BusinessMirror January 20, 2022

Quarantine leave pay tough for biz–Concepcion

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad Tyronepiad

& Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

P

RIVATE companies must only pay for half of the paid isolation and quarantine leave program given the financial difficulties brought about by the pandemic, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Maria A. Concepcion said.

In a statement on Wednesday, Concepcion said the private sector might find it challenging to shoulder the entire cost of the paid leaves due to Covid-19 infection of the employees.

The Department of Labor and

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Employment (DOLE) issued an advisory earlier this week urging employers to implement paid quarantine leaves for workers, in addition to their existing benefits, as a financial safeguard amid the pandemic.

Govt ready to pay if….

On Wednesday, the DOLE said the government is ready to pay for the quarantine leaves of workers once the necessary law for it is passed by Congress.

In fact, Labor Assistant Secretary Dominique R. Tutay disclosed they even sought the inclusion of an additional P3 billion in their 2022 budget specifically to provide such benefit.

“We saw the situation in 2020

and 2021 when many people exhausted their leave credits. So as part of our foresight while we are preparing for the 2022 budget, we proposed the paid pandemic leave,” Tutay said in an online press briefing.

She noted workers who had used up all their leave credits, but still got quarantined or affected by lockdowns end up with a no work, no pay rule.

Unfortunately, she said their proposed budget did not even make it to the level in Congress since it was already removed by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) from the 2022 National Expenditure Program.

She noted they are currently

backing the passage of the pending legislation, which will institutionalize quarantine leaves.

Ideally, she said the quarantine leave should be shouldered by private companies to make it sustainable; however, since many businesses are still reeling from the pandemic, she noted the government could pay for the additional benefit.

“The problem is if you provide a new social security to workers, it will be paid by the establishments and their workers. But since many [companies] have yet to recover [from the pandemic], the government might as well provide [the See “Quarantine,” A2

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Thursday, January 20, 2022 Vol. 17 No. 104

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SLOW FISTC ROLLOUT DUE TO ‘STRONG’ PHL BANKS F n

Full banking services not yet restored in storm sites

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

IVE asset management companies have been set up since the enactment of the law almost a year ago allowing the creation of these entities to enable banks and other credit-granting institutions to offload bad loans and non-performing assets they have accumulated during the pandemic.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said two of these five Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer Corporations (FISTCs) are 100-percent Filipinoowned while the rest have Japanese and Swiss investors.

In a report to Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, the SEC said both the Philippine Equitable Recovery FIST-Asset Management Corporation (AMC) and Philippine Recovery Company FISTC- AMC Inc. are 100-percent Filipino-owned.

Meanwhile, those with foreign investors are: Argo Global Servicing Philippines (FIST-AMC) Inc., owned by Argo Global Investment Co., LTD, a Japanese corporation; Resurgent Capital (FISTCAMC) Inc. which has China Bank Capital Corp., a domestically registered investment banking subsidiary of China Banking Corporation, among the incorporators; and Collectius FISTC-AMC Private Limited Corp., which is wholly owned by Switzerlandbased Collectius 2 AG.

By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

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A CHILD gets vaccinated against the coronavirus, and gets free entrance to the newly renovated Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden, on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, in Malate, Manila. The zoo is eyed as a vaccination site for children aged five to 11 in preparation for the national government’s vaccine rollout for minors. NONIE REYES

PANDEMIC SEEN BEHIND CAUTION ON HAVING KIDS

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

T

HE job losses, business closures and the overall uncertainty created by the pandemic may have discouraged Filipino couples from having children in the past year, according to the Commission on Population and Development (Popcom).

In a virtual briefing of the Philippine Press Institute on Wednesday, Population and Development Undersecretary Dr. Juan A. Perez III said preCovid-19, having a child would take up as much as a third of a couple’s savings, if they had any.

If not, they would tend to borrow this amount.

See “Slow,” A2

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 51.3200 n JAPAN 0.4478

Perez told the BusinessMirror this cost, which only computes the cost of having a newborn, likely increased due to the pandemic. Buying personal protective equipment will already cost P500 each.

“That study was done preCovid and referred to a newborn member of the family. That has not been updated,” Perez said. “The issue may be whether such savings still exist or may have been used up because of joblessness/underemployment during Covid.”

Perez said another issue that could come into play is the increase in the cost of living in recent years. Between 2018 and 2021, the cost of living nationwide increased by 15 percent.

However, the increase was not uniform. In some regions, Perez said, it was higher at 25 percent (Region 3 or Central Luzon), but only 4 percent in others (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM).

This, he said, could see the cost of having a newborn to slightly increase or remain the same at a third of a couple’s savings, depending on where the couple resides.

“Yes, [there could be] a slight increase. Health costs may have also gone up independently due to the need for testing and PPEs,” Perez told the BusinessMirror.

Apart from the cost of bringing new life into the world, housing remains a concern,

particularly during the pandemic.

Perez said the average size of homes in the country is 20 square meters.

This makes it difficult to encourage couples to have children. The small living spaces are already an issue in terms of maintaining social distancing and more so, if there is another person or child added to the household.

Fear of virus

FOR St. Luke’s Medical Center Psychiatrist Bernadette Monteclaro Manalo, the fear of contracting the virus also discouraged Filipinos from being intimate.

She said the pandemic “kills See “Pandemic,” A2

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) confirmed on Wednesday it is still working with banks in the Visayas to restore full banking services more than a month after Typhoon Odette ravaged the islands.

In a statement, the BSP said in the interim, affected banks have reported to the BSP that they have adopted shortened banking hours following power, telecommunication, and Internet disruptions caused by the typhoon.

To fast-track their return to full operations, the BSP also reported that affected banks are working currently with utility companies and other web service providers.

“The BSP also advises residents and consumers in these areas to adopt e-banking and digital payment services when possible and transact in banks and branchlite units located in nearby areas where services are fully operational,” the BSP said.

“The banking community in affected areas looks forward to the immediate full restoration of utility and Internet services that will enable the resumption of banking operations,” it added.

Reports from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) showed that damage to agriculture caused by typhoon Odette hit P7.684 billion while damage to infrastructure hit P16.9 billion.

Aside from banking disruptions and damages, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno earlier said supply disruptions and agricultural damage from Typhoon Odette will likely result in a “temporary uptick in the prices of food items and other necessities over the near term.”

“The BSP will incorporate the typhoon’s impact into its projections once firm estimates become available,” Diokno said.

n UK 69.7798 n HK 6.5866 n CHINA 8.0772 n SINGAPORE 37.9979 n AUSTRALIA 36.8580 n EU 58.1404 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.6788

Source: BSP (January 19, 2022)

News BusinessMirror

A2 Thursday, January 20, 2022

Pandemic...

Continued from A1

the mood” as the health protocols and other routines that Filipinos need to do before entering their homes to prevent their families from contracting the virus are cumbersome.

Manalo said the pandemic has also “killed the spontaneity” of being intimate. She said during the pre-Covid times, it was possible for couples to just go to a nearby motel or hotel to be intimate.

But these days, there are protocols and planning is often involved to follow these health SOPs. This makes it difficult to go on spontaneous dates with significant others.

Popcom earlier said the Philippine population is expected to achieve a historic record-low growth in 2021, as the total number of Filipinos is projected to increase by only 324,000 for the entire year—just a 0.3-percent increase compared to 2020.

This annual “natural increase” is the lowest since the period between 1946 and 1947, when the population grew by 254,000. As such, Filipinos will number 109.99 million at the end of 2021—lower by 2 million than earlier projections based on a 1.63-percent population growth rate (PGR).

Popcom also noted that the natural increase in population in 2020 was 914,797 with reference to PSA’s vital statistics, which placed the population at the end of 2020 at 109,667,216. The natural increase in population that year was 0.79 percent.

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200K workers displaced by AL 3 to get P5,000 in DOLE cash aid

By Samuel P. Medenilla

A

@sam_medenilla

ROUND 200,000 workers who were displaced by the Alert Level 3 declarations from the government in its bid to contain the surge in Covid-19 infections are expected to get cash aid from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Labor Assistant Secretary Dominique R. Tutay said they have submitted the guidelines for their Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) this year

to Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III for approval.

DOLE allocated P1 billion for its latest round of CAMP to provide beneficiaries a one-time

Anti-Marcos…

Continued from A12

He drew attention to page 29 of the 32-page ruling, where Presiding Commissioner Socorro B. Inting wrote: “Petitioners’ propensity to mislead is at once apparent in their act of branding the case faced

by Respondent in the RTC and CA as TAX EVASION CASES. This phrase is clearly a misnomer. These cannot be rightfully termed as tax evasion cases because Marcos was merely charged with violation of

P5,000 financial aid.

“Once it is signed we will give ourselves two days for publication of the guidelines and hopefully by next week we can start the rollout,” Tutay said in a virtual press briefing on Wednesday.

Tutay said the program will be available for workers who lost their jobs due to the permanent closure of their firms and retrenchment, as well as those affected by the temporary closure of their establishments.

She said the beneficiaries of their first two CAMPs last year will not be able to avail themselves of their CAMP 2022 unless they once again became unemployed or temporarily displaced this year.

In a related development, Tutay said the DOLE also allocated another P50 million, for the implementation of CAMP, to

Section 45 which is failure to file income tax returns and Section 50 which is payment of taxes to which he was later acquitted with a definitive finding that there was no tax evasion as he was subjected to the withholding tax system.”

Rodriguez likewise invited Carpio to “ponder on” pages 2930 of the Decision: “It somehow becomes ironic when we realize the thought that herein Petitioners accuse Respondent Marcos of misrepresentations while they themselves are guilty of supposed misrepresentations in this very same proceeding.”

Rodriguez concluded: “This notwithstanding, we once again extend our hands of unity as we look towards the future and hope that they will join us in cultivating love of country, instead of promoting a culture of hatred and divisiveness.”

Earlier, the Marcos camp noted how the Comelec had liberally treated the apparent deviation from technical rules, with Inting writing: “Since the instant petition, which is one for cancellation or denial of due course of a COC invoked grounds for disqualification, the instant petition should be summarily dismissed. We shall nevertheless relax compliance with the technical rules of procedure and proceed to discuss the merits if only to fully and finally settle the matter in this case because of its paramount importance.”

Continued from A1

The petition, filed by a group of Marcos critics represented by former Supreme Court spokesperson Te, was aimed at preventing Marcos Jr. from running for President in the upcoming 2022 national elections.

The Marcos camp noted how the ruling cited the petitioners’ attempts to mislead the poll body with allegations and misrepresentations of facts and wrong quotations of certain provisions of the law.

“Petitioners shamelessly cited a certain provision denominated as Section 254 of the 1977 NIRC which they alleged such provision punishes those who fail to file an ITR fine of not less than P10,000 ‘AND’ imprisonment. However, a careful reading of the actual Section 254 of the 1977 NIRC shows that it refers to rentals and royalties and mineral lands under lease,” read another portion of the Second Division’s ruling.

The petitioners’ invocation of Section 254 of the NIRC to make it appear that imprisonment is mandatory punishment “reeks of deliberate intent to deceive or mislead the Commission,” another portion of the ruling read.

Commissioners Antonio T. Kho, Jr. and Rey E. Bulay concurred with the ruling, which lamented what it called an “obvious clutching at straws,” or a desperate attempt, by the petitioners to convince the poll body to cancel the CoC of Marcos Jr.

funds] for now,” Tutay said.

DOLE issued the statement amid calls from labor groups for Congress to pass a law, which gives workers paid quarantine leaves.

While the law is pending, DOLE issued an advisory encouraging companies to voluntarily provide paid quarantine and isolation leaves to their workers.

Concepcion, however, said, “In times like this, we in business are not doing well. Some who are doing well will consider this but let’s be flexible those who cannot. But those who can even support with half, that would be great help.”

Still, he backed the initiative, while insisting it should be only voluntary.

“This is one initiative that needs to be supported by all fronts. Secretary Bello’s directive is very commendable as it directly addresses some concerns of our workers, especially this pandemic,” he added.

For one, Concepcion said infected workers will be given assurance they will not lose their salaries when they go into isolation.

“The main concern of our workers is they won’t be paid their salary when they undergo quarantine. Bello’s order would allay that worry as they are now assured of their daily wage while in isolation,” he explained.

In addition, employees will be encouraged to honestly disclose their health status, he said, which is crucial given that some choose to not share if they are experiencing Covid-19 symptoms to avoid losing income as a result of isolation.

“This order, if implemented by private sector employers, would also help quell the spread of Covid-19 among our work force,” Concepcion explained.

The Go Negosyo founder also appealed to the private sector to heed the Labor department’s advisory for the sake of the employees who are “risking their lives” to help keep the economy afloat.

In issuing the advisory, DOLE cited the Labor Code of the Philippines and Occupational Safety and Health Standards Law. “The paid isolation and quarantine leaves shall be without prejudice to other benefits provided by the Social Security System and the Employees’ Compensation Commission,” the advisory read.

In addition, employees who are deemed close contact, suspect, probable or confirmed case are required to undergo home- or facility-based quarantine in accordance with memorandum issued by government agencies.

a FISTC cannot be a one-person corporation.

Where land and foreign equity participation are concerned, a FISTC shall comply with the provisions of the Constitution and the minimum capital requirements under the Foreign Investments Act. Apart from approving the establishment of FISTCs, SEC is also tasked to monitor their operations as well as review and approve the issuance of their Investment Unit Instruments (IUIs). These IUIs refer to participation certificates, debt instruments, or similar instruments issued by the FISTC and subscribed by qualified investors.

According to the Department of Finance (DOF), the SEC also said in informal discussions with the banking sector that it found the slow rollout of the FISTCs was attributable to the continued strength of the Philippine banking system amid the pandemic.

The SEC estimates the current non-performing loan (NPL)

ratio for Philippine banks at 4.43 percent as of November 12, 2021, which is less than double the prepandemic NPL levels and much less than the ratio during the Asian financial crisis.

“Unlike during the Asian [financial] crisis, in general, Philippine banks remain well-capitalized and liquid. Hence, there is less pressure for banks to liquidate NPLs or NPAs for cash,” the SEC said.

Moreover, the SEC said foreign investors need not go far from their home jurisdictions to invest in distressed debt given that the Covid-19 pandemic is global in scope, unlike the Asian financial crisis, when most of the proponents of the SPVs were foreign funds that were interested in opportunities to invest in distressed Asian debt, including the NPLs/ NPAs of Philippine banks.

Instead of focusing on banks, the SEC said the FISTCs may need to turn their attention to other Philippine credit-granting institutions, such as financing, lending, and microfinance companies.

The SEC said it plans to discuss this concern with the Investment Houses Association of the Philippines (IHAP) and the Philippine Finance Association (PFA).

specifically cover tourism workers displaced when the National Capital Region (NCR) was placed under Alert Level 3 this month.

She said around 10,000 tourism workers are expected to benefit from the one-time P5,000 CAMP benefit.

“The P50 million is dedicated for tourism sector workers and they are already excluded from the P1 billion CAMP,” Tutay said.

Tutay said they will start implementing the program as soon as their Joint Memorandum Circular with the Department of Tourism (DOT) is signed.

DOLE earlier reported a total of 11,586 permanently displaced workers and 2,344, who were affected by temporary closure of establishments from January 1 to 15, 2022, when the government started raising the Alert Level in NCR and other parts of the country.

Slow…

Continued from A1

To cushion the impact of the pandemic on the financial sector, President Duterte signed the FIST law in February last year to allow banks and other financial institutions to offload nonperforming assets (NPAs) by selling them to asset management firms, to be known as FISTCs, so they could lend more to pandemic-hit businesses.

To encourage FISTCs to acquire the financial institutions’ soured loans and NPAs, the new law provides for tax exemptions and lower fees on certain FISTrelated transactions.

Under the FIST law and its implementing rules and regulations, the SEC should approve the establishment of FISTCs and the reconfirmation of existing special purpose vehicles (SPVs) as FISTCs.

According to the law, a FISTC is a stock corporation that shall have a minimum authorized capital stock of P500 million, a minimum subscribed capital of P125 million, a minimum paid-up capital of P31.25 million. However,

Quarantine…

The Nation BusinessMirror

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DOH records 492 Omicron variant cases on Wednesday

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

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HE Department of Health (DOH) recorded on Wednesday additional of 492 Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant cases, of which, 332 were local cases, 115 Delta (B.1.617.2) variant cases, and one Alpha (B.1.1.7) in the latest batch of whole genome sequencing done last January 13-14, 2022.

There were two deaths, the first ever reported in the Philippines, among Omicron cases, according to DOH. “There were two reported deaths among our Omicron cases. Both were detected during the latest whole genome sequencing. Both deaths were aged more than 60 years, unvaccinated, and had pre-existing medical conditions,” DOH said.

The DOH said that based on the report of the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC), the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), out of the 714 samples sequenced, 68.9 percent were Omicron, 16.1 percent were Delta, and 0.1 percent was Alpha.

ROF factor

THE 492 Omicron variant cases are composed of 332 local cases and 160 Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs).

Of the 332 local cases, the indicated addresses of the cases were from the National Capital Region with 227 cases, Calabarzon with 76 cases, Central Luzon with 11 cases, Central Visayas with five cases, while there were two cases each from Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, and the Cordillera Administrative Region, and one case each from Ilocos Region, Mimaropa, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Based on the case line list, aside from two deaths, three cases are still active, 467 cases have been tagged as recovered, while there are 20 cases whose outcomes are still being verified.

While Omicron mostly presents with asymptomatic and mild disease, the DOH data shows that those most

at risk for fatalities are still the elderly and those with comorbidities and are unvaccinated.

There are now 535 confirmed Omicron variant cases in the country.

Rise of new PMA ruling class? Batch ’89 ‘mistahs’ assume key military positions

By Rene Acosta

Delta

OF the additional 115 Delta variant cases, 88 were local cases and 27 were ROFs. Based on the case line list, two cases are still active, two cases have died, and 107 have been tagged as recovered, while there are four cases whose outcomes are still being verified.

This update brings the total number of confirmed Delta variant cases to 8,612.

Alpha

AN additional local Alpha variant case has been tagged as recovered.

The total number of Alpha variant cases is now 3,170.

Follow health protocols

WITH the high transmissibility of the Omicron variant and the increasing number of Covid-19 cases, the DOH urged the public to follow protective health protocols and adhere to minimum public health standards.

The DOH said that new protocols based on science and data such as shortened intervals for booster shots, childhood vaccination, shortened quarantine/isolation periods for fully vaccinated health-care workers without symptoms, and targeted testing, among others, were put in place to mitigate the risks of the Omicron variant.

Likewise, the public is strongly encouraged to comply to ensure the safety and protection of the entire community.

Lastly, the department encourages all eligible individuals, especially senior citizens, those with comorbidities, and children to complete their primary series of vaccines and get their booster shots.

Getting vaccinated, the DOH stressed, is still the best line of defense when it comes to fighting and preventing severe and critical disease.

“Regardless of the variant, we must always keep our guards up against the enemy that is Covid-19,” DOH said.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Thursday, January 20, 2022 A3

@reneacostaBM

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RESIDENT Duterte has designated five senior military officers to key positions in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) just four months ahead of the national and local elections.

Most of the officers are members of the Philippine Military Academy Class (PMA) of 1989, whose appointments were defended by the military leadership amid criticisms from certain sectors, saying it was the natural outcome of the retirement of other officers.

Major Gens. William Gonzales and Ernesto Torres Jr. have been designated as the Inspector General (IG) of the AFP while Torres was named as the new commander of the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom).

Both members of PMA Class 1989, Gonzales was the former com-

mander of the Army’s 11th Infantry Division based in Sulu, while Torres was the former commander of the 10th Infantry Division (ID) based in President Duterte’s region.

Gonzales, whose designation as the IG became effective on January 17, will replace the Acting IG, Brig.

Gen Joseph Ferrous Cuison, according to military spokesman Col. Ramon Zagala.

Cuison assumed the position in acting capacity following the retirement Lt. Gen. Franco Nemesio Gacal on December 8, 2021, Zagala added.

Torres was designated by Duterte as commander of the Nolcom effective January 7 and would replace the acting commander, Major General Andrew Costelo who is also the current commander of the 7th ID. Costelo assumed the leadership of the Nolcom following the retirement of Lt. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos on December 1 last year.

Duterte also named Major Gen. Nestor Herico as the incoming commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps, Rear Admiral Alberto Carlos as the incoming commander of the Western Command and Rear Admiral Rommel Anthony SD Reyes as the deputy chief of staff of the AFP. Herico, member of PMA Class of 1988 and the vice commander of the Navy, will assume as the chief of the Marines on February 21, 2022 upon the retirement of Major Gen. Ariel Caculitan.

Carlos, a graduate of the US Naval Academy Class of 1989 and the commander of the Philippine Fleet, will replace Vice Admiral Ramil Roberto Enriquez upon his retirement on January 24.

Reyes, on the other hand, will assume as the deputy chief of staff of the AFP upon the retirement of Vice Admiral Erick Kagaoan on February 25. Reyes, also a member of PMA

Villanueva: Covid-19 SRA should also ‘Money mule’ rising in cover pharmacists in vaccine centers scams PHL, bank warns

By Butch Fernandez

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@butchfBM

EN. Joel Villanueva took up the cudgels for pharmacists doing Covid-19 vaccine jab work, stressing they too should be receive special risk allowance (SRA).

“Pharmacists and other personnel in private drugstores who will serve as Covid-19 vaccination centers must receive the benefits granted to health workersunderthe2022nationalbudget and other laws,” the senator stressed.

In a news statement issued on Wednesday, Villanueva asserted that “frontline health workers fighting against Covid should be entitled to and receive every benefit that the government can provide. It is their right, and the very least we can do to honor their dedication to end the pandemic.”

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor reminded that “if the workers get infected while doing their work, they should get free

medical care and receive monetary compensation. This is what the law and common decency tells us to do,” he stressed.

Moreover, Villanueva recalled that under the General Appropriation Act for 2022 passed by Congress, health-care workers who get sick with Covid-19 shall receive P15,000 in compensation for mild or moderate cases; P100,000 for severe or critical; and P1 million if resulting in death.

He added that while workers in private pharmacies are not demanding pay for “the valuable public service they will be doing, it behooves upon the government, however, to offer them some form of honorarium, prodding fellow lawmakers: Let us emphasize the ‘honor’ in the ‘honorarium,’ considering the risks they face at work.”

The senator suggested that the required funding “can be sourced from the P51 billion in the 2022 national budget for Covid-19 duty pay and

medical care of public and private health-care workers.”

Villanueva recalled that some P9 billion of that amount is “immediately releasable,” adding that “the P42 billion can be financed by excess revenues or new loans.”

He noted that in a move to entice more people to get vaccinated, the Duterte administration tapped selected private drugstores as vaccination sites, with pharmacists administering the vaccine.

Hailing the move “as a good way of getting more people jabbed by making it easily accessible to the community and hopefully, not a daylong ordeal,” the lawmaker suggested that “the more professionals joining the bakuna brigade, the sooner we will be able to meet our goal of inoculating 100 percent of the target population by the first week of May, and the sooner they get back to a healthy working environment.”

Vaccine’s rocky journey in PHL shows why fast end to Covid is threatened

By Andreo Calonzo Bloomberg News

A

FTER losing her son to Covid-19 last year, 79-year-old Tomasa Valdez was desperate to get vaccinated. But on the remote Philippine island of San Salvador, where she lives, there were no shots to be had.

Getting to the mainland, where vaccines were available, meant a boat ride that was arduous at her age and expensive given Valdez’s meager income from drying sea grass which she sells for less than P100 ($1.95) a sack. Help only arrived in December 2021—10 months after the Philippines began its national Covid vaccination program and about a year after Western nations like the US and UK started theirs.

Even then, health workers had to travel via a wooden motorized boat, ferrying heavy vaccine storage equipment across the choppy South China Sea. “Vaccines really have to be brought closer to the people, not the other way around,” said Noel Bueno, the doctor who inoculated Valdez.

While lack of supply was the biggest threat initially to the vaccination programs of developing nations, now it’s logistics.

Places like the Philippines are now struggling to get shots into the arms of their citizens, mil-

Class of 1989, is the current IG of the Navy.

“These appointments speak of the integrity of the selection system of the AFP, given the outstanding performance and extensive experience of these officers that made them earn the trust of the AFP Board of Generals and the approval of the President to perform the duties and responsibilities entailed in the new positions given them,” Zagala said.

Some officers however raised questions on the appointments. For one, Kagaoan still has more than a month in service, and yet his successor has already been named, which they said is “unusual” in the military.

“There are no more deliberations.

The Board of Generals [BOG] has bogged down. Turo na lang dito, turo na lang diyan, and it was tolerated by the Secretary of [National] Defense,” one officer said.

lions of whom live on distant archipelagos or far-flung mountain tops, underserved by roads, transport and basic infrastructure.

Developed countries are getting to the point where they are choosing to live with Covid and treat it as endemic, their hospital systems insulated by higher vaccination rates. But logistical issues continue to bedevil the rollouts of poorer countries, becoming one of the world’s biggest public health challenges as the pandemic enters into its third year.

The Philippines has one of Asia’s lowest vaccination rates, with only about half of its population receiving two shots, according to the Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker. Its limited and costly testing apparatus, fragmented tracing program and fragile health system have made it hard to stamp out outbreaks despite several economically devastating lockdowns. In recent days, the country has posted record daily case increases, potentially due to the spread of the ultra-contagious Omicron strain.

The hurdles that developing nations face in widening the reach of their inoculation programs—which can extend beyond logistics to issues of vaccine hesitancy and social media rumors—are likely to stymie global efforts to contain the virus. New strains can proliferate in under-vaccinated populations and lengthen the pandemic as the emergence and spread of the Delta and Omicron variants in India and Africa have shown.

Developing nations face a “combination of challenges in hard infrastructure in the form of trucks, freezers but also soft infrastructure in the form of logistics staff,

vaccine administrators, and adequate planning,” said Prashant Yadav, a senior fellow at the Washington and London-based Center for Global Development, who specializes in supply chains. “But these are all surmountable barriers and we have managed to overcome them for the Ebola vaccine, and many other outbreak vaccines.”

While the US government and international agencies have begun efforts to support developing countries, more high-income countries need to step in, he said. “Remote regions have poorer health-care infrastructure in terms of oxygen, ICU beds so if someone does get severe Covid the ability to treat them is weaker,” Yadav said. “From that standpoint it becomes important to reach remote areas early.”

To help address these logistical woes, the US, through its Agency for International Development, pledged $315 million for mobile vaccination sites for hard-to-reach rural areas, and to invest in cold-storage facilities.

For much of last year, developing nations faced difficulty getting access to the most effective vaccines, which were initially hoarded

by Western countries for their own use. The Philippines first relied on shots from China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd., which have been shown to be less potent than the mRNA shots being used in the US, particularly against the Omicron variant.

But in recent months, many of its supply problems have eased and the Philippines now has a stockpile of shots. More mRNA vaccines from Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc. are now being administered in the Southeast Asian country, particularly to young people. But its logistical challenges have lingered.

Other low- and middle-income nations are grappling with challenges of their own. In Asia, India is pushing to get shots to its vast, impoverished countryside, while Indonesia’s vaccine

drive is hampered by the difficulty of reaching people spread across its thousands of islands.

In sub-Saharan Africa, poor trade and transport infrastructure could destroy vaccines, and further derail the region’s already slow shot rollout, the African Development Bank’s chief research economist Eugene Bempong Nyantakyi and Professor Jonathan Munemo from Salisbury University in Maryland have said.

Only around 8 percent of Africans were fully vaccinated as of late last year.

“No journey is more critical to determining the fate of a pandemic than the distance a vaccine must travel from the production line to a person’s arm,” the researchers said in a report published on the International Monetary Fund’s website late last year. “In sub-Saharan Africa, the last mile of this important race is all-important.”

Nations from Asia to Africa are attempting to get creative and stretch their limited budgets to bring vaccines to isolated areas. The government in Ghana partnered with a startup to use drones to ferry tens of thousands of Pfizer-BioNTech shots to its remote countryside.

In Malawi, where less than 5 percent of the population is fully vaccinated, health workers drive vans from UNICEF to bring shots to remote rural areas.

Back in the Philippines, local officials in the central city of Tacloban are now dangling P100 transportation fares for those from remote areas who have to travel to get vaccinated, Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin said over the phone.

Despite delays, residents from isolated areas like sea-grass merchant Valdez are thankful for these efforts.

“I can finally walk along the shore to collect sea grass, without having to worry about getting very sick from Covid,” she said, smiling as she finally held her vaccine card, more than two months after her son’s death.

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ANK of the Philippine Islands has flagged rising cases of criminals using another person’s bank account to launder money.

“Money mules,” or depositors who facilitate the transfer of illegal funds in behalf of someone else, have increased in the last two years amid a rapid shift to digital transactions, BPI said in a news statement issued on Wednesday. East West Banking Corp. earlier issued a similar advisory.

Criminals advertise on social media, seeking persons with existing accounts or asking them to open digital financial accounts for use in money laundering. “Some accounts are being sold for thousands of pesos for usage,” BPI chief digital officer Noel Santiago said, adding their stories and delivery are “so compelling and attractive.”

The surge in digital transactions has also resulted in rising credit card fraud, an industry group said earlier.

Central Bank Governor Benjamin Diokno on Monday asked senators to pass a bill protecting financial consumers as cybercrime has increased markedly during the pandemic.

“When someone offers to pay you a commission to simply transfer or deposit money into your bank account, you could be unwittingly acting as a money mule,” East West Bank said, warning clients that they can get up to seven years of jail time and a fine of up to P3 million pesos ($58,250). Bloomberg News

PPC employees get booster jabs

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OSTMASTER General Norman Fulgencio of the Philippine Post Office (PPC) has announced that they have conducted and administered the first batch of booster jabs on 1,000 post office frontline personnel and their eligible dependents with the assistance from Presidential Adviser for Covid-19 Response Secretary Vince Dizon and the City of Manila under the leadership of Mayor Isko Moreno.

Another 2,500 doses will be allocated for the second batch of post office employees and their eligible dependents on February 3. “At the start of the year, a total of 3,500 booster shots has been allotted to post office employees and their families which is necessary to protect them against Omicron variant of Covid-19.”, Fulgencio said.

He added, “getting a Covid Vaccine booster shot gives public confidence that we are serving, including post office personnel and letter carriers they are dealing with are fully vaccinated with booster, erasing fear and doubts of acquiring the virus”.

A4 Thursday, January 20, 2022 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

DOTr eyes DOF loan facilitation for P142-B Bicol railway project

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

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FTER signingaP142-billioncontractpackage for the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Bicol Project this week, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is now coordinating with the Department of Finance (DOF) for the facilitation of the official development assistance (ODA) package to fund the said deal.

The agency tapped the joint venture of China Railway Group Ltd., China Railway No. 3 Engineering Group Co., Ltd., and China Railway Engineering Consulting Group Co., Ltd. (CREC JV), for the design, construction, and electromechanical works for the project.

Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy Batan explained that Chinese ODA packages require a signed contract first before the request for a loan, unlike packages from the Asian Development Bank and the

Japan International Cooperation Agency.

“Since for China ODA projects, the contract comes before the loan, the contract that we signed does not become effective until the loan agreement with China becomes effective,” he said.

The deal involves the construction of the first 380 kilometers of the PNR Bicol from Banlic, Calamba to Daraga, Albay, crossing 39 cities and municipalities, four provinces, and two regions.

“Generally, China may finance up to 85 percent of the contract amount, with the balance to be funded by local counterpart budget. The final terms of the loan, including the percentage that will be financed by China, will be subject to loan negotiations by DOF,” Batan said.

The contract also involves the construction of 23 stations, 230 bridges, 10 passenger tunnels, and a 70-hectare depot in San Pablo, Laguna.

“For our kababayans in the South who have dreamt of this project for so long, we are finally seeing the light of day. This milestone is a huge leap

towards realizing this long-awaited project—the PNR Bicol or the South Long Haul Project. We are grateful to our development partners from China forsupportingusinthisendeavorandbelievingthat the Filipino people deserve an improved quality of life,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

For his part, PNR General Manager Junn Magno said the group will put prime focus in starting the project, which, he said, will provide greater convenience to commuters.

“We welcome this development full of enthusiasm as we will be working with rail experts known for their efficiency and speed in building long haul railways. This, along with our earnest goal to provide comfort and convenience to our commuters, will make this dream project a reality,” he said.

The PNR Bicol Project consists of several contracts, involving the construction of a total of 565-kilometer railway that runs from Metro Manila to Sorsogon and Batangas.

DepEd told to tap P559-million FLO budget to address skills, learning gap

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O close the skills and learning gaps in the country, a leader of the House of Representatives on Wednesday asked the Department of Education (DepEd) to use the P559 million under Flexible Learning Options (FLO) to expand resources and dedicate teachers to the Alternative Learning System (ALS).

House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda said the ALS “can help close the skills gap, which we estimated at 2.4 million workers, due to Covid-19 school lockdowns, and the reduce the impact on the economy of such a gap, which we estimated at P134 billion annually last year.”

“The economic costs of delaying school by one month to be 0.5 to 0.7 percent of GDP [gross domestic product] this year, and 0.3 to

0.4 percent of GDP for the entire productive life of this generation of students,” he said.

“The learning gap is serious, especially as we are one of the few countries left in the world that has not yet reopened most of its schools.

It doesn’t look like a crisis yet, but if you leave it without any concerted national government effort, you will see its economically debilitating impacts once this generation begins to graduate in college,” Salceda explained.

According to Salceda, the pandemic likely forced many to stop from their classes, and many others will likely have to work to pay off pandemic debts.

“A logical conclusion regarding increased poverty due to the Covid-19 pandemic is that we need to increase access to the Alternative Learning

System. This has been one of the most effective anti-poverty measures of the DepEd. More poverty means a greater need for ALS,” Salceda said.

“The ALS has been a very attractive path for learners who cannot afford to go to conventional school, but want to attain diplomas.

That source of demand has increased during the pandemic,” he added.

Under the 2022 General Appropriations Act, Salceda said the government allotted P559 million under Flexible Learning Options for the implementation of ALS Programs, which includes the delivery of ALS services, ALS Community Learning Centers, and for transportation and teaching aid allowance for ALS teachers and ALS community implementors.

Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

www.businessmirror.com.ph

More harm than good? Gordon urges govt to review ‘no vax, no ride’ policy

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

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HILIPPINE Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Senator Richard J. Gordon appealed to the Duterte administration on Wednesday to carefully study the implementation of its “no vaccination, no ride” policy, stressing that the rule may do more harm than good and may be perceived as anti-poor.

Gordon said that the move denying the unvaccinated from using public transportation, though conservative, “could further impoverish those who are allergic or have no access to vaccinations.”

“The restrictions of mobility may be thought of as harsh. Since it is important that we open up the economy, we cannot prevent freedom of movement, especially that of the poor who strongly depend on public transportation to get vaccinated, go to work, or purchase goods,” Gordon said.

The first challenge, he said, is ensuring that all Philippine residents are vaccinated.

The PRC chairman cited that in a country of 110 million Filipinos, only 55 million have been vaccinated. Of the remaining population, 33 million are ineligible children, thus leaving 22 million still needing inoculation.

If it took more than 10 months to vaccinate 55 million people since March 2021, Gordon pointed out, and it may take at least another five months to vaccinate the remaining 22 million.

He added that the second challenge is providing vaccinations to those who have little access to “Bakuna” centers due to transport, mobility, or medical issues.

“The third challenge is assuring an uncorrupted database of all those who have been vaccinated. Already, there is talk of unvaccinated people producing their own fake vaccination cards,” he said.

Instead, Gordon proposed that the government implement a three-step program to address these challenges to keep everyone safe, yet not curtail their freedom of movement.

1. 100 percent vaccination—work with the Department of Trade and Industry and local government units to visit workplaces,

schools, churches, neighborhoods, subdivisions, and other institutions to find out who have not been vaccinated and why. If it is due to lack of access or other mobility issues, the government can ask the Philippine Red Cross Bakuna Buses or other agencies to complete inoculation by bringing the service to the people.

2. Proper documentation—the government should ensure that the vaccination database is clean. A nationwide QR database can be used on mobile phones like those used for contract tracing. An individual who cannot be inoculated due to medical reasons can secure a medical certificate and register with the local government unit which will issue an official certification. Reasons other than medical can be validated.

3. Implementation of health protocols —Everyone should be required to wear a well-fitted high quality mask that covers the nose to the chin. If someone does not have a mask, the government may give free or subsidized masks. The government should also continue to educate the population regarding physical distancing and frequent hand washing, and implement the same in all public places.

Gordon asserted that the key is prevention.

He also stressed the importance of testing even when one is fully vaccinated.

Although 97 percent of cases are mild and asymptomatic, the 3 percent who may have vaccine failure or poor immunity need to be protected.

He stressed that testing should be conducted regularly and when there are symptoms just to be certain we don’t become spreaders to the unvaccinated especially the vulnerable children and seniors.

He said that there are many testing centers to choose from, but as they become busy, resulting in delayed release of results or discouraging those afraid of crowds, home testing such as saliva or antigen tests can be encouraged.

The PRC is also offering the most affordable RT-PCR swab tests, and can provide an alternative lower-priced RTPCR saliva test which is also available for home service.

Groups oppose Cebu City plan to build waste-to-energy facility

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N V IRONMENTA L g roups on Wednesday slammed the plan of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to install an incinerator waste-to-energy (WTE) facility that will convert the huge volume of garbage produced in the city and nearby towns into energy.

Such project, the group Philippine Earth Justice Center (PEJC) alleged, would only exacerbate the public health and the ecological crisis caused by climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Establishing WTE facilities is an extremely expensive and dirty solid waste management method which will cause more harm to the environment and accelerate climate change. Cebu City’s strategy on climate and post-disaster resilience should be based on ecological and sustainable principles. We urge Mayor Rama to rethink and scrap his plan of putting up a WTE facility in the city and consider instead investing

in renewable energy sources,” PEJC’s Atty.

Kristine Joy Argallon said.

The EcoWaste Coalition believes Cebu City will end up shouldering a heavy financial burden by entering into a contract with the contractor/provider of the WTE facility.

“Typical WTE contracts have decadeslong terms and contain lock-in provisions that will bind the city to expensive and onerous obligations for a long time. This is an unnecessary expenditure of public funds on a system that is dangerous to public health and the environment. The city’s strategy should be based on a robust implementation of programs that focus on waste minimization, materials recovery and recycling. We hope Mayor Rama and the Cebu City Council will scrap the wasteto-energy plans for the city and reconsider their approach to waste management,” Atty. Lievj Alimangohan of the EcoWaste Coalition said. Jonathan L. Mayuga

Southern Tagalog business community elects governor

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HAMBERS of Commerce and Industries in the Southern Tagalog Region have elected a business and civic leader fromSanPabloCity,Lagunaasthenewregional governor.ElectedwasRomeoB.Race,President and CEO of Matrix Master Marketing, the biggest distributor of Universal Robina Corporation products in the region, who will serve a term of two years beginning January 2022.

Race, who will lead and monitor the activities of local chambers in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan, said the local chambers are the voices of the business community in their respective provinces and cities. They mostly focus on supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), promoting entrepreneurship, generating investments for their localities, making local products and services competitive in the local and foreign

markets, and adhering to business ethics.

Race served as President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce in San Pablo City.

Under his watch, the local chamber won Outstanding Chamber Awards in the South Luzon Area and the Asia-Pacific Region. He was an Outstanding Citizen Awardee of San Pablo City in the field of business.

Race is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Friends of the Seven Lakes Foundation, Chairman of the Advisory Council of San Pablo City Police Station, Vice Chairman for Peace and Order of the Laguna Provincial Police Office, Member of the Board of Regents of the new Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng San Pablo, Vice President for Apostolate of the Cathedral of St. Paul The First Hermit, Member of the Board of Directors of the San Pablo City Red Cross, and a Past National President of the Association of Apex Clubs of the Philippines.

News BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Thursday, January 20, 2022 A5

US-bound travelers required to present negative viral test 24 hours before travel

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome

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RAVELERS from the Philippines to the US are now required to present a negative viral test from Covid-19 taken within 24 hours before flight and because of that, they should ensure with their testing provider first if they can commit to deliver to release the results hours before their flight, the US Embassy in Manila announced on Wednesday.

In an advisory, the Embassy said this newest timeframe for test requirement will be imposed to travelers two years and older, regardless of vaccination status and citizenship.

The Embassy said PCR or antigen

tests are available for US citizens in the Philippines but “may be limited, and test results may be delayed, because of an increase in demand for Covid-19 testing.”

“Testing capacity and the ability to provide timely results prior to travel may be constrained in certain locations in the Philippines. US citizens may experience delays in scheduling Covid-19 antigen and RT-PCR tests, as well as delays in delivery of results from these tests, due to a recent significant increase in demand for Covid-19 testing. These delays, which have occurred in other countries during spikes in Covid-19 infections, could continue for the next two

to four weeks,” the Embassy said in a separate advisory.

To prevent further delays in testing, Americans are likewise advised to review the requirements of their testing provider, including identification cards and payment options. They are also directed to check if their testing provider of choice is accredited by the Philippine Department of Health: https://doh.gov.ph/licensed-covid-19testing-laboratories.

If travelers to the US have just recovered from Covid-19 within 90 days prior to their flight, they may be exempted from the 24-hour viral test. Instead, they will be required to provide documentation from a li-

censed health-care provider that they have recovered from coronavirus and the positive Covid-19 viral test result on a sample taken no more than 90 days before the flight’s departure from the Philippines.

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention had earlier required all foreigners—except US lawful permanent residents, or holders of immigrant visa—coming to the US to be fully vaccinated.

The US is imposing stringent measures following a surge of cases brought by the Omicron variant worldwide. The US likewise has registered an average of 700,000 to 800,000 Covid-19 cases daily.

PHL LOGS ADDL 22,958 COVID CASES; TOTAL INFECTIONS RISE TO 3,293,625

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

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HE Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday logged additional 22,958 Covid-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 3,293,625.

There were also 36,611 recoveries and 82 deaths. Of the 22,958 reported cases, 21,691 (94 percent) occurred within the recent 14 days (January 6

to January 19, 2022).

The top regions with cases in the recent two weeks were National Capital Region (7,861 or 36 percent), Region 4A (4,647 or 21 percent) and Region 3 (2,049 or 9 percent).

Of the 82 deaths, 56 occurred in January 2022 (68 percent), eight in October 2021 (10 percent), 15 in September 2021 (18 percent), one in July 2021 (1 percent), 1 in May 2021 (1 percent), and 1 in January 2021 (1

percent) due to late encoding of death information to COVIDKaya.

This issue, the DOH said, is currently being coordinated with the Epidemiology and Surveillance Units to ensure information is up to date.

Of the total number of cases, 8.2 percent (270,728) are active, 90.2 percent (2,969,853) have recovered, and 1.61 percent (53,044) died.

There were 91 duplicates were removed from the total case count. Of

these, 64 are recoveries.

Moreover, 32 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation.

All laboratories were operational on January 17, 2022 but six labs were not able to submit their data to the Covid-19 Document Repository System.

Based on data in the last 14 days, the six labs contribute, on average, 1.5 percent of samples tested and 1.9 percent of positive individuals.

Bicam approves ‘stricter’ vape products regulation bill

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CONGRESSIONAL bicameral conference committee (Bicam) of the House of Representatives and the Senate on Wednesday approved the bill regulating the importation, manufacture, sale, packaging, distribution, use, and communication of vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products, as well as novel tobacco products.

The Bicam approval came after an extensive deliberation by the House contingent led by Deputy Speaker for Trade and Industry Wes Gatchalian and the Senate panel headed by Senate President Pro Tempore Sen. Ralph Recto, who ensured that recommendations made by concerned agencies and stakeholders were incorporated in the report on the disagreeing provisions of House Bill 9007 and Senate Bill 2239.

“Our proposed legislation will guarantee to place stricter regulation of [these products] and will prevent these products from being used in illegal activities, including drug smuggling,” Gatchalian said.

“It is our hope that the stronger and stricter measures imposed by the bill will deter unscrupulous individuals from using these products in their nefarious activities. And with stricter protocols in place, we are also optimistic that we will be able to catch and stop these illegal activities more quickly,” Gatchalian said.

Earlier, the deputy speaker said taxes that can be collected from these products could reach P20 billion.

During the hybrid conference meeting, House Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez stressed that the measure aims to offer an alterna-

tive for Filipinos who want to quit smoking.

For his part, Recto noted that while Congress intends to push for the shift from smoking to vaping, the bill does not back its promotion “as a lifestyle.”

The bill said posts, messages, or images by manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers that encourage the purchase and use of vape products would be prohibited.

Additionally, the Department of Health would be tasked to prescribe guidelines on the implementation of smoking and vaping restriction awareness campaigns. As for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), it would consult with the Food and Drug Administration in setting technical standards for the safety, consistency, and quality of

the vape products.

Also, manufacturers, distributors, importers, and sellers would then be given an 18-month transitory period from the issuance of the implementing rules and regulations to comply with the requirements of the measure. This would include the registration of the vape products with the DTI. The report would now be up for ratification by both the House and the Senate when sessions resume.

Other House members present were Deputy Speaker Kristine SingsonMeehan, Reps. Sharon Garin, Estrellita Suansing, Stella Luz Quimbo, and Alfredo Garbin Jr. The Senate panel was also joined by Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Minority Leader Franklin Drilon.

Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Obscure accounts’ to make Twitter rowdy pre-elections continued from a12 In the data, you saw, there’s a lot of suspended accounts so on hindsight, Twitter might help, but somehow the damage has been done because they were able to Tweet and contribute to a trending topic,” Gaw said.

“In that way, after being suspended, you are able to create new ones.

So, are there parameters that Twitter can do to increase the barriers in creating new accounts? Do you need a maturity threshold to be able to do a particular thing? So those are the things that I have read recently to minimize manipulation and harm

on platforms,” she explained.

Results

BASED on the results, in terms of indegree centrality which measures the popularity of users, politicians were the most interacted with on Twitter in the first and second quarters. They received the largest volume of tweets, retweets, mentions, and replies on the platform during the period.

In terms of out-degree centrality, whichmeasurestheamountofnoisecreated by Twitter users, obscure accounts have been very active on the platform in

the first and second quarters.

“Unidentifiable accounts, and accounts that have been suspended and have become inexistent during the period of classification have been generating more noise compared to other actors during Q1, and their networked activity significantly increased during Q2 compared to others,” Bunquin said in a presentation.

In terms of betweenness centrality, which is created by so-called bridge users or those linking two or more communities on Twitter, politicians do this best on the platform. They

serve as focal points for communities in the network.

Eigenvector centrality, which measures the impact of VIP accounts that havehighretweets,mentions,andreplies from other users, showed that socialmedia influencers and politicians serve as the focal point of attention from wellconnected accounts in the network.

“Influencers served as the center of attentionfromothercentralusersduring Q1followedbypoliticalactors.However, political actors took the lead during Q2, and influencers dropped further below news media,” Bunquin said.

BOQ unloads 3K ‘balikbayan’ travelers from quarantine hotels continued from a12 Covid-positive ‘balikbayans’

SALVADOR added, “There are approximately close to 1,000 positives remaining in quarantine,” in the National Capital Region alone.

“The Covid-positivity rate of returning overseas Filipinos [ROFs] is 10 to 14 percent,” he noted. As per IATF regulations, fully-vaccinated ROFs from yellow list countries, from which most balikbayans [homecoming Filipinos] belong, is on the fifth day of their quarantine stay. If they test positive, they are supposed to be transferred by BoQ to a government-approved isolation facility.

“Everyday BoQ has been trans-

ferring more than 150 ROF/OFW [overseas Filipino workers] positives from [quarantine] hotels to isolation facilities,” he said.

Meanwhile, Johanna (not her real name) said the lack of guidelines for quarantine hotels in the light of fullyoccupied isolation facilities affected her parents who recently arrived from Canada. “My dad tested positive as per day 5 swabbing. I could not talk to anyone with information.

Very confusing on what to do in such cases. No protocols or procedures listed down, so kanya-kanya tayo [to each his own]. There were no explanations or what.”

The reader was reacting to this

paper’s story that the Department of Tourism (DOT) could not issue guidelines regarding quarantine hotels being used as isolation facilities because BoQ had yet to issue its own protocols. (See, “Lacking BoQ guidelines, quarantine hotels cope with Covid-positive guests,” January 18, 2022.)

Johanna added, she had to send an SOS to her friends who finally hooked her up with BOQ, which “approved home quarantine for my parents because they literally have a house with no one in it anyway.

But the thing is, it should’t have to come to calling connections because there should be procedures already

for these cases. It was embarrassing I called my friends pa.”

Many ROFs, who had tested positive for Covid, had been complaining about being stuck in their quarantine hotels, thus going over their quarantine budgets. Isolation stays in government facilities are paid for by local government units or BoQ. The recent influx of ROFs and OFWs during the holiday season, many of whom tested positive, resulted in government isolation facilities becoming fully occupied. As a result, the IATF has approved the DOT’s recommendation that quarantine hotels let Covidpositive guests stay longer and isolate there. Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

A6

Thursday, January 20, 2022

The World BusinessMirror

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

WHO official says Covid-19 health emergency could be over this year

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ENEVA—The worst of the coronavirus pandemic— deaths, hospitalizations and lockdowns—could be over this year if huge inequities in vaccinations and medicines are addressed quickly, the head of emergencies at the World Health Organization said Tuesday.

Dr. Michael Ryan, speaking during a panel discussion on vaccine inequity hosted by the World Economic Forum, said “we may never end the virus” because such pandemic viruses “end up becoming part of the ecosystem.”

But “we have a chance to end the public health emergency this year if we do the things that we’ve been talking about,” he said.

WHO has slammed the imbalance in Covid-19 vaccinations between rich and poor countries as a catastrophic moral failure.

Fewer than 10 percent of people in lower-income countries have received even one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

Ryan told the virtual gathering of world and business leaders that if vaccines and other tools are not shared fairly, the tragedy of the virus, which has so far killed more

than 5.5 million people worldwide, would continue.

“What we need to do is get to low levels of disease incidence with maximum vaccination of our populations, so nobody has to die,” Ryan said. “The issue is: It’s the death. It’s the hospitalizations. It’s the disruption of our social, economic, political systems that’s caused the tragedy—not the virus.”

Ryan also waded into the growing debate about whether Covid-19 should be considered endemic, a label some countries like Spain have called for to better help live with the virus, or still a pandemic—involving intensified measures that many countries have taken to fight the spread.

“Endemic malaria kills hundreds of thousands of people; endemic HIV; endemic violence in

our inner cities. Endemic in itself does not mean good. Endemic just means it’s here forever,” he said.

Public health officials have warned it is highly unlikely Covid-19 will be eliminated and say it will continue to kill people, though at much lower levels, even after it becomes endemic.

Fellow panelist Gabriela Bucher, executive director of the anti-poverty organization Oxfam International, cited the “enormous urgency” of fairer distribution of vaccines and the need for largescale production. She said resources to fight the pandemic were being “hoarded by a few companies and a few shareholders.”

John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, decried the “total collapse of global cooperation and solidarity” over the last two years, saying it was “totally unacceptable” how few people in Africa have gotten vaccine shots.

His agency says only 10 percent of Africa’s 1.2 billion people are fully vaccinated.

He also sought to douse the belief among some that vaccine hesitancy is widespread in Africa, citing studies that say 80 percent of Africans were ready to get shots if the vaccines were available.

The comments came on the second day of the online alternative to the annual World Economic Forum gathering, which

was postponed over pandemic health concerns.

In speeches at the event, world leaders like Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett discussed approaches to the pandemic. He said his country, which quickly rolled out a widespread vaccination campaign, has a strategy of being “at the forefront of the medicines and the vaccines” against Covid-19.

Israel’s Health Ministry says 62 percent of people there are fully vaccinated, including with booster shots.

Citing advanced research in Israel, Bennett said, “We want to be first in the world to know how vaccines and the new variants respond to one another.”

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said his country had high levels of vaccination because society values protecting the elderly and the vulnerable. He plans to keep stringent border controls in place until the end of February.

He said he was trying to balance restrictions with keeping the economy open but that a “zero Covid policy against the Omicron variant is not possible nor appropriate.”

In a separate press briefing Tuesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the Omicron variant “continues to sweep the world,” adding there were 18 million new Covid-19 cases reported last week. AP

Russia deploys more troops amid fears of Ukraine invasion

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OSCOW—Russia is a sending an unspecified number of troops from the country’s far east to Belarus for major war games, officials said Tuesday, a deployment that will further beef up Russian military presence near Ukraine amid Western fears of a planned invasion.

Amid the soaring tensions, the White House warned that Russia could attack its neighbor at “any point,” while the UK delivered a batch of anti-tank weapons to Ukraine.

Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said the joint drills with Belarus would involve practicing a joint response to external threats.

Ukrainian officials have warned that Russia could launch an attack on Ukraine from several directions, including from its ally Belarus.

The US again stressed its concern Tuesday, with White House press secretary Jen Psaki describing the Russian forces’ move into Belarus as part of as “extremely dangerous situation.”

“We’re now at a stage where Russia could at any point launch an attack in Ukraine,” she said.

A series of talks last week between Russia, the US and NATO failed to quell the tensions over Ukraine. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Geneva on Friday in another attempt to defuse the crisis.

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday it has received a shipment of anti-tank weapons from the UK, noting that they will help “strengthen our defense capability.”

Russia already has started moving troops for the war games in Belarus.

Fomin said it would take through February 9 to fully deploy weapons and personnel for the Allied Resolve 2022 drills, which are expected to take place February 10-20.

Fomin didn’t say how many troops will be involved, but men-

A convoy of Russian armored vehicles moves along a highway in Crimea on January 18. Russia has concentrated an estimated 100,000 troops with tanks and other heavy weapons near Ukraine in what the West fears could be a prelude to an invasion. AP

tioned that Russia will deploy a dozen Su-35 fighter jets and several air defense units to Belarus.

The deployment would bolster an estimated 100,000 Russian troops with tanks and other heavy weapons who are already amassed near Ukraine.

Russia has denied that it intends to attack its neighbor but demanded guarantees from the West that NATO will not expand to Ukraine or other former Soviet nations or place its troops and weapons there.

Washington and its allies firmly rejected Moscow’s demands during Russia-US negotiations in Geneva and a related NATO-Russia meeting in Brussels last week.

Fomin said the drills in Belarus, which involve an unspecified number of troops from Russia’s Eastern Military District, reflect the need to practice concentrating the country’s entire military potential in the west.

“A situation may arise when forces and means of the regional group of forces will be insufficient to ensure reliable security of the union state, and we must be ready to strengthen it,” Fomin said at a meeting with foreign military attaches. “We have reached an understanding with Belarus that it’s necessary to engage the entire military potential for joint defense.”

Belarus’ authoritarian president, Alexander Lukashenko, said the joint maneuvers will be conducted on Belarus’ western border and in the country’s south, where it borders Ukraine. Lukashenko, who has edged increasingly close to Russia amid Western sanctions over his government’s crackdown on domestic protests, has recently offered to host Russian nuclear weapons.

A senior Biden administration official said the Russian troop deployment to Belarus raises concerns that Moscow may be planning to stage troops there to stretch Ukraine’s defenses with an attack from the north. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive issues, noted that the movement may also indicate Belarus’ willingness “to allow both Russian conventional and nuclear forces to be stationed on its territory.”

Amid the tensions, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday that it was speeding up efforts to form reserve battalions that would allow for the rapid deployment of 130,000 recruits to expand the country’s 246,000-strong military.

The United States and its allies have urged Russia to deescalate the situation by calling back the troops amassed near Ukraine.

“In recent weeks, more than

100,000 Russian troops w ith tanks and guns have gathered near Ukraine without an understandable reason, and it’s hard not to understand that as a threat,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters Tuesday after talks in Moscow with her Russian counterpart, Lavrov.

Lavrov responded by restating Moscow’s argument that it’s free to deploy its forces wherever it considers it necessary on its territory.

“We can’t accept demands about our armed forces on our own territory,” Lavrov said. “We aren’t threatening anyone, but we are hearing threats to us.”

Baerbock emphasized that the West was ready “for a serious dialogue on mutual agreements and steps to bring everyone in Europe more security.”

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Tuesday. He said “the main task now is to make progress on the political way forward” to prevent a military attack against Ukraine.

“NATO allies are ready to meet with Russia again, and today I have invited Russia and all the NATO allies to attend a series of meetings in the NATO-Russia Council in the near future to address our concerns but also listen to Russia’s concerns,” Stoltenberg said.

He added that NATO “in the near future” will deliver its written proposals in response to Russian demands and “hopefully we can begin meeting after that.”

“We need to see what Russia says, and that will be a kind of pivotal moment,” the NATO chief said.

Lavrov, meanwhile, reaffirmed that Russia wants a quick Western answer to its demand for security guarantees that would preclude NATO’s expansion to Ukraine and limit its presence in Eastern Europe. He repeated that in a phone conversation with Blinken, who will visit Ukraine on Wednesday and meet with Lavrov on Friday. AP

An Emirates jetliner comes in for landing at the Dubai International Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on December 11, 2019. Airlines across the world, including the long-haul carrier Emirates, rushed on January 19, to cancel or change flights heading into the US over an ongoing dispute about the rollout of 5G mobile phone technology near American airports. AP/Jon Gambrell

5G rollout disrupts inbound US flights from around the world

A

irlines around the world are adjusting their schedules and aircraft deployments for flights to the US over fears that a 5G rollout by AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. near American airports could interfere with key safety systems.

Dubai’s Emirates Airline said it will suspend flights to several US cities, including Chicago, Newark and San Francisco, while Japan Airlines Co. and ANA Holdings Inc. said Tuesday they will drop some routes and won’t fly their 777 jets to and from the US mainland after a warning from Boeing Co. Korean Air Lines Co. said its 777 and 747-8 aircraft are affected by the 5G service, and is rearranging its fleet. Air India Ltd. also warned flights to the US will be curtailed or revised from Jan. 19.

The concerns stem from potential interference with sensitive navigation equipment used during landings in poor weather, which a trade association representing major US airlines said could lead to “catastrophic disruptions.” Frequencies within the so-called Cband being used for the 5G services are near airwaves used by aircraft radar altimeters, which track altitude and allow landings in bad weather. They also feed multiple critical safety systems.

At least 25 flights operated by Boeing 777 jets to the US were canceled for Wednesday, according to data from flight tracking company Flightradar24.com. In addition to Emirates, Air India and the Japanese carriers, British Airways also canceled some flights and shifted to Airbus SE’s A380 and A350 jets, as well as Boeing 787s. Deutsche Lufthansa AG switched its aircraft to the 747-400 from 747-8 on the

Frankfurt-Chicago route.

Qatar Airways continues to operate all of its flights on 12 US routes as scheduled, with only minor delays expected on some return services to Doha, a spokesperson for the carrier said.

AT&T and Verizon agreed late Tuesday to delay switching on hundreds of 5G cell towers near US airports following last-minute talks with government officials over safety concerns. The companies, which spent more than $80 billion in a government auction last year for the rights, didn’t provide details on how long the suspension might last or the size or the zone around airports.

The Federal Communications Commission approved the transfer of the frequencies from other uses to the wireless companies last year after concluding there was no threat to aviation safety.

“The US made all possible spectrum available on a licensed basis to telecom operators,” said Vivekanand Subbaraman, an associate vice president at Ambit Capital in Mumbai. “Other countries have not done that. That’s why it’s turning out to be a US-specific issue.”

President Joe Biden said Tuesday the agreement will avoid “potentially devastating disruptions” to passenger travel, cargo operations and a recovery in the economy. Delta Air Lines Inc. still said it was preparing for possible weather-related cancellations starting as early as Wednesday if 5G signals cause limited interference with altitude instruments under certain conditions.

American Airlines Group Inc. didn’t immediately comment on the status of 777 flights scheduled Wednesday. Bloomberg News

Japan widens Covid curbs as Omicron cases surge

T

OKYO—The Japanese government will place Tokyo and a dozen other areas under new restrictions for Covid-19 effective Friday, allowing local leaders to shorten hours for eateries, as a surge in Omicron cases threatens to paralyze society.

A government-commissioned experts’ panel on Wednesday approved a plan to put the 13 areas under a three-week restraint through Feb. 13, said Economy Revitalization Minister Daishiro Yamagiwa, who is also in charge of virus measures.

Prime Minister Fumio K ishida is expected to officially announce the new measures at a government taskforce meeting later Wednesday.

Japan has so far resisted the use of lockdowns to fight the pandemic and instead has focused on requiring restaurants and bars to close early and not serve alcohol, and asking the public to wear masks and practice social distancing, as the government seeks to minimize damage to the economy.

Japan had been gradually expanding social and business activity since an earlier wave of infections subsided in September,

which experts say was largely due to the country’s rapid progress in rolling out the initial two doses of vaccines.

But experts say breakthrough infections by the Omicron variant are more common. The fastspreading variant has caused a number of medical workers and others to self-isolate after testing positive or coming into close contact with someone who has.

Sharply rising infections have already begun to paralyze hospitals, schools and other sectors in some areas.

The national government is taking action following requests by local governors, including Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, who raised alarms about the possibility of essential public services, such as public transportation and garbage collection, grinding to a halt.

Tokyo reported 5,185 new infections Tuesday. Nationwide, Japan has logged more than 32,000 cases, bringing its total to 1.93 million cases, with 184,00 deaths.

More than 134,000 patients are now quarantining or hospitalized for Covid-19, according to the Health Ministry. AP

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

HAN, FEI Project Coordinator 1.

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

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

10.

JIANG, LIN Project Coordinator 2.

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

11.

WARENDORPH, ESPEN WIIG Sr. Consultant - Business Process 3.

Brief Job Description: Provide consultancy services on Supply Chain and Inventory Management and Business Development

Basic Qualification: Post-graduate degree; at least 15 years extensive international experience in the telecommunications and IT industry, specializing in process optimization, product and system design integration, pricing, control development, project management, financial & market analytics, and network and infrastructure strategy development; published author on telecommunication matters; speaks English, Norwegian and French proficiently.

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

12.

LOUIS TAN HOW ANN E-commerce Consultant (Chinese Speaking) Brief Job Description: Provide chat support to clients.

13.

4.

Brief Job Description: Performs invoice processing, reconciliations, reporting, and helpdesk function related to accounts payable transactions of medium to high complexity

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

14.

15.

16.

5.

Brief Job Description: Plan, organize and execute marketing and sales programs

17.

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

XIONG, YANMEI Mandarin Site Technical Officer 6.

Brief Job Description: Diagnosing equipment malfunctions and performing repairs

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

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

7.

CHANG NHUC SIN E-commerce Consultant (Chinese Speaking) Brief Job Description: Provide suggestions to clients.

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

18.

8.

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

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

9.

LIEU THI LIEN E-commerce Consultant (Chinese Speaking) Brief Job Description: Provide chat support to clients.

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

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

NIE, FUSEN Field Sales Consultant 25.

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

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

ZHANG Q, WENJIA E-commerce Consultant (Chinese Speaking) Brief Job Description: Provide suggestions to clients.

Basic Qualification: Provide chat support to clients.

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

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

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

NGUYEN THI QUE GIANG HR Services Administrator-screening ServicesVietnamese 19.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for administering initiation and adjudication of medical/background checks and provide additional support.

TRAN XUAN Y Investigation Specialist I

20.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for a wide range of duties related to the investigation and elimination of online ecommerce risk.

PHAM VIET TRINH Seller Onboarding Associate

21.

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

22.

23.

Brief Job Description: Contribute in the implementation of marketing strategies; TRAN THI THUYEN Mandarin HR Officer Brief Job Description: Managing employee development and trainings.

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

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

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

CIMB BANK PHILIPPINES INC 28th Floor, Ore Central 9th Ave. Cor. 31st St., Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig LAIGHT, TREVOR RAYMOND Chief Risk Officer 26.

Brief Job Description: Chief Risk Officer will be responsible for the entire Risk Management of the Bank through overseeing the planning, implementation, and execution of policies and procedures to minimize, manage, and cover all risks undertaken by the Bank.

Basic Qualification: The candidate should have minimum of 15 years’ experience in risk management role, 10 years of which in a senior management position Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS PHILIPPINES, INC. 2nd, 3rd, And 4th Floors, Science Hub Tower 4 Bldg., Mckinley Hill Cyberpark, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig LOZANO NUÑEZ, LUIS ERNESTO Team Leader 27.

Brief Job Description: Maintain quality sla by supervising and providing timely and accurate reports

Basic Qualification: Spanish language expertise, strong business communication, analytical and presentation skills.

Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

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

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

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

28.

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

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

CHEN, KUO-MING Mandarin Speaking Marketing Specialist Brief Job Description: Develop and create marketing materials and collaborate with the internal teams.

XI, KAIHUA Product Delivery Specialist

29.

Brief Job Description: Provide remote technical support for CCTV or video surveillance projects, analyze local purchase, sale and inventory business, as well as compare competing products; and provide corresponding solutions to customers including output solutions in license plate recognition, face recognition and other projects.

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

30.

BAI, ZHENGKUI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

31.

32.

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

33.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer service & managing the needs of customer through phone calls and emails ZHAO, WENCHANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

34.

Basic Qualification: Must hold a bachelor’s degree in process equipment & control engineering or anything related; proficient in English and Chinese languages and is able to communicate with customers both in writing and verbal; and with at least 3 years working experience in project management in CCTV industry.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer service & managing the needs of customer through phone calls and emails

Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese with customers Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese with customers Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese with customers Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese with customers Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese with customers Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

DEXIN 999, INC. Red Hotel No. 345, Edsa Cor. Don Carlos Revilla St., Barangay 147, Pasay City

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

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer service & managing the needs of customer through phone calls and emails WANG, RUIXIN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

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

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer service & managing the needs of customer through phone calls and emails WANG, HAILIN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in Vietnamese language

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer service & managing the needs of customer through phone calls and emails LUO, XINYA Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in Vietnamese language

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

Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 DAXIFA CORPORATION Mpire Center 93 West Avenue, Project 7, 1, Bungad, Quezon City

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in Vietnamese language

Basic Qualification: Expertise in marketing and fluent in mandarin speaking

DAHUA TECHNOLOGY (HK) LIMITED (PHILIPPINE REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE) 19/f Marco Polo Ortigas Manila, Sapphire Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

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

BLUE NIGHT LIVING SERVICES INC. Blk. 18 Lot 3 My Town Milan, Kalayaan Ave., Pitogo, City Of Makati NGUYEN HOANG VAN Bilingual Marketing Officer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

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

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

24.

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

ALLIANTPRIME SERVICES INC. Unit No. Unit 2c Flr. No. 4f, One Ecom Center Building, Ocean Drive St., Moa Complex Subd., Barangay 76, Pasay City WAN, SONG Mandarin Field Marketing Officer

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

LIN, JIANWEN Field Sales Consultant

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

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

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

PARK, SUNGJUN Finance Process And Ops Analyst

No.

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

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Basic Qualification: Preferably a graduate of accountancy, finance, or any business-related course; fluent on both Korean and English language; must be knowledgeable with MS office tools.

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

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 ABM GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, INC. 4/f Sm Makati Cyberzone 1, 373 Sen Gil Puyat Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Brief Job Description: Provide suggestions to clients.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in business or related field of study; Competency in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, and Outlook; Knowledge of file management, transcription, and other administrative procedures or a related field; Good communication and interpersonal skills

LIN, YINGDONG E-commerce Consultant (Chinese Speaking)

A7

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

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

Thursday, January 20, 2022

CHANG SHENG SJENG Malaysian Customer Support Representative 35.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

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

BusinessMirror

Thursday, January 20, 2022

A8

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION GOH CHEK NENG Malaysian Customer Support Representative

36.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

JIN, ZELONG Mandarin Customer Support Representative

37.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

LIN, YU-HSIU Mandarin Customer Support Representative

38.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

WANG, XIAOHAN Mandarin Customer Support Representative

39.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

ZHAO, YULONG Mandarin Customer Support Representative

40.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MALAY and at least college level with related BPO experience.

No.

51.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

53.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

54.

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

41.

Brief Job Description: Investigate user problems and prepare reports for developers.

FANG, GENGCHUANG Mandarin Speaking Computer Support Specialist

42.

Brief Job Description: Investigate user problems and prepare reports for developers.

ZHAO, XIN Mandarin Speaking Computer Support Specialist

43.

Brief Job Description: Investigate user problems and prepare reports for developers.

Basic Qualification: Excellent speaking, writing and reading in Chinese

55.

WANG, JIANHUI Mandarin Site Technical Officer 56.

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

DENG, MINGJIE Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 44.

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

ZHANG, SENLIN Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 45.

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

FENG, CANJIAN Chinese Speaking Program Designer 46.

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

57.

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

58.

47.

Brief Job Description: *Studying company profile and operations to understand its marketing needs. * Implementing a marketing strategy according to objectives and budget.

YANG, CHIH-WEI Marketing Consultant (Mandarin Speaking Clients) 48.

Brief Job Description: *Studying company profile and operations to understand its marketing needs. * Implementing a marketing strategy according to objectives and budget.

Basic Qualification: *Preferably 6 months experience with the above position. *Can multi-task and keen to details. *Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently.

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

59.

49.

Brief Job Description: Collaborate with senior management as its relates to business growth, strategy and operational planning.

Meet call centre financial objectives by estimating requirements, preparing budgets, expenditures, analyzing variances

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

Brief Job Description: 1. Complete contract negotiation and contract signing for subsequent 4G/5G projects and all other projects of the carrier network.

2. Implement and execute policies to ensure the effective execution of carrier sales business strategies.

WU, KESONG Management Consultant For Home Broadband Project 60.

Brief Job Description: 1. In charge with network Insights on with regards to customer’s business planning, strategy, network stock problem.

2. Will handle customer requirements, and set goals based on network insight analysis.

CAO, YINGJIAN Customer Service Representative-Chinese Speaking 50.

Brief Job Description: Recommends potential or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs

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

Basic Qualification: Proven Working Experience in DIgital Marketing Particularly within the industry and Good Communication SKills.

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

Basic Qualification: Proven Working Experience in DIgital Marketing Particularly within the industry and Good Communication SKills.

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

Basic Qualification: Bachelors Degree with at least 3-5 years of working experience in the related field , fluent in mandarin

HARTONO Indonesian Customer Support Representative 65.

66.

67.

Basic Qualification: 1. Must be an experienced consultant for home broadband services.

2. Knowledgeable in sales and marketing management of network products. 3. Proficient in Smart ODN and Unistar for fiber network Planning.

4. Highly proficient in Chinese and English language.

WANG, QIAOQIAN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services

CHEN, SEN Chinese IT Support Specialist 68.

XIANG, XIA Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 62.

Brief Job Description: Assist/Help Customers, Give Customers Information about products and services

ZHANG, JIE Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 63.

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

Basic Qualification: With Atleast 6 Months Customer service experience Goodmin Oral Communication and Written

69.

70.

Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist (CITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

WENG, DANGSHENG Chinese IT Support Specialist

71.

Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist (CITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

ZHOU, JIE Chinese IT Support Specialist

72.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality it support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

GUNAWAN IT Support Specialist

73.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality it support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

HO MANH KHANG IT Support Specialist

74.

Brief Job Description: The IT Support Specialist (CITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

LAU VONG KIU IT Support Specialist

75.

Brief Job Description: The IT Support Specialist (ITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

TA THI DUNG IT Support Specialist

76.

Brief Job Description: The IT Support Specialist (CITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

TRAN QUY DUONG IT Support Specialist

77.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

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

Brief Job Description: The IT Support Specialist (CITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can speak and read Cantonese, Mandarin and Fukien language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Can speak and read Cantonese, Mandarin and Fukien language.

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

Basic Qualification: Can speak and read Cantonese, Mandarin and Fukien language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Can speak and read Cantonese, Mandarin and Fukien language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

J-NA ALLOUT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORP. 3/f Lipams Bldg., #48 President Avenue, B. F. Homes, City Of Parañaque

CHA, JAEIN Korean Customer Service Representative 78.

Brief Job Description: Track main industry trends through blogs, micro blogs and forums.

JANG, JICHUL Korean Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 79.

INTEGRATED MARKET SERVICES (PHILIPPINES) INC. 568 Jenny’s Avenue, Wse #87, Maybunga, City Of Pasig

Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist (CITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

LI, SHIQI Chinese IT Support Specialist

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

Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist (CITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

HUANG, JIANLONG Chinese IT Support Specialist

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

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in INDONESIAN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

ITECHNO SPECIALIST INC. 24/f Yuchengco Tower I, Rcbc Plaza, Bel-air, City Of Makati

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

Basic Qualification: 1. With at least 3 years’ experience as a Contract Manager for a multinational firm.

2. Knowledgeable in designing contract solutions. 3. With strong international trade contract writing skills . 4. Highly proficient in Chinese and English language.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

YANG, XUEJING Mandarin Customer Support Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelors Degree with at least 3-5 years of working experience in the related field , fluent in mandarin

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

LI, JINGBING Mandarin Customer Support Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelors Degree with at least 3-5 years of working experience in the related field , fluent in mandarin

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in marketing and brand management, crossfunction and crosscountry or multi cultural leadership experience.

10 years experience in pharmaceutical/healthcare consumer/medical devices industry

INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION Ground, 2nd, 3rd And 4th Floor, Eight West Campus Mckinley West, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

Basic Qualification: Proven Working Experience in DIgital Marketing Particularly within the industry and Good Communication SKills.

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

Brief Job Description: Builds and retain customer base both principal partners and target healthcare professional that will enable to meet the growth in net sales/revenue and EBIT objectives of the Philippines health care business

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

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

INFOVINE INC. 8th, 9th, 10th/f Aspire Corporate Plaza Bldg., Macapagal Blvd. St., Zone 10, Barangay 76, Pasay City

GENX SPORTS & MEDIA PRODUCTION CORP. 26th And 27th Flr. Eastwood Cyber One Bldg., Eastwood City Cyberpark, No. 188 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave. 3, Bagumbayan, Quezon City

Basic Qualification: Proven Working Experience in DIgital Marketing Particularly within the industry and Good Communication SKills.

64.

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

61.

SHORE, DOMNIC Assistant Vice President - Call Center Operations

Basic Qualification: Proven Working Experience in DIgital Marketing Particularly within the industry and Good Communication SKills.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ANNAMALAI, RAJAN KUMAR Assistant General Manager

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

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

GENPACT SERVICES LLC 5f Genpact Bldg., Cyberzone Northgate, Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa Basic Qualification: Previous experience gained within Call center / Contact Centre along with management experience.

Outstanding negotiation, interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.

Brief Job Description: Assist in the monitoring and supervision of site work to ensure compliance of technical specifications contractual and statutory as well as safety regulations requirements including stipulated quality of equipment and workmanship

HUANG, PUZE Contract Manager For Network Carrier 4g/5g Project

Basic Qualification: *Preferably 6 months experience with the above position. *Can multi-task and keen to details. *Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently.

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

Basic Qualification: Proven Working Experience in DIgital Marketing Particularly within the industry and Good Communication SKills.

No.

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES PHILS. INC. U-5302, 53/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor., V.a. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

FLY ASIAN INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION Eighty One Bldg. Newport Blvd., Newport City Vab St., Barangay 183, Pasay City PAN, CHIEN-CHANG Marketing Consultant (mandarin Speaking Clients)

Brief Job Description: Assist in the monitoring and supervision of site work to ensure compliance of technical specifications contractual and statutory as well as safety regulations requirements including stipulated quality of equipment and workmanship XIONG, LIXIN Mandarin Site Technical Officer

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

Brief Job Description: Assist in the monitoring and supervision of site work to ensure compliance of technical specifications contractual and statutory as well as safety regulations requirements including stipulated quality of equipment and workmanship XIAO, XULIN Mandarin Site Technical Officer

DYNAMIC STUDIO TECHNOLOGY INC. 5th To 10th/f Platinum Tower Building, Aseana Ave. Cor. Fuentes Street, Baclaran, City Of Parañaque Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written

Brief Job Description: Recommends potential or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

HAMMERTIME CONSTRUCTION INC. Unit 203-s3 2nd Flr., Fbr Arcade Bldg., Loyola Heights, Quezon City

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

Brief Job Description: Recommends potential or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs

LIU A MAI Customer Service Representative-Vietnamese Speaking

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

Brief Job Description: Recommends potential or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs

YEOH HUA LUN Customer Service Representative-Malaysian Speaking

DIGIVIRTUAL TECH CORPORATION 7/f Ba Lepanto Bldg., 8747 Paseo De Roxas, Bel-air, City Of Makati CHEN, JIANKAI Mandarin Speaking Computer Support Specialist

Brief Job Description: Recommends potential or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs

LEONG KAH VUI Customer Service Representative-Malaysian Speaking

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

Brief Job Description: Recommends potential or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs

WEN, QING Customer Service Representative-Chinese Speaking 52.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION WEI, QINGWU Customer Service Representative-Chinese Speaking

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Brief Job Description: Track main industry trends through blogs, micro blogs and forums.

Basic Qualification: College graduate, speaks and write fluently (Korean, English) Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

Basic Qualification: College graduate, speaks and write fluently (Korean, English) Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION KIM, YONG TAE Korean Customer Service Representative

80.

Brief Job Description: Track main industry trends through blogs, micro blogs and forums.

LEE, KOUNWOO Korean Customer Service Representative

81.

Brief Job Description: Track main industry trends through blogs, micro blogs and forums.

RHEE, JAERYONG Korean Customer Service Representative

82.

Brief Job Description: Track main industry trends through blogs, micro blogs and forums.

YU, KOOKSANG Korean Customer Service Representative

83.

Brief Job Description: Track main industry trends through blogs, micro blogs and forums.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College graduate, speaks and write fluently (Korean, English) Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

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

84.

Brief Job Description: Your primary function is to help the company and its Chinese clients to generate more income for the company

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

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in chinese language

85.

Brief Job Description: Accomplishes construction human resource objectives by selecting, orienting, training, assigning, scheduling, coaching, counselling, and disciplining employees; communicating job expectations; planning, monitoring, appraising job contributions; recommending compensation actions; adhering to policies and procedures.

SHU, JUANRONG Purchasing Coordinator

86.

Brief Job Description: Inspecting stocks and reporting any faulting items or inconsistencies immediately updating and maintaining records of all orders payments and received stocks

WONG, PIK YEUNG Purchasing Coordinator 87.

Brief Job Description: Inspecting stocks and reporting any faulting items or inconsistencies immediately updating and maintaining records of all orders payments and received stocks

95.

Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin and english language both witten and verbal. Must familiar in expert planning and administrative writing and reporting skills

96.

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

MUDREAC, ION Chief Technology Officer 97.

88.

Brief Job Description: Understanding of tobacco industry environment.

Interprets and applies the strategic direction of the company within the hr function with specific focus on talent management, compensation and benefits, organizational effectiveness and hr administration.

Manage salary surveys, research local market practice to assess relationship to organization compensation philosophy, determining if and where action plans to address discrepancies should be made. Ensure hr and practices are aligned with the company’s culture, strategy objectives and standards and play a deliberate role in driving the business strategies meet organizational needs and comply with local legislation.

Basic Qualification: Qualification in hrm or psychology or business administration preferable.

At least 15 years of solid experience in human resources in an mnc, preferably in the consumer goods or pharma industry.

At least 10 years of managerial experience.

98.

89.

Brief Job Description: Customer service representative to manage customer queries and complaints.

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

PARK, GYURI Customer Service Representative 90.

Brief Job Description: Customer service representative to manage customer queries and complaints.

LEE, KWANGWON Operations Manager 91.

Brief Job Description: Operations manager in performing their duties, ensure proper staffing at all store

Basic Qualification: Must be bachelor’s / college degree in any fields, at least 2 yrs. of working experience in the related positions, ability to maintain high level of confidentiality Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

99.

92.

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

HERLINNA Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 93.

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

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

Brief Job Description: Provides customer service support to the organization by obtaining, analyzing and verifying the accuracy of order information in a timely manner.

PENG, JIAQIN Mandarin Customer Service Representative 100.

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

Brief Job Description: Provides customer service support to the organization by obtaining, analyzing and verifying the accuracy of order information in a timely manner.

LO, KIN MAN Chief Technology Officer

101.

Brief Job Description: Determining the technical strategy for Paymaya Group as an enterprise and for all its business units;Providing leadership in technology development, engineering, and enterprise infrastructure, with a clear focus on adding value through technical knowledge, intelligence, services, and capabilities; Developing various products and services and operating the corresponding technical infrastructure and systems;

No.

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

Basic Qualification: Minimum 10 years banking industry and minimum 3 years experience in team leadership

108.

109.

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

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a CTO or similar leadership role; 8 years working in a technological role.; 5 years of managerial experience.; Advanced technological skillset and a demonstrated history with technology.; Exceptional team management skills.; Excellent verbal and written communication.; Ability to delegate efficiently.; Extensive industry knowledge with an eye towards the future.

110.

XIONG, BIAO Technical Manager 102.

Brief Job Description: Develop and implement strategic and tactical management issues.

XIONG, GUOLONG Technical Manager 103.

Brief Job Description: Develop and implement strategic and tactical management issues.

Brief Job Description: Develop business proposals, analyze current and past expenses, develop creative strategies HUANG, CHUNYI Chinese Customer Service Representative

105.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests and maintaining database LIN, SHUANGJIN Chinese Customer Service Representative

106.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests and maintaining database MIN, LI Chinese Customer Service Representative

107.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests and maintaining database

Brief Job Description: Consultant for specialized cranage & lifting equipment, and maintenance

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

Basic Qualification: Degree of Mechanical Engineer

IWAKI, SOKICHI Technical Consultant On Special Projects Brief Job Description: Project consultant for development of new clients.

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Korean, English and Tagalog, human capital development course

111.

Brief Job Description: Assist in performance management processes, develop training and development programs

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

TOENEC PHILIPPINES INCORPORATED 4/f Valderrama Bldg., 107 Esteban St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati MORI, TAKEYA Project Manager 112.

Brief Job Description: Working with the construction team, architectural / design team and clients. Responsible for negotiating and maintaining the balance between design goals, projects schedules and project financial performance.

Basic Qualification: Graduate of engineering courses. With relevant experience in main office on toenec corporation in japan in the construction industry, bother commercial and industrial.

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

TRIVES TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION Tower 4 Bayport West, Naia Garden Residence, Naia Road, Tambo, City Of Parañaque TANG, YU Mandarin Customer Support Representative 113.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

XU, CAIXIA Mandarin Customer Support Representative

114.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

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

VASTLINE BUSINESS SUPPORT INC. U-504p Five E-com Ctr. Bldg., Pacific Drive, Barangay 76, Pasay City Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin

SHI, SHUCHENG Mandarin Field Marketing Officer 115.

Brief Job Description: Foster human relationship through communication and distribution of marketing

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

VOLENDAY INC. U1406 14/f Pacific Star Bldg., Sen. Gil Puyat Cor. Makati Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati WANG, JIAJIA Smartcare Civil Electrical And Mechanical Employee 116.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for data; guide the team to complete the transformation; have basic command of the big data; responsible with the data standards; responsible with big technologies

Basic Qualification: To provide consulting, technical and advisory services Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

VPC CORPORATE SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 11/f 100 West, Sen Gil Puyat Ave. Cor., Washington St., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: Excellent in reading, writing and speaking Vietnamese

DANG AI XUAN Vietnam - Speaking Customer Service Officer 117.

Brief Job Description: Responsible to resolve queries of the Malaycustomers through email and chats

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

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or related field; minimum of 5 years’ experience in management; fluent in mandarin/basic English.

XUSHENG TECHNOLOGY CORP. Flr. No. 1-5 Bldg., No. 0050 F.b. Harrison St. Cor. Williams And Roberts St. Zone 4, District 1, Barangay 13, Pasay City

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

118.

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or related field; minimum of 5 years’ experience in management; fluent in mandarin/basic English.

RIGHT CHOICE FINANCE CORP. 5e-1 Electra House Bldg., 115-117 Esteban Street, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

104.

Basic Qualification: Previous experience in cranes & heavy lift, sales, project planning and implementation

HONG, SELIM Hr Officer

DO THUY DUONG Bilingual Technical Support

119.

Basic Qualification: College Graduate Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Deals with hardware and application support queries and issues reported to the support desk PHAM TUAN ANH Bilingual Technical Support

120.

Basic Qualification: College Graduate Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Deals with hardware and application support queries and issues reported to the support desk NGUYEN DINH KHUONG Bilingual Technical Support

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

CHOI, KEUNJOO Business Lending Development Officer

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

THE CLEAN O2 ECO-FRIENDLY CORPORATION Unit 17c Kensington Place, 1st Avenue Corner 29th Street, Crescent Park West, Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 PHILIPPINES E-SKY COMMUNICATION INC. Unit E-1905a East Tower, Psec Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

Brief Job Description: Overseeing daily business activities and improving overall business functions.

TECHNUS PHILS. CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION Unit G 5/f Strata 100 Bldg., Don F. Ortigas Jr., Road Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate. Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, Taiwanese Language.

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

At least 2 year experience related to the position.

Basic Qualification: Business Management Degree; Management and Decision-Making skills.

AHRENS, GUNDOLF Technical Consultant

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

Basic Qualification: College Graduate. Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, Taiwanese Language.

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

At least 2 year experience related to the position.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

SYSPRO BPO INC. Royal Cargo Building, Sta. Agueda Ave., Pascor Drive, Santo Niño, City Of Parañaque

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing in bilingual language

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION ZHU, CHONGLIANG General Manager

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

PAYMAYA PHILIPPINES, INC. 6/f Launchpad, Reliance Cor. Sheridan, Highway Hills, City Of Mandaluyong

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

DUAN, XIBIN Chinese Speaking Admin Associate

Brief Job Description: Collecting, analyzing, updating, and summarizing the market trends

HUANG, PEIJIE Mandarin Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Must be bachelor’s / college degree in any fields, at least 2 yrs. of working experience in the related positions, ability to maintain high level of confidentiality Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

ONPOINT CORP. Unit Ug-11 Ug/f Cityland 10 Tower 2, 154 H.v. Dela Costa Cor. Valero Sts., Bel-air, City Of Makati

MAGKING SERVICES CORPORATION Unit 5d Rose Industries Bldg., #11, Pioneer Street, Kapitolyo, City Of Pasig

JU, SUNGMIN Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage and oversee all strategic technology leadership for the business lines.

WILIANTI Bilingual Marketing Specialist

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Basic Qualification: Must be bachelor’s / college degree in any fields, at least 2 yrs. of working experience in the related positions, ability to maintain high level of confidentiality

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

NOONA BUSINESS CONSULTING SERVICES INC. 10th & 31st Floor Ore Central Tower, 9th Ave. Cor. 31st St., Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

JT INTERNATIONAL (PHILIPPINES) INC. Penthouse, W Office Building, 28th St. Cor. 11th Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig ARI WISNUBROTO People And Culture Director

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

A9

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NEURONCREDIT FINANCING COMPANY INC. Unit 1005,1605 Centerpoint Bldg., Julia Vargas Corner Garnet Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin and english language both witten and verbal. Must familiar in expert planning and administrative writing and reporting skills

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

ZHONG, LIUZHENG Chinese Speaking Admin Associate

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

Basic Qualification: With good oral and communication skills in English and mandarin language familiar in the field of construction works

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

QIU, MINGHAI Chinese Speaking Admin Associate

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

JIANGSU DIBANG CONSTRUCTION PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Unit 2106-a West Tower, Psec Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig HOU, YU Assistant Project Supervisor

94.

Basic Qualification: College graduate, speaks and write fluently (Korean, English)

Basic Qualification: College graduate, speaks and write fluently (Korean & English)

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LIU, RENJIE Chinese Speaking Admin Associate

Basic Qualification: College graduate, speaks and write fluently (Korean & English)

JDB MANAGEMENT AND CONSULTANCY CORP. 107 T & D House, Magallanes St. 069, Barangay 655, Intramuros, City Of Manila SUGIANTO Strategic And Facilitation Officer

No.

Thursday, January 20, 2022

Brief Job Description: Deals with hardware and application support queries and issues reported to the support desk TIAN, BAOYU Mandarin Speaking Technical Support

121.

Brief Job Description: Deals with hardware and application support queries and issues reported to the support desk

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

*Date Generated: Jan 19, 2022

Basic Qualification: College Graduate

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

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

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

Basic Qualification: College Graduate Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

SEALEY ENTERPRISES CORPORATION Unit 610, Pacific Century Tower, #1472-76 Quezon Ave. 4, South Triangle, Quezon City

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

A10 Thursday, January 20, 2022 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Kudos to the world’s best central banker

T

he Banker, an international monthly banking, finance, and business magazine owned by the Financial Times, recently named Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno as “Global Central Banker of the Year 2022” in recognition of his efforts to help stimulate economic recovery and growth for the Philippines amid the Covid-19 crisis. The BSP governor’s recognition as the best central banker in the world is the first for the Philippines.

The Banker’s awards honor officials who managed to stimulate growth and stabilize their economies. Diokno was chosen as the “Asia-Pacific Central Banker of the Year,” which means he was selected as the best central banker from the region. Afterward, he was selected as the “Global Central Banker of the Year,” beating fellow central bankers who won from their respective regions. They include Central Reserve Bank of Peru Chairman Julio Velarde for the Americas, Banque de France Governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau for Europe, Central Bank of Bahrain Governor Rasheed M. Al-Maraj for the Middle East, and Bank of Tanzania Governor Florens Luoga for Africa.

“I am truly honored to be named The Banker’s Global Central Banker of the Year. This award recognizes the effort we at the BSP have put forth over this past year—amid extraordinary challenges,” Diokno said. “While the entire world has been affected by the pandemic, the BSP has implemented policy responses to enable the Philippines to adapt to new ways of working, doing business, and living. Looking ahead, alongside my colleagues at the BSP, I will continue to work toward a stronger, more technologically savvy, more inclusive, and more sustainable Philippine economy.”

In a statement following the announcement, the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) congratulated Diokno for a well-deserved recognition. “Governor Diokno’s steadfast leadership motivated the banking industry to revolutionize its services, systems and operations to better serve the banking public in the midst of the global pandemic.

Through his thoughtful foresight, the banking sector was able to successfully navigate and surpass the adverse impact of the crisis, allowing the country to achieve positive growth in 2021 despite the continuing threat of the Covid-19 health crisis,” the BAP said.

“The BAP is strongly encouraged by the BSP governor’s openness and guidance as the industry jointly pursues various initiatives that promote inclusive and sustainable development. We are confident that the Bangko Sentral will continue to develop policies that will lead to a stronger and long-term economic recovery for the Philippines,” it added.

Throughout 2021 the BSP held a steadfast approach to monetary policy, which included measures to ensure ample liquidity in the financial system, support orderly functioning of the financial market, and boost market confidence. By the end of the year, the Philippines was well into the recovery process, aided by Covid-response measures from both the fiscal and monetary sides. ​Diokno said the BSP is committed to achieving its core goals of price and financial stability that strengthen the foundations for job creation and economic growth.

With the commitment of the world’s best central banker to maintain a strict focus on financial stability and economic resilience, and to continue crafting policies that will lead to a stronger and long-term economic recovery for the Philippines, the Filipino people are assured of opportunities for inclusive growth as we navigate the post-pandemic road to economic growth and prosperity.

Since 2005

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The window to public thought John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

J

oseph Overton was a senior vice president of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy and is known for conceiving the idea in the 1990s—posthumously called the Overton Window—classifying the range of policies politically acceptable to the mainstream public at a given time.

“Politically acceptable” moves from “Unthinkable” to “Policy” with a window including “Acceptable” and “Sensible” where politicians/ candidates can safely promote these ideas to the people and probably get elected. Overton stated that an idea’s political viability depends mainly on whether it falls within this range, rather than on politicians’ individual preferences of the idea being good or not.

Two examples would be passing a law allowing women to vote and more recently allowing recreational use of marijuana. These policies were sustainable in public opinion. Yet the prohibition of alcohol, which became acceptable policy eventually, moved outside the window of public opinion to basically “unthinkable”.

While the Overton Window is a relatively new idea, I think that over time we will see far-reaching consequences from an understanding of the concept. Daniel Hallin, professor of Communication at the University of California, San Diego has a theory of news reporting called “Hallin’s spheres”. These circles of reporting are characterized as consensus, legitimate controversy, and deviance. In the sphere of consensus, journalists assume everyone agrees.

The sphere of legitimate controversy includes the standard political debates, and journalists are expected to remain neutral, which, of course, rarely happens anymore. “Deviant” opinion is to be ignored.

If journalists and others like candidates/politicians are genuinely lis-

tening to the public, then it should be easy to know what is within the Overton Window of public thought.

But they are not, and that particularly applies to journalists who cannot seem to move outside the Hallin sphere of assuming “everyone thinks like we do”.

The Overton Window is always shifting. But governments and journalists in particular firmly believe that they have the power to move the window.

Yet in 2019, the quarterly poll of 1,200 Filipinos by Social Weather Stations returned a rating of “excellent” for Duterte’s three-year campaign against drugs, with 82 percent satisfied due to a perception of less drugs and crime. This was despite the negative opinions from the press and media. Conversely, in 2021 a poll of US voters showed that 83 percent of respondents believe the drug war to be a massive failure regardless of 50 years of government “propaganda” to the contrary.

Presidential candidates speak of “restoring the people’s trust in government”. Apparently, the campaign consultants see that campaign promise within the Overton Window of public opinion. Yet, in Q4 2021, a poll showed 67 percent said the country was “Maybe/Definitely” headed in the right direction. Duterte carried a 64 percent “Approval” and 54 per-

cent “Trust” rating.

Further, the Edelman Trust Barometer reported last month that “Public trust in governments running the world’s democracies has fallen to new lows”. Public trust in the German government is at 46 percent, with Australia at 53 percent. Meanwhile, Thailand with its “military” government—and “Facing Crackdown on Freedoms” according to the Western press—has a 66 percent trust rating.

Note that in 2011, the Philippine government had a general “trust” rating of 7 percent, according to The Philippine Trust Index of the EON Group. In 2021 the trust percentage is 76 percent.

You want to win elections? Then look at the window instead of trying to manipulate it. The same is true for making money. And the best “window” on the economy and the economic future is the stock market.

Apparently, according to certain quarters especially in the media, Facebook and Twitter have control over the minds of We the People, determine elections, and are trying to rule the world. The stock market is stronger and wiser than all of them.

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.

Harris still struggling to define herself one year in VP job

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By Alexandra Jaffe | Associated Press

ASHINGTON—President Joe Biden put the full weight of his presidency behind voting rights action last week, heading to Capitol Hill in an effort to push Democrats to change Senate rules to pass legislation.

Vice President Kamala Harris— whom Biden tapped to take the lead on passing voting rights legislation in June—wasn’t there.

Both White House press secretary Jen Psaki and Harris aides had no clear answer when asked why the vice president didn’t join Biden in the meeting.

It was yet another example of the difficulty Harris has faced throughout her first year in office, as she’s struggled to define herself and her role.

Harris has grappled with an expansive portfolio of difficult assignments, fielded questions about her relationship with the president and faced what allies say is unprecedented scrutiny for a vice president— without, some worry, adequate support from the White House.

And she’s navigated all that within the constraints of a global pandemic and a duty to act as the tiebreaking vote in an evenly-divided Senate that have restricted her ability to travel beyond Washington.

“It’s tough for any vice president to shine—even in the best of times.

And these aren’t the best of times,” said Roy Neel, who served as chief of staff for former Vice President Al Gore. “You not only serve at the pleasure of the president, for any public activities, but there’s a limit to how much you can do to take the lead role on the major issue of the day, whatever that is, and to go out and look like you’re killing it.”

Indeed, Harris’ aides say privately that the vice president is careful not to get ahead of the president, never wanting to take credit for the administration’s successes. She will also often say that while she offers her frank opinions to the president privately, her public role is to ensure he is successful.

But that’s left some Harris supporters, who warmed to her as an outspoken progressive voice in the Senate on issues ranging from police reform to voting rights, frustrated at what they see as her absence on key issues. During a recent inter-

view with media personality Charlamagne Tha God, when Harris dropped her typically pleasant demeanor and sharply defended Biden, Charlamagne took note.

“That Kamala Harris? That’s the one I like,” he said. “That’s the one I’d like to see out here more often in these streets.”

Many of the issues on Harris’ plate have no clear solution or immediate payoff. She’s been tasked with pushing broadband access, leading the Space Council, driving for passage of the voting rights bill and addressing the root causes of migration to the US Southern border. Republicans in particular have targeted Harris for her work on immigration, charging she hasn’t done enough as a significant increase in migrants at the border has bedeviled the administration.

She’s also drawn criticism from the left for her work on immigration, after she told migrants directly “do not come” to the US during her trip to Guatemala and Mexico last year.

Progressive Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York tweeted that Harris’ comments were “disappointing to see.”

Domingo Garcia, the national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said he wanted to see more from the former progressive senator during that

trip, calling it “a day late and a dollar short.”

“I mean she went to Central America, she took no meetings with community groups or civic groups involved in the issue. And so it’s almost like they don’t have a sounding board, and they’re groping around in the dark for a solution,” he said.

Harris, who declined to be interviewed for this story, has dismissed questions about the difficulty of her portfolio, insisting she relishes taking on difficult assignments. But privately, a number of her allies have complained that the vice president not only has some of the administration’s most thankless tasks, but that she hasn’t been given enough support or resources from the White House to deliver on them.

And the grind of the office has clearly taken its toll. Harris has drawn negative headlines in recent weeks for an exodus of top aides, including her former communications director and former chief spokesperson, with anonymous aides complaining of a difficult work environment from an overly tough boss.

Still, some of Harris’ biggest constraints are largely out of her control: The pandemic, and the demands on her time as a tie-breaking vote in the Senate. Harris hasn’t been able to do See “Harris” A11

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

US, allies pledge unity on Russia; to do what isn’t as clear

By Ellen Knickmeyer And Lorne Cook | Associated Press

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ASHINGTON—President Joe Biden has rallied European allies to pledge as one that they will take tough measures against Russia if it rolls troops into Ukraine. But when it comes to what exactly the United States and Europe are willing to do, the allies don’t look as ringingly united.

Militarily, for example, the United States, Turkey and Britain have stood out for supplying or agreeing to supply anti-tank missiles, armed drones, naval warships and other weapons, along with money to help Ukraine build its defenses. But key ally Germany appears averse to any such direct military aid—so much so that a British military flight taking weapons to Ukraine on Monday flew around German airspace rather than taking the most direct route through it.

While Biden has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of economic consequences “like none he’s ever seen” if Russia invades Ukraine, some major European allies have demonstrated less enthusiasm for huge economic penalties, which could damage some European economies, or put in jeopardy the Russian natural gas Europeans need to stay warm this winter.

During weeks of intense diplomacy, Russian leaders have dismissed the allies’ pledge of a united stand against Russia. In reality, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov protested, it’s the US calling the shots, the Europeans falling in line.

And if talk of unity and the promises of repercussions are making Putin think twice, he’s not showing it.

Russia has sent some 100,000 troops toward the Ukrainian border, and US officials said Tuesday they believed Russia was capable of launching an attack. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was making a hastily planned trip to Ukraine and Germany ahead of talks with Lavrov in Geneva on Friday.

European Union leaders see Russia as trying to sow discord among the 27-nation EU, the United States and Nato. By last week, they were congratulating themselves on avoiding that trap.

“The United States didn’t play their game,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. “Russia wanted to divide us. They failed.”

At least in words, the lining up of Europeans behind US leadership has been a foreign policy success for the Biden administration after it led global allies in a withdrawal from Afghanistan with damaging results.

US work nailing down European commitments against Russia if it invades will continue, said Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat who traveled with Republican and Democratic senators to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian leaders last weekend.

“Right now there seems to be slightly greater interest coming from the United States on implementing tough multilateral sanctions than from Europe,” Murphy told reporters Monday. That’s “somewhat stunning to me, given the territorial integrity of Europe, not the United States, is at stake.”

In October and November, France, Germany and some others in the EU questioned US warnings that Russia’s military buildup near Ukraine could signal an imminent invasion. France and Germany initially opposed activating Nato’s crisis response planning system. They relented, and it was activated November 30.

US allies now seem determined to prove they’re in lock-step with Biden.

Publicly, there’s virtually no dissent from the pledges of tough action.

A Russian invasion of Ukraine would likely trigger the immediate bolstering of defenses of NATO members close to Russia’s borders, like Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. NATO already has about 5,000 troops and equipment deployed in those countries. The presence of NATO members along Russia’s borders already is one of Putin’s central complaints against the West.

No leaders are publicly discussing the precise nature of possible sanctions, saying it would be a mistake to show their hand. The EU has a track record of slapping sanctions on Russia in unison with the US, the UK, Canada and other allies.

Countries in southeast Europe— Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, in particular—are also being sounded out about their willingness to potentially host a Nato battle group of around 1,000 troops and equipment in the Black Sea region.

“There is a number of nations that are interested then in hosting those forces,” Admiral Rob Bauer, the head of Nato’s military committee, said last week.

Since it’s not a member of Nato, Ukraine can expect no military help from the alliance as an organization if Russia invades.

Among the European Union and individual European governments, the rhetoric matches that from the White House and Americans: Russia would incur enormous costs of an economic and political nature if Putin sent his forces across the border into Ukraine.

No leaders are publicly discussing the precise nature of possible sanctions, saying it would be a mistake to show their hand. The EU has a track record of slapping sanctions on Russia in unison with the US, the UK, Canada and other allies.

The most talked-about actions include banning Russia from the SWIFT banking system that handles the flow of money around the world and imposing sanctions on Putin’s family, his military and political circles and Russian banks.

The British government has lined up firmly behind the tough US line on Ukraine. Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week to back “wide-ranging economic sanctions” should Russia invade, Johnson’s office said.

But there are questions about how much economic pain Britain is willing to inflict on London’s financial district and property market, which are hubs for Russian money.

UK banks and financial authorities have long been accused of turning a blind eye to ill-gotten gains.

After France emerged as one of the initial skeptics of the US warnings over Russia’s troop buildup, the government minister for European affairs, Clément Beaune, recently said France is ready to support sanctions against Russia if needed. He did not elaborate.

Germany, the largest economy in Europe, holds one of the greatest pieces of economic leverage over Russia—a newly built pipeline, Nord Stream 2, that would deliver Russian natural gas directly to Germany and beyond.

Germany’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, said Monday that her country “will do everything to guarantee the security of Ukraine.”

“Any further escalation would carry a high price for the Russian regime—economic, political and strategic,” she said. “And we’re very serious about this.”

But Germany’s government has given mixed signals, and no definitive public word, on whether it would keep the pipeline offline if Russia sends troops into Ukraine. That’s left Blinken to give assurances in Germany’s stead, saying “it would be difficult to see” gas flowing if Russia invades. Cook reported from Brussels. Frank Jordans in Berlin, Geir Moulson in Brussels, Jill Lawless in London, Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow, and Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed to this report.

Thursday, January 20, 2022 A11

NYC mayor says even he doesn’t feel safe on subway system

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By Michelle L. Price | Associated Press

EW YORK—After a woman was pushed to her death in front of a New York City subway train beneath Times Square over the weekend, Mayor Eric Adams acknowledged to reporters Tuesday that even he didn’t feel entirely safe riding the rails.

The Democrat recounted when he rode the train on Jan. 1, not long after taking the oath of office, he called 911 to report a fight near a subway station, encountered a yelling passenger and another passenger sleeping on a train.

“On day one, I took the subway system, I felt unsafe. I saw homeless everywhere. People were yelling on the trains. There was a feeling of disorder. So as we deal with the crime problem, we also have to deal with the fact people feel unsafe,” he said.

Adams, who has been in office for just over two weeks, is an avowed fan of the system, which became infamous for grime, graffiti and crime in the 1980s, but made a remarkable turnaround in recent decades that had mostly erased its bad reputation.

After Saturday’s apparently unprovoked attack, Adams initially stressed that, overall, the system is safe.

“When you have an incident like this, the perception is what we’re fighting against. This is a safe system,” Adams said in a news conference hours after the attack.

But even before the killing, his administration had announced plans to boost the presence of police officers in the subway and reach out to homeless people riding trains as part of a mission to combat both “actual

crime” and “the perception of crime.”

“We’re going to drive down crime and we’re going to make sure New Yorkers feel safe in our subway system, and they don’t feel that way now.

I don’t feel that way when I take the train every day or when I’m moving throughout our transportation system,” Adams told reporters Tuesday.

Janno Lieber, the acting chair and CEO of Metropolitan Transportation Authority that runs the subway, said he thought the mayor’s declaration of feeling unsafe was Adams “showing that he gets it” even if statistics show the chances of being a victim of a crime on the subway are low.

“The mayor is showing he gets it and he is sensitive to the way New Yorkers are feeling,” Lieber said.

“People don’t feel based on statistics.

They feel based on their personal experience and what they’re hearing.”

Police charged a 61-year-old man, Simon Martial, with second-degree murder in Saturday’s killing. The woman who was killed, Michelle Alyssa Go, was of Asian descent and police said they were investigating whether her death was a hate crime, though police said Martial, who was homeless, had a history of “emotionally disturbed encounters.”

It follows other recent attacks in the system that generated public alarm. In September, three transit

“We’re going to drive down crime and we’re going to make sure New Yorkers feel safe in our subway system, and they don’t feel that way now. I don’t feel that way when I take the train every day or when I’m moving throughout our transportation system,” Adams told reporters Tuesday.

workers were assaulted in one day. In May, several riders were slashed and assaulted by a group of attackers, and four stabbings were reported within a few hours in February.

Danny Pearlstein, a spokesman for the nonprofit Riders Alliance representing New York City bus and subway passengers, said that while the subway system is “statistically, overwhelmingly safe” and millions of people use it daily without trouble, violence like Saturday’s killing hits a nerve because it feels it could happen to anyone.

“If you hear it happened on the subway, that’s your subway,” he said.

Safety and crime were some of the driving factors behind Adams election. The former New York Police Department captain made a point during his campaign last year of talking about the need to combat violent crime, which has ticked up during the pandemic, though it still remains at near modern-era lows.

The subway system, with its 472 stations and more than 665 miles (1,070 kilometers) of track, is a visible marker of the city’s safety and economic health. Ridership remains

down, complicating the economic recovery for businesses that rely on trains bringing customers to their doors and for the transit system itself, which relies on rider fares to fund its operations.

Daily rides over the last two weeks have hovered around 2.1 million, about 44 percent of the same time pre-pandemic, according to data from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which falls under state control.

Police statistics show major felonies in the subways have dropped over the last two years, but the numbers are difficult to compare with ridership numbers having dropped as well. The drop in ridership has also made the presence of homeless people on the trains more visible.

Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul, both Democrats, announced two weeks ago a plan to deploy social workers to help connect those living on the streets with services and to step up the police presence in subway stations and on trains and have them interact with passengers.

Pearlstein said adding more police isn’t necessarily the answer.

“If you tell people you’re adding police officers, that makes people think there aren’t enough right now.

If you tell people you don’t feel safe, they think well maybe I wouldn’t feel safe either,” he said.

Pearlstein said housing and health care are needed to address the “humanitarian crisis” in the system, along with keeping the subway affordable and attractive so more people will ride it and make it safer.

UN: Worse now for women peace builders than before Covid

By Edith M. Lederer | Associated Press

cent of negotiators, 6 percent of mediators and 6 percent of signatories in major peace processes worldwide were women.”

That was before the pandemic struck in early 2020, “and before a wave of intensifying conflicts, undemocratic political transitions and disastrous humanitarian crises took hold in many societies,” she said.

Bachelet said the situation now facing women human rights defenders and prospects for women’s real participation in peace efforts is “vastly worse” and “harms all of us” because women’s participation is essential to promote peace.

She singled out three examples: Afghanistan, Africa’s Sahel region and Myanmar.

In Afghanistan, Bachelet said many women human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and judges have been forced to flee or go into hiding after repeated threats following the Taliban takeover in August. Many women have lost all sources of income and are excluded from decision-making about their lives, the Taliban Cabinet and other key national and provincial bodies.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights urged the Security Coun-

cil to ensure that perpetrators of human rights abuses in Afghanistan are held accountable. And she urged all countries to use their influence with the Taliban “to encourage respect for fundamental human rights” and to resettle Afghan women’s rights defenders and immediately halt the deportation of Afghan women seeking protection.

In the Sahel, Bachelet said, “critical deficits in women’s empowerment are clearly a factor in the complex development, security and humanitarian crisis.” Attacks by “extremely violent armed groups” increase the threat of abductions, violence, exploitation and abuse of women and girls and the closure of local schools, especially for girls, she said.

Bachelet, who recently visited the region, said she was encouraged that senior members of the G5 Sahel force set up by five African nations—Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mauritania—in 2017 to fight the growing terrorist threat in the vast region emphasized “the importance of increased integration of women in political, security and development policies to address the crisis.” She said her office will continue to support this effort.

In Myanmar, Bachelet said women human rights defenders had long been a force for peace “including at the forefront of resistance against military rule,” but since the military takeover in February 2020 many women’s civil society groups have been forced to shut down. She said

women working in the medical field and the media as well as protesters, participants in civil disobedience, social media activists and those providing shelter and food to those in need have been targeted for assault and arbitrary detention.

“Women and girls appear to number over 2,100 of the estimated 10,533 people detained by the State Administration Council and its affiliated armed elements between February and November last year,” Bachelet said.

Norway’s Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt, whose country holds the Security Council presidency and chaired the council meeting, said the government wanted to put the issue on the agenda of the UN’s most powerful body “so that we can move forward on our collective promise to let women participate without fear of reprisals.”

“Women are taking great risk to contribute to peace and security for the people of their country, because they know that to end conflict, to work effectively towards peace, women must be part of the process —not because women bring with them some magical solution to end all wars, but because women bring different perspectives, and the more gender-divided society is the more different those perspectives are,” she said.

Huitfeldt said in countries including Afghanistan, Yemen, Sudan and Myanmar women peacebuilders and human rights defenders too often risk reprisals.

“It really isn’t a source of power or influence, because really, all she’s doing is voting the administration line,” said vice presidential historian Joel Goldstein. “It’s really a constraint, because it restricts her ability to do other things.”

Early in the year, it seemed like Harris was a bigger target for Republicans than Biden. Now that’s less so.

A Gallup poll in December showed 44% of Americans saying they approve of how Harris is handing her job as vice president; 54% disapprove.

That was similar to Biden’s rating in the survey.

Harris’ aides say that she has played an active role in some of the president’s toughest policy choices, including his decision to withdraw

from Afghanistan.

They also argue that some of her diplomatic work hasn’t gotten the credit it deserves, pointing to early investments she secured from companies in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador as part of her work there, as well as a gaffe-free trip to France aimed at smoothing over relations with the nation earlier this year.

They tout the ways in which her perspective as the first woman and first Black and Indian American person in the role has helped elevate issues they say wouldn’t typically draw the attention of the White House, like maternal mortality. And they say she also was helpful in keeping key Congressional Black Caucus members on board during the infrastructure

negotiations.

But allies say her historic position has also brought her outsized scrutiny, and at times distorted the coverage of her accomplishments.

“There has been an unprecedented level of interest in her and excitement about her as a historic first. She’s the first vice president to have such a large press corps,” said Democratic strategist Karen Finney, a Harris ally.

Finney, who is Black, said there is a level of “sexism and racism” to coverage of Harris, pointing in particular to stories focused on times Harris has laughed when asked questions in interviews.

“The coverage focuses on style over substance,” she said.

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NITED NATIONS—Women seeking to participate in shaping and building peace and defending human rights face a “vastly worse” situation now than they did before the Covid-19 pandemic, the United Nations human rights chief said Tuesday.

Michelle Bachelet told the UN Security Council that in 2020 her office verified 35 killings of women human rights defenders, journalists and trade union members in seven conflict-affected countries where data is available.

“This number, which is certainly an undercount, surpassed the confirmed number of killings in 2018 and 2019,” she said in a virtual briefing.

Bachelet said her Geneva-based office also documented patterns of attacks against women working on gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, corruption, labor rights and environmental and land issues.

“In every region,” she said, “we have seen women subjected to arrests and detention; intimidation; sexual violence, and harassment via smear campaigns” as well as intimidation and reprisals by government and non-government “actors” against people who cooperate with the United Nations.

Despite the Security Council’s adoption in 2000 of a resolution demanding equal participation for women in peace negotiations and peace building, Bachelet said, “between 1992 and 2019 only 13 per-

Harris . .

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as many public, in-person events as she and her aides would like due to the pandemic, and she’s done only a fraction of the international travel typical of a vice president, which has reduced her diplomatic engagements largely to virtual meetings or phone calls.

She’s also tethered to Washington because of the unpredictability of the Senate schedule. Harris has cast 15 tie-breaking votes so far, the most of any modern vice president, and must stay in Washington most weeks in case a nomination comes up for a vote.

A12 Thursday, January 20, 2022

China hopes next president keeps PHL ‘independent’

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By Malou Talosig-Bartolome

HINA hopes the next Philippine president will continue President Duterte’s “independent foreign policy,” a senior ranking Chinese politician and retired diplomat said.

Madame Fu Ying, chairperson of the influential foreign affairs committee of the Chinese parliament, said China, the Philippines and the region benefited from Duterte’s pivot towards China when he assumed presidency in 2016.

Duterte’s “independent” foreign policy entails being less dependent on the United States, while improving relations with China, Russia and India, Philippine Ambassador to Beijing Jose Sta. Romana earlier explained. “[Duterte’s] independent foreign policy has won him respect from countries in the region, including from China, and he is willing to face the difficult issues with China, and find proper solutions, and he was able to reach consensus with the Chinese leaders, and allowing the relationship to come out of a difficult time and gain vitality,” Fu Ying said during the recent virtual conference billed as the 5th Manila Forum for Philippine-China Relations.

“It’s not only good for the two countries, two peoples, but also good for the region. So I hope that in the future, whoever is succeeding him will be able

to wisely, courageously, and responsibly carry out Philippine independent foreign policy,” Fu Ying added.

Fu Ying had served as the Chinese Ambassador to Manila for two years from 1998 to 2000, at the time when relations between Manila and Beijing were strained as a result of China’s increased occupation of the Panganiban Reef (international name: Mischief Reef) in the West Philippine Sea. She was also appointed as the Chinese ambassador to Australia and the United Kingdom, before being promoted as vice foreign minister of China. Now, she chairs the foreign affairs committee of the National People’s Congress, and US think tanks have described her as a “senior figure in a growing number of US-China interactions.”

China’s State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also noted that Duterte’s pivot to China was a “strategic decision to improve the relations” between Manila and Beijing.

“Rainbows appeared after the rainstorms,” Wang Yi said in a recorded speech

played during the virtual forum.

Fu Ying said she has been watching the recent spat between the Philippines and China over the West Philippine Sea, referring to reports of Chinese Coast Guard firing water cannon on a Philippine boat that transported food to Filipino soldiers stationed at Ayungin Shoal (international name: Second Thomas Shoal) last November. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. protested the incident in “strongest terms” to a point of mentioning the treaty alliance the Philippines has with the United States.

“I have been watching the recent occasional hyping up of the disputes caused by some incidents related to some shoals in China’s Nansha Islands [also known as the Spratly Islands] and feel a bit concerned, hoping the two sides would properly handle it and avoid rolling back the mutual trust that both sides have worked so hard to build in the past years,” Fu Ying said.

Fu Ying suggested that both sides “stay firmly on the positive side” of the relationship and put the Spratly Islands dispute “at an appropriate place and properly handled through dialogues.” The Chinese foreign minister went further, saying that both sides should prevent the Spratly island issue from affecting or “taking hostage” the overall bilateral relationship.

She warned that the West Philippine Sea dispute will be used as an election issue

in the Philippines in the upcoming presidential elections in May this year.

“I am aware that the election season is unfolding in Manila. The past experience shows that during such time, some people tend to bring up the disputes with China or try to stand tough against China which appear to be ‘politically correct.’

“Some Filipino scholars are expressing concerns of such tendency, stating that the disputes should not become a defining issue for our relations.

“I agree with such views and hope those who have foresight and stand for China-Philippines friendship can speak up and provide positive influence and we should work together to keep our relations on the right track,” Fu Ying said.

Wang Yi reassured the Philippines that “China will absolutely not use its strength to bully smaller countries, and we never believe in a winner-takes-all approach.”

“We hope to work with the Philippines to find ways to properly manage and resolve the issue in the spirit of goodwill and pragmatism. We need to come up with the resolve as soon as possible to advance joint development without prejudice to either side’s rights and claims, so that we can turn the South China Sea issue from a challenge into an opportunity and a positive factor conducive to the development of the Philippines and the friendship between our two peoples,” Wang Yi added.

‘ANTI-MARCOS GROUPS CAUGHT LYING THRICE’

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HE Commission on Elections did not simply dismiss summarily by unanimous vote the petition to cancel the certificate of candidacy (CoC) of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos but went ahead to discuss what it described as an attempt by the petitioners to deceive the poll body.

The Marcos camp pointed this out after the Second Division of the poll body voted to dismiss the petition seeking to cancel his CoC on the ground of material misrepresentation in relation to a case of non-filing of income tax returns (ITR).

Atty. Vic Rodriguez, Chief of Staff and Spokesperson of Marcos, in a related development, reacted to the 1Sambayan press release on the Comelec decision by drawing their attention to the wording of the ruling.

“Petitioners Fr. Christian Buenafe, Fides Lim et.al., with their lawyer, Theodore O. Te were caught by the Comelec 2nd Division lying not just once, not twice, but thrice!” Rodriguez said in a statement on Wednesday.

The unanimous ruling of the Second Division, Rodriguez noted, is unequivocal: Presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos did not commit any false material representation in his certificate of candidacy.

“What is indisputable based on the Comelec ruling is that 1Sambayan co-convenor retired SC Justice Tony Carpio lied to the Filipino people and has committed injustice to presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos for erroneously claiming and shamelessly branding the case as tax evasion when the truth is it was only for mere non-filing of tax returns,” added Rodriguez.

‘Obscure accounts’ to make Twitter rowdy pre-elections

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

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BSCUR E accounts and online mudslinging are expected to make Twitter a rowdy platform as the country inches closer to the May 2022 presidential polls, according to the University of the Philippines-based Philippine Media Monitoring Laboratory (PMML).

On Wednesday, researchers from the UP Communication Research Department, Jon Benedik A. Bunquin and Marie Fatima I. Gaw, shared their findings which revealed that unidentifiable actors have already dominated what was previously reputed as an “elite” platform hosting many of the world’s movers and shakers.

These unidentifiable actors are those owned by people whose identities online are not verifiable but are able to actively participate and significantly influence the discussion on Twitter. They have even crowded out news media in terms of directing electoral discourse on the platform.

“So far, we are seeing a lot of suspended and unidentifiable, obscure accounts rising in terms of influence. So I think there’s a tendency for that pattern to continue. We will be expecting a larger volume of obscure accounts, being noisier on the platform, having more influence in shaping the electoral discourse as we approach the elections,” Bunquin said.

“In terms of sentiment, later on we’ll see more attacks toward specific candidates. Right now, we’re seeing them happening.

But in the succeeding months, as we draw closer to the elections, I think [there] will be more salient, more incendiary, more inflammatory discussions happening on the platform,” he added.

“If you are Twitter users, you

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BoQ unloads 3K ‘balikbayan’ travelers from quarantine hotels

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THE danger created by these obscure Twitter accounts, Bunquin said, is that these accounts are able to take part in “coordinated campaigns and tactics that can manufacture and mislead electoral discourse.”

He said many of these account holders are also able to skirt Twitter’s fair use policy. The ways by which these accounts circumvent Twitter’s rules include keeping long threads and being more “human like” in their tweets, preventing the platform from flagging them.

Gaw added that bots online are behaving less like bots by behaving more like humans. They even fool data scientists and even Twitter.

She said platforms should try to make a bigger effort in addressing and identifying these instances.

Others take advantage of their numbers. Bunquin said while platforms like Twitter respond to reports, particularly mass reporting of accounts that violate their fair use rules, not all of these violators are being reported and being reported en masse.

This allows such account holders to hide behind their “anonymity,” keep themselves below the radar of mass reporting, and continue participating and influencing the public sphere in favor of or against one issue or candidate, particularly on Twitter.

“One of the ways, I think, that could be useful is to make the creation of new accounts more visible.

HE Bureau of Quarantine (BoQ) will be releasing its isolation protocols for quarantine hotels with Covid-positive guests any day now.

“It’s for signature already,” said BoQ Deputy Director Dr. Roberto M. Salvador in a Viber message to the BusinessMirror. This, he said, as he assured the continued transfer of Covid-positive guests from quarantine hotels to isolation facilities.

“We were able to discharge 3,257 [on Monday]. They were those who were not transferred to isolation facilities because there were none available,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English. “ Their quarantine was shortened because of the latest I ATF [Inter-Agenc y Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] resolution and were included in the cr iter ia as ‘Cov id recovered,’” he ex plained.

He failed to say what were the new quarantine/isolation regulations for international travelers, as the new IATF resolution only covers the facility-based quarantine and/or home quarantine of those who tested negative for Cov id. However, the Depar tment of Health’s new protocols for the general public provide a seven-day isolation period for fully-vaccinated individuals with no Covid symptoms, and 10-day isolation for the unvaccinated or partially vaccinated with no symptoms. The count starts from the date they tested positive.

T ho s e w ho e x h i b it m i l d sy mptoms shou ld isolate for seven days from the onset of said symptoms (fully vaccinated) or 10 days for the partially vaccinated or unvaccinated. Regardless of vaccination status, moderate Cov id cases should isolate 10 days from the onset of symptoms.

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probably have seen this happening already but the value of the research really is, you only have a portion of the network [and you need to see] the network from [how] a macro perspective looks at the trend.

Because there are things that are invisible to us as things are personalized,” Gaw said.

Red flag

Companies

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Thursday, January 20, 2022

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PAL flights to US to proceed on time as 5G issue resolved

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By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

EGACY carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) said flights to the US are expected to proceed as scheduled after the US Department of Transportation resolved the issue on 5G-transmission on aircraft instruments.

Stanley K. Ng, the flag carrier’s senior vice president for operations, said PAL was already preparing for the cancellation of flights to the US due to the safety concerns over 5G

transmission, but has since shelved this after US authorities assured the aviation community that aircraft landing in airports will not encounter interference from 5G radio waves,

as telecommunication companies “agreed to revise the deployment” of 5G around key airports in the US. “The safety of our passengers and crew is always our top priority.

We welcome the intervention of the US government and will continue to engage closely with the authorities, airports, aircraft makers and aviation safety professionals to ensure that every PAL flight is operated according to the highest safety standards,” he said.

On Tuesday, US airlines raised concerns over the possible interference of 5G transmission on aviation instruments, warning of an aviation crisis if this safety and operational issue will not be resolved, Reuters reported.

Already, several international

carriers have suspended their operations to US cities due to the safety concern, according to a report by cnn, quoting statements from airlines such as Emirates, Air India, All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines.

The safety issue stemmed from a US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) report that raised concern over the possible interference of 5G signals to radar altimeters, which enable pilots to tell the altitude above a terrain beneath the aircraft.

Ng noted that PAL will continue to “monitor developments and make adjustments should there be changes that pose any impact on safety.”

PAL operates flights to Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York.

It also has flights to US territories such as Honolulu and Guam.

PSE OKs CREIT’s maiden offering

By VG Cabuag

CREIT, formerly Enfinity Philippines Renewable Resources Inc., aims to focus on incomegenerating renewable energy real estate properties, including land and properties used for harnessing power. The company owns the Clark solar power plant operating on land leased from the Clark Development Corp., pursuant to a 25-year lease which will expire on September 2039.

According to its REIT plan, the company’s renewable energy property portfolio consists of the leased properties. These include the lease of the 25 hectares of land for the Clark solar power plant in Pampanga and parcels of land leased to solar power plant operators, comprising of the company-owned 14 hectares of land in Barangay Armenia in Tarlac, leasehold rights over the 73 hectares of land Toledo in Cebu, 43 hectares in Silay in Negros Occidental and 10 hectares of land in Dalayap in Tarlac.

These lands were leased to CREC,

Citicore Tarlac 1, Citicore Cebu, Citicore Negros Occidental and Citicore Tarlac 2 Inc. The company said it will expand its renewable-energy property portfolio by acquiring an additional two parcels of land from Citicore Bulacan of about 25.3 hectares and Citicore South Cotabato of about 8 hectares.

These firms are wholly-owned indirect subsidiaries of CREC through its ownership of Cleantech Solar Holdings Inc. and Sikat Solar Holdco Inc., respectively.

CREIT tapped Unicapital Inc. and BDO Capital and Investment Corp. as joint global coordinators for the offer. Unicapital will also serve as lead underwriter and issue manager.

BDO Capital will serve as lead local underwriter alongside PNB Capital and Investment Corp., while Investment and Capital Corporation of the Philippines will act as participating underwriter and CIMB Investment Bank Bhd and CLSA Ltd. as international bookrunners.

HE initial public offering (IPO) of Citicore Energy REIT Corp. has secured the approval of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).

CREIT is a real estate investment trust (REIT) sponsored by Citicore Renewable Energy Corp. (CREC) and Citicore Solar Tarlac 1 Inc. According to its new timetable, the company will announce its final offer price on January 26. After that, the firm will start its offer period on February 2 to February 8.

It would be listed for trading at the PSE on February 17 under the stock symbol CREIT. The proceeds of Citicore Energy REIT’s fund-raising would be infused on its leased land holdings in various locations in the country.

Citicore Holdings Investment Inc. is the parent company of Megawide Construction Corp.

The IPO will include the sale of up to 1.04 billion primary shares priced at an indicative price of P3.15 per share and 1.74 billion in secondary shares to be offered by selling shareholder CREC. It will also offer an oversubscription option of up to 418.33 million.

CREIT expects to net up to P3.17 billion from the primary offer, which will be used for the acquisition of properties in Bulacan and South Cotabato.

Meanwhile, CREC will receive the entire proceeds from the secondary offer, which could amount to P6.61 billion, assuming the overallotment option is fully exercised. This shall be reinvested in the Philippines, pursuant to Republic Act 9856 or the REIT Act of 2009.

New investors will corner 49 percent of CREIT’s issued and outstanding shares, while existing shareholders will retain 51 percent, assuming the full exercise of the overallotment option.

Solane LPG seizes 1,024 fake tanks

Ovialand aims to build 600 houses

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@villygc

IQUEFIED petroleum gas (LPG) supplier Solane said it confiscated a total of 1,024 counterfeit LPG tanks worth P2.66 million last year.

For the second half of the year, Solane confiscated 585 fake LPG tanks worth nearly P1 million. This is “on top of the seized items from more than 50 areas in the country during the first half of the year,” the company said last Wednesday.

Solane said it conducted several raid operations in the following areas: Antipolo, Rizal; Penarrubia, Bangued, and North Bucay in Abra; Vigan, Ilocos Sur; Santo Domingo, Ilocos Norte; Pili and San Jose in Camarines Sur; and, Cabarroguis and Saguday in Quirino. All captured items were brought to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of each local government unit for documentation and proper disposition for filing of appropriate case in court.

“While the passage of the LPG Law in October last year reinforces the government’s campaign against illegal sources of LPGs, Solane’s busts throughout the year helped put suspects behind bars and immediately halt unauthorized trades in communities they busted,” it said in a statement.

Republic Act 11592 is intended to regulate the LPG industry to ensure that all unsafe gas cylinders are disposed of and new ones are safe. Lenie Lectura

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

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@TyronePiad

OUSING developer Ovialand Inc. is targeting to build 600 units in Southern Luzon this year in a bid to expand its market share.

“While it has been a bleak start to the year with the rate of Covid-19 infections, we continue to find silver linings—and we will remain committed to the Filipino families we serve by ensuring that we will deliver their brand new house and lots on schedule this year,” Ovialand President Pammy Olivares-Vital said.

In addition she said that the company will also begin its “expansion plans to another regional center in the Philippines as we move our way

slowly, but surely, into becoming a nationwide developer known for our brand and quality.”

Currently, the company is pursuing the development of Caliya in Candelaria, Quezon and Santevi in San Pablo, Laguna under joint ventures with Japan-based Kyushu Yaesu Co. Ltd. Its other housing properties in Laguna include Sannera and Savana in San Pablo and Terrazza de Santo Tomas in Sto. Tomas.

Last year, Ovialand registered 90-percent revenue growth after raking in P900 million, which is equivalent to 433 house and lot units.

“Ovialand’s financial results for 2021 fully demonstrate the strength of our unique product offerings as it shows we are attuned to the needs

of our clients. Our brand mission of ‘premier family living’ demonstrates that Filipino families can have access to beautifully complete homes in premier communities at an accessible price point, and our sales and revenues show that we have been successful in our objectives,” Olivares-Vital said.

“We are humbled that we achieved 90-percent year-over-year growth in our revenues despite the challenges brought by the pandemic. This places Ovialand in a financially strong position to successfully pursue its long-term growth plans, such as expanding nationwide by 2030 and our planned IPO [initial public offering] by this year,” she added.

The housing developer is eying to raise as much as P1.5 billion from its IPO to fund expansion plans.

UNBOTTLED AID This

undated photo courtesy of Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. (CCBPI) shows people at CCBPI’s Cebu plant in Mandaue who were involved in the firm’s outreach program for those affected by typhoon Odette. CCBPI said this plant became a main hub for water support in Cebu. “Despite the company bearing the brunt of Odette, we saw to it that we fulfilled our responsibility to help,” CCBPI President and CEO Gareth McGeown said. CREDIT:

Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc.

CebuPac provides Covid-19 insurance

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ebu Air Inc. (PSE: CEB) , operator of Cebu Pacific airlines, announced it upgraded its CEB Travelsure “basic protect” insurance product to now include “Covid Protect,” “to inspire travel confidence amidst the current situation.”

CEB said it’s the first local carrier to offer this type of enhanced coverage in one product.

Starting January 13, 2022, its insurance product becomes even more comprehensive as it now covers Covid-related hospitalization and treatments, on top of up to P2.5 million medical expenses benefit, in case of an injury or other illnesses and up to P2.5-million personal accident coverage during the trip.

CEB said the product may be availed by passengers with domestic and international itineraries, as long as their trip starts in the Philippines, for as low as P492 round-trip.

“As we continue to weather this pandemic, we see to it that everyJuan’s health and safety are prioritized above all else,” Candice Iyog, CEB Vice President for Marketing and Customer Experience, was quoted in a statement as saying. “We know peace of mind is needed now more than ever and we want to provide this to our passengers so they can always fly safe and easy with us.”

CEB said its “Travelsure” is underwritten by the Insurance Co. of North America (a Chubb Company).

Chubb is the world’s largest publiclytraded property and casualty insurance company.

“We are happy to further strengthen our ties with Cebu Pacific as we

continue to face this challenging situation together. Chubb aims to provide CEB customers with affordable, relevant and comprehensive products that are made conveniently within their reach,” Chubb Philippines’s Country President Mari Rachelle [Cielo] Canta was quoted in the statement as saying.

“Passengers can conveniently avail themselves of CEB Travelsure when booking flights on the CEB website or select as an add-on up to two hours prior to their flight via the ‘Manage Booking’ portal on the Cebu Pacific website,” the company said. “Insured passengers will receive their group policy ‘Confirmation of Cover’ with the details of the travel insurance benefits via email.”

Customers should contact Chubb directly if they have specific questions about their insurance coverage, according to CEB. Chubb also offers a 24/7 emergency medical and travel assistance hotline.

CEB TravelSure is the airline’s comprehensive travel insurance plan, which provides extensive trip protection with coverage for costs related to having injuries, illnesses, loss of personal belongings, trip cancellations, emergency assistance, and other unforeseen travel circumstances (subject to the full terms and conditions of the Group Policy).

CEB said it has attained 100-percent vaccination rate for its active flying crew through its own employee-vaccination program and various partnerships with local government units in the country.

FDFC gets new equity funding for BillEase

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irst Digital Finance Corp.

(FDFC), operator of cardfree “buy now, pay later” platform BillEase, said it was able to raise some $11 million in fresh equity.

The round is led by BurdaPrincipal Investments Ltd., the growth capital arm of German media and tech company Hubert Burda Media and a backer of Carsome, Ninja Van and Zilingo, the company said.

Other investors in the funding round include Centauri, a joint investment vehicle of Telkom Indonesia’s MDI Ventures and KB Investment and backer of Kredivo, 33 Capital from Singapore and Tamaz Georgadze, CEO and co-founder of European fintech unicorn Raisin DS, Europe’s leading marketplace for online deposits and investments.

“The Philippines is expected to be the fastest growing e-commerce market in the Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] region over the next five years. The country is fast becoming a red hot destination for venture investments as large funds start looking beyond Indonesia and this, in turn, is driving the rapid development of the ecosystem,” FDFC Co-founder and CFO Ritche Weekun, of First Digital Finance Corp. said.

The fresh funds would be used to further accelerate BillEase’s customer growth, enhance and develop new products and attract top talent, the company said.

“The events over the last two years have increased the pressure on the fintech space, in particular, to evolve and we’re seeing growing demand for financial products.

Our latest round of funding will help us grow at an unprecedented pace, allowing us to further increase financial inclusion in the country,” Weekun said.

At the intersection of e-com-

merce, payments and credit, “buy now, pay later” services, especially card-free apps, are emerging as key e-commerce enabling technology.

“BNPL services often rely on card payments. In the Philippines, less than 5 percent of the adult population owns a credit card and cash on delivery remains the primary mode of payment. To address this problem and expand the target market, we developed our proprietary credit, fraud and payment stack,” Georg Steiger, the company’s co-founder and CEO, said. While this requires more upfront investment, we are actually solving a more fundamental problem for customers and allow us to create long-term relationships.”

Launched in 2017, BillEase provides merchants with installment solutions to boost their conversion rate and average order values by enabling customized installment payment products at checkout. For consumers, BillEase serves as an alternative to credit/debit cards and e-wallets when shopping online.

BillEase customers are given a credit limit which they can use at any of BillEase’s over 500 merchant partners like gadgets retailer Kimstore or Philippine Airlines. Unlike traditional debit cards and e-wallets, customers do not have to top up before they can purchase online or offline. In addition to BNPL, the BillEase app, available in both Apple Store and Google Play, also offers services such as personal loans, e-Wallet top-ups to popular e-wallets, mobile loads and gaming credits, as well as future plans to expand the offerings.

As the Philippines experienced one of the strictest and longest lockdowns globally, consumers raced to adopt online shopping and payments. The company saw its growth accelerate ten-fold in 2021. VG Cabuag

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Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, January 20, 2022

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

January 19, 2022

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

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

101,545 148,533,631 77,333,848.50 973,520 9,438 527,808 144,144,913.50 12,334 984,495 158,475 73,112 189,803,990 22,409,358 10,171,750 20,570 268,980 63,840 720 992,976 40,500

18,241,421.00 4,613,131.50 -28,330 0 -26,669,713.50 -447,565 3,894,571 -8,018,579 -430,200 57,120 40,500

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 9.5 9.51 9.52 9.55 9.4 9.5 20,666,400 196,310,072 ALSONS CONS 1.04 1.05 1.08 1.08 1.05 1.05 211,000 222,850 ABOITIZ POWER 33.5 33.55 31.8 33.7 31.8 33.55 9,239,100 306,645,630 BASIC ENERGY 0.55 0.56 0.56 0.57 0.55 0.56 4,092,000 2,282,500 FIRST GEN 27.7 27.75 28.1 28.1 27.6 27.75 422,600 11,726,645 FIRST PHIL HLDG 70.2 70.25 71 71 70.2 70.25 8,790 618,000.50 MERALCO 309 311 313 313.6 309 309 155,840 48,457,568 MANILA WATER 25.35 25.5 26 26 25.3 25.5 977,000 25,055,685 PETRON 3.32 3.33 3.27 3.34 3.24 3.32 1,352,000 4,475,260 PHX PETROLEUM 10.58 10.84 10.54 10.84 10.54 10.58 13,200 140,676 SYNERGY GRID 13.08 13.1 13.14 13.16 12.94 13.08 2,774,100 36,137,910 PILIPINAS SHELL 19.12 19.16 19.18 19.18 19 19.12 474,200 9,058,394 SPC POWER 14.4 14.46 14 14.46 13.98 14.46 284,100 4,000,342 SOLAR PH 1.61 1.62 1.58 1.67 1.57 1.61 213,286,000 349,118,720 AGRINURTURE 4.77 4.8 4.81 4.83 4.7 4.8 119,000 571,150 AXELUM 2.83 2.88 2.83 2.88 2.83 2.88 177,000 508,610 CENTURY FOOD 26.95 27 27.4 27.55 27 27 1,160,600 31,423,600 DEL MONTE 15.3 15.36 15.2 15.36 15.2 15.3 25,700 392,752 DNL INDUS 8.4 8.49 8.51 8.51 8.35 8.49 3,887,400 32,732,616 EMPERADOR 19.2 19.28 19.44 19.44 18.8 19.2 17,274,600 326,493,558 SMC FOODANDBEV 68.85 69.15 68.8 70 68.7 69.15 60,820 4,204,176.50 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.6 0.63 0.62 0.62 0.6 0.6 26,000 15,620 FRUITAS HLDG 1.26 1.28 1.26 1.28 1.25 1.28 8,176,000 10,370,570 GINEBRA 121.2 121.4 124 124 120.9 121.4 29,740 3,634,772 JOLLIBEE 230 230.4 228.8 230.4 225.4 230.4 465,290 106,711,954 KEEPERS HLDG 1.38 1.39 1.43 1.44 1.39 1.39 15,450,000 21,589,480 MAXS GROUP 6.4 6.48 6.4 6.4 6.39 6.4 78,900 504,901 MONDE NISSIN 16.56 16.58 16.7 16.7 16.42 16.58 14,146,700 234,195,462 SHAKEYS PIZZA 9.5 9.6 9.55 9.7 9.4 9.6 105,300 1,000,582 ROXAS AND CO 0.65 0.67 0.66 0.68 0.65 0.65 336,000 223,250 RFM CORP 4.64 4.65 4.65 4.65 4.64 4.65 18,000 83,660 SWIFT FOODS 0.102 0.107 0.102 0.102 0.102 0.102 90,000 9,180 UNIV ROBINA 126.9 127 126.3 128.7 126.2 127 863,160 109,959,047 VITARICH 0.71 0.72 0.7 0.71 0.7 0.71 453,000 317,760 VICTORIAS 2.4 2.53 2.54 2.54 2.54 2.54 2,000 5,080 CONCRETE A 45.55 48.95 45.05 45.55 45.05 45.55 2,500 113,625 CEMEX HLDG 1.06 1.07 1.06 1.09 1.06 1.07 2,119,000 2,269,840 EAGLE CEMENT 14.74 14.78 14.74 14.74 14.72 14.74 9,300 136,982 EEI CORP 6.38 6.4 6.45 6.45 6.38 6.38 11,400 72,950 HOLCIM 6 6.06 5.43 6.06 5.43 6.06 1,494,800 8,790,720 MEGAWIDE 5.06 5.07 5.15 5.15 5.07 5.07 443,200 2,258,530 PHINMA 20.5 20.6 20.5 20.6 20.5 20.55 22,200 456,625 TKC METALS 0.79 0.8 0.79 0.8 0.79 0.8 62,000 49,080 VULCAN INDL 0.84 0.87 0.86 0.87 0.84 0.87 922,000 783,340 CROWN ASIA 1.69 1.73 1.73 1.73 1.69 1.69 85,000 145,590 MABUHAY VINYL 4.25 4.35 4.34 4.35 4.34 4.35 3,000 13,030 PRYCE CORP 5.68 5.77 5.7 5.88 5.68 5.77 256,600 1,468,355 CONCEPCION 20.3 21.25 20.2 21.3 20.2 21.3 46,100 938,270 GREENERGY 2.17 2.18 2.17 2.22 2.16 2.18 5,293,000 11,582,640 INTEGRATED MICR 9.8 9.82 9.95 9.97 9.7 9.8 1,075,900 10,561,198 IONICS 0.71 0.73 0.72 0.73 0.71 0.73 103,000 73,970 PANASONIC 5.96 6.05 5.96 5.96 5.96 5.96 400 2,384 SFA SEMICON 1.09 1.11 1.1 1.11 1.1 1.11 103,000 113,310 CIRTEK HLDG 3.99 4 3.97 4.05 3.96 4 1,031,000 4,137,640

93,751,267 -2,160 18,601,035 678,130 0 696,356 -2,515,105 -132,060 397,882 -4,638,914 21,450 966,620 110,650.00 6,868,270 226,512 -3,020,692 -1,263,450.50 -42,850 -2,438,630 -19,080,210 -181,960 51,840 -44,049,618 -9,600 -41,820 -34,392,156 -2,140 107,502 8,320 -288,515 -223,676 -106,500 1,578,340 4,505,529 76,180

ABACORE CAPITAL ASIABEST GROUP AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PRIME MEDIA SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP SEAFRONT RES WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

-43,680 -38,185,365 -6,776,750.50 49,701,934 16,600 140,170 8,834,960 14,132 -31,252,625 -17,219,865 294,250 7,768,052 -35,021,320 28,267,110 -1,053,394 -16,200

HOLDING & FRIMS

44.2 127.9 94.3 25.8 6.96 9.52 58 17.6 20.3 57.3 20 107 101 1.77 4.07 0.62 0.85 0.65 215 0.84

0.9 5.35 850 62.3 12.8 7.81 0.9 0.51 0.46 5.12 8.52 7.11 552 58 0.62 3.1 10.06 0.375 3.88 1.16 953 111.5 2.01 0.245 0.168

44.45 128.8 94.5 25.85 8.4 9.53 58.1 18.24 20.35 57.5 20.35 108 101.3 1.8 4.1 0.7 0.89 0.72 215.8 0.88

0.94 5.94 856 62.4 12.82 7.9 0.91 0.52 0.53 5.13 8.57 7.39 555 58.05 0.66 3.15 10.08 0.415 3.89 1.3 959 112 2.13 0.249 0.18

44.05 129.4 95 25.8 6.76 9.6 58 17.62 20.2 57 20.35 112 100 1.73 4.11 0.7 0.84 0.72 214 0.81

0.93 5.35 863.5 60.3 12.56 8.3 0.89 0.51 0.51 5.14 8.5 7.21 565 60 0.66 3.16 10.06 0.375 3.9 1.33 965 112.3 2.01 0.241 0.175

44.2 129.8 95.1 25.9 8.4 9.6 58.5 17.62 20.35 57.5 20.35 112 101.4 1.85 4.12 0.7 0.84 0.72 215.8 0.81

0.94 5.35 867 62.3 13 8.3 0.9 0.54 0.53 5.15 8.57 7.4 565 60.3 0.66 3.26 10.1 0.375 3.92 1.33 967.5 113 2.01 0.241 0.18

44.05 127.9 93.6 25.8 6.76 9.53 57.25 17.62 20.1 57 19.98 106.4 100 1.72 4.11 0.59 0.84 0.72 214 0.81

0.9 5.35 850 60 12.5 7.8 0.89 0.5 0.5 5.1 8.36 7.1 552 58 0.66 3.15 9.96 0.375 3.87 1.16 953 111 2.01 0.241 0.175

44.2 127.9 94.3 25.85 8.4 9.53 58 17.62 20.3 57.5 20.35 107 101 1.8 4.11 0.7 0.84 0.72 215 0.81

0.94 5.35 850 62.3 12.8 7.88 0.9 0.52 0.5 5.12 8.57 7.1 552 58 0.66 3.15 10.06 0.375 3.88 1.3 959 112 2.01 0.241 0.18

2,300 1,154,810 818,950 37,600 1,200 55,300 2,495,630 700 48,800 2,770 3,600 1,750,430 222,880 5,801,000 5,000 440,000 76,000 1,000 4,620 50,000

6,985,000 200 114,150 1,020,820 9,593,300 10,200 29,000 4,592,000 653,000 711,800 3,366,200 138,500 116,950 972,340 26,000 729,000 3,043,900 220,000 15,301,000 45,000 206,130 100,020 10,000 660,000 110,000

6,459,410 1,070 98,016,360 62,641,042 122,705,328 81,417 25,900 2,323,640 327,590 3,648,870 28,567,925 990,296 64,942,840 57,391,165.50 17,160 2,314,890 30,614,138 82,500 59,487,790 52,600 197,768,660 11,202,957 20,100 159,060 19,700

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.6 0.62 0.62 0.62 0.62 0.62 5,000 3,100 AYALA LAND 35 35.3 35.4 35.55 34.65 35 7,333,800 257,328,585 AYALA LAND LOG 6.14 6.15 6.29 6.29 6.1 6.14 3,222,600 19,820,719 AREIT RT 50.6 51 50 51.95 49.6 50.6 717,000 36,364,754.50 A BROWN 0.77 0.79 0.76 0.79 0.76 0.79 33,000 25,140 CITYLAND DEVT 0.74 0.76 0.74 0.74 0.74 0.74 12,000 8,880 CROWN EQUITIES 0.099 0.101 0.1 0.1 0.099 0.1 1,360,000 135,000 CEB LANDMASTERS 2.9 2.92 2.89 2.93 2.89 2.9 162,000 470,330 CENTURY PROP 0.4 0.405 0.4 0.4 0.395 0.4 840,000 335,950 DOUBLEDRAGON 7.14 7.17 7.17 7.18 7.14 7.14 105,800 756,553 DDMP RT 1.8 1.81 1.81 1.82 1.8 1.8 2,846,000 5,149,820 DM WENCESLAO 6.76 6.77 6.76 6.76 6.7 6.76 39,000 262,834 EVER GOTESCO 0.32 0.325 0.315 0.325 0.315 0.325 10,000,000 3,212,150 FILINVEST RT 7.55 7.6 7.7 7.7 7.55 7.55 3,737,600 28,422,597 FILINVEST LAND 1.09 1.1 1.11 1.11 1.09 1.09 2,369,000 2,596,700 GLOBAL ESTATE 0.92 0.93 0.91 0.92 0.91 0.92 91,000 83,010 8990 HLDG 11.56 11.6 11.36 11.62 11.24 11.6 654,100 7,428,486 PHIL INFRADEV 1.13 1.15 1.15 1.16 1.13 1.13 257,000 292,890 CITY AND LAND 0.9 0.92 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 1,000 900 MEGAWORLD 3.18 3.19 3.19 3.2 3.16 3.18 7,048,000 22,432,110 MRC ALLIED 0.23 0.232 0.23 0.232 0.23 0.232 930,000 214,770 MREIT RT 22.1 22.3 22.1 22.5 21.85 22.1 1,294,800 28,911,720 PHIL ESTATES 0.49 0.495 0.495 0.495 0.49 0.49 480,000 235,450 PRIMEX CORP 2.11 2.12 2.1 2.12 2.07 2.11 616,000 1,284,910 RL COMM RT 8.5 8.51 8.61 8.65 8.5 8.5 3,551,900 30,267,804 ROBINSONS LAND 19.18 19.28 19.26 19.28 18.9 19.28 1,006,500 19,328,302 ROCKWELL 1.48 1.5 1.48 1.48 1.48 1.48 55,000 81,400 STA LUCIA LAND 2.76 2.84 2.82 2.84 2.82 2.84 61,000 172,630 SM PRIME HLDG 34.05 34.35 34.5 34.6 33.95 34.35 4,845,400 166,126,660 SOC RESOURCES 0.58 0.61 0.57 0.58 0.57 0.58 32,000 18,450 VISTAMALLS 3.59 3.69 3.58 3.69 3.58 3.69 6,000 21,590 SUNTRUST HOME 1.1 1.13 1.12 1.13 1.12 1.13 5,000 5,610 VISTA LAND 3.46 3.53 3.52 3.52 3.46 3.46 515,000 1,802,600

SERVICES ABS CBN 13.4 13.56 13.4 13.58 13.3 13.4 91,000 1,227,474 GMA NETWORK 14.84 14.86 14.7 14.9 14.7 14.86 581,800 8,637,194 MLA BRDCASTING 9.1 10.34 9.02 9.02 9.02 9.02 100 902 GLOBE TELECOM 3,340 3,360 3,350 3,364 3,316 3,360 20,970 70,353,970 PLDT 1,877 1,888 1,877 1,888 1,855 1,888 84,260 157,554,265 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.073 0.074 0.074 0.075 0.072 0.074 76,830,000 5,614,560 CONVERGE 31.7 31.75 31.5 31.85 31.25 31.75 5,143,100 162,773,945 DFNN INC 2.36 2.41 2.41 2.42 2.41 2.41 110,000 265,450 DITO CME HLDG 5.22 5.23 5.21 5.37 5.18 5.23 4,891,600 25,668,356 NOW CORP 1.37 1.39 1.5 1.5 1.35 1.39 10,432,000 14,628,460 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.33 0.335 0.335 0.345 0.33 0.33 3,290,000 1,094,200 2GO GROUP 7.33 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.33 7.33 12,400 92,796 CHELSEA 1.66 1.67 1.63 1.66 1.63 1.66 97,000 160,350 CEBU AIR 42 42.15 42.2 42.2 41.95 42 169,200 7,111,160 INTL CONTAINER 204.4 205.8 209 209 204.4 204.4 1,061,350 219,028,066 LBC EXPRESS 24.7 24.75 24.75 24.75 24.7 24.7 3,400 84,115 MACROASIA 5.18 5.2 5.2 5.26 5.14 5.2 1,050,200 5,456,943 HARBOR STAR 0.84 0.87 0.84 0.84 0.83 0.84 18,000 15,090 DISCOVERY WORLD 1.8 1.81 1.81 1.81 1.8 1.8 27,000 48,720 WATERFRONT 0.47 0.495 0.465 0.47 0.465 0.47 870,000 407,550 BELLE CORP 1.32 1.33 1.33 1.33 1.33 1.33 66,000 87,780 BLOOMBERRY 6.37 6.45 6.47 6.47 6.27 6.45 1,692,300 10,777,644 PACIFIC ONLINE 1.76 1.81 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1,000 1,800 LEISURE AND RES 1.28 1.29 1.32 1.32 1.28 1.29 1,577,000 2,039,540 MANILA JOCKEY 1.89 2.22 2.38 2.38 2.3 2.3 12,000 28,400 PH RESORTS GRP 0.73 0.74 0.74 0.75 0.73 0.74 745,000 551,480 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.44 0.445 0.44 0.445 0.435 0.445 5,750,000 2,526,200 PHIL RACING 5.6 5.75 5.65 5.65 5.65 5.65 150,000 847,500 PHILWEB 2 2.04 2.05 2.1 2.04 2.04 403,000 837,950 ALLDAY 0.59 0.6 0.61 0.62 0.59 0.59 24,746,000 14,892,400 BERJAYA 5.52 5.6 5.51 5.51 5.51 5.51 8,700 47,937 ALLHOME 8.89 8.9 8.86 8.89 8.6 8.89 194,700 1,702,991 METRO RETAIL 1.39 1.4 1.4 1.41 1.35 1.4 185,000 253,070 PUREGOLD 36.75 37.2 37.5 37.7 36.65 36.75 2,765,700 102,265,615 ROBINSONS RTL 57 57.05 57.8 57.8 56.55 57 937,280 53,390,290.50 PHIL SEVEN CORP 86.6 87 90 90.45 87 87 1,580 138,814.50 SSI GROUP 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.1 1.08 1.09 860,000 936,370 WILCON DEPOT 27.9 27.95 28.1 28.3 27.9 27.9 1,452,600 40,651,825 APC GROUP 0.23 0.235 0.23 0.23 0.23 0.23 310,000 71,300 IPM HLDG 6.85 7 6.9 7 6.85 7 1,700 11,690 MEDILINES 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.18 1.13 1.14 3,593,000 4,123,030 PAXYS 1.69 2.07 1.7 1.7 1.67 1.67 50,000 83,750 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.55 0.56 0.53 0.56 0.52 0.55 11,158,000 6,043,640 SBS PHIL CORP 3.88 3.99 3.88 3.99 3.88 3.99 28,000 111,390

MINING & OIL ATOK 5.95 6.2 6.11 6.2 6 6.2 201,300 1,227,646 APEX MINING 1.79 1.8 1.73 1.81 1.69 1.8 26,953,000 47,430,440 ATLAS MINING 6.05 6.06 6.02 6.05 6.02 6.05 413,300 2,498,205 CENTURY PEAK 2.7 2.75 2.75 2.75 2.75 2.75 20,000 55,000 FERRONICKEL 2.2 2.21 2.21 2.21 2.19 2.21 3,933,000 8,666,720 GEOGRACE 0.185 0.199 0.199 0.199 0.199 0.199 600,000 119,400 LEPANTO A 0.135 0.137 0.135 0.138 0.134 0.138 1,110,000 152,370 LEPANTO B 0.133 0.142 0.136 0.136 0.136 0.136 200,000 27,200 MANILA MINING A 0.0094 0.0097 0.0096 0.0097 0.0096 0.0097 18,000,000 173,300 MANILA MINING B 0.0095 0.0097 0.0096 0.0097 0.0095 0.0095 11,000,000 105,200 MARCVENTURES 1.35 1.36 1.33 1.4 1.32 1.36 871,000 1,187,150 NIHAO 0.96 0.99 0.99 1 0.99 0.99 92,000 91,100 NICKEL ASIA 5.8 5.83 5.79 5.85 5.72 5.83 7,275,700 42,171,522 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.77 0.78 0.78 0.78 0.78 0.78 15,000 11,700 PX MINING 5.5 5.51 5.4 5.58 5.36 5.5 673,900 3,693,787 SEMIRARA MINING 24.4 24.55 24.75 24.75 24.2 24.4 1,552,500 37,971,225 UNITED PARAGON 0.0069 0.0073 0.0071 0.0072 0.0069 0.0069 15,000,000 107,300 ACE ENEXOR 31.65 32.4 31.6 33.15 31.5 32.4 945,300 29,930,685 ORNTL PETROL A 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 7,700,000 77,000 ORNTL PETROL B 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 3,000,000 30,000 PHILODRILL 0.0094 0.0095 0.0095 0.0095 0.0094 0.0094 79,000,000 746,500 PXP ENERGY 6.04 6.05 6.01 6.05 6.01 6.04 113,900 687,846

PREFFERED ALCO PREF D 512 525 512 512 512 512 500 256,000 BRN PREF A 103.4 104.2 103.2 103.2 103.2 103.2 40 4,128 CEB PREF 41.5 43.5 41.6 41.6 41.5 41.5 85,100 3,534,170 DD PREF 101 101.7 100.7 100.8 100.7 100.8 35,130 3,537,804 EEI PREF A 104 104.9 104 104 104 104 3,200 332,800 EEI PREF B 106.4 107 107 107 107 107 1,600 171,200 GTCAP PREF A 1,010 1,033 1,010 1,010 1,010 1,010 650 656,500 JFC PREF B 1,009 1,010 1,010 1,010 1,010 1,010 15 15,150 MWIDE PREF 2B 100.1 100.5 100.9 100.9 100.1 100.2 6,470 648,423 MWIDE PREF 4 100 100.1 100 100.1 100 100.1 22,000 2,200,200 PNX PREF 3B 101 102.5 101 102.5 101 102.5 2,240 226,615 PNX PREF 4 999 1,000 999 999 999 999 1,100 1,098,900 PCOR PREF 3A 1,050 1,060 1,060 1,060 1,060 1,060 70 74,200 SMC PREF 2F 79 79.2 79 79 79 79 10,040 793,160 SMC PREF 2H 75.95 76.5 75.95 76.5 75.95 76.5 630 48,151 SMC PREF 2I 79 79.45 79.4 79.45 79.4 79.45 37,560 2,982,292 SMC PREF 2J 76.5 77.1 76.5 76.5 76.5 76.5 12,900 986,850 SMC PREF 2K 75.95 76 75.85 76 75.85 76 150,150 11,388,900 TECH PREF B2D 53.35 53.65 53.65 53.65 53.45 53.45 2,200 117,680

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 12.6 13 13 13 12.9 13 13,800 179,366 GMA HLDG PDR 14.26 14.28 14.26 14.28 14.26 14.26 116,400 1,659,904

WARRANTS TECH WARRANT 0.94 0.95 0.93 0.95 0.92 0.95 719,000 674,160

-19,890,655 -297,256 -5,298,248 8,140 -23,170 -15,950 -58,590 66,810 1,366,000 -262,999 -1,523,580 -78,150 -23,000 -1,647,520 -4,067,215 12,660 -2,375,478 -350,418 14,100 -27,147,010 -11,600 7,160 16,720 26,270,770 -17,959,015 74,000 44,510,775 84,400 5,300,197 373,230 341,330 -88,751,988 -596,969 -213,634 279,210 -30,550 1,111,690 709,656 -10,356,260 -29,644,792.50 13,272.50 80 -9,278,745 66,220 -83,750 -521,560 -422,100 55,000 -1,680,410 -95,500 19,800 7,226,066 990,761 -9,365,325 -572,960 -30,000 89,392 -1,867,500 1,007,000 48,151 - 114,366 - -930

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

ALTUS PROP HAUS TALK ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MERRYMART XURPAS

18.82 1.54 1.09 2.9 2.22 0.395

19.02 1.55 1.1 2.94 2.23 0.4

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

111

111.5

18.84 1.58 1.11 2.9 2.3 0.425

19.02 1.59 1.11 2.9 2.32 0.425

18.82 1.52 1.09 2.9 2.22 0.39

19.02 1.55 1.1 2.9 2.22 0.4

6,300 47,701,000 920,000 12,000 4,460,000 11,790,000

119,426 73,757,690 1,009,830 34,800 10,140,030 4,783,800

79,884 -401,080 44,370 201,350

111.4 111.5 111 111 26,120 2,907,043 -816,799

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Better transport business seen for 2022 by Yansons

Y

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

anson matriarch Olivia V. Yanson said she foresees a better transport business this year as she leads the annual meeting of the family’s bus companies.

“We see establishments or activities shall be allowed to operate on a more relaxed atmosphere,” Yanson said during one of its unit’s annual stockholders’ meeting.

“We are confident that workers of establishments and business sectors are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 in the months to come,” she said.

“This situation will then translate to better mobility of people which translates to increased public transport need.”

Earlier this week, the stockholders of Southern Star Bus Transport Inc. re-elected as directors Olivia, Leo Rey Yanson, Ginnette Y. Dumancas, Charles M. Dumancas and Arvin

John V. Villaruel, the company said in a statement.

Following the election of the directors, the board held an organizational meeting wherein Leo Rey was re-appointed as chairman of the board and president of the company, while its matriarch was reappointed as its corporate secretary and treasurer.

Previously, on January 15 and 16, Olivia and Leo Rey also led the election of directors and officers in sister companies Mindanao Star Bus Transport Inc. and Bachelor Express Inc., while on December 4 and January 3, Olivia and Leo Rey also spearheaded the election of directors and officers in Vallacar Transit Inc. and Ceres Liner Travel and Tours Inc. On October 21, 2021, a Bacolod

City court appointed Olivia V. Yanson as the special administrator of the estate of her late spouse Ricardo B. Yanson. Spouses Ricardo and Olivia founded the Ceres Bus Lines, which now includes its other brand.

As special administrator, Olivia is in charge of the preservation and management of the estate of her late husband Ricardo.

In all of these annual meetings, stockholders Roy V. Yanson, Ma. Lourdes Celina Yanson-Lopez and Ricardo V. Yanson Jr., who were all part of the Yanson faction of the family, did not attend despite due notice to them.

“Roy, Celina and Ricky are believed to be unable to attend the meetings because they are currently abroad together with their sister Emily,” the company said.

Megaworld buys former race track lot M egaworld Corp., the property development arm of businessman Andrew Tan, on Wednesday said it has signed a memorandum of agreement with Manila Jockey Club Inc. (MJC) to purchase some 2.21-hectares of a former horse race track property in Santa Cruz, Manila.

The property, which now forms part of the historic 16-hectare San Lazaro Tourism and Business Park in the Manila, is seen to further boost Megaworld’s presence in the City of Manila.

“Currently, our big projects in the City of Manila are concentrated in Binondo district, particularly within our Lucky Chinatown project where we have a lifestyle mall, condominium towers, a cultural museum and a hotel. When we finalize the purchase of this land in San Lazaro, this will surely be part of our township portfolio expansion in Metro Manila,” Kevin Andrew L. Tan, the company’s executive vice president, said.

Megaworld did not state its plans for the property.

In a separate disclosure by MJC, it said Megaworld bought the property for P1.88 billion.

“The definitive sale agreements shall be executed upon the submission of closing documents to the satisfaction of buyer,” it said.

Megaworld currently has around 300 hectares of land bank across Metro Manila covering nine inte-

grated urban townships and lifestyle estates in Quezon City, Taguig City, Pasay City, Parañaque City, Las Piñas City, Pasig City and Manila.

In total, the company has close to 5,000 hectares of land bank across the Philippines.

For the nine months of 2021, Megaworld said income grew 6 percent to P8.6 billion from last year’s P8.1 billion, as its recovery only started in the third quarter.

The company said consolidated revenues for the period rose 10 percent to P36.9 billion from the previous year’s P33.4 billion.

For the July to September quarter, the company said its income rose 46 percent to P3.3 billion from P2.2 billion last year.

Consolidated revenues during the quarter rose by half to P14.5 billion from last year’s P9.6 billion, the company said.

Real estate sales doubled during the quarter to P9.6 billion from last year’s P4.7 billion, mainly due to the expansion in construction activities.

This brings the company’s real estate sales for the nine month period to P23.1 billion, up by 21 percent from last year’s P19.1 billion.

Reservation sales for the quarter came in at P17.1 billion, a 35 percent increase year-on-year.

During the quarter, Megaworld launched its first eco-tourism township, the expansive 462-hectare Paragua Coastown in San Vicente, Palawan. VG Cabuag

WESM Visayas return online after ERC order

T

HE Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) in Visayas has resumed operations after the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) lifted the suspension order it earlier imposed on the Philippine Electricity Market Corp.–Market Operator (PEMC-MO).

“We have issued the ‘Notice of Market Resumption’ to the Philippine Electricity Market Corp.-Market Operator (PEMC-MO), and they were directed to advise the trading participants and the National Grid Corp.-Visayas System Operator (NGCP-VSO) of the said resumption,” ERC Chairman and CEO Agnes VST Devanadera said.

The operations of the WESM in the Visayas grid, excluding Bohol, took effect last January 17.

“We have been closely monitoring and assessing the Visayas grid condition and upon assessment of

the information gathered from the constant coordination with PEMCMO and with the NGCP-VSO, the Commission views that market operations in the Visayas grid, except Bohol are now ready to resume,” Devanadera said.

It may be recalled that the ERC suspended the operations of the WESM in the Visayas grid last December 16. The suspension was necessitated by the power system disturbance due to the impact of “Typhoon Odette,” causing the breach of Section 1.B, Article II of the ERC Resolution 12, Series of 2018, indicating over-generation.

Meanwhile, Section 1.B, Article IV of the ERC Resolution provides that if there is improvement in the loading level for 24 consecutive hours, in relation to the conditions for market suspension, market operations can resume. Lenie Lectura

mutual funds

January 19, 2022

NAV

One Year Three Year Five Year

per share Return*

Y-T-D

Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

234.47

2.37%

-3.98%

-1.26%

0.59%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.6423

25.49%

3.61%

3.78%

-1.32%

2.85%

-7.53%

-4.04%

0.17%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.2434

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.758 -5.86%

-7.17% n.a.

0.2%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7597 2.36%

-4.32% n.a.

-1.45%

First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a 5.1957

4.15%

-2.13%

0.54%

0.25%

First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.7853

3.23%

-3.77%

-2.93%

MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

93.64

-8.78%

-8.43% n.a.

-0.84%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

48.1544

1.96%

-2.63%

0.34%

0.06%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

503.66

2.2%

-2.43%

-0.2%

0.59%

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.4023

18.52%

2.23%

3.14%

3.39%

36.8

4.84%

-1.58%

1.36%

0.56%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

0.948

2.75%

-3.01% n.a.

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

4.9648

2.75%

-1.93%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

829.25

2.57%

-1.94%

0.91%

0.09%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.7514

3.99%

-5.85%

-2.24%

-0.16%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.782

3.4%

-3.86%

-0.56%

0.17%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.945

2.1%

-2.27%

0.68%

United Fund, Inc. -a

2.81%

-2.25%

1.21%

-0.15%

3.432

0.95%

0.26%

0.7% 0.08%

0.05%

Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a 1.181

6.76% n.a. n.a.

1.57%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a 1022.98 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Exchange Traded Fund (shares) First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 111.6042

2.87%

-1.72%

1.4%

0.11%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

$1.1449

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.7856

-11.45%

6.07%

5.53%

1.63%

5.2%

15.08%

11.05%

-3.29%

Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a

1.7002

1.12%

-0.4%

-0.18%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.2992

-0.2%

0.17%

0.25%

0.78%

2.14%

0.67%

1.69%

0.29%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.6989

0.48%

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.2134

6.86% n.a. n.a.

NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a

2.0181

2.13%

2.02%

2.06%

0.07% 0.39%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.7798

-0.83%

1.61%

0.92%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.9132

-0.77%

1.15%

0.89%

0.4%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.1278

0.94%

-0.14%

0.83%

0.3%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.6502 1.51%

-1.18%

0.27%

0.08%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

0.37%

0.87%

1.12%

0.9649

7.62%

2.11%

Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a 0.9859

-4.05% n.a. n.a.

-0.39%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a 0.9457

-0.96% n.a. n.a.

0.13%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a 0.9348

-0.47% n.a. n.a.

0.1%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a

$0.03731

-4.21%

1.73%

1%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

$1.0745

-10.57%

4.02%

3.48%

0.69%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.6849 2.58%

10.72%

8.09%

-2.44%

5.63%

4.05%

-1.91%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,2 $1.1757 - 0.92%

-1.66%

Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

374.72

0.9%

2.87%

2.55%

0.11%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.8861

-0.86%

0.51%

-0.02%

0.07%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2482

0.99%

2.92%

3.87%

0.13%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.2516

-2.01%

1.75%

1.38%

0%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4286 - 0.93%

2.99%

1.81%

0.11% 0.18%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.4034

-5.18%

4.36%

1.38%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a

1.3217

-0.05%

3.82%

2.88%

0.2%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9907

0.11%

3.83%

2.75%

0.63%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0295

-1.09%

4.27%

1.91%

0.13%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1936

-0.37%

4.39%

3.21%

0.19%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

-0.94%

3.54%

2.59%

0.26%

1.7351

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$488.86

1.03%

2.86%

2.41%

-0.15%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є219.45

0.01%

1.03%

0.94%

-0.25%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.196

-5.96%

-0.66%

1.84%

1.52%

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0257 -2.28%

1.06%

0.72%

-1.15%

PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

-1.2%

-1.18%

-2.05% -2.25%

$1.0018

-7.89%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$2.4492

-2.87%

3.77%

2.13%

Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a

$0.0622048

-0.15%

2.89%

1.93%

-0.14%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.0896 -3.59%

2.24%

0.83%

-3.34%

Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a

131.29

1.05%

2.71%

First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a

1.0586

0.97% n.a. n.a.

2.55%

Sun Life Prosperity Peso Starter Fund, Inc. -a,1 1.3167

1.47%

2.54%

2.53%

0.08% 0.09%

0.08%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0608

0.74%

1.41% n.a.

0.02%

Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a

47.58 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a 1.3899

20.86% n.a. n.a.

0.51%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (units) ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a

$0.96

-3.03% n.a. n.a.

-1.03%

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

1 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last July 8, 2021 (formerly, Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc.).

2 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last November 25, 2021.

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

Agriculture/Commodities BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng • Thursday, January 20, 2022 B3

DA releases guidelines on fish importation plan

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

T

HE government could earn as much as P30 million from the 60,000 metric ton (MT) importation of small pelagic fishes as it required importers to pay P500 for every metric ton of fish that they will import.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) issued Administrative Order (AO) 01 of 2022 that outlined the guidelines for the implementation of the 60,000 MT importation of small pelagic fishes to boost local supply and prevent price spikes in the first quarter.

Under the AO, the 60,000 MT would be apportioned to eligible importers through an auction system wherein importers must be “willing to pay” P500 for every MT of volume awarded to them.

Furthermore, the AO stipulated that importers must be “willing to sell” the imported fish at a wholesale price not exceeding P90 per kilogram. The final wholesale price amount will be determined after the auction.

Importers are also required to trade the imported fish only at Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA)-designated trading areas or fish ports to allow the government to monitor the prices.

The imported fish must also be sold within 20 days since the shipments’ arrival in the country. The

imported fish must leave the port of origin also within 20 days from the receipt of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPS-IC) by the importer.

“The importer shall source-out supply from respectable sources and not engage in IUU [illegal, unreported and unregulated] fishing,” the document read.

“Right after the conduct of the auction is completed, the importer shall immediately apply for SPS-IC, and BFAR shall immediately process

such applications and endorse the same to the Secretary for approval,” it added.

The DA also pointed out that “only importers of good standing may be allowed to participate in the importation.”

“To augment the local catch in view of the severe damage of Typhoon ‘Odette’ to the fisheries and aquaculture sector and given that closed fishing season in three [3] major fishing grounds [Visayan Sea, Northern Palawan and Basilan-Sulu-Zam-

boanga] are still in effect, all SPS-ICs under the Q1 2022 CNI 60,000 MT shall be issued before the lifting of the closed fishing season and shall automatically expire on March 31, 2022,” the AO read.

Earlier this week, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar explained that he approved the 60,000 MT importation to boost fish supply and prevent rising cost of the protein product despite a recommendation from the multisectoral advisory body National

Lacson, group question Agri dept’s decision

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

S

EN. Panfilo Lacson raised the red flag Wednesday warning against the Department of Agriculture’s move to import 60,000 metric tons of small pelagic fishes based on claims local supply has “yet to normalize” from the devastation brought by Typhoon “Odette” (international code name Rai).

“With its decision to import some 60,000 metric tons [MT] of fishes such as galunggong and mackerel, the Department of Agriculture may well be ‘killing’ our fishermen,” Lacson warned.

Denouncing the move, Lacson questioned the need to import fish “when our waters are full of such natural resources.”

In a related development, the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said that instead of importing more fish to address the reported shortage and high prices of fish in the market, the government should lift the ongoing fishing ban in the country.

The group issued the statement as it also rejected DA’s fish importation.

According to Pamalakaya, flooding the market with imported fish will “drive down the farm-gate prices of fish, forcing small fishers to deep crisis and bankruptcy.”

“Flooding our local markets with imported fish will pose more harm than good to our struggling fishing industry. This liberalization scheme never addresses the country’s crisis

LACSON

in fisheries production. Rather, it is a burden to local fisherfolks whose fishery products are being outcompeted by imported fish,” Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya national chairman said in a news statement.

In a post on his Twitter account, Lacson chided DA officials behind the move: “Import pa more! After killing our farmers by importing vegetables and fruits, it is the turn of our fishermen to die,” he said on his Twitter account Wednesday.

In a news statement, Lacson clarified he was referring to the DA’s reported decision to import 60,000 metric tons of small pelagic fishes “supposedly because local supply has yet to normalize from the devastation brought by Typhoon Odette,” noting that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) reportedly projected a fish shortfall of 119,000 MT in the first quarter of 2022.

“Worse, the DA has a history of

allowing potential corruption in importing agricultural products such as pork, poultry and fish and seafood products,” Lacson said, recalling that in April 2021, data obtained from his office indicated that “the Philippines lost more than P1 billion yearly in foregone revenues from 2015 to 2020, on imported fish and seafood alone.”

Moreover, the senator questioned the huge discrepancies between the records of the World Trade Organization and the Philippine Statistics Authority in terms of fish and seafood importation from the top 15 exporting countries from 2015 to 2020.

“If corruption infects the Department of Agriculture that should be at the forefront of food security efforts,” the senator said, stressing that “it goes beyond human conscience.”

It will be recalled that Lacson earlier took up the cudgels for Filipino farmers threatened by the importation of agricultural items, affirming that “we are capable of producing—such as strawberries and carrots.”

“The worry of farmers is not just the influx of smuggled agricultural products,” the senator said. “They are also concerned about agricultural pests that manage to slip past our authorities’ inspection,” he said, recalling a Senate hearing on agricultural smuggling last December.

At the same time, Lacson said “it is revolting that the Philippines has to import galunggong from China whose vessels have bullied our fishermen in the West Philippine Sea,” deploring that “because of the in-

cursions of Chinese vessels, we are denied 300,000 metric tons of fish...

If you divide 30 million kilos of fish by 40 kilos, that would translate to 7.5 million Filipino families who have to buy fish from sources other than the Philippines. That’s unacceptable,” he stressed.

The plan of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to import 60,000 metric tons, reflects both the department’s “lack of planning and the years of neglect” that characterized the plight of the fishermen, a House deputy speaker said on Wednesday.

In a news statement, Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta said using typhoon Odette as an excuse only exposes the department’s institutional weaknesses to rehabilitate the fishing industry as an important component of the agricultural sector, which in itself, had suffered negative growths in years.

“With about 20 typhoons ravaging the country each year—six to seven of them are powerful—the DA must have already in place a permanent support mechanism that helps the fishermen in repairing their fishing boats and equipment after every typhoon. This is not hard to do if we consider that DA’s average annual budget utilization is only in the vicinity of 60 percent,” he added.

“It can even replicate what Vietnam does more today to subsidize its fishermen: providing them with 12 horsepower of locally manufactured diesel engines,” he added.

With Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (NFARMC) not to allow additional import volume since the country has “sufficient supply.”

He noted that NFARMC convened last week and made its recommendations accordingly.

Citing estimates made by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Dar pointed out that the country has a “potential” fish supply deficit of about 119,000 MT this first quarter.

DaremphasizedthattheNFARMC is just a “recommendatory” body and pointed out that as the agriculture chief he has the responsibility to allow imports or not to ensure the country’s food security.

“The NFARMC is a body that has the recommendary responsibility.

Let me use that word: recommendary responsibility,” he said.

“At the end of the day we take responsibility in terms of ensuring food security, in this case fish supply of small pelagic fishes,” he added.

The BusinessMirror earlier reported that the government is mulling over more fish imports this year to ensure sufficient supply and avert price increases in the market following the devastation caused by Typhoon Odette (international code name Rai) to the fisheries sector.

The fisheries sector recorded about P3 billion in damage and loss-

es, making it the worst hit industry

by Odette, Dar said.

Dar enumerated the factors he considered in issuing the 60,000 MT Certificate of Necessity (CNI), which include the P3-billion losses incurred by the fisheries sector, curbing the contribution of fish to rising food inflation, and persisting logistical problems hindering the smooth transport of food products from one area to another.

“The fisheries subsector is the number one subsector badly hit by Odette. The capacity of our fishermen to catch will be in question,” he said.

“We also continue to see inflation and high prices of fish, which is second to pork in terms of contribution to overall food inflation,” he added.

The BusinessMirror broke the story earlier this month that Dar greenlighted the importation of 11,015 MT of small pelagic fishes to augment fish supply in Odette-hit areas to prevent possible price spikes due to shortage.

Dar signed and issued last December 30, 2021 the CNI to import 11,015 MT of frozen small pelagic for wet markets “for the benefit of the consuming public.”

The volume was the unused portion of the approved 51,246 MT of small pelagic fish imports out of the earlier approved CNI of 60,000 MT of frozen small pelagic fishes for wet markets in August 2021.

Swine fever in wild boars worries Italy’s pork industry

R

OME—The discovery of African swine fever in northern Italy has Italian pork producers fearing significant economic damage to a major agricultural export and has forced curtailing of the official seasons to hunt for game and to gather prized truffles.

Earlier this month, a case of the virus, which can be deadly to pigs but doesn’t harm humans, was detected in a wild boar in the Piedmont region in northwest Italy.

Wild boars, whose meat is used in pasta sauces, are a popular prey for hunters in Italy.

The nation’s health and agricultural ministers banned hunting and other public access in the woods and parklands of parts of Liguria and Piedmont to try to prevent the spread of the virus in more animals.

To limit the opportunities for contact with possibly other infected wild boars, parts of those two regions have been declared off-limits to bikers and hikers, and for fishing and hunting for game. Also not allowed is gathering truffles. Mushroom gathering is also banned through the next few months.

According to Piedmont’s official calendar for truffle hunting, which uses dogs, the season to gather the highly prized white truffles, including those that come from the Alba area of Piedmont, ends on January 31, so most of that season had already run its course.

Gathering of some black truffles

must be completed by November or December, depending on the kind, but other kinds of black truffles would normally still be gathered through the rest of winter.

The Italian farm lobby Confagricoltura says that China, Japan, Taiwan and Kuwait have already suspended imports of Italian pork and that neighboring Switzerland has also imposed some restrictions.

Italy’s exports of pork and pork products amount to 1.5 billion euros ($1.7 billion) annually, with about one-third of that coming from sales outside the European Union.

Other regions in Italy’s north are pressing for a crackdown on wild boars outside the stricken area in a bid to save their own pork production.

“The African swine fever can hit pigs and boars, it’s highly contagious, often lethal,’’ Gianluca Barbacovi, the head of farm lobby Coldiretti in Italy’s Trentino Alto Adige region, said Saturday.

The European Food Safety authority says that healthy pigs and boar usually become infected by, among other means, contact with infected animals, including free-ranging pigs and wild boar.

A proliferation of wild boars has also plagued urban areas, including some neighborhoods in the capital of Rome in recent years. The boars break through fences ringing parks on the outskirts of the city and invade streets to root through uncollected garbage for food. AP

DA-BFAR’s ‘lambaklad’ program raises catch of Occidental Mindoro fishermen

T

HE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said fisherfolk in Barangay San Agustin, Occidental Mindoro reported an increase in their daily catch following the implementation of its “lambaklad” distribution program.

In a recent news statement, BFAR said the fishermen are now catching at least a hundred kilograms of fish every day due to the lambaklad unit awarded to them by the department.

“The lambaklad unit that was turned over to the members of the San Agustin Lambaklad Fisherfolk Association is the second lambaklad

project under the National Lambaklad Program, a recent program of the Department of Agriculture-BFAR, which seeks to help increase fish catch and boost income of small-scale fisherfolk through this environmental-friendly and sustainable fishing technology,” it said.

“This is in line with the Department of Agriculture’s [DA] goal of sustainably increasing the country’s fish production while improving fisherfolk income, a key strategy under Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar’s ‘OneDA’ reform agenda,” it added.

Citing the association’s catch data,

the lambaklad program allowed the fishermen to catch approximately 2,000 kilograms of fish within just two weeks, according to BFAR. “Set as a form of community-based livelihood program, the project not only provided additional income for the direct beneficiaries, but also gave opportunitiesfortheirfamilymembers to act as retailers of the catch,” it said.

“The increased catch also augmented fish supply in the community and adjacent municipalities and provided additional income generating activities for fish traders, ice dealers and transporters,” it added.

The BFAR said the lambaklad project in San Jose started last February 2020. The use of lambaklad allowed the fisherfolk beneficiaries to catch more species of fish, a stark contrast from their previous practice when they were using traditional smallscale fishing gears like simple hook and line.

“The fisherfolk association has previously utilized traditional smallscale fishing gears such as simple hook and line, multiple handline, troll line and squid jig in catching tuna, tunalike species, and squid,” it said.

“With its lambaklad unit, how-

ever, the association has not only increased its catch, but has also diversified its target species and are now able to catch caranx, barracuda, Spanish mackerel, needlefish, skipjack, eastern little tuna, and queen fish,” it added.

The BFAR, an attached agency of the DA, noted that it has another lambaklad project going on in Jagna, Bohol while two other units are under construction in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte and Morong, Bataan.

“The bureau is also offering technical assistance to local government units, fisheries organization, and

other private individuals in the installation and operation of lambaklad,” it said.

The BFAR explained that lambaklad is a sustainable Japanese fishing technology adapted in the Philippines. The fishing technology is “environment-friendly” as it catches fish through allurement, it added.

“The structure of the lambaklad guides fish to swim towards the net and ends up in a bag or cod-end. To avail of this project, fisherfolk organizations or individuals may request assistance from any of BFAR’s Regional Offices,” it said. Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

Envoys&Expats BusinessMirror

B4

Thursday, January 20, 2022

www.businessmirror.com.ph

More foreign aid flows for typhoon survivors

D

IPLOMATIC missions continue to send support for displaced Filipinos a month after Typhoon Odette slammed into Central and Southern Philippines.

Canada released on January 13 details of a P120-million humanitarian assistance for those affected by the howler (international name Rai), following a December 21 statement of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on their commitment to provide immediate support to relief operations in the Philippines.

Its embassy in Manila announced the details of the CAN$3million in humanitarian assistance (approximately P120 million) to international nongovernmental organizations with the following allocations: n CAN$1.8 million (P72 million) to the World Food Programme (WFP) to support emergency-food assistance and logistics-operations response, in line with requirements identified in the United Nations’ (UN) Humanitarian Needs and Priorities plan. The allocation seeks to help 530,000 people through the provision of nonperishable nutritious food, emergency cashfor-work in semi-urban and rural areas, multipurpose cash transfers for immediate food needs and support livelihood, as well as the facilitation of transport and emergency logistics-response equipment. n CAN$700,000 (P28 million) to Oxfam Canada and Plan International Canada, in providing multipurpose cash assistance to support basic food and shelter needs, daily potable water—including storage and treatment solutions, distribution of menstrual health and hygiene kits, as well as facilitating access to protection services.

The aid aims to meet the needs of about 30,250 people in Surigao del Norte and Southern Leyte— two provinces hardest hit by the typhoon—in six months. n CAN$500,000 (P20 million) to the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) via the Canadian Red Cross Society to support the former’s emergency appeal to boost Philippine Red Cross (PRC) activities that help address emergency health; shelter; as well as water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) needs of the most vulnerable. The assistance aims to meet the immediate needs of 81,000 of the most vulnerable affected households— including women/child-headed households; pregnant or lactating women; families with persons with disability, elderly, those suffering from chronic illnesses, those with children under five years old, those who have not received any or sufficient assistance from the government or other organizations, those who belong to socially vulnerable families, and those who lack resources to meet basic humanitarian needs on their own.

“Canada is deeply concerned by the aftermath of this climate change-induced catastrophe,” Ambassador Peter MacArthur said.

“We continue to monitor the situ-

ation closely, and are pleased to be working with the government of the Philippines, Canadian and international humanitarian partners in reaching out to those most affected by ‘Odette.’”

MacArthur explained: “Our partners are trusted humanitarian organizations with networks and track records to ensure…help is given to those who need it the most. The Red Cross, Oxfam, Plan International, and the WFP are well-positioned to deliver support, have existing representations onthe-ground, and strong [ties] with local authorities, other civil-society organizations, and affected communities.”

He added: “We are also pleased to hear about the UN’s rapid US$12million response allocation from its Central Emergency Response Fund…Canada has been a leading contributor to the UN’s CERF, following a CAN$88-million, 3-year recommitment made in December 2020.”

Through the embassy’s Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, the North American country has made a quick-response funding of an additional CAN$50,000 (around P2 million) to support local-relief efforts in the Caraga region, which was particularly hit hard by the storm.

Mea nwh i le, t he C a n ad i a n Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines has also asked its members to donate to relief and recovery efforts led by the private sector.

“Canada stands in solidarity with the people and government of the Philippines alongside the international community led by the UN and civil-society humanitarian organizations in collective relief and early recovery work,” the ambassador said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this devastating natural calamity.”

“Because of the magnitude of this ongoing crisis, efforts will need to be sustained over the coming weeks and months to help people with their shelter, food, water and livelihoods,” MacArthur further stated. “So we stand ready to work with our partners to extend other assistance that may be needed.”

to closely coordinate with the country for the earliest recovery of the affected areas.

The following are the implementing agencies, areas of assistance, and the disbursement amount: n WFP: Food, nutrition and logistics ($5 million) n International Organization for Migration: Shelter, health, camp coordination and camp management ($4.2 million) n IFRC and Red Crescent Societies: Shelter/nonfood items, food, WASH and health ($1.83 million) n UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF): WASH ($1.6 million) n UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): Interagency coordination ($.2 million) n Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR: Shelter/nonfood items, and protection ($.17 million)

Japan provides support

US assists

ON January 14 the government of Japan decided to provide an emergency-grant aid of $3 million (approximately P663 million) in response to “Odette’s” damages:” The aid, provided through multiple international organizations, will allow for the implementation of humanitarian-assistance activities in areas such as food, shelter, nonfood items, health, as well as water and sanitation, for the survivors.

Japan, in light of its amicable relations with the Philippines as articulated by its embassy, intends

DISASTER-relief goods from Yokohama City arrive in Cebu City through the Japanese Embassy and Consulate-General in the area. TWITTER: @AMBJPNINPH

PHILIPPINES, @ACCORDINC

HELP from the United States was facilitated through the United Nations World Food Programme and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). US EMBASSY

AMBASSADOR Kim In-chul turns over P2.5-million worth of rice and hygiene kits to the DSWD. PNA

THE United States government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), allocated late in December 2021 an additional P950 million ($19 million) in humanitarian assistance to help communities affected by “Odette,” which brought the total support from the said country for this specific response to more than P1 billion ($20.2 million).

With this grant, USAID will provide food aid and WASH programs to help keep people healthy, as well as shelter assistance to meet emergency needs and help affect-

ed communities start rebuilding their homes.

“The US is pleased to announce an additional and significant assistance of P950 million, which brings our total amount of aid for…‘Odette’ to over P1 billion,” confirmed Chargé d’Affaires a.i.

Heather Variava. “We stand steadfast with our long-standing friend, partner and ally in helping support communities devastated by the typhoon. This additional assistance will help deliver food and hygiene supplies, as well as provide life-saving support to those most in need.”

Said new funding was on top of the P50 million ($1 million) earlier announced to support emergency-logistics efforts to ensure aid is delivered to those in geographically isolated areas.

It also builds on the P10 million ($200,000) that USAID provided immediately after the storm for food, water and hygiene supplies; to restore water-supply services and sanitation facilities; as well as support hygiene-promotion activities.

According to the US embassy, USAID works year-round to help local communities prepare for natural disasters. Through existing programs, USAID’s partners are transporting relief supplies— including enough food provided by the Philippine government to feed nearly 103,000 families.

USAID partners are also helping manage evacuation shelters, deploy mobile-operations vehicles to support emergency telecommunications, and provide heavy-duty

CANADA Fund Local Initiatives course donations through ACCORD Phils. FACEBOOK: EMBASSY OF CANADA IN THE

plastic sheeting to meet the shelter needs of 4,800 families.

The United States, its embassy said, will continue to partner with the Philippines in responding to natural disasters and support Filipinos in their recovery efforts.

Since 2010 the aid agency has provided more than P17 billion (or $340 million) in disaster-relief and recovery aid, while boosting the disaster-risk reduction capacity of over 100 cities and municipalities in the Philippines.

SoKor sent rice, hygiene kits

THE South Korean government turned over P2.5 million worth of rice and hygiene kits as immediate relief to the communities affected

by Typhoon Odette.

The donation, delivered to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), has 1,500 sacks of rice and 740 hygiene kits, all of which were sourced locally.

Ambassador Kim In-chul noted that the initial aid was an addition to an upcoming $2-million (approximately P100 -million) humanitarian assistance to further help the recovery of typhoon survivors.

The Korean embassy is currently working with different partners in the Philippines to evaluate where the additional contribution should be best allocated.

“With my short experience here in the Philippines in the past, we [contributed] a few hundreds of US dollars following Typhoon ‘Rolly’... the destination of that cash assistance was the PRC and with that,

they built close to 200 permanent housing for the displaced people in Albay,” Kim told the Philippine News Agency. “So it will depend on what we will find here. We are contacting different departments and international organizations to see where they feel the need [and] the urgency, because relief has to go along with recovery.”

Along with emergency-relief packs, Kim stressed that housing, power and telecommunication have to come back altogether to allow the affected population to return to their daily lives.

“It’s a comprehensive thing, so it will require a [whole-of-international-community and Philippinegovernment approach],” he said.

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Myca Magnolia Fischer, meanwhile, thanked the Korean government for its support, especially as the government ramps up its relief operations in the Visayas and Mindanao: “We’re thankful for the solidarity and sympathy of the Republic of Korea. Always a steady partner of the Philippines, especially during this difficult time, we can really rely on it for support.”

Social Welfare Director Emmanuel Privado said the latest Korean rice donation will be able to feed about 6,000 families.

As of December 28, 2021 the DSWD has so far delivered more than 120,000 family food packs to the 11 regions hit by “Odette,” with at least three trucks carrying 1,700 boxes each. With a report from Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA

German Chamber applauds Retail Trade Liberalization Act Amendments rollout

T

HE Ger m a n-Ph i l ippi ne Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) recently welcomed the passage of the amendments to the Retail Trade Liberalization Act (RTLA), or Republic Act (RA) 11595, which simplifies and eases restrictions for foreign retailers who wish to establish presence in the Philippines.

The signed law amends certain provisions of the RTLA of 2000 (RA 8762), which lowers the capi-

talization requirements for foreign ownerships from $2.5 million (P125 million) down to around $500,000 (P25 million).

“We welcome the enactment of this landmark reform,” says GPCCI Executive Director Christopher Zimmer. “As the law addresses existing investment barriers, we are seeing massive opportunities for foreign retailers to participate in the Philippine market, and will also help us further promote the country as an

attractive investment destination.”

Furthermore, the qualification requirements set by the previous law were also simplified by removing re-

quired net worth, the number of existing retailing branches, and retailing track-record conditions. The law also asks the Department of Trade

and Industry as well as the National Economic and Development Authority to review the required minimum paid-up capital every three years.

“The passage of the RTLA is a step in the right direction toward the economic recovery of the country,” says GPCCI President Stefan Schmitz. “To fully realize its potential, we urge the Philippine government to pass the other economic bills, such as the amendments to Foreign Investment Act and Public Service Act, as [they

complement] the RTLA in further opening up the Philippine economy.”

The GPCCI belongs to the international network of German chambers of Commerce Abroad, or AHKs, represented by 140 offices in 92 countries. GPCCI is the official representation of German businesses in the Philippines, which is a bilateral membership organization with around 300 members, as well as a service provider to companies in their market entry and expansion.

www.businessmirror.com.ph www.businessmirror.com.ph

Parentlife Parentlife BusinessMirror BusinessMirror

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Thursday, January 20, 2022 B5

• Thursday, January 6, 2022

Where do we begin?: PartPart I II More mommy thoughts on ‘SEL’:

B5

PHOTO BY

PHOTO

BY AUSTIN KAL VISUALS PACHECO ON ON UNSPLASH UNSPLASH

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ONTINUING from our post over the fter over 20 months "maneuvering" holiday let me further shareI through thisseason, pandemic that persists, “SEL” (Socio-Emotional Learning) tips remember feeling quite hopeful when and tools from under ValerieAlert Cheng, a chilMetro Manila was placed Level 2 dren’sMost bookpeople author. were vaccinated. early November.

What aremore theirfreedom “simplifying parenting” People had moving aroundtips theon managing stress anxiety?Christmas last city.

And as we and approached From Cheng: “As a looked mom, I try to teach kids December, everyone forward to my finally simple tools like breathing, mindfulness, accepseeing family and friends, visiting malls and tance and letting go, expect meditation and affirmations traveling.

I did not all of this would be to help them manage and anxiety find a this short-lived withstress last week's cases and reaching their of peace. okay to have big feelings like stress high overIt’s 38,000. andEvery anxiety—everyone experiences you are not start of the year, for as longit,as I can alone.

Stress and anxiety is like a huge wave or remember, I have had a rough direction on tackstorm, and we need to practice breathing and mediling my new year. Even amid the past pandemic tation, so that when the wave or storm comes we months, I pushed forth with positivity and purpose would know to deal We and havewithin also tried in myself, myhow family, mywith workit.life my a Family Trust Circle—it’s a good exercise community. However, as I entered the firstwhere few we talk as of a family, say what wefeeling appreciate aboutof weeks 2022, Iwe found myself "robbed" each other, what we are grateful for, then we discuss what I thought would be a more normal 2022. I felt our goals, and where we need help and support.” the promise of my kids finally having a chance to From her husband Jeff: “It’s important to take go back to physical school; our family finally being care of my own mental health before I can be efable to freely visit my in-laws in Bicol; our work fective with my children. I try to create a space family having more stable hours as the economy where I can be quiet and alone with my thoughts. gets back on its feet; spending time with friends; Often this is when I go on long walks in the park or and doing face-to-face meetings (still with social connect with nature as this gives me peace.... Even distancing) with customers and other organizations. just silently walking and observing the world helps In short, I was not prepared for another run on this release their active bodies to ensure there is space roller-coaster of hopes in 2022. in their minds for calm. I find feeding fishes in the I have had similar conversations with peoponds in our condo also very relaxing.” ple around me and I think the common question For their kids, they teach them to do “mindful lingering in many people's minds is: "Where do we breathing, meditation and affirmations. [Our son] begin?" is usually asleep after meditating for 10-15 minutes.

Lastheweekend washe a good time for ame do and When is stressed, usually needs bigtohug, some quiet time reflection.

Letbreathing. me share As mya2022 plan some quiet to do his family, we of action on where to begin…and hopefully it have built two little free libraries, one for Chil- will be my Cancer regimenFoundation, this year inand facing volatility dren’s one all forthe Children’s of circumstances that may still arise.

Aid Society. We have also started a Kindness Whether start your day n BREATHE Rocks Project here in our before condo.you We paint rocks or when you just suddenly feel being overwhelmed, with positive messages and leave them near the pause from whatever you are doing, look at awith function room for people to get and to share

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others. We also bring the kids to Willing Hearts, it’s a soup kitchen [in Singapore] serving people in need. We as parents also try to show an example by volunteering at the Ahuva Good Shepherd and the Singapore Cancer Society. We believe helping others by sharing your blessings, talents and skills

relaxing image, and take three deep breaths. There are many breathing techniques you can research online as well. After that last deep breath, proceed to doing this simple “3-3-3 Grounding Exercise” from the talk on anxiety I attended at work. You are supposed to pause and say the first 3 things you SEE, 3 things you HEAR and 3 emotions you FEEL. helps you to appreciate what you have, learn gratin QUIET THE NOISE After grounding one's tude and it changes your perspective on life.” thoughts and emotions, it is always good to physiThe next interesting person is Amabel Japically pour it out through writing, drawing or even a tana, who co-founded Kind Little Humans with voice memo. I would usually draw what is botherEmily Bautista. Amabel has a Masters Degree ing me and then put aChildhood caption orand poetry just to in Education in Early Childhood "quiet my heart".

Prayer is also a good way by ofEducation from Bank Street College, New York, fering ourpast fears12and anxieties to a Higher Being. who hasall over years been working in early ASSERT THE CHOICE TO TAKE CHARGE n childhood education in New York City, Manila and However we Bautista feel helpless uncertainties, Nepal.

Emily is anamid earlythe childhood educathe most important thing is having the mindset of tor currently teaching in Boston, Massachusetts. choosing to take charge to move forward and not She graduated with a degree in Child Development retreat. and Education at UA&P and later on pursued her One of the first things I decided is that, as much Masters in Literacy and General Childhood Education also at Bank Street College in New York. She’s been in the field for over a decade and have taught multiple age-groups in different capacities.

“Kind Little Humans came about as a response to the challenges of families and educators during the height of the pandemic. The Philippines was in ECQ

How does excess sugar affect the developing brain throughout childhood and adolescence?

By Lina Begdache Binghamton University, State University of New York

as there are so many new developments on Covid-19 and the avalanche of information on social media, they also cause too much "noise" and fear.

Now, I limit looking through these types of messages. For me, I listed down the top three aspects I will focus on and got opinions from experts. For example, for family health, I choose to listen to medical experts. For my kids' education, which is and everyone was quarantined at home. Young chilone of my biggest worries, I get guidance from my dren had to stay home, while schools shifted to online child's school and teacher-friends. learning. During this time, we were working with Dr. Francis Xavier Dimalanta, a renowned and talking to families and educators who were facdevelopmental behavioral pediatrician, directed ing many challenges navigating our new normal. We me to these tips foroffer Disease decided to create antaken onlinefrom spaceCenters that could some Control and Prevention (cdc.gov) on proper hygiene support and community for those raising and working at home, includes cleaning high-touch with young which children during this difficult time. surfaces as needed and after you have “In thisregularly space, weorshare positive and useful visitors at home, focusing on high-touch surfaces information, tips and points for reflection on early such as doorknobs, tables, handles,children. light switches, childhood development and raising We The and countertops, among others. comprehenparticularly choose to focus on what research and sive guidehave can been be found at bit.ly/3AqhYTn. experience telling us for a long timeHe also shared official of the Philippine about thethe early years:publication that relationships, emotional

well-being and play are crucial, and matter much more than early academics. In line with this, we have1 also begun developing tools for social and emotional learning. We have just created our Kind Little Humans Feelings Cards, which help nurture children’s emotional intelligence, and will be

for brain chemicals. Amino acids also play important roles in mood, learning and cognitive functions.

Despite the fact that the brain accounts for only 2% of human body weight, it requires about 20% of tion programs promote interactions fect child development than parents that did not get the human body's energylanguage-rich needs to perform all of its between caregivers children. the interventions. functions, includingand learning, memory and cogniOur first intervention consisted of a series of But we also found that parents in the more tive processes. Research suggests that this number is short educational videos that provided tips and intensive program had significantly more intereven higher in children whose brains and bodies are information about babies’ capabilities. Parents actions with their children than parents that did developing rapidly. watched the videos when they visited their pedianot get the intervention. The less intensive proBrain function and growth are regulated by brain trician for their child’s immunizations in the first gram had a similar but smaller effect on parentchemicals known as neurotransmitters, which should six months after birth. child interactions. dictate the architecture of brain development. DeThe second intervention was more intensive.

Importantly, our results also indicate that the pending on the stage of brain growth, an imbalance Families with a child 24 to 30 months old received children whose parents received the home visits of critical neurotransmitters may cause a myriad of home visits by specifically trained members of our developed higher vocabulary and math skills—as ailments, affecting learning, mood and behaviors. research team every other week for six months. well as improved socio-emotional health—imSimilarly, a low-quality or imbalanced diet, such as During the 12 visits, the home visitors showed an mediately after the intervention and six months one high in processed sugar, can throw off the brain's educational video to the parents and then did an later, compared to those that did not get the chemical equilibrium. activity that demonstrated how to put the concepts interventions.

As these are indicators of school 3 covered in the video into practice. These demonreadiness, it means that kids who got the treatExcess sugar puts the brain in overdrive strations included, for example, how to use descripment were better prepared for school. The first Because glucose is the primary source of energy to tive language with their child or incorporate math intervention, on the other hand, did not improve the brain, too routines. much sugar can put it home into anvisitors overdrive into everyday Finally, the children’s vocabulary, which was the main outmode.

When the is overstimulated, it can lead gave feedback andbrain set goals for the next visit. come of interest for that program. to hyperactivity swings. However, these At the end of and bothmood experiments, parents were Research shows that socioeconomic inequalities behavioral arethat only the short-term conse-afmore likely changes to believe parental investments in child development begin well before school starts. quences. Some evidence suggests that this brain hyperactivity in adolescents is linked to cognitive deficits in adulthood. uSugar also has an addictive effect because it stimulates neurons in the brain's reward system, known as SAZANAMI Sushi’s delectable Fusion Sushi Rolls and Japanese rice bowls like the limbic system. When activated, the limbic system Tendon & Katsudon, from retired Chef De Cuisine Godofredo “Freddie” Aranda, generates high emotions such as pleasure, which reinwho opened a home-based online business during last year’s lockdown... forces further sugar consumption.

In addition, within the limbic system there is a tiny Tomas Bistro’s mouth-watering Flatbread Pizzas and Specialty Pastas from Chef James Besalo, who relocated to the Philippines from Bermuda...

Chikks Party The Lechuza glass-top round table with its structure called the amygdala, which processes emotional Chicken’s deliciously flavored chicken wings and poppers which Phoebe de Yor imaginative, asymmetrical and curvaceous information. Overactivation of the amygdala is associated and friends concocted in their search of the perfect party food. silhouette…blue and white Cel vases with splatwith exaggerated emotions such as fear and anxiety. someand of thebrushstrokes heartwarming stories the great food at that behind celebrate painterly Research suggests that there is a strong relation- These areters Eatogether Food Hall at SM Megamall which has become favorite family exuberance...hand-blown Lucia astemware with ship between high sugar consumption, altered behavdestination. swirling facets that give it a vintage feel…the iors and poor emotional regulation. Although sugar Food Hall previously an incubator for Vikings’Zagaroli Enzo barwas cabinet designed

by Charlie intake may boost mood momentarily, chronic sugar Eatogether new brands, but with the pandemic, the food hall opened its doors in a modern mix of materials, with opento and consumption has been linked with increased risk of accommodate displaced chefs and home-based food entrepreneurs to concealed storage. mental health problems. pursue their passion for food and business.

And today, the food hall Crate and Barrel (www.crateandbarrel.com.

Considering the mounting body of evidence, the welcomes diners a whole new food hallwe dining experience. ph)to welcomes those love home to a place of seemingly irresistible sweetness of sugar can translate Japanese food lovers willand be delighted with Daburu Ramen’s beautiful easy warmth with its authentic new collecinto a bitter outcome for the developing brain.

Daburu House Special Ramen, Kuro Ramen and Melting Gyoza.

Its first tion with globally-inspired designs thatstore make THE CONVERSATION located at the Eatogether Food Hall offers two ramen bowls at the price of one,

Pediatric Society, A Parent's Guide on Covid-19 Infection in Children, which discusses in-depth how to prevent and what to do if your child gets infected. It is quite complete including handling food delivery, playing and sports, home care and even breastfeeding. This can be found on their Facebook page.

I appreciated very much how Dr. Dimalanta also releasing more learning tools next year. shared practical tips on keeping my family holisti“Our overall hope is to honor little humans on cally healthy. He advised to focus on communicatheir journey of growth, and the big humans who tion, compassion and consult. He encouraged keepare learning and growing alongside them. We want ing the lines open within the family by asking then to empower children by empowering grown-ups in listening showing more empathy to each other. their roles asand carers of young children.”

Compassion to do self-care before can care for I also loved their tips on SEL by ageyou group: others.

Lastly, to consult with experts like doctors, “Socio-emotional learning is extremely importeachers, therapists, or allied health workers tant. Many grown-ups tend to focus on children’sfor appropriate and and not sensationalized solutions or academic learning treat socio-emotional treatment options. learning as something secondary. Socio-emotional Next week, let me share more tips on how to learning involves learning to manage emotions, take charge of this current volatile situation that we feeling and showing empathy for others, establishall facing. setting positive goals and making ingare relationships,

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responsible decisions. These skills are, in fact, crucial for children to thrive, do well academically and become successful adults.”

Next week, let me continue this discussion and introduce you to this kind and entrepreneurial girl named, Lia Cua.

How changing parental beliefs can build stronger vocabulary and math skills for young children Parents often stress about their kids' sugar intake,

By Julie but it can be hard to knowPernaudet how much is too much—or University of Chicago what to do about it.

Glucose—a simple sugar that forms the basis of THE key to improving young children’s vocabulary most carbohydrate-rich food—is the primary source and math skills may lie in changing their parents’ of energy for the brain. Healthy brains require a conbeliefs. We describe these findings in an article tinuous source of energy and nutrients to fuel growth, published in October 2021 in the peer-reviewed learning and development. scientific journal Nature Communications.

However, that doesn't mean extra consumption of When we measured parental beliefs about child sugar is good for the developing brain. In fact, too development among 479 parents of newborns living much sugar can actually be detrimental to the normal in the Chicago area, a striking pattern emerged: growth of the brain.

Better educated parents were significantly more I am a clinical nutritionist and a nutrition scientist likely than parents with lower levels of education with a neuroscience focus whose research revolves to believe that activities such as telling stories to around understanding the impact of diet and lifestyle their children, playing with them and spending on brain function and mentalwith well-being.

Preliminary time having conversations them affect child results from my research indicate that consumption of development. We call such activities “parental sugary food is associated with mental distress—such investments”. as anxiety and depression—and disrupted sleep.

To understand how socioeconomic differences in these beliefs may drive inequality in children’s

Sources of sugartwo ininterventions kids' diet among lowskills, we designed

Processed foods, such as donuts, sweetincome families in the Chicago area.sodas Bothand intervenened cereals, often contain added sugars. Unfortunately, these foods tend to be easily accessible to children and teenagers—whether it be after sports games or at birthday parties.

Chemically processed foods are those that have been altered by adding components not naturally found in them. These foods often contain added sugars, preservatives, salts and trans fats—all aimed at increasing taste, texture or shelf life.

As a result, processed foods have a lower nutritional value than whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. One of the most common sweeteners in US food products is high-fructose corn syrup, which contains not only glucose but another simple sugar called fructose. Too much fructose has been asvcorn sociated with increased body fat. High-fructose syrup is found in sodas and baked goods like muffins u Retired and donuts.Chef De Cuisine Chef Godofredo “Freddie” Aranda’s

granddaughters persuaded him to launch Sazanami as a homebased online business during lockdown last year. Sazanami now Diet, brain and offers delectable Fusionfunction Sushi Rolls and Japanese rice bowls like Tendon & Katsudon.

Certain dietary components such as amino acids,

which form the basis of proteins, act as precursors

v K-gogi’s Unlimited Pork and Chicken with side dishes

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Investing in the early years of a child’s development can improve a variety of outcomes later in life, such as employment, earnings and physical health.

During the first years of life, parental investments are critical for the healthy development of children. Yet socioeconomic differences in parental investments, which have been consistently observed over time and across countries, exacerbate the educational and income inequalities that are often seen in modern economies.

The fact that only our more intensive intervention succeeded in making kids better prepared for school suggests that simply providing families with more information on child development and parenting is insufficient.

Our future work will address how to personalize support for families. We are developing a computeradaptive version of the survey we used to elicit parental beliefs. This will tailor to each parent’s specific knowledge and needs and help us identify the most appropriate programs for each family.

THE CONVERSATION

Communal dining the safe way making most value in every bowl. Likewise, K-gogi’s bibimbap and unlimited grill sets are popular to satisfy one’s Korean food cravings.

Hola! Paella, on the other hand, offers authentic Spanish food including Seafood Paella and Paella de la Casa without intimidating the price-conscious.

Inthe addition to thecome food start-ups, food hallyou houses mainstream names senses alive. the Curves want to trace introducing brands.

Tong Yang Shabu-Shabu Express is theto alapress carte Fabrics you want withnew your fingertips. restaurant versioncheeks. of the TongDetails Yang Plus so Buffet brands.

It offers to your full of life youShabu-Shabu, can’t and allows lookcustomers away. to Create Your Own Shabu-Shabu with fresh hotpot ingredientsTo to choose from for as low 1 peso per gram. be welcomed byasfamilies no doubt, the The Vikings Foodhave Group’sa Nord’s a food hall favorite. new pieces freshBread takeHub onishome entertainNord’sing—stylish Bread Hub is an urban style bakery and café that offers a variety dining tables with soft sculptural of Asian and Western concept meals, breads,and coffee, and desserts lines, décorhealthy that play with texture scale, exsuch asquisite Pedro Gelato’s freshly made dinnerware andgelato. barware items that highThe Eatogether Hall isand a perfect placebonding for families,moments. friends, and light greatFood design great even coworkers to come together and over food and drinks.can Safety More informtion oncelebrate this new collection protocols check, availability of alcohol dispensers, and beincluding found temperature at www.storecatalog.crateandbarrel. accessibility of contact tracing QR code are all in place. Also, the food hall has a com.ph. cashless system for safer and more convenient transactions.

Fresh take on home entertaining

1.Ena Ceramic Canisters with Wood Lids grace your countertop or open shelves in a range of denim-inspired textures and blues.

2. A modern mix of materials comes together in a combination of open and concealed storage in the Enzo Bar Cabinet, where prized pieces are illuminated

by LED lights.

3. The Cove Indigo Blue Collection is inspired by handformed Japanese ceramics and indigo-dyed textiles, gracing the table with artisan shapes and a mesmerizing deep blue glaze.

4. Serve cocktails or display glass decanters filled with spirits, bottles of bitters and classic bar accessories on this Osk Bone-Inlay Tray.

B6 Thursday, January 20, 2022

Alibaba Cloud recognized for IaaS+PaaS abilities in 2021 Gartner Solution Scorecard

Marco Polo, Bikes for the Philippines partner for employee empowerment

BIKES for the Philippines program director Joel Uichico (front row, leftmost) awards Marco Polo Ortigas employees with their repurposed bikes

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HE road to progress is often described as one laden with challenges and adversity, yet reaching one’s target destination is a reward worth seeing through. Such is the commitment of Marco Polo Ortigas, Manila, which continues to champion health and safety in all aspects of its operations while weathering the tests brought about by the global pandemic.

Aside from focusing on strengthening the hotel’s business during these extraordinary times, the leadership team at the Marco Polo Ortigas, Manila sought to initiate an associate program to engage, motivate, and support its employees. Towards the end of 2020, it found a dedicated partner in Bikes for the Philippines Foundation.

Through the “Will for Wheels”

Program, a select group of hotel associates were awarded used bicycles through Bikes for the Philippines Foundation. These employees were assessed based on their need for transportation support vis-à-vis their operational responsibilities in the hotel.

According to Colin Healy, General Manager of the Marco Polo, the bicycles serve more than just their face-value purposes for the employees.

“Like many of us around the world, our associates continue to face and endure the different twists and turns as part of the global health crisis. More than helping them get to and from their homes safely, we see these bicycles as tools of empowerment,” said Mr. Healy.

“We hope to promote responsible riding and road safety among our associates, especially with our home city (Pasig)

embracing more initiatives to look after people and the planet,” Healy added.

For his part, Bikes for the Philippines Foundation program director Joel Uichico encouraged more Filipinos to not only take to the streets responsibly on bicycles, but also to continue finding ways to develop our community’s spirit. “The humble bicycle is merely an instrument for our people to move forward. We hope that our partnership with the Marco Polo Ortigas, Manila inspires more Filipinos to realize even more possibilities for the country,” Mr. Uichico said.

For more information about the hotel's ongoing promotions and programs, please visit marcopolohotels. com, subscribe to updates through its official social media accounts, or call (632) 7720 7777.

Get ready to experience an exciting world of creativity of Chimeraland

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LIBABA Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, has been recognized for its critical cloud abilities of compute, storage, network and security among global cloud service providers on the newly released 2021 Gartner® Solution Scorecard for Alibaba Cloud International IaaS and PaaS. Alibaba Cloud’s IaaS (infrastructure as a service) + PaaS (platform as a service) offerings were recognized with the 3rd highest overall solution score of 81 percent among all evaluated international vendors in this market.

Alibaba Cloud scored 86 percent in the required criteria in the 2021 scorecard. It also met 74 percent of the preferred criteria and 58 percent of the optional criteria respectively.

The scorecard is a highly recognized industry assessment and evaluates selected service providers that meet a defined set of inclusion criteria against their latest solutions for cloud integrated IaaS and PaaS in nine categories, including computing, storage, network, and security, across 270 criteria.

“We have continued to be recognized in the Gartner® Solution Scorecard in the past two years by broadening our international offerings and our infrastructure options.

In our opinion, these efforts, as reflected in the scorecard, have given us a competitive advantage over other global players,” said Jeff Zhang, President of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence. “Going forward, we will strengthen our core IaaS+PaaS features

Be inspired with these Brother products

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T’S a new year, and along with it comes a brand-new opportunity to seize the moment and do even better than the year before.

Whether you want to organize your life in the new year or start creating more out of your inspirations, Brother has your back to help you kick 2022 off in the right way.

Brother Creative Center

IF you’re looking for a place to get started, why not try the Brother Creative Center? The Creative Center is a free online portal that has hundreds of readymade templates for various occasions and purposes, all editable to your heart’s delight. Explore the different categories and try out different printables from planners, organizers, lists, calendars, to even games and educational activities.

Brother Ink Tank printers

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HIMERALAND, the newest open world MMO (massively multiplayer online) game developed by Level Infinite, will be released in early 2022.

Since the start of the game’s pre-registration on December 16, Chimeraland managed to get 300,000 registrants in 10 days. The game will be available on various platforms from PC, Android and iOS, giving each player the freedom to explore the 4,000-squarekilometer territory spanning four continents, seas and oceans to explore.

Character Creation

BEFORE starting the game, you need to create a character from various races (from humans to animals) and ages.

After selecting the race and age, you can then proceed to the customizing the facial features of your character.

Lastly, you can preview your character setups. If you are not happy with it, you can choose ‘Back’ or ‘Reset’ to continue

with your chosen character.

There are three types of pets: Rides, Followers, and Companions. In Chimeraland, almost all the animals can be captured as riding pets that you can use as transportation and assist you in battles.

Animals can be seen and caught everywhere. From common animals to thousands of years old beasts, you can use traps to catch them and make them your mounts. Of course, catching also depends on luck. Sometimes pet eggs can be caught, and permanent pets can be hatched through incubation nests at home; but sometimes only temporary pets can only be caught for five minutes. The biggest use of temporary pets is to swallow opposing animals and add limbs to permanent pets. For example, it will make the normal horse have thick elephant legs, cute moose head, dominant eagle wings, poisonous scorpion tail, etc. – making it into a unique riding pet!

Map Exploration, Fly to the Vastness of the Universe and Settle in Space

CLICK the upper left corner of the game interface to open the map. Drag the zoom option in the lower right corner to adjust the map scale, and the positioning options can set the navigation destination. Areas that have not been included in the map are currently showing no details. The unexplored areas will display a question mark. Once the area with the question mark is explored, the appropriate icon will appear.

While exploring the vast spherical world of Chimeraland, travelers can fly all the way to space and break through the sky to travel in space, where there are many small planets and star beasts. Of course, you can also choose to build a home on a space planet and settle in space. In some instances, you can be exiled to space prison if you kill randomly.

To find out more and pre-register, gamers should visit https://chimeraland. onelink.me/N4Pt/ad61fbc.

and step up the rollout of new services and features in all regions, with the aim of providing the best cloud experience to our customers worldwide.”

Alibaba Cloud currently has 80 availability zones in 25 regions, serving millions of customers across the globe. It has been strengthening its capabilities in computing, storage, network, and security.

The fourth generation of ApsaraCompute Shenlong Architecture unveiled in October 2021, carries leading capabilities in terms of container elasticity, storage, input/output (IO) performance, latency and chip-level security hardening features. It is equipped with the industry’s only large-scale Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA), which can reduce network latency as low as 5 microseconds.

In terms of storage, Alibaba Cloud’s proprietary distributed storage system Pangu provides excellent scalability and automated load balance with extremely high data availability. It has built Luoshen, an innovative cloud network architecture that provides products and services for various cloud network scenarios to support the deployment of millions of customers.

Owning more than 80 security and compliance accreditations worldwide, Alibaba Cloud also provides an array of security products, including DDoS protections, web application firewall, cloud security and business risk management, for businesses worldwide.

WHETHER you’re printing your own creative work or making use of Brother’s ready-to-print designs, bring them to life with your trusted Brother printer.

A great model for home use is the DCPT420W, which easily print everything you create with dazzling vividness and clarity while keeping maintenance costs down.

Its wireless feature means you can print anywhere at home with your desktop or mobile devices! It’s not hard to be in the

mood to be productive when you’ve got a reliable printer at your side! Explore more of Brother’s Ink tank printers at https://www.brother.com.ph/en/contents/ refillinktankprinter.

Brother SDX1200 Scan N’ Cut machine

READY to take your creations to the next level? The Brother SDX1200 Scan N’ Cut is the perfect hobby machine that rounds out your craft. Scan anything with its built-in scanner that captures up to 300 DPI, and cuts paper to these designs with its blade sensor technology. You’ll be amazed at what it can do! The Brother Creative Center is also filled with decors and displays that you can DIY, and with the help of the Scan N’ Cut, there’s no limit to what you can create to make it a fun, inspired year.

With all of these tools you can use, it won’t be hard to get started on a creative 2022! Head to your nearest authorized Brother dealer to get your own Brother machine today!

For more details, visit https:// www.brother.com.ph/ and our official social media accounts: https://www. facebook .com/BROT HER at yourside/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ brotherphils/ LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ BrotherPHLinkedIn/Viber Community: https://bit.ly/BrotherShopatHomeViber.

Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

Health&Fitness BusinessMirror

Omicron is contagious, not a mild infection–experts

By Rory Visco

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Contributor

ome experts said this latest variant called Omicron (or B.1.1.529) of Covid-19 may have been lurking around for months even before it was discovered, as reported by The Associated Press.

Well, one thing that is true is that this dangerous variant quickly spread like wildfire around the world after the first sample was collected in Botswana, South Africa. A piece of good news, however, was that Omicron is thought to be less severe compared to other strains, says the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Weighing in on Omicron

For its first episode of the year titled “Omicron: What We Should Know & What We Should Do,” the webinar organized by the University of the Philippines, in partnership with the UP Manila National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Telehealth Center and with the UP Philippine General Hospital, discussed how people should know if it is really Omicron and how best to react to it.

According to Dr. Franco Felizarta, an Infectious Disease and Internal Medicine Specialist of the UP Medical Alumni Association in America (UPMASA), Omicron has spread to over 150 countries in a span of just two months, with over 50 mutations, 30 of them in the spike gene, with at least 25 unique to this variant. Compared to other mutations, normally with two to four of the most important muta-

tions, Dr. Felizarta said Omicron has seven of these.

He said that whenever there are mutations, at least four things are asked: transmissibility, disease severity, risk of infection, which means breakthrough infection or vaccine efficacy, and impact on diagnostics. He said there is no direct evidence yet as to its transmissibility but by just analyzing its mutations, Dr. Felizarta said Omicron is as transmissible as Delta, with a potential for immune escape. “If both are present, there is going to be a high infection growth rate.”

As for Omicron’s disease severity, Dr. Felizarta said this is not yet known since clinical data are still under review.

With regard to risk of infection, preliminary evidence suggests possible increased risk of reinfection. For impact on diagnostics, RT-PCR continues to detect Omicron. “When using antigen test, there’s a lot of false negative on the first two days after the first positive RT-PCR test but after two days, it becomes very active. However, there’s a need for another study to confirm this,” he said.

He said they already knew Omicron would be trouble since it spread rapidly across South Africa and appears to have out-competed other previous variants.

Compared to Delta, Dr. Felizarta said Omicron, in a study done in Hong Kong last month, multiplies 70 times more quickly in the human bronchus, the large airway that connects the windpipe to the lungs, but replicates 10 times slower in the lung tissues.

In terms of symptoms, he said there’s really no difference between Delta and Omicron because Omicron will infect vaccinated persons and those with previous infections so there will be less severe symptoms.

Managing the ‘holiday’ surge

Many are calling it already as the Omicron surge, but Dr. John Wong, an epidemiologist and Senior Technical Adviser for EpiMetrics, Inc., said it can be called a “holiday surge.” He believes it was caused by several events

like holiday gatherings by family and friends outside of their “bubble” or their residences. Next is imported infections, mostly from those who came overseas, then the presence of Omicron, touted as a more infectious variant, plus instances of people supposed to be in quarantine or isolation have gone out, and then uneven vaccination rates or highly concentrated vaccination on the National Capital Region (NCR) and much less everywhere else, he said.

So, is this Omicron? Dr. Wong said Omicron may have been detected in sequencing but from small, nonrandom samples. “The holiday surge bears the same signature as those in other countries with more sequencing: there’s steep, rapid spike, doubling time of only two days compared to Delta’s two weeks, with rise in hospitalization and deaths not proportional to the Delta wave.”

Contrary to what others were saying, Dr. Wong said Omicron poses risks to individuals. It is not a mild infection since patients are being hospitalized, the unvaccinated are still at risk, and long Covid may still result.

And some people think that Omicron can be a natural vaccine, which he said it is not because it is a virus.

“Unlike vaccines, the dose of the virus or the viral load cannot be adjusted.

If you get too little of the viral load, you don’t develop immunity at all; if you get high a dose, you get hospitalized. Since it’s infection, you can get severe disease, and infected patients can transmit the virus.”

How to avoid it? Dr. Wong looks to apply the reverse of what caused it, which is to avoid super spreader events, widespread use of antigen tests, affordability of new anti-Covid pills, home care for mild cases, and doubledown on vaccination for the elderly, the unvaccinated, and booster doses.

As control measures, Dr. Wong is looking at imposing various levels of community quarantine, reduce contact rate between people to reduce transmission rate; apply testing, contact tracing and isolation/quarantine; and encourage

behavioral change in the public to become more adherent to minimum public health standards.

Take action vs Omicron

Because the Covid-19 variants have severa l d if ferent feat u res, t here should be enough agility when crafting a response, according to Dr. Anna Ong-Lim, Professor and Chief of the Division of Infectious and Tropical Disease at the Pediatrics College of Medicine, UP-PGH. Dr. Ong-Lim said that now everyone knows Omicron is highly transmissible, but “our response should be tailored to the variant’s features, which is not really different from what we have been doing before and still being advocated by public health authorities,” Dr. Ong-Lim said.

She also called for ramped up vaccination particularly in the countryside in order to achieve widespread protection. “If we are seeing the impact of the variant on the NCR, which already has good vaccination coverage, what more if this variant reaches other regions where vaccination is low,” she emphasized.

Also being eyed for improvement is the review of current masking requirements since there are countries where wearing of masks is highly politicized, unlike here in Asia where masking is generally accepted. There are recommendations now to re-examine and optimize mask fit and filtration, and reinforce proper wearing.

She also called for the continued observance of isolation, quarantine and physical distancing, and policies on the isolation and quarantine guidelines are still being reviewed and finalized by the Department of Health.

Dr. Ong-Lim also sees the testing strategy to change to “Isolate” first then “Test/Treat.” “We might want to consider high priority for testing for those at risk of developing severe disease or the symptomatic ones in a closed setting, and de-prioritize the asymptomatic ones and those with no known risk of exposure.”

Asian Hospital pushes for digital transformation in 2022

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sian Hospital and Medical Center (AHMC) will be focusing on its digital transformation this year as part of the institution’s continued growth and sustainability.

That was the message of Andres M. Licaros Jr., Asian Hospital President and CEO, during the Kick-Off Activity to the 20th anniversary celebration of AHMC with the theme “Humbled and Grateful at 20.” According to Licaros, the Covid-19 pandemic has taught “everyone the value of transforming business processes into a safer platform.”

“And the beauty of the opportunity is it doesn’t only become safer, you are actually able to deliver it faster, closer to real time and at a lower cost and that is what value-based care is all about,” he said. “And that is the North Star that we have been trying to pursue through the years.” While digital transformation will be the hospital’s core strategy, Asian Hospital, Licaros said, will remain focused “on making every patient feel better as we make them well.”

“This has been the hallmark of our service and this year will be no different,” he said.

Reaccreditation

In August, AHMC will be undergoing its fourth reaccreditation with the Joint Commission and Licaros said he and his team are determined and focused to do better than the past three surveys.

“We are leaving no stone unturned.

Every preparation is being done and I expect the usual cooperation and enthusiasm and commitment of every member of the community, both doctors and staff,” he said.

The hosts of AHMC’s Kick-Off activity—Dr. Jose Celso Novenario, chairman of AHMC’s Department of Internal Medicine and Maybel Raymundo, manager of AHMC’s Business Office.

Licaros added that AHMC’s commitment to continually provide quality and safe patient care is not pure lip service as the hospital constantly delivers outcomes that have improved, are measurable and that the cost of care has not been deterred.

“We will continue this and that will be the promise that every patient that comes to Asian can expect. The community we serve needs us now more than ever and this year, we will be able to resolve to every member of this community that Asian Hospital is the most reliable health-care provider here in the South of Manila,” Licaros said.

Challenges

Looking back at 2021, Sharon Hernandez, Asian Hospital’s Chief Strategy Officer, said the hospital managed to overcome the pandemic and the other challenges that it faced during the past 20 years. She also thanked the patients who made AHMC their hospital of choice.

“Guided by our core values of fairness, integrity, teamwork, excellence and respect, you’ve welcomed us into your homes and wholeheartedly accepted us to be part of your family,” she said. “You have been with us in all these miracles of healing, second changes and new beginnings. Because of you, we continue to excel, innovate and be at par with the rest of the world.”

She added that Asian Hospital’s lifelong commitment and sworn duty is to be a patient’s health partner all throughout the patient’s health journey.

“Asian Hospital will always be your home away from home. We are excited to unfold more meaningful stories with you and your family because this, this is your story,” Hernandez said.

Hospital census

For his part, Robert Martinez, AHMC’s Chief Financial Officer, said his goal was to increase the hospital’s census which will result in the increase of the

occupancy rate. He related that he was confident that the hospital would be able to achieve this because he himself had experience the kind of care that Asian was capable of.

“We can only do or achieve an increase in census by increasing our efficiency while constantly maintaining or even improving our quality of service. I had first hand experience of being a patient here at Asian Hospital and I am so very proud to say that our team provides excellent service,” he said.

“As such, I am confident that with a consistent level of service providing value-based health care to all our patients, our brand will continue to be stronger as we become the preferred hospital not only in the South but in the National Capital Region as well,” Martinez added.

The AHMC 20th anniversary logo was also launched during the kick-off activity. The logo features different elements that showcases Asian Hospital’s rich history and symbolizes the different aspects that it plans to live by.

The hands represent the everyday heroes of AHMC who lend their expertise as well as AHMC’s dedication to extend their helping hand to those in need. The grains represent the hard work that AHMC and its employees and doctors do every day. The plant represents life and AHMC’s commitment for growth and improvement.

“This is Asian’s way of life and commitment in the next chapter of its service,” said host Maybel Raymundo of AHMC’s Finance Department.

Watch the recorded full program through the AHMC Facebook page (AsianHospitalPH).

Public urged to enroll in TOP courses related to Covid-19 management

By Roderick L. Abad Contributor

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ith continuous surge in Covid-19 cases in the country, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) urged Filipinos to avail of its free online courses related to management of the health crisis.

Tesda Secretary Isidro Lapeña said the agency now offers 10 free online training programs relevant to handling the pandemic in its Tesda Online Program (TOP).

These courses are Contact-tracing

Free Coursera Course; Covid-19 Awareness; Covid-19 General Duties; Covid-19: How to put on and remove personal protective equipment (PPE); Learning Online during Covid-19; Managing TVET during Covid-19; Standard precautions: Hand hygiene; Teaching Online During Covid-19; Health Effects of Climate Change; and Practicing Covid-19 Preventive Measures in the Workplace.

“As Covid-19 cases continue to rise, we are inviting everyone to enroll in our free online courses related to Covid-19 management not just to help prevent the spread of the virus but also to be productive amid travel restrictions,”

Lapeña said.

In demand courses

Health-related courses appeared to be the most in demand courses for Filipinos in the TOP last year. Data released by e-Tesda showed that a total of 397,721 Filipinos enrolled in the Human Health/ Health Care Sector of the TOP in 2021.

Likewise, Practicing Covid-19 Preventive Measures in the Workplace was the most enrolled course with 369,650 enrollees.

Meanwhile, the Tesda chief has also renewed his appeal to local government units (LGUs) and the private sector to

avail of its free contact tracing training program (CTTP) and tap its graduates.

It can be recalled that Tesda National Capital Region (NCR), through the MuntiParLasTaPat District Training and Assessment Center pilot-launched the CTTP last September 9, 2020.

Per current data, a total of 11,056 trainees have so far finished Contact Tracing Level II program, of which, 1,689 and 9,367 graduated in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

“Engaging the services of more Tesdacontact tracers at the community level will help prevent the further spread of Covid-19,” Lapeña said.

Thursday, January 20, 2022 B7

Older population told to fight flu with vaccine, handwashing

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

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n the Philippines, the flu season starts in October and peaks from January to February when the temperature drops.

Data from the World Health Organization released in 2018 indicated that influenza alone and influenza related deaths especially pneumonia reached 75,843 or 12.45 percent of total deaths.

The age adjusted death rate is 126.54 per 100,000 Filipinos, putting our country in the top 18 slot for influenza.

According to Dr. Edw in M. Fortuno, Immediate Past President of the Philippine College of Geriatric Medicine, the symptoms of influenza are usually immediate upon exposure to the virus.

“Patients afflicted with flu may have body weakness or feel generalized muscle aches.

Frontal headache may be attributed to the nasal congestion or stuffiness that accompanies the disease. Dry cough may be present with throat discomfort noticeably when swallowing liquids or solid foods. Moderate to high grade fever can last for up to five days if there are no complications that accompany the flu.

At times, because of the nasal congestion, the eyes can also appear reddish and the face looking flushed,” Dr. Fortuno said in an interview.

Self-limited

Dr. Fortuno said that influenza is usually self-limited as long as there are no associated complications and the patient has an able immune system.

“Once influenza sets in, a secondary bacterial infection may occur in those who are immunocompromised or with weak defense mechanisms.

This is brought about by the drying or degradation of the respiratory tract causing bacteria to gain easier access to the necrotic respiratory epithelium,” he said when asked if influenza can cause more serious health problems.

He said that health problems that may be associated with this condition can be sinusitis and bronchitis. The middle ear may also be affected causing otitis media or an infection of the area behind the ear drum.

“A more serious sequelae can be pneumonia which is the inflammation of the lungs because of infection. Viruses aside from inf luenza, or bacteria commonly Streptococcus, may affect in particular those at the extremes of ages such as the infants or the elderly,” he said adding that a very rare but grave complication of f lu usually experienced in children is Reye’s syndrome. The condition is described as a deterioration of the patient’s liver function together with the involvement of the brain. This would eventually make the patient go into coma.

Flu vaccine

The flu virus changes its configuration annually and this is the reason why the flu shot is given every year, he said.

“Influenza vaccine provides partial immunity with an estimated 85 percent efficacy. The vaccine’s composition is dependent on the strain of the virus that was dominant the previous months,” he shared, stressing that it is recommended that in the Philippines the vaccine be given before the start of the influenza season which is the rainy season.

As with all vaccines being utilized globally, the flu vaccine may also have its side effects.

The vaccine may not be given to persons who have severe allergies to chicken eggs or to any known component of the vaccine. It is also not recommended for persons with fever since fever itself may already be a side effect of the vaccine.

It may cause the temperature to increase more.

Elderly people

The Philippine population, Dr. Fortuno said, still has a long way to go in terms of understanding vaccines.

He cited that older people i.e., those who are more than 50 of age are the ones who need it more but are the “most difficult to convince.”

“It is quite puzzling why parents bring their babies or children to be vaccinated by pediatricians. However, these same parents are the ones who are skeptical in being vaccinated. The Covid -19 pandemic has enlightened us that vaccination is the only way to go in preventing vaccine preventable diseases. It is hoped that greater awareness of the benefits of vaccination will be realized by Filipinos as a result of this pandemic,” he stressed.

He said that Filipinos usually are fond of joining the bandwagon.

“If the senior patient can see more of his friends and other family members getting vaccinated, it would be easier for him to get the jab. The primary care doctor or the physician they trust will be in a good position to explain the benefits of vaccination to senior citizens. Media outlets are also good avenues of giving people the right news about flu vaccinations or other vaccine preventable diseases,” he said.

He added: “Science subjects in grade school or high school may be used as mediums of instruction on vaccine preventable diseases like influenza.

With Covid-19 around, how can we not be confused if an elderly only is experiencing seasonal influenza?”

He reiterated that it is very important that senior citizens seek medical attention whenever they feel unwell. The symptoms of the flu and Covid-19 are similar albeit with some differences.

Breathing difficulty

Aside from the common symptoms shared by the two diseases described earlier, Covid patients have a more difficult time breathing. This may also be accompanied by chest heaviness and severe muscle pains.

They may also have difficulty staying awake or may become confused. Diarrhea occurs because the virus can shed from the digestive tract. In general, patients with Covid-19 infection look sicker and weaker.

“There are some instances when a person may be infected with the influenza and Covid 19 virus simultaneously,” he warned.

He also said that there is no higher dose of the flu vaccine.

“What we have are the trivalent and quadrivalent vaccines each giving protection to three and four strains of the virus respectively. A yearly flu vaccine is important regardless whether it is a trivalent or quadrivalent vaccine,” he said.

“The vaccine is the best way for the patient to be given a layer of protection especially for the frail elderly patients or those with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, COPD, asthma, transplant and cancer patients and those living with HIV,” he added.

Handwashing

Aside from having the vaccine, an elderly person be protected from influenza and its complications by simply washing their hands.

Dr. Fortuno said that since the virus can survive on surfaces for hours, “it is important that simply washing our hands with soap and water is a major way for flu prevention.”

Another way is by covering the mouth and nose whenever coughing and sneezing can decrease the number of viruses that are expelled to the environment.

“It is also advisable not to touch the face with unclean hands because this provides an easy access for the virus to gain entry into the body,” he concluded.

Sports

Marcial puts money on Magsayo

BusinessMirror

KBL wants to partner with PBA

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| Thursday, January 20, 2022 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

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HE Korean Basketball League (KBL) has expressed interest to exchange players and establish a partnership with the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), according to commissioner Willie Marcial on Wednesday.

“They [KBL] want to establish a good relationship with us for the benefit of both professional leagues,” said Marcial, adding PBA chairman Ricky Vargas already wants a meeting with their Korean counterparts.

“The KBL wrote us last month expressing [their desire for] a good relationship and we replied,” Marcial said. “They want exchange of players and cooperation. They really want to talk.”

Marcial said it’s a welcome development for the PBA which has long gone global by playing games during the pre-pandemic years in Dubai, Hongkong, Singapore and Indonesia.

PBA vice chairman Bobby Rosales said the KBL’s desire to forge a partnership “shows that the Koreans are respecting their Asian neighbors’ basketball leagues.”

“That’s a welcome development in the Asian region, that’s a good initiative from the KBL,” Rosales of Terrafirma said. It means they respect the other pro leagues like us,” said Rosales, Terrafirma’s representative to the PBA board.

“But it’s going to be a long term process especially because we’re still in a pandemic.”

Terrafirma team manager Ronald Tubid, meanwhile, confirmed that Filipino-American Matt Rosser-Ganuelas has opted to test the free agency market by declining their two-year offer.

Top pick Roosevelt Adams, according to Rosales, also declined Terrafirma’s two-year offer while Andreas Cahilig’s contract is still under negotiation. Josef Ramos

Frank back on ice

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ILIPINO-AMERICAN Sofia Frank is back in action in the International Skating Union (ISU) Four Continents Championships where she will be vying against several Beijing Winter Olympics-bound athletes starting on Thursday at the Tondiraba Ice hall in Tallinn, Estonia.

Philippine Skating Union President Nikki Cheng said on Wednesday that the 16-yearold figure skater from Colorado Springs will be competing on Thursday in the women’s short program and on Saturday in the free skate program.

“We’re not expecting a very high ranking because this is her first senior championship event in the ISU,” Cheng said. “But our goal is for her to have a clean program and a good performance, and hopefully achieve the minimum technical scores for the senior world championships this coming March.”

Frank will be coached by Eddie Shipstad.

“She will be with Team USA’s assigned coach. Unfortunately it will just be her and the coach because there are unforeseen circumstances that arose with the delegation due to the pandemic,” Cheng said.

Frank failed to qualify for the Beijing Winter Olympics that starts on February 4 after placing 24th in free skate and 22nd in short program—both outside the quota—in the Nebelhorn Trophy Olympic qualifier last September in Oberstdorf, Germany.

Only the top six figure skaters in the Oberstdorf qualifier advanced to the Olympics. Josef Ramos

BARTY, NADAL ON TRACK

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No. 7 Matteo Berrettini and No. 23 Reilly Opelka advanced in straight sets, while No. 19 Pablo Carreno Busta beat Tallon Griekspoor, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-4.

In two marathon five-setters, No. 14 Denis Shapovalov held off Kwon Soon-woo, 7-6 (6), 6-7 (3), 6-7 (6), 7-5, 6-2, in four hours and 25 minutes on Margaret Court Arena, and former Australian Open juniors winner Sebastian Korda edged Corentin Moutet, 3-6, 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5, 7-6 (6), in 4:47.

Barty extended her streak of service holds to 48 games and moved into the third round at Melbourne Park for the sixth consecutive year.

The 2021 Wimbledon and 2019 French Open champion dropped just one game in her first-round match, which also took less than an hour, as she bids to become the first Australian woman since 1978 to win the country’s Grand Slam tournament.

Next up for Barty will be a match against another Italian, 30th-seeded Camila Giorgi. Win that, and Barty could end up in a fourth-round showdown against defending champion Naomi Osaka.

The 13th-seeded Osaka was playing Madison Brengle later Wednesday, with the winner advancing to a third-round match against Amanda Anisimova, who ousted Olympic champion Belinda Bencic 6-2, 7-5. AP

ELBOURNE, Australia—Ash Barty was front and center when the Australian Open celebrated its inaugural First Nations Day. Albeit not for very long. The top-ranked Barty has Indigenous heritage and her second-round match at Melbourne Park’s main stadium on Wednesday was among the features of a program dedicated to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Australia.

She was on and off the court quickly, beating 142nd-ranked qualifier Lucia Bronzetti, 6-1, 6-1, in 52 minutes.

“It was really cool. It was nice for me to be a part of it in a way that I feel most comfortable,” Barty said.

“Out on the tennis court is how I express myself as an athlete, it’s how I’m able to express myself as a person as well.

“On a day we’re bringing cultures together, bringing people together... it was great for me to be able to play a small role doing what I love.”

Rafael Nadal didn’t get it all his own way in the next match on Rod Laver Arena, needing five match points before beating 126thranked German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.

The sixth-seeded Nadal, aiming for a men’s record 21st Grand Slam singles title, had two match points on Hanfmann’s serve and two

more on his own in the next game before finally clinching a spot in the third round when his rival sent a forehand long.

Nadal converted four of his 16 break-point chances, including one of eight in the third set, but only faced two break points on his own serve and fended them both off.

For the 35-year-old Nadal, after fatigue and injuries curtailed his 2021 season following the French Open, the time on court is more important than anything else.

“I said here before the tournament started, things are not going to be perfect, but every day that I’m going to spend on court, the chances to play better are higher,” he said. “After two matches is the moment to make a step forward. I’m excited about it.”

Nadal shares the men’s record of 20 singles titles with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, and he doesn’t have either of them in the draw this time.

Federer is skipping the Australian Open while he continues his recovery from injury. Djokovic, a nine-time champion at Melbourne Park, was deported after an 11-day saga that he ultimately lost because he didn’t meet Australia’s strict Covid-19vaccination regulations.

Miomir Kecmanovic, who was originally drawn to meet Djokovic on the opening night, advanced to the third round with a 7-6 (7), 7-5, 7-6 (8) win over Tommy Paul of the United States.

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Twitter homecourt of Filipino sports fans in 2021

WITTER was #WhatsHappening and with sports making a comeback in 2021, conversations on Twitter only skyrocketed with Filipinos taking to Twitter to cheer and support their favorite athletes and engage with the sports community.

A whopping 3.7 billion Tweets about sports worldwide was recorded, surpassing 2020’s total of almost 2.7 billion as people talked about sports.

Closer to home, the Southeast Asia region garnered slightly over 95 million sports-related Tweets in 2021, a 40 percent increase from

the year before.

It was hardly surprising as highly anticipated sporting events like #EURO2020, #Tokyo2020 and #Paralympics2020 returned with much fanfare.

Whether fans watched from the bleachers or from their television screens at home, Twitter was abuzz with them celebrating goals and wins, as well as cheering on the #GOATs of the team they support.

In the Philippines, the conversation around sports skyrocketed in 2021 with more than 19.6 million Tweets, a 22.50 percent growth over 2020.

Filipinos were mainly excited about #basketball, keeping tabs on the schedules and chatting nonstop since the games opened which garnered over 6.2 million Tweets for 2021.

Entering midyear, all eyes were on

ASH BARTY needs only 52 minutes to advance while Rafael Nadal needs five match points to dispose of his 126th-ranked German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann. AP

the Tokyo Olympics as the winners unfolded one by one. Filipinos also ensured to bring their loudest cheers on Twitter with 2.4 million Tweets from July to August 2021, showcasing that Twitter was the stadium where Filipinos came together to share their love for sports.

“Twitter and sports will always have a special and tight relationship,” said Maurizio Barbieri, Head of Sports and Gaming Partnerships for

By Josef Ramos

OKYO Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial is betting a few bucks on fellow Filipino Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo, who will challenge World Boxing Council featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr. That’s how confident the 30-year-old middleweight boxer from Zamboanga City is on Magsayo’s chances in the world title set on Sunday at the Borgata Hotel Casino in Atlantic City.

Marcial flew to Los Angeles on Monday evening to resume his pro career in the US. But before entering Terminal 2 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, he asked if he could find a sports betting station in his destination.

“Is there one in LA?” Marcial asked BusinessMirror.

Magsayo is the underdog in the fight—5/2 +250 over a 2/7 or -344, according to betting site Box.Live, which gave the 33-yearold Russell Jr. a 73.07 winning percentage to Magsayo’s 26. 93 percent in the 12-round contest.

Despite the odds, Marcial picked Magsayo.

“I trust Mark that he will win because he’s stronger, he’s faster than Russell and his desire to finally become a world champion is very obvious,” Marcial said. “His punching power is also there, he’s thirsty for the world title.”

Magsayo is undefeated in 23 bouts highlighted by 16 knockouts—including a brutal 10th-round stoppage of Mexican Julio Ceja last August in Las Vegas. Russell, on the other hand, is 31-1 won-lost record with 18 knockouts.

But Marcial isn’t predicting a knockout.

“You’ll never know because they are both good fighters,” he said.

“It’s very difficult though to predict what type of win or in what round, but I believe Mark will win this fight.”

Marcial, however, will have to watch the fight on TV either by his lonesome or with fellow boxers in his Los Angeles apartment.

The Tokyo Games bronze medalist, according to MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons, will train at the Wildcard Gym under Freddie Roach, Marvin Somodio and strength and conditioning coach Memo Heredia.

Gibbons and Senator Manny Pacquiao’s eldest son Jimuel will be flying from Atlantic City on Thursday to join Marcial.

SEA and Greater China at Twitter.

“As events faced postponements and cancellations last year, sport fans on Twitter kept the passion and fervour alive by cheering, encouraging, and celebrating the wins together wherever they were.”

Tops on the Filipinos’ lists were the Tokyo Olympics success led by Hidilyn Diaz’s weightlifting gold medal, all-time favorite basketball and esports.

Chinese Olympic app has serious security flaws

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A WOMAN pushing a dog in a pram stops to take a photo of a Beijing Winter Olympics poster on the Olympic Green in Beijing. AP

ICHMOND, Virginia—A smartphone app that’s expected to be widely used by athletes and others attending next month’s Winter Games in Beijing has glaring security problems that could expose sensitive data to interception, according to a report published Tuesday.

Citizen Lab, an internet watchdog group, said in its report the MY2022 app has seriously flawed encryption that would make users’ sensitive data—and any other data communicated through it — vulnerable to being hacked. Other important user data on the app wasn’t encrypted at all, the report found.

That means the data could be read

by Chinese internet service providers or telecommunications companies

through Wi-Fi hotspots at hotels, airports and Olympic venues.

The Citizen Lab report said the app was mandatory for attendees of the games, and the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) official guidance instructs attendees to download the app before they come to China. But the IOC issued a statement Tuesday saying the smartphone app was not compulsory.

The IOC also pushed back against Citizen Lab’s report, saying two independent cybersecurity testing organizations had found no critical vulnerabilities with the app.

China is requiring all international Olympic attendees—including coaches and journalists—to log into a health monitoring system at least 14 days before their departure. They

can use the app to do so, or can log in through a web browser on a PC. The app allows users to submit required health information on a daily basis and is part of China’s aggressive effort to manage the coronavirus pandemic while hosting the games, which begin February 4. The multipurpose app also includes chat features, file transfers, weather updates, tourism recommendations and GPS navigation.

Citizen Lab’s report comes amid heightened concerns over athletes’ data and privacy. Many countries are advising their athletes not to take their normal smartphones to China, but instead to bring temporary—or burner—phones that do not store any sensitive personal data, according to news reports. AP