BusinessMirror January 21, 2021

Govt targets below-₧300 pork price

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T ILLUSTRATION: JOB RUZGAL

HE government wants to pull down pork prices to below P300 per kilogram by expanding the allowed import volume at a lower tariff or by reducing the duties outright.

This comes as economists and industry players pointed out that a mere expansion of the minimum access volume (MAV) would not make an impact on skyrocketing pork prices due to minimal tariff difference.

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar confirmed to the BusinessMirror that reducing pork tariffs for imports outside the MAV to 20 percent is now on the table.

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Pork imports that enter within MAV, currently at 54,000 metric tons (MT), are levied with 30 percent tariff while imports beyond it are taxed with 40 percent.

“That’s the objective,” was Dar’s response via SMS to a BusinessMirror query on whether the goal of the government is to bring down pork prices below P300 per kg.

“We are studying muna [first],” he added, when pressed for comment on a proposal to lower pork tariffs to 20 percent or even zero to have imported pork have an impact on prevailing market prices.

Dar earlier disclosed that they are now “in the process” of tripling

the pork MAV to 164,000 MT. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2021/01/18/asf-prompts-phl-to-mullover-hike-in-mav-allocation-for-pork/) In a letter submitted to economic managers and Dar on Wednesday, the Meat Importers Association of the Philippines (Mita) argued that expanding the MAV alone would not make a significant impact on pork prices.

Mita President Jesus C. Cham said the tariff on pork imports should be reduced to 10 percent for in-quota imports and to 20 percent for out-quota imports in order to bring down pork prices below P300 per kilogram.

“The reduction of pork duty by a nominal 10 percent will translate

into a reduction in landed cost by P15 per kg at current CIF and Forex rates, which savings can be easily passed on the consumers,” he said in the letter obtained by the BusinessMirror.

“SRP for pork liempo, kasim and pigue below P300 per kg becomes attainable!” he added.

PIDS experts: Zero tariff

ROEHLANO M. BRIONES, senior research fellow at state-owned Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), said it would be better if the government pursues zero tariff on pork imports to arrest rising pork prices.

See “Pork,” A2

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

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Thursday, January 21, 2021 Vol. 16 No. 102

P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 20 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK

EDC cuts exports goal to $105B by 2022

By Elijah Felice Rosales

T

THE Skyway Stage 3, which President Duterte inaugurated recently, is helping decongest the main thoroughfares of Metro Manila. While cruising along the 18-kilometer elevated expressway is free at the moment, San Miguel Corporation will start charging fees after February 1. The proposed toll for the Skyway 3, which starts from Buendia, ranges from P110 to P274. ROY DOMINGO

T

By Butch Fernandez & Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

HE Senate and the House of Representatives on Wednesday separately ratified the bicameral conference committee report adopting amendments to the 2001 AntiMoney Laundering Act (Amla), paving the way for its submission to Malacañang for signing into law.

Continued on A2

DEDICATED PROGRAM FOR WORKERS’ CASH AID UNFUNDED

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HERE will no longer be a dedicated program this year from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to provide cash for workers affected by the Covid-19 lockdowns.

In a online forum on Wednesday, Labor Assistant Secretary Dominique R. Tutay disclosed no additional budget was allocated by Congress for their

Covid Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) and Abot Kamay Ang Pagtulong for OFWs (Akap).

CAMP is a one-time P5,000 cash aid for workers in the formal sector, while Akap is a one-time P10,000 financial assistance for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Both programs were launched

by DOLE last year to help workers

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 48.0690

whose employment was disrupted by the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic.

Flagship programs

INSTEAD of CAMP and Akap, Tutay said their assistance for Covid-affected workers will now be integrated in their regular programs.

See “Cash Aid,” A2

HE Export Development Council (EDC) has approved a reduced target for Philippine exports to at least $105 billion by 2022 on hopes that the new tax law and the infrastructure program would improve shipments.

In a statement on Wednesday, Trade Secretary and EDC Chairman Ramon M. Lopez said the council decided to cut export targets to account for the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on global demand. Now, the Philippines is just expected to export $105.3 billion worth of goods and services by 2022.

Under the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) 2017-2022, exports were originally seen to reach as much as $130 billion by 2022.

According to Lopez, the EDC estimated an export decline of 13.6 percent for 2020, as the cycle of lockdowns prevented firms from maximizing their production. Further, supply and demand last year was brought down by the pandemic given that the country’s largest trading partners, such as the United States, also imposed quarantine restrictions.

“The positive growth of 2 percent in September and 3 percent in November last year was not enough to totally offset the decline in the first half of 2020, which was the height of the lockdown,” Lopez admitted.

“But export numbers continued to improve month on month reaching positive growth by September and November versus their same month previous years numbers.

We can write off 2020 numbers, so to speak, but the rebound is expected this year 2021,” he added.

For this year, the EDC anticipates exports to jump to 12.5 percent to $91.7 billion, from the $81.5-billion projected end figure for last year.

From there on, the EDC sees a near 15-percent surge in exports of goods and services in 2022 to push shipments to a total of $105.3 billion. The worst-case scenario for the PEDP target is to hit a low end of $101.7 billion, and the best case is to breach $108.8 billion.

Lopez argued that investors will come to the Philippines as a result of the passage of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act, as well as continuing efforts to accelerate infrastructure buildup.

“We can consider these targets as fighting targets, after intensive consultations with each export sector and stakeholder and global market prospects per sector. This also means that we shall exert all efforts in terms of policies and support programs to assist the export sector and help them achieve these fighting targets,” the trade chief said.

The CREATE measure trims corporate income tax (CIT) to 25 percent, from 30 percent, which is the highest rate among Southeast Asian nations.

Firms earning below P5 million yearly will see their CIT reduced to 20 percent.

However, fiscal incentives being enjoyed by exporters operating in economic zones by nature will be lifted to introduce a new set.

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Source: BSP (January 20, 2021)

News BusinessMirror

A2 Thursday, January 21, 2021

Cash aid…

Continued from A1

She noted that a big amount of DOLE’s budget was allocated for their general-purpose Adjustment Measure Program (AMP) as well as their Tulong Pang­ hanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers (Tupad) program, an emergency employment program for disadvantaged workers in the informal sector.

The labor official noted a P20 billionP21 billion budget allocated for both programs, which are expected to serve as the flagship programs under the comprehensive National Employment Recovery Strategy (NERS) of the government for Covid-19.

“Based on our initial counting, around 3 million beneficiaries will benefit from both programs,” Tutay said.

She said NERS is expected to be finalized after it is presented to the social development cluster of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) on January 28, 2021.

“It will be a good venue for us to vet with other agencies our strategies and programs, which will be initially enrolled in the National Employment Recovery Strategy,” Tutay said.

Nearly completed

TUTAY said they are now 80 to 85 percent complete in the disbursement of their P7billion budget for CAMP under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2).

Of this budget, she said they distributed P4.7 billion to 952,000 workers.

Most of the remaining funds are for tourism sector, which has an allocation of P3.1 billion—good for 600,000 workers.

Currently, she said only 380,000 workers have accessed the program.

Tutay said they still accept applications for the program after President Duterte signed the law extending the effectivity of the Bayanihan 2 until June 2021.

Tourism workers displaced because of the economic impact of the pandemic may qualify for the program.

These include the workers of the Makati Shangri-La, which will temporary close its operations starting next month due to low number of clients during the pandemic.

“Our CAMP for the tourism sector is still open because of the extended Bayanihan 2,” Tutay said. Samuel P. Medenilla

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Govt eyes 2 vaccine donors, inspects cold-chain facilities

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By Samuel P. Medenilla

WO more countries are now considering donating additional doses of novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccines to the Philippine government.

Chief implementer of the government’s national policy on Covid-19 Carlito G. Galvez made the announcement in an online press briefing on Wednesday after his inspection of cold-chain warehouses.

He said he is currently not authorized to identify the two countries since their negotiations for the donation are still ongoing.

The vaccine czar said they will reveal details of the talks, including the number of donated doses of the vaccines, once these are finalized.

Currently, only China has donated Covid-19 vaccines to the government for its vaccination drive.

Galvez said China will be sending 500,000 free doses of Sinovac to the country as a gesture of good will.

He noted the Chinese government has committed to ship the vaccines once the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues an emergency use authorization for Sinovac so its Covid-19 vaccine could be used locally en masse.

The government is targeting to start is Covid-19 vaccination drive by

next month after the expected arrival of the first batch of vaccines.

Meanwhile, the government is now eyeing four companies with coldchain facilities to handle its Covid-19 vaccines deployment by the first half of the year.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, the Department of Health (DOH) said only 4 of the 20 companies it is considering for the vaccination drive have so far passed the government criteria.

Among the government’s requirements in selecting are the capability of a company to store vaccines, with different temperature needs, as well as capability to distribute the vaccines in different parts of the country, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III explained.

He said these standards will ensure the government vaccination drive will be centralized and systematic.

“Fundamentally, they should

have the ability to store [Covid vaccines] with 2 to 8 centigrade; negative 20 centigrade; and negative 70 to 80 centigrade. This is important so we will no longer have to store [the vaccines] in separate places,” Duque said.

Also considered, he said, is the distribution capability and regional presence of the company to ensure the smooth deployment of the vaccines.

This is necessary since some of the vaccines being considered for purchase, specifically from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, require very low temperatures to remain effective.

Currently, he said among the “strong contenders” for the stringent requirement they put in place, Duque said, is Zuellig Pharma.

Duque and Galvez visited the cold storage warehouses of Zuellig Pharma and Unilab on Wednesday to determine their qualification for the government’s needs.

SAMASA AND TUGON, ONCE BITTER RIVALS, UNITE FOR U.P. S AMASA and TUGON were once bitter rivals for the University Student Council of UP Diliman in the 1980s and 1990s. But finding common cause in the defense of UP’s academic freedom, alumni of the two former rival student political parties united to issue a joint statement against the Department of National Defense’s unilateral abrogation of the 1989 UP-DND accords.

In the joint statement, SAMASA and TUGON decried the DND’s unilateral termination of the 1989 Agreement, saying it “is not only a barefaced betrayal of its commitments to UP, but also an assault in broad daylight on the academic freedom and institutional autonomy that are guaranteed by Congress through its charter.”

They denounced the termination as a part of the government’s latest attack against activism and dissent which eliminates key freedoms essential to UP’s academic freedom and institutional autonomy, such as: (a) The non-entry of military and police operatives into UP campuses nationwide except under strictly defined circumstances and after complying with strictly defined procedures; (b) the non-interference by the military or police in protest activities within UP campuses nationwide; and (c) the prohibition of the arrest, detention and custodial investigation of UP students, faculty and employees, except upon prior notice to UP authorities.

SAMASA and TUGON emphasized that intellectual liberty is foundational

to democracy and that from it “springs the great freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution to each and every Filipino: free speech and expression, a free press, freedom of association, religious freedom, the right to assemble for the redress of grievances, and academic freedom.” They emphasized that “in no place should academic freedom be most zealously guarded than in our schools and universities, where it stands as the first protection of the unfettered life of the mind.”

Both groups called on every UP officer, student, teacher, employee, alumni, to relentlessly defend UP’s academic freedom. They called on the DND to respect and abide by the 1981 Soto Accord and the 1989 Accord. They also called on all UP

alumni in both Houses of Congress to lead a legislative initiative to defend these protections to UP and academic freedom and to elevate them into law through amendments to the UP Charter and to designate UP campuses nationwide as “freedom parks” pursuant to Batas Pambansa 880.

Among the signatories are Sen. Francis Pangilinan, a former UP University Student Council chairman, former Reps. Teddy Baguilat and Barry Gutierrez, and DLSU School of Law Dean Gil de los Reyes.

Alumni of the two groups interested to get details of the campaign were urged to contact Susan Villanueva, SAMASA Alumni chairman, at 09178450376 and sd.villanueva@gmail.com, or Gigo Alampay at 09178906160.

Pork…

Continued from A1

“Why don’t we go all the way? Do an emergency exemption from tariff. Make it zero, that would be faster,” he told the B usiness M irror .

“It will command and press tension on market prices. A 10-percent tariff difference between in-quota and out-quota imports is not significant—it will not make a dent,” he added. “Just let the people import as much as they want and just impose SPS measures.”

The country’s annual pork imports usually exceeds the MAV volume. Last year, pork imports reached 256,017 MT, which was 23.75 percent lower than the 335,786 MT recorded volume in 2019, Bureau of Animal Industry data showed.

Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. President Danilo V. Fausto also admitted that expanding the MAV won’t make any price difference.

However, Fausto thumbed down reducing the tariffs on pork imports further as it could hurt hog growers.

Instead, he proposed that the government loosen the requirements in the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPS-IC) for pork imports.

“Tariffs are not the issue here. It’s the supply. Issue more SPS-ICs so that importers could import more volume,” he told the B usinessM irror .

Fausto said timing of the proposed importation measures is critical. He pointed out that the arrival of the imports should not coincide with the domestic harvest of hogs so as not to hurt farmers.

“At the end of the day, these are all reactive measures. The government should have been proactive in addressing the ASF situation,” he said.

“The government lacked foresight.

They should have done this last year. Failure to plan is planning for failure,” he added.

Meeting with DTI

ECONOMIST Pablito M. Villegas said the DA should convene an emergency meeting with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to map the course of actions to address the situation.

Villegas stressed that the lack of a sound and reliable data system hinders the government from coming up with a prudent measure to address the ASF crisis and its consequences.

He said the government should come up with the correct import volume and tariff rate that would force pork prices to decline.

“The DA cannot make an informed decision because it does not have a sound database and analytical capacity. The problem is methodological,” he told the BusinessMirror.

“And yet, the DA is bearing the brunt of making decisions on trade when they do not have the competence. They are getting data from the air,” he added.

Senate, House ratify amendments to Amla Continued from A1

The ratification allows the Philippines to beat the February 2021 deadline set by the Parisbased global dirty-money watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said the reconciled version of the bill, which introduces more stringent provisions to Republic Act 9160 or the Anti-Money Laundering Act (Amla) of 2001, would

help the Philippines avoid being included on the gray list of FATFInternational Cooperation Review Group.

Velasco said the bill, one of the priorities of the 18th Congress, will now be transmitted to President Duterte for signature.

“We are glad that the bill is now just one step away from becoming a law and we are poised to beat the deadline for us to come up with a much stronger legisla-

tion against money laundering so we can avoid being placed on the FATF gray list,” Velasco said.

“The Philippines cannot afford to be on that list as it would further hurt the economy already struggling from the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he added.

Inclusion on the gray list means an additional layer of scrutiny from regulators and financial institutions, delayed processing of transactions and blocking the country’s road to an “A” credit rating, he added.

“We need to avoid adverse finding against the Philippines which could lead, among others, to increased cost of financial transactions, including OFW remittances,” Velasco said.

The approved bicameral version had included tax crime as a predicate offense to money laundering and set a threshold to excess of P25 million.

The bicameral panel also agreed to require the submission to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) of reports on all real-estate transactions exceeding P7.5 million.

It kept the House provision granting the AMLC the power to investigate, issue subpoenas and conduct search and seizure.

The final version will now include Philippine offshore gaming operators or POGOs and their service providers among the covered persons.

The FATF has given the Philippine government until February 1 to enact and implement the changes to the Amla, in accordance with its standards against money laundering and terrorist financing. The initial deadline was originally set in October 2020, but was extended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Philippines was gray-listed by the FATF in 2000 for failing

to address “dirty” money issues, paving the way for the enactment of RA 9160 in 2001. It was subsequently removed from the list in February 2005.

Conflicting provisions: Poe

SEEKING the final vote to ratify the updated Amla, Sen. Grace Poe, who chaired the Senate panel in the bicameral conference committee, said it took some time to finish the task as “there were many conflicting provisions between Senate Bill 1945 and House Bill 7904.”

But, she added, “through the hard work and perseverance of our colleagues, Senators Ralph Recto and Frank Drilon, as Senate conferees, and that of Representatives [Junie] Cua, Stella Quimbo and [Virgilio] Lacson, as House conferees, we were able to reconcile these differences,” Poe said.

She added the bicameral conference committee eventually agreed to “use the House version as the working draft, and from there, the common and reconciled provisions were assimilated.”

Agreements at bicam level

POE reported the agreements settled by the bicameral panel: a. First, the Senate proposal that transactions in excess of P500,000 of all offshore gaming operators or POGOs as well as service providers be included within the purview of Amla was accepted, to ensure that POGOs and service providers are not used for nefarious activities. b. Second, real-estate brokers and developers are included as covered persons but only for single cash transactions involving an amount beyond P7.5 million. This qualification sufficiently narrows down the burden of reportorial requirements to the high-risk transactions that are usually flagged in money-laundering regime. The

proposed Senate amendment to increase the reporting threshold of the LRA from P500,000 to P5 million was deleted to retain the current coverage.

c. Third, the tax crime covered by the amendments was limited only to tax evasion as provided under Section 254 of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended.

The basis for this: tax evasion or attempted tax evasion is the provision most correlated with the crime of money laundering. d. Fourth, after key negotiations, the panel agreed to provide additional but limited investigative powers to AMLC, such as the power to apply for the issuance of a search-and-seizure warrant before any competent court, as well as the power to apply for the issuance of subpoena with any competent court. This adheres to the key recommendation of the Financial Action Task Force Asia-Pacific Group (FATF/APG) while still maintaining the integrity of the Constitution and Philippine laws. e. Fifth, the panel adopted the Senate proposals related to proliferation-financing of weapons of mass destruction, as provided under pertinent UN resolutions.

These measures include the addition of certain terms and their definitions; the expansion of “unlawful activities” to include violation of Section 19 (3) under the Strategic Trade Management Act; and the concretization of AMLC’s power to implement targeted financial sanctions, including ex parte freeze without delay, against those financing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction related to the UN resolutions. f. Sixth, the Senate provision granting AMLC the additional power to preserve, manage or dispose assets pursuant to a freeze order, preservation order or judgment of forfeiture was adopted.

g. Seventh, the provision empowering AMLC to enlist the assistance of and/or direct any government agency in any antimoney-laundering operations was deleted, as this power already exists under the present Amla provisions. h. Eighth, the panel adopted the proposed section on information security and confidentiality.

This would safeguard any information processed through AMLC, and deter AMLC staff and personnel from otherwise leaking or misusing information they acquired by reason of their office. i. Ninth, the provision on the system of incentives and rewards was deleted to avoid confusion and curtail possible legal implication. j. Tenth, the panel kept the section on the non-intervention of BIR, but adding a new sentence allowing AMLC to coordinate with the BIR on investigations related to tax evasion under Section 254 of the NIRC, as amended. This amended provision aptly provides for AMLC’s ability to pursue investigations in coordination with BIR, while maintaining AMLC’s independence from BIR and vice versa.

Gray list

EARLIER, the AMLC urged Congress to immediately pass the bill amending the Amla to address strategic deficiencies in the country’s law.

The AMLC warned that failure to amend weak areas in the law may place the Philippines in the gray-list jurisdiction and even in the black-listing of the FATF. The FATF publicly identifies jurisdictions that have deficiencies in strategic anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism financing.

According to AMLC, deficiencies and legislative amendments should include tax crimes and proliferation financing under Amla.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

The Nation BusinessMirror

Mom, girlfriend of Pinoy with new variant test positive for coronavirus

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco Correspondent

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WELVE more persons, including the girlfriend and mother of the 29-year-old Filipino from Dubai detected with the new UK variant, turned positive of Covid-19, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire revealed on Wednesday.

Vergeire said that their samples were sent to Philippine Genome Center (PGC) to determine if they have the B117 SARS-CoV-2, or the new UK variant.

“The results of their samples are expected to be out by Thursday night or Friday,” Vergeire said in an online media forum.

She said that of the 213 persons on their contact tracing list—159 passengers of Emirates EK332 flight from Dubai to Manila, and 54 close contacts, six persons are still being contacted by the Department of Health (DOH).

Later in the afternoon of Wednesday, the DOH issued a statement, saying that eight co-passengers aboard Emirates Dubai-Manila Flight EK332 tested positive for Covid-19 upon arrival in the country.

“Moreover, the DOH confirmed that five close contacts of the first confirmed UK variant case in the country also tested positive for the disease,” the DOH said.

The first new UK variant was detected in the country on January 13 after samples from a Filipino who arrived from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on January 7 yielded positive genome sequencing results.

All eight co-passengers are in stable condition and will remain under strict monitoring while completing isolation and while waiting for results of re-swabbing, the DOH said.

Contact tracing also showed that the eight cases had no close contact when they arrived, and infection and prevention control practices were strictly observed by personnel who attended to the said cases.

Meanwhile, the five close contacts of the patient who recently tested positive are:

His partner, who was aboard

flight EK332, even as she tested negative upon arrival;

Two other co-passengers who were also initially tested negative;

Another household member (mother of the 29-year-old male patient detected with the new UK variant) and;

A health-care worker from Quezon City who attended to the index case.

Samples from all five close contacts who tested positive have been sent to the UP Philippine Genome Center (PGC) for sequencing, and the DOH is now awaiting the results to determine if they are also infected with the UK variant. All close contacts are currently isolated and under strict monitoring.

According to the DOH, the patient is a 29-year-old, male, a resident of Kamuning in Quezon City, departed with her girlfriend for Dubai on December 27, 2020 for a business trip and arrived in the Philippines on January 7, 2021 via Emirates Flight EK332. The patient and her girlfriend were swabbed and quarantined in a hotel upon arrival. Test result of her girlfriend turned positive.

After the positive test result of the 29-year-old male was released, the following day he was referred to a quarantine facility in Quezon City, while his samples were sent to PGC for whole genome sequencing. Her girlfriend was reswabbed and result came out positive.

The DOH, meanwhile, thanked the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Regional and Local Epidemiology and Surveillance Units, the Quezon City Local Government Unit, and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong for their efforts in ensuring immediate and comprehensive contact tracing and response to mitigate further spread of the disease.

Likewise, the DOH reiterated that regardless of the variant, strict observance of the Minimum Public Health Standards remain to be the most effective strategy in preventing Covid-19 transmission and in reducing the chances of viral mutation.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Thursday, January 21, 2021 A3

SC chief Peralta, stakeholders move to curb killing of lawyers

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

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HE Supreme Court, along with other stakeholders, has taken initial steps to address the series of killings involving lawyers and other members of the judiciary, which has reached more than 50 under the Duterte administration.

Acting on the order of Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta, Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez held a series of consultations with the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of National Defense (DND), Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Commission on Human Rights, lawenforcement agencies and lawyers groups on the issue of killings of lawyers and judges.

Marquez said he has been directed by CJ Peralta to submit a full report with measures to address the killings after meeting with con-

cerned government agencies and other stakeholders.

Based on his initial report, there was a meeting last January 8 with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), Philippine Bar Association (PBA), and the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL).

On January 11, the Court Administrator said they met with officials from the DOJ, including those from the Office of the Secretary, Prosecutor General, National Prosecutors League of the Philippines (NPLP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).

Marquez said the following day, they met with officials from the DND, DILG, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and Philippine National Police (PNP).

In the afternoon of the same day, they met with the CHR and the deans from the different Colleges of Law. The final meeting took place last January 13, with judges and

clerks of court.

“We are now drafting our report to be submitted to SC Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta, who instructed us to meet with all stakeholders and find ways on how this can be addressed,” Marquez said.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra confirmed the meeting and reported that there would be an inventory of cases involving killings of the members of the legal profession.

“In this regard, the DOJ will come up with an inventory of cases under investigation by the NBI, under preliminary investigation by the prosecution service, and undergoing trial in court, for the purpose of monitoring their progress very closely,” said Guevarra.

He added there would be subsequent meetings with the IBP intend to discuss the topic of providing greater protection to law practitioners, prosecutors and judges.

Just last week, 53-year-old lawyer Winston Intong from Malaybalay,

OEC renewal service for OFWs launched at intl airports–POEA

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VERSEAS Filipino workers (OFW) will now be able to revalidate or renew their expired overseas employment certificates (OEC) in Philippine international airports.

This after the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) issued Advisory 06, Series of 2021 authorizing the Labor Assistance Center (LAC) in the local international airport to renew OEC. An OEC serves as the exit clearance for OFWs before they are allowed to work abroad.

POEA Administrator Bernard P. Olalia said those who would like to avail of the service must present the following documents: original copy of expired OEC; copy of employment contract; copy of valid work permit/

visa; and valid passport.

“Upon the verification, the LAC shall stamp the expired OECs ‘cleared’ and shall be deemed revalidated,” Olalia said.

In a Viber message, Olalia told the BusinessMirrortherevalidatedOEC will be good for 60 days unless extended/revalidated for the same duration

by POEA LAC due to the pandemic.

POEA advised OFWs to allocate additional time to process the revalidation of their OEC in LACs.

Extended pilot testing

IN a related development, Olalia announced they have indefinitely extended the BM (Balik Manggagawa) Online Evaluation system through Memorandum Circular 2, Series of 2021.

“To use the expanded online

evaluation, returning workers with previous online records and who have not completed their online transactions must first log in to an existing account at www.bmonline.ph to secure their OEC,” POEA said.

“When no OEC exemption certificate is issued by the system, the BM is prompted to make an appointment and must select the preferred date and POEA processing site,” it added.

POEA said the list of authorized processing sites can be accessed at http://poea.gov.ph/memorandumcirculars/2020/MC-27-2020.pdf.

POEA allowed the authorization of OECs in LACs as well as the extension of the BM Online Evaluation program to minimize the need for aspiring OFWs to physically go to their offices for processing. Samuel P. Medenilla

Comelec draws ‘new normal’ scenario for May 2022 polls in Senate hearing

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

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‘MOST SCENIC GATEWAY’ Construction of the Bicol International Airport (BIA), dubbed as the “most scenic gateway,” has logged an impressive 72.2-percent completion rate as of January 13, 2021, according to transport officials. Once completed, BIA, which features the iconic Mayon Volcano as its magnificent backdrop, is expected to serve a total of 2 million passengers every year. The new international airport is also projected to boost air traffic in the region amid the pandemic. PHOTO COURTESY OF DOTR

DOH exec outlines teachers’ role in Covid-19 inoculation program

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco Correspondent

A

N official from the Department of Health (DOH) has clarified that teachers will not be tapped to administer the Covid-19 vaccine in the government’s inoculation program, but they are being considered to join the information drive to raise vaccine confidence among Filipinos.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire cited laws which specify on who are authorized to administer the jab, and teachers are

not among them.

“Here in the country, we have specific laws as to who among our health-care professionals can administer the vaccine,” Vergeire said in a mix of Filipino and English in an online media forum on Wednesday.

“Teachers will not administer.

Maybe they will join our mobilization team for the information drive,” Vergeire added.

Vergeire said that only midwives and pharmacists may be allowed to undertake the life-saving inoculation job. But she said pharmacists may still have to undergo training

and certification from the DOH. Midwives, the health official said, are mostly proficient in administering vaccines among their patients.

She said that the DOH is already coordinating with them on their plan to harness them on the planned administration of the Covid-19 vaccine.

She added that they have scheduled a town hall meeting with midwives and pharmacists on Saturday to discuss the matter.

Earlier, Vergeire asked health-care professionals to help them in the information drive on the benefits and importance of the Covid-19 vaccine.

ONGER voting hours and fewer voters per precinct are seen to be the likely contrasting norm in the upcoming 2022 elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) told senators on Wednesday.

This was conveyed by Comelec spokesman James Jimenez to lawmakers during a Senate hearing convened by the Committee on Electoral Reforms chaired by Sen. Imee Marcos to ensure the scheduled national and local polls will push through as scheduled in May 2022, following President Duterte’s reminder to avert any postponement.

Marcos indicated at the outset of the Senate hearing she took the cue from Mr. Duterte’s disapproval of any postponement of the scheduled 2022 national and local polls.

She assured that despite the onslaught of the deadly Covid-19 contagion postponing elections worldwide last year, the Philippine Senate’s Electoral Reforms and Peoples Participation Committee that she chairs “remains undeterred in finding the right pandemic-related measures to ensure next year’s elections will be safe for voters and poll watchers.”

Marcos remains undeterred, even as she recalled that as of January 19, the International Foundation for Election Systems had recorded 116 election events postponed in 69 countries and eight territories.

The lawmaker listed Australia,

Canada, Germany, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom as among the countries that decided to call off local, municipal or legislative elections in 2020 and rescheduled them for this year.

“We must strive to be like South Korea which succeeded last April in holding elections that were safe even with a higher voter turnout,” Marcos said, suggesting that “early planning and preparation for the elections with a pandemic scenario in mind will prevent a super spreader event and minimize challenges to the legitimacy of election results.”

Marcos also aired concerns that the lack of election infrastructure and planning to ensure the health and safety of voters remain “worrisome,” citing the predicament of senior citizens, persons with disability, pregnant women and Indigenous Peoples.

Moreover, Marcos said that many teachers who will serve as poll inspectors are above 60 years old and are at higher risk of contracting Covid-19.

“We can’t wait for vaccines to arrive and mass immunization to begin before planning for crucial elections.

Sourcing additional funding and putting in place pandemic-related measures will take time,” she added.

At the same time, the senator observed the “weak registration” of new voters as reported by the Comelec, indicating a likely low voter turnout “due to fear of viral infection, or confusion about new voting procedures that may put the legitimacy of elections into question.”

Bukidnon was shot dead by two men onboard a motorcycle.

In 2011, Intong was reportedly arrested along with three others, during a buy-bust operation inside his office in Valencia City.

The lawyer was allegedly caught selling shabu to an undercover agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

But he was later acquitted of the illegal drugs charges. Intong was reportedly among those included in President Duterte’s list of drug suspects.

IBP President Domingo Egon Cayosa last December sent a letter to President Duterte, Vice President Ma. Leonor Robredo, CJ Peralta, Secretary Guevarra, and other lawyers occupying high positions in government to make decisive actions on the attacks against lawyers.

The IBP is also pushing for a legislation that would include providing security to fiscals and lawyers under the judicial marshals program.

Lorenzana to UP officials: Explain students’ death in clashes with Reds

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

D

EPARTMENT of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday said he is willing to hold dialogues with officials of the University of the Philippines if anyone among them could explain how UP students had been ending up dead in the company of New People’s Army guerrillas.

Some sectors and groups have pushed for the retention of the 1989 DND-UP agreement that prohibits the military and the police to conduct operations within the campuses of UP without prior notice from its officials, a pact which the defense chief terminated five days ago.

UP President Danilo Concepcion rejected the termination of the agreement, and instead sought for a dialogue with defense officials, while Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman moved for an investigation by the House of Representatives. On the other hand, Malacañang spokesman Harry Roque, who is a product of UP, offered to mediate.

“Yes, I am open to dialogue with them.

I appreciate the intercession of a lot of well-meaning people like the members of the Senate who passed a resolution for a dialogue. Also, Secretary Roque has offered his office for a dialogue between me and Danilo Concepcion,” Lorenzana said during a news briefing on Wednesday at Camp Aguinaldo.

“Now, I’m willing to talk to him, but they must explain first as to why these people died in the company of the NPA. These are all, these are list of students of UP from all UP campuses who died during encounters with the Armed Forces. Explain to me why did these happen to them? Why they failed to protect these young kids in joining these organizations and they got killed,” he stressed.

The defense chief insisted that rebel groups, or communist fronts “inhabit” the university, a claim that was denied earlier by Concepcion although the UP president admitted in his letter to Lorenzana that the school had produced a minority number who joined the communist group, but the majority, becoming government officials.

“Evidence in our records suggests that communist and terrorist groups have been surreptitiously embedded themselves inside UP and have been recruiting university students into their illegal organizations under cover of the agreement,” Lorenzana said, denying that the termination of agreement will lead to the militarization of the school.

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105.

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106.

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

147.

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MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

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YANG, SHANSHAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

67.

YANG, KANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

107.

148.

WANG, NINGGANG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

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YU, PENGPENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

69.

YU, YUERUI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

INQUICK SERVICES INC. Unit 606 6/f Itc Bldg. 337 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Bel-air Makati City

149.

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70.

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CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

71.

ZHAO, CHENWEI Chinese

72.

XU, JUN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

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CHIAN TA JIAN Malaysian

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CHOO WAI LUN Malaysian

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

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CHUNG YIT HUI Malaysian

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HOANG THI TY Vietnamese

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WANG, PENGCHENG Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

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WONG CHIN CHEAN Malaysian

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

20.

YANG, JUNJIE Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

21.

YIN, KAI Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

22.

ZHANG, LIANXIONG Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

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ZHANG, YU Chinese

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ZHAO, HUAREN Chinese

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ZHAO, HUADING Chinese

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ZHENG, XUE Chinese

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HAN, YUE Chinese

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28.

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75.

HUANG, JINWEI Chinese

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112.

GONG, ZHENYING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE SUPPORT

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QI, WAN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING HARDWARE TECHNICIAN

113.

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CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

30.

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MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

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

114.

WANG, CHENXING Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

115.

WEN, LIANWEI Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

116.

YANG, FAN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

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ZHANG, NAN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

1.

AMUSETECH BUSINESS OUTSOURCING 2/f Rivergreen Residences 2217 Pedro Gil St. 096, Bgy 880 Santa Ana Manila 31.

32.

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34.

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CUSTOMER SUPPORT (MULTILINGUAL)

35.

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CUSTOMER SUPPORT (MULTILINGUAL)

33.

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LUONG KIM THUY Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE SPEAKINGPAYMENT OFFICER

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WANG, YANAN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

38.

ZHU, JIN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

CONCENTRIX DAKSH SERVICES PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Bldg. F Ayalaland Technohub Quezon City 39.

SIM, HAETSAL South Korean

ADVISOR I, CUSTOMER SERVICE

ELEMATEC PHILIPPINES, INC. 18/f Oledan Square 6788 Ayala Ave. San Lorenzo Makati City 40.

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FLYING DRAGON NETWORK PHILIPPINES INC. Malate Bayview Man sion 1781 M. Adriatico Street 076, Brgy. 699 Malate Manila 41.

WU, QIANG Chinese

42.

YAN, DELONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

43.

CHEN, ZHONGHUA Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

44.

DENG, GUOLIANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

45.

GUO, JIA Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

46.

GUO, QING Chinese

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47.

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150.

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109.

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151.

XIE, JIA Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

ZHENG, LIFENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

152.

CHANDRA SUSANTO Indonesian

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

XIE, XINYU Chinese

73.

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

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

74.

CHOO GUANG YAO Malaysian

MALAYSIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

153.

YANG, ZHONGXING Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

154.

YE, YIFAN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

155.

YE, XIAOMING Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

156.

ZHANG, JINTAO Chinese

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157.

ZHU, JUNHUA Chinese

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158.

CHAU TO PHUONG Vietnamese

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

77.

LI, JIALIANG Chinese

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

110.

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111.

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79.

DENG, QIUYUN Chinese

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118.

80.

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81.

HE, QIONGLING Chinese

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LIZARDBEAR TASKING INC. 17th To 20th Floors, Twenty Four Seven Mckinley Building 24th Street And Seventh Avenue Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

78.

82.

KONG, JIE Chinese

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83.

SU, CHUNXING Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE - MANDARIN SPEAKING

ZHANG, DEMING Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE - MANDARIN SPEAKING

84.

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

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

CHEN, YAXIN Chinese

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87.

FU, JINFENG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

88.

GAO, ZAN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

89.

HUANG, LIN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

90.

JIANG, DAWEI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

91.

JIANG, TINGTING Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

92.

LI, SONGKANG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

LI, HUOYOU Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

MENG, GUOLI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

85.

86.

93.

94.

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

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

119.

KIM, JOEUN South Korean

TEAMMATE (MULTILINGUAL)

120.

OH, SEUNGA South Korean

TEAMMATE (MULTILINGUAL)

LOGICALSOURCE1 CALL CENTER INC. 8/f Sultan Cityland Central Brgy. Highway Hills Mandaluyong City 121.

LI, JIAMIAO Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

122.

LIU, MAN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

123.

SHI, BINBIN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

124.

XU, RUQUAN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

125.

XU, ZHIQIANG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

126.

ZHOU, JIN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

LOGICDOSE INC. 19f Marco Polo Ortigas,sapphire Road Ortigas Center San Antonio Pasig City

MISUGA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC. 18/f Section D & F Ramon Magsaysay Center Bldg. 1680 Roxas Blvd., 076 Bgy. 699 Malate Manila 159.

NISHIMOTO, YUKI Japanese

MANAGER

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower C4 Rd. Edsa Ext. Brgy. 076 Pasay City 160.

CAI, RIZHEN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

161.

MO, JUN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

162.

WIN KHAING PHYO Myanmari

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

163.

HUANG, KEZHI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

164.

HUANG, YONGHAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

165.

HUANG, YINDI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

166.

LI, JUNLONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

167.

LIU, JINLU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

168.

LIU, LIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

169.

SANG, GUANGHUI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

170.

YUAN, YONGMING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

127.

HE, NAIJUN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

171.

YUAN, TIANTIAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

128.

LIU, XIXI Chinese

CHINESE TECHNICAL SUPPORT

172.

ZHANG, WEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

129.

HOU, HUAGUI Chinese

MANDARIN IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

173.

MANDARIN IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

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130.

WANG, YANUO Chinese

LIM CHEE LIONG Malaysian

131.

LEN SEE KEI Malaysian

TECHNICAL SUPPORT ASSOCIATE (MULTI-LINGUAL)

132.

LA LE THU Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE SYSTEM ANALYST

MEGA-WEB TECHNOLOGIES INC. 6,7,8,9,10,11/f Met Live Bldg. Edsa Cor. Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City 133.

134.

CHEN, FENGHAO Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

CHEN, CAI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

MPOTECH DIGITAL SYSTEM INC. 2/f 331 Bldg. Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Bel-air Makati City 174.

MIKAEL APRILLEO Indonesian

INDONESIAN - MARKETING OFFICER

175.

PIMPIN Indonesian

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th/f Pearl Marina Building Pacific Drive Don Galo Parañaque City 176.

CAI, HONGLIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

177.

CHEN, LINGXIAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

www.businessmirror.com.ph

News

BusinessMirror Thursday, January 21, 2021

A5

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

BAI lifts temporary domestic ban on transport of poultry Taking into account the foregoing and in the interest of service, the temporary ban on the local movement of live domestic poultry and their products including pigeon racing, flying, training and breeding and other related activities as provided in BAI Memorandum Circulars 02 and 38 Series 2020 is hereby lifted.

BAI Director Ronnie D. Domingo

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

T

HE Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has lifted the temporary ban on the local transport of live domestic poultry and poultry products after the Philippines regained its bird flu-free status.

BAI Director Ronnie D. Domingo issued on January 19 Memorandum Circular (MC) 03 that formalized the lifting of the temporary ban.

In the circular, Domingo explained that the movement restriction of live birds, poultry products from Luzon to Visayas and Mindanao without a negative avian influenza (AI) test has been in effect as a control measure against the transboundary animal disease.

Domingo added that the government’s ongoing surveillance activities of highly pathogenic AI (HPAI)

BM

within and outside quarantine and surveillance areas have yielded negative bird flu test results and no new outbreak has been reported.

“Taking into account the foregoing and in the interest of service, the temporary ban on the local movement of live domestic poultry and their products including pigeon racing, flying, training and breeding and other related activities as provided in BAI Memorandum Circulars 02 and 38 Series 2020 is hereby lifted,” he said in the MC. However, Domingo said all shipments of the above-mentioned products are still subject to the requirements provided under the Department of Agriculture Administrative Order 5 Series of 2019.

The Philippines on January 13 formally notified the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) that it has

resolved the AI outbreaks it recorded in Pampanga and Rizal last year.

Based on its report to the OIE on January 13, the Philippines said San Luis, Pampanga and Taytay, Rizal are now free from bird flu.

“The event is resolved. No more reports will be submitted,” the Philippine report, prepared and submitted

by Domingo, who is also the country’s chief veterinary officer, read.

The DA confirmed last year the resurgence of the fatal H5N6 HPAI at a layer farm in San Luis, Pampanga—the hot zone of the Central Luzon bird flu outbreak where over 200,000 birds were culled in 2017.

The dreaded bird flu struck an egg farm where government veterinarians had humanely culled 38,701 heads, according to the DA. The DA said initial field investigation showed the presence of migratory birds in San Luis, Pampanga.

Migratory birds have been associated with bird flu outbreaks in many countries, including the Philippines, DA added.

The bird flu outbreak in Barangay San Carlos, San Luis, Pampanga was the second bird flu outbreak last year following the confirmed outbreak in Jaen, Nueva Ecija.

The third bird flu outbreak, confirmed by the Philippines last year was in backyard farms in Taytay, Rizal, affected a few hundreds of muscovy ducks and native chickens.

Economist calls on govt to ease local travel restrictions to perk up economy

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales @alyasjah

F

OR the economy to recover this year, an economist has proposed that the government should relax and unify its mobility rules to enable activities on travel, tourism and labor.

Rafael Garchitorena, chief strategist and co-head of research at Regis Partners Inc., asked the government to ease its movement regulations so as to give the people some breathing space to travel around the country.

He argued such a policy will benefit an economy that has sunk into recession due to the Covid-19 lockdowns.

“I think the absolutely critical to getting the economy going is to relax mobility restrictions,” Garchitorena said in a webinar on Tuesday.

“If you look at it from a pure economic standpoint, if you can ignore for a moment the potential impact on Covid spreading, that is huge, even just allowing domestic travel between provinces. I don’t even think we are fully operating all the provincial buses

out of Metro Manila,” he added.

Based on Regis estimates, 64 percent of public jeepneys and 75 percent of the public-utility van UV Express have returned to ply their intended routes again.

However, the operations of public buses and Light Rail Transit 1 (LRT 1) have remained static throughout the second half of last year. As of November 2020, only 38 percent of buses made their way back to the streets, from 31 percent in July, while LRT 1’s capacity has stayed put at the 31 percent level.

Likewise, Garchitorena scored the government, from the national to the provincial and local, for their failure to come up with unified rules on travel.

He said it’s not helping neither the tourism sector nor the localities when different provinces ask for different requirements in entering their jurisdictions. Last week, the Department of Tourism announced tourism revenues declined by as much as 83 percent to P81.4 billion last year, from P482.16 billion in 2019, due to travel restrictions put in place by

the government.

“You need to find out what the different restrictions are per province depending on where you are going,” Garchitorena added.

On top of this, the Regis economist backed calls of the business sector to allow schools to resume face-to-face classes the soonest. He said this will give parents the breathing space to leave their house to do work, as the blended learning method keeps some of them at home to guide their children in doing tasks.

“For many of these children, the parents have to stay home to help them with school, particularly the local public schools where there is no online schooling,” Garchitorena said.

Government economists and business groups have been asking policy-makers to remove most of the Covid-19 restrictions to permit industries to return to their prepandemic operations. They said doing so will give the economy a chance to recover after bleeding losses on all fronts, from output to exports to employment, last year.

Lawmakers eye Cha-cha plenary debates in Feb

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

T

HE chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments on Wednesday said the panel is aiming to endorse for plenary debates the Resolution of Both Houses 2 (RBH 2), or the economic Charter change in the first week of February.

In a news conference, Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin said the committee will conduct one to two more hearings before they transmit the Charter change resolution to the plenary.

“We still have [to conduct] one to two hearings and we’ll come out with the committee report which would exclusively deal with the economic provisions.... First week of February [our] plenary debates,” Garbin said. “[With RBH 2] we want to send a signal to the business community that we are now open and that the restrictive policies will be lifted,” he added.

RBH 2, authored by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, seeks to liberalize the restrictive economic provisions in the Constitution that prevent the Philippines from becoming fully competitive with its Asian neighbors.

The proposal amends Sections 2, 3, 7, 10 and

11 of Article XII (National Patrimony and Economy), Section 4 of Article XIV (Education, Science and Technology, Arts, Culture and Sports) and Section 11 of Article XVI (General Provisions) to add the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law.”

The addition of this phrase will allow Congress to enact laws to free up the economy to foreign investors, or maintain the status quo.

1.6-M jobs

MEANWHILE, the University of the Philippines’s Research and Extension Services FoundationRegulatory Reform Support Program for National Development (UPPAF-RESPOND) said easing of the restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution is expected to create 1.6 million new jobs.

In a news statement, the lower chamber said the study was submitted by Dr. Enrico Basilio, RESPOND chief and professor at the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance, to the House of Representatives.

Basilio said as many as 1.6 million jobs would be created if the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution are amended to open up the economy to foreign ownership, thereby reducing the country’s

unemployment rate by 40 percent.

Basilio added easing the constitutional provisions that bars foreign ownership on certain industries would cut down joblessness rate by 40 percent to 5.1 percent from 8.7 percent recorded in October 2019.

“The new jobs will totally offset the annual job losses in domestic trade, finance, real estate and business services, and allow for significant job recovery rates in manufacturing [38 percent], construction [35 percent], other services including health and tourism [25 percent] and transport and storage [19 percent],” said the preliminary study by UPPAF-RESPOND. The study said that foreign direct investments [FDI] “will increase by $57 million for every one unit point improvement in the Regulatory Restrictiveness Index [RRI] Equity Restriction score.”

The RRI measures the statutory restrictions on FDI of a country based on foreign equity limitations, screening or approval mechanisms, restrictions on the employment of foreigners as key personnel, and operationalrestrictionsonbranching,capitalrepatriation or land ownership, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation Development.

TheBroa

Business

A6 Thursday, January 21, 2021 • www.businessmirror.com.ph

Loose firearms: Linchpin

By Alladin S. Diega

W

Correspondent

HEN the loud pop-poppop of a gun is heard, some people in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Barrm) dive for their mobile phones.

Soft tick-tick-ticks form on a glowing screen. And when the typist hits send, the words reach the Critical Events Monitoring System, or CEMS, a SMS-based reporting system that captures conflict incidents and tensions in communities that may or may not lead to the eruption of violence.

Shooting incidents in BARMM stood out as the most common of reports transmitted to the CEMS as they tallied 424 cases for 2020 (or one case a day) even as figures have yet to include December.

The system covers BARMM’s five provinces of Basilan (including Isabela City), Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao (including Cotabato City), Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

According to CEMS operator, the Philippine office of International Alert Inc., Maguindanao has the highest total number of shooting incidents for the last 10 years at 2,408. Of the five provinces, Maguindanao was also consistently highest on a yearly basis, the London, United Kingdom-headquartered non-profit group’s local office said. Lanao del Sur followed with 1,236, Basilan with 799, Sulu with 779 and Tawi-Tawi with 116.

Alert network

THE most brutal and bizarre shooting during the pandemic year sent to the CEMS was the murder of nine men in Kabacan, Cotabato.

On August 29, locals living near the campus of the University of Southern Mindanao heard a streak of gunshots and later discovered the bodies strewn along the highway of Aringay Road.

Eight died on the spot while one made it to the hospital; only to succumb later to his wound.

A report by government-run Philippine News Agency noted that 32 empty shells from an M16 assault rifle, M1 carbine semiautomatic rifle and a .45-caliber pistol were recovered at the scene.

Some residents linked the “Kabacan massacre” to the killing of the police chief in adjacent municipality of Carmen four days earlier.

Due to the gravity of the crime, Bangsamoro officials had called for an independent investigation of the tragedy. According to a PNA report, the North Cotabato police has formed a special team to study the multiple angles surrounding the incident.

Most of these incidents were reported by a group of men and women in various localities in the Bangsamoro, who share real-time information and work with local governments, key agencies, the security sector and religious and traditional leaders in coordinating quick and context-specific responses to tensions, violent conflicts, disasters and displacement, as they happen.

Command posts are led by International Alert’s local partners TASBIKK a Inc., ERN Lanao del Sur, Maradeca Inc. and Lupah Sug Bangsamoro Women Association Inc.

Reported cases

ANOTHER case sent to the CEMS was the shooting of BARMM Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) social workers last October 13.

Niezel Ladjauddin Asakil and Kevin Pon were injured after getting shot on their way home in Bongao, Tawi-Taw i. Fortunately, both survived after being treated at a nearby hospital.

The Bangsamoro government had directed the police to hasten the investigation to identify and prosecute the gunmen.

Officials believe the shooting may have stemmed from an argument between Asakil and Pon and beneficiaries of government’s conditional cash transfer program.

And, on January 28, it would be exactly a year when Barangay Bagua 1 Chairman Ella Biruar and her two companions were shot by unidentified men in Cotabato City.

Biruar died a week later.

The number of these incidents captured by CEMS in 2020 is lower than the 710 and 722 cases recorded by International Alert’s conflict monitoring system in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

The 2020 figure is definitely lower than the 804 shooting incidents and 840 shooting incidents recorded in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

The 424 number of shooting incidents in 2020 was, however, higher in the years 2011 and 2012, with corresponding 372 and 302 cases.

March in step

INTER NATIONA L A ler t-Phi lippines Countr y Director Nikki Philline C. De la Rosa told the BusinessMirror “the proliferation of illegal firearms poses a real challenge to the conf lict-to-peace transition in the Bangsamoro [BARMM].”

“Shooting incidents caused by clan feuding, the trade of illegal drugs and illegal guns, rebellion and violent extremist activities inf lict far greater human cost in terms of deaths and displacements,” De la Rosa said, pointing to the 2011 to 2019 data from the non-profit group’s conflict monitoring system.

According to De la Rosa, the cost in terms of human lives and displacement is the main reason her group has “consistently advocated for gun-ownership reforms and for a coherent policy that would mediate the national gun law [Republic Act 10591] and the decommissioning aspects of the normalization process.” “ T his [advocac y] needs to march in step with intensified efforts to clamp down on the smuggling of illegal arms and weapons and to capture and destroy these [arms and weapons],” she added.

Estimated ownership ILLEGA L , u nreg istered or unlicensed firearms have figured prominently in notorious high-profile drug heists, violent extremist activities, massacres, homicides, robberies and similar

crimes in the Philippines. According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), almost 99 percent of the guns used in these types of crimes are loose firearms.

RA 10591 (An Act Providing for a Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof) defines a “loose firearm” as unregistered, obliterated or altered, firearm that has been lost or stolen, illegally-manufactured, a registered firearm in the possession of an individual other than the licensee and one with revoked licenses in accordance with the rules and regulations.

According to research done by International Alert-Philippines, Filipinos owned an estimated 3.9 million firearms in 2014. Some 2.1 million, or half of these, are illegal.

Based on this data, “one can safely assume that half of all guns in the country are loose firearms,” according to Francisco J. Lara Jr., senior peace and conflict adviser of International Alert.

Lara said this information

should be used to identify where the illegal guns come from to prevent their proliferation and halt the surge of violence resulting from these weapons.

Distribution, supply

THERE are four sources of illegal guns in the country, International Alert Philippines said.

One is technical smuggling.

This is accomplished by importers using fraudulent declaration of guns as metal parts to hide the contraband. This is done not only to avoid taxes and other obligations but also to hide the identity of the end user.

Second are recycled guns acquired from battlefields where violent encounters between government and rebel forces have transpired. These are distributed among the ranks of the rebels or are sold in the black market.

Third are guns with expired licenses with owners failing to file documents required for renewal.

Section 19 of RA 10591 requires licenses to be renewed every two

years and the registration of the firearm renewed every four years.

The failure to renew a license or registration within the periods stated on two occasions shall cause the holder of the firearm to be perpetually disqualified from applying for any firearm license.

The fourth source comes from local manufacturers suspected to have made in Danao City, Cebu, hence, the eponymous weapon branding.

Small-arms exporter

ILLEGAL firearms proliferate in the Philippines because of several factors, Lara said.

One is the flaw in regulation.

The comprehensive firearm and ammunition act, for instance, focuses on the requirement for owning legal guns and extended the list of personalities allowed to carry a gun in public.

The law allows the following professionals to own a firearm: members of the Philippine Bar; Certified Public Accountants; accredited media practitioners;

cashiers, bank tellers; priests, ministers, rabbi, imams; physicians and nurses; engineers; and, businessmen, “who by the nature of their business or undertaking, are exposed to high risk of being targets of criminal elements.”

However, according to International Alert, the said law says little in curbing the illicit gun economy, which can be done by detection, interdiction, capture and destruction of these weapons. The gun law needs to be reviewed and amended, the group said, to comply with the international agreements, treaties and standards.

The Philippines is a signatory to the first-ever Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) that establishes common international standards for the global trade in conventional arms.

Last year, some 109 countries have already ratified the 2013 international agreement. These countries include ten of the world’s top exporters of firearms.

However, t he Ph i l ippi nes, which is a small-firearms exporter, has yet to ratify the treaty. It

aderLook n for gun-related violence

sMirror

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Thursday, January 21, 2021

2016. These included sporting and hunting firearms valued at $1.7 million. Philippine-made ammunition is the most widely-exported category from Southeast Asia.

Since 2014, the country also exported $22 million worth of ammunition to 32 countries. The United States, Thailand, and Germany were the largest importers of ammunition. The Philippines also exported to the Latin American countries of Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala and the Honduras. The only other Southeast Asian country to have exported significantly to Latin America is Singapore.

Growing trade

WHILE Southeast Asia is not a major small-arms exporter compared to other regions, it is, however, a significant importer.

In 2016, Southeast Asia imported at least $443 million worth of small arms, which represented a 48-percent increase from 2015.

The region has imported at least $1.3-billion worth of small arms since 2014.

The largest importer in 2016 was Indonesia—also a top importer globally, with an import value of at least $281 million. Thailand followed with $85 million, the Philippines with $41 million, and Singapore and Malaysia with $15 million each. According to UN Comtrade (the United Nations International Trade Statistics Database) these five countries account for 99 percent of the region’s small arms imports.

In a separate study that focused on the Philippines and Mexico, the Small Arms Survey said that the quantity of illicit small arms and light weapons available in the Philippines is difficult to assess. It added that illicit small-arms and light weapons in the country range from craft-produced shotguns to 81-millimeter mortar systems.

BM graphics: JOB RUZGAL

Grenades, launchers

was submitted to the Senate for concurrence in 2017 and is pending at the committee level as of June 2019.

Trade in arms

THE 2019 edition of the Small Arms Trade Transparency Barometer (Barometer) identifies at least seven Southeast Asian countries that produce small arms and/or ammunition on an industrial scale: Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

These countries either have a manufacturing body that is directly part of the government or armed forces or a company owned by the government solely for the production of firearms.

The Philippines, which has a “verifiable private industry,” is an exception.

The Small Arms Survey is a project of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. The study notes that private-sector small-arms

producers in the country cater to the domestic civilian firearms market and export globally.

The study included the Philippines among the largest Southeast Asian exporters of small arms in 2014 to 2016. Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand are the other three.

In the same period, Southeast Asia accounted for at least $1.3 billion worth of small arms imports, which was 19 percent of the global value. Indonesia was ranked as a top global importer in 2016, with imports worth at least $281 million.

The Philippines, along with Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam have all expressed an interest in expanding their domestic small arms and ammunition production capabilities, which are directly related to the military modernization efforts and procurement plans of the said countries, the study said.

Ratifying a treaty

THE Inter nationa l A ler t has been proposing the review of the

local gun law, for the creation of a government agency with the sole task of controlling the proliferation of illegal firearms and for ratification of the 2013 Arms Trade Treaty. These proposals are becoming more obvious as local firearms manufacturing thrives in the country.

According to the small-arms survey, there are 15 licensed private manufacturers in the Philippines, producing mostly handguns and ammunition. Several of these are primarily subcontractors for larger local firms.

The largest civilian producer is the Armscor Global Defense Inc. (formerly Arms Corp. of the Philippines), which manufactures M1911 pistols. The company is said to be capable of producing 200,000 firearms and 420 million rounds of ammunition annually.

In 2018, the Philippine Department of National Defense contracted the company to produce caliber-45 high capacity pistols for the use of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

US, imports

ASIDE from Armscor, there are 15 other licensed private weaponsmanufacturers.

These include the following: Danao Arms Manufacturing Corp. (a cooperative of independent gunsmiths); Floro International Corp. (produces handguns, rifles and the MK-3 sub-machine gun); Shooters Arms Manufacturing Inc. (which exports to the civilian market in at least six countries; and, Jethro International Inc. (a small-scale producer making mostly handgun parts). Except for Danao Arms, the companies also manufacture ammunitions.

Some of the other 11 companies manufacture only ammunitions.

In 2016, handguns from the Philippines made up 99 percent of Southeast Asia’s exports and 29 percent of the region’s overall small-arms exports. About 95 percent of these pistols and revolvers went to the United States.

The Philippines also led the region in the exports of parts and components valued at $7 million in

INTERNATIONAL Alert’s data reveal that many of the total incidents of shootings in 2020 did not originate from encounters between government forces and groups that seek to challenge its legitimacy.

The small-arms survey estimates that the firearms held by the Abu Sayyaf Group, Moro International Liberation Front and the New People’s Army vary. The survey cited that most accounts indicate that none of these groups has large reserves of weapons. Of the approximately 1,000 seized weapons and ammunitions studied, more than two-thirds were firearms or for firearms.

Grenades and grenade launchers accounted for approximately 13 percent of seized items, followed by landmines with 12 percent and improvised explosive devices, 3 percent.

Rockets, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), recoilless rifles and mortars were also seized, but in much smaller quantities. The latter four categories of light weapons account for less than four percent of all seized items. This is in sharp contrast to the thousands of mortar rounds, RPGs and recoilless rounds recovered from arms caches in Iraq and Afghanistan, a separate study revealed.

Loose, unlicensed

IN July last year, the PNP said it seized 584 unlicensed firearms covering the period of January to June, which is a 300-percent increase from 139 unlicensed firearms seized in the second half of 2019.

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The PNP, however, noted that most of these confiscated firearms only lacked documents.

Part of this seized cache were the 84 loose and unlicensed firearms turned over to different municipal police stations in North Cotabato from June 20 to June 26.

According to the provincial director of the Cotabato Provincial Police Office (CPPO), the turnover of assorted firearms was part of the continued campaign dubbed Oplan “Tugro,” an Antiqueño term that means “to surrender.”

Data from the CPPO showed that the surrendered firearms included: 12-gauge shotguns; 12-gauge shotgun pistols; two dozen caliber-38 revolvers; five caliber-45 pistols; 40 “light” pistols; pistols and revolvers of various calibres; M79 grenade launchers; an M203 (12-gauge upper) grenade launcher; submachine guns; and Ultimax machine gun; and, carbine rifles.

According to the CPPO, Oplan “Tugro” is aimed at reducing the volume of index crimes in the province. It has admitted too many loose firearms remain at the hands of residents and several armed groups operating in the province.

Authorities in the Caraga region reported seizing 54 loose firearms in August last year. That month, 201 firearms were surrendered.

Last October, the PNP announced it seized 85 loose firearms in the City of San Juan. The confiscated firearms were composed of nine rifles, nine shotguns, 19 revolvers and 48 pistols.

Eventually sold

ACCORDING to International Alert, shooting a firearm is the number-one manifestation across almost all conflict causes in the Barmm, which consists of three component cities, 116 municipalities and 2,590 barangays in Mindanao. These conflict causes, according to the group, are: shadow-economy issues; identity; governance; and, resource issues.

Shadow-economy issues may include the peddling of illegal firearms or prohibited drugs, kidnapping for ransom and even the less-harmful informal land markets, cross-border trade and informal credit. Identity issues generally refer to Filipino Muslim’s identity while resource issues mainly include land and land-related resources.

International Alert sees gunrelated violence as directly related to the illegal trade of weapons.

Lara cited data from the UN Comtrade Database that showed the Philippines imported $17.2 million worth of revolvers and pistols in 2019, which is much less than the $19.4 million reported by exporting countries.

“The missing $2 million worth of weapons have likely leaked into the [black] market,” he said.

Aside from the pending ratification of the 2013 Arms Trade Treaty by the Philippines, International Alert also notes there is no single government agency in charge of eliminating illegal guns. The organization added there is also no proper inventory of discarded weapons that are eventually sold in the black market.

The international peace advocacy group is proposing that a specialized unit be created through an Executive Order within the Department of Justice. International Alert said this unit should be outside the mandate of the PNP’s firearms and explosive office. This agency will be responsible for capturing and destroying illegal guns, the group proposed.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Thursday, January 21, 2021

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REMAINING FIRM AND COMMITTED TO BRING COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE TO THE RIDING PUBLIC DOTr works hand-in-hand with attached aviation, railways, maritime, and road agencies

I

NTO the last stretch of President Rodrigo Duterte administration, the government has allotted P158.2 billion in 2021 for 16 infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs) to stimulate economic growth.

Its updated IFPs list as of August 2020 include 16 infrastructure projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Information Communications and Technology (DICT) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The biggest IFP project in the 2021 budget is the North-South Commuter Railway System which will be funded with official development assistance (ODA) from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). In 2021, the North-South Commuter Railway will get P58.6 billion, P51.5 billion of which is from JICA with the remaining P7.1 billion from the Philippine government.

The government is also allotting P34.6 billion in 2021 for Phase 1 of the Metro Manila Subway which is another ODA project from Japan. The country’s first-ever underground mass transport system broke ground in February 2019. Stretching across 36-kilometers, the rail line will run from

Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City to NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City, reducing travel time from 1 hour and 10 minutes to just 45 minutes. In February 2020, other components of the Tunnel Boring Machine for the subway were unveiled, marking the start of the subway’s construction phase. It is targeted to be partially operable by 2022.

The third largest IFP in the 2021 proposed budget is the Ambal-Simuay River and Rio Grande de Mindanao River Flood Control Projec t wor th Php16.8 billion and funded by ODA from China. Php5.1 billion of the projec t cost will come from the Philippine government.

The DOTr, under the leadership of Secretary Arthur Tugade, aligned with the Administration’s vision to usher the nation into the Golden Age of Infrastructure, continues to work non-stop in transforming the country’s transportation system into

one that will provide better mobility and connectivity across all regions.

In its official website, the agency said it has already forged ahead in giving the Filipinos long-term comfort and convenience, through the realization of transformational infrastructure projects, programs, and initiatives, as listed below.

AVIATION AND AIRPORTS SECTOR

AIR connectivity remains a vital enabler of economic growth and development. The DOTr has been building new gateways and improving, rehabilitating and upgrading the country’s existing airports, to link and bridge every region of the country and its people closer together. The DOTr has reported to have completed 121 airport projects, with 111 still ongoing. The notable airport projects are:

MACTAN-CEBU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. The “World’s Friendliest Resort Airport”, is now FULLY operational and has been inaugurated in 2017. With the worldclass architectural design of the airport, it has already won numerous international and local awards. On 14 January 2020, its new parallel taxi/second runway was inaugurated, which will further boost the airport’s operational capacity.

BICOL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. After 11 years of delay, the “Most Scenic Gateway” is now making a huge headway with a 66.61 percent completion rate as of June 2020. Prefeasibility study for this BIA started in 1996, and the Notice of Award was given in 2003.

Completed in December 2020, it expected to be fully operational by the first quarter of 2021. Envisioned to spur growth in the region with a boost in air traffic and tourist arrivals, it is expected to accommodate two million passengers annually.

BULACAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. With its planned state-of-the-art facilities and strategic location, is seen to complement the operations of the NAIA, and Clark International Airport. Construction work is set to commence within the year.

CLARK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. The new Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) of CRK is 99.14 percent as of June 2020. This new PTB is seen to boost the operational capacity of the airport and triple its current passenger volume of 4.2 million to 12.2 million every year. Recently, Sec. Tugade has ordered the operationalization of Clark International Airport Terminal 2 by January 2021. Further, to augment the ongoing works for the new PTB, a new runway is also being built.

With these developments, the vision for the airport to be “Asia’s Next Premier Gateway” will surely turn into a reality.

NAIA TERMINAL 2 REHABILITATION. To provide the air-riding public a leveled-up service, rehabilitation works for the country’s main gateway, the NAIA, continue to roll on, and are targeted to be completed within the year.

SANGLEY AIRPORT. Seen as one of the solutions to ease congestion at the NAIA, the construction of the airport was completed ahead of its original March 2020 target, and has already been inaugurated in February 2020. The airport is now utilized for general aviation and turboprop operations. and caters to commercial cargo operations.

NIGHT RATING OF AIRPORTS. Lastly, to increase the operational efficiency of airports and reduce daytime flight congestion, the Duterte Administration has night-rated 22 commercial airports and is targeting to have 11 more by 2022.

RAILWAYS SECTOR

ASIDE from the ambitious Metro Manila Subway, the DOTr aims to extend the current length of the country's railway lines, from 77 kilometers, to 1,900 kilometers by 2022 and beyond.

To realize this vision, six railway projects, namely: the Metro Manila Subway; Common Station; MRT-7; LRT-1 Cavite Extension; LRT-2 East Extension; and PNR Clark Phase 1 are now under construction. Eight (8) more rail lines are for construction. These are: the PNR Clark Phase 2; PNR Calamba; PNR Bicol; Subic-Clark; Mindanao Railway; LRT-2 West Extension; MRT-4; and Cebu Monorail. Moreover, the existing rail line of the MRT-3 is undergoing rehabilitation works.

MRT-7. This is 22-km. rail line, that will run from North Avenue Station all the way to San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan, is now halfway through completion, with a 58.95percent completion rate as of July 2020. Once completed by 2022, travel time will be shortened to 35 minutes, from the current 2 to 3 hours.

MRT-3 REHABILITATION. To provide the riding public with a more efficient and effective service, the MRT-3 continues to be revitalized with massive and comprehensive rehabilitation works. To date, the ongoing rehabilitation is at 49.94percent. Once completed in July 2021, commuters can expect an increase in the MRT-3’s number of train sets to be deployed from 15-20 during peak hours.

Its speed will also be doubled from 30kph to 60kph, and waiting time will be trimmed down from 8.5 minutes down to 3.5 minutes.

LRT-1 CAVITE EXTENSION. After nearly two decades and three administrations, the construction for the LRT-1 Cavite Extension has finally commenced. As of July 2020, the project was 47.77percent complete. This project, which will lengthen the existing LRT Line 1 from Baclaran to Niog in Bacoor, Cavite, will cut travel time from 1 hour and 10 minutes to only 25 minutes. The project is targeted to be partially operable in 2021.

LRT-2 EAST EXTENSION. To aid commuters from Manila going to Antipolo,

the DOTr has started the construction of a 3.8-km. extension of the existing LRT-2 line, with a completion rate of 90.60percent as of July 2020. The extension project, which will reduce travel time from hours via bus or jeepney to just 40 minutes via rail transit, will be inaugurated and operational in April 2021.

COMMON STATION. After nine years of delay, the construction of the Common Station is now moving 24/7, with Area B Atrium already completed. This is 13,700-sqm. concourse area, which will connect MRT-3, MRT-7, LRT-1 and the Metro Manila Subway, is eyed for completion by 2021.

Envisioned to connect Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and CALABARZON, the massive North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project will have three (3) railway projects. These are:

PNR CLARK PHASE 1 (Tutuban Malolos). The 38-km. rail line will connect Tutuban, Manila to Malolos, Bulacan, reducing travel time from approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to just 35 minutes. As its construction continues to roll with a completion rate of 39.70percent as of July 2020, the segment is targeted to be partially operable by December 2021.

PNR CLARK PHASE 2 (Malolos Clark). ROW acquisition for this 53-km rail line segment—which will connect Malolos, Bulacan to Clark International Airport—is currently ongoing, as well as the procurement for its civil works, electromechanical and rolling stocks packages. As of July 2020, the project has reached 26.15percent. Once partially operable by 2022, travel time will be trimmed down to just 30-35 minutes, from the original 1 hour and 30 minutes. This leg will also feature the country's first airport rail express.

PNR CALAMBA (SOLIS - CALAMBA).

This 56-km. leg will run from Solis, Manila to Calamba, Laguna. As of July 2020, the project is standing at 20.43percent, with ROW acquisition and procurement for civil works packages currently ongoing. Once partially operable by 2024, travel time will be shortened to 1 hour, from 3 hours.

EXPANSION OF ROUTES AND ADDITION OF NEW TRAINS FOR THE PNR. To serve more passengers and further enhance its service, the PNR has added brand new trains to its fleet, such as the Dieasel Multiple Units (DMUs) and passenger coaches from Indonesia and Japan. It has also expanded its routes from Malabon City to IRRI, Laguna. Now, the rail line has a total of 29 operational stations.

PNR BICOL. This 639-km railway system will run from Manila to Legazpi, Albay and Matnog, Sorsogon, with a spur line to Batangas City, Batangas. It is seen to reduce travel time from 13 hours to just 6 hours, once completed. As of July 2020, the project is 18.56percent complete, and the contract for the delivery of new trains have already been signed. Partial operations of the railway line will commence in 2022.

MINDANAO RAILWAY PHASE 1 (TAGUM-DAVAO-DIGOS). This is the first-ever railway in Mindanao, stretching across 100 kilometers, from Tagum City, Davao del Norte to Davao City, to Digos City, Davao del Sur. At present, the pre-construction works and ROW acquisition for the project are underway. Once completed, travel time will be trimmed down from 3.5 hours to just 1.3 hours. It is targeted to be partially operable by the fourth quarter of 2022, and fully operable by 2023.

PHILIPPINE RAILWAYS INSTITUTE. This is the first-ever research and training center in the Philippine railways industry, established under the DOTr as the planning, implementation and regulating agency for human resources development in the railways sector, following Executive Order EO 96, signed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

MARITIME SECTOR

THE DOTr and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) have completed 189 commercial port projects, with 37 ongoing.

These include the completed port projects which were virtually inaugurated even amid the pandemic, namely: the Port of Borac in Coron, Palawan; Port of Cawit in

Boac, Marinduque; Port of Estancia in Iloilo; Port of Iligan in Iligan City, Lanao Del Norte; Port of Jagna in Bohol; Port of Mansalay in Oriental Mindoro; Port of Ozamiz in Misamis Occidental; Port of San Fernando in El Nido, Palawan; Port of Tagbilaran in Bohol; Port of Malalag in Davao Del Sur; Port of Currimao in Ilocos Sur; Port of Masao in Agusan del Norte; and two separate projects for Iloilo Commercial Port Complex.

Moreover, the DOTr, through its maritime sector, have completed 180 social and tourism port projects, while 71 are ongoing.

Completed por t projec ts include the Por t of Quinapondan in Eastern Samar; Port of Villaba in Brgy. Silad, Villaba, Leyte; Port of Kawayan in Kawayan, Biliran; Port of Hindan in Hindang, Leyte; Port of Carigara in Carigara, Leyte; Port of Polloc in Parang Maguindanao; Port of Albuera in Albuera, Leyte; and Port of Llorente in Llorente, Eastern Samar, among others.

ROAD TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE

COMFORTABLE, safe, and accessible terminals are what the Filipino people deserve. That’s why the DOTr has built intermodal landports, to ease traffic woes.

PARAÑAQUE INTEGRATED TERMINAL EXCHANGE. As the first-ever landport in the Philippines, the PITX has been launched and has officially opened to the public in November 2018, to serve as a transfer point for commuters, with world-class features and high standard of service.

TAGUIG CITY INTEGRATED TERMINAL EXCHANGE. This aims to provide seamless interconnectivity for commuters going to Metro Manila from Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and vice versa. Once operational, the facility will be able to accommodate around 4,069 buses and 160,000 passengers daily.

To further complement the two land terminals for a more-improved traffic flow in and out of the Metro, the North Integrated Terminal Exchange will also be built soon.

FUTURE GREENWAYS. With the upcoming railway systems, greenways play a key role for commuters, as these will pave the way for easier access to key rail stations, and will provide safe, secure, and efficient mobility for cyclists. Thus, the DOTr has started preparing for the establishment of greenways along EDSA and in MakatiBonifacio Global City.

To improve the country’s bus-based transit system, bus rapid transits are also on the way, such as the Quezon Avenue Bus Rapid Transit and the Cebu Integrated and Intermodal Transport System - Bus Rapid Transit.

To provide Davaoeños a more efficient and economically viable mode of public transport, the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project has been launched, and is now approved by the NEDA Board, with the memorandum of agreement to be signed this July 2020.

EDSA PROTECTED BIKE LANES. With an aim to promote the use of active mode of transport, the DOTr, in partnership with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), commenced with the ground works and mobilization of the protected bike lanes. The project will be done in two phases, interim and long-term. Targeted to be completed in November 2020, the bike lanes will provide 1.5 meters space for cyclists.

EDSA BUSWAY. In an effort to transform the traffic system and rework lanes in EDSA, the EDSA Busway has been established, which reduced the 61 routes of 3,340 bus units traversing through EDSA into only one integrated, dedicated bus service. The interim operations of the EDSA Busway started on 1 July 2020, with 16 stops being constructed by the MMDA and the DPWH. Construction for this now stands at 80percent completion rate.

Further, the DOTr has already procured 36,000 concrete barriers, which will be established to segregate the bus lanes, located on the innermost lanes of EDSA.

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

TheWorld BusinessMirror

Thursday, January 21, 2021

A9

‘Shameful’: U.S. virus deaths top 400,000 as Trump leaves office A

s President Donald Trump entered the final year of his term last January, the US recorded its first confirmed case of Covid-19. Not to worry, Trump insisted, his administration had the virus “totally under control.”

Now, in his final hours in office, after a year of presidential denials of realit y and responsibilit y, the pandemic’s US death toll has eclipsed 400,000. And the loss of lives is accelerating.

“This is just one step on an ominous path of fatalities,” said Dr. Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Co l u m b i a U n i ve r s i t y a n d o n e o f m a ny public health experts who contend the Trump administration’s handling of the crisis led to thousands of avoidable deaths.

“Everything about how it’s been managed has been infused with incompetence and dishonesty, and we’re paying a heavy price,” he said.

The 400,000-death toll, reported on Tuesday

by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the population of New Orleans, Cleveland or Tampa, Florida. It’s nearly equal to the number of American lives lost annually to strokes, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, flu and pneumonia combined.

With more than 4,000 deaths recorded on some recent days—the most since the pandemic

began—the toll by week’s end will probably surpass the number of Americans killed in World War II. “We need to follow the science and the 400,000th death is shameful,” said Cliff Daniels, chief strategy officer for Methodist Hospital of Southern California, near Los Angeles. With its morgue full, the hospital has parked a refrigerated truck outside to hold the bodies of Covid-19 victims until funeral homes can retrieve them.

“It’s so incredibly, unimaginably sad that so many people have died that could have been avoided,” he said.

President- elect Joe Biden, who will be sworn in Wednesday, took part in an evening remembrance ceremony Tuesday near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. The 400,000 dead were represented by 400 lights placed around the reflecting pool. The bell at the Washington National Cathedral tolled 400 times.

Other cities around the US planned tributes as well. The Empire State Building was lit in “heartbeat” red—the same lighting used last year as a show of support for emergency workers at the height of the virus surge in New York City.

The red lights pulsed as a visual heartbeat. In Salt Lake City, the bells at the Utah Capitol were to ring

As WHO fumes at Western drugmakers, China fills void on coronavirus vaccines

F

or months, the World Health Organization has called on countries to come together to ensure a fair distribution of Covid-19 vaccines among rich and poor nations. Now it’s starting to lose patience.

On Monday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said drug manufacturers had prioritized regulatory approval in rich countries, where profits are highest, rather than submitting full dossiers to get the greenlight from the global health body. He said that could delay distribution through Covax, a WHObacked initiative that aims to supply vaccines to poorer countries.

“The world is on the brink of a catastrophic moral failure,” Tedros said. “Even as they speak the language of equitable access, some countries and companies continue to prioritize bilateral deals—going around Covax, driving up prices and attempting to jump to the front of the queue. This is wrong.”

The WHO’s struggles have opened the door for China to start ramping up its vaccine diplomacy, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi pledging last week to hand out more than a million doses during a swing through Southeast Asia. That amounted to a geopolitical win just before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, who has vowed to put the US back in the WHO following Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the organization last year.

“China’s ‘mask diplomacy’ in 2020 is being followed in 2021 by ‘vaccine diplomacy,’” said Ian Storey, a senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. “The aims remain the same: to win friends and influence countries in Southeast Asia and bury the memory that the pandemic started in China a year ago.”

Antony Blinken, Biden’s pick for secretary of state, told lawmakers on Tuesday the US is preparing to join Covax and look at “how we can help make sure the vaccine is equitably distributed.” Biden officially takes over on Wednesday in the US. China’s vaccines have received some high-profile endorsements, with Indonesian President Joko Widodo receiving the Sinovac Biotech Ltd. shot on live television last week in the world’s fourth-most populous nation despite inconsistent efficacy data. Brazil also began distributing 6 million Sinovac doses on Monday—an about-face for President Jair Bolsonaro, who had been an outspoken critic of Chinese vaccines last year.

‘Can no longer wait’

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who last month said his country wouldn’t use any vaccines that weren’t approved by the WHO, last week reversed course and accepted one million vaccine doses from China. He cited widespread use in places like Indonesia, Egypt and China, noting that Wang had received the vaccine and is still “in good health and can travel places.”

“For the need to defend our nation and protect our people from this deadly epidemic, we can no longer wait,” Hun Sen said in a message published in a cabinet newsletter on Friday. “We are reversing what I said last time about accepting only vaccines recognized by the World Health Organization.”

Because they lack regulatory bodies with the capacity to scrutinize scientific data, many developing countries have traditionally relied on the WHO’s list of approved vaccines to know which shots they can permit for local vaccination drives.

At the end of 2020, the Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech SE vaccine was the first, and so far only, shot to receive emergency validation from the WHO since the outbreak began a year ago. With no low-income countries producing their own vaccines, richer nations have secured 85 percent of Pfizer’s vaccine and all of Moderna Inc.’s, according to London-based research firm Airfinity Ltd. While China has pledged to support the WHO’s efforts, its vaccines are not among those procured by Covax. A spokesman for Sinovac said the company has began submitting data to the WHO for a pre-qualification of its coronavirus vaccine, known as CoronaVac. A group of WHO inspectors has also traveled to China and will inspect its production facilities after completing quarantine, the spokesman said.

Covax still plans to distribute 2 billion doses around the world by the end of this year, with enough to protect 3 percent of the population in all participating countries by July, according to an e-mailed response to questions. The facility has said it will consider procuring any candidate vaccine that meets global standards set by the WHO. Among the 11 candidates that it can tap for distribution, t wo — Moderna Inc.’s shot and the one developed by AstraZeneca Plc and the Universit y of Oxford—are ready for rollout and are being administered in countries like the US and UK It’s unclear why Covax has not yet star ted distributing those vaccines as well.

Tedros’s statements castigating companies for prioritizing rich countries where they can make the most profit indicates that the global health body sees the delay as stemming from the companies.

AstraZeneca said on December 30 that it was seeking the WHO’s greenlight, known as the body’s Emergency Use Listing, “for an accelerated pathway to vaccine availability in low and middle-income countries.” A company spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on what stage the process is at.

Covax’s rollout could begin “as early as February pending favorable regulatory outcomes and the readiness of health systems and national regulatory systems in individual participating economies,” said Iryna Mazur, a spokesman at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which is co-leading Covax.

Thailand bought 2 million doses from Sinovac, and China promised to donate a total of 800,000 doses to the Philippines and Myanmar during Wang’s diplomatic push last week.

During a visit to Manila, Wang drew praise from Philippine officials after committing to completing China-funded infrastructure projects including a $400 million bridge and a $940 million cargo railway project.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte this week chided a group of senators who scrutinized the government’s plans to buy Sinovac, after previously threatening to terminate a Visiting Forces Agreement with the US if it failed to deliver at least 20 million vaccines immediately. “No vaccine, no stay here,” Duterte said last month of the military deal—a threat he has made before without following through on.

“Coronavirus vaccines have clearly become a political football in the increasing US-China cold war,” said Paul Chambers of Naresuan University’s Center of Asean Community Studies, who has researched geopolitics in Southeast Asia for about two decades. “The daunting delay in the launching of Covax is exactly the opportunity that China is using to initiate and expand its supply of Sinovac to developing countries.” Bloomberg News

15 times in honor of the more than 1,500 lives lost to Covid-19 in the state.

The US accounts for nearly 1 of every 5 virus deaths reported worldwide, far more than any other country despite its great wealth and medical resources.

The coronavirus would almost certainly have posed a grave crisis for any president given its rapid spread and power to kill, experts on public health and government said.

But Trump seemed to invest as much in battling public perceptions as he did in fighting the virus itself, repeatedly downplaying the threat and rejecting scientific expertise while fanning conflicts ignited by the outbreak.

As president he was singularly positioned to counsel Americans. Instead, he used his pulpit to spout theories—refuted by doctors—that taking unproven medicines or even injecting household disinfectant might save people from the virus.

The White House defended the administration this week.

“We grieve every single life lost to this p a n d e m i c, a n d t h a n k s to t h e p re s i d e nt ’s leadership, Operation Warp Speed has led to the development of multiple safe and effective vaccines in record time, something many said would never happen,” said White House

spokesman Judd Deere.

With deaths spiraling in the New York City area last spring, Trump declared “war” on the virus. But he was slow to invoke the Defense Production Act to secure desperately needed medical equipment.

Then he sought to avoid responsibility for shortfalls, saying that the federal government was “merely a backup” for governors and legislatures.

“I think it is the first time in history that a president has declared a war and we have experienced a true national crisis and then dumped responsibility for it on the states,” said Drew Altman, president of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a health-care policy think tank.

When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tried to issue guidelines for reopening in May, Trump administration officials held them up and watered them down. As the months passed, Trump claimed he was smarter than the scientists and belittled experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top authority on infectious diseases.

“Why would you bench the CDC, the greatest fighting force of infectious disease in the world?

Why would you call Tony Fauci a disaster?” asked Dr. Howard Markel, a medical historian at the University of Michigan. “It just doesn’t make sense.”

As governors came under pressure to reopen state economies, Trump pushed them to move

faster, asserting falsely that the virus was fading.

“LIBERATE MINNESOTA!” he tweeted in April as angry protesters gathered at the state Capitol to oppose the Democratic governor’s stay-at-home restrictions. “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!” In Republican-led states like Arizona that allowed businesses to reopen, hospitals and morgues filled with virus victims.

“It led to the tragically sharp partisan divide we’ve seen in the country on Covid, and that has fundamental implications for where we are now, because it means the Biden administration can’t start over,” Altman said. “They can’t put the genie back in the bottle.”

In early O c tober, when Trump himself contracted Covid-19, he ignored safety protocols, ordering up a motorcade so he could wave to supporters outside his hospital. Once released, he appeared on the White House balcony to take off his mask for the cameras, making light of health officials’ pleas for people to cover their faces.

“We’re rounding the corner,” Trump said of the battle with the virus during a debate with Biden in late October. “It’s going away.”

It isn’t. US deaths from Covid-19 surpassed 100,000 in late May, then tripled by mid-December.

Experts at the University of Washington project deaths will reach nearly 567,000 by May 1.

More than 120,000 patients with the virus are in the hospital in the US, according to the Covid Tracking Project, twice the number that filled wards during previous peaks. On a single day last week, the US recorded more than 4,400 deaths.

While vaccine research funded by the administration as part of Warp Speed has proved successful, the campaign trumpeted by the White House to rapidly distribute and administer millions of shots has fallen well short of the early goals officials set.

“Young people are dying, young people who have their whole lives ahead of them,” said Mawata Kamara, a nurse at California’s San Leandro Hospital who is furious over the surging Covid-19 cases that have overwhelmed health-care workers. “We could have done so much more.”

Many voters considered the federal government’s response to the pandemic a key factor in their vote: 39 percent said it was the single most impor tant factor, and they over whelmingly backed Biden over Trump, according to AP VoteCast.

But millions of others stood with him.

“Here you have a pandemic,” said Eric Dezenhall, a Washington crisis management consultant, “yet you have a massive percent of the population that doesn’t believe it exists.” AP

A10 Thursday, January 21, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Are you willing to get vaccinated?

T

he “Field of Dreams” approach in rolling out a nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive says, “If you buy it, they will come” (translation: If government buys the vaccine, people will roll up their sleeves to receive the jab). That’s the ideal scenario, where the people have complete trust in government and the vaccine it procured. The operative word is “trust,” which gives credence to the dictum that “public health moves at the speed of trust” (translation: No trust, no improvement in public health).

In 2015, a high 93 percent of Filipinos had faith in vaccines. In 2018, after the Dengvaxia dengue vaccine controversy, only 30 percent of Filipinos agreed that vaccines are important.

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the scenario did not improve in 2020: A national survey by Pulse Asia from November 23 to December 2, 2020 showed that only around a third or 32 percent of the 2,400 Filipinos aged 18 and above surveyed are willing to get inoculated, while almost half of Filipino adults (47 percent) are not inclined to get the Covid-19 vaccine.

The rest (21 percent) are undecided on the matter of getting the shot or not. The survey cited safety as the leading reason why almost half of Filipino adults polled are not willing to get vaccinated.

What’s baffling is that nobody in government seems to see the handwriting on the wall. As clear as day, the challenge at the moment is to raise the people’s level of trust on Covid vaccines, which, experts agree, is a safe way to help build protection against the coronavirus. Covid vaccines can bring the country to the safe harbor known as herd immunity if we vaccinate somewhere between 60 and 90 percent of the population.

According to the World Health Organization, “vaccine hesitancy” is a delay in acceptance or refusal of safe vaccines despite the availability of vaccination services. WHO has classified vaccine hesitancy as one of 10 big threats to global health in 2019. The agency said vaccine hesitancy cannot be addressed by medical practitioners alone: Governments and health policy-makers also play an essential role in promoting vaccination, educating the general public, and implementing policies that reduce the public health risks associated with vaccine hesitancy.

From Bloomberg: “Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who said his country wouldn’t use any vaccines that weren’t approved by the WHO, reversed course last week and accepted 1 million vaccine doses from China.

He cited widespread use in places like Indonesia, Egypt and China.”

Despite inconsistent efficacy data, China’s vaccines have received some high-profile endorsements, with Indonesian President Joko Widodo receiving the Sinovac Biotech Ltd. shot on live television last week. Brazil also began distributing 6 million Sinovac doses on Monday—an about-face for President Jair Bolsonaro, who had been an outspoken critic of Chinese vaccines last year. Thailand also bought 2 million doses from Sinovac.

The Philippines has secured 25 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines from Sinovac, with the first 50,000 expected to arrive in February, according to Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, who said the rest of the Sinovac vaccines will arrive in batches from March until December.

We hope that the controversy involving vaccines from Sinovac would be resolved soon to quell speculations that corruption is involved in the government’s dealings with Sinovac. Until then, we can’t start educating our people about the safety and importance of getting vaccinated. Government can’t just procure the vaccines and assume that majority of the people will line up to take the shot. You can’t inoculate people who have no trust in vaccines.

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The Eloi and the Morlocks John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

I

n his 1895 novella, The Time Machine, H. G. Wells takes us to a world far into the future. Here the Time Traveler finds the Eloi, a society of elegant, happy, and carefree adults living on a fruit-based diet in a peaceful society. The entire planet has become a garden.

By contrast, living below the ground in dark, dank caves are the Morlocks, ape-like troglodytes who never see the sun. After visiting the realm of the Morlocks, he discovers the machinery and industry run by the Morlocks that makes possible the above-ground paradise of the Eloi.

The Time Traveler speculates that the human race has evolved into two species. The Elite of the current time have become the Eloi, and the downtrodden working classes have become the underground Morlocks.

The Eloi live off the labor of the Morlocks.

Being a strident and insistent

liberal/progressive/“democratic socialist,” Wells’ political views would fit perfectly in our world of 2021. In The Fate of Homo Sapiens (1939), Wells criticized almost all world religions and philosophies. Wells’ opposition to organized religion reached its height in 1943 with the publication of Crux Ansata, subtitled “An Indictment of the Roman Catholic Church.”

But even thousands of years in the future, somebody eventually must pay the bill. Wells’ ideal socialist credentials run up against harsh realities. The Time Traveler begins by believing that the Eloi/Morlock relationship is one of masters and ser-

vants. However, while exploring the Morlock tunnels, he learns that the Morlocks, without any other source of food, feeds on the Eloi.

The Eloi are the cattle. The Morlocks are the ranchers. “Eat the Rich”? The economic relationship between the Eloi and the Morlocks is based on mutual supportive benefit and balance. If there are too many Eloi, the Morlock food supply would go up but then they would have to work harder to feed all the Eloi. If the population of the Morlock declines, there may not be enough food for the Eloi.

While Karl Marx said that one class—the workers—would always be exploited under the free markets, it seems the Eloi and the Morlocks overcame that problem.

However, if the Morlocks wanted more Eloi to feast on, they could increase their “production” to get the Eloi to breed faster. Likewise, the Eloi could sacrifice more of their own in the short term to give an incentive for more Morlock production to better the Eloi lifestyle.

Back in the 21st century though, the government has intervened to make everyone’s life better without

either “class” making a sacrifice.

The Eloi get a booming stock market and big corporation bailouts.

The Morlocks get lots of freebies like direct “stimulus payments,” debtforgiveness (think student loans), and higher long-term unemployment benefits.

But it is all paid for by government borrowing.

Other “freebie-like” solutions such as higher minimum wages simply price more workers out of the market and lead to more direct payments. There may be some tax hikes on the Eloi down the road, but that will not come anywhere close to closing the spending gap and pay for the borrowing.

The Time Traveler makes another jump into the far future. There he sees some of the last living things on a dying Earth: Menacing reddish crab-like creatures slowly wandering the blood-red beaches chasing enormous butterflies. The Eloi and the Morlocks have disappeared.

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.

A new Covid-19 challenge: Mutations rise along with cases

By Marilynn Marchione | AP Chief Medical Writer

T

he race against the virus that causes Covid-19 has taken a new turn: Mutations are rapidly popping up, and the longer it takes to vaccinate people, the more likely it is that a variant that can elude current tests, treatments and vaccines could emerge.

The coronavirus is becoming more genetically diverse, and health officials say the high rate of new cases is the main reason. Each new infection gives the virus a chance to mutate as it makes copies of itself, threatening to undo the progress made so far to control the pandemic.

On Friday, the World Health Organization urged more effort to detect new variants. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said a new version first identified in the United Kingdom may become dominant in the US by March. Although it doesn’t cause more severe illness, it will lead to more hospitalizations and deaths just because it spreads much more easily, said the CDC, warning of “a new phase of exponential growth.”

“We’re taking it really very seriously,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the US government’s top infectious disease expert, said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

“We need to do everything we can now... to get transmission as low as we possibly can,” said Harvard University’s Dr. Michael Mina. “The best way to prevent mutant strains from emerging is to slow transmission.”

So far, vaccines seem to remain effective, but there are signs that some of the new mutations may undermine tests for the virus and reduce the effectiveness of antibody drugs as treatments.

“We’re in a race against time” because the virus “may stumble upon a mutation” that makes it more dangerous,

said Dr. Pardis Sabeti, an evolutionary biologist at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

Younger people may be less willing to wear masks, shun crowds and take other steps to avoid infection because the current strain doesn’t seem to make them very sick, but “in one mutational change, it might,” she warned. Sabeti documented a change in the Ebola virus during the 2014 outbreak that made it much worse.

Mutations on the rise

It’s normal for viruses to acquire small changes or mutations in their genetic alphabet as they reproduce. Ones that help the virus flourish give it a competitive advantage and thus crowd out other versions.

In March, just a couple months after the coronavirus was discovered in China, a mutation called D614G emerged that made it more likely to spread. It soon became the dominant version in the world.

Now, after months of relative calm, “we’ve started to see some striking evolution” of the virus, biologist Trevor Bedford of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle wrote on Twitter last week. “The fact that we’ve observed three variants of concern emerge since September suggests that there are likely more to come.”

One was first identified in the United Kingdom and quickly became dominant in parts of England. It has now been re-

ported in at least 30 countries, including the United States.

Soon afterward, South Africa and Brazil reported new variants. On Tuesday, researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles said yet another new variant has been found in one-third of Covid-19 cases in that city and may have fueled its recent surge in cases.

The main mutation in the version identified in Britain also turned up on a different version “that’s been circulating in Ohio... at least as far back as September,” said Dr. Dan Jones, a molecular pathologist at Ohio State University who announced that finding last week.

“The important finding here is that this is unlikely to be travel-related” and instead may reflect the virus acquiring similar mutations independently as more infections occur, Jones said.

That also suggests that travel restrictions might be ineffective, Mina said.

Because the United States has so many cases, “we can breed our own variants that are just as bad or worse” as those in other countries, he said.

Treatment, vaccine, reinfection risks

Some lab tests suggest the variants identified in South Africa and Brazil may be less susceptible to antibody drugs or convalescent plasma, antibody-rich blood from Covid-19 survivors—both of which help people fight off the virus.

Government scientists are “actively looking” into that possibility, Dr. Janet Woodcock of the US Food and Drug Administration told reporters Thursday.

The government is encouraging development of multi-antibody treatments rather than single-antibody drugs to have more ways to target the virus in

case one proves ineffective, she said.

Current vaccines induce broad enough immune responses that they should remain effective, many scientists say. Enough genetic change eventually may require tweaking the vaccine formula, but “it’s probably going to be on the order of years if we use the vaccine well rather than months,” Dr. Andrew Pavia of the University of Utah said Thursday on a webcast hosted by the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Health officials also worry that if the virus changes enough, people might get Covid-19 a second time. Reinfection currently is rare, but Brazil already confirmed a case in someone with a new variant who had been sickened with a previous version several months earlier.

What to do

“We’re seeing a lot of variants, viral diversity, because there’s a lot of virus out there,” and reducing new infections is the best way to curb it, said Dr. Adam Lauring, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Loyce Pace, who heads the nonprofit Global Health Council and is a member of President-elect Joe Biden’s Covid-19 advisory board, said the same precautions scientists have been advising all along “still work and they still matter.”

“We still want people to be masking up,” she said Thursday on a webcast hosted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

“We still need people to limit congregating with people outside their household. We still need people to be washing their hands and really being vigilant about those public health practices, especially as these variants emerge.” AP Medical

Writer Carla K. Johnson contributed reporting

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Transformation programs: A must in making sustainability happen Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo

LABOREM EXERCENS

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N updating the Philippines’ “Nationally Determined Contributions” under the Paris Agreement, the Climate Change Commission will be doing the country a great service if it develops the NDCs into a truly “transformative” climate change action program.

The CCC should also ask each government agency to come up with a concrete, measurable and time-bound implementing program on how to meet the agency’s climate change adaptation/mitigation target or goal. Without such a program, the CCC’s system of “tagging” various government programs as climate-change-responsive is meaningless.

The point is that the government should go beyond making routine rhetorical statements on climate change mitigation, adaptation and adjustment, if these are not backed up by clear, doable and fully-budgeted programs of action. Remember the Neda declaration after the Yolanda disaster in 2013—Build Back Better, to enable the country to manage future climate-related calamities better. One policy response under this BBB program is the launching of the National Greening Program with an ambitious goal of planting over 1.5 billion trees. The NGP was further “enhanced” under the Duterte administration. And yet, when Ulysses came in November last year, we saw the deteriorating forest landscape: forest lands without forests. The NGP and its enhanced version have failed to deliver reforestation. In short, there is a huge gap between rhetorics on resiliency building and actual accomplishments in environmental renewal and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The gap is also illustrated in another major area of economic life, energy development. In 2008, the government enacted the Renewable Energy Act for the purpose of accelerating the utilization of renewable energy and reducing Philippine dependence on dirty carbon-emitting fossil fuel, which accounts for almost 10 percent of the country’s imports.

But what has been happening? A study by Engineer Jose Logarta and the late Engineer Roberto Verzola (FES, 2017), shows how the explosive growth of coal and gas power industry had reduced the share of renewables from 45 percent in 1990 to 24 percent in 2016. This happened despite the global trend in favor of the renewables and the reality that renewables such as solar have become cheaper compared to coal and gas.

Last year, the DOE announced a moratorium on the development of new coal plants. Fine. However, it was silent on whether it will phase out the existing coal plants, old and new, that will enlarge the share of coal (once the big new coal plants come on stream) and make the country dependent on coal until the 2030s and beyond.

Relatedly, the DOE has been pushing for incentives for those investing on natural gas development, including the establishment of terminals and pipelines around the country. With the Malampaya gas field drying up, natural gas, like most of the coal consumed locally, shall come in as expensive imports.

And like coal, the “cleaner” natural gas is also GHG-emitting. Where then is the resolve to go renewable and green?

Clearly, the challenge to the CCC and other government advocates of greening is to give life to the feelgood rhetorics on mitigation and adaptation by walking the talk. The CCC and other agencies should also give special attention to the situation of the poor. The CCC lists “poverty reduction” under the “non-negotiable elements” of the NDC program.

But this is not fleshed out. As it is, we have seen how in the name of environmental renewal, the poor are further marginalized. This is clearly

illustrated in the failure of the DOTR to come up with a “just transition” program for the poor jeepney drivers and operators, who have been asked to switch to the expensive e-jeepney models sans any realistic program of assistance. Incidentally, there are no clear strategies in the CCC presentation of the NDC during the CCC-CSO consultation meeting last December on how climate adaptation and mitigation measures can benefit the poor first and foremost.

If the CCC has difficulty imagining how the NDC can be strategized in support of poverty reduction, it can link the program on disaster risk reduction and resilience building to the attainment of the UN sustainable development goals, SDG by SDG. For example, on SDG 1 (end poverty in all its forms), the primary target of DRRM and resilience building programs should be the impoverished communities, such as developing programs on how to preserve jobs and livelihoods, how to strengthen the poor’s access to social protection and basic services, how to fortify whole communities against climate risks, etc. The Covid pandemic magnified these problems, especially the lack of social assistance and empowerment programs for the informals and their communities. The government response to the Covid pandemic last year also shows weak appreciation by government officials of the situation of the poor as reflected in the exclusion of many poor who are not listed as beneficiaries of the limited amelioration assistance. There is no safety nets for the displaced who lost jobs and livelihoods. A holistic DRRM program for the poor is in order.

The CCC can relate each SDG to the NDC by formulating transformative policy to meet the adaptation and sustainability challenge in poor communities, for example the promotion of sustainable agriculture as guided by geo-hazard mapping and scientific organic agricultural practices as well as by socio-economic reforms such agrarian reform, agricultural credit reform, etc.This shall fall under SDG 2 on food security and ending hunger.

SDG 3 is on health for all. One way of achieving this for the poor is building fully-funded primary health-care facilities in each barangay in accordance with the vision of the 1978 Alma-Ata WHO Declaration on Health for All. The point is that the CCC and other government agencies will have their hands full formulating programs reducing poverty that are intertwined with the battle against climate change. These programs should go beyond the level of rhetorics. They should be clear, doable and time-bound pro-people transformation programs, complete with just transition programs for those adversely affected. And yes, they should involve the poor, meaning they are not only informed and consulted but also engaged as partners in the formulation and implementation of various mitigation and adaptation programs.

For inquiries, please e-mail reneofreneo@ gmail.com.

The old imperative Msgr. Sabino A. Vengco Jr.

Alálaong Bagá

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he start of the Ordinary Time in our liturgical calendar early in the new year indicates the refocusing of our attention to the essence of Christian life in the light of faith. We concentrate again on the old call of Jesus Christ to redirect ourselves to the Gospel (Mark 1:14-20). The sights and sounds of daily existence for us Filipinos, with 500 years of Christianity to our name, make indisputable the need for transformation and renewal.

Time of fulfillment The name Jesus stands for fulfillment: his coming is the fulfillment of God’s promise to send us someone to save us and lead us to the right path. That is why his birth was a joyous event celebrated by the angels, shepherds, wise men, and most especially by those faithful, little people like Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth and Zacharias, Simeon and Anna. People knew only too well that things were far from being good, with so much rottenness around, so much violence, oppression, poverty, ignorance and suffering. Things would be better; that was the expectation. Jesus made his public appearance and declared, “This is the time of fulfillment!” It means, “The reign of God is at hand.”

Fulfillment for humankind cannot be against God or apart from God. Our fulfillment is the completion of what our Father and Creator has planned for us.

Filipinos have at times been

faulted for being too optimistic or complacent amid so much dross and inanities in our society, not facing real issues but taken up more by the whistling in the dark. “It cannot get worse than this”—self-consolation or resignation? Well, things definitely have to change if we are to improve. It is not God’s plan that we suffer and self-destruct. No people are ever God-forsaken.

The need for conversion and faith

Jesus called out on his listeners to be converted, to change their ways (“bagong buhay, bagong puso”). This metanoia he was demanding of people means both a turning back to God and turning away from old sinful ways. This “turning around” implies facing and living up to God’s will and turning one’s back to and rejecting the world’s enticements. If the fulfillment for us is in connection with the actuality of God’s reign among us, this would

Thursday, January 21, 2021 A11

To belong truly in the world of Jesus Christ, we have to change and become his disciples. We know there is neither future nor salvation for us Filipinos in the culture of corruption, greed, violence, deception and self-absorption.

The politics of vested interests is in direct contradiction of the Gospel of Christ. If we believe, then we shall do what it takes, individually and collectively as a nation, to institute our personal transformation and our rebirth as a people. be inconceivable in any community disregarding God’s Word and disobedient to His commandments.

In this matter of transformation and renewal, we Filipinos are stuck. In our deeply rooted ways, we discover to our chagrin again and again that we easily speak of changing for the better, only to find ourselves snapping back again (our true “resilience”?) to the old rotten “traditions.” How do you fumigate to extinction the pandemic opportunism and greed to make it big and quick at the expense of others and of the commonweal? How do you scrape out of the system the pernicious vested interests that define our traditional politicians on all levels? Can we really ever divest ourselves of these unchristian behavioral patterns?

We change our ways when something or someone powerful overwhelms us; a thunderbolt can jolt

Biden faces a divided America Val A. Villanueva

Businesswise

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y the time this piece sees print, Joe Biden would have been inaugurated (Wednesday noon, January 20, 2021) as the 46th president of the United States. It will solemnize the dawn of his four-year term and that of Kamala Harris’s as his vice president.

Biden’s election did not go as smoothly as the previous US presidential elections. It has been tarnished by the outgoing POTUS Donald Trump, his Republican loyalists and thousands of MAGA (Make American Great Again) fanatics who believe in his false claims that the elections were rigged in favor of Biden. This bogus assertion—put forth even months before the November 3, 2020 election—has been debunked by numerous Republican state elections officials.

Dozens of lawsuits filed by the Trump campaign and its proxies have been rejected by judges in both state and federal courts—all the way to the Supreme Court—which found the election fraud claims insufficient in form and substance. Although no evidence were presented to support any of these baseless charges, Trump’s power to emasculate faith in American democracy is worrisome.

Despite these legal setbacks, Trump continued hawking his conspiracy theories in order to fuel seething anger among his followers who have now embraced the lie that Biden stole the election with the help of Dominion, Smartmatic and Hugo Chavez! For the life of me, I can’t figure out why such outrageous allegation was swallowed hook-lineand-sinker and then peddled by (Princeton University and Harvard Law School educated) Sen. Ted Cruz, Trump’s supporters in both lower and upper chambers of Congress, and—if surveys are to be believed—72 percent of Republican followers.

The incendiary rhetoric mouthed

by Trump since the November elections could well have served as a powder keg that blew up on January 6 this year. In a rally to “stop the steal,” Trump—enabled by his son Donald Trump Jr. and lead lawyer former New

York Mayor Rudy Giuliani—egged on MAGA fanatics to march to the Capitol Building where legislators were to officially certify Biden’s win. While Giuliani mouthed, “If we are wrong, we will be made fools of, but if we’re right, a lot of them will go to jail. So let’s have trial by combat,” Donald Jr. called on “[Republicans to] better fight for Trump. Because if they’re not, guess what? I’m going to be in your backyard in a couple of months!”

Reminiscent of how American cult leader, preacher and self-professed faith healer Jim Jones goaded his flock in Guyana to gulp a cup of cyanide-laced KoolAid, Trump told his followers at the rally near the White House on January 6: “Now it is up to Congress to confront this egregious assault on our democracy. And after this, we’re going to walk down and I’ll be there with you. We’re going to walk down…. Because you’ll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength and you have to be strong. We have come to demand that Congress do the right thing and only count the electors who have been lawfully slated. Lawfully slated.”

And like Jones’s cult members, a mob of his supporters—but without the promised physical presence of Trump—stormed the US Capitol to try to stop Congress from certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.

Trump and members of his family and staff stayed glued to the huge flat TV in the White House as the insurrection unfolded. The event was at the least embarrassing for the country. Until the Trump presidency, the United States has been exporting democracy and labeling as “rogues” nations that it felt did not adhere to democratic standards. The mob riot at the US Capitol also highlighted an internal problem that Biden has to confront along with other pressing

More than anything, I believe that Biden’s first order of business —along with other problems he has to tackle—is the growing influence of Racism, which already has spawned “Karens” in America’s midst. He has to nip the bud of the White Supremacist seed Trump has replanted and nurtured.

issues: White Supremacy.

Throughout his reign, Trump has empowered the Southern pride. The Confederate battle flag that was in prominent display during the siege of the Capitol, along with gun-toting Proud Boys, and the neo Nazis and Ku Klux Klan members who were in full force trying to be relevant in advocating that slavery is good for the country and that Black (or brown, yellow, or any other non-white) lives do not matter. Up to now, I do not understand how and why many masochist Blacks, Filipinos and other immigrants could adore Trump and are even proud to be associated with the hate groups who love him!

Now blocked by Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms for further inciting a divided nation, Trump has the ignominy of being the first POTUS to be impeached twice.

But that doesn’t mean that he would be going quietly into the night. Already, he has busied himself pardoning people whom he thought could spill the beans on his alleged misconducts in the White House and who could later help him, perhaps, run again for the country’s highest office.

More than anything, I believe that Biden’s first order of business— along with other problems he has to tackle—is the growing influence of Racism, which already has spawned “Karens” in America’s midst. He has to nip the bud of the White Supremacist seed Trump has replanted and nurtured.

According to David Neiwert, Journalist and author of Alt-America, the far right carried out every extremist US murder based on an annual report of the anti-defamation league the database of which he helped create.

They committed 115 acts of domestic terrorism, resulting in 79 deaths and over 100 injuries between 2008 and 2016. The most recent of which in the database was in Charlottes-

us out of the daze of coasting along the old rutted road. Jesus came and demanded that the people believe in him and his Gospel. His first followers literally walked out of their previous lives in order to be with him.

Simon and Andrew, James and John left everything on the spot to heed his call; so radical was their identification with Jesus and his Gospel.

The lack of such authentic evangelization for so many of us Filipinos pinpoints the cause of our unconverted ways. Changing is a consequence of believing. Without real faith, we can only make empty claims. The 500th anniversary of the coming of Christianity to our land is a clarion call for renewed evangelization. To believe in Jesus Christ is to live according to his Gospel. Without such conversion we have only a pretended Christianity and pretentious religiosity, even as we continue to wallow in our own vomit.

Alálaong bagá, to belong truly in the world of Jesus Christ, we have to change and become his disciples.

We know there is neither future nor salvation for us Filipinos in the culture of corruption, greed, violence, deception and self-absorption. The politics of vested interests is in direct contradiction of the Gospel of Christ. If we believe, then we shall do what it takes, individually and collectively as a nation, to institute our personal transformation and our rebirth as a people.

Join me in meditating on the Word of God every Sunday, from 5 to 6 a.m. on DWIZ 882, or by audio streaming on www.dwiz882.com.

ville in 2017 when James Fields Jr. rammed a Dodge Challenger at high speed into a crowd, killing 32-yearold Heather Heyer and injuring 28 people. He is later convicted of firstdegree murder.

Some Republican lawmakers are also not too keen in giving Biden a honeymoon period. Georgia 4th District Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a political neophyte known for promoting the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory, has already made known she’s filing an impeachment complaint against Biden on his first day of office. She’s sure to find a willing ally in Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida’s 1st Congressional District, Jim Jordan of Ohio’s 4th Congressional district, and it is not far-fetched to see Sen. Josh Hawley giving her the much needed thumbs up. QAnon backers have pushed conspiracies on social media that include the baseless claim that Trump secretly is fighting a cabal of child-sex predators, among them prominent Democrats, figures in Hollywood and “deep state” allies.

The playbook is clear. The alt right will do its darn best to foment a legitimacy crisis, which they hope to haunt Biden’s administration. It is of the belief that when three-fourths of the followers of one of two major parties say they don’t trust the election results, the implication is that they won’t trust the incoming government. And a democracy relies on citizens’ trust.

It is a Herculean task but is doable given Biden’s record of competency and compassion. He has vowed to be a president for all, so it is incumbent that the first few years of his administration should be spent in trying to convince people on the other side of the political fence that the days of segregation and slavery are over.

There are no more cotton fields where Whites pushed Blacks in back-breaking work, and the gruesome image of a ‘Whipped Peter’ is as real as the air they breathe. Biden also has to force Americans to relearn that democracy is not spontaneous. As Canadian President Justin Trudeau says: “It is a day-to-day work to uphold a political system where the losing side graciously concedes, and in which rival political parties between elections work together for the common good.”

For comments and suggestions, e-mail me at mvala.v@gmail.com

A12 Thursday, January 21, 2021

‘REGULAR, SAFE’ LABOR MIGRATION IN FISHING, SEAFOOD EYED BY ILO

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ILIPINO migrant workers in the fishing and seafood industries are set to benefit from an $11.29-million initiative by international organizations that seeks to promote “regular and safe labor migration” in these industries, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said.

In a statement, the ILO said the four-year Ship to Shore Rights South East Asia program eyes to “strengthen” legal frameworks, “protect” labor rights and “empower” workers in the fishing and seafood processings sectors of the region.

The program covers Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, according to the ILO. The program is being implemented by the ILO in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The initial €10 million ($11.29 million) fund of the initiative was funded by the European Union (EU).

“By bringing together the three UN agencies, it will draw on the partners’ experience in the region, to protect the rights of migrant workers and address issues such as forced labor, human trafficking, illegal recruitment practices, and poor access to information,” ILO said.

ILO said the program will work with current, potential and returning migrant workers in the fishing and seafood processing sectors, their families, and communities in the countries of origin and destination.

The program will also collaborate with concerned national government authorities, workers’ and employers’ organizations, recruitment agencies, vessel owners and their associations, civil society organizations, and community-based organizations.

“While progress has been made to improve working conditions for migrant workers in the fisheries and seafood processing sectors, many challenges still exist,” said Chihoko Asada-Miyakawa, ILO Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific.

“This new initiative will promote innovative, rights-based and safe solutions

to manage cross-border migration and employment. It will lead to a stronger industry and decent work for the women and men it employs,” Asada-Miyakawa added.

Pirkka Tapiola, Ambassador of the European Union to Thailand, said the progam “will maintain the political link between sustainable fisheries and decent labor practices.” UNDP Deputy Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Christophe Bahuet said the program can boost the contributions of migration to development in the Asia Pacific region.

“UNDP highly values our partnership with the European Union, ILO and IOM under this programme, as it allows us to unlock the transformative potential of migration and to support socioeconomic progress in South-East Asia,”Bahuet said.

The ILO noted that Southeast Asian countries are among the world’s top producers and exporters of fish and seafood products. It added that the fishing and seafood processing supply chains rely on several elements including capture fisheries and land-based primary and secondary processing, where migrant workers contribute significantly to these sectors as fishers and workers in the processing phase.

“The regulatory framework for labor migration in the fishing and seafood processing sectors is often weak, with migrant workers frequently recruited through irregular and informal channels.

While there have been important improvements in recent years, workers still report lack of written work contracts, underpayment or withholding of wages, other types of wage theft, and coercion or involuntary work,” it said.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has also had a severe impact on the lives and livelihoods of migrant workers and their families.

The Ship to Shore Rights South East Asia program will support governments and partners in tackling these challenges and ensure robust protection for all migrant workers in these economically and socially important sectors,” it added.

Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

Labor group revives call for wage hike

By Samuel P. Medenilla

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@sam_medenilla

ILITANT labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) is now pushing for another round of minimum -age hike amid the rising prices of basic goods and services during the pandemic.

In a statement, KMU secretary general Jerome Adonis said on Wednesday the existing minimum-wage rates is no longer sufficient for workers to cope with the higher prices, particularly of food items.

“The prices of pork and vegetables are already high. The prices [of these items] are now increasing and the Duterte government has no steps to ensure workers cope and survive,” Adonis said.

KMU said its now planning to file another wage petition before the regional wage boards to address the situation. It also sought the immediate passage of the P750 National Minimum Wage Bill, which is pending in Congress.

“It has been a long time . . . but the wages of the workers remain unchanged. Our call is to fast-track the approval of the wage hike so that we could buy what we need.

The government needs workers if it wants the country to recover [from the pandemic],” Adonis said.

This, despite the assurance of Malacañang that the Department of Agriculture (DA) is now trying to bring down the prices of basic food

items through importation and enforcement of the suggested retail price.

Prices of pork now exceed P400 a kilo on average; while prices of vegetables have also spiked, as vegetable farms in several parts of the country were damaged by the series of typhoons in the last quarter of 2020.

Earlier this week, President Duterte signed an executive order reverting to P5—from a high of 40 percent—the tariff rate for imported mechanically deboned meat, of chicken and turkey. This was meant to avert a spike in processed meat products, especially hotdogs and cheap food fare for ordinary households, which use MDM. Last year, only the regional wage board of the Cagayan Valley Region was able to implement a wage hike.

The other regional wage boards opted to defer issuing a new wage order with the onset of Covid-19, which cause an economic slowdown leading to mass labor displacements nationwide.

Currently, Metro Manila has the highest minimum-wage rate with P537, while the lowest is in the Ilocos Region with P282.

In an SMS, National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) Executive Director Maria Criselda R. Sy told BusinessMirror they have yet to get notice of a regional wage board, which has initiated stakeholder or public consultations this year for a possible minimum-wage hike.

Govt portal tracks ₧47.3-B Covid-related deals awarded

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By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE government has so far awarded a combined total of P47.3 billion in Covid-19related contracts.

In a virtual procurement forum on Wednesday, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Philippines Director of Economic Development and Governance Office Jeffrey Goebel disclosed the amount of awarded contracts based on the Government Procurement Policy Board’s (GPPB) online portal.

Goebel said they have so far provided more than P1.1 billion or $23.4 million to support the Philip-

pine government’s efforts against Covid-19, including the development of GPPBs online portal.

“To date, the total amount of Covid-19-related awarded contracts has reached over P47.3 billion,” he said in a procurement forum organized by GPPB. “Our support for the improvement of this portal through USAID’s Deliver project has continued in line with recent efforts to further modernize procurement system in the country.”

The GPPB online portal was launched in April last year to facilitate the timely procurement of Covid-19 related purchases while also ensuring transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.

According to GPPB’s website, the online portal is the repository of Procurement Projects undertaken through Emergency Procurement under the Bayanihan Act in light of the posting limitations in the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System.

Moreover, Goebel said the procurement portal registered more than 1,600 procuring entities and helped to secure the closure of 18,000 contracts for both goods and services since its launch last year, adding that most of these are Covid-19 essentials like personal protective equipment (PPP), medi-

cines, hygiene kits and food packs.

“Heavy portal users, such as the cities of Taguig, Pasig and Cebu, the provincial governments of Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Batangas, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have all reported successful procurements of PPP sets quarantine facility needs, test kits, medicines and relief goods for their constituents through this portal,” he said.

In the same forum, GPPB also launched its Philippine Bidding Documents (PBD) Builder which makes it easier for procuring entities to draft, review, finalize and post documents for bidding activities.

The PBD Builder, which was developed by GPPB-Technical Support Office with support from USAID, will also be integrated into the GPPB online portal to support efficient public procurement.

Photo from Makati Shangri-La website.

Another Covid victim: Makati Shang closes doors in Feb

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

@akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

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OOR revenues owing to the international travel restrictions have led the Hong Kong-based property giant, the Kuok Group, to temporarily close its Makati Shangri-La Hotel, and reorganize its hotel properties in the Philippines.

In a news statement, a company spokesman said, “Ow ing to continued low business levels and hav ing considered a ll v iable options over weeks of con s id e r at ion a nd d e l i b e r a tion, we unfor tunately must now make the extremely difficult decision to reorganize our workforce and operations in the Philippines as we continue to navigate an uncertain business env ironment.”

The spokesman added, “As part of the reorganization exercise, we will sadly be parting ways with a number of colleagues and we will be temporarily closing Makati Shangri-La, Manila.” It will take effect on February 1, 2021.

The hotel had undertaken several measures to manage its financial difficulties owing to the pandemic. “Multiple cost management initiatives have been implemented

including salary reductions at management level, implementing shorter work weeks, hiring freeze and cuts in non-essential spending,” said the spokesman.

The 696-room hotel, which opened in April 1993, was only recently granted a certificate to operate as a staycation establishment by the Department of Tourism (DOT). Prior to this, it was allowed to offer rooms to returning overseas Filipinos and expats who quarantined while waiting for their Covid-19 test results. In a news statement, the agency said it is “saddened ” by the news of Makati Shang’s closure. “The hotel has been a pillar in the tourism industry in the country and has contributed to positioning the country in the region and around the globe. Nevertheless, we are hopeful that [it] will soon reopen its doors to international and domestic clients.”

Kuok’s Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts Group has five other properties in the country, and include Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa, Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa in Cebu, Edsa Shangri-La in the Ortigas Business District, JEN Manila by Shangri-La in Pasay, and Shangri-La at the Fort at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

PHL inflates Shang Group’s losses

Corporate disclosures show that in the first half of 2020, the Shangri-La Group’s hotel properties in the Philippines have been hurting, like many others in the hospitality industry. Average occupancy over the six properties fell to 33 percent from January to June 2020, from 69 percent in the same period in 2019.

Also, the properties’s average daily rate slid to $177 from $201 in 2019. Revenue per available room, an important gauge of a hotel’s profitability, slumped by 58 percent to just $59 in the first half of 2020.

According to the Shang Group’s November investors report, its hotel properties in the Philippines posted a loss of $30.7 million in the first half of the year, contributing almost 33 percent to the group’s overall loss of $94.2 million (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization).

While the hotel sources could not disclose how many employees at Makati Shangri-La would be let go, a disclosure in 2019 showed the entire group, including its leasing properties, residences, and other non-hotel assets employed 1,166.

The Makati Shangri-La is the second major hotel in the country which has shuttered its doors due

to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, that has kept many tourists at home. In June 2019, Marco Polo in Davao also closed down, due to poor guest bookings. (See, “Marco Polo Davao closure spooks tourism industry,” in the BusinessMirror, May 11, 2020.)

A company spokesman said, in the past 10 months, Makati Shang had also “provided assistance for our rank and file to help them through these challenging times. Despite our best efforts, the prolonged recovery timeline has resulted in increasing financial pressure on the company here in the Philippines.”

The hotel will also give a higherthan-mandated fair compensation package to its employees as well as extend “healthcare coverage and grocery support until 31 December 2021 to provide affected employees and their families peace of mind during these uncertain times.

We are also providing colleagues with career transition assistance to help them get back on their feet.”

The Shang Group underscored its commitment to the Philippines in which it has operated in for close to 30 years. “We continue to vigilantly monitor local and global developments and look forward to reopening Makati Shangri-La, Manila at a later date when business conditions have improved.”

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, January 21, 2021

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Lopez Holdings to remain listed on stock exchange

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By VG Cabuag

@villygc

opez Holdings Corp. (LPZ) said it may no longer delist its shares from the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) after its unit announced that its purchases will allow LPZ to meet the required minimum public ownership.

In its disclosure, Lopez Holdings said First Philippine Holdings Corp., which holds the family’s property and energy businesses, will only buy up to 34.5 percent of the total issued and outstanding common shares of LPZ.

“The reduction will remove the risk of the company falling below the required minimum public ownership and dispense with the need for the company to pursue its petition for voluntary delisting of its 4.63 billion common shares from the main board

of the Philippine Stock Exchange filed on December 14, 2020,” the companies said.

First Holdings originally intended to buy at least 20 percent and up to 45.56 percent of Lopez Holdings.

These shares will be acquired from the rest of the shareholders of the company. Shares of Lopez Inc., the ultimate parent of the two firms and owns more than half of Lopez Holdings, meanwhile, are not included in the deal.

If First Holdings will purchase 45.56 percent of Lopez Holdings, it will fall below the minimum 10 percent public float requirement of the PSE. The regulator may then delist them or Lopez itself will have to voluntarily leave the exchange.

First Holdings earlier said it will buy the said Lopez Holdings shares at P3.85 apiece or a 25-percent premi-

um over LPZ’s closing share price of P3.08 on November 27, and a 41-percent, 43-percent and 36-percent premium over its 3-month, 6-month and 12-month volume weighted average price of P2.74, P2.69 and P2.82, respectively.

Lopez Holdings earlier approved the engagement of independent financial adviser KPMG/R.G. Manabat and Co., which provided a fairness opinion on First Holdings’ tender offer price.

The company owns ABS-CBN Corp., which holds its broadcast and telecom assets, and First Holdings.

The Lopez family earlier decided to delist Energy Development Corp. from the PSE. First Holdings share price closed on Wednesday at P79.50 apiece, while Lopez shares were last traded at P3.70 apiece.

Smart: Digital lifestyle here to stay

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

T

he digital trend will persist this year, a ranking official of mobile services provider Smart Communications Inc. and parent PLDT Inc. said, as consumers quickly adapt to digital services for their everyday needs.

Smart President Alfredo S. Panlilio said consumers have already shifted online, and this trend is “here to stay,” making telcos “extremely relevant.”

“It is highly unlikely that the shift in consumer behavior towards digital would revert to how it was before,” he said. “As both personal and business communications shift to online, practically all other aspects of life are

now digitally powered.” This trend, he said, has caused Smart and PLDT to focus on delivering “superior customer experience” this year.

“Our job is to make sure that we continue to provide superior data network and most relevant content, to make the experience of our customers better than anybody can offer,” Panlilio said.

PLDT is spending as much as P92 billion in capital expenditures this year, as it modernizes and expands both its fixed line and wireless networks, including the deployment of new 5G sites.

As of December, PLDT’s fiber infrastructure spans more than 429,000 kilometers, supporting the mobile network of Smart, which now covers 96 percent of the population

and is available in 95 percent of the cities and municipalities.

Smart increased the number of its base stations to over 59,000 at the end of 2020 and rolled out additional 5G sites as it accelerates its 5G commercial services nationwide.

Panlilio added that part of the “superior customer experience” focus of Smart is the amplification of lifestyle initiatives such as partnerships with global brands and ambassadors such as the Grammy-nominated music act BTS. The group has also so far improved its offers and has since launched the GigaLife mobile app, which enables Smart users to manage their subscriptions more seamlessly and allow them to earn points and rewards.

Clark regains headway in becoming a MICE destination

C

lark Freeport—Despite the ongoing pandemic, this Freeport slowly regains headway in becoming a meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibits (MICE) destination with the recent opening of a new 5-star hotel.

In an initial tour for local media, Hilton Clark, a 308-room resort complex located at the D’ Heights estate owned by Donggwang Clark Corp. (DCC), is exceeding expectations since its soft opening last December 30, 2021.

This augurs well in the vision of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) to make Clark as a MICE and tourism destination in the AsiaPacific Region.

Recently, newly appointed CDC President

PDRF Board Meeting

and Chief Executive Officer Manuel R. Gaerlan said that the state-owned firm remains focused on its vision to make this Freeport a “modern, sustainable aerotropolis and the preferred meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) and tourism destination in the Asia-Pacific region by [the] year 2030.”

He also recently emphasized the need to focus on the “reset, rebound, and recover” to boost Clark’s business climate amidst the harsh after effects of the pandemic.

This denotes the start of attracting more investments and opportunities in this Freeport that are geared towards fostering economic growth, under his leadership.

DCC has invested about P15 billion in its hotel resort and golf course complex on a 309-hectare scenic and hilly portion of the Freeport. It also operates a separate hotel building at the commercial area.

DCC President Lee Seong Gi, in a courtesy call on Gaerlan, expressed thanks to the state-owned firm for its support to the various developments to its leased properties.

Meanwhile, Hilton Clark, being a renowned brand worldwide, with its outstanding service and top-notch amenities partnered with Clark’s strategic location and accessibility, is expected to heighten Clark’s economic performance in the coming years.

Photo shows PDRF Co-Chair Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, PDRF Executive Director Veronica Gabaldon, Renato Castillo (representative of First Gen Corp. Chairman and CEO Federico Lopez), Makati Business Club President Edgar Chua; PDRF President Rene Meily, PDRF Chief Resilience Officer Guillermo Luz, PDRF Chief Financial Officer June Cheryl Cabal-Revilla, PDRF Advisor Ed Amistad; (bottom row, left to right): PDRF Co-Chairs Manuel V. Pangilinan and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Magsaysay Maritime Corp. President and CEO Doris Ho, and PDRF Advisor Rapa Lopa. Contributed Photo

“Our recovery from this pandemic will not spell a return to the old normal,” Panlilio said.

SMC extends free toll to medical frontliners on Skyway Stage 3

S

an Miguel Corp. (SMC) President Ramon S. Ang said on Wednesday that some 10,400 medical practitioners at the frontlines of the continuing battle against Covid-19 pandemic, will be allowed to use the newly opened Skyway 3 for free indefinitely.

This means that even when the expressway starts collecting toll fees after the current free use period for the public set by Skyway 3, medical frontliners will still continue to benefit from toll-free passage.

Ang reported that as of January 18, or some 10 months since SMC started the program in March 2020, the company has waived a total of P156 million in toll fees for doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, and other medical workers fighting the pandemic.

Since mid-June 2020, SMC has been the only toll operator still implementing a “no toll fees” policy for medical practitioners at its expressways, namely the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road, the South Luzon Expressway, the Skyway system, NAIA Expressway, and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway.

“This time of pandemic, we need to help our country, our fellow Filipinos, and each other, as much as we can. We have been providing this courtesy to our medical practitioners non-stop, because it’s our way of honoring them and thanking them for their selfless efforts to save lives and to help us survive this crisis,” Ang said.

Skyway Stage 3, according to Ang, is also part of SMC’s efforts to help the country. Seen to help boost the economy and improve productivity

by enabling trade, tourism, and transportation, Skyway is a project that many thought could never be done.

Saddled with numerous contentious rightof-way issues that necessitated major changes to its design and alignment, which also resulted to higher costs and a longer timeline, it was finally soft-opened to the public last December 29—tollfree until February 1, Ang had declared.

SMC fully funded the project with no government subsidies or guarantees. It also paid in full for all right-of-way properties and built three new bridges in San Juan, Mandaluyong, and Manila.

It did these in order to fast-track construction of the 18-kilometer elevated expressway traversing Metro Manila’s densest, busiest cities.

Apart from providing the long-awaited seamless link between the South Luzon Expressway and the North Luzon Expressway, Skyway Stage 3 has also showed that it can significantly decongest traffic throughout Metro Manila, particularly Edsa.

In the first two weeks since it was soft-opened, Skyway 3 recorded an average of 71,000 vehicles per day. Fully operational, Skyway 3 can easily accommodate 200,000 vehicles or half of daily Edsa traffic, Ang said.

Edsa was previously the only link between north and south, and for decades, has been synonymous to traffic in Metro Manila.

“With Skyway Stage 3, motorists now have the option to take a much faster route that will save them time and fuel. But the real beauty of it is this will also decongest Edsa and other roads, making travel there for many people also easier,” Ang said.

B2

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, January 21, 2021

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

January 20, 2021

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

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

43.9 110 82.6 24.95 10.26 47 11.36 22.6 27.25 55.7 18.78 133.8 70.4 0.96 4 4.9 6.98 1.61 0.45 0.84 153.5 2,188 1.06

44 111 83.2 25 10.28 47.1 11.4 23 27.7 55.8 18.8 136 70.5 1 4.02 5.09 7.25 1.65 0.465 0.89 154 2,200 1.09

44 110 84 25 10.26 48.05 11.48 23 27.8 55.7 18.8 135.4 71 1 4 5 6.98 1.66 0.5 0.84 153 2,188 1.09

44 111 84 25.05 10.3 48.2 11.48 23 27.9 55.8 19 136 71.1 1.02 4 6.1 6.98 1.67 0.51 0.9 154 2,188 1.1

44 108.8 82.5 24.9 10.2 46.4 11.4 22.5 27.2 55.6 18.7 133 70.3 1 3.82 4.5 6.98 1.62 0.44 0.8 152.5 2,188 1.08

44 111 83.2 25 10.28 47 11.4 22.5 27.7 55.8 18.78 136 70.4 1 4 5.09 6.98 1.62 0.45 0.89 153.5 2,188 1.08

7,000 1,808,470 1,346,550 338,200 480,600 3,730,800 300 31,600 308,400 230 122,200 167,190 12,580 372,000 1,587,000 8,319,000 100 364,000 4,080,000 2,396,000 13,580 10 106,000

308,000 199,339,976 112,181,288.50 8,447,010 4,923,468 176,615,310 3,428 726,550 8,502,415 12,795 2,299,910 22,431,645 892,813 377,880 6,253,200 43,665,150 698 591,020 1,914,350 2,100,140 2,086,739 21,880 114,780

308,000 -9,760,592 -29,716,783.50 571,330 -2,005,090 -65,481,175 713,000 -285,290 -1,048,366 8,258,034 20,400 -1,584,330 501,600.00 44,750 -61,600 -465,080 -

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 6.7 6.73 6.57 6.83 6.52 6.7 28,290,800 189,914,942 ALSONS CONS 1.29 1.3 1.31 1.34 1.3 1.3 1,122,000 1,467,460 ABOITIZ POWER 25.75 26.1 26.5 26.5 25.75 25.75 3,300,700 85,704,935 BASIC ENERGY 1.69 1.7 1.75 2.15 1.68 1.69 361,980,000 688,162,470 30.25 30.75 31.2 31.2 30.15 30.75 989,400 30,404,185 FIRST GEN 79.5 79.9 80.4 80.4 79.5 79.5 24,320 1,934,063 FIRST PHIL HLDG 288.2 293.8 290.4 293.8 288 293.8 209,150 60,880,444 MERALCO 16.2 16.22 16.34 16.34 16.14 16.22 1,240,200 20,136,352 MANILA WATER 3.71 3.72 3.75 3.75 3.7 3.72 1,814,000 6,751,280 PETRON PETROENERGY 3.76 3.89 4.1 4.1 3.76 3.76 326,000 1,275,030 PHX PETROLEUM 11.76 12.08 12.1 12.1 11.76 12.08 186,300 2,220,240 PILIPINAS SHELL 20.25 20.9 20.3 20.6 20 20.25 384,900 7,803,275 9.84 9.85 9.87 9.87 9.8 9.84 198,400 1,949,414 SPC POWER 7.65 7.7 7.7 7.7 7.57 7.7 541,700 4,145,569 AGRINURTURE 3.14 3.2 3.12 3.2 3.07 3.2 2,090,000 6,500,340 AXELUM 14.06 14.9 15.3 15.3 15 15 7,000 105,090 CNTRL AZUCARERA CENTURY FOOD 17.28 17.36 17.5 17.76 16.58 17.28 5,040,100 87,147,020 DEL MONTE 8.11 8.19 8.27 8.27 8.1 8.19 59,100 484,766 DNL INDUS 7.06 7.07 7.2 7.3 7.05 7.07 2,872,700 20,440,799 EMPERADOR 9.93 9.94 9.94 9.94 9.83 9.94 671,900 6,636,949 66.9 68 67 67.5 65 67.5 266,000 17,829,770.50 SMC FOODANDBEV 0.66 0.67 0.66 0.67 0.65 0.67 726,000 481,080 ALLIANCE SELECT FRUITAS HLDG 1.64 1.66 1.69 1.69 1.61 1.66 41,459,000 68,114,630 52 52.5 52.9 53.5 52 52.5 141,640 7,458,091.50 GINEBRA 187.8 188 190 190.4 186 188 1,074,830 201,967,073 JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR 38.55 39 39 39.85 38.3 38.5 607,900 23,703,825 MAXS GROUP 6.65 6.69 6.68 6.7 6.5 6.69 752,600 4,954,354 MG HLDG 0.405 0.41 0.54 0.59 0.4 0.405 91,840,000 44,942,085 7.53 7.57 7.52 7.74 7.5 7.57 1,853,300 13,942,051 SHAKEYS PIZZA 1.22 1.23 1.2 1.23 1.2 1.23 8,125,000 9,805,530 ROXAS AND CO 4.61 4.77 4.61 4.62 4.61 4.62 50,000 230,600 RFM CORP 1.74 1.75 1.74 1.74 1.74 1.74 20,000 34,800 ROXAS HLDG SWIFT FOODS 0.141 0.145 0.146 0.147 0.14 0.145 3,180,000 451,630 UNIV ROBINA 150.9 151 153.8 153.8 150.6 151 1,378,510 208,359,412 VITARICH 0.97 0.98 1.08 1.09 0.97 0.97 22,133,000 22,592,190 VICTORIAS 2.24 2.31 2.3 2.32 2.22 2.22 96,000 214,040 CONCRETE A 53.55 54.95 53.6 55 53.5 55 2,210 120,266.50 55.35 57.95 55.25 57.95 55.25 57.95 250 14,217.50 CONCRETE B CEMEX HLDG 1.49 1.5 1.45 1.51 1.41 1.5 12,034,000 17,810,480 6.25 6.3 6.45 6.5 6.25 6.25 425,200 2,705,150 DAVINCI CAPITAL 13.56 13.68 13.54 13.68 13.48 13.68 51,800 704,172 EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP 7.51 7.52 7.45 7.57 7.45 7.51 126,800 951,614 HOLCIM 6.63 6.64 6.38 6.66 6.35 6.64 1,288,900 8,437,970 MEGAWIDE 7.75 7.77 8.01 8.01 7.74 7.76 2,666,900 20,754,292 9.7 9.9 9.7 9.8 9.65 9.8 26,000 251,725 PHINMA TKC METALS 1.75 1.76 1.68 1.96 1.53 1.75 17,185,000 30,720,600 1.96 1.97 2.18 2.4 1.88 1.97 44,944,000 94,389,510 VULCAN INDL 170 175 169 170 169 170 420 71,350 CHEMPHIL 1.81 1.87 1.89 1.89 1.87 1.87 41,000 77,070 CROWN ASIA EUROMED 2.27 2.28 2.31 2.32 2.24 2.28 461,000 1,050,150 MABUHAY VINYL 4.46 4.5 4.56 4.56 4.5 4.5 9,000 40,620 PRYCE CORP 5.3 5.36 5.4 5.4 5.3 5.3 32,700 176,130 21.7 21.75 21.75 21.8 21.6 21.75 93,000 2,020,975 CONCEPCION 3.22 3.24 3.19 3.24 3.15 3.24 12,867,000 41,168,870 GREENERGY 8.94 9 9.13 9.13 8.8 9 1,500,400 13,443,083 INTEGRATED MICR 1.45 1.47 1.57 1.57 1.44 1.45 4,239,000 6,298,930 IONICS 6.05 6.48 6.5 6.5 6.05 6.48 20,300 129,492 PANASONIC SFA SEMICON 1.44 1.48 1.49 1.49 1.44 1.44 2,010,000 2,921,310 CIRTEK HLDG 6.95 6.96 6.92 7.24 6.81 6.95 6,189,500 43,621,078

36,052,842 -35,211,560 2,616,270 263,385 15,186 -18,607,558 2,661,270 -59,690 195,000 -1,048,252 2,071,265 19,660 -140,694 -171,400 -30,084,570 -6,447,721 -516 2,870,952.50 -77,770 5,019,713.50 -46,651,422 -11,342 -3,166,400 -203,068 -304,280 55,360 -142,300,206 901,900 -3,638,090 18,618 -34,130 57,642 1,042,148 -2,116,590 -149,780 -614,390 -8,450 10,760 -2,031,290 -4,028,234 735,230 8,640 -1,392,125

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL 1.38 1.39 1.6 1.88 1.26 1.38 470,510,000 749,281,280 ASIABEST GROUP 9 9.2 8.9 9.2 8.88 9.2 68,000 621,316 AYALA CORP 795 799.5 826 826 773 795 511,890 407,121,235 ABOITIZ EQUITY 44.45 44.5 46.05 46.05 44.5 44.5 1,954,500 87,605,070 9.92 9.93 9.99 10 9.91 9.93 3,062,800 30,424,093 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 2.91 2.92 3 3 2.89 2.92 2,068,000 6,077,740 AYALA LAND LOG 6.58 6.85 6.85 6.85 6.84 6.84 500 3,421 ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG 1.11 1.12 1.5 1.55 1.07 1.12 28,390,000 35,351,250 ATN HLDG A 0.98 0.99 0.94 1.02 0.94 0.98 34,972,000 34,115,540 ATN HLDG B 0.97 1 0.94 1.01 0.94 1 4,232,000 4,122,250 COSCO CAPITAL 5.4 5.44 5.45 5.45 5.36 5.4 504,100 2,715,259 DMCI HLDG 5.22 5.25 5.37 5.37 5.16 5.22 9,171,500 48,286,741 FILINVEST DEV 8.81 9 8.8 9 8.8 9 48,600 432,109 0.23 0.249 0.248 0.25 0.23 0.249 1,610,000 400,620 FORUM PACIFIC 563.5 565 563 565 556 565 162,570 91,105,860 GT CAPITAL 3.92 3.97 3.87 3.87 3.87 3.87 2,000 7,740 HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT 73.15 73.9 72.8 73.95 72.8 73.9 1,898,630 139,829,893.50 KEPPEL HLDG A 5.05 5.89 5.9 5.9 5.89 5.89 21,200 124,970 LODESTAR 1.14 1.15 1.26 1.32 1.11 1.15 11,763,000 14,148,940 LOPEZ HLDG 3.7 3.71 3.72 3.72 3.7 3.7 2,112,000 7,820,240 LT GROUP 13.3 13.48 13.48 13.48 13.2 13.48 1,365,900 18,282,484 0.56 0.58 0.6 0.6 0.56 0.56 1,178,000 676,210 MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV 4.3 4.32 4.36 4.38 4.27 4.3 30,362,000 130,507,070 5.6 6 6.5 6.8 5.2 5.6 1,106,000 7,003,700 PACIFICA HLDG PRIME MEDIA 0.88 0.9 0.88 0.88 0.87 0.87 91,000 79,420 REPUBLIC GLASS 2.77 3 2.99 2.99 2.99 2.99 7,000 20,930 SOLID GROUP 1.22 1.24 1.22 1.25 1.22 1.22 268,000 330,100 SYNERGY GRID 312.2 328 310 328 310 328 1,510 472,900 SM INVESTMENTS 1,059 1,067 1,056 1,078 1,045 1,067 328,060 349,505,720 124 124.2 124.9 124.9 123.1 124.2 193,840 24,072,233 SAN MIGUEL CORP 0.95 0.96 1.08 1.08 0.92 0.96 1,097,000 1,053,400 SOC RESOURCES TOP FRONTIER 135 140 135 140 134 140 3,180 433,851 WELLEX INDUS 0.24 0.249 0.246 0.275 0.24 0.249 47,220,000 12,101,260 ZEUS HLDG 0.255 0.26 0.285 0.285 0.24 0.255 6,980,000 1,809,250

-10,064,940 -91,080 -242,215,175 -61,696,075 -3,851,954 129,830 238,440 -391,390 475,413 714,557 17,360 -17,151,705 -34,296,588.50 -150,000 1,852,670 -5,992,788 -76,739,920 15,555,745 -3,123,009 -4,408,500 -

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.74 0.77 0.78 0.8 0.72 0.77 2,197,000 1,658,040 AYALA LAND 38.85 38.9 39.6 39.9 38.3 38.85 8,395,400 329,023,440 ARANETA PROP 1.46 1.48 1.5 1.51 1.48 1.48 136,000 201,900 AREIT RT 32.05 32.15 31.6 33.1 31.6 32.05 2,047,100 66,574,815 BELLE CORP 1.69 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.68 1.69 678,000 1,147,190 0.99 1 1.11 1.14 1 1 17,215,000 17,852,480 A BROWN 0.77 0.8 0.77 0.79 0.77 0.79 20,000 15,440 CITYLAND DEVT 0.171 0.172 0.183 0.184 0.169 0.172 14,680,000 2,561,030 CROWN EQUITIES CEBU HLDG 5.6 5.95 5.9 6 5.9 5.95 28,700 169,355 CEB LANDMASTERS 5.07 5.08 5.03 5.13 5.01 5.07 687,700 3,473,769 CENTURY PROP 0.445 0.45 0.46 0.46 0.445 0.445 10,930,000 4,915,750 CYBER BAY 0.395 0.405 0.42 0.425 0.395 0.4 7,830,000 3,152,350 DOUBLEDRAGON 14.48 14.5 14.4 14.8 14.2 14.48 1,582,600 22,948,298 7.12 7.27 7.2 7.3 7.06 7.1 232,200 1,660,701 DM WENCESLAO 0.33 0.345 0.34 0.345 0.335 0.345 5,370,000 1,827,650 EMPIRE EAST 0.101 0.104 0.12 0.124 0.099 0.103 11,950,000 1,276,870 EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND 1.11 1.12 1.11 1.12 1.1 1.12 19,266,000 21,335,810 GLOBAL ESTATE 0.92 0.93 0.88 0.92 0.88 0.92 561,000 504,720 8990 HLDG 7.6 7.9 7.65 7.7 7.23 7.7 61,700 471,000 PHIL INFRADEV 1.51 1.52 1.5 1.52 1.47 1.51 8,994,000 13,469,860 KEPPEL PROP 3.11 3.28 3.29 3.3 3.29 3.3 10,000 32,960 0.72 0.74 0.72 0.72 0.71 0.72 211,000 151,140 CITY AND LAND 4.05 4.13 4.21 4.21 4 4.13 14,661,000 59,739,990 MEGAWORLD 0.82 0.83 0.92 0.96 0.81 0.82 674,290,000 601,702,320 MRC ALLIED 0.415 0.445 0.41 0.475 0.4 0.415 5,400,000 2,386,100 PHIL ESTATES PRIMEX CORP 1.36 1.46 1.41 1.48 1.36 1.36 1,792,000 2,506,220 ROBINSONS LAND 21.05 21.1 21 21.1 20.55 21.05 1,321,700 27,593,965 PHIL REALTY 0.36 0.365 0.345 0.41 0.34 0.365 10,900,000 4,081,150 ROCKWELL 1.62 1.63 1.62 1.63 1.62 1.63 320,000 520,100 2.67 2.69 2.69 2.69 2.67 2.67 726,000 1,949,290 SHANG PROP STA LUCIA LAND 2.56 2.57 2.61 2.65 2.5 2.57 1,654,000 4,255,600 SM PRIME HLDG 38.7 39 38.9 39.2 38.5 39 7,415,800 289,050,710 4.07 4.11 4.27 4.27 4.05 4.07 235,000 980,210 VISTAMALLS SUNTRUST HOME 2.2 2.21 2.29 2.34 2.16 2.21 6,497,000 14,480,920 VISTA LAND 4.71 4.72 4.7 4.72 4.65 4.72 3,493,000 16,394,350

-51,950 -49,959,940 -12,777,620.00 287,000.00 13,090 -70,210 95,130 205,000 -6,294,084 332,991 67,000 -3,935,230 -613,270 10,800 -15,783,360 262,200 -139,500 41,400 -2,033,345 -8,200 -188,500 -49,492,790 61,590 440,040 289,020

SERVICES ABS CBN 14.1 14.12 14.02 14.5 13.98 14.12 561,100 7,965,326 GMA NETWORK 5.98 5.99 5.99 6 5.96 5.98 277,600 1,662,601 MANILA BULLETIN 0.48 0.485 0.495 0.51 0.48 0.48 1,610,000 788,100 GLOBE TELECOM 2,090 2,100 2,062 2,120 2,060 2,100 51,695 108,427,890 PLDT 1,450 1,459 1,420 1,459 1,420 1,459 102,865 148,494,535 0.43 0.435 0.39 0.475 0.375 0.43 3,500,030,000 1,511,158,700 APOLLO GLOBAL 15.58 15.7 15.4 15.7 15.26 15.7 1,676,200 25,844,496 CONVERGE 5.41 5.45 5 5.69 4.92 5.41 36,031,000 181,474,200 DFNN INC DITO CME HLDG 10.94 10.96 11.06 11.42 10.7 10.94 44,374,100 487,479,358 IMPERIAL 2.02 2.1 2.03 2.15 2.03 2.1 213,000 433,660 ISLAND INFO 0.205 0.219 0.255 0.255 0.183 0.219 75,620,000 17,088,000 JACKSTONES 2.04 2.15 2.1 2.18 2 2.04 162,000 344,840 NOW CORP 3.6 3.61 3.73 3.73 3.5 3.6 13,857,000 49,731,180 0.49 0.495 0.55 0.56 0.49 0.495 84,890,000 44,093,350 TRANSPACIFIC BR 3.08 3.09 2.99 3.12 2.95 3.08 3,675,000 11,198,620 PHILWEB 8.42 8.43 8.88 8.89 8.4 8.43 125,200 1,072,768 2GO GROUP ASIAN TERMINALS 14.6 15 14.6 14.7 14.6 14.7 298,900 4,392,940 CHELSEA 4.55 4.56 4.61 4.65 4.5 4.55 4,311,000 19,554,010 CEBU AIR 49.5 49.55 50.05 50.05 49.25 49.5 609,160 30,141,008 INTL CONTAINER 127.9 128.4 126.8 128.5 125.2 128.4 1,999,750 255,510,072 LBC EXPRESS 15.5 16 15.5 15.5 15.5 15.5 200 3,100 1.06 1.08 1.05 1.12 1.05 1.08 200,000 210,500 LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA 6.29 6.3 6.05 6.39 6.01 6.29 4,399,700 26,959,281 2.8 2.82 3.33 3.45 2.8 2.8 5,197,000 15,789,060 METROALLIANCE A METROALLIANCE B 3.01 3.19 3.39 3.39 3.01 3.01 21,000 65,900 PAL HLDG 6.59 6.68 6.85 6.85 6.56 6.59 32,600 216,186 HARBOR STAR 1.6 1.62 1.9 1.92 1.6 1.6 12,175,000 21,220,180 ACESITE HOTEL 1.54 1.64 1.54 1.7 1.54 1.64 173,000 281,320 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.05 0.051 0.054 0.054 0.05 0.051 186,550,000 9,688,670 2.85 3 3 3 3 3 146,000 438,000 DISCOVERY WORLD GRAND PLAZA 10.6 10.7 10.98 10.98 10.6 10.6 2,100 22,298 WATERFRONT 0.64 0.65 0.65 0.83 0.63 0.65 190,453,000 135,760,390 6.52 7.81 6.53 6.53 6.53 6.53 2,000 13,060 CENTRO ESCOLAR FAR EASTERN U 560.5 600 600 600 600 600 20 12,000 STI HLDG 0.45 0.46 0.485 0.485 0.45 0.45 12,600,000 5,794,450 BERJAYA 5.3 5.49 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.3 27,700 146,810 BLOOMBERRY 8.03 8.08 8.15 8.15 7.92 8.08 2,904,500 23,186,457 2.24 2.25 2.1 2.28 2.1 2.25 716,000 1,581,670 PACIFIC ONLINE 1.98 2 1.91 2.05 1.91 1.98 1,334,000 2,627,980 LEISURE AND RES 2.17 2.2 2.18 2.2 2.18 2.2 26,000 57,000 MANILA JOCKEY PH RESORTS GRP 2.98 2.99 3.03 3.12 2.97 2.99 14,112,000 42,763,720 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.51 0.52 0.55 0.55 0.51 0.52 31,263,000 16,559,010 PHIL RACING 6.65 6.7 6.7 6.7 6.7 6.7 100 670 ALLHOME 8.8 8.85 8.8 9 8.79 8.85 1,231,600 10,891,727 1.44 1.45 1.46 1.46 1.42 1.44 1,503,000 2,158,420 METRO RETAIL 38.05 38.2 38 38.4 37.6 38.05 2,667,700 101,388,645 PUREGOLD 63.95 64.4 62.9 64.4 62.8 64.4 377,650 23,900,140.50 ROBINSONS RTL 120 121.9 116.2 120 116.2 120 31,830 3,816,656 PHIL SEVEN CORP SSI GROUP 1.44 1.45 1.44 1.45 1.4 1.45 4,632,000 6,593,960 WILCON DEPOT 17.04 17.06 17.06 17.1 17.02 17.06 4,461,700 76,085,998 APC GROUP 0.52 0.53 0.57 0.58 0.51 0.52 22,402,000 12,037,940 EASYCALL 7.25 7.26 7.64 7.64 7.26 7.26 156,300 1,166,644 434 450 434 450 434 450 60 26,840 GOLDEN BRIA IPM HLDG 5.7 6 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.7 600 3,420 2.81 2.82 3.21 3.27 2.8 2.81 134,677,000 408,405,490 PRMIERE HORIZON 5.28 5.29 5.39 5.39 5.27 5.28 16,500 87,220 SBS PHIL CORP

-9,081,640 9,357,070 -4,076,450 17,708,748 155,981,440 4,645,696 -34,020 2,439,480 -835,900 -179,990 3,364 -4,263,000 304,580 15,685,849 124,010,475 -312,955 -21,610 6,700 -377,930 269,500 -1,006,400 -1,765,850 -6,531,411 44,000 -272,800 -994,310 305,030 9,302,485 1,340 -19,854,875 -5,634,087 1,035,774 360,030 -15,293,034 -80,500 2,850 -6,245,840 -

MINING & OIL ATOK 7.51 7.71 7.94 8.1 7.5 7.51 1,346,400 10,493,192 57,959 APEX MINING 1.73 1.75 1.79 1.8 1.73 1.73 7,108,000 12,427,420 182,000 ABRA MINING 0.0084 0.0085 0.012 0.013 0.0081 0.0085 79,535,100,000 789,685,140 1,422,360 7.24 7.25 7.2 7.38 7.2 7.24 1,810,200 13,118,658 11,044 ATLAS MINING 3.19 3.29 3.29 3.29 3.2 3.29 164,000 527,910 BENGUET A BENGUET B 3.03 3.29 3.03 3.03 3.03 3.03 3,000 9,090 COAL ASIA HLDG 0.31 0.315 0.35 0.35 0.31 0.315 2,410,000 787,850 CENTURY PEAK 2.87 2.93 2.83 2.93 2.83 2.93 721,000 2,042,430 58,600 DIZON MINES 8.62 9.1 9 9.5 8.65 9.1 275,300 2,484,091 180,000 FERRONICKEL 3 3.03 2.94 3.05 2.89 3.03 16,056,000 47,914,750 578,130 GEOGRACE 0.46 0.47 0.5 0.53 0.45 0.46 19,330,000 9,383,400 -10,800 LEPANTO A 0.179 0.18 0.235 0.255 0.176 0.179 344,770,000 70,536,300 0.188 0.2 0.235 0.25 0.186 0.188 22,960,000 4,948,210 298,120 LEPANTO B 0.012 0.013 0.018 0.02 0.012 0.012 4,621,500,000 67,888,600 MANILA MINING A MANILA MINING B 0.013 0.014 0.018 0.019 0.012 0.013 442,100,000 6,693,100 412,000 MARCVENTURES 1.68 1.72 1.73 1.85 1.68 1.68 4,317,000 7,570,210 -707,260 NIHAO 3.15 3.16 3.35 3.36 3.15 3.16 274,000 876,500 NICKEL ASIA 5.28 5.29 5.5 5.5 5.2 5.28 15,567,200 82,565,765 16,003,447 OMICO CORP 0.43 0.44 0.52 0.53 0.43 0.44 3,302,000 1,540,380 ORNTL PENINSULA 1.15 1.16 1.29 1.3 1.12 1.16 14,603,000 17,271,320 -556,830 4.96 4.97 4.98 4.98 4.92 4.96 621,000 3,072,210 -29,710 PX MINING 13.36 13.5 13.58 13.7 13.2 13.5 1,458,300 19,490,446 1,243,266 SEMIRARA MINING 0.009 0.0092 0.014 0.016 0.009 0.0092 1,187,500,000 13,405,780 102,200 UNITED PARAGON 17.56 17.8 17.1 17.9 17 17.56 364,600 6,332,262 306,190 ACE ENEXOR ORNTL PETROL A - 0.021 0.037 0.037 0.021 0.021 13,213,600,000 336,374,200 ORNTL PETROL B 0.021 0.022 0.035 0.035 0.021 0.021 996,200,000 25,585,600 293,900 PHILODRILL 0.023 0.024 0.039 0.039 0.022 0.024 14,542,500,000 451,580,900 -29,386,900.00 PXP ENERGY 11 11.18 11.5 11.54 11 11 1,139,700 12,866,328 -382,786

PREFFERED HOUSE PREF A 100.1 101.9 101.9 101.9 101.9 101.9 800 81,520 AC PREF B2R 512 513.5 511.5 511.5 511.5 511.5 180 92,070 BC PREF A 27 - 27 27 27 27 400 10,800 CPG PREF A 102 104.4 104.4 104.4 104.4 104.4 1,020 106,488 DD PREF 100 103 101 101.1 100 100 22,550 2,276,799 63,066 517 519 519 519 519 519 20 10,380 GLO PREF P GTCAP PREF A 735 1,038 1,039 1,039 1,039 1,039 5 5,195 GTCAP PREF B 1,021 1,030 1,021 1,021 1,021 1,021 500 510,500 MWIDE PREF 101.4 101.9 101.9 101.9 101.9 101.9 60 6,114 MWIDE PREF 2A 100.1 100.8 100.8 100.8 100.6 100.8 5,570 561,394 PNX PREF 3B 104.5 104.9 104.5 104.9 104.5 104.9 90 9,429 PNX PREF 4 1,009 1,010 1,010 1,010 1,009 1,010 620 626,150 PCOR PREF 2B 1,017 1,020 1,017 1,020 1,017 1,020 565 576,180 1,090 1,091 1,091 1,091 1,091 1,091 2,000 2,182,000 PCOR PREF 3A PCOR PREF 3B 1,102 1,110 1,100 1,110 1,100 1,110 3,050 3,355,150 SFI PREF 1.61 1.7 1.6 1.65 1.6 1.65 51,000 82,100 SMC PREF 2C 78.7 78.9 78.5 78.9 78.5 78.9 4,990 392,071 SMC PREF 2F 78.05 78.35 78 78 78 78 15,000 1,170,000 SMC PREF 2G 75.8 76 76.75 76.75 76 76 1,470 111,830 SMC PREF 2H 76.4 76.8 77 77 76.5 76.8 1,030,400 79,110,300 SMC PREF 2I 76.95 78.05 76.9 76.9 76.9 76.9 200 15,380 76.45 76.5 76.45 76.45 76.45 76.45 3,400 259,930 SMC PREF 2J SMC PREF 2K 76 76.25 76 76.25 76 76 8,970 682,875.50

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 13.8 13.88 13.04 13.8 13.04 13.8 4,200 56,882 27,600 GMA HLDG PDR 5.95 6.03 6.05 6.05 6.05 6.05 1,400 8,470 -

WARRANTS LR WARRANT 1.02 1.03 0.96 1.04 0.95 1.03 580,000 568,700

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ALTUS PROP 28.6 28.7 23 30 22 28.6 7,080,900 186,745,000 -3,666,095 ITALPINAS 3.6 3.61 3.8 3.8 3.54 3.6 5,016,000 18,326,060 -447,580 KEPWEALTH 6.62 6.64 6.34 6.89 6.15 6.64 401,200 2,644,865 46,438 MERRYMART 7.23 7.24 7.3 7.51 7.15 7.24 18,796,000 137,201,309 -4,195,743

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

FIRST METRO ETF 108 109 109 109 108 108 17,890 1,938,320 140,733

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PSALM cuts debts by ₧40B, improves collection efficiency

T

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

he Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.

(PSALM) said on Tuesday it was able to reduce its obligations last year, while cutting interest rates and improving collections.

In a statement, the state-controlled corporation said it has reported to the Department of Finance (DOF) that its principal obligations at end-December stood at P381.91 billion, a P40.10-billion reduction from the P422.01-billion obligation the year prior.

“PSALM adjusted its currency mix by borrowing in peso while paying foreign currency obligations,

thereby, lowering the ratio of foreign currency obligations and mitigating foreign exchange risks,” the statement read.

It also paid all interests and borrowing costs that matured in 2020 totaling P11.56 billion.

Likewise, it was able to cut the average interest rate of its borrowings from 5.07 percent per annum in 2019 to 4.17 percent in 2020.

The agency also reported that it has successfully collected deferred privatization proceeds amounting to P38.656 billion. These are composed of payments from Independent Power Producer Administrators and from the concession payments from the transmission business.

“PSALM was able to achieve a collection efficiency rate of 93.94 percent for power sales equivalent to P12.895 billion from its power customers,” the statement read.

It was able to collect P2.61 billion from overdue and delinquent accounts of power customers, which were absorbed from the National Power Corp.

PSALM also collected P16.69 billion in Universal Charge, achieving a 98-percent collection efficiency, and has likewise hit 100 percent in disbursement efficiency from UC-Missionary Electrification Charge and the Renewable Energy Developers, disbursing a total of P3.55 billion.

The state-owned corporation also disposed 10 real estate assets for P51.65 million, and raised another P26.45 million from retiring equipment and selling its scrap materials.

“To generate additional income, PSALM entered into short term lease agreements with government offices over certain assets that are not yet scheduled for privatization, raising additional revenues of P29.50 million,” the statement read.

Last year, PSALM also saved P861.49 million from its real property tax liability by reducing the said levy from P1.06 billion to P198.81 million.

Currently, PSALM is finalizing a study with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the privatization of the Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan (CBK) Hydroelectric Power Plants (HEPPs) and the Casecnan HEPP. The results of the study are expected to be released within the month.

ERC taps consultant for RFSC audit T

he Energ y Reg u l ator y Commission (ERC) said on Wednesday it is auditing the Electric Cooperatives’ (ECs) collection and utilization of the Reinvestment Fund for Sustainable Capital Expenditures (RFSC).

Agnes Devanadera, the commission’s chairperson and CEO, said the audit will confirm if ECs are following the Rules for Setting Electric Cooperatives’ Wheeling Rates (RSEC-WR).

“We have engaged the services of a consultant which has the technical expertise and capability to audit the utilization of the Reinvestment Fund for Sustainable Capital Expenditures or the RFSC. In fact, the bidding process has been completed and the contract has been awarded to the winning bidder,” she said.

Reyes Tacondong & Co. was tapped for the audit.

To recall, ECs were authorized to collect members’ contribution for

Capital Expenditures (MCC), otherwise known as the RFSC, from its member-consumers in compliance with a 2009 ERC resolution.

The RFSC is envisioned to fund the amortization or debt service of the ECs’ indebtedness associated with the expansion, rehabilitation or upgrading of the existing electric power system of the ECs in accordance with their ERC-approved capital expenditures plan.

Devanadera said the audit will complement the agency’s evaluation efforts on the said electric bill component.

“We are duty-bound to promote and protect the consumers’ interest and the impending audit of the ECs’ Reinvestment Fund for Sustainable Capital Expenditures or RFSC will establish whether the ECs’ collection and disbursements thereof indeed benefitted the consumers,” she said. Lorenz S. Marasigan

AirAsia flyers urged to observe health, safety protocols

A

irAsia on Wednesday reminded its guests to strictly observe established health and safety protocols within the airport premises and during the entire duration of the flight as mandated by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

In a joint Memorandum Circular 2021-01 issued on January 8, all scheduled air operators are reminded to stringently observe the advisories, orders, rules and regulations by aviation related agencies, such as the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Civil Aeronautics Board, Manila International Airport Authority, and Clark International Airport Corp. in relation to Covid19-related protocols and guidelines.

The aviation agencies have also reiterated that those found violating existing rules can be fined from P300,000 to P500,000 for each violation.

AirAsia will strictly adhere to the allowable number of passengers per flight, as prescribed by respective local government units.

AirAsia said it has a “robust multi-layered approach” to safety

from check-in to inflight. Numerous digital and contactless solutions have also been put in place to ensure a safe, affordable and comfortable guest experience.

Pre-flight advisories and travel guidelines are communicated directly to guests travelling in the near future, through email, SMS, various social media platforms, and airasia. com to provide a timely reminder as guests prepare for their flight, as well as to ensure their 100-percent compliance.

AirAsia said its staff, cabin crew and members of the flight deck observe the highest level of safety at all times to facilitate the safe journey of its guests. AirAsia Philippines CEO Ricky Isla said, “AirAsia has always been compliant and committed to all existing guidelines set by the authorities. This allows us to assure our guests to travel safely and confidently during this period.”

“Our perfect 7-star rating for Covid-19 compliance as presented recently by AirlineRatings.com is testament to our commitment to always go above and beyond to ensure the protection of our employees and our guests.” Recto L. Mercene

mutual funds

January 20, 2021

NAV One Year Three Year Five Year Y-T-D per share Return* Return Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a 228.68 -8.4% -8.61% 0.03% 0.64% ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 1.2997 -2.14% -7.28% 5.01% -1.01% ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.1526 -10.35% -12.49% -0.96% 0.63% Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.8012 -8.93% -7.5% n.a.

-0.34% First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7319 -13.18% n.a. n.a.

-1.31% First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a 4.9804 -5.46% -6.7% 0.73% 0.79% First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,4 0.7599 -9.76% -9.25% -4.9% 0.01% MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a 101.55 -0.02% -4.48% n.a.

-0.38% PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a 47.1932 -6.8% -6.63% 1.89% 0.74% Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 492.08 -6.46% -6.68% 0.95% 0.63% Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d,5 1.1005 8.99% n.a. n.a.

0.29% Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a 1.1802 -7.44% -6.14% 1.63% 1.03% Philequity Fund, Inc. -a 35.0288 -6.44% -5.91% 2.41% 0.74% Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.9204 -8.51% n.a. n.a.

0.81% Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a 4.8282 -6.41% -6.15% 2.68% 0.77% 807.89 -6.18% -6.03% 2.66% 0.78% Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 0.7221 -11.54% -10.06% -1.85% 0.45% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.656 -11.37% -8.1% 0.95% 0.89% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.9249 -6.42% -6.33% 2.45% 0.78% United Fund, Inc. -a 3.3314 -7.76% -5.47% 3.07% 0.37% Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 108.4129 -6.15% -5.8% 3.41% 0.8% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

$1.2927 22.43% 3.34% 10.42% 7.47% Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.6962 20.22% 8.8% n.a.

1.4% Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a 1.6814 8.95% -3.94% 0.4% 0.77% ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 2.3012 7.57% -2.64% 2.69% 0.69% First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.6396 1.32% -1.93% 1.14% 0.48% First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,1 0.1995 -13.07% n.a. n.a.

0.45% NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a 1.9756 1.18% -0.75% 2.84% 0.59% PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a 3.8099 1.7% -1.58% 2.29% 0.58% Philam Fund, Inc. -a 17.0322 1.53% -1.6% 2.19% 0.56% 1.84% Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a 2.1059 -0.69% -2.57% 0.56% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.5952 -5.54% -4.11% 1.06% 0.62% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 1.0273 2.75% n.a. n.a.

0.46% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.9552 -2.89% n.a. n.a.

0.63% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.9389 -4.25% n.a. n.a.

0.62% Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.8968 -6.29% -4.7% 0.43% 1.03% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03897 1.62% 2.64% 1.94% -0.38% PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b $1.2006 14.21% 3.38% 7.91% 4.38% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.561 14.75% 6.65% 9.31% 1.07% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,3 $1.2041 7.62% 3.53% n.a.

0.17% Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 371.39 3.71% 3.26% 2.86% 0.09% ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.9025 -0.08% 0.08% 0.17% 0.12% Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 3.2165 3.09% 4.42% 4.79% 0.06% Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a 2.3002 3.68% 2.93% 2.51% 0.18% First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4518 4.49% 3.37% 2.19% -0.06% 3.28% Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a 4.6492 7.17% 4.71% 0.32% Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a,6 1.3224 5.88% 4.49% 2.74% 0.09% Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.9868 5.83% 4.52% 2.99% -0.36% Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.041 8.74% 4.12% 2.73% -0.1% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.2064 5.29% 4.81% 3.76% 0.01% Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a 1.752 4.34% 4.05% 3.16% -0.17% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $484.16 3.17% 2.76% 2.89% 0.06% ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є219.34 -0.18% 0.84% 1.28% 0.07% ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.2705 4.98% 3.91% 2.99% -0.77% First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0264 1.93% 1.83% 1.67% -0.75% PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b $1.0895 -0.92% 0.68% 0.6% -0.29% Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.5245 4.65% 3.89% 3.51% -0.44% Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0623052 3.08% 2.97% 2.33% -0.02% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.212 0.46% 2.17% 2.37% -0.36% Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 129.92 3.1% 3.34% 2.57% 0.08% First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0485 1.84% n.a. n.a.

0.04% Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.2977 2.46% 2.96% 2.61% 0.08% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.053 1.44% 1.77% n.a.

0.06% Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d,7 1.1498 n.a. n.a. n.a.

1.79% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -b,d,2 $0.99 -1% n.a. n.a.

1.02%

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

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

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

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

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

Envoys&Expats BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Thursday, January 21, 2021

B3

DEFENSE DIALOG Ambassador Marat Pavlov (center) and Russian Defense Attaché

ASIAN, EUROPEAN DIPLOMATS Ambassador of Myanmar U Lwin Oo (right) met

Duterte, Wang Yi discourse on infrastructure, vaccines

PHL joins virtual forum on migration, development

ENVOY, VP MEET Ambassador Steven J. Robinson AO and Vice President Ma. Leonor G.

Robredo recently discussed ways to further strengthen the strong ties between Australia and the Philippines. TWITTER: @AUSAMBPH

Col. Dmitry Nikitin (left) paid a courtesy call on Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana on January 14 to promote interaction between Russia and the Philippines in the sphere of military and military-technical cooperation, as well as bolster bilateral bonds between both countries. FACEBOOK: RUSSIAN EMBASSY IN THE PHILIPPINES

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RESIDENT Duterte expressed his confidence that the “strengthened” cooperation between the Philippines and China would hasten the two nations’ economic recovery, as he welcomed Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi at the Malacañang over the weekend.

In a press statement, the Palace said the Chief Executive emphasized the need to further boost the two countries’ cooperation on the massive “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure undertaking, as well as access to “safe and effective” vaccines against the pandemic to safeguard the health of Filipino and Chinese nationals alike.

Duterte, as quoted by the Palace, stated that “the recovery of nations…sits on the back of stronger economies.” For his part, Wang declared that “China will continue to support the Philippines’s recovery through enhanced economic [links].” “[The President] lauded the continued high-level engagement between the Philippines and China even amid the ongoing global pandemic, and stressed the importance of both sides delivering on the promises of [their] Comprehensive

Strategic Cooperation,” the Palace disclosed.

The Chinese official also noted it is his government’s resolve to support the Philippines’s efforts to combat the ongoing contagion as a manifestation of the continued cooperation between Manila and Beijing.

“Responding positively to President Duterte’s call to prioritize infrastructure and reaffirmation of the importance of China’s support for...

Build, Build, Build, the state councilor and foreign minister reiterated China’s determination to complete pending infrastructure projects,” Malacañang said.

The Palace shared that Wang also underscored China’s commitment under President Xi Jinping to work closely with the Philippines “to sustain the positive trajectory of the valued and special bilateral relations.”

TEAM Philippines TWITTER: @pcooglobalmedia

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THE Chief Executive (right), with People’s Republic of China State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi DFA

A highlight of the meeting was the Asian superpower’s donation of half a million doses of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines from Chinese developer Sinovac Biotech Ltd., which is scheduled to arrive in the Philippines on February 20.

“He [Wang] likewise affirmed China’s resolve to do everything to ensure that vaccines become a global good,” according to Malacañang.

It said Duterte extended his appreciation for China’s continuing support and cooperation in the country’s fight against Covid-19 by way of providing medical equipment and supplies, sharing of experiences and expertise, as well as the repatriation of Filipino nationals.

Wang’s courtesy call lasted for 40 minutes, said Malacañang. The Chinese delegation included Chi-

nese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, Ministry of Commerce Vice Minister Qian Keming, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Assistant Minister Wu Jianghao, and China International Development Cooperation Agency’s Vice Chairman Deng Boqing.

Joining Duterte during the meeting were Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana, Senator Christopher Lawrence T. Go, Taguig-Pateros Representative Alan Peter S. Cayetano, Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs and Chief of Presidential Protocol Undersecretary Robert E.A. Borje, Finance Undersecretary Mark Dennis Y.C. Joven and Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Nathaniel G. Imperial. Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos/PNA

UK, stakeholders assess wins, challenges in 4th BangsaForum

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S its interim government reaches midterm, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s (BARMM) key personalities tackled issues concerning the region in the fourth edition of the BangsaForum series, “Bangsamoro and Beyond.”

The Asia Foundation and British Embassy in Manila, in partnership with BARMM and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, organized the recently concluded forum.

Ambassador of the United Kingdom Daniel Pruce said, “The strength of this political process rests on high level political participation and the inclusive systems…being established.

I hope, through our work with...BARMM authorities, we are able to make our contribution to [achieve] that.”

For his part, BARMM’s Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal commented: “One of the most important aspects of the implementation phase is the normalization track. We have to normalize the situation in Mindanao, and we have to transform the lives of each [militant from one of combat into a productive, civilian kind]. More important, we need to have peace, justice, and development in Mindanao.”

Pruce FILE PHOTO

Iqbal PNA

The minister was referring to a major aspects of the normalization track of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB): the decommissioning of the 40,000 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Iqbal, also the MILF Implementing Panel chairman, noted: “We have hurdled the most difficult and the most arduous part of the search for peace and justice in Mindanao, and we are now [at the implementation] stage,” then added that the interim Bangsamoro administration is also requesting to extend the transition up to 2025 to ensure the peace process’ success.

The televised policy forum was convened to strengthen community engagement in the Bangsamoro through public awareness campaigns about the new parliamentary system and voting rights. Participants included members of underrepresented groups such as women, youth,

with Ambassador Dr. Titanilla Toth of Hungary at the latter country’s embassy in Manila on January 11. Both touched on efforts to obtain vaccines versus the pandemic, as well as varied issues. FACEBOOK: MYANMAR EMBASSY MANILA

and non-Moro indigenous peoples who have reserved seats in the Bangsamoro parliament composed of 80 delegates.

Social Services Minister Raissa Jajurie explained that the reserved seats will allow “vulnerable sectors” such as the non-Moro indigenous peoples, settler communities, youth, women, traditional leaders and the ulama to be part of the parliament.

“The political parties should also have their women’s agenda, and…ensure that women and the youth are actively participating in the nomination process,” Jajurie added.

On guaranteeing the rights of women, Atty. Laisa Alamia—a member and the minority floor leader of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) —said there are several provisions in Republic Act 11054, or the Bangsamoro Organic Law, that promote and protect the rights of women, as she affirmed: “There are many avenues [where] women are able to participate.”

In an interview, Maguindanaoan youth leader Suwaidi Ebrahim expressed the importance of the underrepresented sectors’ voice, since they are the most knowledgeable about their needs:

“The voice of the youth is important, because we compose a big chunk of the population. It is only right to give us a platform to relay our needs to the parliament.”

For Reymon Tenorio of the United Indigenous Peoples Youth Organization, they are comforted with the thought that they are putting into action the advocacy of inclusivity of BARMM: “We feel... we belong because we now have a greater chance to raise our issues and concerns.”

Atty. Nabil Tan, another BTA member, said that extending the transition period is not for the term of the members of the interim parliament: “Everyone [was] appointed by the President, so we can all be replaced.” He also reported that the parliament has passed the Administrative Code and is now deliberating the Bangsamoro Civil Service Code, as well as the Local Government Code.

It was also revealed there are also the Electoral and the Revenue Codes still in the Cabinet level; however, they have to be deliberated upon by the interim Parliament—hence the need for extending its legislative sessions.

“Bangsamoro & Beyond” will have a replay on ANC on February 6 at 7 p.m.

HE Philippines officially participated in the ongoing 13th Summit of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) hosted by the United Arab Emirates, with “The Future of Human Mobility: Innovative Partnerships for Sustainable Development” as the overarching title.

“Team Philippines’s” representation in the summit, which will last until January 26, seeks to sustain the country’s major contributions in the international debate on migration and development.

The Department of Foreign Affairs, through Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola, will chair the round-table discussions.

These include leveraging on new technologies to empower migrants. Likewise, the Office of the President, through Chief of Presidential Protocol and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs Robert E.A. Borje, will lead round-table talks on skilling migrants for employment.

The country will also send participants from the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Health, National Economic and Development Authority, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Commission on Filipinos Overseas, as well as the Philippine Permanent Mission to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, to attend other thematic

roundtable meetings and side events.

Under GFMD Summit’s title, six round-table themes have been developed intended to direct the future-focused and partnership-oriented conversation on global migration and development: (1) instilling governance of labor migration in the context of changing employment landscapes; (2) skilling migrants for employment; (3) leveraging on new technologies to empower migrants; (4) addressing gaps in migrant protection; (5) discussing approaches to address irregular migration; and (6) fostering partnerships to realize migration-related goals in the sustainable development agenda.

Through the summit, the local contingent will seek to sustain the country’s major contributions in the international movement on migration and development—including the country’s role in the negotiation and adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration as a primary UN process to protect all Filipino migrant workers against all forms of exploitation and abuse, while guaranteeing decent work for them.

The delegation will also highlight the entire Philippine government’s mission to provide safe and comfortable lives for all Filipinos anywhere in the world by ensuring the welfare and protecting the rights of all overseas Filipinos wherever they may be.

Korean Cultural Center breaks ground in 2021

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HE Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in the Philippines, which opened doors in 2011, will celebrate its 10th anniversary of strengthening people-topeople exchanges by way of culture between Korea and the Philippines.

The center has been at the forefront of promoting Korea and its art, music, and literature through various events and activities for the Filipino K-culture fans, as they can expect more unique, diverse and experiential undertakings this year.

Yet another highlight for KCC in 2021 is the opening of its new home. The groundbreaking ceremony for the interior construction of the new KCC building was spearheaded by KCC’s Director Im Young-a and General Manager Lee Dukyung on December 9, 2020. The former Colby Center along Bayani Road in Taguig City, with a total area of 254 sq. m, is set to welcome KCC’s partners, supporters and all Filipinos come August 2021.

Through this expansion and relocation, a permanent exhibition space, as well as multipurpose audiovisual rooms and classrooms where events and activities can be conducted, will be available.

KOREAN Cultural Center’s Director Im Young-a (from left), General Manager Lee Du-kyung, and building contractors. KCC On top of that, K-culture enthusiasts can also expect the partial resumption of the much-awaited Korean language and regular classes on Korean food, K-pop dance and taekwondo with the reopening of the building. These classrooms will be expanded to reflect the growing demands of learning. Aside from housing the center, KCC believes the building itself is projected to become a shining symbol of Korean culture in the Philippines.

Stay updated on KCC’s events and activities by following its Facebook page: KoreanCulturalCenterPH as well as on its Instagram, Twitter and YouTube accounts: KCCPhil.

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

B4 Thursday, January 21, 2021

Bank’s confidence in handling cyber-threats declines in 2020

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By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

OCAL banks’ confidence in handling cyber financial threats slightly declined in 2020 as digital payments surged in the midst of lockdowns and movement restrictions to curb the pandemic.

A recent Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) survey showed that only 58.3 percent of banks are “prepared” to handle and manage cyber security threats (cyber-threats). This is lower from 59.7 percent of banks that indicated preparedness to handle

and manage cyber-threats in endDecember 2019.

The top 6 cyber-threats that concern banks include cyber-attacks— or attacks that aim to disrupt the banks system, steal money and steal their IP Address, direct hack-

ing, malware, fraud, phishing and insider attacks.

Overall, 75 percent of surveyed banks said financial losses are the most worrisome impact of cybercrime events. This is followed by breaches on customer data and reputational risk.

The BSP earlier reported that based on the Reports on Crimes and Losses filed by banks during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) covering the period 15 March to 18 May 2020, 98.4 percent of all criminal incidents reported were classified as cyber or online in nature.

This resulted in losses of P60.6 million or 54.5 percent of all total bank losses during the two-month period.

Broken down, 80.5 percent of all cyber incidents reported were credit

card and Internet banking-related, accounting for 79 percent of total losses.

The BSP said the majority of these threats were in the form of phishing emails and malicious websites, some even disguised as Covid-19 campaigns.

Data showed that threats on malicious websites peaked at the onset of the ECQ period in March, mimicking global trends, while phishing emails peaked in April.

“The disruption caused by the lockdown offered cybercriminals a unique opportunity to exploit the vulnerabilities in systems, networks, and applications used in remote working arrangements,” the central bank said in a report on the status of the Philippines banking system.

UnionBank says no breach despite credit-card hack

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NION Bank of the Philippines assured the public its cybersecurity systems remain uncompromised even after the P1-million credit card hacking incident that victimized Sen. Sherwin T. Gatchalian.

“No, none at all,” UnionBank Chief Technology and Operations Officer Henry R. Aguda, said in a virtual event on Wednesday, when asked if there was a data security breach following the incident.

“It wasn’t a cybersecurity hack,” he clarified.

Early this year, Gatchalian shared that P1 million worth of orders via food delivery app FoodPanda were booked without his consent, with hackers using his credit card to pay for the transactions.

The senator said he only noticed that his credit card was used illegally around 6 p.m. of January 5. Looking at the history, there were four food

order transactions completed by the hackers in about an hour.

When the bank was notified of the incident, Aguda said UnionBank acted accordingly to address the issues.

“Beyond that, we continuously improve our systems as well as study the things out there that might cause inconvenience with our customers,” he said.

Regarding the identity of the hackers, the UnionBank official said the bank “will defer to the authorities in terms of the details of the investigation and the ongoing pursuit of the criminal.”

For its part, UnionBank said it has been executing awareness campaigns about phishing scams that the consumers may potentially encounter. A phishing email usually contains the bank’s logo to seemingly appear as an official message, he said.

These fraudsters, Aguda pointed out, have become more “sophis-

ticated,” studying and timing their attacks. He added the scammers are preying on the public’s emotions and vulnerability, tricking them into sharing their banking details.

As a warning, Aguda said that scammers are likely to launch new phishing schemes next month amid the celebration of Valentine’s day.

This, after their cyber-attacks last December during Christmas.

“Think before you click,” Aguda said, noting that the clients should carefully check first the content of the email sent to them. He also advised the consumers to use different email addresses for banking and personal use.

Despite the surge in online scams, the UnionBank official said the country is ready to shift to digital transactions.

Aguda said the regulators provide proper guidance on how to protect

the consumers. A regulatory framework is also compelling all banks to report such incidents to the authorities, he added.

“The heart-breaking thing here is there are a couple of very bad actors that will put our digital transformation at risk,” he said. “We cannot be held hostage by a couple of criminals.”

“As a warning to scammers or would-be scammers, while we cannot disclose the details, the bank is doing everything it can, working with the authorities to go after those who would victimize our banking customers in general,” Aguda added.

In addition, the Aboitiz-led bank said it will be rolling out more security features soon.

Shares in UnionBank slipped by 0.98 percent, or 70 centavos, to close at P70.40 each amid the 0.77-percent drop for the main index on Wednesday. Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

www.businessmirror.com.ph

DOF working on grant for BIR digitization tack

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

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RESIDENT Duterte has authorized the Department of Finance (DOF) to enter into talks with the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) in a bid to secure a grant of $809,450 to support the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) digital transformation program.

In a statement on Wednesday, the DOF said the President has approved its request for a Special Authority to designate and authorize any one of its senior officials “to negotiate and/ or facilitate, in accordance with law, for and on behalf of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, with the authorized representatives of the USTDA.” The Special Authority covers the negotiations for an agreement on the grant of $809,450.00 (approximately P38,850,873.20) by the USTDA for the BIR’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Modernization Strategy and Data Center Technical Assistance Project, the DOF said.

“The project funded by the USTDA grant will ensure an in-depth technical assessment of the BIR’s current ICT environment, the development of an Enterprise Architecture roadmap/framework and an assessment of the organizational framework of the BIR’s Information System Group including recommended restructuring and training programs,” the DOF said.

The senior officials recommended

by DOF to the President were Undersecretaries Antonette C. Tionko and Mark Dennis Y.C. Joven along with BIR Deputy Commissioner Lanee C. David.

Tionko and Joven are the respective undersecretaries for the DOF’s Revenue Operations Group and International Finance Group while David is the deputy commissioner for the BIR’s Information Systems Group.

Duterte also designated and

authorized Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III or BIR Commissioner Caesar R. Dulay “to conclude, sign, execute and deliver the said Grant Agreement.”

Dominguez earlier said BIR’s digital transformation efforts paved the way for the significant improvement of the country’s tax effort from 13 percent of gross domestic product in 2015 to 14.5 percent of GDP in 2019.

A total of P1.241 trillion or 86 percent of the total P1.45 trillion collected by BIR from January to September last year was made through electronic payment channels, based on preliminary data earlier cited by DOF. Electronic payment channels tapped by BIR were PayMaya, GCash, LandBank Linkbiz, Development Bank of the Philippines PayTax, UnionBank Online and PESONet. The number of tax returns filed electronically from January to September last year reached 16.45 million or 94 percent of the total 17.42 million tax returns filed for the period.

To make the filing of tax returns more accessible and convenient, the BIR also improved the tax forms in its e-BIR Forms System.

In April last year, it also began the pilot implementation of its webbased Internal Revenue Integrated System to serve as the central tool and repository to process taxpayers’ information. The IRIS is targeted to be available nationwide by end-2021.

Apart from this, the BIR has also launched its e-Appointment Facility, electronic Audited Financial System, web-based Procurement, Payment, Inventory and Monitoring System and its Online Application for Tax Clearance for Bidding Purposes (eTCBP).

The BIR also concluded in June its competition dubbed the ‘HACKA-TAX Challenge,’ which brought together talented information technology professionals, start-ups and students across the country to develop innovative digital-based solutions for the bureau.

SCB supports growth BPI attracts more clients with interest earnings through capital market

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @Tyronepiad

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TANDARD Chartered Bank (SCB) has affirmed its commitment to help drive economic growth amid the pandemic by supporting liquidity and shoring up investor sentiment.

The SCB said it raised last year a total of $36 billion in financing for its clients across Southeast Asia. The bank has improved its market position as the leading foreign bank in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations local currency bonds and ranked third in Asean G3 league table for the third consecutive year with a 43.1-percent increase in its share of deal-apportioned volumes.

In the Philippines, the SCB continues to be the market leader for peso-denominated bonds with record volumes leading 10 deals valued at P140 billion. The bank is also one of the leading bookrunners in the G3 space for Philippine issuers as it participated in 16 out of the 25 transactions in 2020.

“Amidst market volatility brought about by the pandemic, SCB’s Capital Markets franchise has deepened further, having supported new and existing clients achieve their funding goals in the bond markets,” Aaron Gwak, SCB Head of Capital Markets, Asean, said. “We will continue to help our clients tap the bond markets and contribute to the deepening of their investor base.”

SCB also promotes sustainable finance to support economic growth, expanding renewables financing and investing in sustainable infrastructure where it is needed most.

The bank has been involved in several environmental, social and governance (ESG)-themed bonds in the region such as Indonesia’s sovereign

bonds, where the proceeds were used for Covid-19 relief efforts and the maiden issuances of sustainability and green bonds in Thailand and Philippines.

A strong partner to government banks in the Philippines, the bank was Sole Arranger for Landbank’s return to the Capital Markets, as well as Sole Issue Manager and Joint Lead Arranger to DBP’s second drawdown from its PHP Bond Programme. SCB also supported the Republic of the Philippines (ROP) in all three landmark international capital markets issuances and assisted them to achieve the tightest spread and largest issuance by the ROP to date.

These efforts highlight its commitment, the bank said, to support key clients such as governments, private institutions, and banks to monitor the capital markets and seize opportunities to help raise strategic capital through these challenging times. These proceeds will support the key engines that drive the nation and lead it to sustainable recovery.

The bank attributes its leadership in the debt capital markets space to its comprehensive product suite, robust coverage model and underwriting and distribution capacity across all debt products.

“Access to the capital markets is an important enabler of economic growth. SCB has been fortunate to have managed and arranged 24 bond deals in 2020, thanks to the trust of our esteemed clients and our local and global franchise that has delivered the best outcomes for our clients,” SCB Philippines CEO Lynette V. Ortiz said.

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ORE clients are taking interest in the Bank of the Philippine Islands’ (BPI) savings portfolio that offers higher interest earning, an official said.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Ayala-led bank reported that its Maxi-Saver Savings portfolio registered double-digit growth.

BPI said their clients are placing their money in the savings account with higher-than-average interest while waiting for the opportunity to invest their funds.

“One of the factors that keeps the ordinary Pinoy from investing is not having enough cash on hand to

cover the initial investment amount,” BPI Head of Deposits Carmina Marquez said.

“This is something that you have to plan and prepare for, so that when a good investment opportunity comes along, you have enough savings to turn that opportunity into a tangible asset,” she added.

The Maxi-Saver account, Marquez said, is a pseudo-time deposit that allows the clients to have guaranteed interest gains, which are better than what a regular deposit account would potentially earn.

It also has no minimum holding period nor pretermination fees. This means the depositors can access their funds when they need them already.

To open a Maxi-Saver account, BPI

said a minimum deposit of P50,000 is required.

Earlier this month, BPI Investment Management Inc. (BIMI) announced its partnership with asset manager BlackRock Inc. in launching a feeder and income-paying mutual fund.

The feeder fund will invest at least 90 percent of its assets to BlackRock Global Fund Multi-Asset Income Fund, allowing local investors to access offshore securities, including equities, bonds and alternative investments.

BIMI said that the unit holders can expect regular and consistent dividend income per month.

“This is a product with many firsts for BIMI and should broaden

our product offerings to suit the changing needs of investors,” BIMI President Martin Enrile said in an earlier statement.

BPI saw its profits in the first nine months of 2020 drop to P17.17 billion from P22.03 billion in the same period the previous year despite revenues climbing by 9.7 percent to P77.88 billion.

Common equity tier 1 ratio and capital adequacy ratio stood at 15.46 percent and 16.35 percent, respectively, which are both above minimum regulatory requirements.

BPI shares slid by 1.54 percent, or P1.30, to close at P83.20 apiece amid the 0.77-percent decline for the benchmark index on Wednesday.

Security Bank to open 7 new physical branches

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ECURITY Bank Corp. is eyeing to open at least seven new branch locations across the country this year after completing its 2020 expansion plan amid the lockdown restrictions that government imposed to stem the coronavirus pandemic.

The listed bank said in a statement last Monday that it opened, relocated and revamped a total of 10 bank branches last year in response to the market demand.

“Despite the transition to digital banking, we still recognize the importance of branches in making our services accessible to different areas,” Branch Banking Group Executive Vice President Leslie Y. Cham was quoted in the statement as saying.

“Through our continued push to increase our branch banking presence, we are optimistic that we will be able to serve more Filipinos,”

This photo shows the interior of a Security Bank branch. The bank plans to open seven new branches this year.

Cham added.

The bank inaugurated four new branches in Makati City, Quezon City (two) and a mall on Manila Bay. Security Bank said it renovated or relocated six branches “to increase accessibility for clients.”

The bank said it also renovated some of its branches to streamline and modernize the design and facilities. These now have specific area for

automated teller machines (ATM), space for self-service transactions and even redesigned bank teller area for other transactions.

Security Bank’s Branch Lites— branches with compact setup—were also built with a Skype nook. This is where clients can have Skype calls to the bank’s investment experts should they need their advice, the bank said in its statement.

“ The modernization of our branches, by equipping them with iPads and other devices, is our move to encourage customers to take advantage of Security Bank’s online and digital platforms,” Cham said.

“We want each client to experience efficiency, comfort and heightened safety while they’re banking with us.”

As of January 7, the bank has 313 branches and 787 ATMs across the country. in January to September last year, Security Bank’s net income dropped by 13 percent to P6.7 billion from P7.7 billion year-on-year because of surge in provisions for potential credit losses.

Its common equity tier 1 and capital adequacy ratio stood at 19.1 percent and 19.9 percent as of endSeptember 2020, respectively, which are both above the regulatory requirement. Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

Show BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Thursday, January 21, 2021

B5

Meghan seeks court ruling over ‘serious breach’ of privacy L

By Jill Lawless The Associated Press

ONDON—Lawyers for the Duchess of Sussex asked a British judge on Tuesday to settle her lawsuit against a newspaper before it goes to trial by ruling that its publication of a “deeply personal” letter to her estranged father was “a plain and a serious breach of her rights of privacy.”

Meghan’s latest attempt to protect her privacy laid bare more details of her fraught relationship with her estranged father, who claims he has been “vilified” as a dishonest publicity-seeker.

The former Meghan Markle, 39, is suing Associated Newspapers for invasion of privacy and copyright infringement over five February 2019 articles in the Mail on Sunday and on the MailOnline website that published portions of a handwritten letter to her father, Thomas Markle, after her marriage to Britain’s Prince Harry in 2018.

Associated Newspapers is contesting the claim, and a full trial is due to be held in the autumn at the High Court, in what would be one of London’s highestprofile civil court showdowns for years.

The duchess is seeking a summary judgment that would find in her favor and dismiss the newspaper’s defense case. Her lawyer, Justin Rushbrooke, argued that the publisher had “no real prospect” of winning the case.

“At its heart, it’s a very straightforward case about the unlawful publication of a private letter,” he said at the start of a two-day hearing, held remotely because of coronavirus restrictions.

Lawyers for the duchess say Thomas Markle, a retired television cinematographer, caused anguish for Meghan and Harry before their May 2018 wedding by giving media interviews and posing for weddingpreparation shots taken by a paparazzi agency. In the end, he didn’t attend the wedding ceremony after suffering a heart attack.

Rushbrooke said Meghan’s letter, sent in August 2018, was “a message of peace” whose aim was “to stop

him talking to the press.”

He said the duchess took steps to ensure the five-page, 1,250-word letter wouldn’t be intercepted, sending it by FedEx through her accountant to her father’s home in Mexico. The letter implored Thomas

Markle to stop speaking to the media, saying: “Your actions have broken my heart into a million pieces.”

The last sentences, read out in court, were: “I ask for nothing other than peace. And I wish the same for you.” Rushbrooke said the fact that the duchess

is a public figure “does not reduce her expectation of privacy in relation to information of this kind.”

He said “the sad intricacies of a family relationship...is not a matter of public interest.”

Lawyers for Associated Newspapers argue that Meghan wrote the letter knowing it would eventually be published. They say it came into the public domain when friends of the duchess described it in anonymous interviews with People magazine.

Thomas Markle says he allowed the Mail to publish portions of the letter to “set the record straight” after reading the People article.

In a written witness statement submitted by the defense, he said the article “had given an inaccurate picture of the contents of the letter and my reply and had vilified me by making out that I was dishonest, exploitative, publicity-seeking, uncaring and cold-hearted, leaving a loyal and dutiful daughter devastated.”

“I had to defend myself against that attack,” he said.

“The letter was not an attempt at a reconciliation.

It was a criticism of me,” Markle added. “The letter didn’t say she loved me. It did not even ask how I was.

It showed no concern about the fact I had suffered a heart attack and asked no questions about my health.

It actually signaled the end of our relationship, not a reconciliation.”

In October, judge Mark Warby agreed to Meghan’s request to postpone the trial, scheduled to begin this month, until October or November 2021. He said the reason for the delay should remain secret.

Meghan, an American actress and star of TV legal drama Suits, married Harry, one of the grandsons of Queen Elizabeth II, in a lavish ceremony at Windsor Castle in May 2018. Their son, Archie, was born the following year.

A year ago, Meghan and Harry announced they were quitting royal duties and moving to North America, citing what they said was the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media.

They recently bought a house in Santa Barbara, California. n

Britain’s Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex in January 2020. AP

Mhack Morales recalls days as macho dancer

By Leony Garcia

Writer Elena Patron passed away on January 14. She was 87.

Departed ‘komiks’ icon Elena Patron to the youth: ‘Be patient, don’t forget the Lord’

By Jt Nisay AN accomplished and decorated writer across different genres, Elena Patron-delos Angeles, commonly known as Elena Patron, once advised the young generation to practice patience and keep ties with the Almighty.

In a 2013 Q&A YouTube video uploaded by Jay-R Patron, the respected writer answered a flurry of questions, including her message to the youth.

“Be patient and don’t forget the Lord,” Patron said.

“Noon, dasal ako ng dasal every time magsu-submit ako ng short story, pupunta ’ko sa Nazareno, d’un ako magdadasal.”

Patron was a female comic book writer who stood tall in a genre dominated by men in the mid-20th century. Her first komik, titled Kapatid Ko ang Aking Ina, was adapted into a movie in 1969 that won her a FAMAS (Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences) for Best Story.

In the interview, Patron recounted having written some 300 comic book titles, including Blusang Itim; Lord, Give Me a Lover; Ako si Emma, Babae; and Dalawa ang Nagdalantao sa Akin. The works were likewise given the big-screen treatment and enjoyed blockbuster success.

Patron was also an entertainment and lifestyle writer, novelist, and columnist. Throughout her writing career, Patron was given major assignments that had her interviewing the likes of American actor Jeffrey Hunter of 1965’s Star Trek and “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” singer Paul Anka.

Patron passed away on January 14. She was 87.

“For us who knew her, she was just a very strong, simple and caring woman who put her loved ones before herself,” said Jenny Fatima Macatiag, a close family friend of the Patrons, through the Facebook post of entertainment journalist Mell Navarro.

Macatiag added: “She was an inspiration.”

“Yes, I did macho dancing to support my studies. And I even continued dancing for a month or two after graduation to show my gratitude to my employer.

Because without the job I wouldn’t have been able to graduate,” Mhack Morales confessed before members of entertainment press in a pocket interview hosted

by Godfather Productions producer Joed Serrano on a recent weekend.

Morales is among the new actors of soon-to-bereleased Anak ng Macho Dancer. In different earlier press conferences, the four other actors—Sean de Guzman, Ricky Gumera, Charles Nathan and Miko Pasamonte—were introduced.

To show his macho-dancing skills, Mhack gave a sample number, showing his well-toned body and good skin. But what is more interesting about Mhack is the fact that he is a licensed teacher having gained Bachelor of Physical Education and Sports degree from Universidad de Manila, and having passed the licensure exam for teachers. In fact, he was handling PE classes in a public school in Manila when he decided to give show business a try. Currently, he is an Sangguniang Kabataan officer in his locality.

Prior to becoming a teacher, Morales has also

experienced doing odd jobs during his younger years such as a peanut vendor and birthday mascot to earn and help augment the family’s income. But it was his bar days in Pasay City that was rewarding as he was also able to send a sibling to school. Before Anak ng Macho Dancer, Morales also had a taste of the entertainment world as a finalist in the Macho Man segment of Eat Bulaga in 2019.

“I have always wanted to be in showbiz. That’s why when I learned of the audition for this movie, and that it would be megged by ace director Joel Lamangan, the more I was determined and inspired to become part of it and I’m happy to be here now,” he said.

Mhack said he did several daring scenes in the movie and he isn’t afraid of the bashing that may come his way. He believes that whatever he did or will be doing in future projects are just part of his job as an actor.

“Akting lang naman po lahat ’to! Right now, I’m happy with the good reception I have from my fellow SK officers, former teaching colleagues and even students. Proud po sila sa akin, dahil po artista na ako.

Marami pa nga po ang gustong magpa-picture sa akin ngayon!” he beamed.

Anak ng Macho Dancer is scheduled for a digital screening worldwide on January 30 via www.ktx.ph.

‘Yellow Rose’, ‘Quezon’s Game’ now available on streaming platforms AT a time when the US movie industry is still trying to concretize what “moviegoing” really looks in a post-pandemic world, there are signs of hope and cheer for film lovers who are banking on streaming platforms to deliver the goods.

Variety reported that only 35 percent of North American theaters are open and tickets have been hovering at an all-time low. The Oscars— normally held in February or early March—has been pushed to April 25 with no guarantee if it will physically take place or just go virtual. But even with these seemingly discouraging forebodings, opportunities always arise. As Nichi Bei Weekly columnist Ben Hamamoto wrote a few days ago, streaming has become the vanguard of Asian American content.

Hamamoto wrote: “According to a recent Nielsen report, AAPIs [Asian American Pacific Islanders] are cord-cutting at a much higher rate than other groups, and 82 percent of us subscribe to at least one streaming service. It’s hard to know which is the chicken and which is the egg, but it’s probably not a coincidence that these platforms offered way more Asian and Asian American content than traditional television this past year.”

Just this past holiday season, subscribers

to giant streaming platforms were treated to a harvest of Asian films. Two of those are Filipino gems which were celebrated in film festivals all over the world: Yellow Rose by Filipino-American director Diane Paragas and Quezon’s Game by British national Matthew Rosen who has been living in the Philippines since 1986.

Yellow Rose is a timely story of a Filipina teen from a small Texas town who fights to pursue her dreams as a country music performer while having to decide between staying with her family or leaving the only home she has known.

Just recently, it became available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Google Play, Fandango Now, PlayStation and Microsoft Movies and TV. It is also now available On Demand on Xfinity, DIRECTV and Verizon Fios TV. Yellow Rose has won 13 festival jury and audience awards, including the Special Jury Award-Best Narrative Feature at the Asian American International Film Festival, the Grand Jury Prize-Best Narrative Feature at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, and the Best Feature Film Award and Audience Choice Award at the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. It was among the Top 100 films of Rotten

Tomatoes in 2020.

On January 27, the world will observe the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day of remembrance designated by the United Nations General Assembly. On this annual day of commemoration, the UN urges every memberstate to honor the 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and millions of other victims of Nazism. The UN also encourages development of educational programs to help prevent future genocides.

One of the best stories that commemorate this day is Quezon’s Game by British cinematographer and first-time feature film director Matthew Rosen. Produced by ABS-CBN Films in association with iWant and Kinetek, the film has won multiple awards all over the world, including 12 awards at the Cinema Worldfest Canada alone in 2018.

Quezon’s Game is the largely forgotten true story of Filipino President Manuel L. Quezon (portrayed by Raymond Bagatsing), who risked it all to rescue 1,200 imperiled Jews from the Holocaust at a time when most countries were turning Jewish refugees away. The Jewish Boston wrote that the film positively “illuminates

Philippine contribution to the Holocaust History.”

Now available via streaming on Amazon Prime Video, and On Demand on Xfinity, Cox and Verizon Fios TV, Quezon’s Game is a compelling, relevant watch for the times.

Raymond Bagatsing in Quezon’s Game

B6 Thursday, January 21, 2021

ASRRAT awarded Meralco 2019 Sustainability Report

Bring home your street favorite anytime with Kalye Sorbetes

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CROSS our islands, the ringing of the sorbetero bell would make one immediately head outside, towards the cart filled with sorbetes to enjoy this treasured treat that is uniquely Filipino.

But what happens when during the pandemic, where lockdowns and

shutdowns are common, these iconic carts cannot visit your area?

With this in mind, C. Valley Creamery’s chief Sorbetero, Paul P. Perez went to work to recreate this traditional delight, crafting a new premium ice cream that brings the familiar goodness of the street

sorbetes, without having to wait for the sorbetero’s cart to pass.

Aptly called Kalye Sorbetes, it is produced in small batches, to ensure every batch is fresh to be enjoyed across the metro.

For its maiden offering, 5 flavors – all named – you guessed it right – after main Metro Manila streets or areas. Chocolocan is an exquisite milk-chocolate flavor using local tablea topped with choco bits! Manggahan is an allout mango flavor with dried mango bits, celebrating the true flavor of the national fruit. Ubelt celebrates the Pinoys love for Ube Halaya – and is matched with cheddar cheese bits. Quezo Avenue is an ode to the quintessential cheese flavor peddled by the tireless sorbeteros while coffee takes center stage with Kape Del Pan, an arabica beans flavor matched with some bread bits, a very Filipino habit of dipping bread in their coffee!

All these flavors can be ordered via the brand’s Facebook or Instagram page (@kalyesorbetes) and it will be delivered the following day.

Community resellers are also welcome. Letter of intent can be sent to scoop@cvalleycreamery.com Indeed, Kalye is here – so you can now bring home your street favorite, anytime you want it – and no need to wait for the sorbetero cart to visit your street.

Give the gift of optimum wellness this new year

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HAT do you give your loved ones who seem to have everything? Well, anything that promotes their wellbeing is always a welcome gift. And now, these items are conveniently at your fingertips when you go to All Day Supermarket’s All Green Pharmacy. With 24 branches nationwide plus 3 more stores to open this month, All Day Supermarket provides ready access to groceries and medicines to a growing number of communities all over the country.

Brought to you by Optimum MarketStrat International Inc., this wide array of products is essential to sustaining and maintaining our health and wellness needs.

Non-acidic Calcium Cee is a very good source of Vitamin C that fortifies our immune system. It shields us from viruses and helps to keep us healthy and strong every day. Calcium Cee also reinforces bone density, eases stress, manages blood pressure, boosts collagen formation, helps repair tissues, and preserves clear eyesight, among other benefits.

Imported from New Zealand, Barley Max is a nutritional supplement made from pure, natural, and organic New Zealand barley. Each Barley Max sachet or capsule contains pure barley grass powder.

Nutrient-rich young barley grass provides energy, stamina, strength, and immunity-boosting vitamins, like Vitamin C. It also contains minerals and amino-acids that our body needs. Aside from these advantages, barley grass also

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HE Asia Sustainability Reporting Rating (ASRRAT), a ratings system initiated by the National Center for Sustainability Reporting (NCSR), recently recognized Meralco’s 2019 Sustainability Report (SR), “Sustaining the Future,” with a Gold Rank after its assessment of sustainability reports published across Asia, and covering multiple sectors.

Established in 2005, NCSR is the first independent organization to develop sustainability reporting in Indonesia and the first organization to introduce the term “sustainability report” in the country.

NCSR established ASRRAT, formerly known as the Sustainability Reporting

Award, to acknowledge and honor companies, both domestic and overseas, for sustainability reports showcasing their performance in sustainability, various programs, and initiatives. Ranking was awarded based on criteria such as compliance with the standards of the Global Reporting Initiative, transparency of GHG disclosures, and alignment with and support of the UN SDGs. The international award was presented during the 16th ASRRAT Forum held on December 16, 2020 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Sustaining the Future is the first maiden SR from the Philippines to be recognized by the ASRRAT.

TikTok hashtags help categorize content, attract followers, and connect others

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S the app continues to expand and grow, TikTok becomes event more relevant. It has grown into more than just a platform for trending challenges and dance videos, and has transformed into a thriving online community where everyone is welcomed with open arms.

Hashtags have played a huge role in TikTok's evolution, helping curate the viewing experience of each user, and giving creators a boost as they grow their presence and following on the app. But what is it exactly that makes hashtags so powerful?

Hashtags help you reach the right audiences. When you use the appropriate hashtags in your posts, you become more discoverable to the followers that you want to attract.

Breaking news reports, pressing issues, and current events that matter can gain more attention through hashtags that raise awareness on the app.

You can show support for issues that you are passionate about, and even start your own online movement by creating your own TikTok hashtags.

Hashtags can help connect people who are fighting for the same causes. These are also great tools for gaining support from like-minded users on the app.

Everyone has a voice on TikTok. With the help of hashtags, more voices can be heard, and anyone who wants to engage in a meaningful exchange of ideas gets the chance to do so.

A good example for how hashtags can be used to start a movement is TikTok Philippines' own #TikTokSkwela. This hashtag was used for TikTok's EDU yearend campaign, which ran from November 20 to December 4, 2020. The campaign focused on giving back to the TikTok community - the viewers, creators, and anyone who contributed to making the entire EDU project a success.

In the midst of tough times, through this hashtag, the community banded together, supported one another, and fostered growth, while still having fun.

Since it was created, #TikTokSkwela has generated 6.2K posts, and 633.1M views in the Philippines, and these numbers still continue to grow.

Megaworld enhances mall experience with an all-access, one-time sign in

has free-radical fighting chlorophyll, and anti-aging live enzymes to help protect us against viruses or other health risks.

SweetVia is not like most sugar substitutes. Aside from providing the sweetness derived from stevia, it also adds the health benefits of the probiotic, inulin.

Stevia is a natural sweetener made from the leaves of the stevia plant. While it much sweeter than table sugar, it has no carbohydrates, calories, or artificial ingredients. That is why stevia is a good alternative for diabetics and those who have other health issues.

Women who experience unbearable monthly cycles can find relief by using Jeunesse Anion Sanitary Napkin.

That is because each Jeunesse Anion Sanitary Napkin has a special anion chip that brings a lot of advantages, like preventing growth of bacteria during menstruation, helping reduce feminine discomfort, and helping eliminate unwanted odors. Upon contact with moisture, the anion chip in a Jeunesse pad releases negative ions that let

women experience the benefits anions bring.

So Sure Bladder Leakage Pad is the best choice for incontinence or the inability to go to the toilet for long periods of time. It guarantees incredible absorbency and prolonged freshness. So Sure Bladder Leakage Pad has the right thinness and thickness and is perfect for both men and women.

Whether it’s a light or moderate incontinence condition, So Sure Bladder Leakage Pad is here to provide comfort and protection with antibacterial, antifungal, and odor control benefits.

That is why the elderly can live their lives to the fullest, pregnant women are not worried about unwanted trickles, and health care workers can go about their duties with confidence – because they are wearing So Sure Bladder Leakage Pad. For more information, check out optimummarketstrat.com. or dial their Hotline 09175642233. All products are now available at All Green Pharmacy in All Day Supermarket branches nationwide.

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EGINNING this January, a one-time sign-in is all customers need to enter their favorite stores and restaurants at Megaworld Lifestyle Malls.

Looking to provide a more seamless and smoother malling experience, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls is eliminating one of the most common pain points of the customer journey - filling out Health Declaration Forms (HDFs) every time one enters an establishment.

With its Safety on Track contact tracing platform, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls provides guests with a much safer, convenient and contactless method of checking in and filling up HDFs. With just a one-time sign-in thru a QR scan, guests can enjoy an all-access pass to all of its retail stores, restaurants and services without having to fill up a health checklist every time they enter an establishment.

Here’s a quick three-step guide on how guests can enjoy the benefits of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls’ Safety on Track for a safer and happier mall experience: Scan QR code at the mall or store entrance.

Fill out the health declaration form.Check in and enter any store or restaurant without filling out another form.

The Safety on Track contract tracing feature is already available in Eastwood City,

Lucky Chinatown, Uptown Bonifacio, Forbes Town, Venice Grand Canal, Newport Mall at Resorts World Manila, Three Central Mall, San Lorenzo Place Mall, Paseo Center, Southwoods Mall, Alabang West Parade, The Village Square Alabang, Twin Lakes Shopping Village and Festive Walk Iloilo.

For more information, visit megaworldlifestylemalls.com or call the hotline at 8-462-8888.

Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

Health&Fitness

Buckle-up law for kids to be enforced soon

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

‘B

uckle up your treasures.”

This was the constant reminder of actress and TV host Jolina Magdangal after her family figured in a road accident early morning of July 10, 2017. Magdangal together with her husband and their son Pele were on their way to the airport.

“Thankfully, Pele was in his car seat,” Magdangal recalled in a recent online forum. She became a road safety advocate right after the accident.

Jolina said that she could not imagine the possible injury Pele would suffer if he was not properly restrained in the car seat. The mirror and bumper of her SUV were totally damaged after their vehicle was bumped from behind. “’Yung cellphone ko nga tumilapon pa sa labas ng sasakyan,” she said. (“My cellphone was thrown out of the car,” she said.)

According to Magdangal, the Car Restraint System is very important especially if the family is travelling with infants or toddlers.

When it comes to driving a vehicle, responsibility and awareness play huge roles.

“It is very important to be extra careful but sometimes some drivers don’t observe this,” she said recalling that the driver who bumped them fell asleep.

The need for seat-belts, child restraints

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Infants and children need a CRS that accommodates their size and weight. It is also important that it can adapt to cope with the different stages of their development.

The WHO stressed that the three-point lap and diagonal seat-belt used by adults is not designed for children’s varying sizes, weights, and the different relative proportions of children’s bodies.

“For example, a smaller portion of a child’s abdomen is covered by the pelvis and rib cage, while a child’s ribs are more likely than an adult’s to bend rather than break, resulting in energy from a collision being transferred to the heart and lungs.

Consequently the three-point lap and diagonal seatbelts may lead to abdominal injuries among children, and will not be optimally effective at preventing ejection and injury among them,” the WHO explained.

It added that appropriate child restraint systems are specifically designed to protect infants and young children from injury during a collision or a sudden stop by restraining their movement away from the vehicle structure and distributing the forces of a crash over the strongest parts of the body, with minimum damage to the soft tissues.

“Child restraints are also effective in reducing injuries that can occur during non-crash events, such as a sudden stop, a swerving evasive maneuver or a door opening during vehicle movement,” the WHO reiterated.

Road injuries

Road traffic injuries are now the leading killer of people aged five to 29 years.

The Global status report on road safety 2018, launched

by WHO in December 2018, noted that the number of annual road traffic deaths has reached 1.35 million.

The report suggests that the price paid for mobility is too high, especially because proven measures exist.

In the Philippines, there were 12,487 road deaths in 2018. This is more than 34 people everyday; one person per hour.

RA 11229

The WHO urged that drastic action is needed for measures to be in place to meet any future global target that might be set and save lives.

Magdangal is thankful that finally Republic Act 11229 or the “Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act”, signed by President Duterte in 2019, will be implemented next month.

Under its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) released by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), it is “unlawful” if CRS will not be used for children below 12 years old.

The law also states that a child is not allowed to sit in the front seat of a vehicle when it is parked but the engine is running.

“Pag sinabing batas kailangang sundin. Happy ako na mai-implement na by February [2021],” Magdangal said. (“If it is the law, it should be followed. I am happy that it will be implemented by February 2021.”)

She also reminded parents not to buy “substandard” car seats as this will also be punishable under the said law.

Drivers who will not comply with RA 11229, especially those who will not properly secure children with CRS, will pay a P1,000 fine for the first offense; P3,000 for the second offense and; P5,000 for third offense in addition to a one-year suspension of their license.

Although Magdangal admitted that the child seat may be a bit expensive, “it is an investment to protect your child.”

“As parents we should first think of the safety of our children. Mag car seat po tayo, [Please use a car seat.].”

Jolina encouraged adding that buying a car seat is a decision that parents will never regret.

BusinessMirror

Thursday, January 21, 2021 B7

No need to fear Covid-19 mutations, variants–experts

By Rory Visco Contributor

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ast week, the Department of Health (DOH) reported that the UK variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus had already reached our shores.

The development posed a lot of questions, says Dr. Vicente Belizario Jr., dean of the UP College of Public Health and Center Director of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), in his opening remarks for the webinar “Stop Covid Deaths” hosted by the University of the Philippines.

Understanding the variant Dr. Marissa Alejandria, director of the Institute of Clinical Epidemiology of the UP-National Institutes of Health (NIH), Professor at the UP College of Medicine and president of the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID), said virus mutations commonly happen.

When a cell infected by a coronavirus copies the original genome, then makes mistakes in copying even a single letter in the genomic sequence, that is a mutation. When the virus spreads from person to person, they randomly accumulate more mutations, which are actually changes in the sequence.

She clarified that most muta-

tions have little to no impact on a virus’ property. “The impact depends on where the changes are located in the virus’ genetic materials, which may affect the virus’ properties like transmission or severity.”

Are mutations expected?

Mutations are expected because it is a natural part of the evolution. Many thousands of mutations have already occurred but the majority have no effect on the virus.

The virus B.1.1.7 called the UK variant is said to have a high transmissibility rate by at least 56 percent when compared to the original virus, says the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) in the UK. Since December 2020, 48 countries have already reported cases of this variant. Though transmissibility is faster and more efficient, she said there is no evidence to show that the variant is more severe or may affect vaccine efficacy.

There is also the South African variant identified in October 2020 and in Zambia in late De-

cember 2020. Eighteen countries have already reported this variant, and just like the UK variant, there is also no evidence yet on any change in severity or effect on vaccine efficacy.

When the UK variant was announced in December 2020, she said the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) did genome sequencing, especially among travelers with Covid-19. “The breakthrough was when we sampled a traveler from Dubai who tested positive and after genome sequencing, the person was discovered to be UK variant positive. We’re glad that our biosurveillance activities were strengthened so we were able to pick up this variant, and surveillance is still ongoing.”

Variant implications The good thing is that there is no change in the transmission mode of the variants. Transmission is still through droplets, including the signs and symptoms like cough, difficulty in breathing, fever, fatigue or loss of appetite.

And since the vaccines target the whole spike protein, it is highly unlikely that a single change in the spike protein would make the vaccine less effective. “Over time, with more mutations, the vaccine may need to be altered just like the seasonal f lu, which mutates every year so the vaccine is adjusted accordingly. But the SARS-CoV-2 virus does not mutate quickly compared to the flu virus.”

The Philippines moving forward

Dr. Alejandria suggests forming a National Covid-19 Integrated Registry where data from the different health facilities can be easily linked with the epidemiologic surveillance and increase the capacity of laboratories in the country for genomic biosurveillance or sequencing. The bottom line, Dr. Alejandria said is that it is still best to strictly follow minimum public health standards since they are still effective to keep infections low and prevent or minimize mutation, and also to keep calm and always countercheck information. She also pushed that the public observe the “Apat Dapat” principle of the government, which calls for enough air circulation and ventilation, observe physical distancing of 1 meter or more, proper use of face mask and face shield, and lessen interaction time in crowded areas to 30 minutes or less.

Dr. Evalyn Roxas, associate professor at the Department of Microbiology of the UP College of Public Health and president of the Philippine Hospital Infection Control Society, echoed Dr. Alejandria’s comments and urged the public to observe public health measures like the “3Cs,” or avoiding “Closed” spaces with not enough ventilation, “Crowded” conditions with people, and “Conversation” in short distances, which is designed to prevent virus transmission and prevent further mutations.

Dr. Roxas also said the vaccines will still work despite the

new variant since it has not shown any increase in severity.

“It would take several mutations to make the vaccine ineffective so it’s important to prevent further spread of the virus by avoiding mass gatherings and other super-spreader events.”

Today is not the time to get tired of observing minimum public health measures, she said. Stricter observance should remain, while pointing to the “Swiss Cheese Respiratory Virus Pandemic Defense” principle, where no intervention layer is perfect but when used together, these multiple layers of intervention help improve success.

Be not afraid The bottom line is that Filipinos should not be afraid of the variant, says Dr. Alejandria, since the same measures should still apply and remain effective whether there is a new variant or not. “There’s no reason to panic because this variant is part of the evolution of viruses.

Probably the fear comes from the fact that this virus is new but then again, we really need to empower ourselves to get that fear out.”

For Dr. Roxas, being afraid is a normal reaction so proper health education and information is key. “We don’t have to be afraid because public health measures are already in place. They just need to be consistently and regularly followed, then the vaccines.

So we should keep calm because it won’t do any good and we can give that vaccine a good fight.”

Eliminate hunger, develop better citizens, says DepEd chief

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ducation Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said that healthy learners make better citizens.

“We cannot teach; we cannot share learning with a hungry child. A child has to be nutritionally fed to be able to learn, absorb new information, as well as become a better citizen,” Secretary Briones said during the first anniversary of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger.

In the fight against hunger, Briones acknowledged the major role of the Department of Education (DepEd) in keeping Filipino learners healthy. She stressed the importance of healthy learners and how eliminating hunger can provide more opportunities for learners to become better citizens.

“In addition to our feeding program,

which is a regular part of our school activity, we also include food production in our curriculum,” explained Briones.

Department Order 023, series of 2020 or the School-based Feeding Program (SBFP) for School Year 2020-2021 provides nutritious food and milk to learners from kindergarten to grade 6 who fall into the category of wasted and severely wasted.

Food production-related subjects like agricultural crop production and fish processing subjects are included in the Senior High School curriculum.

“Let this be an inspiration to us, [let us] work in seeking [solutions] and combatting this scourge of hunger. Congratulations to all,” Briones said.

This year, the IATF Zero Hunger 2021 created the National Food Policy and pro-

grams in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA). These programs provide support to farmers and fisherfolks who are heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In addition, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, chair of the task force, highlighted some of the accomplishments of the task force, including the creation of the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP), the institutionalization of the Zero Hunger Program Guidelines, the holding of the Kasapatan at Ugnayan ng Mamayan sa Akmang Pagkain at Nutrisyon (KUMAIN) Webinar Series, the Feeding Programs Initiative for the First 1000 Days of Life, the launching of Pilipinas Kontra Gutom, and the drafting of the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) Proposal for the World Bank.

Save the Children Philippines

Meanwhile Save the Children Philippines noted that the Covid-19 pandemic response must safeguard children’s rights to survive, learn, and be protected.

Atty. Alberto Muyot, chief executive officer of Save the Children Philippines said many people think that children are not affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, but in reality, children, mostly those who come from low-income families and living in hard-to-reach areas, face the long-term and irreversible impact of stunting, the worst form of malnutrition due to prolonged hunger and undernutrition.

“We understand that the decision to extend the enhanced community quarantine in key areas with high Covid-19 cases will

help save lives, but child-centered services must immediately resume in all barangays to make sure children from low-income families will not die from preventable causes, many of which are aggravated by severe malnutrition,” said Muyot.

“The loss of income by thousands of families, especially the vulnerable groups, can immediately translate into not being able to put food on the table resulting in thousands of children who will go to bed hungry,” added Muyot.

Child malnutrition in the Philippines is one of the highest in the world with one in three children below five years old stunted.

In 2018, at least 48.2 percent of infants age six to 11 months have anemia due to poor feeding practices and inadequate food intake. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Keeping your body strong, environment healthy one sip at a time

By Roderick L. Abad Contributor

A

S the world continues to grapple from the ensuing Covid-19 crisis, a group of forward thinkers have decided to be part of the solution and inspire others to join their causes.

The Stronger Together Movement launched a campaign where the group donated food and Strawing products to medical frontliners of the Valenzuela General Hospital.

This is the movement’s way of returning the favor to the health workers for doing their job to help bring down the active Covid-19 cases in the city to just 70, with 8,641 confirmed cases, recoveries at 8,312, and number of deaths at 259 as of January 9.

Inspired by the success of their recent activity, the organization and its support-

ers plan to carry out more similar exciting events that will help cultivate communities in a sustainable way.

The group enjoins everyone to help save the environment while maintaining their well-being one sip at a time.

Strong body, healthy environment

BECAUSE clean surroundings keep everyone away from any sickness, it is everyone’s responsibility to take good care not only of their physical body, but also the environment as well.

The environment, among the many threats confronting it since time immemorial, needs to be saved from the so-called plastic pandemic that has been a perennial problem besetting the world even before the Covid-19 hit a year ago.

Studies have shown that between

eight to 12 million tons of plastic end up in oceans across the globe annually—80 percent of which were used only once. The straw is among the widely reported celluloid items found whenever there is a beach clean-up effort.

To help save the bodies of water and sea creatures from ingesting them, various initiatives are constantly being done.

Biodegradable products

In fact, 41.1 percent of diners prefer restaurants that use biodegradable products, per a market research. It is also shown that 89 percent of consumers support the ban of single-use plastics as 93.5 percent would be willing to pay an extra P10 a day to help fight the plastic crisis.

Among the manifold ways to reduce, if not totally eradicate this issue, is using reusable straws—a small yet big step

impact-wise. From paper to metal, bamboo and glass, these materials have been a good alternative being compostable or recyclable.

But the choice does not end there.

Rice straw is fast becoming prominent with its promising features and benefits, such as 100 percent organic, sturdy, biodegradable, and low carbon footprint, among others. Though costlier than a paper straw, it has the best value for an eco-friendly, sanitary single-use plastic straw replacement.

A fast rising brand in the market, Strawng, which is produced by VietAgri and distributed locally by Jenka Global, helps popularize such kind of an innovative product, especially in the Philippines being the third-largest contributor to ocean plastic pollution.

Made from natural ingredients, it is composed of powdered rice, vegetable oil, salt and water. What is more is that

it is gluten-free, so it can be safely eaten to energize the body without causing any harm to one’s health. It has zero aftertaste and comes in various colors that match the mood of the users—green, pink, purple, yellow, natural and black.

As strong as the other alternative sipping products available in the market, it can withstand cold drinks for three to four hours. It does not lose its shape and form when used for warmer liquids in 30 minutes to an hour.

Unlike plastic straws that take up to 200 years to decompose, Strawng is fully biodegradable and compostable within 90 days. Since it is organic, it can even be consumed safely. So why wait for three months to get rid of it?

Strawng, per the Stronger Together Movement, indeed promotes a healthy way for individuals who want to help save the environment while keeping their own lifestyle.

Sports

Race heats up in volleyball unity elections

BusinessMirror

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| Thursday, January 21, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

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PRIORITY: HEALTH T

By Tim Reynolds The Associated Press

HE foremost priority in the National Basketball Association (NBA) right now is health, keeping everyone in the league and around the game as safe as possible while playing as the coronavirus pandemic still rages.

The next priority for players: shining light on issues where they feel true equality doesn’t exist.

Basketball is a clear third.

Games are still extremely important—the quest for wins and championships is why players and coaches get paid millions of dollars, some of them tens of millions of dollars, per year. But for the most part, there’s a sense of perspective around the league after nearly a year of turbulence—with the Covid-19 fight and struggle against the ongoing issue of racial injustice topping the players’ to-do lists.

It seemed like the annual celebration of Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s life was different this year. Yes, there were many tributes and words at arenas around the league Monday, but the celebrations seemed to prompt many in the NBA to reflect more than usual on what matters most.

“I think sports should be a model for greater society,” Wayne Embry, the NBA’s first Black general manager, said this week. “You’ve got people, players, coaches, front office staff coming from various background for a common cause—and that’s to win.

“In the locker room, we establish a mutual respect for each other—that we play for each other. Respect is the key word. Respect for the human race is important. Disrespect brings about chaos and turmoil, which brings about hatred. Hatred brings about racism, antisemitism, sexism and conflict. And conflict can destroy a civilization.”

The NBA is apparently trying to be the type of model that Embry referenced.

It was the first major US pro league to shut

Pacquiao ‘scouts’ McGregor

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EN. Manny Pacquiao advised Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) superstar Conor McGregor to focus on his UFC 257 main event fight against Dustin Poirier on Sunday at the Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.

Pacquiao’s special assistant, Jayke Joson, said the eight-division world champion would

be watching the fight on pay-per-view from his home in Makati City.

“The moment Senator MP signed up with the Paradigm Sports Management early last year, that was already part of their negotiations to set up their duel and it is really a no-brainer [that they will fight],” Joson told BusinessMirror

down in March 2020, when it became evident that it was no longer safe to play as the virus was spreading. It used its copious platform last summer to spread messages of unity: In the restart bubble the words “Black Lives Matter” were painted at midcourt in huge block letters.

LeBron James got people to vote, Chris Paul got on the campaign trail, Mo Bamba worked a voting center, Malcolm Brogdon marched and spoke out amid chaos. There were countless other examples.

King once famously said this: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” NBA players and coaches spoke out last year about the need for societal change. The league, while trying to balance its own economic challenges amid the virus, has stressed mask-wearing and social distancing as ways to combat Covid-19—though after postponing more than a dozen games in the last week or so, even those methods aren’t foolproof.

Still, there seems to be a perspective around

the league unlike ever before.

“Basketball is very important, don’t get me wrong, but you do have to keep perspective as we go through this,” Detroit Coach Dwane Casey said. “We will make it through it. The NBA is doing a great job of taking care of us to make sure we are safe, but the only thing that is in control right now is that...virus.”

In a time where nearly 400,000 Americans have died because of the coronavirus and billions globally have been affected in one way or another, players acknowledge there’s more to life than a bad call or a tough loss.

Monday was an opportunity for the players to show they are continuing to take action in their other fight: to spur social change.

The National Basketball Players Association is still working with lawmakers with hopes of making some version of what was called the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act—a bill that would increase accountability following police misconduct and eliminate discriminatory police

on Wednesday in reaction to McGregor’s latest online comment.

Pacquiao, 42, expressed his desire to experience fighting an MMA champion and promised to donate most of his purse to Filipinos who fell victims tio Covid-19.

But McGregor, Joson said, should first dispose of Poirier to fine tune the contracts which Pacquiao’s business manager Arnold Vegafria and PSM President Audie Attar have been perfecting.

Vegafria said the Pacquiao camp and PSM camps would finalize the contracts after McGregor’s fight this weekend.

McGregor told sports.net.ca on Monday that his fight with Pacquiao this year is virtually a done deal.

“It’s almost a certainty,” McGregor said, adding “I am hearing there’s a contract and all coming. It’s that close. So...it should happen 2021.

Like I said, I want to get my MMA game going a bit more, as well.” Josef Ramos

practices, among other things—the rule of law sooner than later. James’s “More Than A Vote” initiative was never intended to be a one-election-cycle event. NBA teams have pledged $300 million toward new causes designed to aid Black businesses and communities over the next decade.

But despite the troubled world, the fight against a virus, the games go on, They go on not just because of money, but also because they provide a huge platform for NBA players to be heard.

“It’s still important that we shine that light on all the things that are happening in our world,” said Miami assistant coach Caron Butler, who has spoken out often about the need for change. “Some people escape real life by live entertainment...and we’re going to entertain, we’re going to do our jobs to the best of our ability, even in a pandemic.

“But you’re going to know what’s on our hearts and minds, because we can’t be robots anymore.”

Virus cases linked to Aussie Open now 10

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ELBOURNE, Australia—Three more people linked to the Australian Open have tested positive for Covid-19 in Melbourne, increasing to 10 those associated with the Grand Slam tennis tournament which begins February 8.

Victoria state Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville confirmed the new cases had been detected on Wednesday, adding that authorities are “very confident” one of the cases is a tennis player who is shedding the virus and is not infectious.

The player is already in hard lockdown as they were on board a flight into Melbourne with another positive case. The other two cases are a player and their support person.

Those 10 positive cases mean a total of 72 players remain in hard lockdown after being deemed close contacts of those positives on three charter flights into Melbourne from Abu Dhabi, Doha and Los Angeles.

There were 17 tournament charter flights

Novak Djokovic stands on the balcony at his accommodation in Adelaide, Australia, on Tuesday. AP

which arrived into Australia over three days last week so players and their entourages could undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine ahead of the tournament.

Australian Open director Craig Tiley said 3,200 tests have been conducted on the

By Josef Ramos

HREE volleyball personalities on Wednesday bared their intentions to run for key positions in the new volleyball federation being formed by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

Ramon “Tats” Suzara of the Alliances of Philippine Volleyball Inc. eyes the presidency, while Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI) President Joey Romasanta confirmed that his secretarygeneral, Ariel Paredes, and Rod Roque are seeking the posts of chairman and treasurer, respectively.

Suzara’s group lists as members some of the most volleyball organizations in the country—Beach Volleyball Republic and the Spikers Turf—and with four key PVF officials bolting camp, already has a grip on Cantada’s group.

POC President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said the unification process that would reinstate the country as an official member of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) is proceeding smoothly.

‘So far, everything looks fine and smooth,” Tolentino told BusinessM irror on Wednesday, adding that the four members of the Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) who defied their president Edgardo “Tito Boy” Cantada’s order to ignore the election, would be joining the elections set for Monday at the East Ocean Garden Restaurant in Parañaque City.

They are PVF vice president Dr. Arnel Hajan of Zamboanga Peninsula, Nestor Bello of Metro Manila, Yul Benosa of North Luzon and Garry Hamili of Visayas.

The POC accreditation and membership committee is sifting through at least 60 clubs, groups and individuals seeking to participate in the elections, which the FIVB requested the POC to supervise.

more than 1,200 players, support staff and tournament officials. ”We’re in our sixth day and so far the numbers have been extremely low and if they are active cases they go straight to the medihotel,” he told Australian Broadcasting Corp., on Wednesday Tiley criticized what he said were a “minority” of players who continue to complain about the conditions in hotel quarantine on social media.

“Culturally there’s a different approach to how the virus is managed,” he said. “We’re proud here in Victoria and Australia of how we have done it and protected the community like we have. We’re going to continue to do that.”

Tennis Australia has declined to provide The Associated Press with a list of the 72 affected players, but many have made their status known via posts on social media.

Australia’s international borders are mostly closed, although there are exemptions in special circumstances. All arrivals must do mandatory quarantine.

Victoria state, which has Melbourne as its capital, accounted for 810 of Australia’s 909 deaths from Covid-19, most of those during a deadly second wave three months ago which resulted in curfews and lockdowns for the city. AP

Woods undergoes fifth back surgery

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iger Woods has suffered a setback with his back, disclosing Tuesday that he recently had a fifth surgery that will keep him from starting the year until after the West Coast Swing on the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour.

Woods will not play next week in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, which he has won seven times, most recently in 2013.

He also won the US Open in 2008 at Torrey Pines, which hosts the US Open again in June.

He also will miss the Genesis Invitational from February 18 to 21 at Riviera, where he serves as tournament host.

In a statement from his TGR Foundation, which Woods also tweeted, he did not say when he had the microdiscetomy surgery. It was to remove a pressurized disc fragment that was giving him nerve pain during the PNC Championship last month that he played with 11-year-old son Charlie.

Doctors said the operation was a success and predicted a full recovery, according to the statement.

“I look forward to begin training and am focused on getting back out on tour,” Woods said.

The year Woods last won at Torrey Pines is when back problems began to surface. He had his first microdisectomy right before the 2014 Masters, and then he had two more in September and October of 2015.

The fourth surgery in April 2017 was a major one, to fuse his lower spine. Woods’s return was successful, leading to a victory in the 2018 Tour

Championship—his first in five years—and he capped it off by winning the Masters in 2019, his 15th major and his first in 11 years.

When he won the Zozo Championship in Japan in the fall of 2019, he tied Sam Snead’s career victory record with No. 82, and the record seemed to be only a matter of time.

But he was never in serious contention all of last year and missed a full month with a minor back issue before golf was shut down by the Covid-19 pandemic.

When he returned in July, he didn’t finish better than a tie for 37th at the PGA Championship in seven tournaments he played. In six of those events where he made the cut, he finished a combined 107 shots out of the lead.

He turned 45 at the end of last year, and his surgery count is now up to 10—five on his left knee, five on his back.

Woods said after he tied for 38th in his Masters title defense that he has days that are harder than others.

“My body just has moments where it just doesn’t work like it used to,” he said in November.

“No matter how hard I try, things

just don’t work the way they used to, and no matter how much I push and ask of this body, it just doesn’t work at times. Yes, it is more difficult than others to be motivated at times.

“Yes, because things just ache and have to deal with things that I’ve never had to deal with before.”

He played the PNC Championship with his son and they finished seventh.

Woods plans to be at Riviera in his role as tournament host. The statement said only that he would miss Torrey Pines and Riviera. He has not been as predictable with his schedule in recent years leading to the Masters from April 8 to 11.

The World Golf Championships event recently played in Mexico has moved to Florida and follows the West Coast Swing. Then it’s Bay Hill, where Woods has won eight times (all before his back surgeries) but has skipped the last two years, and The Players Championship. There are three more tournaments after that before the Masters. AP

WOODS