00 24,940 -251,060.00 -4,920.00 -4,600 -201,400 -114,650 -2,079,180 -81,221 -262,210 -78,860 -625,810

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL 0.9 0.91 0.76 0.9 0.76 0.9 233,515,000 192,887,450 8.87 9 8.94 9 8.87 9 124,500 1,107,064 ASIABEST GROUP 823 825 819.5 828.5 812 825 149,190 122,533,170 AYALA CORP 45.45 45.5 47 47 45.35 45.5 851,800 38,782,135 ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL 10.08 10.16 10.4 10.4 10.02 10.16 2,390,500 24,122,278 AYALA LAND LOG 2.88 2.9 3.05 3.05 2.85 2.9 9,911,000 29,179,590 ANSCOR 6.55 6.78 6.78 6.78 6.55 6.55 7,600 51,344 1.13 1.14 0.92 1.28 0.92 1.13 83,836,000 94,007,560 ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.88 0.89 0.92 0.92 0.87 0.89 8,270,000 7,402,400 ATN HLDG A 0.88 0.91 0.91 0.91 0.88 0.91 581,000 519,480 ATN HLDG B COSCO CAPITAL 5.41 5.45 5.4 5.47 5.32 5.45 1,807,500 9,720,070 DMCI HLDG 5.36 5.37 5.44 5.44 5.35 5.37 6,570,300 35,391,332 FILINVEST DEV 8.73 8.8 9.06 9.07 8.8 8.8 66,100 590,688 3.14 3.38 3.38 3.39 3.38 3.39 8,000 27,090 FJ PRINCE A 0.226 0.239 0.24 0.24 0.222 0.239 370,000 87,790 FORUM PACIFIC 561 570 568 570 554 570 137,980 77,601,895 GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV 3.89 3.97 3.96 3.97 3.96 3.97 24,000 95,260 JG SUMMIT 73 73.85 73.9 73.9 72.35 73.85 687,820 50,470,683.50 KEPPEL HLDG A 5.1 5.99 5.3 6 5.3 5.99 44,500 257,379 5.01 6.06 4 6.22 4 4.5 5,200 27,340 KEPPEL HLDG B 1.13 1.14 1.11 1.18 1.11 1.14 12,008,000 13,519,590 LODESTAR 3.71 3.72 3.71 3.72 3.7 3.72 245,000 907,850 LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP 13.34 13.5 13.5 13.5 13.2 13.5 752,700 10,073,312 MABUHAY HLDG 0.54 0.55 0.55 0.56 0.54 0.55 1,261,000 691,530 1.8 1.88 1.8 1.9 1.8 1.9 13,000 23,700 MJC INVESTMENTS 4.36 4.38 4.44 4.44 4.31 4.38 15,706,000 68,571,940 METRO PAC INV 6.2 6.22 5.95 6.6 4.9 6.2 2,632,000 15,239,090 PACIFICA HLDG 0.89 0.9 0.94 0.94 0.89 0.9 173,000 158,090 PRIME MEDIA 1.16 1.21 1.16 1.21 1.16 1.21 73,000 87,180 SOLID GROUP SYNERGY GRID 310 315 313 320 300 310 1,990 614,810 SM INVESTMENTS 1,047 1,050 1,051 1,053 1,043 1,050 328,055 344,288,525 SAN MIGUEL CORP 125.7 125.8 125 126 125 125.7 262,170 32,834,717 1.05 1.06 0.91 1.05 0.89 1.05 6,555,000 6,424,210 SOC RESOURCES 136 140 136 140 136 140 3,890 542,540 TOP FRONTIER 0.231 0.239 0.237 0.24 0.225 0.239 340,000 79,400 WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG 0.27 0.275 0.245 0.275 0.222 0.27 41,330,000 10,441,810

-2,597,270 -12,063,650 -10,544,160 -9,101,548.00 -287,300 5,240 -749,710 -22,450 4,724,939 3,702,944 97,300 -12,074,065 -7,920 -27,158,981 -111,720.00 7,440 -3,241,968 -11,612,200 -407,480 -45,020 3,000 -65,952,360 -11,320,216 17,640 372,330

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.75 0.76 0.7 0.77 0.67 0.75 6,150,000 4,522,580 39.65 39.7 40 40.05 39.2 39.65 8,178,000 324,163,915 AYALA LAND 1.43 1.49 1.49 1.51 1.36 1.43 168,000 237,440 ARANETA PROP 30.85 30.9 30.1 30.9 30.1 30.85 510,700 15,618,175 AREIT RT BELLE CORP 1.68 1.69 1.7 1.7 1.68 1.68 1,361,000 2,287,410 1.01 1.02 1 1.01 0.97 1.01 7,284,000 7,263,170 A BROWN CITYLAND DEVT 0.78 0.81 0.79 0.81 0.77 0.77 189,000 149,520 0.169 0.17 0.159 0.175 0.155 0.17 37,440,000 6,215,230 CROWN EQUITIES 5.6 5.85 5.89 5.9 5.85 5.85 88,300 520,879 CEBU HLDG 5.22 5.27 5.3 5.39 5.17 5.27 1,607,200 8,401,098 CEB LANDMASTERS CENTURY PROP 0.465 0.47 0.465 0.47 0.455 0.47 11,310,000 5,247,500 CYBER BAY 0.41 0.415 0.4 0.42 0.39 0.41 18,220,000 7,474,250 DOUBLEDRAGON 14.4 14.42 14.68 14.68 14.34 14.42 1,532,200 22,161,902 7.17 7.2 7.5 7.5 7.15 7.2 149,200 1,077,000 DM WENCESLAO 0.325 0.33 0.33 0.34 0.32 0.33 2,920,000 961,950 EMPIRE EAST 0.09 0.091 0.087 0.09 0.087 0.09 1,400,000 124,940 EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND 1.12 1.13 1.13 1.14 1.11 1.13 6,217,000 6,963,770 GLOBAL ESTATE 0.88 0.89 0.87 0.89 0.87 0.89 629,000 558,480 7.61 7.91 7.92 7.92 7.6 7.6 16,600 128,648 8990 HLDG 1.41 1.42 1.4 1.43 1.39 1.42 2,960,000 4,158,960 PHIL INFRADEV 0.73 0.76 0.76 0.76 0.73 0.73 72,000 53,190 CITY AND LAND 4.2 4.28 4.2 4.28 4.18 4.28 16,681,000 70,763,870 MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED 0.75 0.76 0.75 0.77 0.72 0.76 197,694,000 148,126,790 PHIL ESTATES 0.39 0.41 0.42 0.42 0.41 0.41 90,000 37,500 1.42 1.43 1.44 1.45 1.41 1.42 699,000 995,690 PRIMEX CORP 21.4 21.45 21.5 21.7 21.05 21.4 3,463,300 73,946,080 ROBINSONS LAND 0.33 0.34 0.325 0.35 0.325 0.34 1,250,000 420,750 PHIL REALTY 1.63 1.64 1.63 1.63 1.6 1.63 1,900,000 3,088,730 ROCKWELL 2.68 2.69 2.69 2.69 2.68 2.68 25,000 67,150 SHANG PROP STA LUCIA LAND 2.45 2.57 2.64 2.66 2.41 2.57 6,465,000 16,484,380 SM PRIME HLDG 39.1 39.2 39.4 39.5 39 39.2 8,206,200 321,637,970 VISTAMALLS 4.22 4.29 4.33 4.33 4.15 4.3 63,000 264,250 2.4 2.41 2.21 2.44 2.1 2.4 11,368,000 25,830,550 SUNTRUST HOME 4.7 4.71 4.75 4.75 4.61 4.7 2,576,000 12,048,050 VISTA LAND

88,840 -194,582,140 -21,450 4,176,000 -10,100 52,800 -502,090 272,299 41,850 -584,000 -147,526 9,600 1,471,890.00 -243,810 12,355,180 4,578,100 -46,233,960 -918,930 24,120 37,860 -128,875,670 79,450 516,360 3,093,580

SERVICES ABS CBN 14.3 14.32 14 14.52 14 14.32 1,697,700 24,228,864 6 6.01 6.02 6.05 6 6.01 404,700 2,433,602 GMA NETWORK 0.47 0.48 0.475 0.5 0.46 0.475 2,150,000 1,025,000 MANILA BULLETIN 11.5 12.2 11.5 12.2 11.5 12.2 300 3,520 MLA BRDCASTING GLOBE TELECOM 2,098 2,100 2,102 2,118 2,100 2,100 25,090 52,777,130 PLDT 1,451 1,460 1,460 1,460 1,441 1,460 36,055 52,429,795 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.305 0.31 0.32 0.32 0.29 0.305 1,958,890,000 597,827,550 15.64 15.66 15.7 15.72 15.6 15.66 2,873,300 44,983,104 CONVERGE 4.92 4.99 5.1 5.15 4.91 4.99 1,447,500 7,189,780 DFNN INC 11.9 11.92 12.08 12.08 11.9 11.9 28,055,300 335,154,576 DITO CME HLDG IMPERIAL 2.01 2.1 2.2 2.2 1.83 2.1 188,000 390,590 ISLAND INFO 0.26 0.265 0.24 0.295 0.215 0.265 187,080,000 46,587,180 JACKSTONES 1.96 2 1.99 2.03 1.94 2 177,000 351,570 3.91 3.93 4 4 3.88 3.93 8,431,000 33,102,180 NOW CORP 0.5 0.51 0.56 0.64 0.45 0.51 609,216,000 326,510,300 TRANSPACIFIC BR 2.9 2.91 2.95 2.96 2.9 2.91 976,000 2,846,470 PHILWEB 2GO GROUP 9.05 9.1 9 9.05 8.9 9.05 67,000 600,766 ASIAN TERMINALS 14.54 14.92 14.6 14.96 14.6 14.92 3,700 55,072 4.86 4.87 4.95 4.95 4.8 4.86 4,042,000 19,709,880 CHELSEA 49.5 49.6 49 49.6 48.8 49.5 484,700 23,840,740 CEBU AIR 126.4 127 126.9 128 125.4 127 867,470 110,456,562 INTL CONTAINER 15.52 15.98 16 16 15.52 15.52 21,200 337,568 LBC EXPRESS LORENZO SHIPPNG 1.03 1.06 1.03 1.08 1.03 1.06 625,000 646,890 6.29 6.3 6.33 6.34 6.26 6.29 3,121,500 19,627,250 MACROASIA METROALLIANCE A 3.2 3.21 3.85 3.85 3.2 3.21 6,151,000 21,259,200 3.1 3.4 3.5 3.5 3.1 3.37 68,000 227,400 METROALLIANCE B 6.75 6.76 6.84 7 6.75 6.75 44,700 305,872 PAL HLDG 1.62 1.63 1.56 1.64 1.56 1.62 6,823,000 11,015,800 HARBOR STAR 1.5 1.55 1.55 1.55 1.5 1.55 8,000 12,300 ACESITE HOTEL BOULEVARD HLDG 0.05 0.051 0.046 0.051 0.046 0.05 377,400,000 18,519,100 DISCOVERY WORLD 2.82 2.99 3.2 3.2 2.74 2.82 196,000 578,070 0.58 0.59 0.59 0.61 0.58 0.59 17,068,000 10,113,380 WATERFRONT 6.57 7.1 6.53 6.53 6.5 6.5 40,300 262,095 CENTRO ESCOLAR 560 580 580 580 580 580 40 23,200 FAR EASTERN U 8.17 8.91 8.17 8.17 8.17 8.17 3,500 28,595 IPEOPLE STI HLDG 0.455 0.46 0.445 0.455 0.435 0.455 11,170,000 4,981,200 BERJAYA 5.4 5.6 5.5 5.51 5.4 5.4 114,300 623,349 8.08 8.18 8.16 8.18 7.93 8.18 2,879,600 23,157,154 BLOOMBERRY 2.08 2.14 2.11 2.11 2.11 2.11 51,000 107,610 PACIFIC ONLINE 1.9 1.91 1.81 1.9 1.81 1.9 1,565,000 2,895,980 LEISURE AND RES 3.07 3.08 3.23 3.26 3.04 3.07 19,736,000 61,435,080 PH RESORTS GRP PREMIUM LEISURE 0.52 0.53 0.51 0.52 0.5 0.52 16,104,000 8,248,010 PHIL RACING 6.7 7 6.7 7 6.7 6.7 62,000 415,700 8.91 9.09 9.14 9.14 8.86 9.09 3,058,100 27,532,560 ALLHOME 1.43 1.44 1.46 1.46 1.42 1.43 3,693,000 5,311,520 METRO RETAIL 37.75 37.8 38.5 38.55 37.75 37.75 3,775,700 143,905,220 PUREGOLD 63 63.2 63.05 63.1 62.6 63 2,201,120 138,674,423.50 ROBINSONS RTL PHIL SEVEN CORP 119 119.5 119.8 119.8 116.3 119 21,590 2,568,584 SSI GROUP 1.48 1.49 1.5 1.5 1.48 1.48 4,755,000 7,077,690 WILCON DEPOT 17.3 17.32 17.7 17.7 17.04 17.32 5,624,600 97,632,372 APC GROUP 0.53 0.54 0.48 0.54 0.48 0.53 38,010,000 19,591,650 7.95 8.1 8.65 8.65 7.6 7.95 294,700 2,357,999 EASYCALL 435 450 450 450 430.2 450 1,430 632,448 GOLDEN BRIA 5.7 6 6 6 5.7 6 12,100 72,330 IPM HLDG PRMIERE HORIZON 2.86 2.87 2.89 2.95 2.75 2.86 100,915,000 288,824,820 SBS PHIL CORP 5.3 5.46 5.48 5.48 5.26 5.28 31,100 164,888

-7,374,640 -4,271,540 2,458,300 12,356,392 1,060,498 -4,757,284 -11,000 578,740 -109,650 -5,517,525 118,000 144,680 1,141,000 15,905,245 29,193,809 -1,902,469 -23,590 104,400 92,100 136,800 -1,863,000 -4,362,726 246,300 615,770 280,710 2,688,942 56,730 -4,949,640 8,092,510.50 16,772 37,320 -22,165,512 -544,400 24,450 -51,840 6,159,490 -

MINING & OIL ATOK 7.51 7.59 8 8 7.5 7.51 2,587,000 19,823,376 -531,370 1.73 1.74 1.81 1.81 1.7 1.73 20,969,000 36,452,700 -1,489,300 APEX MINING 0.0076 - 0.0055 0.0076 0.0048 0.0076 144,655,000,000 909,039,700 1,571,300 ABRA MINING ATLAS MINING 6.71 6.78 6.82 6.83 6.71 6.71 502,600 3,395,199 -675,860 BENGUET A 3.13 3.29 3.13 3.32 3.13 3.3 155,000 495,910 3.05 3.2 3.12 3.2 3.12 3.2 5,000 15,680 -3,120 BENGUET B 0.35 0.355 0.315 0.385 0.305 0.35 20,970,000 7,312,100 -36,800 COAL ASIA HLDG 2.85 2.9 2.94 2.94 2.83 2.9 69,000 199,470 159,080 CENTURY PEAK 8.58 8.76 8.79 8.79 8.59 8.76 5,700 49,568 -22,788.00 DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL 2.94 2.95 3.04 3.04 2.9 2.94 8,802,000 25,909,980 4,491,170 GEOGRACE 0.405 0.41 0.4 0.43 0.4 0.405 5,440,000 2,238,950 0.171 0.172 0.163 0.173 0.162 0.171 98,780,000 16,731,440 LEPANTO A 0.17 0.171 0.165 0.173 0.165 0.171 6,980,000 1,174,480 200,520 LEPANTO B 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 0.01 0.012 1,328,000,000 14,731,300 MANILA MINING A 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 0.01 0.011 201,000,000 2,221,600 MANILA MINING B MARCVENTURES 1.78 1.79 1.88 1.89 1.77 1.78 2,831,000 5,141,690 -21,530 NIHAO 3.26 3.35 3.35 3.45 3.24 3.35 656,000 2,147,190 5.62 5.63 5.77 5.77 5.55 5.62 4,729,300 26,537,437 -694,406 NICKEL ASIA 0.42 0.425 0.42 0.42 0.4 0.42 710,000 290,100 OMICO CORP 1.29 1.3 1.39 1.4 1.25 1.29 16,141,000 21,095,550 11,100 ORNTL PENINSULA 4.88 4.89 5 5 4.82 4.88 3,422,800 16,728,901 -1,771,076 PX MINING SEMIRARA MINING 13.48 13.64 13.76 13.76 13.42 13.64 1,443,100 19,546,116 1,319,914 UNITED PARAGON 0.0089 0.009 0.0075 0.0098 0.0071 0.0089 768,000,000 6,563,100 -77,100 ACE ENEXOR 17.5 17.56 16.52 18.3 16.52 17.56 1,504,000 26,348,358 -656,382 ORNTL PETROL A 0.019 0.02 0.015 0.021 0.014 0.02 8,065,500,000 146,132,100 0.019 - 0.014 0.019 0.014 0.019 2,070,500,000 35,293,500 -7,584,200 ORNTL PETROL B 0.019 - 0.014 0.019 0.014 0.019 6,191,000,000 106,624,100 14,300,800 PHILODRILL 11.7 11.74 12.2 12.34 11.5 11.7 2,433,200 28,538,456 1,537,768.00 PXP ENERGY

PREFFERED ALCO PREF B 101.3 104 101.2 101.2 101.2 101.2 420 42,504 511.5 513.5 511.5 511.5 511.5 511.5 400 204,600 AC PREF B2R 12.6 - 27 27 27 27 200 5,400 BC PREF A 101.1 101.5 101 101.1 101 101.1 9,570 966,575 105,040 DD PREF FGEN PREF G 108.1 111.8 108.2 108.2 108.2 108.2 400 43,280 517 519 519 519 519 519 50 25,950 GLO PREF P 1,018 1,039 1,018 1,018 1,018 1,018 5 5,090 GTCAP PREF A 101.2 102.3 101.9 101.9 101.1 101.1 1,140 115,352 -101,190 MWIDE PREF 100.1 100.8 100.7 100.7 100 100 210 21,070 MWIDE PREF 2A 101 101.8 101.8 101.8 101.8 101.8 900 91,620 MWIDE PREF 2B PNX PREF 3B 104 104.9 104.5 104.9 104.5 104.9 1,150 120,195 -114,950 PNX PREF 4 1,008 1,010 1,010 1,010 1,006 1,008 7,540 7,591,690 1,006 1,019 1,019 1,019 1,016 1,019 45 45,825 PCOR PREF 2B 1,088 1,090 1,090 1,090 1,090 1,090 320 348,800 PCOR PREF 3A 1,093 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,100 75 82,500 PCOR PREF 3B 1.52 1.67 1.5 1.68 1.5 1.68 3,000 4,680 SFI PREF SMC PREF 2C 78 78.6 78.6 78.6 78 78 6,160 480,691 -11,872.50 SMC PREF 2F 78 78.1 78 78.1 78 78.1 3,400 265,400 75.9 76 76 76 76 76 1,710 129,960 SMC PREF 2G 76.2 77 77 77 77 77 4,600 354,200 SMC PREF 2H 77 78.75 78.8 78.8 78.8 78.8 100 7,880 SMC PREF 2I 76.3 76.4 76.3 76.3 76.2 76.3 12,160 927,472 SMC PREF 2J SMC PREF 2K 76.1 76.25 76.1 76.25 76.1 76.25 69,940 5,332,445

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 13.9 14 12.7 13.9 12.7 13.9 128,500 1,751,018 5.95 6.05 6.09 6.09 6.03 6.03 400 2,430 - GMA HLDG PDR

WARRANTS LR WARRANT 0.97 0.99 1.01 1.01 0.95 0.99 690,000 674,210 -34,650

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ALTUS PROP 17 17.1 13.48 17.1 13.48 17 5,540,400 87,623,436 17,994 3.6 3.61 3.79 3.79 3.6 3.6 7,228,000 26,598,190 398,080 ITALPINAS 6.1 6.14 6.15 6.15 6.1 6.14 74,700 457,616 KEPWEALTH 3.2 3.4 3.2 3.46 3.2 3.2 114,000 390,800 MAKATI FINANCE MERRYMART 7.79 7.8 8.15 8.25 7.75 7.8 47,999,900 381,652,358 -767,793

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

FIRST METRO ETF 108.7 109 109.4 109.4 108.3 108.7 14,340 1,558,642 139,196

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Meralco to relax disconnection rule, but Hontiveros wants ‘surcharges’ reviewed

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By Butch Fernandez

@butchfBM

enator Risa Hontiveros on Monday hailed Meralco’s move to relax rules on disconnection of its delinquent customers even as the opposition lawmaker pressed for a review of additional “surcharges” being passed on to its power consumers.

The opposition senator stressed “there must be a comprehensive review of these surcharges being shouldered by consumers,” zeroing in on the controversial 15 percent weighted average cost of capital (WACC) the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) granted to the State

Grid of China and its local partners in the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

Pointing out this is “nearly double the 8-percent average global standard in terms of transmission rate,” Hontiveros asserted that power suppliers and NGCP “must share the

burden of utmost sacrifice especially when the economy is gearing towards recovery.”

In a statement, she suggested that “perhaps our power firms should share a bigger part of the burden since they continue to enjoy higher return on investment and remain profitable even during the pandemic.”

The senator recalled that in 2019, the combined revenue of power generation suppliers ballooned to nearly P360-billion, expecting this to “continuously increase” until 2040, as she cited the 2017 total earnings of power generation, transmission and distribution suppliers added up to P897-billion.

Moreover, Hontiveros noted the NGCP was able to divide among its shareholders P188 billion in corporate dividends just 10 years into their 25-year contract to operate the power transmission system.

The lawmaker lamented that

apart from getting hit by higher electric bills, electric consumers are getting whacked by unemployment and high cost of basic commodities.

“Bukod sa latay ng mataas na singil sa kuryente, hinahambalos din ng unemployment at mataas na bilihin ang mga konsyumer.”

She stressed it is “unfair to sink in debt power consumers” striving to pay their electric bills, suggesting that the Duterte administration and the entire energy sector can work together to fix power rates within reach of ordinary consumers. (“Hindi patas na lulubog sa utang ang ordinaryong konsyumer na nagpupursigeng maitawid ang mga bayarin. Sana ay magtulungan ang pamahalaan at ang buong energy sector para mas maging abot-kaya ang singil sa kuryente. Sa panahong ito, unahin natin ang kapakanan ng Pamilyang Pilipino.”)

Buyout of SN Power gets PCC nod

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales @alyasjah

A

Norwegian energy firm that has just entered the Philippine market has secured clearance from the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) to acquire a firm engaged in the generation of green power.

The PCC last week approved the acquisition by Scatec Solar ASA of 100 percent shares in SN Power AS maintained by the Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries (Norfund). In authorizing the buyout, the agency concluded competition in the renewable energy generation and power supply markets will be sustained in spite of the transaction.

The PCC said there is no horizontal or vertical relationship between the acquiring party and the acquired firm, including the entities they operate.

With the PCC clearance, Scatec Solar and SN Power can now execute their transaction valued at $1.16 billion. As for the antitrust regulator, the buyout marked its first approved acquisition for the year, and in compliance with the new threshold of P50 billion, about $1 billion, set under the second Bayanihan to Recover As One Act. Prior to the acquisition, Scatec Solar maintained zero operations in the Philippines, but is involved in developing, building and running renewable energy power plants around the world.

Based in Oslo, it is respected for its investments in green energy firms in developing markets. In October it decided to purchase SN Power as

part of its goal to improve capacity to 1.9 gigawatts across four continents by this year.

SN Power develops, puts up and operates hydropower plants in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Norfund, who owns SN Power before Scatec bought it, is tasked by the Norwegian government to support sustainable ventures in developing economies by granting equity capital or extending loans and guarantees.

In the Philippines, SN Power manages at least a dozen power plants.

SN Power is present in the ManilaOslo Renewable Enterprise Inc., as well as in SNAP entities, namely in, SN Aboitiz Power-Magat Inc.; SNAPProjects Inc.; SNAP-Benguet Inc.; SNAP-Hydro Inc.; SNAP-Renewables Inc.; Snap-RES Inc.; SNAP-Ifugao Inc.; SNAP-Greenfield Inc.; SNAPGeneration Inc.; SNAP-Cordillera Inc.; SNAP-Energy Inc.; and Neptune Hydro Inc. Even though SNAP firms are operated through a joint venture with Aboitiz Renewables Inc., the shares bought by Scatec Solar only cover those of SN Power. As such, SN Power’s interests in Norfund will be replaced by Scatec, the PCC made clear.

Likewise, Scatec will accumulate 100 percent of the Norfund shares in SN Power, rendering the financier to quit all of its business interests in the Philippines.

The PCC disclosed the Scatec Solar-SN Power transaction was the 208th it approved in terms of mergers and acquisitions. The agency is required under the competition law to evaluate how buyouts will affect the competition in their respective markets.

ExxonMobil taps McKupler as sole distributor in PHL

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xxonMobil, the American oil and gas company, has appointed McKupler Inc. as the sole distributor for Mobil-branded commercial and consumer lubricants in the Philippines.

In addition to its existing role as the distributor of Mobil-branded consumer lubricants, McKupler will expand its portfolio to take on distributorship of commercial lubricants. This will allow the distributor to fully integrate the Mobil product offerings and services to cater to Philippine consumers and industrial sectors.

“Through this commercial arrangement between ExxonMobil and McKupler Inc., we remain committed to serving customers and the motoring community in the Philippines. This expanded relationship enables a truly seamless experience as well as the supply continuity and lubricant technology that customers have come to associate with the Mobil brand. We look forward to working with McKupler to provide customers with the high

quality of products and lubrication solutions they deserve,” Yap Peng Ann, senior director, South Asia Pacific Lubricants, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific, said in a statement.

McKupler is a joint venture company established

by Kupler Industries Inc. of the Philippines and McLarens Lubricants Limited of Sri Lanka, which brings a cumulative experience of 60 years within the lubricant industry along with a wealth of knowledge in advances both technological and technical.

“With decades of experience and expertise with the Philippines market, we are pleased to connect with customers via our extended network, offering easy access to the high-quality Mobil lubricants and lubrication solutions that cater to their needs. We are confident that this commercial arrangement between ExxonMobil and McKupler Inc. will enable us to deliver an exceptional and customer-first experience,” Efren D. Marquez, the company’s president, said. VG Cabuag

mutual funds

January 18, 2021

NAV One Year Three Year Five Year Y-T-D per share Return* Return Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a 230.06 -7.16% -8.55% -0.13% 1.25% ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. - a 1.3267 0.1% -6.77% 5.24% 1.04% ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.1701 -9.01% -12.44% -1.18% 1.18% Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.8085 -7.12% -7.21% n.a.

0.57% First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7451 -10.62% n.a. n.a.

0.47% First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a 5.0116 -4.02% -6.67% 0.67% 1.42% First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,4 0.7648 -8.39% -9.13% -4.78% 0.66% MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a 102.84 1.15% -4.04% n.a.

0.88% PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a 47.4618 -5.44% -6.54% 1.72% 1.31% Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 495.03 -5.2% -6.58% 0.84% 1.24% Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d,5 1.1126 10.28% n.a. n.a.

1.39% Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a 1.1868 -6.11% -6.08% 1.55% 1.59% Philequity Fund, Inc. -a 35.2674 -5.02% -5.79% 2.31% 1.43% Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.9271 -6.96% n.a. n.a.

1.54% Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a 4.8556 -5.02% -6.08% 2.51% 1.34% Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a 812.48 -4.81% -5.96% 2.48% 1.35% Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 0.727 -10.07% -9.94% -1.94% 1.13% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.6741 -10.3% -8.02% 0.76% 1.39% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.9302 -5.04% -6.25% 2.28% 1.36% United Fund, Inc. -a 3.3541 -6.47% -5.32% 2.96% 1.06% Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 109.0204 -4.78% -5.73% 3.23% 1.36% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

$1.3062 24.38% 4.1% 10.13% 8.59% 21.63% Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.7091 9.11% n.a.

2.17% Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a 1.6905 10.11% -3.86% 0.4% 1.31% ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 2.3118 8.46% -2.57% 2.59% 1.16% First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.6491 2.17% -1.92% 1.12% 0.84% First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,1 0.2002 -12.19% n.a. n.a.

0.81% NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a 1.9814 1.8% -0.76% 2.81% 0.89% PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a 3.816 2.29% -1.62% 2.21% 0.74% Philam Fund, Inc. -a 17.0638 2.15% -1.63% 2.12% 0.75% -2.51% Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a 2.1144 0.21% 1.78% 0.97% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.6041 -4.89% -4.09% 0.97% 0.86% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 1.0286 3.35% n.a. n.a.

0.59% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.9587 -1.81% n.a. n.a.

1% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.9432 -3.08% n.a. n.a.

1.08% Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.8997 -5.53% -4.65% 0.33% 1.35% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.0389 1.41% 2.57% 1.91% -0.56% PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b $1.2054 14.73% 3.38% 4.8% 7.73% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.596 15.91% 6.91% 9.24% 1.84% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,3 $1.2097 8.27% 3.72% n.a.

0.63% Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 371.32 3.7% 3.24% 2.86% 0.07% ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.902 -0.11% 0.05% 0.15% 0.09% Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 3.2164 3.09% 4.41% 4.79% 0.05% Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a 2.297 3.51% 2.87% 2.52% 0.04% First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4502 4.39% 3.34% 2.18% -0.12% Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a 4.6327 6.8% 3.25% -0.04% 4.52% Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a,6 1.321 5.75% 4.45% 2.72% -0.02% Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.9856 5.77% 4.5% 2.94% -0.39% Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.0399 8.62% 4% 2.78% -0.2% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.2012 5.1% 4.75% 3.71% -0.15% Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a 1.7496 4.17% 4% 3.08% -0.31% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $483.81 3.08% 2.74% 2.88% -0.01% ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є219.47 -0.12% 0.86% 1.28% 0.13% ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.2685 4.83% 3.86% 2.96% -0.93% 1.7% 1.59% -1.13% First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0263 1.54% PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b $1.0868 -1.19% 0.55% 0.61% -0.54% Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.519 4.38% 3.82% 3.49% -0.65% Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0622678 3.01% 2.9% 2.32% -0.08% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.2028 -0.06% 2.07% 2.34% -0.65% Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 129.9 3.1% 3.33% 2.58% 0.07% First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0483 1.82% n.a. n.a.

0.02% 2.46% 2.96% 2.61% 0.07% Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.2975 Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0529 1.44% 1.77% n.a.

0.05% Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d,7 1.1635 n.a. n.a. n.a.

3% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -b,d,2 $0.99 -1% n.a. n.a.

1.02%

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

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

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

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

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

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

‘Underbanked may build credit rank via neobanks’

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @Tyronepiad

B

Y transacting through digital banks—so-called neobanks—the underbanked segment in the Philippines can build credit score, allowing access to more financing in the long term, a financial technology (fintech) executive said.

W hile neobanks and credit scores have an indirect relationship, CredoLab Pte. Ltd. Founder and CEO Peter Barcak said the former allows more opportunities to create credit history. “ Through AI [artificial intelligence]-based credit scoring algorithms, digital-only banks offer greater accessibility to Filipinos even in the most rural areas,” he said.

The AI tool enables creditworthiness to be assessed using smartphone metadata.

“This non-intrusive privacyconsented data is used to detect predictive patterns, giving the underbanked an opportunity to leverage banking services they otherwise won’t be able to access,” Barcak explained.

The alternative credit scoring scheme is allowing borrowers to make and complete purchases, Barcak noted, which then contributes in increasing credit scores.

“By working with neobanks utilizing credit scoring technology,

Filipinos can have greater access to personal credit or credit for future business endeavors,” he added.

In this way, financial inclusion will further be promoted in the country as well, Barcak said.

On the other hand, Barcak explained that having an alternative credit scoring system will also discourage borrowers from dealing with loan sharks or informal lenders who charge exorbitant fees.

“Oftentimes, such alternatives put consumers and their long-term finances at risk,” the CredoLab official said. “With the emergence of neobanks, consumers no longer have to turn to such risky alternatives.”

In the Philippines, Barcak said that the digital banks can fill in some of the gaps in banking service demands, offering affordable and accessible financial products.

“In a country as young and digitalsavvy as the Philippines, it comes as no surprise that 15 percent of Filipino adults, or 10.2 million Filipinos, currently have a digital-only bank account,” he added.

Last month, the fintech player announced its partnership with local digital bank Tonik Financial Pte. Ltd. to provide quicker loan application process. CredoLab’s artificial intelligence-based algorithm is set to be incorporated on the neobank’s mobile banking platform, providing Tonik credit scores in real-time.

Financial lessons for 2021

C

OVID-19 and bad weather brought a lot of havoc in the year 2020. Many are hopeful that the adverse effects on health and the economy will finally have solutions.

As progress is being made toward the development of a vaccine for Covid-19, many are hopeful that the year 2021 will bring back a semblance of normalcy. As we welcome the new year, it is important that we take with us key financial lessons from 2020 so we shall be able to determine what to continue doing, what to stop doing and what to start doing.

The first lesson is that having multiple streams of income can significantly help augment primary income during tough times. As businesses closed and unemployment levels increased, the ability to pivot was demonstrated by those that were able to survive and even thrive. For individuals, knowing one’s talents and knowing one’s tools helped determine the type of trade to pursue. For the businesses, tapping new channels like online channels allowed many to continuously serve existing customers and new customers.

The second lesson is that our priorities matter.

Since income is hampered, needs should have glaring importance over wants. Needs will be those related to food, shelter and clothing. In the context of the New Normal, we can add to the list health and connectivity. Meanwhile, wants and luxuries should be studied in terms of what can be reduced and what can be totally eliminated. Having a budget will allow individuals to strategically allocate scarce resources. Of course, a budget is only as good as its execution.

The third lesson is that savings are important.

In budgeting, the first step therefore is to regularly save a certain portion before expenses happen. Savings help support current consumption through liquidity. Savings help support future consumption too. We cannot spend what we do not have.

Hence, having an emergency fund is recommended. The emergency fund can be worth the average family monthly lifestyle expenses multiplied by 6 months or 12 months. The emergency fund should be placed in liquid assets.

The fourth lesson is that risk management is key in addressing the volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity present in the “New

Genesis Kelly S. Lontoc

personal finance Normal.”

The year 2020 reminded everyone that mankind is vulnerable to fortuitous events. Just like an umbrella, it is best to get insurance during sunny days so we are prepared when rainy days happen. We need to protect our lives through life insurance. We need to protect our health through health insurance. We also need to protect our valuable assets through non-life insurance.

The fifth lesson is that the investment portfolio must be responsive to the times.

Financial goals should be constant but the investment strategies and investment tactics should be flexible. In 2020, interest rates on fixed instruments like savings accounts and Treasury bills decreased.

As a consequence, to keep up with the inflation rate, investments in variable instruments like funds and stocks should be considered. Due diligence in choosing funds and stocks must be done. Past performance and future plans matter.

The sixth lesson is that knowing the political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal landscape would help lead to the right decisions.

Consciousness should be complemented by action. In trying times, a certain part of finances and efforts must be devoted to service especially for those who are sick and for those who are poor. No Filipino should be left behind in the economy. Building our nation is everybody’s business.

The government should collaborate well with the private sector to ensure recovery.

Every problem can either remain to be a problem or can serve as a catalyst for greater things. Learning the lessons of the past will equip us with the right attitude in managing future opportunities and threats.

Money management is vital. More financially-free Filipinos will lead to an economically-strong Philippines.

Gemmy Lontoc is a registered financial planner of the RFP Philippines. To learn more about personal financial planning, attend the 87th RFP program this January 2021. To inquire, e-mail info@rfp.ph or text <name><e-mail> <RFP> at 0917-6248110.

Tuesday, January 19, 2021 B3

BTr awards ₧22B at T-bills auction on strong liquidity

T

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE Bureau of the Treasury awarded P22 billion in its latest auction of Treasury Bills (T-bills) on Monday as rates remain low on the back of strong liquidity.

National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon told reporters that liquidity remains to be strong, pointing to local and international monetary authorities signaling to maintain an accommodative policy stance.

“Liquidity remains strong particularly on the front-end with assuring statements from [Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas] Governor [Benjamin E.] Diokno to continue supportive policies for economic rebound as well

as [Federal Reserve Chair Jerome] Powell message to keep rates low,” De Leon told reporters.

Rates across all tenors were all lower than those in the secondary market. The auction was oversubscribed by more than four times the initial P20-billion offer as total bids amounted to P87.1 billion.

The P5 billion 91-day T-bills on offer was fully awarded, with total bids reaching P17.76 billion.

The average rate for the 91-day security climbed to 0.984 percent or 0.7 basis point up from 0.977 percent in the previous auction.

On the other hand, the auction committee awarded P7 billion in 182day T-bills, which was higher than the initial P5-billion offer after the auction committee decided to double the accepted non-competitive bids for the security.

The average rate for the 182-day security slid by 1.2 basis points to 1.348 percent from 1.36 percent previously. Tenders for the tenor amounted to P24.296 billion, nearly five times the initial offer.

The Treasury also fully awarded P10 billion in 364-day T-bills, with tenders reaching P45.055 billion.

The average rate for the tenor was also capped at 1.582 percent, dropping by 2.3 basis points from 1.605 percent.

For this tenor, the Treasury also

opened an additional P10 billion offering through a tap facility auction also on Monday.

For this month, the Treasury has programmed to borrow P140 billion.

Finance officials said they expect national government debt this year to settle at 57 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) as the country aims to borrow a total of P3.03 trillion, roughly the same amount it borrowed in 2020.

Government projects the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio to reach 53.5 percent.

This is significantly higher than the state’s pre-pandemic target of 40.2 percent and the country’s actual debt-to-GDP ratio in 2019, which fell at a historic low at 39.6 percent.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez said the projected debtto-GDP ratio of the country for last year “kept us well within the prescribed bounds of fiscal viability.”

Bank virus rebound to be Bank of China Manila named faster than post-Asia crisis official clearing bank for RMB

L

OCAL banks will recover faster from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic than they did from the Asian financial crisis due to record-low interest rates, higher capital and a stable economy, the head of the nation’s bankers group said.

Lenders in the Southeast Asian nation may bounce back in three years to four years, about half the time it took after the 1997 crisis as banks aggressively provision for probable losses, Bankers Association of the Philippines President Cezar P. Consing said.

“This crisis might be more impactful on the economy, but the banking system at the same time is better able to handle some of the stresses,” Consing said in an online interview.

The nation’s bad loan ratio may peak at 6 percent to 7 percent this year, he said, compared with about 4 percent in 2020, and far lower than the 20-percent levels seen during the Asian crisis. This would mean banks hold about P744 billion ($15.5 billion) in bad debt out of a total of P10.63 trillion of loans at the end of November.

Consing, who is serving his final three months as president of Bank of the Philippine Islands before retiring, recalled that it took lenders about six years to seven years to recover pre-crisis profits after the 1997 crisis.

‘Downside risk’

ABOVE-minimum capitalization and ample provisions for bad loans are bright spots for Philippine banks and most major lenders had coverage of over 100 percent in the third quarter, according to Rena Kwok, a Singapore-based analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence.

Still, Kwok sees the slowdown

in economic recovery due to the resurgence in virus cases as a possible “downside risk.”

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, like other central banks globally, has eased monetary policy and brought in other relief measures to limit the fallout of the pandemic. It cut reserve requirements for banks to encourage lending and help shore up cash in the financial system.

The economy is expected to grow by 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent this year, after a projected contraction of as much as 9.5 percent in 2020, according to latest government estimates.

Bloomberg News

Other highlights: n Provisions for loan losses will remain elevated in 2021, but not as high as last year when they reached record levels. n Banks can tolerate negative interest rates for up to a year. n While interest rates have fallen, other costs like regulatory, technology and cyber-security expenses have increased. n Philippine growth is very credit-intensive, with a ratio of 1.50 pesos of new loans for every 1 peso of new economic output.

“The fact that loan growth is flat at a time when GDP is going down, to me, is already something good.” n A challenge for Philippine banks is how to become bigger and remain relevant to support the nation’s growth agenda. Banks now account for 12 percent-13 percent of the stock exchange compared with 15 percent a decade ago.

Bloomberg News

This photo courtesy of Bank of China Manila shows (from left) Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., Bangko Sentral Governor Benjamin E. Diokno, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian and H.E. Wang Yi, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China during ceremonies for the designation of Bank of China Manila as RMB Clearing Bank of the Philippines.

I

N support of a growing local renminbi market, Bank of China Manila has been officially established as the RMB Clearing Bank of the Philippines, the bank said in a statement. The designation comes following the initial memorandum of understanding signed by the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in 2018.

As the designated clearing bank for RMB business in the Philippines, Bank of China Manila can process the settlement of accounts and other core RMB services such as remittance, foreign exchange, liquidity support and banknotes for the local participating banks. It can also provide local market participants with access to mainland China’s CNY onshore rates as an alternative to the more accessible CNH rate. (CNY is the RMB rate that can only be traded onshore—in mainland China—or through Clearing Banks appointed by the PBOC internationally.)

By making it easier to trade with counterparties in mainland China, Bank of China Manila can help improve the economic and trade partnership to promote development between Philippines and China.

On January 16, 2021, the Ceremo-

nial launch of RMB Clearing Bank in the Philippines operated by Bank of China Manila was held at Shangrila The Fort in the City of Taguig. H.E. Wang Yi, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, and Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian, together with Bangko Sentral Governor Benjamin E. Diokno and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locson Jr., unveiled the launch.

“We’ve seen tourists, traders, and investors grow more confident in using the currency in the local market,” Bank of China Manila Country Head Deng Jun was quoted in the statement as saying.

“As we work towards growing the market even further, this establishment will help us provide more focused RMB services to all the local participating banks.”

He further thanked the PBOC and the BSP for their great support and guidance in establishing the RMB Clearing Bank in the Philippines.

The Philippines is one of the fastest growing RMB markets in Southeast Asia.

In June 2020, data from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, or Swift, network showed the Philippines ranked first in the region in terms of growth rate of RMB clearing volume this year, ahead of countries like Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Insurers enhance products, digitization amid crises

Y

uchengco-led insurance firms innovated their products and accelerated digital transformation to adapt to the changing needs of the clients amid the country’s economic and health crises.

Sun Life Grepa Financial Inc. (Sun Life Grepa)—a joint venture between Sun Life Philippines and Yuchengco Group of Cos. (YGC)—and YGC-led Malayan Insurance Co. Inc. (Mico) understand that accessing insurance products should be made safer and easier through digitalization. “[The] speed to adapt to the new normal, speed of transformation to digital and speed to market new general insurance solutions for new

needs and opportunities are key to resilience,” Mico President and CEO Paolo Y. Abaya was quoted in a statement the insurer issued last Monday.

Mico has digital initiatives including use of portals, application programming interface, infrastructure modernization and information security. In addition, it has been issuing electronic policies and electronic certificates of insurance since 2010.

Abaya shared that the policy holders can now reach out to the firm for their insurance claims remotely through the website. They can do so by filling up a digital form, providing necessary information details

of their policy and uploading digital copies of other requirements.

“Digitization can fundamentally change the way we operate, help our agents and partners produce, serve our customers, engage our employees and adapt in the new normal,” Abaya said.

For the part of Sun Life Grepa, it agreed that clients should be able to have digital access.

The insurance company is offering the first remote online medical examination service. This service reduces the need for the clients to undergo face-to-face medical exams.

Sun Life Grepa also enabled digitally assisted means of payment.

“We want to improve the lives

of people not only with more life protection solutions today, but also with wealth building options so they can keep their financial journey on track beyond the pandemic,” Sun Life Grepa President Richard S. Lim was quoted in the same statement as saying.

Lim said that among the products that the insurance company focused on in the past months were income protection, health and medical coverage and business and employee protection.

He added that Sun Life Grepa will “continue to look for more solutions to help people cope with their changing needs now and in the future.”

Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

B4

Art

BusinessMirror

Tuesday, January 19, 2021 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

z

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Shawn Johnson, 29; Drea de Matteo, 49; Katey Sagal, 67; Dolly Parton, 75.

Happy Birthday: Choose charm, honesty and loyalty, and you will gain ground this year. A pushy or demanding approach will cause friction between you and those who can influence the outcome of what you want to accomplish. Take better care of your health, possessions and investments. Don’t rely on others to do things for you. Strive to maintain peace of mind. Your numbers are 3, 14, 17, 23, 31, 37, 45.

a

❶ ❶ Safe Zone 1, Regina Reyes

❷ Watermelon, Ros Johnson

❸ Illustrative Dream, Ros Johnson

❷

ARIES (March 21-April 19): If you care, share.

What you do to help a cause or someone in need will make you feel good. Keep emotional issues and personal matters to yourself. Don’t take an unnecessary risk. HHH

❸

UK-based artist’s SEA debut, two other shows kick-start Mono8 Gallery’s 2021 calendar

O

PENING today in Mabini Street is Mono8 Gallery’s first slate of shows for the year, comprised of a group exhibition and two solos that include the Southeast Asia debut of a UK-based artist.

While the shows go on view at 3 pm today at Mono8 Gallery in Casa Tesoro 1335 Mabini Street, Manila, the art space observes strict Covid-19 safety protocols, limiting visitations to a by-appointmentonly basis.

Reservations can be placed via info@mono8gallery. com or 0917-3582164.

‘New Beginnings’ IT’S a new year and a fresh start for York-based artist Ros Johnson, who is set to present her works for the first time in this part of the world through New Beginnings.

An MA-degree holder in creative practice from Leeds Arts University, Johnson has been featured in several presentations in the United Kingdom. She also founded several community projects designed to democratize art, from renovating and managing city center art studios, to making art experiences accessible to communities and children.

Johnson is a multidisciplinary artist who practices abstract painting, fine art textiles and surface design. The diverse background manifests in an interdisciplinary approach to practice that combines mixed media painting, drawing, and textiles.

Central to the work and concepts of Johnson is the “haptic collaborative relationship between maker, process and material.” By exploiting the inherent characteristics of her materials through improvisation, the artist forges tensions between the different mediums, heightening “the unknown” to reach “inexhaustible momentum and spontaneity.”

In 2018, Johnson was quoted by Lotte Inch Gallery in York as describing the concept as her own “Hierarchy of Texture,” referring to tensions between marks and drawn lines in contest with each other. “It is the presence of line, deconstructed surfaces and intricate layering that bind my practice,” Johnson said.

The artist’s ideas come to the fore in the pieces showcased in her Mono8 solo. In the work Illustrative Dream, Johnson uses mixed media to great kinetic effect, creating controlled chaos with lines that zig and zag not only within but over and around the canvas. The artist manages to execute the concept even in a subject like fruit in Watermelon.

“I would say the term ‘Hierarchy of Texture’ provides not only an insight into understanding my approach, but also provides or, rather, stimulates the viewer to search for some level of meaning in the visual exploration,” Johnson said.

‘Temporal Dwellings’ OF course, the works of Filipino talent figure on the Mono8 walls as well.

Continued on B5

‘Unspoken’ exhibit in SM City North Edsa Mallgoers were recently given a rare glimpse of a world of unspeakable beauty expressed in art in Unspoken: Communication Through the Arts, a back-to-back physical and virtual exhibit of young and gifted students who are deaf at the North Tower of SM City North Edsa.

A joint project of the LINK Center for the Deaf, ArtisteSpace Inc. and SM, the exhibit has helped strengthen the skills and potentials of these students who were able to use art as a communication tool in expressing themselves and their thoughts.

Gracing the physical launch at SM City North Edsa’s North Tower were LINK Center for the Deaf President Carolyn Ui, ArtisteSpace Managing Director Anton Magpantay, Exhibit Curator August Santiago, and artists Boysie Villavicencio, Joe Datuin, Al Perez and Juno Galang. They were welcomed by SM SVP for Marketing Millie Dizon, and SM City North Edsa AMM Rex Crucillo.

Art lovers may also visit the Unspoken virtual exhibit at bit.ly/39EGOl9 and see the wonderful artworks of the talented young artists. The virtual exhibit is on view until January 30.

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Put your time and energy to proper use. Take care of unfinished business before starting something new. Look for unique ways to use your skills and knowledge beneficially. Choose kindness over conflict, and you’ll find common ground. HHH

c

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Don’t let confusion take over and ruin your day. Do your best to take care of responsibilities, regardless of what’s going on around you. Learn from the experience, and push forward without hesitation. HHHH

d

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Someone who has something unique to offer will appeal to you. Handle partnerships carefully. Don’t let your emotions take over or lead to assumptions. Be a good listener, gather facts and make wise decisions, and you’ll avoid a misunderstanding. HH

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You’ll have plenty to mull over. Get organized, and gather the information that will help you make better decisions. A problem with someone you work with will develop if you cannot agree on the best way to advance a project. HHHHH

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VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Explore the possibilities, but don’t make a move prematurely. An offer you receive will interest you, but consider the cost before you get involved. A personal accomplishment will boost your confidence and encourage you to make a romantic gesture. HHH

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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Use reason when dealing with relationships. Don’t jump to conclusions or make a fuss without having all the facts. Spend time sorting through clutter and letting go of the past before you engage in something new.

Avoid making unnecessary purchases. HHH

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SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Catch up with an old friend or relative via phone or e-mail.

Rethink your situation and what you are up against personally, professionally and emotionally. Look for alternative lifestyles and personal improvements that will ease stress. HHH

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SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Make a change to how you earn your living or handle your finances. Sticking to a budget and lowering your overhead will ease tension at home and make your life better. Be smart and distance yourself from individuals who choose excess. HHHHH

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CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Difficulty with a friend, relative or co-worker will surface if you let your emotions take over. Refuse to get dragged into someone’s dilemma. Concentrate on fitness and self-improvement, and maintain peace of mind. HH

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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Share your intentions, and you will resolve pending issues. Holding in your feelings will cause stress and anxiety that will affect your health and emotional well-being. Honesty is the best policy, and reliability will help you gain favors. HHHH

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PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Say what’s on your mind. Be direct, and the response you receive will be honest and reliable. The more aware you are of the people around you and how they think, the better. HHH LINK Center student Ros Emmanuel Ibarrientos with his digital artworks The Clouds (top) and The Sunset Journey (bottom).

LINK Center for the Deaf President Carolyn Ui (left) with SM SVP for Marketing Millie Dizon (center) and ArtisteSpace Inc. Managing Director Anton Magpantay at the exhibit launch.

Birthday Baby: You are tenacious, powerful and enthusiastic.

You are convincing and comprehensive.

‘extended play’ by jeffrey wechsler The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 “Even considering that...”

6 Mars, to the Greeks 10 Rocky outcrop 14 Ob-gyn procedure 15 Hill’s counterpart 16 One with will-gotten gains 17 Person trying to get inside your head 19 Plot division 20 Subject of a vegan’s tirade, with “at”?

22 Useful for 25 Poet W.H. ___ 26 “Get Out” director 27 Often-colorful check-signing tools 29 Many an opera basso, with “in”?

33 “O, will you ___ no grapes, my royal fox?” : Shak.

34 Fishing fixtures 35 Have college loans, say 38 Canada’s national stew, with “out”?

42 Buyer’s ___ 45 What “bread” is for “money” 46 Keep away from 47 Simple camera openings

0 Ending in QED, with “of”?

5 53 First-year J.D. student 54 Living the dream 58 High point 59 Pizza parlor fixture 60 Touching mythological figure?

61 Palindromic act 62 America’s Got Talent host Banks 63 Falls in flakes DOWN 1 He’s no Dutch uncle 2 Texter’s “Eww, enough!”

3 Hampton ___ 4 Alice who inspired the creation of Wonderland 5 Siren heard in Germany 6 Turn into a TV show, say 7 Part of 49-Down 8 Util. measured in kWh 9 Immunology lab array 10 Taco Bell offering 11 Go back 12 Guys who fly 13 Kale and cabbage

8 Psychic’s claim, briefly 1 21 Word after “screw” or “stick” 22 Mayberry lad 23 Greek pizza cheese 24 NBA team with fire in its logo 27 Future Smith applicant, perhaps 28 “Anything ___?”

30 Tinder and Bumble 31 Lake Nasser feeder 32 Winner’s sign 35 ___ hygiene 36 Dwindle 37 Some are Grade AA 38 Did a photo shoot 39 Field of study 40 Yoga retreats 41 Enter rapidly, as light 42 Click the refresh button 43 Clearly show 44 Defiant reply to a threat 47 Classroom airplane material 48 Glazer of Broad City 49 Morning Edition airer 51 Hilarious person

2 Sin that sounds like two letters 5 55 Knot-tying words 56 Magician’s “cutting” tool 57 Slow start?

Solution to January 15’s puzzle:

Show BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

U.K.-based artist’s SEA debut, two other shows kick-start Mono8 Gallery’s 2021 calendar

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Paul Salas thankful for answered prayer

Continued from B4 Temporal Dwellings presents Regina Reyes and her introspection on how one’s residence and environment shape identity. The artist looks back to her ancestral home, located in the middle of old downtown Taytay in the province of Rizal, to examine narratives caught in the middle of drastic transformations.

For instance, Safe Zone 1 is a distorted recollection of scenes as fragmented as a distant but deeply ingrained memory. Reyes merges painting, sculpture and collage to visualize a personal recollection and exploration of the ideas of home, decay and relational experiences as constantly changing constructs.

‘A River Once Threw It’ ROUNDING out Mono8’s year-opening lineup is the group show, titled A River Once Threw It. Through paintings and videos, featured artists Kat Grow, Koki Lxx and Maya Leo ask, “The past years are defined by major flood-related tragedies: we seem to remember the names Ondoy, Yolanda, Ulysses, while the year seems like an afterthought. Is pain simply a memory that lasts longer? Hence, if the pain was not a direct experience, does the memory fade sooner?”

A River Once Threw It, Temporal Dwellings, and New Beginnings run until February 11. n

‘Magkaagaw’ back on GMA afternoon lineup A more intense viewing experience is in store for viewers as top-rating series Magkaagaw is back on GMA’s afternoon lineup.

Before it took a break from airing due to the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine, the soap captivated the hearts of daytime drama viewers and hooked them instantly.

Sheryl Cruz and Sunshine Dizon reunite in the most intriguing drama wracked by vengeance. The show also features the freshest pairing of homegrown GMA talents Klea Pineda and Jeric Gonzales in their most daring roles yet.

As the widely followed series returns on-screen, the cast members expressed their excitement for the audience to refresh their minds with the recap and new episodes of the program.

“Happy that they will get to watch our new episodes soon and marami pa silang dapat abangan lalo na kung paano mabubunyag na kabit talaga ni Gio si Veron,” said Sunshine.

Sheryl added, “Dapat din nilang tutukan ang mga nagbabagang pagtatagpo nina VRS at Jio, pati na rin ang mga na level-up na confrontation scenes sa pagitan ng mga characters.”

Just like the fans, Klea is looking forward to the reunion of the characters on-screen. “Sigurado ako sabik na rin silang mapanood muli sina Clarisse at Jio,” she said.

Meanwhile, Jeric is thankful for the opportunity to continue taping the series amid the pandemic: “Itinuturing kong isang blessing na nabigyan kami ng chance para magbalik sa TV at finally, maitutuloy na namin ’yung kuwento ng show.”

Driven by malevolence from a failed past love, Magkaagaw tells the story of a legal wife who eventually becomes the person she hated the most: a mistress. Also in the cast are Polo Ravales, Dion Ignacio, Dennis Padilla, Lovely Abella, Isay Alvarez, Patricia Tumulak and Joanna Marie Tan. Magkaagaw also highlights the special participation of Alfred Vargas.

Created by the GMA Drama group headed by SVP for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, with Gil Tejada Jr. Directing, the catch-up and new catch episodes of Magkaagaw airs Monday to Saturday after Eat Bulaga.

PAUL SALAS

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OT many know that looker Paul Salas started out as a child actor. When he was around six or seven years old, he joined GMA’s kiddie version of StarStruck and even had a short stint in the fantasy drama series Mulawin.

We first met Salas when he was around 10 years old at a time when the promising kid was pitting talents with the likes of Sid Lucero in the ABS-CBN action drama series Kung Fu Kids. That early, we immediately saw his potential to stay long in the business because of his arresting presence and his natural flair for getting into character.

We still remember his character’s name in that series—Uragon, which is a Bicolano word that means lustful, or a man with a high sexual drive. But as years passed, the adjective has acquired a positive ring to now describe a man to be gallant, brave, strong.

Salas’s physical transformation over the years is something that his followers, including our Bicolano friends, would surely appreciate and aspire to—standing erect at 5’10”, with muscles in the right places. In fact, when the giant lifestyle retail brand Bench saw him early last year, it immediately signed Salas up to be one of their celebrity endorsers.

As a teenager, Salas honed his acting at ABS-CBN, in shows, like Mula sa Puso, Aryana, You’re My Home and The Good Son. He made the big move back to GMA three years ago and got good roles in shows, like Kara Mia and Descendants of the Sun. The lockdown months of the pandemic gave many of our actors unnecessary worry and anxiety because the entertainment industry was hit hard by the stringent health and safety protocols. “Oh, yes, there were a lot of questions going on inside my head, and both fear and worry would set in unannounced because this is the career path I have chosen and this is the profession I would like to grow old in, and suddenly this early point in my life, the world stood still.”

Salas kept his faith, believing that things will improve, and work will eventually resume. “Life gives us so many opportunities, chances and surprises, and I am just grateful that when the cameras started to grind again, a new show was approved and I was cast as one of the principal actors.”

The 23-year-old Salas is referring to the new prime-time show The Lost Recipe, a romantic fantasy

series that revolves around the lives of young lovers in the colorful world of culinary movers and kitchen shakers. Directed by Monti Parungao, the very first locally produced daily series of GMA News TV also stars Mikee Quintos, Kelvin Miranda and Thea Tolentino.

Salas has been acting most of his life, and he is happy to be finally getting noticed. “Every new project is a blessing. This new show is a reassurance that I have my little corner in this crazy industry. It is also a personal reminder that when one perseveres, works hard, and remains patient, prayers are heard.”

Indeed, The Lost Recipe is an answered prayer for Paul Salas. n

William urges public to follow queen’s example and get jab LONDON—Prince William is encouraging everyone in Britain to follow the example of Queen Elizabeth II, his grandmother, in being inoculated against Covid-19 as authorities battle unsubstantiated fears about vaccine safety.

The second in line to the throne spoke about the queen and her spouse, Prince Philip, during a video call with National Health Service staff and volunteers that was released late Saturday. The medics told William some members of the public are reluctant to get any of the coronavirus vaccines authorized by regulators. “My grandparents have had the

vaccine and I am very proud of them for doing that,’’ William said. “It is really important that everyone gets the vaccine when they are told to.” The queen, 94, last week disclosed that she and Philip, 99, had received the first dose of vaccine.

The disclosure was meant to end speculation about the matter and to boost confidence in the shots as the NHS seeks to give the first dose of vaccine to everyone over 70 by the middle of February. British authorities have made vaccinating older people their first priority because they are most at risk of dying from Covid-19. AP

CINEMALAYA 2021 NOW ACCEPTS ENTRIES FOR SHORT FILM CATEGORY

THE Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2021 is now open for submission of entries for its Short Film Category. Interested filmmakers must submit their application on or before March 5, 6 pm, to the Film, Broadcast and New Media Division, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City. Only entries by Filipino filmmakers are accepted to the Short Feature Category.

Those who are submitting their entries must provide: the final work in MP4 format, with violator/watermark, properly labeled with title, production company, address and contact numbers, production date, director’s name, and running time (which should not exceed 20 minutes inclusive of credit titles). It must be accompanied with the duly completed entry form, synopsis in English, a brief resume and two recent 2x2 photos of the filmmaker/s.

Entries must have been produced within the period of February 29, 2020 to March 5, 2021. Entries can be submitted online via bit.ly/CinemalayaShorts2021Form, fill out the entry form and upload your film and filmmaker’s profile.

For offline submission, film entry must be submitted in a USB. Entries must be submitted in a long brown envelope properly labeled with the proponent’s name, title of film, and contact details.

The 10 short feature finalists will be screened online during the 2021 Cinemalaya Film Festival from August 6 to 15.

More information and updates can be found at www. culturalcenter.gov.ph.

CNN’s Tapper won’t take back criticism of congressional vet

By David Bauder The Associated Press NEW YORK—CNN’s Jake Tapper, under fire for a comment questioning a Republican congressman and combat veteran’s commitment to democracy, said Thursday the criticism is an attempt to change the subject from the attack on the US Capitol.

During coverage of Wednesday’s House vote to impeach US President Donald J. Trump, Tapper referenced US Rep. Brian Mast of Florida, who was among Republicans who voted last week against the certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.

Mast lost both legs in an explosion while serving in the US Army in Afghanistan in 2010. Tapper noted Mast’s sacrifice “fighting for democracy abroad, although I don’t know...about his commitment to it here in the United States.”

That made Tapper an immediate target online and elsewhere. Fox News Channel’s Pete Hegseth, a former US Army National Guard member, called Tapper “an emotional bowl of soup with a serious inferiority complex for veterans and the military.”

Tapper’s comment was “a cheap shot you would

expect from a partisan posing as a journalist,” Hegseth said on Fox on Thursday.

Tapper, who has been active on veterans issues including organizing a Home For Our Troops celebrity auction last fall, wasn’t backing down on Thursday. He said that while he honors Mast’s service, all of those who backed Trump’s effort to overturn the election need to answer for what happened at the Capitol.

“He’s not the only one who was involved in the campaign to tell the Big Lie,” Tapper said in an interview, referencing Trump’s claim that he won the election. “A lot of people were part of it. A lot of people don’t want to be held accountable so I think they want to change the subject.”

Mast, on Twitter, noted Tapper’s right to free speech.

“Jake Tapper can question my commitment to democracy,” he tweeted on Thursday. “That’s his right that I lost two legs defending. I tell you, though: it is unwavering. I love America, and for all the divide right now there is still no country I would rather be part of!”

Mast’s office did not return a message seeking comment.

B5

B6 Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Good things happen, stand the test of time

Sun Life launches GoWell Studio, a premier holistic wellness platform

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S part of its commitment to help Filipinos live healthier lives, Sun Life Philippines has launched a premier on-demand holistic wellness platform dubbed GoWell Studio.

GoWell Studio offers top-notch content such as follow-along exercise programs, guided meditation sessions, various masterclasses, short courses, and healthcare awareness and education.

These will be led by some of the country’s leading fitness coaches, doctors, allied health professionals, and educators.

The platform will also provide members with a directory of experts from whom they can seek personalized health and wellness advice. The line-up includes Ginastica Natural Philippines Founder Mark Cupino; Bukodon, Yin and Vinyasa Yoga Instructor Anna Manalastas; Myotherapist and Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner Filbert Tan; Pilates Coach and Animal Flow Instructor Trisha Buhat; Founder of Awake.ph and Modern-day Kriya Yogi Neil Salang; Sound Healer Coach

Yeyette San Luis; World Kettlebell Club Strength and Conditioning Coach Tim Ayson; Alab Pilipinas, UP men’s basketball, and Petrogazz Angels Volleyball team’s Strength and Conditioning Coach Chappy Callanta; and Sports Performance Specialist and F45 Functional Strength Coach Andro Amador, among others.

Access to the GoWell Studio may be enjoyed exclusively by Sun Fit and Well, Sun Senior Care, and Sun Cancer Care policyholders simply by registering in the GoWell website (gowell.com.ph).

“Taking care of ourselves remains crucial now that we are still in the middle of the pandemic. We invite everyone to become members of GoWell, Sun Life’s community that promotes holistic wellness through a fit and active lifestyle, healthy eating, and living a healthier life,” Sun Life Chief Marketing and Client Experience Officer Gilbert Simpao said.

Know more about Sun Life’s health and accident insurance products.

Consult a Sun Life advisor or visit sunlife.com.ph. Follow @SunLifePH and @GoWellPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Airasia Shop in the Philippines redefines travel retail shopping

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IRASIA recently launched Airasia Shop in the Philippines further enhancing their digital platform to include convenient and value-for-money travel retail shopping, in partnership with airasia’s logistics venture, Teleport.

The online shop allows Philippine customers to purchase a wide range of quality authentic products from categories such as Beauty, Fashion, Electronics & Gadgets, Health & Wellness, Kids products and exclusive airasia merchandise with affordable prices and from the comforts of their own home, conveniently delivered to their doorsteps.

For more details, visit, https:// www.airasia.com/shop-ph

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isolation and healing.

The project highlights the literary geniuses of the Filipino mother writers.

They are: Kora Dandan Albano (Nanay); Nikki Alfar (Surviving Ourselves); Merlie Alunan (Pilgrim Heart); Alma Anonas-Carpio (Pandemic Kitchen); Lualhati Bautista (Usapang Rape); Adelle Chua (Nest Never Empty); Jhoanna Lynn B. Cruz (Some Terms of Reference for a Pandemic); J. G. Dimaranan (Sa Wakas); May Dolis (Ang Iyong Ama); Heidi Emily Eusebio-Abad (Isang Panalangin).

It also features: Rowena P. Festin (Tanawin Mula sa Aking Bintana); Geraldine Flores-Ingco (Braso ni Mercedes); Christine V. Lao (Violin Practice); Babeth Lolarga (Dreaming of When It's Over); Maricel Padua Lopez (Sabay: Buhay-Guro, BuhayNanay); Gina Lumauig (When Kindness Becomes Contagious); Ruth Elynia Mabanglo (Pamamaalam); Liwliwa Malabed (Mahal Kong Sampinit); Princess Malonzo (Linggo); Alma Cruz Miclat (Lola Love in the Pandemic).

Other featured writers are: Banaue Miclat-Janssen (Learning in the Time of Covid-19); Aimee Morales (Mother in Blue); Reina Mae Nasino (Mensahe ng Pasasalamat at Panawagan); Marot Nelmida-Flores (Life-Changing); Eunice Barbara Novio (Yet, We Had Each Other); Rica Paloma-Espiritu (Chicken Soup); Mae Ann Reginaldo (Mga Lalaki

sa Cubao sa Panahon ng Lockdown); Rae Rival (Paliligo sa Bakuran); Hope Sabanpan-Yu (The Garden is Always There); Adelma Salvador (Bisikleta).

Completing the list are: Anna Felicia C. Sanchez (Snapshots from the Pandemic Summer); Aida F. Santos (Being a Mother in the Underground); Heidi B. Sarno (Ponx Not Dead); Lee Sepe (Sa Bawat Bukas); Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz (Cocooning with No Complaints); Eleanor Strata (Shelved); Angela Stuart Santiago (Way to Live); Almayrah A. Tiburon (Pagluluwal); Mia Tijam (Directing Grace); Winnie Velasquez (Takipsilim ni Granny Google); and Lalaine F. Yanilla-Aquino (Roller Coaster of Emotions, Blessings in Disguise, at Reversal of Roles).

The book cover features Imelda Cajipe Endaya’s art created during lockdown. It is entitled Salinlahi’y Iligtas.

The e-book also contains artworks by Imelda Morales, Jenny Ortuoste, Kora Dandan Albano and Chua Keng Keng – Lua. The e-book will be accessible to the public and will be available for free download. It can be a part of a parent's reading list, and can also be used by schools in tertiary level as reading material for their students. For free copy of the e-book, visit the CCP Intertextual Division FB page or send an email to ccpintertextualdivision@ gmail.com or text 0919-3175708.

airs every Friday at 4:30PM on the Mestiza Philippines Facebook page is hosted by the esteemed Dra. Sarah A. Barba-Cabodil—an Aesthetic Dermatologist and President of Philippine Anti-aging Medicine and Clinical Aesthetics. The program hopes to address the most pressing questions users have about skin care and share the long-held ideals of the brand to a new audience.

Of course, a big part of Mestiza being a timeless product is its ability to deliver real results. And through every innovation it introduces, each bar will still be anchored on its carefully chosen botanicals and fruits, and still be produced using their cutting-edge cold process manufacturing method that preserves all the benefits of its all-natural ingredients. For more information, visit: https://mestiza.com.ph/.

“We know consumers are becoming even more conscious of what ingredients go into their productions. We want to stay true to that so that Mestiza users continue to trust us to take care of their skin,” said Catherine Salimbangon, President and CEO of Organique Skincare Inc. Mestiza Soap is available at all leading drugstores, supermarkets and Lazada.

Cinemalaya Film Festival 2021 now accepts entries for its short film category

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‘In Certain Seasons: Mothers Write In The Time of COVID’ highlights the literary geniuses of Filipino writers

HE Cultural Center of the Philippines, through its Intertextual Division, launches the “In Certain Seasons: Mothers Write In The Time of COVID” e-book on January 23, 2021, 2PM, via the official Facebook pages of the CCP, CCP Intertextual Division FB page and the Philippine PEN. Edited by Che Sarigumba and Jenny Ortuoste, the e-book features 41 literary pieces, focusing on their experiences during the COVID-19 health crisis, as well as quarantine,

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GOOD product always has the chance to stand the test of time. Almost.

For years, Mestiza soap holds the distinction as a beauty product that gets passed on from one generation to the next simply because it stays true to its organic origins and it can be trusted to live up to its promises—even as it commits to evolve with new generations of Mestiza users with each passing year.

Creating a skincare means constantly keeping up with the modern ideals and needs of its users. This is why Mestiza continues to grow the brand to reflect their values and direction.

The brand’s revamp of their iconic packaging is a testament to this vision. With the intent to always give more to their loyal customers, each bar now also comes with an additional five grams. Best of all, you can still get your favorite Mestiza Soap for the same price.

Down the line, fans of the product can also expect the brand to expand their skincare line and offer products that continue to inspire confidence among Mestiza users. Their efforts are reinforced by their advocacy of creating a platform that allows Mestiza users to learn more about skincare. #BeauTalk, which

HE Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2021 is now open for submission of entries for its Short Film Category.

Interested filmmakers must submit their application on or before March 5, 2021 (Friday), 6:00 p.m. to the Film, Broadcast, and New Media Division (FBNMD), 4F Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Roxas Blvd., Pasay City. Only entries by Filipino filmmakers are accepted to the Short Feature Category.

Those who are submitting their entries must provide the following: the final work in MP4 format, with violator/watermark, properly labeled with title, production company, address and contact numbers, production date, director’s name, and running time (which should not exceed 20 minutes inclusive of credit titles). It must be accompanied with the duly completed entry form, synopsis in English, a brief

resume and two (2) recent 2x2 photos of the filmmaker/s.

Entries must have been produced within the period of February 29, 2020 to March 5, 2021.

Entries can be submitted through online portal -- just follow the link (bit. ly/CinemalayaShorts2021Form), fill out the entry form and upload your film and filmmaker’s profile.

For offline submission, film entry must be submitted in a USB. Entries must be submitted in a long brown envelope properly labeled with the proponent’s name, title of film, and contact details.

The ten (10) short feature finalists will be screened online during the 2021 Cinemalaya Film Festival from August 6-15, 2021.

For more information and updates, visit the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) or follow the CCP and Cinemalaya official Facebook pages.

CSC offers online courses on leadership

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HE Civil Service Institute (CSI), the learning and development arm of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), is offering various online courses from February to March 2021 to develop the leadership and management capabilities of civil servants.

The Public Service Values in Times of Adversities workshop aims to enable participants to strengthen and harness the public service values of Patriotism, Integrity, Excellence, and Spirituality, or PIES, especially in this time of pandemic to enhance their organization’s capability in pursuing strategic leadership and management.

A monthly offering, the second run for the year will be held from 9 to 26 February.

Interested participants may register through the CSI website at csi.csc.gov.ph. Subsequent run is scheduled on 9 to 25 March.

Moreover, on 5 February at 9 a.m., the CSI will hold an online forum entitled Kwentong Lingkod Bayani, which will showcase the exemplary performance of civil servants demonstrating PIES. Watch for free via live streaming on the Public Service Values page at facebook.com/ PublicServiceValuesCSC and at facebook. com/civilservicegovph.

Kwentong Lingkod Bayani is held once a month. Up to 500 participants can register to be accommodated in the Zoom webinar, free of charge. Registration for the 5 March session is still ongoing.

Developmental Conversations for Leaders, slated on 2 to 26 March, is a blended course using group mentoring/coaching, which will guide participants to effectively conduct developmental conversations with others using a structured approach.

Meanwhile, registration is also ongoing for two courses on human resource management in government agencies.

Performance Management for PRIMEHRM Level 2, set on 9 to 30 March, will provide HR practitioners tools and handles to enable them to review their performance management (PM) policies and process towards making these more responsive to the agency needs.

Recruitment, Selection, and Placement for PRIME-HRM Level 2, which will run from 15 to 29 March, shall enable HR practitioners and Human Resource Merit and Promotion Selection Board (HRMPSB) members to review and make more responsive their recruitment, selection, and placement (RSP) policies and processes.

Successful completers of the online courses including its requirements will earn a certificate of completion with leadership and managerial training hours that can be used to meet the training requirement for managerial and supervisory positions in the civil service.

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

TheWorld

China’s growth beats forecasts, aiding global economic upswing

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hina’s economy exceeded its pre-pandemic growth rates in the fourth quarter, propelling it to a stronger-than-expected expansion of 2.3 percent for the full year and making it the only major one to avoid contraction in 2020.

Gross domestic product climbed 6.5 percent in the final quarter from a year earlier, fueled by industrial output, the statistics bureau said on Monday.

Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had predicted 6.2 percent growth for the quarter and 2.1 percent for the full year.

“China has more than returned to trend growth,” said Raymond Yeung, chief economist for Greater China at Australia and New Zealand Banking Group.

The strong rebound means authorities can “prioritize structural reforms rather than economic reflation” in 2021, he said.

The V-shaped recovery was based on successful control of Covid cases and fiscal and monetary stimulus, which boosted investment in real estate and infrastructure. Growth was further spurred by overseas consumer demand for medical equipment and work-from-home devices, with expor ts expanding 3.6 percent in 2020 compared to the previous year.

“The quarter really seems to have shown the economy ended the year on a strong note, manufacturing is doing well,” Cui Li, head of macro research at CCB International Holdings Ltd. in Hong Kong said in an interview with Bloomberg Television.

The Chinext Index of small caps gained 1.8 percent as of the mid-day break, while the yield on the most actively traded contract of 10-year government bonds rose 1 basis point to 3.16 percent, set for the highest in one week. The onshore yuan weakened 0.09 percent to 6.4874 per dollar as the greenback rebounded.

“The Chinese economy accelerated to a strong finish to 2020, though challenges at the start of 2021 could put a damper on growth,” said Bloomberg chief Asia economist Chang Shu. Data for December suggests that the gap between demand and supply is opening up again, and this may reflect the impact on consumption from recent viral outbreaks.

Emerging from the pandemic larger than when it started is a capstone to a dramatic year for the world’s second-largest economy, which began 2020 with a historic first-quarter slump when the coronavirus lockdowns brought most activity to a halt.

Even though China’s annual growth was the slowest in four decades, a global contraction in output means China increased its share of the world economy at the fastest pace on record, according to World Bank estimates. Based on projections from the International Monetary Fund, China will now overtake the US by 2028, two years earlier than previously predicted, according to Nomura Holdings Inc.

Economists expect China’s GDP will expand 8.2 percent this year, continuing to outpace global peers even as they begin to recover due to a roll-out of vaccines.

Growth this year will depend on whether China can prevent a large-scale resurgence of virus infections, and on whether it can pass the baton of spending from local governments and large state companies to consumers and private businesses. The government has recently imposed travel restrictions on several northern cities due to small-scale virus outbreaks, including locking down the capital of Hebei province, a city of 11 million people near Beijing. “ Th e re’s a h u g e d i s c re p a n c y b e t we e n production and consumption,” said Bo Zhuang, chief China economist at TS Lombard. “I am not very optimistic about domestic demand, as wage growth is not back to pre-pandemic levels. Government spending is going to grow more weakly this year than last year as local officials have been told to tighten their belts.”

The investment and export-driven recovery in 2020 has exacerbated existing imbalances in the economy.

Consumption spending per capita fell 4 percent in 2020 from a year earlier after adjusting for inflation, while investment in fixed assets such as real estate and infrastructure grew 2.9 percent, according to the statistics bureau. Industrial production surged, with China producing more than 1 billion tons of crude steel in 2020, an annual record.

“There is relatively large room” for China to raise the contribution rate of final consumption to economic growth, the head of the statistics bureau Ning Jizhe said after the data was released at a press conference in Beijing. For 2021, “it is necessary to improve the consumption ability of residents, improve consumption policy and environment, and cultivate more consumption growth drivers.”

China’s increasingly tense relationship with the US could also weigh on the outlook. In his final weeks in office, President Donald Trump has tightened restrictions on Chinese businesses to curb the nation’s dominance in high-tech industries, roiling financial markets. It’s still unclear if the incoming administration under Joe Biden will maintain those measures.

The fiscal and monetary stimulus to support the economy through the pandemic has been accompanied by a surge in debt, which authorities are now seeking to curb as the recovery takes hold.

At a December meeting to lay out economic goals for 2021, the ruling Communist Party signaled that stimulus would be gradually withdrawn, although it would avoid any “sharp turns” in policy.

“Beijing is withdrawing stimulus, which will weaken investment in the coming months,” said Houze Song, a researcher on China’s economy at the Paulson Institute. Bloomberg News

Aid effort intensifies after Indonesia quake killed 81

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AMUJU, Indonesia—Aid was reaching the thousands of people left homeless and struggling after an earthquake that killed at least 81 people on an Indonesian island where rescuers intensified their work Monday to find those buried in the rubble.

More rescuers and volunteers were deployed in the hardest-hit city of Mamuju and the neighboring district of Majene on Sulawesi island, where the magnitude 6.2 quake struck early Friday, said Raditya Jati, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency’s spokesman.

He said a total of 70 people died in Mamuju and 11 in Majene, and about 27,850 survivors were moved to shelters. Nearly 800 people were injured, with more than half of them still receiving treatment for serious injuries.

Water, which has been in short supply, as well as food and medical supplies were being distributed from trucks. The military said it sent five planes carrying rescue personnel, food, medicine, blankets, field tents and water tankers.

Volunteers and rescue personnel erected more temporary shelters for those left homeless in Mamuju and Majene.

Most were barely protected by makeshift shelters that were lashed by heavy monsoon downpours. Only a few were lucky to be protected by tarpaulin-covered tents. They said they were running low on food, blankets and other aid, as emergency supplies were rushed to the hard-hit region.

Mahatir, a relief coordinator for volunteer rescuers, said his team was trying to reach many people in six isolated villages in Majene district after the quake damaging roads and bridges. Aid and other logistic supplies can be distributed only by foot over the severe terrain, said Mahatir who goes by one name.

Jati said at least 1,150 houses in Majene were

damaged and the agency was still collecting data on damaged houses and buildings in Mamuju.

Mamuju, the provincial capital of nearly 300,000 people, was strewn with debris from collapsed buildings. The governor’s office building was almost flattened and a shopping mall was reduced to a crumpled hulk.

The disaster agency said the evacuees are in dire need of basic necessities—blankets, mats, tents, baby food and medical services.

The disaster agency’s chief, Doni Monardo, said authorities were trying to separate high- and lower-risk groups and provided tens of thousands of anti-coronavirus masks for those needing shelters.

He said authorities would also set up health posts at the camps to test people for the virus.

People being housed in temporary shelters were seen standing close together, many of them without masks, saying that they find it difficult to observe health protocols in this emergency situation.

West Sulawesi province has recorded more than 2,500 cases of the coronavirus, including 58 deaths. Indonesia has confirmed nearly 908,000 cases and almost 26,000 fatalities.

Many on Sulawesi island are still haunted by a 7.5-magnitude earthquake that devastated Palu city in 2018, setting of a tsunami and a phenomenon called liquefaction in which soil collapses into itself. More than 4,000 people were killed, including many who were buried when whole neighborhoods were swallowed in the falling ground.

Indonesia, home to more than 260 million people, is lined with seismic faults and is frequently hit by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. A magnitude 9.1 earthquake off Sumatra in 2004 triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 people in a dozen countries. AP

BusinessMirror

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

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Global cases top 95 million; US death toll nears 400,000

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he world is bracing for a new wave of Covid-19 infections, as the coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 95 million people and killed more than 2 million globally since late January.

Recent attempts to revive social life and financial activities have resulted in another surge in cases and hospitalizations, though new drugs and improved care may help more people who get seriously ill survive.

The US death toll from Covid-19 is approaching 400,000, while hospitalizations for the coronavirus surpassed 130,000 last week, new data from the Department of Health and Human Services show. Covid-19 in-patients jumped 7.3 percent to 131,637 from December 29 to January 15, the data show. Texas, Florida, California, Georgia, New York, Arizona, and North and South Carolina recorded the biggest increases. Hospitalizations for Covid-19 declined across the Midwest, with Illinois, Michigan, Colorado, North Dakota and South Dakota recording 17 percent to 33 percent fewer patients.

California’s health department said it’s concerned the variant first found in the UK is increasingly being identified by viral genomic sequencing in multiple counties across the state. The variant was seen in several large outbreaks in Santa Clara County, it said.

Los Angeles County, the epicenter of the latest wave, said Saturday it identified its first case with the variant and expects the spread within the community to have started. “The reality is that the risk of contracting Covid-19 has increased with the presence of B.1.1.7 here in our community,” Hilda Solis, chair of the county’s board of supervisors, said in a statement on Sunday.

President-elect Joe Biden’s promise of delivering 100 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine in 100 days is “absolutely a doable thing,” Dr. Anthony Fauci said.

Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said he expects Biden not to hesitate to “use whatever mechanisms we can” to speed the production and distribution of the shots.

Key developments:

Norway deaths spark concern in Asia

Norway’s report of several dozen elderly people dying after receiving inoculations of the Pfizer Inc. shot is

raising concerns among some Asian nations.

Prime Minister Prayuth ChanOcha said Thailand “won’t rush to get the vaccines that haven’t been fully tested and refused to be an experimental country.” Thailand has no orders for a vaccine from Pfizer, but has inked deals for Sinovac Biotech Ltd. and AstraZeneca Plc shots.

Australia’s medical regulator said it will seek information from Pfizer and Norwegian health authorities, while the country’s foreign ministry will contact Norway’s government to discuss the issue.

Norway said over the weekend that vaccines may be too risky for elderly people with serious underlying health conditions, after 29 people died in the country a short time after receiving their first dose of the Pfizer shot.

Pfizer and BioNTech SE are working with the Norwegian regulator to investigate the deaths.

China reports 93 new cases

China reported 93 confirmed local Covid-19 cases and 104 asymptomatic infections on Monday. Most of the asymptomatic infections were detected in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang.

Beijing reported two new cases from its southern suburb. A 63-yearold woman was found over the weekend to have been infected, indicating there’s still hidden transmission after authorities brought a cluster on infections on the other end of the city largely under control. China has built temporary quarantine facilities to accommodate villagers living at the center of the outbreak in the northern city of Shijiazhuang that has seen infections hitting nearly 1,000 in less than a month. A total of 1,008 container quarantine modules are ready to accommodate close contacts of Covid-19 patients.

Korea’s Moon sees herd immunity by November

President Moon Jae-in said the country may reach herd immunity by November at the latest, as inoculations may begin in late February or early March.

In this January 13, 2021 file photo, health care workers receive a Covid-19 vaccination at Ritchie Valens Recreation Center, in Pacoima, California. President-elect Joe Biden’s promise of delivering 100 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine in 100 days is “absolutely a doable thing,” Dr. Anthony Fauci said. AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez

He said it’s clear the third virus wave has reached its peak. The country reported 389 new cases on Monday, the lowest number since November 29.

“I think that we will become a country that can quickly recover our daily lives and economy by succeeding in quarantining and overcoming the crises ahead of any other country in the world,” Moon said during his annual New Year’s press conference.

UK steps up vaccine program as travel corridors close

The UK will step up its mass vaccination program this week, offering shots to millions more people, as the country shuts its borders to anyone who has not tested negative. Vaccines will be offered to people aged 70 and over, and those deemed “clinically extremely vulnerable” from Monday—the third and fourth priority groups.

The government is considering “all possibilities” to enforce Covid-19 rules for travelers, and won’t rule out setting up quarantine hotels and using GPS trackers to fight the spread of the coronavirus, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said.

Brazil approves first vaccines; shots begin Brazil granted approval for the emergency use of AstraZeneca Plc and Sinovac Biotech Ltd. vaccines against Covid-19, allowing the country to kick-start deploying shots as the virus roars back in Latin America’s largest economy.

Health regulator Anvisa cleared the vaccines in a Sunday meeting, citing the recent significant increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in Brazil and the lack of alternatives for treatment of the disease.

Ireland hospitalizations not yet at peak, minister says

Airlines allowed to transit passengers in Singapore: ST

Ireland expects coronavirus hospitalizations to peak “in the next week or two,” Health Minister Stephen Donnelly told state broadcaster RTE Radio, even as the nation ramps up its vaccination program.

The country has seen one of the worst virus outbreaks in the world since the New Year, with hospitalizations almost double the previous high in April. Daily infections have started to fall, however, and on Sunday, the 2,944 cases reported were the lowest since New Year’s Day, health authorities said.

Several foreign airlines have received approval from Singapore to transit passengers at Changi Airport to other destinations, a move to revive the city-state’s air hub after being battered by travel restrictions amid the pandemic, the Straits Times reported.

Under Singapore transit rules, passengers will have to remain in designated facilities in the transit area.

But those who come from places that Singapore has unilaterally opened its borders to, such as China and Vietnam, are exempted from the rule.

France is “very reluctant” to back any move by the European Union to create vaccination passports that would allow people who have been inoculated against Covid-19 to travel, Clement Beaune, junior minister for European Affairs, told France Info radio on Sunday. “It’s premature” to discuss using a document of this type to allow travel within Europe, at least until the vaccine is widely available, he said. Bloomberg News

French minister calls vaccine passports premature

FBI vetting National Guard troops in DC amid fears of insider attack

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ASHINGTON—US defense officials say they are worried about an insider attack or other threat from service members involved in securing President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, prompting the FBI to vet all of the 25,000 National Guard troops coming into Washington for the event.

The massive under taking reflec ts the ex traordinar y securit y concerns that have gripped Washington following the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection at the US Capitol by pro-Trump rioters. And it underscores fears that some of the very people assigned to protect the city over the next several days could present a threat to the incoming president and other VIPs in attendance.

Army Secretar y Ryan McCar thy told The Associated Press on Sunday that officials are conscious of the potential threat, and he warned commanders to be on the lookout for any problems within their ranks as the inauguration approaches.

So far, however, he and other leaders say they have seen no evidence of any threats, and officials said the vetting hadn’t flagged any issues that they were aware of.

“We’re continually going through the process, and taking second, third looks at every one of the individuals assigned to this operation,” McCarthy said in an interview after he and other military leaders went through an exhaustive, three-hour

security drill in preparation for Wednesday’s inauguration. He said Guard members are also getting training on how to identify potential insider threats.

About 25,000 members of the National Guard are streaming into Washington from across the country—zat least two and a half times the number for previous inaugurals. And while the military routinely reviews service members for extremist connections, the FBI screening is in addition to any previous monitoring.

Multiple officials said the process began as the first Guard troops began deploying to D.C. more than a week ago. And they said it is slated to be complete by Wednesday. Several officials discussed military planning on condition of anonymity.

“The question is, is that all of them? Are there others?” said McCarthy. “We need to be conscious of it and we need to put all of the mechanisms in place to thoroughly vet these men and women who would support any operations like this.”

In a situation like this one, FBI vetting would involve running peoples’ names through databases and watchlists maintained by the bureau to see if anything alarming comes up. That could include involvement in prior investigations or terrorismrelated concerns, said David Gomez, a former FBI national security supervisor in Seattle.

Insider threats have been a persistent law

enforcement priority in the years after the Sept.

11, 2001 attacks. But in most cases, the threats are from homegrown insurgents radicalized by alQaida, the Islamic State group or similar groups. In contrast, the threats against Biden’s inauguration have been fueled by supporters of President Donald Trump, far-right militants, white supremacists and other radical groups. Many believe Trump’s baseless accusations that the election was stolen from him, a claim that has been refuted by many courts, the Justice Department and Republican officials in key battleground states.

The insurrection at the Capitol began after Trump made incendiary remarks at the January 6 rally. According to McCarthy, service members from across the military were at that rally, but it’s not clear how many were there or who may have participated in the breach at the Capitol. So far only a couple of current active-duty or National Guard members have been arrested in connection with the Capitol assault, which left five people dead.

The dead included a Capitol Police officer and a woman shot by police as she climbed through a window in a door near the House chamber.

Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, has been meeting with Guard troops as they arrive in D.C. and as they gather downtown.

He said he believes there are good processes in place to identify any potential threats.

“If there’s any indication that any of our soldiers or airmen are expressing things that are extremist views, it’s either handed over to law enforcement or dealt with the chain of command immediately,” he said.

The insider threat, however, was just one of the security concerns voiced by officials on Sunday, as dozens of military, National Guard, law enforcement and Washington, D.C. officials and commanders went through a security rehearsal in northern Virginia. As many as three-dozen leaders lined tables that ringed a massive color-coded map of D.C. reflected onto the floor. Behind them were dozens more National Guard officers and staff, with their eyes trained on additional maps and charts displayed on the wall.

The Secret Service is in charge of event security, but there is a wide variety of military and law enforcement personnel involved, ranging from the National Guard and the FBI to Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department, US Capitol Police and US Park Police.

Commanders went over ever y aspect of the city’s complicated security lockdown, with McCar thy and others peppering them with questions about how the troops will respond in any scenario and how well they can communicate with the other enforcement agencies scattered around the city. AP

Sports BusinessMirror

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| Tuesday, January 19, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

GRUPPO ITALIA

Members of Gruppo Italia cycling club at the BF Resort in Las Piñas City strike a pose after their regular morning ride. They are Bojet Ciudadano, Enrico Abulo, Felix Martinez (founding member), Ipe Nieva, Peter Martin, Popo Salazar, Ver Trinidad, Yetboo Del Rosario (founding member), Edwin Riosa, Raul Abad, Rodel Rivera, Radileo Castillo, JP Deveza, Dingkee Lim, Obet Borja, Jun Jonson, Allan Dimaano, Ike Luciano, Romil Florendo, Rey Franscisco and Philippines 2019 Southeast Asian Games President and CEO Ramon “Tats” Suzara. NONIE REYES

HARD WORK PAYS OFF ERNEST JOHN OBIENA is training indoors in chilly Padua.

Obiena settling well in new training camp

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OKYO Olympics-bound pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena feels like at home at his new training center in Padova or Padua in Italy.

“I’m doing okay here. The training facilities are great, especially for the indoor training,” Obiena told the BusinessMirror on Sunday. “It has complete equipment. But it’s cold here.”

Sure it’s cold in Padua—on Monday it was -2 Celsius. Situated at Italy’s Veneto region, Obiena’s training camp at the Padova University Sports Center is some 630 kilometers far north of the World Pole Vault Center in Formia, where the 24-year-old Obiena was locked down for practically the entire 2020.

Obiena and his training partner, Rio 2016 gold medalist Thiago Braz of Brazil, were forced to move camp after Covid-19 cases in southern Italy escalated in recent months.

“It is stricter here, but the good thing is I can

still train well,” Obiena said.

With six months to go before the July 23 to August 8 Tokyo Games, Obiena said he is embracing all opportunities to polish his skills.

“I’m on a good roll but the Olympics is still far away. So I’m just taking it one day at a time,” he said.

Obiena was away from his family during the holidays, something that’s no longer unusual since has been out of the country training or competing in the last six years.

“It’s a part of sacrifices. I’m doing my job here, I want to give pride to the country,” he said.

Competitions are in hibernation during winter with Obiena and Braz keeping themselves in shape indoors.

Obiena clinched seven medals, including one gold, in crowd-less competitions in Europe last year. Annie Abad

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TANLEY PRINGLE was named Most Valuable Player of the Philippine Cup bubble, Scottie Thompson hoisted the Sportsmanship trophy and Prince Caperal was the Most Improved Player—individual awards Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Head Coach Tim Cone credited to all of his wards dedication and hard work.

“I am genuinely proud and happy for our guys. All those guys that won the awards put in the work day-to-day and the awards are well-deserved,” Cone told BusinessMirror on Monday.

The Philippine Basketball Association presented special individual awards—in lieu of the Leo Prieto Awards—to outstanding players for the shortened 45th season that was played inside the Clark bubble late last year.

The other awardee of note was Norman Black’s son Aaron (Meralco) who emerged as the top rookie.

“Usually in the PBA, individual awards are often a function

of team success. So we’re looking for more of both in the upcoming conference,” added Cone, who is hoping to lure back 7-footer Greg Slaughter.

“No doubt, Greg [Slaughter] is a huge impact player on our team. He changes the way we can play and gives us a level of versatility most other teams cannot match,” Cone said.

“His presence in the middle makes his teammates around him better. I’m really looking forward to his return,” he added.

Slaughter skipped last season and went to the United States to polish his game.

Cone said that with their Philippine Cup success in Clark, he couldn’t wait to defend the crown in the 46th season tentatively set to start in April.

Pringle tallied 1,640 points to defeat Phoenix Super LPG’s guard Matthew Wright (1,578), while Thompson earned 2,360 to beat Terrafirma’s CJ Perez (2,069). The 6-foot-7 Caperal (2,447) was

pringle

Thompson

caperal

a runaway winner over Phoenix’s Justin Chua.

High-leaping Gin King Japeth Aguilar also made it to the Elite Five with Pringle, Wright, Calvin Abueva of Phoenix, and JP Erram of TNT Tropang Giga. Josef Ramos

LVPI’s Romasanta: I’m already retired

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ARONG Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI) President Joey Romasanta wanted to be part of the solution as Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) chief Edgardo “Tito Boy” Cantada opted to take an opposite route as efforts to unify volleyball in the country shifted to high gear.

Romasanta told BusinessMirror that he would no

longer seek any position in the new volleyball national sports association being formed by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and encouraged his colleagues to participate in the election set on January 25 at the East Ocean Seafoods Restaurant in Parañaque City.

“No entities should stand [in anything better or be sure it’s going to be better], but I’m not going to run for any position since I am already retired,” Romasanta said. “We sent Ariel [Paredes, LVPI secretary-general] there because we’re for unity and I don’t like to give the POC some problems.”

POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol”

the PVF’s facebook account, adding they couldn’t accept the involvement of Premier Volleyball League president Ricky Palou and Alliances Tolentino met with Philippine of Philippine Volleyball Inc.’s Ramon volleyball’s major stakeholders on “Tats” Suzara in the exercise.

Saturday in a hotel in Makati City But Tolentino said the unification to kick off a unification process process would go on uninterrupted. leading to a general election and an “We respect their decision but it’s romasanta official recognition of an NSA by the a missed opportunity,” Tolentino said.

International Volleyball Federation.

“However, we have to move on for the good of Cantada, on the other hand, expressed volleyball. We will still proceed.” his opposition to the unification effort on The POC, through membership and social media. accreditation head Atty. Billy Sumagui, worked “The terms and conditions set in on the legitimacy of clubs and stakeholders Saturday’s meeting at the Makati Shangrila on Monday. The filing of candidacy is set on Hotel were ‘unacceptable,’” Cantada said in Wednesday. Josef Ramos

Forum on PSC bubble

72 players in lockdown after virus cases on flights

HILIPPINE Sports Commission (PSC) National Training Director Marc Velasco and Karate Pilipinas Inc. President Richard Lim share the spotlight in Tuesday’s online session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum.

Velasco will give his inputs about the bubble training for three national sports associations (NSAs) at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna, in preparation for their respective Tokyo Olympics qualifying tournaments.

Lim, whose NSA is among those in Laguna, will also talk about the karatekas’ bid for an Olympic berth as well as the postponed Sixth Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games of which he is the chef de mission of the Philippine delegation.

The 10 a.m. session is presented by San Miguel Corp., Go For Gold, Milo, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Powered by Smart and Upstream Media as official webcast partner, the forum is livestreamed via the PSA Facebook page fb.com/PhilippineSportswritersAssociation and also shared by Radyo Pilipinas 2 Facebook page.

HE number of players in hard quarantine swelled to 72 ahead of the Australian Open after a fifth positive coronavirus test was returned from the charter flights bringing players, coaches, officials and media to Melbourne for the season-opening tennis major.

That means they won’t be allowed to leave their hotel rooms or practice for 14 days, creating a two-speed preparation period for the tournament.

Other players in less rigorous quarantine will be allowed to practice for five hours daily.

Australian Open organizers confirmed late Sunday that the latest case involved a passenger on the flight from Doha, Qatar, to Melbourne who was not a member of the playing contingent, But all 58 passengers, including the 25 players, now cannot leave their hotel rooms for 14 days.

There were already 47 players, including Grand Slam winners, in hard quarantine after three positive tests were returned from a charter flight that arrived from Los Angeles and one from a flight that departed Abu Dhabi.

Some players have expressed anger at being classified as close contacts merely for being on board those flights with people who later tested positive. That classification has forced them into a harsher isolation than the broader group of players.

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Kicking it virtually Vincent Juico @VJuico, Instagram vpjp_j, vince.juico@gmail.com

SPORTS WITHOUT BORDERS THE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and Chooks-to-Go 3x3 Pilipinas weren’t the only successful bubble leagues last year. The Philippines Football League (PFL) had its own successful bubble despite infections on several players at the start of the shortened season.

Last Saturday, I was invited to attend the PFL’s virtual kickoff to start the 2021 season.

Five representatives from the six teams were present. There was no representative from the Azkals Development Team (ADT).

On hand were team owners Eric Gottschalk of 2020 PFL champion United City Football Club (UCFC), Anton del Rosario of Maharlika FC and Kaya FC Media Officer Jing Jamlang, who represented the club until General Manager Paul Tolentino came onboard. Manager (head coach) Ernie Nierras of Stallion Laguna FC and

Karl Tan, a board member of Mendiola FC, were also there.

Tolentino’s father Noel passed away the day before so webinar moderator Cedelf Tupas asked everyone to offer a minute of silence to pay their respects to a person whom, Anton del Rosario said “Philippine football lost a good man in Noel Tolentino.”

Many topics and subjects were covered from updates from each of the teams to training and preparation for the season to offseason acquisitions.

UCFC signed up Anthony Pinthus as their No. 1 goalkeeper. There were reports that Pinthus will start for the national team replacing Neil Etheridge once the season resumes.

Vaccines and inoculating players were discussed. Gottschalk and Tolentino will not

But local government, tennis and health authorities have said all players were warned of the risks in advance.

“There’s been a bit of chatter from a number of players about the rules—well, the rules apply to them as they apply to everybody else, and they were all briefed on that before they came and that was a condition on which they came,” Victoria state premier Daniel Andrews told a news conference Monday. “There’s no special treatment here...because a virus doesn’t treat you specially.”

Responding to reports that eight-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic had proposed a list of ideas to change the quarantine conditions for players, Andrews said: “People are free to provide lists of demands but the answer is no.”

Players have been warned that breaching of the rules could result in heavy fines or being moved to a more secure quarantine complex with police stationed at their doors.

Victoria state’s Covid-19 quarantine commissioner Emma Cassar told a news conference Sunday that some people were “testing” or challenging the quarantine procedures, but there’d been “zero tolerance for that behavior.” AP force players to take the vaccine but they will replace players who don’t want to get vaccinated with players who want to. Tan, del Rosario and Nierras thought that it is something that needs to be discussed. Some of the vaccines reportedly have side effects and any decision made has to be guided by science, medicine and government regulators.

Gottschalk said that players may not be allowed to sign a contract unless they get vaccinated first. My question was “do the players pay for the vaccine? Do the teams have the resources to subsidize the vaccination of players? Could the league or the PFL pay for at least part of the vaccination?”

The most interesting part of the webinar was the discussion of a “joint tryout” amount the six teams. The purpose of the joint tryout is to widen the net cast in search of more talent especially in the countryside.

Talent identification is another reason for the joint tryout but what if two teams want the same player? Anton del Rosario opined that this may lead to an eventual draft system for the league.

The PFL could do a football combine for players who want to get drafted into the league.

Will a joint tryout bring parity to the PFL? We’ll see.