BusinessMirror July 02, 2021

PMI back to growth territory in June

By Bianca Cuaresma

TAAL ALERT LEVEL NOW AT 3 AS VOLCANIC UNREST RISES

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PHIVOLCS | DOST

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@BcuaresmaBM

HE Philippine manufacturing sector climbed back to growth territory in June, after restrictions on travel and movement were eased to support the local economy.

In its latest report on Philippines Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), global think tank IHS Markit said the country posted a PMI of 50.8 in June, up from the 49.9 reading in May. A country’s PMI is meant to gauge the health of its manufacturing sector. It is calculated as a weighted average of five individual

Friday, July 2, 2021 Vol. 16 No. 261

subcomponents. Readings below 50 show deterioration in the industry while readings above the 50 threshold signal a growth in the manufacturing sector.

The latest expansion followed two consecutive months of decline.

This, according to IHS Markit, signals a rebound in operating conditions in the Philippines.

“Filipino manufacturers signaled a rebound in operating conditions at the end of the second quarter, led by softer declines in output, new orders, and employment, as well as a renewed expansion in pre-production inventories,” the report read.

See “PMI,” A2

BETTER MAY JOBS DATA: n

P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 22 pages |

ECONOMY ‘ON THE MEND’ ERC WRAPPING UP ITS PROBE OF 17 GENCOS IN POWER OUTAGES

By Lenie Lectura

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HE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) close to concluding its investigation of the 17 power generation companies (gencos) earlier found to have breached their plant outage allowance, causing the unscheduled brownouts from May 31 to June 3.

ERC Chairman Agnes Devanadera told the Senate Energy Committee on Thursday that her office has already evaluated the gencos’ explanations following the show-cause orders issued on June 22.

“We have already evaluated their explanations, [most] are mere allegations not supported by documents. We asked them to support their allegations. It’s really moving and we’re looking also [at] how they complied or

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday flew home 347 distressed Filipino workers from the United Arab Emirates. At least 1,920 overseas Filipinos from the UAE were repatriated for the month of June. A DFA-chartered flight with an estimated 350 passengers is expected to arrive on July 17, while two more flights, arranged by a local manning agency and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), are also expected on the 5th and 10th, respectively. Story on Second Front Page, A14. PHOTOS COURTESY OF D.F.A.

By Cai U. Ordinario

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@caiordinario

HE number of jobless Filipinos declined in May and several key production sectors posted growth in full-time employment, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Thursday.

Continued on A2

PESO exchange rates n US 48.7040

@llectura

did not comply with the performance indices,” said Devanadera.

Her office now awaits data from the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (Iemop) to complete its review. Iemop is the operator of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).

Iemop had said that WESM prices more than doubled in May to an average of P7.72 per kW from P3.85 in April, mainly due to a surge in demand and thin supply brought about by plant outage incidents. Given the sustained high prices, the secondary price cap (SPC) was imposed last May 7 and May 20 to 22. The SPC was again implemented on May 31 to June 2 as the Luzon grid continued to suffer from thinning reserves due to plant shutdowns and higher electricity demand.

See “ERC,” A2

PHL’s Q1 net liability position improves T

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported that the Philippines registered improvements in its liability position in the first three months of the year compared to the previous quarter.

Data showed the country posted a lower net liability position as of end-March this year at $15.3 billion. This is an improvement of 24.1 percent from the $20.2 bil-

lion net external liability position in December 2020.

The BSP said the improvement mainly owed to the 3.3-percent decrease in the country’s total external financial liabilities from $254 billion to $245.8 billion. This offset the decline in Filipinos’ foreign financial assets, which hit $230.4 billion during the period from $233.9 billion in end-December 2020.

“The decrease in total exter-

nal financial liabilities during the quarter was due mainly to downward revaluation of foreign portfolio investments [FPI] and foreign direct investments [FDI] in equity instruments. This reflected the decline in the Philippine Stock Exchange index [PSEi] towards the end of the first quarter on the back of spike in Covid-19 cases during the period, the subsequent reimposition of contain-

ment measures, and concerns that these may impact on economic growth negatively,” the BSP said in a statement.

“Further, the repayments of maturing bond issuances by the national government [NG] as well as foreign loans by the banks contributed to the decrease in the external financial liabilities of the country,” the Central Bank added.

See “PHL’s,” A2

n japan 0.4385 n UK 67.3722 n HK 6.2719 n CHINA 7.5419 n singapore 36.2031 n australia 36.5280 n EU 57.7678 n SAUDI arabia 12.9867

Source: BSP (July 1, 2021)

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Friday, July 2, 2021

BOC exceeds H1 revenue goal, nets ₧303B on economic rebound

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

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a 19.6 - percent su rge compa red to its collection of P253.091 billion in t he same per iod in 2020.

For Ju ne a lone, t he BOC a lso breac hed its P47.175 -bi ll ion t a rget, w it h a t a x hau l of P52.4 47 bi l l ion. T h is a mou nt already included additional rev-

enues from the Ta x Ex penditure Fund col lect ion of P157.06 mi ll ion a nd Post C lea ra nce Aud it G rou p c ol l e c t io n of P 14 8 .7 3 m i l l ion.

T h e b u r e a u ’s t a x h a u l i n Ju n e t h i s y e a r i s h i g h e r b y 11.2 percent t ha n its revenue goa l for t he mont h. It was a lso a 23.14 - percent ju mp f rom its col lect ion of P42. 59 bi l l ion in Ju ne 2020.

T h i s a l so m a rk s t he si x t h con se c ut ive mont h t h i s ye a r t hat t he BOC ma naged to e xceed its revenue t a rget despite t he impact of t he Cov id-19 pandem ic on t he overa l l t rad ing env ironment a nd t he st r ingent c o m mu n it y q u a r a nt i n e m e a su res imposed since l ast yea r.

A p a r t f rom h i g he r i mp or t volumes, Customs Commis-

sioner Rey L eona rdo Guer rero at t r ibuted t he bu reau’s posit ive col lect ion per for ma nce to its " improved va lu at ion,” d ig itized and moder nized systems, a nd t he intensif ied col lect ion ef for ts of a l l t he bu reau's 17 col lect ion d ist r icts.

T he BOC is t a rget ing to collect P616.7 bi l l ion t h is yea r.

T h is is sig nif ica nt ly h igher by 21.8 4 percent t ha n t he dow ng raded t a rget set for t he BOC at P506.15 bi l l ion l ast yea r.

T he bu reau’s tot a l revenue c o l l e c t io n l a s t y e a r re a c he d P539.7 bi l l ion, above its f u l lyea r revenue col lect ion t a rget by 6.6 percent or P33. 5 bi l l ion.

T he dow ng raded goa l for BOC l ast yea r was a 30.76 - percent c ut f rom t he or ig ina l t a rget of P731 bi l l ion.

however, with MECQ [modified enhanced community quarantine] measures persisting and, in some instances, delaying the supply of inputs. Meanwhile, rising raw material and transportation costs were often faced by goods producers during the month,” Patel said.

“Output prices rose further, and at the quickest rate in over two years, suggesting firms are committed to somewhat cushioning any potential

losses,” the economist added.

The report also noted that vendor performance deteriorated further—and to the greatest extent for 10 months—due to port congestions and virus-related restrictions. In contrast, international demand for Filipino manufactured goods rose for the second successive month, and with a rate of growth that was stronger than the historical average.

“Nevertheless, with the vaccination program still in the early stages, controlling the spread of the pandemic remains principal to preventing another series of tightening restrictions. Firms in the meantime will hope issues surrounding the supply of materials are resolved,” Patel said.

ING Bank economist Nicholas Mapa said trends for the manufacturing sector will likely take their cue from the level of mobility restrictions put in place.

“For the most part of June and going into July, authorities have gradually eased restrictions, moving from GCQ [general community quarantine] with heightened restrictions, to some, less restrictions for the general community quarantine,” Mapa said.

“Easing curbs will likely translate to faster expansion for the manufacturing sector but we must also note that trends can easily reverse once lockdowns are reinstated with the ECQ [enhanced community quarantine] in April reminding us how quickly the sector can revert to contraction even after three months of gains,” he added.

@BNicolasBM

HE Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) revenue collection for the first half of the year reached P302.74 billion, exceeding its P291.83-billion goal as the economy gradually improved, resulting in higher import volumes.

T he bureau sur passed its collect ion t a rget for Ja nu a r y to Ju ne t h is yea r by 3.7 percent or P10.91 bi l l ion, based on t he pre l i m i n a r y re p or t f rom t he BOC Fina nc i a l Ser v ice.

T he revenue t a ke of t he BOC for the first si x months was a lso

PMI...

Continued from A1

IHS Markit economist Shreeya Patel, however, warned that the recovery is still muted for the manufacturing sector and must be monitored in the coming months.

“It was not all good news in June,

PHL’s...

Continued from A1

The outstanding financial liabilities of residents consisted largely of non-residents’ net investments in equity capital at $58.4 billion. Other major financial liabilities include foreign loans at $51.6 billion, debt instruments at $43.6 billion, equity securities at $42.3 billion and debt securities at $40.8 billion.

On the other hand, the decline in the stock of the country’s total external financial assets was driven mainly by lower level of gross international reserve (GIR) assets to $104.5 billion in end-March from $110.1 billion in the previous quarter. The lower GIR assets, the BSP said, is mainly due to the Central Bank ’s diversification of foreign currency assets.

The BSP continues to hold the largest share of residents’ total claims on the rest of the world at 47.5 percent, amounting to $109.4 billion. The BSP’s external financial assets were mostly in the form of reserve assets and net placements in debt securities issued by nonresidents. Bianca Cuaresma

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ERC...

Continued from A1

“On the part of those findings by the market operator [IEMOP], while we have some data submitted to us, we have to wait for end-June for some more data because every end of the month they have to do the settlement. That’s very important and crucial for ERC’s evaluation,” Devanadera explained to senators.

The ERC is also looking into the possible collusion by gencos whose facilities were on extended shutdown—including those that performed unplanned maintenance that led to rotational brownouts in Luzon last month.

“We will be looking into the relationship between those on outage and those we call highest gainers. So, we have to make a real meticulous analysis on data as to which affiliated with one another. These are vey important data. I can’t just say there were anti-competitive practices.

We really have to go into these details that’s why we are waiting for some more data,” said the ERC chief.

The DOE earlier said gencos that reported prolonged plant outages could face charges of anti-competitive behavior and economic sabotage for violating government-enforced laws and policies.

Gencos, except for those operating hydroelectric power plants, are not allowed by the DOE to conduct power plant maintenance during the peak quarter. Also, the ERC has put in place a cap on annual unplanned outages per generating plant technology in order to promote accountability of gencos.

But based on ERC’s monitoring, the 17 gencos have breached the maximum allowable unplanned outage days for 2021.

The Philippine Independent Power Producers Association Inc. (Pippa) insisted at the hear-

ing that they are not involved in any price fixing nor would they deliberately go on shutdown. The group stressed that it makes no sense to intentionally put a plant in outage because it would then have to buy at high prices to fulfill its contracted commitments.

“It is a disincentive for us.

As much as possible, we want the plants to keep on running,” said Pippa president Anne Montelibano.

Atty. Jay Layug, president of Developers of Renewable Energy for AdvanceMent (DREAM) Inc. and also former DOE Undersecretary and former chairman of the National Renewable Energy Board, stressed that gencos will suffer if their plants are not operational. “At the end of the day, we are not the culprit. In fact, we provide electricity to consumers. There is no business reason for a power plant to intentionally shut down, malulugi sila pag hinde tumakbo [they will lose if these don’t run]. It is not a smart move to do that.”

Pippa said one of the best solutions to supply and reserve problems at the Luzon grid is to fast-track power projects to ensure that available power plants can be dispatched at full capacity.

As of June this year, 10 power plants with a total capacity of 1,154.6 megawatts (MW) are scheduled for testing and commissioning. But the permitting process is delaying the actual commercial operations of these plants. Bulk of these permits are pending with the DOE. GN Power Dinginin Unit 1 has been delayed five times already. Its original commercial operation (COD) date was March 2019. The second unit is already four times delayed as its CPD was supposed to be in January 2020.

Other delayed power projects include biomass power plants, hydro plants, and solar power facilities. The reasons for delay range from delays in permitting to line transmission constraints.

BETTER MAY JOBS DATA: ECONOMY‘ONTHEMEND’ Continued from A1

The economic managers saw this as an indication of a Philippine “economy on the mend,” but private economists are more cautious.

The PSA reported that only 3.73 million Filipinos were jobless in May compared to 4.14 mil lion in Apr il 2021. T his translated to an unemployment rate of 7.7 percent.

A total of 1.45 million jobs were generated between April 2021 and May 2021. Full-time employment across all production sectors grew 13.4 percent— industry posted a 22.1-percent grow th while ser v ices, 12.3 percent.

“Of course that’s good news.

Sustaining employment [but] growth recovery will all depend on how we contain the spread of the Delta variant or new mutations," Action for Economic Reforms (AER) Coordination Filomeno Sta. Ana III told the BusinessMirror.

Services jobs

PSA data showed Filipinos working in the services sector made up the bulk of the labor force with 25.867 million workers in May 2021. This represented a 4.2-percent growth from 24.825 million in April 2021.

Most of these workers are full-time employees at 17.9 million in May 2021, a 12.3-percent increase over the 15.937 million recorded in April 2021.

Ateneo Center for Research and Development (Acerd) As-

sociate Director Ser Percival K. Peña-Reyes told the BusinessMirror that in the services sector, the biggest drivers are arts and entertainment with a growth of 26 percent, and information and communication, an increase of 19.4 percent.

The increase of jobs in the arts and entertainment area is a reflection of how Filipinos are coping these days while the growth in ICT jobs, he said, reflected the ongoing digitization of the Philippine economy.

Peña-Reyes added that job generation in the financial and insurance activities also did well with a 14.4-percent rise; and real-estate activities, with growth of 13.6 percent.

He said financial and insurance services have been deemed among the resilient industries, able to keep providing jobs for millions.

In terms of real estate, PeñaReyes said this may be driven by the need for a lter native work arrangements as well as the need for space for Covid facilities.

“It’s a good sign, yes. But I cannot really say that it’s a sure sign of recovery. We still have a long way to go in our vaccination efforts and restoring confidence in our economy,” PeñaReyes said.

“I see these changes more as shifts in economic activity to cope with the ongoing pandemic.

[Our recovery] depends on how quickly we roll out vaccination in the coming months,” he added.

Continued on A5

The Nation BusinessMirror

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Phivolcs hoists Alert Level 3 at Taal Volcano

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

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HE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has raised the Alert Level of Taal from Level 2 or increasing unrest to Alert Level 3 (magmatic unrest) and recommended the immediate evacuation of residents in high-risk barangays of Agoncillo and Laurel in Batangas.

In its Taal Volcano Bulletin 1 issued at 3:37 p.m. on July 1, Phivolcs reported that Taal Volcano’s main crater generated a short-lived dark phreatomagmatic plume reaching 1-kilometer-high with no accompanying volcanic earthquake.

In raising Taal Volcano’s alert level, Phivolcs said there’s now magmatic intrusion at the main crater that may further drive succeeding eruptions.

“Phivolcs strongly recommends Taal Volcano Island and high-risk barangays of Agoncillo and Laurel, Batangas be evacuated due to the possible hazards of pyroclastic density currents and volcanic tsunami,” Phivolcs said.

Phivolcs reminded that the entire Volcano Island is a Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ), and entry into the island, as well as high-risk barangays of Agoncillo and Laurel is prohibited.

Moreover, Phivolcs said communities around the Taal Lake shore are advised to take precautionary measures and be vigilant of possible lakewater disturbances related to the ongoing unrest.

Philippines lists ‘green’ countries, jurisdiction

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ULLY vaccinated inbound t r ave le r s com i n g f rom around 60 “green” countries and jurisdictions will now be accorded with a shortened quarantine period.

Starting on Thursday, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) reduced the facility quarantine period of travelers, who were vaccinated abroad and originating exclusively from green areas in the past 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines from the average 10 days to just 7 days.

Green countries are those classified by the Department of Health (DOH) as “low risk” based on its disease incidence.

These countries include Albania, American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Benin, Belize, The British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cayman Islands, Chad, China, Cote d’ Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Eswatini, Falkland Islands, French Polynesia, Gambia, Ghana, Greenland, Grenada, Hong Kong, Iceland, Isle of Man, Israel, Laos, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Montserrat, Morocco and Mozambique.

Also declared as green areas are New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Rwanda, Saba, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Singapore, Sint Eustatius, South Korea, Taiwan, Togo, Turks and Caicos Islands (UK), Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.

Also qualified for the shortened quarantine facility stay are travelers who were fully vaccinated in the country in the Philippines once they present the necessary documentation.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Friday, July 2, 2021 A3

2019 PMA hazing incident hounds Bacarro’s Southcom appointment

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

& Rene Acosta

@reneacostaBM

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HOUSE deputy speaker on Thursday urged President Duterte to recall the appointment of Major General Bartolome Vicente Bacarro as incoming commander of the military’s Southern Luzon Command (Southcom).

In a news statement, Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro said Bacarro replaces Southcom chief and National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade, who is retiring from the service on July 26.

“Mr. Bacarro is one of those responsible for the death by hazing of Philippine Military Academy [PMA] cadet Darwin Dormitorio on September 18, 2019. Darwin was a constituent of mine in Cagayan de Oro,” said Rodriguez.

He said the Baguio City police that investigated the case had filed

criminal charges against Bacarro and then PMA superintendent Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista.

However, Rodriguez said the city prosecutor’s office dismissed the charges against them and filed a complaint only against several of their PMA underlings.

According to the lawmaker, the Anti-Hazing law places great responsibility for any hazing incidents and irregularities on those who have supervision over such activities.

He said at the time Dormitorio died of hazing, Bacarro was the commandant of cadets and had direct responsibility over the activity that resulted in Dormitorio’s death.

Rodriguez said he and Dormitorio’s family could not understand why Bacarro had been promoted from one-star general as PMA commandant of cadets to two-star and now three-star officer.

“These developments are a grave injustice to my late constituent, his family and the people of Cagayan de Oro City,” he said.

According to Defense Secretary

Delfin Lorenzana, Bacarro would take over Parlade as South Luzon Command chief as soon as possible.

The President signed the former PMA official’s appointment last Monday, June 28.

Meanwhile, Parlade, in a separate statement, said he submitted his letter of resignation to President Duterte a month ago.

“I want to ease the pressure to the NTF-ELCAC principals who are being questioned by legislators for designating me in spite my being in the active service. There are so many legal bases justifying my appointment as constitutional but I will not belabor myself with those.

I am happy that there are now six more civilian NTF spokespersons who shall carry on the fight passionately and with conviction,” he said.

Parlade, who tangled with legislators and various groups in the past due to his controversial pronouncements, has resigned, Camp Aguinaldo has confirmed on Thursday, but President Duterte has yet to act

Davao City enhances Covid tracing, swabbing as millennial infection case climbs 62 percent

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

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AVAO CITY—The city government here said it has enhanced its capability to widen its trace of the contacts of Covid-19 positive patients and to shorten the waiting time for results of swab tests with a new laboratory granted license to operate here.

On June 22, the Department of Health granted license to operate the city government-ran Los Amigos Davao Laboratory, which the City Health said would shorten the waiting time to about two days the result of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing results.

It would also allow the city government to resume its weekend swabbing of possible contacts.

While the city has one of the highest rate of infection in the country at 7.57 percent, it said this was also due to an intensified case finding of individuals with influenza-like illnesses.

On a given surveillance swabbing period, which was about a few days or one week, the three swabbing centers could handle an average of 2,000 swabs a day. For example on June 13, the city health and Depart-

ment of Health handled as many as 261,855 individuals.

The City Covid-19 Task Force spokesman, Dr. Michelle Schlosser, said that at that swabbing period, 13,823 of them tested positive, to yield a positivity rate of 7.57 percent.

Schlosser said the Los Amigos facility is valid to operate until December 31 this year for Covid-19 cases.

“The Los Amigos molecular laboratory, aside from decongesting the Southern Philippines Medical Center [SPMC] Molecular Laboratory, will be able to give the turnaround of results faster,” she added.

The SPMC laboratory usually releases RT-PCR test results within two to three days but with the swarm swab samples due to the surge of Covid-19 cases, results would take five days. “I hope we will be able to achieve two to three days.”

“As soon as we have addressed the backlog or as soon as we decongest the SPMC, the Saturday and Sunday swabbings will resume,” she said.

The Saturday and Sunday swabbings were recently temporarily suspended, according to her, as the SPMC molecular laboratory could no longer accept samples beyond its allowable maximum limit.

Swabbing is usually held from Mondays to Sundays at Sta. Ana

Health Center, Crocodile Park, and Magsaysay Park. Dr. Schlosser said Sta. Ana is currently under quarantine and may resume operation within this week.

The city already has the manpower for the Los Amigos Davao Laboratory and it would start operating once logistics requirements have been completed.

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Guard, Philippine National Police Maritime Group and Navy intelligence agents at the King’s Paradise Island Resort, Barangay Panitian, Sofronio Espaniola, Palawan.

The Coast Guard identified four people behind the violation—Eulogio Josos Togonon, Totong Josos, Nonoy Guliman, and Vilmor Pajardo—residents of Barangay Iraray,

principals who are being questioned by legislators for designating me as spokesman despite my being in the active service,” Parlade said in a statement released by the NTF-ELCAC. Parlade said that as a civilian “citizen of this country” upon his retirement, he would continue his “patriotic duty to defend our country and end the 52 years onslaught of the CPP-NPA terrorists, whatever legal way I can.”

The military official has been the subject of complaint and even criticisms of the military as a whole by groups, legislators and even other private individuals for his penchant of “red-tagging” people.

Some senators had criticized his appointment as a spokesman of the NTF-ELCAC, a civilian body, while in the military service since the Armed Forces is supposed to be apolitical.

His previous pronouncements, including calling senators as “stupid” had been used by groups in opposing the anti-terrorism law, which is currently under review by the Supreme Court.

Customs intercepts parcel of live tarantulas, centipedes at CMEC post office in Pasay

High-risk behaviors

MILLENNIALS have posted the most number of Covid-19 cases in the most recent surge of cases here, mainly due to risk behaviors, such as propensity to gather in groups as they itch to socialize, Schlosser said.

Millennials are those aged 24 to 40 years old.

In a presentation during the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force meeting last week, Acting City Health Office Head, Dr. Ashley Lopez said there were 13,394 infection were coming from the age groups 2029, 30-39, and 40-49. This number of infections represents 62 percent of the total active cases of 21,453 as of June 19.

Schlosser said, however, that recovery was high among millennials, although they also posted the high casualty rate, at 159 of the 829 deaths as of June 19.

₧250 million worth of endangered clams seized in Palawan raid, 1 suspect nabbed

A R I T I M E p ol ice me n seized approximately 150 tons of fossilized giant clam shells locally known as taklobo during an operation at a resort in Palawan on Monday.

The giant clams with an estimated market value of P250 million were seized during a law-enforcement operation by the Philippine Coast

on his resignation.

A member of the Philippine Military Academy Class (PMA) of 1987, Parlade mandatorily retire from the service on July 26 and he would be replaced by Bacarro, the current commander of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division.

The incoming assumption of Bacarro, one of the only few recipients of the Medal of Valor in the history of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, was among the designations signed by Duterte in the military, which included that of Major General Romeo Brawner as commander of the 4th Infantry Division.

Bacarro is a member of PMA Class of 1988 while, Brawner, the Armed Forces Deputy Chief of Staff for Financial Management, is a member of PMA Class of 1989. Brawner will succeed Major General Andres Centino, who is now the commanding general of the Army.

“I have submitted my letter of resignation addressed to the President almost a month ago. I want to ease the pressure on the NTF-ELCAC

Sofronio Espaniola, Palawan. However, only Togonon was apprehended during the operation.

The officials of Barangay Panitian took custody of the confiscated items, while Togonon was brought to the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) for inquest proceedings and filing of appropriate charges. Rene Acosta

ONE of the 25 matured tarantulas seized by airport Customs authorities at the Philpost Central Mail Exchange Center. PHOTO COURTESY OF AIRPORT CUSTOMS DISTRICT

By Recto Mercene @rectomercene

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IRPORT Customs authorities on Wednesday seized an unclaimed parcel containing 44 wildlife species that were suspected as part of a wildlife smuggling operations.

Impounded were 25 tarantulas, 12 spiderlings, 5 centipedes, and 2 ornithoctonus black spiders that were sent by airplane at the Philpost Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) on June 30, 2021.

Belonging to the family of arthropods, some species also administer venom through a bite, producing extreme pain to the unfortunate recipient, and some can be fatal to humans.

The parcel from Thailand was consigned to a certain Aldwin Capucae in Pasay City, Metro Manila and was declared to contain “Plastic Teaching Materials for University.”

The failure of the recipient to

claim the parcel on time enabled the Customs officers to confiscate and open the box leading the discovery of the insects.

The seized species were estimated to have a market value at least half a million pesos.

The Customs officials turned over the illegal items to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The issuance of a warrant of seizure and detention was recommended by the examiner and further investigation is under way against the claimant for the possible filing of charges for violation of Republic Act 9147, or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. Recently, airport district collector Mimel Talusan was recognized by the DENR, during the celebration of World Wildlife Day, for their contributions in intercepting wildlife animals and their invaluable role in wildlife protection.

Binibining Pilipinas candidates encourage public to get Covid shots

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B. Pilipinas candidates are now joining the chorus of celebrities, influencers, and notable personalities encouraging the public to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

“The only way to end this pandemic is by having all of us vaccinated,” Irene Jose, Bb. Pilipinas executive committee member said. “Our Bb. Pilipinas candidates choose to use

their platform to buoy the public’s confidence in available vaccines. So, we encourage everyone to get their shot. Being vaccinated doesn’t only protect you, it protects everyone important to you!”

The 34 candidates of this year’s Bb. Pilipinas are expressing their support for the current vaccination drive to help convince the public

about the availability, safety, and efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines that are being distributed by local governments across the country.

“We deeply appreciate this effort of Bb. Pilipinas to encourage the public to get vaccinated. The support of these 34 beautiful and intelligent women is a boon for our drive to have more people protected from this

dreaded disease,” Diane Romero, J. Amado Araneta Foundation (JAAF) executive director said.

Vaccination at the Smart Araneta Coliseum

AS the candidates of the Bb. Pilipinas pageant help in the effort to shore up vaccine confidence, the vaccination drive of the Quezon City local

government in the Smart Araneta Coliseum continues.

On July 3, vaccination teams will administer the first dose of the vaccine foreligibleindividuals.Andthiscoming August 7 to 15, second dose vaccinations under the A1 (medical frontliners),A2(senior citizens),andA3(people with comorbidities) categories will take place at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

A4 Friday, July 2, 2021 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

PHL keeps slot as world’s 2nd top banana exporter in 2020

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

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ESPITE a 14.38-percent contraction in total volume, the Philippines remained as the world’s second top exporter of bananas for the third consecutive year as it shipped 3.725 million metric tons (MMT) of the prized yellow fruit last year.

Trade map data of multilateral International Trade Centre (ITC) analyzed by the BusinessMirror showed that the Philippines was able to secure its spot in the global banana market despite a double-digit decline rate caused by anemic production and logistical problems.

ITC data showed that Ecuador was still the world’s top exporter of bananas last year at an estimated total volume of 6.431 MMT, based on import data reported by the South American country’s trade partners.

Furthermore, ITC data showed that Guatemala remained as the third top exporter of bananas

last year at a total volume of 2.844 MMT. ITC data also showed that Guatemala was able to close the gap with the Philippines as its exports last year grew by 5.4 percent, in contrast to the contraction export volume experienced by the Philippines.

The BusinessMirror earlier reported that the country’s banana exports last year suffered a steep decline as shipments across all key markets contracted due to weak domestic production. (Related story: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2021/02/16/phl-bananaexports-down-18-3-on-weak-production/) Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) attributed the decline in exports to “poor production” caused by the rapid spread of diseases worsened by logistical bottlenecks such as movement restrictions against Covid-19.

The country’s banana output last year fell by 1.1 percent to a threeyear low of 9.056 MMT, about half

of which are cavendish, from 9.157 MMT in 2019, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed.

The Philippines regained its stature as the world’s second top exporter of bananas in 2018 after volume of shipments doubled to 3.388 MMT from 1.663 MMT in 2017, based on ITC data. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2019/02/04/phl-reclaimsrank-as-2nd-top-banana-exporter-growers-seek-govt-aid/) However, the country’s banana export performance is not looking good in the first few months of the year as total exports from January to April nosedived by 50 percent to 739,510.309 MT as the industry continued to reel from anemic domestic production worsened by global shipping and logistical problems.

The volume was 750,476.686 MT lower than the 1.489 million MT recorded export volume during the same four-month period of last year, latest PSA data showed. (Related

story: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2021/06/22/4-monthbanana-exports-fall-50-on-shipping-production-woes/) PSA data showed that export receipts from banana shipments during the reference period plunged by 46.9 percent to $329.271 million from last year’s $620.626 million.

A side from weak domestic output and shipping woes, the Philippines is also facing a huge threat from Latin American and Southeast Asian producers as the country continues to lose market share for the prized yellow fruit in key Asian markets.

ITC data analyzed by the BusinessMirror showed that the Philippines’s market share for bananas in China, Japan, and South Korea has been shrinking in recent years, as domestic exporters have warned. (Related story: https:// businessmirror.com. ph/2021/05/04/phl-bananaslosing-out-in-asia-to-lat inamerica-asean-producers/).

Salceda proposes ‘true stimulus program’ to boost job creation

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

W

HILE May’s employment figures are a positive development, an economist-lawmaker on Thursday cautioned the government that many jobs still remain “fragile” and contingent on recovery support.

House Economic Recover Cluster co-chairman and Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda said the improving vaccination rate and a passage of true stimulus measure will strengthen job creation amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

“As of today, almost 7 percent of the population has received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccines. I am also convinced that as vaccination rates further improve, it will be strategic to embark on a true stimulus program,” he said.

“When people are able to go out of their homes and to more activities, the impact of economic stimulus will be more effective. The first

two Bayanihan packages were not stimulus. They were merely rescue packages,” he added.

While a third Bayanihan package remains in order, Salceda said, this must be paired with an aggressive credit stimulus plan for business recovery and new business development.

“I have already asked the government financial institutions to have action plans and facilities in place.

More, better, and more durable jobs will come from the creation and expansion of new businesses, and the recovery in aggregate demand,” he added.

Ea rl ier, Sa lced a sa id Congress can now approve the proposed Bayanihan to Arise as One

Act or the Bayanihan 3 into law as the Department of Finance (DOF) already found P173 billion to fund the first phase of the proposal.

Meanwhile, Salceda said May’s figures are good employment numbers, “but the quality and resilience of these jobs is what will determine the durability of our signs of recovery.”

The unemployment rate decreased from 8.7 percent in April 2021 to 7.7 percent in May 2021.

The underemployment rate also fell from 17.2 percent in April to 12.3 percent in May. Meanwhile, the labor force participation rate increased from 63.2 percent in April to 64.6 percent in May.

DENR admits illegal wildlife trade persists, bares arrest of 31 suspects

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

T

@jonlmayuga

HE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said illegal wildlife trade (IWT) persists amid the pandemic, but local authorities are not taking it sitting down.

From March 2020 to May 2021, Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said 31 wildlife traders were arrested by authorities.

The arrest of illegal wildlife traders and poachers is “a testament to the DENR’s effective enforcement of Republic Act [RA] 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001,” Cimatu said in a news statement.

“Whileweadmitthatthe20-year-oldRA9147needsto be amended, we at the DENR are doing our best to equip our indefatigable wildlife enforcers who never ceased in apprehending illegal wildlife traders and poachers during the Covid-19 pandemic,” Cimatu said.

According to Cimatu, the DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) continues to strengthen the capacity of its wildlife enforcers with training activities and seminars on various areas of wildlife law

enforcement, intensifying the monitoring of seaports and airports, and buttressing cross-collaborative efforts with other law-enforcement agencies.

DENR Undersecretary for Special Concerns and concurrent BMB Director Edilberto Leonardo also expressed the support of the BMB to amend RA 9147.

“Illegal wildlife trade is considered a transnational crime. The current law that exists no longer impedes perpetrators in engaging in this act,” Leonardo said.

“The technology brought about by the Internet also serves as a new platform for these culprits, which a 20-year-old law cannot penalize severely,” he pointed out.

Several bills were filed in Congress, resulting in a substitute House Bill titled “An Act Providing for the Conservation and Protection of Wildlife Resources and their Habitats, and Appropriating Funds Therefore, Repealing for this Purpose Republic Act 9147 or the “Wildlife Resources Conservation And Protection Act.” The bill, sponsored by Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Ramirez-Sato and 15 other representatives, was approved at the House Committee on Appropriations last May 26.

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Resto owners seek credit line to boost recovery

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @TyronePiad

R

ESTAUR ANT owners are asking the government to establish a lending facility for the food and beverage industry, which has been struggling to stay afloat amid the limited operational capacity, as part of their proposed revitalization program.

Restaurant Owners of the Philippines (RestoPH) President Eric Teng recently presented a list of requests for the food service sector to help its recovery, including a “restaurant revitalization fund.”

The credit facility, he said, may be offered to dine-in only restaurants, bars, cafes and kiosks with seating capacity as they were likely to be the hardest hit in the industry during this crisis.

“The loanable amount may be based on the number of employees at the end of 2019 and payable after 2023 in 12-month installments,” Teng said.

Teng said that the food and beverage industry has been finding it challenging to operate for over a year now because of the restricted business capacity.

Earlier, he shared that the sector’s transactions declined by 60 percent while the number of outlets slid by 6 percent last year because of the lockdown protocols imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19.

“No business can possibly survive on 10 percent seating capacity, and yet, we comply in the interest of public safety and to provide employment for our staff and for their family’s welfare,” the RestoPH head said.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, in a message to the BusinessMirror, said that the food service industry may be able to tap the lending window for the tourism sector being part of this segment as well.

“The fund we have is good for their need. Zero interest, zero collateral,” he said, adding that restaurant operators availing of the loans are also given grace period.

The Department of Trade and Industry is offering loans to micro,

small and medium enterprises via Small Business Corp.’s P5-billion Covid-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises (CARES) microfinancing program.

Other requests

TENG asked the government to give the restaurant owners an extension to pay for their taxes, business permits and license fees without incurring additional penalties. Given the industry’s current situation, he said food businesses need more time to recoup their losses first.

“Tax season was April. During April, the restaurants were in lockdown. How can the restaurant operators be expected to come out with any cash flow to pay for their taxes or business license and permits?” he said.

He reiterated the group’s previous call to make the discounts availed by the persons with disabilities and senior citizens be considered as tax deductions.

“We also ask that any future discounts to any particular groups should not be burdened against the shoulders of the private enterprise but should be paid for the government,” Teng said.

The RestoPH requested anew for the landlords offering rent concessions or rent discounts to food service sector to be granted tax holidays. He explained this would allow the restaurants to remain functional during and after the pandemic, aiding their recovery.

Previously, Teng also asked the government for another 20 percent indoor dine-in allowance for the vaccinated population. The goal of said initiative, he said, is to allow vaccinated senior citizens to go to restaurants.

He added that quick rollout of vaccination drives is crucial for the industry’s rebound.

“We cannot go on living forever with a close-open policy declared within a 48-hour period.

We have to have a runway to operate. We are providing employment and we provide benefits to tourism and national interest,” Teng stressed.

Red Cross deploys 5 mobile vaccination clinics in key Metro Manila, Cebu cities

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

T

O help ramp up the government’s vaccination rollout in the country, five mobile vaccination clinics were deployed by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Thursday in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu.

PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Richard J. Gordon said that this is in line with the program to support the National Covid-19 Vaccination Deployment, targeting the population below the poverty line.

These five mobile vaccination clinics from UBE Express of the Bert Lina Group of Companies will be deployed to five cities namely; Navotas, Marikina, and Mandaluyong in

Metro Manila, and Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue Cities in Metro Cebu.

“The need to vaccinate as many as we can is crucial for us to help the Department of Health [DOH] to reach its goal of herd immunity by the end of the year,” Gordon said.

He stressed that these buses are vital in helping the nation solve its current problem of vaccination hesitancy.

These five buses were previously used in the vaccination of more than 1 million children against polio and measles-rubella.

It would be noted that PRC pioneered the dispatch of mobile vaccination clinics in the country.

The buses are also equipped with a cold-chain system, mobile refrigerator, and vaccine cabinet.

‘Whole-of-govt’ tack needed to exit FATF grey list–BSP Bank secrecy law

MEANWHILE, a leader of the House of Representatives pressed Congress to immediately pass the bill amending the decades-old bank secrecy law, when session resumes on July 26.

Deputy Speaker Bro. Eddie Villanueva of CIBAC Party-list championed House Bill 8991 seeking to amend Republic Act 1405 or “the Secrecy of Bank Deposits” law, by promoting transparent governance and installing anti-corruption mechanisms in the operation of banks.

The bill authorizes BSP to inquire into or examine bank deposits in the course of its investigation of closed banks, in such instances when there is reasonable ground to believe that fraud, serious irregularity, or unlawful activity has been committed.

“With the rapid technological advancement in our banking sector, we should now amend our existing bank secrecy law to give powers to the BSP to inquire into the nature of bank deposits to prevent corruption, moneylaundering and even terrorist

financing,” he said “Our existing legal framework not only benefits and encourages those unscrupulous individuals to use the confidentiality of bank deposits as cloak for their fraudulent acts, it also damages the integrity of our country in the international financial markets. This weakness discourages foreign investment in the Philippines and increases the cost of cross border business transactions,” Villanueva added.

For his part, House Committee on Ways and Means Joey Sarte

Salceda said that for as long as the bank secrecy law remains absolute, the country’s financial monitoring and anti-money laundering regime will remain suspect.

The Committee on Ways and Means has already passed in principle the General Amnesty Act with an attached provision relaxing the Bank Secrecy Law for those who will avail of the amnesty.

The committee also approved the Anti-Bulk Cash Smuggling Act, which would penalize the unauthorized carrying of large

continued from a14

quantities of cash and cash equivalents, and which would update disclosure requirements on the cross-border transport of cash.

“My committee has also appealed to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and to private banks to help ease monitoring of revenues and transactions of legitimate e-sabong industry players by allowing them to deposit in banks, which would subject them to the reach of our anti-money laundering laws,” he said. Bianca Cuaresma, Butch Fernandez, Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

News

BusinessMirror

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Friday, July 2, 2021 A5

Govt loosens pandemic curbs in NCR Plus after GCQ extension

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

T

@TyronePiad

HE Covid-19 Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) loosened the restrictions for some of the establishments in the National Capital Region (NCR) plus after maintaining its general community quarantine (GCQ) status.

The latest advisory by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) showed that the allowable on-site operational or venue and seating capacity was increased for certain activities. This protocol is will be in place until July 15.

Indoor dine-in services in NCR, Bulacan and Rizal are allowed at 40-percent capacity, while IATF capped the limit in Laguna and Cavite at 20 percent. For outdoor dine-in ser-

vices 50-percent capacity is allowed in the entire bubble.

Personal care services—including beauty salons, beauty parlors, barbershops and nail spas—are allowed at 50-percent capacity in NCR, Bulacan and Rizal. Laguna and Cavite are only allowed to operate at 30 percent in the same category.

In NCR, Bulacan and Rizal, meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE events); social

events in eligible venue establishments; and indoor tourist attractions, historical sites and museums are permitted to operate under the operational capacity of 40 percent, 10 percent and 40 percent, respectively. All these activities are banned in Laguna and Cavite.

For MICE events, these refer to essential meetings, which are not for recreational or leisure purposes but for business interests. These include workshops, training, seminars, conferences, board meetings and press conferences.

Social events, meanwhile, include wedding ceremonies and receptions, engagement parties, wedding anniversaries, debut and birthday parties, family reunions and bridal or baby showers.

Outdoor tourist attractions are permitted at 50 percent capacity in NCR, Bulacan and Rizal and at 30-percent capacity in Laguna and Cavite.

Gyms and fitness centers; and other indoor non-contact sports courts or venues are given operational capacity

of 40 percent and 50 percent, respectively. Both are not allowed in Laguna and Cavite.

Business establishments with Safety Seal Certifications are allowed to operate at an additional 10 percentage points on top of the prescribed on-site operational capacity.

Securing a Safety Seal signifies that an establishment follows the health protocols and uses digital contacttracing application.

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Maria A. Concepcion said in a Senate hearing recently that the private sector seeks to finalize within the next month a proposal for Covid-19 guidelines allowing further mobility and business activities.

The proposal is seen to help certain sectors in the services area, Concepcion said, citing restaurants, gyms and retail. Their operations are dependent on the allowed operational capacity set by the government, which affects their businesses, he explained.

FDA chief tells public to get complete dose of Covid vaccine

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

D

ESPITE getting the first jab of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine, over 400 people were still infected with the said illness, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In a television interview last Wednesday, FDA chief Eric Domingo said 371 of these were infected even after getting their first Covid-19 shot.

Most of these infected were injected with Covid-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca (188) and Sinovac Biotech (173). Another 5 got vaccines made by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology and the remaining 5 with Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines.

Domingo said of these first dose recipients, 22 died from Covid-19.

The FDA officials said there were also 35 “ fully” inoculated individuals or those who got their two doses of vaccine, who were

also infected.

These inoculated individuals got their second dose of jabs of vaccines from Sinovac (33), AstraZeneca (1), and Pfizer (1) vaccines.

“After the second dose, we observed that they can still get the disease, but they will have mild symptoms, will not be hospitalized, and die,” Domingo said.

He urged the public to get fully vaccinated to ensure their protection against Covid-19 even its other infectious variants.

“Based from our observations, we

seem to be preventing a lot of infection among the vaccinated people.

What is important is for them to complete the two doses because... we can really see an improved protection for those who got two doses,” Domingo said.

Based from its latest data, FDA said over 6.2 million people got at least their first shot of Covid-19 vaccines.

Of which, over 2.1 million were able to receive their second dose.

The government is targeting to inoculated 50 to 70 million before the end of the year.

Private hospitals shutdown looms on unpaid ₧26-B PhilHealth debts

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

U

NPAID Philhealth reimbursements that have ballooned to over P26 billion threaten to close down private and government hospitals amid the Covid contagion.

This has prompted Senator Imee Marcos to air growing concerns reaching her office that PhilHealth’s delayed reimbursements to government and private hospitals will weaken their capacity to deal with the mutating Covid-19 virus, if not risk their outright closure.

“Let us not wait for them to shut down nor leave them ill-prepared to

deal with the possible spread of the dreaded Delta variant,” the senator said on Thursday.

She recalled that PhilHealth recently reported releasing P6.3 billion through a new system of settling hospital claims, known as the Debit Credit Payment Method (DCPM) that took effect in April.

Marcos noted, however, the hospitals were being shortchanged because the DCPM did not cover stillunpaid hospital claims for Covid-19 treatment last year.

“Nor was DCPM fully settling 60 percent of hospital claims for reimbursement as directed in the govern-

ment agency’s own circulars in April and May,” Marcos added.

She also cited the case of a private hospital that was reimbursed P430 million out of the P1.2 billion it is claiming, “which is 60 percent of 60 percent—in effect, only 36 percent— of what PhilHealth said it would pay through the DCPM.” Marcos lamented that even government hospitals have not received the full 60-percent reimbursement that PhilHealth should have released, noting that as of May 31, the Philippine General Hospital has only received a reimbursement of 0.0042 percent or only P2.56 million of its total claims

for Covid-19 cases of P615.7 million.

Moreover, the Lung Center of the Philippines reported it has only been paid 40 percent of its receivables from Philhealth, with P304 million still due.

The Philippine Heart Center, in turn, said only 49 percent or P99.47 million has been reimbursed by the state health insurance corporation, leaving a balance of more than P100 million for claims up to March 31.

Marcos said “Philhealth is fudging its numbers,” citing an online ledger called Reconciliation Summary Module (RSM), to which both Philhealth and hospitals have access.

Better May jobs data: Economy ‘on the mend’ Income increase

THE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) told the BusinessMirror, however, the improvement of the employment numbers means a possible increase in income and disposable income.

This bodes well for the purchase of “consumer goods/ services including capital goods.” Consumption spending accounts for 70 percent of the Philippine economy.

However, University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) School of Economics Dean Cid L. Terosa thinks the recovery of the services sector is only “a faint” sign of the economy’s recovery.

Terosa said overall, the country still faces the same risks and opportunities. The risks include new Covid-19 cases while opportunities include vaccinations.

“I think data on the growth of jobs in the services sector is a faint sign of the gradual recovery of domestic demand. The economy obviously needs to show stronger indications of economic recovery,” Terosa said.

Former Labor Undersecretary Rene E. Ofreneo agreed and said the loosening of restrictions especially in the National Capital Region and surrounding areas helped boost job creation, especially in services.

The services sector contributes a large chunk of the country’s GDP and is considered bigger than industry and agriculture.

Sta. Ana noted, though, that service sector jobs are more informal and that jobs in sectors like manufacturing are “better indicators of job quality.”

“The problem is that the services sector is dualistic, or consists of two segments—the formal sector [mainly wholesaleretail and other service industries] and the informal sector [huge because entry is easy but jobs generally marginal],” Ofreneo said.

Economy on the mend

THE economic managers— Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua; Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III; and Budget Secretary Wendel E.

Avisado—maintained that the data showed an economy on the mend.

In a joint statement, the economic managers said the improved employment data showed the impact of the lowering of the quarantine restrictions in NCR Plus, as well as the progress of the government’s vaccination program.

They also noted that the labor force participation rate increased from 63.2 percent in April to 64.6 percent in May. Coupled with the decrease in unemployment, this led to the creation of 1.5 million jobs between April and May 2021.

Following the trend of recovery from previous months, they said the total employment remains above preCovid-19 levels with a net job creation of 2.2 million since January 2020.

“These significant improvements point to an economy on the mend. As the economy was further reopened in the second half of May, more Filipinos were able to re-join the labor force and earn sufficient income, as indicated by the lower underemployment rate,” they said.

However, the economic team

continued from a2

believes sustaining these employment gains and achieving the government’s 6- to 7-percent growth target this year will require more effort.

These efforts include implementing the recovery package, which includes the National Employment Recovery Strategy (NERS) that was adopted through Executive Order 140.

The recovery package should go with the acceleration of the vaccine roll-out, they said.

“Both will facilitate the continued safe reopening of the economy to modified GCQ or better at the appropriate time,” they said.

The economic managers said vaccination of the A5 sector or the indigent population has also started. With an additional 27 million doses scheduled to arrive from now until August 2021, they expect the vaccination program to proceed faster.

The government aims to inoculate 70 million Filipinos or the entire adult population by the end of the year. To date, vaccine deployment has reached as high as 355,000 per day.

A6

BusinessMirror

Friday, July 2, 2021

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Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00 – Php50,000.00/ month

10.

Mr. SHENGLI ZHOU Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00 – Php50,000.00/ month

11.

Mr. QIAN ZHANG Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00 – Php50,000.00/ month

12.

Mr. MINGMING GAO Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00 – Php50,000.00/ month

38.

Mr. YUEYIN JIANG Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00 – Php50,000.00/ month

13.

Mr. LONG TAO Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00 – Php50,000.00/ month

39.

Mr. YANPENG LIU Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00 – Php50,000.00/ month

14.

Mr. LIN YANG Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00 – Php50,000.00/ month

40.

Mr. YANBO DONG Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00 – Php50,000.00/ month

The World

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

Friday, July 2, 2021

A7

Australia’s most-populous city struggles to curb Delta cases

S

ydney’s Delta variant coronavirus outbreak is proving difficult to bring under control, despite Australia’s most-populous city being in lockdown for almost a week.

The city of almost 6 million people detected 24 new locally acquired cases in the past 24 hours, New South Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters on Thursday. Since the outbreak began in midJune from a driver who transpor ted inter nat iona l f l ight crew, Sydney has recorded 195 infections.

Half of the new cases announced Thursday were from people in the community while infectious, creating “a cause of concern,” Berejiklian said. “In too many examples we are seeing workers who are leaving the house with symptoms or going to work,” she added.

The outbreak in Sydney is at the center of new coronavirus infections that have placed about half of Australia’s population of 25 million people into lockdown.

While health authorities are racing to stamp out continent-wide outbreaks of the delta variant, South Australia state on Thursday announced that it had recorded no new cases.

In stark contrast to freedoms enjoyed by Australians just months ago, stay-at-home and mandatory mask-wearing orders h ave b e e n i mpose d in major cities such as Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. On Wednesday, they were joined by the remote Outback town

Excess deaths hit pandemic record in South African commercial hub

E

xcess deaths, seen as a more precise way of measuring total fatalities from the coronavirus, rose to their highest level in the South African commercial hub of Gauteng since the pandemic began.

In the week to June 20, a total of 2,242 more deaths than normal were recorded in the province that includes Johannesburg, the biggest city, and Pretoria, the capital, according to a report from the South African Medical Research Council. That compares with the 475 deaths officially attributed to Covid-19.

Excess deaths in the province, which are measured against a historical average, have risen for seven straight weeks from 229 in the week to May 2, highlighting the severity of a third wave of coronavirus infections. Gauteng, where one in four South Africans live, has in recent days accounted for between 57 percent and 69 percent of all daily national infections.

The National Institute of Communicable Diseases has attributed the rapid climb in cases and deaths to the emergence in the country of the Delta variant, first identified in India. The South African National Blood Service said Monday that samples from blood donations showed Gauteng had the second-lowest incidence of Covid-19 antibodies of the country’s nine provinces, making it more susceptible to a new wave of infections.

The number of excess deaths in Gauteng compares with a peak of 2,114 in the week to January 10 during the second wave of infections, and 2,172 in the week to July 12 last year, the crest of the first.

Overall 32,974 excess deaths have been recorded in Gauteng and 176,700 nationally over the course of the pandemic, according to the SAMRC. That compares with an official total of 60,647 attributed to Covid-19. While not all excess deaths may be due to Covid the SAMRC says most likely are. The cause of death may not be accurately recorded if people die at home or in remote areas far from medical facilities.

Nationally 3,907 excess deaths were recorded in the week to June 20, with 1,188 of those were officially attributed to Covid-19.

South Africa’s official death toll and almost 2 million infections make it the country hardest hit by the virus in Africa, although testing and accurate recording of the causes of death is weak across much of the continent.

While the third wave of infections in South Africa has so far largely been concentrated in Gauteng, which accounts for two fifths of the national economy, the proportion of new cases from the province fell to 57 percent of the 19,506 cases recorded Wednesday. That’s the first time it has been below 60 percent for a number of days, possibly indicating infections are accelerating in other provinces. Daily infections are at their highest since January.

South Africa only started the main part of its vaccine rollout in May with 3.03 million vaccinations administered of which just over 700,000 were in Gauteng. South Africa has a population of about 60 million, with 15 million of those in Gauteng.

Bloomberg News

of Alice Springs—close to the natural tourist attraction of Uluru and home to thousands of vulnerable indigenous peoples.

The outbreaks are ramping up pressure on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to increase the pace of a tardy vaccine rollout, which has been hit by supply-chain hold-ups. The Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker shows the nation is ahead of only near neighbor New Zealand among the 38 OECD nations in administering doses.

In an interview on Bloomberg Television on Thursday, Queensland state Treasurer Cameron Dick said Morrison’s government should have secured more contracts from drug-makers, with the nation currently limited to the AstraZeneca Plc and Pfizer Inc. products.

“Other jurisdictions effectively spread the risk across a whole range of vaccines—that was the case in the US and the UK,” Dick said. “All the states and territories are in the hands of our federal government. They are the ones securing supplies of our vaccines.” Bloomberg News

Korea plans $220 handout to most citizens in new budget proposal

S

outh Korea is planning to distribute 250,000 won (around $220) to all members of the bottom 80 percent earning households in an effort to even out the benefits of an economic recovery from the pandemic.

The handouts would account for one third of a 33 trillion won extra budget proposal the government officially released on Thursday to address a lagging recovery in jobs and small businesses, which contrasts with rallying exports. The stimulus would also aid vaccine purchases, job training and regional economies, the finance ministry said in a statement.

The size of the budget was in line with the amount tipped by the ruling party earlier this week. The fresh stimulus shows Korean authorities are determined to ensure the pandemic recovery doesn’t lose momentum, and are confident of the health of its fiscal balance.

The handouts will be provided through credit or check cards and applied to all family members, allowing a four-person household to receive 1 million won. An additional 100,000 won would be given in cash to roughly 3 million citizens classified as low earners.

This is to “compensate the public who suffered under the prolonged pandemic, and to improve income inequality,” the statement showed.

Among the 33 trillion won, just over 10 trillion won will be used for handouts.

Some 12.6 trillion won will be funneled to support regional economies, while 3.9 trillion won will be used to compensate small businesses that suffered from pandemic restrictions. Another 4.4 trillion won will go to the vaccination drive, and 2.6 trillion won to support jobs, including vocational training.

The proposal follows a ministry forecast last week that the economy will grow 4.2 percent this year, a full percentage point higher than its earlier projection. The government sees the new stimulus lifting consumption, while exports extend their record performance.

The extra budget, if passed, would be the sixth of its kind since the virus hit the country and one of the biggest fiscal actions by President Moon Jae-in. The president has called for expansionary fiscal spending through next year—when he steps down in May—to facilitate an even recovery across sectors.

Separately, the statement showed the government intends to use 2 trillion won to repay debt. That would lower the government’s debt ratio to gross domestic product for this year to 47.2 percent from 48.2 percent. No bonds will be issued to fund the newest stimulus. Bloomberg News

A8

The World BusinessMirror

Friday, July 2, 2021

www.businessmirror.com.ph

scrambles to curb Biden behind on global vaccine Israel jump in Covid infections sharing goal, cites local hurdles T

W

ASHINGTON—President Joe Biden came up well short on his goal of delivering 80 million doses of coronavirus vaccine to the rest of the world by the end of June as a host of logistical and regulatory hurdles slowed the pace of US vaccine diplomacy.

Although the Biden administration has announced that about 50 countries and entities will receive a share of the excess Covid-19 vaccine doses, the US has shipped fewer than 24 million doses to 10 recipient countries, according to an Associated Press tally. The White House says more will be sent in the coming days and stresses that Biden has done everything in his power to meet the commitment.

It’s not for lack of doses. All the American shots are ready to ship, the White House said. Rather, it’s taking more time than anticipated to sort through a complex web of legal requirements, health codes, customs clearances, cold-storage chains, language barriers and delivery programs. Complicating matters even further is that no two shipments are alike.

One country requires an act of its Cabinet to approve the vaccine

donation, others require inspectors to conduct their own safety checks on the US doses, and still others have yet to develop critical aspects of their vaccine distribution plans to ensure the doses can reach people’s arms before they spoil.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to share internal arrangements, said that as of Wednesday, all intended recipient countries had received formal US offers of a specific number and type of vaccine, and all legal and logistical hurdles on the US side had been cleared.

The White House declined to specify which nations were grappling with which local hurdles, saying it is working with recipient nations on an individual basis to remove obstacles to delivery.

“What we’ve found to be the biggest challenge is not actually the supply—we have plenty of doses

to share with the world—but this is a Herculean logistical challenge,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said last week.

It took months for the US to get its domestic vaccination program running at full throttle, and officials noted that Biden only shifted the focus of the nation’s Covid-19 response toward the global vaccination campaign less than two months ago.

Biden announced the 80 million target on May 17, saying, “This will be more vaccines than any country has actually shared to date—five times more than any other country—more than Russia and China.” Even while missing his goal, Biden has made the US the largest global vaccine donor, delivering more doses than either Russia or China, who have at times sought to leverage their vaccines for geopolitical gain.

The 80 million doses are meant as a down payment on a far larger plan to purchase and donate 500 million vaccine doses for the world over the next year. That plan, relying on a purchase contract from Pfizer that will begin delivering doses in August, remains on track, officials said.

Last week the White House broadly outlined its plans for all 80 million doses, but it is not publicly releasing a list of how many and of what type of vaccines each recipient will get until the doses are on the way.

The US recipients to date are Colombia (2.5 million Johnson & Johnson doses), Bangladesh (2.5 million Moderna), Peru (2 million Pfizer), Pakistan (2.5 million Moderna), Honduras (1.5 million Moderna), Brazil (3 million J&J), South Korea (1 million J&J), Taiwan (2.5 million Moderna), Canada (1 million Moderna, 1.5 million AstraZeneca) and Mexico (1.35 million J&J, 2.5 million AstraZeneca). All told, it’s enough vaccine to fully protect 15.9 million people.

Biden initially committed to providing other nations with all 60 million US-produced doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which has yet to be authorized for use in the US but is widely approved around the world.

The AstraZeneca doses have been held up for export by a two-month safety review by the Food and Drug Administration.

Given declining domestic demand for vaccine doses, the Biden administration expects to be able to meet the full 80 million commitment without the AstraZeneca doses, but rather from existing federal stockpiles of Pfizer, Moderna and J&J vaccines.

The US-approved shots—particularly the mRNA vaccines produced

by Pfizer and Moderna—appear to be more effective than other available vaccines against the virus, especially emerging strains of the virus that are more contagious and harmful, like the Delta variant first identified in India. AP

Activists, journalists included in Myanmar prisoner release

B

ANGKOK—Myanmar’s government began releasing about 2,300 prisoners on Wednesday, including activists who were detained for protesting against the military’s seizure of power in February and journalists who reported on the protests, officials said.

Buses took prisoners out of Yangon’s Insein Prison, where friends and families of detainees had waited since morning for the announced releases.

It is standard practice to take freed prisoners to the police stations where they were originally booked to complete the processing for their freedom.

Zaw Zaw, head of the Yangon Region’s Prison Department, confirmed that more than 720 people were released from the prison, which for decades has been the main facility for political prisoners.

According to official announcements on state media, most if not all of the freed detainees faced charges related to the protests, including Section 505(A) of Myanmar’s penal code, which makes it a crime to spread comments that create public unrest or fear or spread false news, and carries a penalty of up to three years in prison.

It appeared, however, that an unknown number of people held on that charge might still be detained.

Complete information was not available and the releases are expected to take place over several days.

State television reported

on releases in the city of Mandalay and Naypyitaw, the capital, in addition to Yangon, the country’s biggest city.

Local media in more remote areas reported releases as well, including in Myitkyina in the northern state of Kachin, Lashio in Shan state in the east, and Hakha in Chin state in the west, a hotbed of opposition to military rule.

Tin Zar Oo, a lawyer who with her colleagues represents political detainees and journalists, said about half of the 100 people whose cases they handle, including journalists arrested as long as four months ago, were released Wednesday.

A statement from the military said 2,296 prisoners were being released. Deputy Information Minister Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun earlier told China’s Xinhua news agency that the released detainees were “those who took part in the protests but did not take part in the violence, who did not commit crimes and did not lead the riots.”

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoner said Tuesday that 5,224 people were in detention in connection with the protests.

The group keeps detailed tallies of arrests and casualties linked to the nation’s political conflicts.

There was no reason given for the timing of the releases.

The government is eager to cultivate goodwill among the public, a large part of which is hostile to it. On Tuesday it announced that it was dropping charges against

about two dozen celebrities who had taken a role in the protests.

It would also like to soften its international image. The UN General Assembly on June 18 passed a resolution calling for an arms embargo against the Southeast Asian nation and condemning the military’s seizure of power.

Several Western nations have already implemented diplomatic and economic sanctions.

Tun Kyi, a senior member of the Former Political Prisoners Society, charged that the detainees were released to reduce pressure from the international community, and said they shouldn’t have been arrested in the first place.

“The military abducted dissidents and took them hostage. It is not an unconditional release of all political leaders and prisoners, but rather intended to avoid international pressure,” he said. “And there is no reason to be thankful.”

Myanmar is also facing a surge in Covid-19 cases, with 1,312 new infections reported Tuesday, bringing its total to 155,697. Crowded conditions make prisons high-risk areas for the virus, though there was no official word if that threat played a part in the releases.

The political turmoil has made the country’s health care system largely dysfunctional, severely limiting Covid-19 testing and reporting until about a month ago, when the number of confirmed cases shot up rapidly. AP

EL AVIV, Israel—Israel, a world leader in coronavirus vaccinations, reported its highest daily infection rate in three months as it scrambles to contain the spread of the new Delta variant.

Authorities are racing to vaccinate children and are considering tighter travel restrictions at the country’s main airport.

The Health Ministry on Thursday reported 307 new cases on Wednesday, the highest in nearly three months and a rise from 293 newly diagnosed cases a day earlier. The health ministry reportedly expects those numbers to jump in coming days, raising concerns that Israel is plunging back toward a crisis.

In recent months, Israel has reopened businesses, schools and event venues, lifting nearly all restrictions after it inoculated some 85 percent of the adult population.

It’s now seen as an early-warning system of sorts for other nations.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Tuesday announced a drive to inoculate thousands of children by mid-month.

Though worrying, the trend still shows little uptick when it comes to deaths from the virus.

In the past two weeks, the ministry recorded only one. In Israel, 5.1 million people, among its

population of 9.3 million, have received the required double dose of vaccinations. Another 400,000 have received at least one dose.

Israel recorded its highest number of vaccinations of children this week and has re-imposed a rule requiring people to wear masks indoors. Bennett for the first time appointed a coronavirus commissioner to manage arrivals at the main gateway into Israel, Ben Gurion International Airport, which he called “a huge national vulnerability.”

Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked on Wednesday said officials are prepared to close the airport if the trend worsens.

Israel’s Haaretz newspaper reported that officials are considering bringing back the “Green Pass” system that differentiates between vaccinated and non-vaccinated citizens in access to certain venues and activities.

Israel’s government last week postponed the planned reopening of the country to vaccinated tourists over concerns about the spread of the Delta variant.

Israel was initially set to reopen its borders to vaccinated visitors on Thursday, after having largely closed the country during the pandemic. It had already started allowing groups of vaccinated tourists to enter in May. AP

Pope, Lebanese Christian clerics pray for end to crisis

R

OME—Pope Francis welcomed Lebanon’s Christian religious leaders to the Vatican on Thursday for a day of prayer amid fears that the country’s descent into chaos is further imperiling the Christian presence in the country, a bulwark for the church in the Middle East.

Francis greeted the dozen clerics in the lobby of the Vatican hotel where he lives shortly after 8 a.m. and together they walked across a small piazza inside the Vatican Gardens and entered St. Peter’s Basilica. There, they stood in silent prayer around the altar, and descended to the tomb of the Apostle Peter underneath to light a candle as a sign of peace.

The small group of Christian Orthodox and Catholic churchmen was spending the rest of the morning and afternoon behind closed doors in talks about how to help Lebanon emerge from the political, financial and social crisis that the World Bank has described as one of the worst the world has witnessed over the past 150 years.

At the end of the day, Francis will preside over an ecumenical service in St. Peter’s featuring prayers in Arabic, Syriac, Armenian and Chaldean.

Lebanon, a Mediterranean nation of 5 million, has the largest percentage of Christians in the Middle East and is the only Arab country with a Christian head of state. Christians make up a third of the population.

The country is going through an unprecedented economic and financial collapse, coupled with a monthslong political deadlock over the formation of a new government. The developments pose the gravest threat to its stability since the end of its civil war three decades ago. It is also trying to recover from the devastating Beirut port explosion last summer and the coronavirus pandemic.

The Vatican’s foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, was blunt in explaining the Holy See’s “strong concern about the collapse of the country” during a briefing with journalists last week.

He said Francis had invited the religious leaders to Rome in an acknowledgment that the Christian community had been particularly hard-hit by the crisis, which has sent the well-educated middle classes fleeing power cuts, fuel shortages, soaring prices and now sporadic acts of violence.

The crisis, Gallagher said, “risks destroying the internal balance and Lebanon’s own reality, putting at risk the Christian presence in the Middle East.”

Noting the potential for Lebanon to fall into conflict, he said the country must be helped economically and to keep the peace, saying it “remains the final vanguard of an Arab democracy that welcomes, recognizes and coexists with a plurality of ethnic and religious communities that in other countries aren’t able to live in peace.” AP

Historic Northwest heat wave may have killed hundreds

S

ALEM, Oregon—Hundreds of deaths in Canada, Oregon and Washington may have been caused by the historic heat wave that baked the Pacific Northwest and shattered all-time temperature records in usually temperate cities.

Oregon health officials said late Wednesday more than 60 deaths have been tied to the heat, with the state’s largest county, Multnomah, blaming the weather for 45 deaths since the heat wave began Friday.

British Columbia’s chief coroner, Lisa Lapointe, said her office received reports of at least 486 “sudden and unex pected

deaths” between Friday and 1 p.m.

Wednesday. Normally, she said about 165 people would die in the province over a five-day period.

“While it is too early to say with certainty how many of these deaths are heat related, it is believed likely that the significant increase in deaths reported is attributable to the extreme weather,” LaPointe said in a statement.

Like Seattle, many homes in Vancouver, British Columbia, don’t have air conditioning.

“Vancouver has never experienced heat like this, and sadly dozens of people are dying because of it,” Vancouver police Sgt. Steve Addison said in a statement. AP

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

24 INCH GAUGE CONSTRUCTION INC. L4 Blk. 4 Near Kay Buboy Bridge San Dionisio Parañaque City 11.

CHEN, ZHULI Quality Construction Specialist 1.

Brief Job Description: Reviews, inspects, and documents all construction projects during the construction period of the current Bond Program.

Basic Qualification: Reviews, inspects, and documents all construction projects during the construction period of the current Bond Program.

Skilled in identifying local construction technologies and construction material sources; Can carry out and monitor testing and inspection of products and materials to ensure the finished product meets quality standards

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

CHEN, JIAHUI Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

12.

Brief Job Description: Coordinate with all customers and analyze test queries and analyze client issues

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

GUO, TAOTAO Quality Construction Specialist 2.

Brief Job Description: Reviews, inspects, and documents all construction projects during the construction period of the current Bond Program.

Basic Qualification: Skilled in identifying local construction technologies and construction material sources; Can carry out and monitor testing and inspection of products and materials to ensure the finished product meets quality standards

GUO, XIAOHUA Quality Construction Specialist 3.

Brief Job Description: Reviews, inspects, and documents all construction projects during the construction period of the current Bond Program.

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

SUSANTO ELLEN Quality Construction Specialist 4.

Brief Job Description: Reviews, inspects, and documents all construction projects during the construction period of the current Bond Program.

Basic Qualification: Skilled in identifying local construction technologies and construction material sources; Can carry out and monitor testing and inspection of products and materials to ensure the finished product meets quality standards

LEE CHIN CHING Malaysian Customer Service 13.

14.

5.

Brief Job Description: Proper equipment maintenance in accordance with priorities established by the operation department.

JONKER, MARKUS SMITH Operations Manager 6.

Brief Job Description: Safe, efficient, and reliable operation of facility equipment and systems.

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above Basic Qualification: Can direct the efforts of maintenance personnel towards proper equipment maintenance in accordance with priorities establish by the operation department.

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

LIU, SONG Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 15.

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

XIE, WENYI Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 16.

AFRY CONTRACTING PHILIPPINES, INC. 8/f King’s Court Bldg. 2129 Don Chino Roces Ave. Pio Del Pilar Makati City

DU TOIT, CHRIS Maintenance Manager

Brief Job Description: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

CHEN, XIAOJUN Mandarin Customer Relations Officer

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

Basic Qualification: Directs the efforts of maintenance personnel towards proper equipment maintenance in accordance with priorities establish by the operation department.

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s product or services.

XIE, YIDUAN Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 17.

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

ZHANG, SHICHUN Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 18.

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

XIAO, RONGGUANG Mandarin Customer Service 19.

Brief Job Description: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

7.

Brief Job Description: Communicate with buyers, merchants and internal customers and take appropriate action to identify and help minimize the risk posed by fraud patterns and trends.

ZHONG, SHOUHONG Mandarin Customer Service Basic Qualification: Fluency in both English and Mandarin.

20.

Brief Job Description: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

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

8.

9.

10.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

TRAN THI YEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

TRAN THUY LINH Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language

HUANG, FEIHU Field Sales Consultant 21.

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

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

23.

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products/ excellent mandarin communications skills

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience

24.

25.

26.

LI, QIANGLI Field Sales Consultant 22.

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

HELLSTROM, CHRISTER DENNIS Multilingual Service Desk Operational Lead Brief Job Description: Provide Job support in Foreign language.

Brief Job Description: Provide technical support in rendering decisions in overall business direction, including technological acquisitions, investments, divestments, partnerships, and major engagements to support revenue generating strategies.

ZHANG, XIAOFENG Coo Assistant 27.

Brief Job Description: Coordinate with sales region, monitor progress of various projects and act as key person to communicate with GTM Department

HU, YUBIN Regional Sales Manager 28.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the development and maintenance of regional customer relations, Assist customer with inventory management (sell-in and sell-out),

JIANG, WENXUE Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read and write and type fluently in Mandarin language.

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

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

Brief Job Description: Developing, Implementing sales strategies, client service, plan and analyzing sales data.

LIU, ZHUN Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 30.

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

Basic Qualification: Master’s in Business Administration or related field; Excellent verbal and written English and Mandarin Skills; At least 15 years senior-level experience in the Telco industry; At least 5 years’ experience in managing direct reports.

Basic Qualification: Fluently in Mandarin and English language, Bachelor Degree, Strong time management Skill enthusiasm for sales service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluently in Mandarin and English language, Bachelor Degree, Strong time management Skill enthusiasm for sales service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

FREEMOVED INC. 40/f Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a Rufino St. Bel-air Makati City

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

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

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

EMERALD WIRELESS TECH INC. 28th/f Arthaland Century Pacific Tower E-square Information Technology Park 25th St. Cor 5th Ave. Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read and write and type fluently in Mandarin language.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in written and verbal communication in a foreign language.

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience

Brief Job Description: Provides technical support in Dutch Language.

XIAO, WEI Chief Executive Advisor

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience

KARAGOZ, UGUR GUNEY Multilingual Service Desk Member

Basic Qualification: Proficient in written and verbal communication in the English language and excellent knowledge of at least one foreign language proficient computer and technical skills.

DITO TELECOMMUNITY CORPORATION 11/f Udenna Tower Rizal Drive Cor. 4th Ave., Bgc Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience.

Brief Job Description: Provide job support in Norwegian language.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience

GAASVIG, CLAUS Multilingual Service Desk Member

Basic Qualification: Proficient in written and verbal communication in the English Language and excellent knowledge in the Norwegian language; Proficient computer and technical skills.

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

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

Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in MALAY language.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

CGI (PHILIPPINES) INC. 2/f One World Square Mckinley Hill Pinagsama Taguig City

Brief Job Description: Developing, Implementing Sales strategies, client service, plan and analyzing sales data.

SUN, RUIQING Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative 31.

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

Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

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

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

ANOC99 CORPORATION 5/f To 10/f Ayala Malls Manila Bay Building D. Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Aseana Street Tambo Parañaque City

NGUYEN VAN THACH Chinese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Able to speak , Read and Write chinese language

No.

29.

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

BIG EMPEROR TECHNOLOGY CORP. 5f-13f, Jiaxing Tower Building Aseana Avenue, Aseana Business Park Tambo Parañaque City Eastfield Center Cbp1, Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Skilled in identifying local construction technologies and construction material sources; Can carry out and monitor testing and inspection of products and materials to ensure the finished product meets quality standards

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

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

CHEN, LONG Chinese Speaking Cognos Developer

Friday, July 2, 2021 A9

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers; Give customers information about products and services.

LIAO, YANG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 32.

Brief Job Description: Enters customer and account data and keeping and maintaining information confidetial.

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about service or products; Excellent Mandarin communication skills.

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

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products; Excellent in Mandarin communication skills.

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

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about service or products; Excellent Mandarin communication skills.

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

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about service or products; Excellent Mandarin communication skills.

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

BusinessMirror

A10 Friday, July 2, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

MAO, RUI Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 33.

Brief Job Description: Enters customer and account data and keeping and maintaining information confidetial.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about service or products; Excellent Mandarin communication skills.

34.

Brief Job Description: Handling of company inquiries on the market, marketing toward potential clients, public project reporting of financial usage budget, project planning, and time keeping.

47.

DING, JIE Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

48.

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

MA, YANNAN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

Basic Qualification: Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Business Management or related disciplines.

49.

PHAM NGOC HIEP Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Floor Six West Campus Mckinley West Fort Bonifacio Taguig City DENG, WEI Mandarin Customer Support Representative 35.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints to ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services and features.

LU, JIAN Mandarin Customer Support Representative 36.

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

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

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

37.

Brief Job Description: Developing, Implementing Sales strategies, client service, plan and analyzing sales data.

51.

38.

Brief Job Description: Duties, services, and responsibilities as may be assigned to him/her from time to time by the management of the Employer or other officials and superior officers.

JANG, SUNGHO Customer Service Representative Korean Speaking

39.

Brief Job Description: Duties, services, and responsibilities as may be assigned to him/her from time to time by the management of the Employer or other officials and superior officers.

JIN, WONCHANG Customer Service Representative Korean Speaking

40.

Brief Job Description: Duties, services, and responsibilities as may be assigned to him/her from time to time by the management of the Employer or other officials and superior officers.

KIM, BYEONGJU Customer Service Representative Korean Speaking

41.

Brief Job Description: Duties, services, and responsibilities as may be assigned to him/her from time to time by the management of the Employer or other officials and superior officers.

KO, KWANGMIN Customer Service Representative Korean Speaking

42.

Brief Job Description: Duties, services, and responsibilities as may be assigned to him/her from time to time by the management of the Employer or other officials and superior officers.

SHIM, MUNSUB Customer Service Representative Korean Speaking

43.

Brief Job Description: Duties, services, and responsibilities as may be assigned to him/her from time to time by the management of the Employer or other officials and superior officers.

SONG, JAECHUL Customer Service Representative Korean Speaking

44.

Brief Job Description: Duties, services, and responsibilities as may be assigned to him/her from time to time by the management of the Employer or other officials and superior officers.

52.

45.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the sales and marketing operations of the company

ZHU, ZHENGJIANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

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

Basic Qualification: Good oral communication, , specifically English and Korean

Basic Qualification: Good oral communication, , specifically English and Korean

53.

54.

55.

56.

57.

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

Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot , Maintain and monitor the computer system

Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot , Maintain and monitor the computer system

WANG, JINZHOU Mandarin Technical Support 58.

Brief Job Description: Evaluates expansions or enhancements by studying work load and capacity of computer system.

WANG, YU Mandarin Technical Support 59.

Brief Job Description: Evaluates expansions or enhancements by studying work load and capacity of computer system.

TANG, JINZHAO Mandarin Technical Support Specialist 60.

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

Basic Qualification: Relevant work experience in fit-out company and fit out projects; Experience in bidding for office fitout projects; With strong connection with real estate companies and brokers.

Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, Maintain an monitor the computer system

FANG, YUXIAN Mandarin Technical Support

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Good oral communication, , specifically English and Korean

Brief Job Description: Conducting research and marketing strategies to develop areas of the business

DONG, BOLIN Mandarin Technical Support

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Good oral communication, , specifically English and Korean

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

DENG, XIANGYU Mandarin Technical Support

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Good oral communication, , specifically English and Korean

Brief Job Description: Evaluates expansions or enhancements by studying work load and capacity of computer system.

46.

Brief Job Description: Provide leadership and vision to the Corporation; Assist in initiating and developing corporate objectives and policies; and Formulating long range projects, plan and programs.

Basic Qualification: N/A

61.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing in Mandarin

65.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LI, XIUHAI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

LIN, LIANGZHEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

66.

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

67.

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

69.

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient speaking , Reading and writing in Mandarin

70.

71.

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

72.

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

YOON, SIN KOOK Technical Engineer Brief Job Description: System Maintenance

62.

63.

CHEN, JIANAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

LEI, YONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

74.

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

75.

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

LIU, XIAOKE Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

LU, ZHOU Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

NYI TAWN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

REN, XIAOHUI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

SU, ZHANGCHENG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

76.

77.

TRAN VAN THAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

WANG, YUZHAO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

WANG, RUIHUA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

WANG, FEI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

WANG, TENGYUE Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

WU, CHENGWEI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

XIA, LAIXIANG Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Basic Qualification: Proficient speaking , Reading and writing in Mandarin

XIAO, ZHEN Chinese Customer Service

78.

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

79.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

XIONG, JIABIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

80.

Basic Qualification: Computer Literate/With Technical experience in Korea Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

81.

YANG, JIEYONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

ZHANG, YONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

RED DOT MARKETING AND BRANDING INC. Unit 1514 Burgundy Transpacific Place Taft Ave. 079, Bgy. 727 Malate Manila

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

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

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

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

MIR KOREA CORP. Unit 201 Buma Bldg. 1012 Metropolitan Ave. San Antonio Makati City

LEOPALACE21 PHILIPPINES INC. 23/f Tower 6789 6789 Ayala Ave. Bel-air Makati City MANAMI, NAOHISA President

64.

73.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Good oral communication, , specifically English and Korean

TANG, JUNXIANG Mandarin Customer Service

KANG, LIANZHENG Mandarin Marketing Specialist

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Good oral communication, , specifically English and Korean

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing in Mandarin

No.

MINDSCAPE CREATIVES INC. Unit 19-o, Burgundy Corporate Tower 252 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Pio Del Pilar Makati City

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

KDDI PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Units A, B, C, & D, 25/f Rufino Pacific Tower 6784 Ayala Ave. San Lorenzo Makati City

SETO, ATSUKI Account Manager

ZHU, KAI Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

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

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products / Excellent Mandarin communication skills

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

68.

JVD GLOBAL CONSULTANCY INC. L2 Ayala Circuit Mall, Circuit Makati A.p. Reyes Ave. Carmona Makati City CHO, YOONMONG Customer Service Representative Korean Speaking

YAN, ZEHUA Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

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

IRISBLOOM INC. Unit 25d 2/f Zeta Ii Bldg. 19 Salcedo St. San Lorenzo Makati City

DENG, YANPING Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

50.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

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

GERMAN-PHILIPPINE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, INC. 8/f Dohle Haus Manila 30-38 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Ave. San Isidro Makati City FRITZE, TOBIAS PETER Trade Promotion Analyst

No.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

WONGSOMBOON, THANNARIN Foreign Language Customer Service 82.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

HOANG NGOC HOA MY Mandarin Operations Specialist 83.

Brief Job Description: Committed to improving customer experience and operational efficiency

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

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION NGUYEN THAI TRUNG Foreign Language Marketing Specialist

84.

Brief Job Description: Conducting research and marketing strategies to develop areas of the business opportunities

WU, CHANGMING Mandarin Technical Support 85.

Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer system

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin

86.

Brief Job Description: Act as a specialist for the clarification conducting training troubleshooting problems, answering product questions and providing complex daily product support to clients

ZHENG, XIAOBIN Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative 98.

Brief Job Description: Assist/Help customers, Give customer information about products and services

Basic Qualification: proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Chinese

FANG, XUN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

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

Basic Qualification: Degree of Economics, Excellent communication training & presentation; Korean and English language fluency

99.

CAI, YONGMAO Chinese Customer Support Representative 100.

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

87.

Brief Job Description: Implementing the strategy roadmap rules and principles of finance function.

Basic Qualification: 12-15 years’ experience in various finance roles with considerable exposure.

DO HOANG TRUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 88.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions: suggesting information about other products and services NGUYEN MINH TOAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

89.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions: suggesting information about other products and services NGUYEN QUYNH MY Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

90.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions: suggesting information about other products and services

101.

102.

91.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions: suggesting information about other products and services TRINH HOANG NHAT NAM Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

92.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions: suggesting information about other products and services

103.

93.

Brief Job Description: Develop Operational Plans, Implement Brand Strategies, Generate Progress Reports

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

ZHANG, WEI Chinese Customer Support Representative 104.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and Written Skills) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and Written Skills) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and Written Skills)

94.

Brief Job Description: Provides expedient and accurate customer service to French Speaking clients and customers

NIOLANI, BLAISIA French Operations CSR

95.

Brief Job Description: Provides expedient and accurate customer service to French speaking clients and customers. Addresses French customer concerns, queries, issues, complaints and/or places sales orders and product information requests. Prepares reports by accessing account database, analyzing the information contained and providing useful accurate and appropriate data

96.

Brief Job Description: Prepare and maintain company documents and reports and coordinate for daily administrative reports

LEE PEI YIEN Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 97.

Brief Job Description: Prepare and maintain company documents and reports and coordinate for daily administrative reports

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

FENG, LE Mandarin Customer Support Representative 106.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 LIANG, CHENGZHEN Mandarin Customer Support Representative 107.

Basic Qualification: With extensive experience as a Manager, Bilingual English and Mandarin Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

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

Basic Qualification: Candidate must possess at least a Vocational Diploma in any field, Must be fluent in both written and verbal French and English language, At least 1 year of working experience as a BPO Professional, preferably with experience supporting a Bilingual Queue

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

LIN, LIANGZHI Mandarin Customer Support Representative 108.

Basic Qualification: Skilled in French language

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

WANG, LIHONG Mandarin Customer Support Representative 109.

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

WU, JINMING Mandarin Customer Support Representative 110.

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

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

TOPAZBLITZ INC. Unit No. Unit 2c, Flr. No. 4/f, One E-com Center Building Bldg. Ocean Drive St., Mall Of Asia Complex Subd. Zone 10, Barangay 076, District 1 Pasay City

LEE CHU MING Chinese Speaking Admin Associate

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

ZHANG, YONG Chinese Customer Support Representative

TELUS INTERNATIONAL PHILIPPINES, INC. Units 23/f, 31st/f - 37th/f Discovery Centre Adb Avenue, Ortigas Center San Antonio Pasig City IYELI, BIENVENU ILANGA French Operations CSR

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and Written Skills)

SUNGROW POWER RENEWABLES CORP. Unit 2703 27/f Tower 2 The Enterprise Center Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas Makati City

BAI, WENXUAN Director And Country Manager

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

ZHANG, CHONGDE Chinese Customer Support Representative

105.

NGUYEN THE DAT Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

SONG, XIANHUI Chinese Customer Support Representative

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and Written Skills) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

LI, XUEMIAN Chinese Customer Support Representative

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

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS, INC. 10/f Tower 2 Double Dragon Plaza Bldg. Edsa Corner Macapagal Ave. St. Zone 10. Barangay 076, District 1 Pasay City

Brief Job Description: Enters customer and account data and keeping and maintaining information confidential

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products/ excellent mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products/ excellent mandarin communications skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products/ excellent mandarin

ZHANG, BING Mandarin Customer Support Representative 111.

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

No.

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products/ excellent mandarin

113.

114.

XU, CANNAN Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 115.

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

116.

117.

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

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

118.

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

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

PEI, CAN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 119.

Brief Job Description: Enters customer and account data and keeping and maintaining information confidential

SHUM, LOK MING Account Director 120.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for managing and growing key customs of Fiberhome in the Philippines FAN, KEYU Project Manager

121.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for managing technical issues on material equipment being used on projects

122.

CHEN, HONG-MING Sales Division Head Brief Job Description: Oversee the entire sales operations

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

YANG, WEI-TING a.k.a. ERIC YANG Sales Division Head

123.

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

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

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

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, with at least 6months working experience, Fluent in Mandarin/English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer question about services or products, excellent Mandarin communication skills/good organizational skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products/ excellent Mandarin communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer question about services or products, excellent Mandarin communication skills/good organizational skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer question about services or products, excellent Mandarin communication skills/good organizational skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, with at least 6 months working experience, fluent in Mandarin / English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin language, College Level Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin Language , College Degree Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

YULON FINANCE PHILIPPINES CORPORATION 17/f The Curve 32nd St. Corner 3rd Avenue Bonifacio Global City Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

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

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate, with at least 6 months working experience, Fluent in Mandarin / English

WUHAN FIBERHOME INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES PHILS., INC. U-19d 19/f Rufino Pacific Tower 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St. San Lorenzo Makati City

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

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

LI, SUZHAO Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Developing, implementing sales strategies, client service, plan and analyzing sales data

LI, CHUANG Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative

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

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

Brief Job Description: Developing implementing sales strategies, client service, plan and analyzing sales data

ZHU, HANGFEI Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

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

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

Brief Job Description: Enters customer and account date and keeping and maintaining information confidential

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

WHEELSTRIP CORP. 40/f Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a Rufino St. Bel-air Makati City

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

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

Brief Job Description: Enters customer and account data and keeping and maintaining information confidential.

XIANG, PINGAN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

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

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

WANG, JIAXUAN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

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

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

SANOFI-AVENTIS PHILIPPINES, INC. Units 2103 & 2105 21/f One World Place 32nd St., Bonifacio Global City Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

BUREAU, PIERRE HERVE BERNARD Chief Financial Officer

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

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

S&P GLOBAL PHILIPPINES INC. G/f Silver City 2 Frontera Drive, Ortigas East Ugong Pasig City

KIM, BUMCHEOL Product Specialist (korean Speaker)

No.

Friday, July 2, 2021 A11

Brief Job Description: Oversee the entire sales operations

Basic Qualification: College graduate with more than 10 years of relevant experience. Fluent in Mandarin and English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate with more than 10 years of relevant experience. Fluent in Mandarin and English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ZX-PRO TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION 16/f Robinsons Cybergate 3 Pioneer Brgy. Barangka Ilaya Mandaluyong City

LAN, YUANFENG Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative 124.

Brief Job Description: Assist.Help customers, give customers information about products and services

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service/ Good in oral Communications and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 *Date Generated: Jul 1, 2021

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

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

TWILIGHTBIZ INC. 40/f Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor. V.a Rufino St. Bel-air Makati City

HU, QI Chinese Speaking Business Analyst 112.

Brief Job Description: Planning, maintaining, and coordinate the development of primary and secondary market research

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products/ Excellent Mandarin communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

A12 Friday, July 2, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

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editorial

‘The safe way is the best way’

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loomberg’s Covid Resilience Ranking scores the largest 53 economies on their success at containing Covid-19 with the least amount of social and economic disruption. Bloomberg uses 12 indicators to grade countries: People covered by vaccines; lockdown severity; flight capacity; vaccinated travel routes; one-month cases per 100,000; one-month fatality rate; total deaths per 1 million; positive test rate; community mobility; 2021 gross domestic product growth forecast; universal health-care coverage; and human development index.

By zeroing in on the progress of vaccine distribution and other barometers, Bloomberg provides a window into how these economies’ fortunes may shift in the future. “It’s not a final verdict—it never could be, given the imperfections in virus and vaccine data and the fast pace of this crisis, which has seen subsequent waves confound places that handled outbreaks well initially. Circumstance and pure luck also play a role, but are hard to quantify,” Bloomberg said.

Here’s a snapshot of how the pandemic is playing out in the world: Rich countries are getting vaccinated about 25 times faster than most of the developing world, according to Bloomberg’s vaccine tracker. Many poor countries, lacking the purchasing power to ink supply deals that could put them in front of the queue for Covid jabs, have to rely on the COVAX initiative. Thus, the divide between rich and poor countries has become increasingly apparent in the Covid Resilience Ranking since Bloomberg started keeping track in November 2020.

Based on the recent ranking, the Philippines got the second lowest score, just ahead of Argentina at the bottom. Here’s the list of 10 countries with the lowest resilience scores: Argentina (37), the Philippines (45.3), Malaysia (46.6), India (47.7), Indonesia (48.2), Colombia (48.6), Pakistan (50.7), Bangladesh (51.3), Peru (51.4), and Taiwan (52.1). Bloomberg said the Philippines, India, and some Latin American countries ranked low “amid a perfect storm of variant-driven outbreaks, slow vaccination, and global isolation.”

The 10 countries with the highest resilience scores are the United States (76), New Zealand (73.7), Switzerland (72.9), Israel (72.9), France (72.8), Spain (72), Australia (70.1), Mainland China (69.9), United Kingdom (68.7), and South Korea (68.6).

Reacting to the Bloomberg report, Malacañang on Wednesday stressed the importance of considering the total health of the nation, admitting that the pandemic is taking a heavy toll on the country’s economy. Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said that despite the Philippines’s low ranking, Malacañang is confident that our economy is on tract to recover from the effects of Covid-19.

“We cannot deny the effect of the pandemic on the Philippine economy.

But our economic team is confident that we are slowly recovering and that we will recover eventually,” Roque said, adding that our economic managers are doing everything they can to ensure a delicate balance between health and economy. “Our policy now is to ensure that we not only lower Covid numbers but also prevent hunger among our people.”

The Philippines is steadily accelerating its vaccine rollout, which is a vital factor for reopening businesses. The question now is whether new and concerning variants emerging from outbreaks in India, Indonesia and other countries will hold back plans to reopen the economy.

Covid restrictions recently eased in the National Capital Region, but the rise in cases in regional areas and the emergence of the Delta variant are timely reminders for government to move with a heavy dose of caution in its efforts to safely reopen the economy. Our low Covid resilience ranking should not push us to move with haste. As a safety slogan says, “The safe way is the best way.”

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A whole-of-nation immunization campaign Sonny M. Angara

Better Days

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ecently, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund declared that the polio outbreak in the Philippines has ended after the country recorded zero cases for 16 months since surveillance and an immunization campaign were launched.

This recent accomplishment is actually the second time the country was affirmed by the WHO to have beaten the sickness. The first was in 2000, some six years after the Department of Health (DOH), led by the late former health secretary and senator Juan Flavier, launched a massive immunization campaign called Oplan Alis Disease. According to Dr. Mike Vergara, who was among the chief architects of the campaign, some 24 million Filipinos were vaccinated under the program within just two days, covering 98 percent of the target population for the polio vaccine during the program’s first year.

The more recent polio-free declaration in June 2021 was also driven by a similarly massive immunization campaign where 30 million doses of the polio vaccine were distributed nationwide. In both vaccination campaigns, what stood out was how government acted with the full sup-

port of the private sector and civic organizations.

Of course, this isn’t to say that these immunization campaigns were not without their share of issues. For instance, in a December 2020 commentary, Drs. Sophia Graciela Reyes, Edward Christopher Dee, and Beverly Lorraine Ho argued that vaccine coverage occasionally dropped throughout the decades, in part because certain groups spread false claims about the doses being administered.

Fast forward to today, according to a May 2021 Social Weather Stations survey, only 3 out of 10 Filipinos were reportedly willing to get vaccinated against Covid-19 primarily due to a fear of possible side effects.

Worse, the remaining individuals who want to be vaccinated prefer one brand of vaccine over another, which is definitely a hindrance given the limited supply of vaccines from across the world.

The World Economic Forum lists low vaccine confidence as one of the world’s most pressing public health concerns. This is particularly true today, amid the pandemic. Therefore, to ensure a quicker return to normalcy, it is crucial that vaccine trust is promoted among the public if only to increase uptake.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, underscored the responsibility of institutions in advocating that vaccination is still one of the best protections from serious infectious diseases (such as Covid-19) and that uncertainties surrounding the vaccines must be responded with “patience, compassion, and with a clear explanation of the science” to support its safety and benefits.

In an article, Professor Brendan Nyhan of Dartmouth College observed, however, that not all people trust medicine and science as can be observed in the US. Hence, the cooperation of religious organizations, schools, businesses, and civic groups is critical in laying down accurate information on vaccines and their benefits. Nyhan reported that such approach proved successful in reducing unsafe practices during the Ebola crisis in Africa where communities apparently heeded the advice of local leaders and community health workers more than their public health officials.

The same recommendation applies in the local setting as suggested in the study of Drs. Reyes, Dee, and

Ho earlier cited—that everyone in the community must be engaged to shore up trust in the vaccines. This is important to foster “vaccine and science literacy,” which is part and parcel of the public health infrastructure needed to ensure that the targeted population can make informed decisions about immunization.

During the sponsorship of Republic Act 11525 or the Covid-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021 in the Senate, I emphasized how our recovery would be fueled by a wholeof-nation approach, where all sectors of society, all levels of government, all our policies, regulations, and systems must be in sync so we can fully recover from the pandemic. As a result, the law, which was authored by 20 senators, embodies the multisectoral approach envisioned to warrant a successful rollout of the National Covid-19 Vaccination Program.

Equipped with the lessons from the past, enabling legal frameworks, and a gradually stabilizing vaccine supply, we can certainly accomplish the daunting task of achieving herd immunity. If we, Filipinos, have worked together to overcome disease outbreaks twice before, then there’s no stopping us from beating Covid-19.

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

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

Xi takes firm line as China Communist Party marks centenary

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EIJING—China will not allow itself to be bullied and anyone who tries will face “broken heads and bloodshed in front of the iron Great Wall of the 1.4 billion Chinese people,” President Xi Jinping said at a mass gathering Thursday to mark the centenary of the ruling Communist Party.

Wearing a grey buttoned-up suit of the type worn by Mao Zedong, Xi spoke from the balcony of Tiananmen Gate, emphasizing the party’s role in bringing China to global prominence and saying it would never be divided from the people.

Xi, who is head of the party and leader of the world’s largest armed forces, also said China had restored order in Hong Kong following antigovernment protests in the semi-autonomous city in 2019 and reiterated Beijing’s determination to bring selfgoverning Taiwan under its control.

He received the biggest applause, however, when he described the party as the force that had restored China’s dignity and turned it into the world’s second largest economy since taking power amid civil war in 1949.

“The Chinese people are a people with a strong sense of pride and selfconfidence,” Xi said. “We have never bullied, oppressed or enslaved the people of another nation, not in the past, during the present or in the future.”

“At the same time, the Chinese people will absolutely not allow any foreign force to bully, oppress or enslave us and anyone who attempts to do so will face broken heads and bloodshed in front of the iron Great Wall of the 1.4 billion Chinese people,” Xi said.

Xi’s comments come as China is enmeshed in a deepening rivalry with the United States for global power status and has clashed with India along their disputed border.

China also claims unpopulated islands held by Japan and almost the entire South China Sea, and it threatens to invade Taiwan, with which the US has boosted relations and military sales.

Beijing also faces criticism that it is guilty of abusing its power at home, including detaining more than 1 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities for political reeducation in the northwestern region of Xinjiang, and for imprisoning or intimidating into silence those it sees as potential opponents from Tibet to Hong Kong.

Thursday’s events are the climax of weeks of ceremonies and displays praising the role of the Communist Party in bringing vast improvements in quality of life at home and restoring China’s economic, political and military influence abroad. Those improvements coupled with harshly repressing opponents have helped the party hold power despite its 92 million members accounting for just over 6% of China’s population.

While the progress dates mainly from economic reforms enacted by Deng Xiaoping four decades ago, the celebrations spotlight the role of Xi, who has established himself as China’s most powerful leader since Mao. Xi mentioned the contributions of past leaders in his address, but his claims to have attained breakthroughs in poverty alleviation and economic progress while raising China’s global profile and standing up to the West were front and center.

Xi, 68, has eliminated limits on his time in office and is expected to begin a third five-year term as party leader next year.

In seeking to capture more gains for the party on the world stage, Xi is setting up China for a protracted struggle with the US, said Robert Sutter of George Washington University’s Elliot School

of International Affairs.

“In foreign affairs it involves growth of wealth and power, with China unencumbered as it pursues its very self-centered policy goals at the expense of others and of the prevailing world order,” Sutter said.

While the party faces no serious challenges to its rule, the legitimacy of its rule has been undercut by past disasters such as the mass famine of the Great Leap Forward in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Cultural Revolution’s violent class warfare and xenophobia, and the 1989 bloodshed at Tiananmen Square.

The party’s official narrative glosses over past mistakes or current controversies, emphasizing development, stability and efficiency— including its success in controlling Covid-19 at home—in contrast to what it portrays as political bickering, bungling of pandemic control measures and social strife in multiparty democracies.

Xi’s comments Thursday on bullying, oppression and enslavement will elicit historical memories among Chinese of the 19th century Opium Wars that led to foreign nations gaining special legal and economic privileges in China, as well as Japan’s brutal invasion and occupation of much of the country during the 1930s and 1940s. AP

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Friday, July 2, 2021 A13

The changing narratives Imperfect condolences of the PNoy legacy Tito Genova Valiente

Leonardo A. Lanzona Jr.

EAGLE WATCH

T

he stories or narratives that we tell to ourselves may have a profound impact on the way society makes decisions. Economics Nobel Laureate Robert J. Shiller, in a recent book, highlights the importance of narratives that are shared by economists, policy-makers, and the general public in predicting market movements, economic performance, and political turnarounds.

Recognizing the political value of false claims, avid supporters of certain celebrities have manipulated these narratives to achieve their ends. The proliferation of fictionalized facts or fake news can very well explain the observed popularity of certain high-ranking government officials and their families.

For many Filipinos, the untimely death of President Benigno S. Aquino III is an appropriate occasion to reflect and understand the legacy of the person whom we refer as to PNoy, and to assess how the narratives surrounding his administration may have affected our society today.

Less than six years have passed since Aquino stepped down from office, but the social environment—even before the pandemic—has vastly changed from one of democratic order and prudence to that of dictatorial impunity and populism.

PNoy was elected based on the platform of weeding out corruption.

His slogan of “Kung Walang Corrupt, Walang Mahirap” has permeated at all levels of his government and resulted in changes beyond those that were initially expected. Tagged as “Matuwid na Daan,” these reforms seemingly translated into economic gains, with real gross domestic product (GDP) growth rates averaging at 6.2 percent, capped by an unprecedented economic growth rate of 7.2 percent at the end of 2013. The various credit-rating upgrades received by the country were measurable indications of the accomplishments in governance, especially in fiscal discipline and monetary management. As a consequence, poverty incidence declined by almost 5 percentage points in a period of six years.

Through a series of social and economic reforms, the Philippines under PNoy was perceived to have finally pulled its act together, turning its back on its long history of inefficiency to a modern and resurgent economy. Aquino’s administration was the first in history to be elected on a comprehensive and coordinated platform of anti-corruption. While other presidents may have vowed to eradicate corruption, Aquino was the only one with the political will to have fulfilled effectively this promise, notably imprisoning three sitting senators and one former president in that period.

However, his rivals matched this set of achievements with an array of arguable weaknesses. Three main events comprise this alternate narrative. The first was the botched rescue attempt of a tourist bus that was hijacked by a disgruntled former police officer, resulting in the killing of eight foreigners. The second was the administration’s sluggish reaction to the destruction brought by Typhoon Haiyan, causing the death of 6,000 people, with millions of homeless individuals, in Samar and Leyte. The third was the failed operation to capture a wanted Malaysian militant, leading to the fatality of 44 commandos.

Filled with human drama, these events became viral and progressively lead to an epidemic of narratives which were compounded by other events, such as the Metro Railway Transit Mess, the “Laglag Bala” fiasco, and the Disbursement Acceleration Program controversy. What emerged was an unfavorable perception of a man who was hungry for power, aloof to the needs of the people, and willing to sacrifice

As we approach the national elections, the democratic forces must celebrate, preserve, and defend the legacy of PNoy. While Philippine elections continue to be based on personalities, the achievements of another member of the Aquino family can once again serve as example for future generations of politicians and be a rallying call for democratic principles. the lives of his people for his glory.

In short, PNoy was portrayed as an ineffectual “elitist” scion of untrustworthy political landowners.

His foes reinforced this constellation of narratives when they take every opportunity to link PNoy and his administration to the difficulties the current government faces. This thread begins from his purported cowardly stance on drug addiction to his wavering position on the West Philippine Sea at the start of the hostilities.

Driven by an army of trolls in the social media, this constant repetition of the elitist PNoy illusion has made it possible for his rivals to gain and later solidify their control of the government.

More importantly, truth is not enough to stop these narratives.

Even when it is disproven, the illusion thrives because people are uninformed of its falsity, or other individuals supporting the illusion will vouch for its veracity by lying.

The fabricated claims can be also linked to some other observed phenomena, which may be true but are unrelated to the issue. The failure to recognize the unwillingness of Americans to support the military fully during the time of Martial Law has been used lately to insinuate an assumed weakness of the PNoy administration.

Nevertheless, if the truth comes out as undeniable and in-your-face obvious, then the prevailing narrative can be defeated. In this case, the peaceful death of PNoy in the house where he grew up is a clear indication that he did not use the Presidency to enrich himself. Furthermore, the various illnesses that he suffered are a testament to the self-sacrifice he was willing to endure in the service of his country.

While controversy may surround his term and even his death, one thing is definite: PNoy placed the country at a much better place than it was with his executive competence and moral decency.

This incontrovertible fact negates completely the illusion of PNoy as an ineffective president. A fundamental truth then stands. With all the popularity and acclaimed power of the current administration, economic growth has not been as dynamic and pro-poor as in PNoy’s time, with or without the pandemic.

As we approach the national elections, the democratic forces must celebrate, preserve, and defend the legacy of PNoy. While Philippine elections continue to be based on personalities, the achievements of another member of the Aquino family can once again serve as example for future generations of politicians and be a rallying call for democratic principles.

Leonardo A. Lanzona, Jr. is a Professor of Economics at the Ateneo de Manila University.

annotations

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Y the end of the simple and moving funeral of President Aquino, Bayan Ko was played, a song that had not been played for a long time.

The movement that involved the announcement of the former president’s demise, the procedure leading to the cremation and the wake at this leader’s beloved university was indeed brief. And yet, there was a feeling the night seemed to lengthen as people from all walks of life started to mourn for the man. When the day of the final departure arrived, the display of water cannons as tribute was answered by people going out into the streets, raising up photos of the deceased for all the living to see, waving their hands tied with yellow ribbons—these were communities proud once more to show their real color, persons unashamed to cry for this person, who, they thought now, led them with propriety.

The yellow color has been despised for many long years by a populace embracing a new order, bullied and unexpectedly silenced by the vociferous discourses proclaiming ad hominem a senseless past against a present that only makes sense because it is there.

Nationalism being suspect and a nation unsteady amidst the structured inequalities, the death of a leader is the closest a territory called the Philippines can approach the notion and praxis of a union. A common vision, a felt sense of belonging to allied horizons and identity, even if for empirical moments, and a persuasive pride about histories—all these and more could have happened with the sorrow and sincere gratitude. After the first torrent of emotions and shock—after all this president had

opted to efface rather than effect a magisterial political patronage— came, however, the critique not only of the deceased but of the entire system of politics that had been dominant in this island republic.

It was as if life ephemeral had opened a portal into intellectual discourses; it was as if death did lift the sign divined to segue into debates on economics.

What it was that was apparent then, immediately a day after the official news of the death, was this: we did not know how to mourn the passing of a person. There was no poetry in the loss; there was only the acerbic prose of recriminations.

Which is not saying that we should lie about leader’s flaws and faults.

But traditions, as we know them, allows a few days for wakes and vigils, after which, no one can stop anyone from commenting on the one who is not with us anymore. We can write papers about his failed administration or, balancing the bad with the good, analyze what went wrong and what should have been. The intellect will never fail us when it comes to making sense of a presidency or capturing the inutility of policies and administrations.

But, for heaven’s sake, no one offers condolences with criticisms, prayers with perusal, and sympathies with subtle inquisitions.

Picture this: You are entering a funeral parlor or a home. You meet the bereaved and you extend your arms, or in this present pandemic, make a gesture of bereavement. Allowed to speak,

you begin with the condolence, followed by an enumeration of the faults of the dead person.

The absurdity of the scene I imagined above was anticipated by many in social media. Hours after the knowledge of Aquino’s death, netizens posted warnings how they will “unfriend” or “block” anybody who spoke ill of the former president. In a society keen about rites of grieving, there was no need for that warning. And yet, the events that transpired days ago only displayed how the boundaries between the personal/social had already been dissipated by the trenchant in us, by this sense of entitlement to ideation of politics and power prompted in all our actions. The bracketing of the quotidian life had altogether disappeared, leaving in its wake the men and women who needed to speak up, and speak up with arrogance and anger anytime, and always.

Thus, in social media again, a vast sector tended to imply there was a correct and proper manner of speaking of the dead. This group frowned entirely on the caveats that attended the comments released by those who

Four generations of Aquinos Manny F. Dooc

TELLTALES Part One

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O family has done and suffered more in the service of their country than the Aquinos of Tarlac. Their noble lineage runs four generations and covers over a century of public service, marked by three major wars and a peaceful Edsa Revolution that have defined our nation. Each generation played a prominent role in shaping our country’s history and developments during times of peace and war.

The patriarch of the Aquino clan, General Servillano “Don Mianong” Aquino, eminently figured in the Philippine Revolution against Spain and the Philippine-American War. He studied in San Juan de Letran and later pursued law at the University of Santo Tomas. A member of the Mason and a scion of a landed family in Tarlac, Don Mianong married a well-bred and wellto-do daughter of the richest family in Murcia,Tarlac—the TanedoQuiambao whose vast landholdings extended all the way to Nueva Ecija.

When the struggle against Spain erupted in 1896, Don Mianong was one of the illustrados who joined the revolution under the command of General Francisco Makabulos of Tarlac. As the Captain Municipal (formerly gobernadorcillo) of Murcia at the age of 24, he set up a rebel government in his town. He recruited troops and organized his army, which conducted raids on Spanish garrisons in Tarlac. He set up his headquarters in Mt. Arayat where he mounted successful battles against the Spanish troops in Mabalacat and Bamban. He was, however, repulsed in Angeles where the Spaniards were

strongly barricaded inside a convent. When General Emilio Aguinaldo retreated to Biak-na-Bato, then a Major or Comandante, Don Mianong took part in drafting and signing the Philippine Constitution. This set up the first Philippine Republic, which elected Aguinaldo as our first President.

The Spanish forces mounted a strong offensive against the Pampango troops entrenched in the impenetrable jungle of Camansi, Mt. Arayat. With superior forces outnumbering the rebels and armed with a powerful cannon, the Spaniards overran the rebels’ stronghold, counting 93 insurrectionists dead. Camansi fell but Don Mianong escaped to San Fernando and resumed recruiting fresh troops. He was caught and imprisoned in Fort Santiago. He was courtmartialed and sentenced to death by firing squad on December 14, 1897. His two elder sons, Gonzalo and Benigno, Sr. (Ninoy’s father), were brought to his cell to see him for the last time. Two or three days before his execution, the Pact of Biak-na-Bato was signed to end the Filipino-Spanish War on De-

cember 15, 1897. Don Mianong was set free. When Aguinaldo returned from HK, General Makabulos and Don Mianong liberated Tarlac and the surrounding areas from the Spanish forces. Don Mianong was made the military governor of the province. A counter force of peasant army called Guardia de Honor, known locally as “tulisanes,” also operated to kidnap or kill alleged abusive officials appointed by the victorious Philippine Revolutionary government. The Guardia de Honor raided one hacienda after another and ransacked the mansions of their valuables. The most heinous was the attack on the house and family of Don Mianong. The town president of Murcia who was Don Mianong’s father-in-law and Don Mianong’s wife, Guadalupe, who was then pregnant and staying with her father, were killed. Don Mianong continued the struggle for independence when the US colonized the Philippines after Spain ceded us to the Americans. He returned to his former stronghold in Mt. Arayat to resist the American forces. In one armed encounter, his troops captured 5 American soldiers, 3 of whom were later executed and two seriously injured. Accounts of these incidents varied and it helped Aquino to obtain a pardon from the American President. Several American expeditions were sent to capture or kill him but he eluded his pursuers. When the amnesty was granted, he left his mountain lair and unconditionally surrendered. He was charged for the alleged atrocities committed against the American prisoners and was sentenced to death, which was commuted to life imprisonment by the US President upon appeal by his American lawyer, Thomas Hartigan. Don Mianong was imprisoned in Bilibid until President Theodore Roosevelt pardoned him upon recommendation of former

admired Aquino despite his “imperfections.” While many of us may personally not favor this approach, it was not the time to censure the hearts and minds of those who were attempting to find solace in the memory of a person, perhaps not loved but respected, perhaps admired but, manifesting a recognition, which, like the political processes common during the time of another Aquino, reflected the critical “Yes.” Deaths could unify. But, this death, as of last week and this week, seems not to rally for unification but division. And yet, it must be said, we feel a stirring. Yellow ribbons are appearing all over parks and streets of towns and cities. To the “imperfections” of Aquino, the president, we should add our own imperfections, and allow those from all classes to express their imperfect sympathies and, those of the intelligentsia, their divergent, dissenting readings of class biases in political memories.

In the meantime, there is Bayan Ko to sing, in our imperfect, resurrected human voice.

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

Governor General William Howard Taft. Finally, on March 25, 1904, Don Mianong was home from the war and after 4 years of imprisonment at the age of 30. He remained a gentleman-farmer and became one of the biggest landowners of the province. Aside from Hacienda Murcia, he converted vast riceland and sugarland into Hacienda Tinang, Hacienda Lauang, Hacienda Pandakaki and Hacienda Paligue. He eventually distributed these estates to his children and heirs.

Don Mianong, a tall, dark, handsome and virile man married three times. He was lean and straightbodied and dapper in his attire.

He was 72 when he asked for the woman’s hand from her horrified parents accompanied by his son Benigno, Sr. and her daughter in-law, Doña Aurora. Since the woman’s family was against it, they eloped and they were married in Manila

by Archbishop Gabriel Reyes. At age 75, Don Mianong was a father again and the couple named the son, Herminio. Herminio later served as a Congressman of Tarlac and a vicepresidential running mate of the late Senator Raul S. Roco in 2004.

Don Mianong’s countless admirers who regarded him as an authentic hero tried to interest him in politics and initiated a move to draft him for governor of Tarlac, but he strongly rebuffed them. He hated politics after briefly serving as Captain Municipal of Murcia and military governor of Tarlac during the revolution. Both were appointive positions. It was strange that his descendants would take to politics like a duck to water. In fact, his most famous son, Benigno, Sr., would join politics in 1919 to run for representative of the 2nd District of Tarlac, and there was no return for the Aquinos to normal life after that.

To be continued.

A14 Friday, July 2, 2021

‘Whole-of-govt’ tack needed to exit FATF grey list–BSP T HE Philippines needs a “whole-ofgovernment” approach to secure its delisting from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) so-called “grey list,” the Central Bank chief said on Thursday, as lawmakers sought to fast-track necessary legislation when Congress resumes session later this month.

“It must be emphasized that accomplishing the action items should be the concern of the entire country.

A whole-of-government approach is imperative as evident in the Philippines’s National Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) Strategy for 2018 to 2022 (NACS),” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) governor and Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) chairman Benjamin Diokno told reporters in a briefing.

The international watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) earlier released its so-called “grey list” or the list of jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing.

The list comprised 22 jurisdictions, with four new entrants for

this year including the Philippines, Haiti, Malta and South Sudan.

The Philippines was placed under a 12-month observation period by the FATF in October 2019, following the country’s evaluation of money laundering safeguards.

This observation period was extended until February 2021 due to the pandemic. However, the Philippines failed to complete the required standards and was eventually grey listed by the international organization.

The BSP governor, however, gave assurances that government is “on top of the situation” in pulling the country off of the list.

Let me assure you that the NACC is on top of the situation.

Even prior to the FATF Statement on the Philippines, the NACC met and all agencies involved have com-

mitted to accomplish the 18 action items within the timelines given,” Diokno said, referring to the National Anti-Money Laundering/ Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Coordinating Committee. “All relevant agencies will work unceasingly to ensure our compliance,” he added.

The governor earlier said the Philippines will likely be delisted from the FATF grey list “on or before” 2023. He also said the Philippines will report its progress to the FATF thrice a year — January, May and September; the first report will be this September.

AMLC report sought

The Senate Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies on Thursday asked the AntiMoney Laundering Council (AMLC) to render a report on Philippine efforts to get out of the “grey list.”

Sen. Grace Poe, who chairs the committee, sought a report from AMLC to update senators on the situation so as to assess options to craft remedial legislation, if needed, in order to “get off the grey list.”

She said senators expect “a substantial update from the AMLC on the concrete steps and direction we

are taking to ensure progress on our compliance.”

Poe recalled that the AMLC itself earlier acknowledged that Congress already “did its part in resolving the technical deficiencies of the law by amending the Anti-Money Laundering Act (Amla).”

She noted that passing the necessary amendments to the law was “one of the requirements under the mutual evaluation report which was duly met.”

Stressing that the Amla reforms are vital in protecting the earn ings of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the senator said, “we should not make it difficult for our OFWs to send hard-earned money to their loved ones,” adding that “they must be spared of undue costs and delays in their remittances.”

Citing BSP reports, Poe said total money sent by Filipino migrant workers from January to April this year reached $9.9 billion, higher by 4.8 percent than the $9.4-billion remittance inflows in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, Poe pointed out, however, that inclusion in the grey list does not automatically subject the Philippines to countermeasures, as the AMLC earlier said.

Nonetheless, she said, the country needs to substantially comply with the needed reforms within a given time frame to avert the financial sanctions.

Poe recalled that earlier, Governor Diokno was reported to have committed to work with the FATF and the Asia Pacific Group toward the timely implementation of the action plans.

The country’s financial intelligence unit had vowed to resolve the remaining strategic deficiencies, which are down to 18 from 70, to be stricken off the grey list.

PANDEMIC DEEPENS JOB INSECURITY OF MIGRANT WORKERS–ILO REPORT

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

W

HILE migrant workers account for 5 percent of the global labor force, many of them are in informal jobs, making them vulnerable to job insecurity and Covid-19, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO).

In its latest report, ILO noted that the total number of migrant workers increased by 3 percent to 169 million in 2019 from 164 million in 2017.

However, ILO said many migrant workers are employed in “temporary, informal or unprotected jobs” and the pandemic deepend their vulnerability.

“The pandemic has exposed the precariousness of their situation.

Migrant workers are often first to be laid-off, they experience difficulties in accessing treatment and they are often excluded from national Covid-19 policy responses,” said Manuela Tomei, Director of the ILO Conditions of Work and Equality Department.

Many of those regarded as highly vulnerable are women migrant workers who are “overrepresented in low-paid and lowskilled jobs,” and have limited access to social protection and other support services.

“The labor force participation rate of migrants is higher than or at par with non-migrants. The exceptionally high labour force participation rate of migrants (and low participation of nonmigrants) in the Arab States (at 78.5 percent) is noteworthy,” the report noted.

Where they are based on the data, over two-thirds of international migrant workers are hosted by high-income countries.

Of the 169 million international migrant workers, 63.8

million or 37.7 percent are in Europe and Central Asia while another 43.3 million or 25.6 percent are in the Americas.

ILO said collectively, Europe and Central Asia and the Americas host 63.3 percent of all migrant workers. The Arab States, and Asia and the Pacific each host about 24 million migrant workers; together they account for 28.5 percent of all migrant workers.

In Africa, ILO counted 13.7 million migrant workers, representing 8.1 percent of the total.

Further, the majority of migrant workers in the continent —99 million—are men, while 70 million are women.

“Women face more socioeconomic obstacles as migrant workers and are more likely to migrate as accompanying family members for reasons other than finding work,” ILO said in a statement.

“They can experience gender discrimination in employment and may lack networks, making it difficult to reconcile work and family life in a foreign country,” it added.

Young migrants

ILO said the share of youth migrant workers—aged 15 to 24 years old—rose by almost 2 percent to 16.8 million in 2019.

This meant 3.2 million of these young migrant workers joined the labor force before the pandemic, from only 13.6 million in 2017.

The total share of youth among international migrant workers rose from 8.3 percent in 2017 to 10 percent in 2019.

ILO attributed this rise to high youth unemployment rates in many developing countries.

The large majority of migrant workers or 86.5 percent are between the ages of 25 and 64, and considered prime-age adult migrant workers.

Continued on A4

Arta releases govt agencies’ regulatory management code

By Tyrone C. Piad @Tyronepiad

T

HE Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta) launched on Thursday a regulatory management code for the government agencies to follow in a bid to further streamline processes.

Arta Deputy Director General Ernesto V. Perez said during the launch ceremony that the Philippine Good Regulatory Principles (PGRP) is in line with the Ease of Doing Business law and Administrative Order 23, which both seek to cut red tape in government transactions.

The PGRP aims to provide a flexible and principles-based framework in crafting suitable and efficient regulatory policies.

It seeks to serve as a “guide for regulators to provide policies, procedures, organizational values, behavioral and service standards expected of them in able for businesses and other regulated entities to understand what they should expect from those who regulate them,” Perez explained.

“The code provides for business and regulated entities an assessment tool to evaluate regulators in the application of the principles for existing and proposed regulations that affect or will affect them, enabling regulators to review and respond to

suggestions,” he added.

Under the PGRP, regulators are expected to provide clear policy rationale, policy objectives, institutional frameworks and support mechanisms.

The regulations, according to the code, should be based on “sound legal and empirical” measures. These should be consistent with other regulations and be compatible with competition, trade and investment-facilitation principles.

“Regulators should ensure that the regulators will accrue benefits that will justify the least costs, unintended effects and negative impact to the economy, society and the environment, among others,” it added.

In finalizing the PGRP, the Arta worked with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; and the UK Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. All the parties signed a memorandum of understanding in February last year.

Perez reported that they had five drafting and working group sessions since July last year.

The first working draft of PGRP was finalized in April, and later underwent consultations.

Last June 15, Arta noted that over 270 participants from the public and private sector submitted their inputs and comments.

DFA brings home OFWs from UAE; sets 4 more flights

T

HE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is mounting four more chartered flights to facilitate the immediate repatriation of distressed overseas Filipinos based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“The DFA is particularly looking at the situation in the UAE. We are mounting four chartered flights this July just as we mounted three UAE repatriation flights last June,” said Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Atty.

Sarah Lou Y. Arriola.

The Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OUMWA) tasked its Middle East Desk and its special repatriation unit to continue the big push in the UAE. The DFA’s latest repatriation flight on Thursday, July 1, brought home 348 distressed Filipinos from Dubai. All passengers tested negative in the RT-PCR conducted 48 hours before the flight.

“The DFA chartered flights from the UAE are already scheduled. The flights are to leave UAE on 12, 17, 26 and 30 July.

The July 12 flight is especially for those distressed in the Abu Dhabi region while the rest of the flights are for our distressed kababayan in the Dubai area,” added Assistant Secretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Enrico T. Fos. All repatriates will undergo 14 days’ stringent facility-based quarantine upon arrival in Manila, in conformity with health protocols. “The DFA upholds its sworn duty to help every Filipino in distress anywhere in the world.

The men and women of the Department, through its consulates and embassies abroad, will exhaust all efforts and go the distance in order to bring our kababayan safely home,” Arriola said.

Recto L. Mercene

Companies BusinessMirror

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Friday, July 2, 2021

B1

Cirtek expands capacity to meet demand

L

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

aguna-based Cirtek Holdings Philippines Corp. on Thursday said it continues to collaborate with its customers to address the global chip shortage, which will dictate the pace of the expansion of its semiconductor operations.

The company said its semiconductor unit Cirtek Electronics Corp. started procuring additional equip-

ment in the first quarter to meet the surge in demand from its customers.

The Cirtek Group’s manufacturing

facilities are currently running at full capacity.

The new equipment will enable the company to expand capacity by 25 percent in the second half of 2022.

This expansion is complemented with booked orders received during the first quarter.

Cirtek’s Senior Vice President for Marketing Tony Callueng said the company secured three new customers, which are among the major telecom players in Europe, early this year.

“Due to the industry’s bullish outlook, supply chain backlogs and chip demand outpacing supply, customers have even started to consign equipment to Cirtek as insurance for production capacity on top of Cirtek’s own internal equipment,” the company said.

According to Cirtek, devices and appliances being connected to the internet, 5G wireless communication devices, medical devices and wearables are increas-

ingly becoming popular among consumers.

Integrated Circuit (IC) Insight’s market research report noted that the worldwide semiconductor market is expected to rise by 24 percent this year which will be driven by a 21-percent jump in shipments and a 2-percent increase in average selling price.

The said growth rate would be the third largest increase in the global IC market over the past 16 years, being surpassed only by the 33-percent surge in 2010 and the 25-percent increase in 2017, the study said.

The company said it was able to ramp up production despite the pandemic as it provided aid to its

employees and families affected by Covid-19. Cirtek recently set-up a quarantine pantry for personnel who are required to undergo quarantine in compliance with the health protocols set by the government for people in close contact with Covid-19 patients.

These employees, who are not allowed to work temporarily, were given cash, food, vitamin supplements and protective equipment funded by voluntary contributions from both management and staff.

In addition, the company’s medical team continues to care for its employees through continuous health monitoring, screening and distancing, maintaining virus-free facilities, it said.

PSE: Capital raised in H1 at ₧122.46B Exec: 17 new areas have Dito coverage T D

he Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) on Thursday said it recorded some P122.46 billion in capital raised from the sale of primary and secondary shares in the first half of the year, exceeding the full-year amount raised in 2020.

Capital raising activities in the first semester included two initial public offerings (IPO), two follow-on offerings, two stock rights offerings and three private placements.

“We are pleased that companies continue to tap the equities market for their funding requirements.

Capital raising activities at PSE continue to be robust and we remain optimistic that we will be able to

hit our targets by yearend. We will be conducting next month a few IPO marketing events targeted at SMEs to convince them to take advantage of our relaxed listing rules and the pandemic relief rule, which is in effect until next year,” PSE President and CEO Ramon S. Monzon, said.

Trading activity was also higher in the first semester with daily average value turnover at P8.96 billion, up by 22 percent year-to-date and 36 percent year-on-year.

Foreign funds registered a net selling of P77.8 billion in the January-to-June period.

Meanwhile, the benchmark 30-company PSE index (PSEi)

closed at 6,901.91 on the last trading day of June, down by 3.3 percent year-to-date. The All Shares index dipped by 0.7 percent. Among the sectoral indices, the Services, Financials, Industrial, and Mining and Oil sectors posted gains while the Holding Firms and Property sectors ended lower.

“On May 14, the PSEi slid to its lowest intraday level for the year at 6,080.94 but we have seen the main index recover since, testing the 7,000-mark intraday on June 16. For the month of June, the benchmark index gained 4.1 percent month-onmonth owing to increased investor confidence as more Filipinos get vac-

cinated. If government can meet its target of vaccinating up to 70 million people by the end of the year or even get close to said target, the stock market could return to prepandemic levels in the near term,” Monzon said.

“PSE still has a lot of activities lined up in the next six months, including the launch of new thematic indices, data analytics platform and revamped market education website.

We will also continue hosting our twice-a-month market education webinars for retail investors, who have been very instrumental in driving the market’s development during the pandemic.” VG Cabuag

LRT-2 East Greenergy acquires ANI shares extension G to open on July 5

T

he east extension of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 will be opened to the public on Monday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Thursday.

According to Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, the government has completed all necessary works for the extended railway line, which added two new stations: Marikina-Pasig Station and Antipolo Station.

“Once operational, the LRT-2 East Extension Project will reduce travel time from Claro M. Recto in Manila to Masinag in Antipolo from 3 hours via bus or jeepney, to just 30 to 40 minutes,” he said.

Starting Monday, the rail line’s average daily passenger capacity will be increased from 240,000 passengers to 320,000 passengers.

“Further, the completion of the LRT-2 East Extension Project is expected to help reduce traffic congestion along Marcos Highway, especially in Marikina, Pasig and Antipolo given that road transport passengers will be redirected to riding the train,” Tugade said.

During its construction phase, which started in February 2017, “at least 1,800 jobs were generated.”

“The DOTr also projects that 170 rail personnel will be employed to work in the two new stations,” Tugade said.

In total, the construction of the two new stations, including their electromechanical system requirements, amounted to P4.5 billion.

The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) said the opening of the LRT-2 East Extension was postponed to give the contractor more time to complete the signaling migration and integration works, and other preparatory activities. Lorenz S. Marasigan

reenergy Holdings Inc., one of the holding firms of businessman Antonio Tiu, on Thursday said it acquired some 10 million common share of its sister firm AgriNurture Inc. (ANI) through the open market for P61.3 million.

In its disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the company said it bought the shares at P6.13 apiece.

Greenergy shares closed at P4.46 apiece, while ANI shares closed at P6.33.

As a result of the acquisition of shares, Greenergy now holds a total of 105.1 million shares or equivalent to 10.26 percent of the total issued

and outstanding shares of ANI. ANI was incorporated on February 4, 1997 and started business operations in the same year as an importer, trader and fabricator of post-harvest agricultural machineries intended to improve the productivity as well as increase the income of Filipino farmers.

Formerly known as Mabuhay 2000 Enterprise Inc., ANI was the first to bring into the Philippine market the Mega-Sun brand of grain dryers and thereafter established itself as one of the more reliable local supplier and manufacturer of conveyor systems and

other rice mill equipment. The company eventually diversified into other various agro-commercial businesses, specifically focusing on the export trading of fresh produce as its main revenue stream.

ANI supplies home-grown fruits such as mango, banana and pineapple to customers in Hong Kong, Mainland China, the Middle East, and in different European regions.

The company ventured into the importation and trading of rice in the first quarter of 2015 and has since then participated in the government’s rice importation program for the private sector. VG Cabuag

Lockheed wins $5.5-B Swiss warplane deal

S

witzerland selected Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 warplane for a 5 billion Swiss franc ($5.5 billion) defense order, choosing the model over competing jets from Dassault Aviation SA, Boeing Co. and Eurofighter.

The United States aircraft were “by far” the least expensive and also won on technical grounds, thanks to their ease of operation and superior ability to detect aerial threats. In addition to the 36 planes, the Swiss government will spend 2 billion francs on Raytheon Technologies Corp.’s Patriot missile-defense network.

While Thomas Suessli, the head of Switzerland’s armed forces, said the purchases are vital “to protect the country and the people from threats, including from the air,” they’re likely to trigger another in a series of plebiscites over a defense policy seen as controversial in the neutral nation.

The announcement is the latest in a years-long saga to acquire new fighter jets, with Swiss voters rejecting Saab AB’s Gripen in a 2014 referendum. Defense Minister Viola Amherd pushed for the overhaul due to the need to retire current aircraft, but only managed to get a green light from the public for the procurement by a very thin margin last year.

The Swiss decision comes as a blow

A Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35 fighter jet performs an air display on the first day of the 16th Dubai Air Show at Dubai World Central (DWC) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on November 17, 2019. Bloomberg News

for Eurofighter consortium member Airbus SE, which had offered final assembly of the planes in Switzerland as a last minute sweetener, according to press reports over the weekend. Britain’s BAE Systems Plc and Leonardo SpA of Italy are the other members of the group.

Boeing had pitched its F/A-18 Super Hornet—based on the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets the new aircraft are intended to replace—while France’s Dassault offered its Rafale.

Davos patrols

Lockheed Martin and Raytheon each traded 1.1 percent higher as of 11:07 a.m. in New York following the announcement, while Dassault was priced 3.2 percent lower in Paris. Boe-

ing and Airbus, which rely more on jetliner manufacture than defense activities, both rose.

The Swiss parliament needs to approve the purchase. The government says the aircraft are required to defend national airspace and for tasks like patrolling the skies during the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Critics object to the high costs and say new planes won’t help counter novel threats like cyber attacks.

The anti-military Group for Switzerland Without an Army said the purchase is misguided and that the government should focus on threats such as the coronavirus or climate change. It has pledged to work with the opposition Social Democrats and Greens to trigger a popular vote on the acquisition. Bloomberg News

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

ito Telecommunity Corp., the third telco licensee, has expanded its coverage to new areas in Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Negros, and Northern Mindanao.

Adel Tamano, the company’s chief administrative officer, said 17 new areas in the said regions now have Dito coverage. These areas include certain portions of Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Batangas, Negros Occidental, and Misamis Oriental.

With this, Dito is now available in 140 cities nationwide.

“Following our June 12 announcement of Dito being commercially available in 123 cities as a means to commemorate the 123rd Independence Day celebration, we are pleased to inform everyone that we have added 17 new areas as of June 30,” Tamano said.

To celebrate this, Dito is offering a data bucket promo of 25GB for a month for P199. It also includes 300 minutes of calls for other networks, unlimited calls to Dito phones, and unlimited texts to all networks.

Dito is set to expand its coverage to 51 percent of the population this year in keeping with its commitment to the government.

A network audit is set for July 8 to determine if Dito is delivering its commitments for its second year of operations: 55 Mbps of average download speed with 51 percent network coverage and an 80-percent network reliability rate.

In March, Dito said it will not be able to turn a profit in 2022, given the long-term gestation period of its investments, which will reach the P226-billion mark next year.

Rodolfo Santiago, the company’s chief technology officer, said his group’s projections show that Dito, the third telco, will not be profitable for the first two years of its operations.

Dito spent P150 billion to build its maiden network last year. This year, it is spending P26 billion to further expand the network to 45 percent of the population, while providing a minimum average speed of 55 Mbps. Next year, it has allotted another P50 billion for its network investments.

‘5G to drive growth of PHL telcos’

T

he National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) believes that 5G will drive the growth of the telecommunications sector this year, and will help empower various industries to digitally transform their processes.

Gamaliel Cordoba, the regulator’s commissioner, said with 5G being rolled out in different parts of the country, Filipinos could expect better telecommunications services from telco players.

“As companies started to rollout 5G-capable devices and infrastructure, it’s fair to assume that connectivity is taking a huge stride towards the future. The year 2021 will also be a great year as telcos demonstrate how they use artificial intelligence or AI and machine learning or ML to drive automation for their infrastructure operations,” he said during the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) forum on Thursday.

Cordoba said 5G, along with AI and ML, will be able to support the Internet of Things, a concept where machines are interconnected and can be remotely controlled via the Internet.

This, he said, will be able to help industries, such as agriculture, military, and health, digitally transform to provide better, more efficient services. “Telecommunications is driving the future of work. The country’s lockdown with businesses shutting down, the need for digitization is deemed necessary now more than ever. Telco companies emerged as one of the most essential industries this

pandemic and will most likely stay that way in the foreseeable future,” Cordoba said.

Currently, Smart Communications Inc. President Alfredo S. Panlilio said his group has more than 4,000 5G sites across the Philippines.

“The introduction of 5G last year, uplifted the wireless experience.

Smart’s 5G network, the country’s first, fastest, and nation-widest now has more than 4,000 sites fired up across the Philippines. We will continue to roll out more 5G sites in the years to come so that more Filipinos could enjoy 5G coverage,” he said during the same forum.

Meanwhile, Globe Telecom Inc. President Ernest L. Cu said the company has 1,656 5G sites nationwide.

“We’ve had very significant improvements in 5G, although it is still nascent—very few people have 5G handsets—but we want to ensure that they get the best experience when they do upgrade to a 5G handset,” he said.

Cordoba noted that 5G will provide a boost in the country’s local output, as it will help buttress global competitiveness and labor connectivity. “This year, the spotlight is on 5G deployment and the massive boost in connectivity speed and business and transformation it brings along. Telecoms will continue to maintain global competitiveness and boost labor productivity, all while leveraging emerging technologies that have the potential to revolutionize customer experience, network expansion and infrastructure management.” Lorenz S. Marasigan

B2

Friday, July 2, 2021

Companies BusinessMirror

NCIP forcibly shuts down Hedcor hydro plants in Benguet

By Lenie Lectura

delivering power to the Luzon grid, we don’t want to compromise the safety of the community and our personnel,” said Hedcor’s Vice President for Operations and Maintenance Leo Lungay.

It can be recalled that DOE underscored in the June 25 letter its mandate pursuant to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), “to ensure the quality, reliability, security, and affordability of the supply of electric power especially during this period of health pandemic.” The DOE also highlighted in the letter the importance of ensuring “integrity of the power system, pursuant to EPIRA and as mandated by the [aforementioned] circulars and issuances” and emphasized its advice to “continue operating the Bakun hydropower plants in compliance with the said laws, WESM rules, and the Philippine Grid Code.”

“Hedcor has earnestly engaged and constantly reached out to the community in good faith for a reasonable dialogue. Prior to the issuance of this CDO, we were hopeful with the confirmed tongtongan that we were supposed to have with the IP leaders last June 15.

However, with the last-minute cancellation advised by the LGU, and followed by the BITO, we are saddened that the situation has come to this,” said Noreen Vicencio, Hedcor’s Vice President for Corporate Services.

“We hear the community’s desire for a dialogue and the demand for a shutdown before any discussions will commence, but we also have a mandate from DOE to continue operations in light of the ongoing power crisis in Luzon.

We reiterate our long-standing request to engage in a reasonable dialogue with the community, while allowing the plants to continue running, so we can serve the critical energy needs of the Luzon grid and at the same time, sustain the benefits for the Bakun IPs,” Vicencio added.

@llectura

T

HE National Commission on Indigenous Peoples-Cordillera Administrative Region (NCIPCAR) has implemented the cease and desist order (CDO) against Hedcor Inc.’s three hydro power facilities despite a directive from the energy department for the power firm to continue with its operations.

Aboiti Power Corp. said Thursday that members of the Bakun local government unit (LGU), together with representatives from NCIP-CAR and the Bakun Indigenous Tribes Organization (BITO) went to Hedcor’s Lower Labay, Lon-oy, and FLS hydropower plant facilities in Bakun to implement a forced shutdown upon the instruction made by the NCIP Regional Office in relation to the CDO it issued last June 22.

The instruction was made without any reference to the directive from the Department of Energy (DOE) dated June 25 to Hedcor to continue operating.

The groups told Hedcor that a court order, and not a letter from the DOE, can supersede the CDO. They likewise insisted that the letter from the DOE was a “simple reminder” and not an instruction. Also, a Status Quo Ante Order issued by the Regional Trial Court of Buguias, which was a result of a mutual commitment between Hedcor and the LGU to maintain the uninterrupted operations of the plants, was also not recognized by the group.

“Unless DOE expressly states in writing and confirms that their letter sent on June 25 addressed to Hedcor to continue operations is simply a reminder, we will treat DOE’s letter as an order for Hedcor to keep operating our plants in Bakun.

However, we are forced to stop operations, with the threat posed by the situation. As much as we want to continue

mutual funds

July 1, 2021 NAV

One Year Three Year Five Year

per share

Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

221.63

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.4191

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.0601

8.88%

-3.08%

36.33%

-0.44%

1.5%

10.86%

-7.39%

-6.11%

-2.33%

-3.31% n.a.

-3.48%

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7759 10.95%

-3.89%

-2.46% 8.08%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7565 11.66%

-1.62% n.a.

2.01%

First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a

-0.69%

-2.08%

-1.19%

3.73%

-4.26%

4.8823

12.09%

First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,4 MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

0.7152

100.72

27.28%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

45.4271

10.93% 8.94%

-2.28% n.a.

-1% -1.3%

-6.6% -3.03%

-3.11%

-2.52%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

476.67

Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d,5

1.0863

20.59% n.a. n.a.

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.1485

11.17%

-1.16%

-2.24%

-1.69%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

34.0304

11.91%

-0.69%

-1.65%

-2.13%

-1%

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.8856

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.6551

11.61%

-0.33%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

779.61

11.66%

-0.23%

-2.11%

-2.75%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.7111

11.41%

-4.61%

-5.06%

-1.08%

9.21%

-2.93%

-3.51%

-2.63%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8903 11.04%

-0.61%

-2.26%

-2.99%

United Fund, Inc. -a

-1.26%

-1.3%

-2.48%

-0.01%

-1.53%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.5285 3.2367

9.78% n.a. n.a.

10.34%

-2.01%

-5.87%

-1.2%

-2.74%

-3% -2.84%

Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c

104.6552

11.67%

-2.7%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

$1.2799

32.62%

8.1%

9.14%

6.4%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.8135

33.61%

12.59%

12.96%

8.41%

Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a

1.6758

7.69%

1.41%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.2404

8.08%

0.61%

-0.83%

-1.97%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.6038

6.77%

1.75%

-0.58%

-1.73%

-0.88%

0.43%

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,1 0.1952

3.94% n.a. n.a.

NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a

1.9593

5.64%

2.82%

0.4%

-0.24%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.685

4.31%

2.08%

-0.84%

-2.72%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.5164

5.04%

2.14%

-0.82%

-2.48%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.0613

6.29%

0.83%

-0.58%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.517

5.94%

-0.13%

-1.77%

-1.57%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9865

3.19% n.a. n.a.

-3.53%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.9073

5.15% n.a. n.a.

-4.41%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.8949

6.73% n.a. n.a.

-4.09%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

7.38%

-0.48%

-1.57%

-1.71%

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

www.businessmirror.com.ph

July 1, 2021

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

ASIA UNITED BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK PHILTRUST RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BRIGHT KINDLE COL FINANCIAL IREMIT MEDCO HLDG PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE

46.1 114.6 89.8 25.45 10.38 48.7 11.02 22.8 55.95 100 22.5 118.8 76.85 1.42 4.29 1.32 0.39 202.4 2,400

46.2 115 89.95 25.5 10.4 49.1 11.1 22.9 56 103 22.8 118.9 77.45 1.43 4.4 1.4 0.405 209 2,524

46.1 114 88.9 25.5 10.4 48.7 11.1 22.6 55.95 100 22.5 119 76.45 1.35 4.4 1.31 0.405 209 2,400

46.1 115.5 89.95 25.8 10.42 49.3 11.1 23 56 100 23.55 119.8 77.45 1.51 4.44 1.32 0.41 210 2,400

46.1 114 88.7 25.25 10.16 48.7 11 22.6 55.95 100 22.5 118 76.4 1.35 4.29 1.31 0.405 209 2,400

46.1 115 89.95 25.45 10.4 48.7 11.02 22.8 56 100 22.5 118.9 77.45 1.43 4.4 1.32 0.41 209 2,400

2,100 1,829,270 1,504,350 56,800 659,700 1,160,800 64,400 360,800 880 110 429,300 375,110 5,140 2,062,000 199,000 9,000 20,000 2,090 185

96,810 209,842,986 134,683,085 1,443,355 6,791,422 56,810,690 710,804 8,235,420 49,276.50 11,000 9,796,925 44,664,392 394,853.50 2,918,890 864,100 11,870 8,150 437,358 444,000

-9,814,270 -2,605,210.50 -334,008 -21,911,480 112,000 -127,845 -1,988,100 -11,606,395 59,628 -184,900 -

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 8.43 8.44 8.28 8.46 8.16 8.43 20,801,600 174,386,950 1.33 1.35 1.33 1.35 1.33 1.35 361,000 480,650 ALSONS CONS ABOITIZ POWER 25 25.05 24.65 25.2 24.55 25 4,969,400 123,905,410 BASIC ENERGY 0.79 0.8 0.8 0.81 0.79 0.8 12,321,000 9,825,070 30.05 30.1 30 30.25 30 30.1 408,200 12,289,890 FIRST GEN 79.1 79.15 79.1 79.2 79.1 79.1 9,780 774,136 FIRST PHIL HLDG MERALCO 278 278.6 278 281 277.4 278 148,150 41,352,994 MANILA WATER 18.3 18.48 18.3 18.5 18.1 18.48 878,200 16,059,028 3.31 3.32 3.34 3.34 3.3 3.31 1,563,000 5,176,000 PETRON 4.03 4.12 4.11 4.12 4.11 4.12 18,000 74,000 PETROENERGY PHX PETROLEUM 12.6 13 12.9 13.02 12.9 13.02 50,000 650,082 19.98 20 20.5 20.5 19.98 20 1,667,200 33,396,486 PILIPINAS SHELL 12.38 12.4 12.48 12.5 12.14 12.4 113,000 1,402,086 SPC POWER VIVANT 17.7 18.88 17.5 19 17.5 18.9 6,500 116,330 6.3 6.33 6.26 6.4 6.23 6.33 2,610,800 16,418,706 AGRINURTURE 2.92 2.95 2.93 2.93 2.91 2.92 248,000 722,640 AXELUM 23.4 23.95 23.4 23.95 23.25 23.95 1,129,800 26,839,295 CENTURY FOOD DEL MONTE 14.74 14.76 14.82 14.94 14.74 14.76 204,700 3,039,040 DNL INDUS 8.32 8.33 8.12 8.33 8.12 8.33 3,589,200 29,589,509 12.16 12.18 12.78 12.88 12.14 12.18 3,312,100 40,691,132 EMPERADOR 81.3 81.75 81.5 81.9 80 81.3 244,110 19,832,814 SMC FOODANDBEV ALLIANCE SELECT 0.63 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.65 14,000 9,100 1.38 1.39 1.4 1.4 1.37 1.39 1,250,000 1,729,440 FRUITAS HLDG 98.6 99 94.5 99 90 99 108,190 10,349,920.50 GINEBRA 214 215.8 213.6 217.4 213 214 624,860 135,004,684 JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR 30.25 31.85 29.55 31.95 29.55 31.9 3,700 117,280 7.54 7.92 7.54 7.54 7.54 7.54 1,200 9,048 MACAY HLDG 6.86 6.9 6.85 6.89 6.7 6.86 181,300 1,233,627 MAXS GROUP MG HLDG 0.285 0.29 0.285 0.295 0.285 0.285 880,000 252,000 MONDE NISSIN 16.98 17 16.68 17 16.52 17 38,308,900 642,162,224 8.4 8.41 8.78 8.8 8.4 8.4 170,900 1,465,217 SHAKEYS PIZZA 1.04 1.05 1.05 1.05 1.04 1.04 1,003,000 1,044,220 ROXAS AND CO RFM CORP 4.63 4.65 4.62 4.69 4.59 4.63 435,000 2,008,950 ROXAS HLDG 1.45 1.48 1.48 1.48 1.48 1.48 6,000 8,880 0.156 0.159 0.16 0.162 0.156 0.158 33,240,000 5,239,870 SWIFT FOODS 144.9 145 144.5 146.4 144.5 144.9 340,610 49,590,232 UNIV ROBINA VITARICH 0.87 0.88 0.87 0.88 0.85 0.88 6,460,000 5,576,470 CONCRETE B 59.9 62.8 59.9 59.9 59.9 59.9 50 2,995 1.31 1.33 1.3 1.33 1.29 1.33 3,263,000 4,282,340 CEMEX HLDG DAVINCI CAPITAL 2.98 2.99 3.03 3.03 2.94 2.98 954,000 2,835,850 EAGLE CEMENT 15.3 15.32 15.1 15.3 15 15.3 1,845,700 28,200,694 7.68 7.7 7.7 7.71 7.7 7.7 1,048,000 8,069,703 EEI CORP 7.08 7.15 6.99 7.15 6.99 7.15 2,918,000 20,572,821 HOLCIM MEGAWIDE 6.7 6.74 6.8 6.89 6.7 6.7 3,472,400 23,529,087 PHINMA 13.5 13.6 13.48 13.6 13.48 13.6 29,200 395,516 1.06 1.08 1.1 1.1 1.06 1.07 71,000 75,680 TKC METALS 2.26 2.27 2.16 2.3 2.16 2.27 17,018,000 38,279,330 VULCAN INDL CROWN ASIA 1.75 1.76 1.76 1.76 1.75 1.76 341,000 597,260 EUROMED 1.96 2 2 2 2 2 2,000 4,000 5.38 5.4 5.4 5.4 5.38 5.4 74,700 402,296 PRYCE CORP CONCEPCION 21.5 21.9 21.9 21.9 21.9 21.9 800 17,520 GREENERGY 4.45 4.46 4.4 4.47 4.28 4.46 15,467,000 67,991,040 9.98 9.99 9.9 10.1 9.86 9.99 318,000 3,164,182 INTEGRATED MICR 1.09 1.12 1.09 1.11 1.09 1.1 148,000 163,020 IONICS PANASONIC 5.8 5.87 5.77 5.87 5.77 5.87 23,300 136,527 1.3 1.31 1.31 1.35 1.3 1.3 681,000 888,910 SFA SEMICON 6.08 6.1 6.3 6.3 6.07 6.08 12,790,200 78,504,433 CIRTEK HLDG

-1,853,684.00 12,070 -36,193,675 -8,000 -2,510,935 -67,320 -6,947,008 966,250 -1,086,020 -20,550 -12,829,899 123,906 1,858,086 11,640 1,022,945.00 -233,780 -22,897,792.00 -2,084,812 609,290.50 9,610 103,404.50 42,395,352 348,729.00 19,950 -13,886,254 -14,059.00 665,340 94,500 8,521,974 -3,761,900 294,330 301,890 2,891,492 -7,526,977 -12,251,165 -304,600.00 8,750 -17,520 -3,149,470 120,416 -11,100 71,720 1,776,162

HOLDING & FRIMS

ABACORE CAPITAL ASIABEST GROUP AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL AYALA LAND LOG ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG KEPPEL HLDG A LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG MJC INVESTMENTS METRO PAC INV PACIFICA HLDG PRIME MEDIA REPUBLIC GLASS SOLID GROUP SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP SOC RESOURCES SEAFRONT RES TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

1.11 7.07 805 42.5 10.3 4.16 6.98 0.99 0.71 0.72 5.38 6.48 8.12 0.295 613 4.15 62.5 5.62 5.45 0.93 3.4 12.92 0.54 1.5 3.91 3.6 3 2.81 1.26 1,016 115.8 0.76 2.18 138 0.3 0.238

1.12 7.25 812 42.8 10.32 4.17 6.99 1 0.73 0.74 5.4 6.49 8.15 0.31 614 4.2 62.8 5.86 5.58 0.94 3.43 12.98 0.56 1.52 3.94 3.66 3.03 2.88 1.3 1,017 115.9 0.77 2.5 139 0.31 0.241

1.13 7.25 805 42.8 10.16 4.1 7.1 0.96 0.7 0.71 5.41 6.33 8.15 0.3 615 4.2 62.5 5.56 5.45 0.92 3.43 13 0.54 1.52 3.93 3.62 3.1 2.88 1.26 1,015 117.5 0.77 2.38 142 0.3 0.24

1.14 7.25 817 42.85 10.46 4.16 7.1 1 0.74 0.73 5.41 6.54 8.15 0.315 620 4.2 62.8 5.62 5.45 0.95 3.43 13 0.56 1.52 3.97 3.65 3.1 2.88 1.3 1,021 117.5 0.78 2.39 142 0.315 0.255

1.1 7.07 802.5 42.2 10.16 4.03 6.99 0.95 0.7 0.71 5.36 6.33 8.15 0.295 612 4.15 61 5.56 5.45 0.92 3.4 12.92 0.53 1.52 3.91 3.56 2.99 2.88 1.26 1,011 115.8 0.77 2.35 139 0.295 0.236

1.12 7.07 805 42.5 10.32 4.16 6.99 1 0.71 0.73 5.38 6.49 8.15 0.31 614 4.15 62.8 5.61 5.45 0.93 3.4 12.92 0.56 1.52 3.91 3.56 3 2.88 1.3 1,016 115.8 0.77 2.38 139 0.31 0.238

5,653,000 500 183,880 281,300 4,924,000 5,910,000 9,300 5,364,000 1,793,000 501,000 474,100 10,298,600 1,000 3,480,000 64,520 111,000 856,020 10,800 4,700 667,000 53,000 818,400 48,000 28,000 8,956,000 64,000 1,123,000 100,000 58,000 221,920 110,270 82,000 33,000 120 3,110,000 20,530,000

6,314,750 3,589 149,418,230 11,966,240 50,969,864 24,406,850 65,234 5,227,750 1,291,140 365,710 2,552,482 66,584,092 8,150 1,059,100 39,801,815 461,960 53,287,970.50 60,505 25,615 623,080 180,290 10,605,264 26,050 42,560 35,256,500 230,130 3,382,240 288,000 73,160 225,629,490 12,821,247 63,360 78,410 16,710 948,300 5,019,250

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.67 0.68 0.69 0.69 0.67 0.67 980,000 662,640 7.46 7.98 7.45 7.98 7.45 7.98 1,100 8,725 ANCHOR LAND AYALA LAND 36.45 36.5 36.25 37.4 36.25 36.5 10,485,300 385,685,205 ARANETA PROP 1.19 1.24 1.19 1.19 1.19 1.19 88,000 104,720 36.55 36.65 36.5 36.7 36.4 36.65 1,019,500 37,337,360 AREIT RT 1.46 1.47 1.49 1.5 1.45 1.47 1,561,000 2,289,810 BELLE CORP A BROWN 0.94 0.95 0.94 0.95 0.94 0.95 501,000 474,920 1.01 1.03 1.03 1.05 1.01 1.01 3,170,000 3,242,970 CITYLAND DEVT 0.137 0.138 0.139 0.139 0.136 0.139 840,000 115,140 CROWN EQUITIES 3.86 3.87 3.81 3.86 3.75 3.86 1,256,000 4,780,130 CEB LANDMASTERS CENTURY PROP 0.53 0.54 0.56 0.56 0.53 0.54 61,647,000 33,181,880 DOUBLEDRAGON 11.96 11.98 12 12.3 11.98 11.98 1,788,300 21,519,990 2 2.01 2 2.02 1.98 2.01 11,714,000 23,452,690 DDMP RT DM WENCESLAO 7.1 7.14 7.16 7.16 7.1 7.1 41,200 293,808 0.305 0.31 0.31 0.315 0.305 0.31 790,000 243,500 EMPIRE EAST 0.56 0.57 0.5 0.58 0.5 0.57 285,860,000 154,963,900 EVER GOTESCO 1.12 1.13 1.1 1.12 1.1 1.12 5,191,000 5,780,890 FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE 0.9 0.91 0.9 0.91 0.9 0.9 753,000 677,870 7.19 7.32 7.25 7.3 7.18 7.19 16,700 121,470 8990 HLDG 1.41 1.44 1.4 1.44 1.4 1.41 162,000 229,300 PHIL INFRADEV 1.85 1.88 1.9 1.92 1.85 1.85 2,485,000 4,633,090 CITY AND LAND MEGAWORLD 3.25 3.27 3.23 3.3 3.23 3.25 35,854,000 117,186,490 MRC ALLIED 0.41 0.415 0.425 0.435 0.41 0.415 43,980,000 18,338,000 0.72 0.73 0.73 0.75 0.71 0.72 35,653,000 25,771,150 PHIL ESTATES 3.17 3.18 3.25 3.29 3.09 3.18 1,780,000 5,631,310 PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND 17.5 17.58 17.36 17.62 17.32 17.5 2,116,000 37,037,998 0.415 0.42 0.445 0.445 0.41 0.42 17,540,000 7,422,100 PHIL REALTY 1.55 1.57 1.57 1.58 1.54 1.57 264,000 413,100 ROCKWELL STA LUCIA LAND 2.86 2.93 2.96 2.96 2.8 2.93 1,686,000 4,802,660 SM PRIME HLDG 36.85 36.9 36.9 37.15 36.7 36.9 4,718,800 174,472,180 3.86 3.87 3.86 3.86 3.86 3.86 1,000 3,860 VISTAMALLS 1.66 1.68 1.71 1.71 1.65 1.68 566,000 940,060 SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND 3.76 3.77 3.82 3.82 3.75 3.76 2,045,000 7,731,990

SERVICES ABS CBN 13.06 13.18 13.3 13.48 12.8 13.18 389,400 5,141,942 14.3 14.36 14.46 14.6 14.1 14.3 2,306,700 33,067,944 GMA NETWORK MANILA BULLETIN 0.435 0.46 0.445 0.445 0.445 0.445 30,000 13,350 9.9 10.36 10.1 10.36 10.1 10.36 5,500 56,446 MLA BRDCASTING 1,860 1,870 1,841 1,874 1,841 1,870 59,520 110,988,085 GLOBE TELECOM 1,325 1,326 1,295 1,329 1,295 1,326 141,870 187,293,715 PLDT APOLLO GLOBAL 0.179 0.18 0.179 0.182 0.179 0.179 110,680,000 19,952,370 CONVERGE 22.3 22.4 22.65 22.7 22.25 22.3 2,463,700 55,406,955 4.25 4.26 4.25 4.35 4.25 4.26 678,000 2,901,650 DFNN INC 9.04 9.05 8.79 9.19 8.79 9.04 7,396,800 66,948,211 DITO CME HLDG IMPERIAL 1.66 1.75 1.66 1.66 1.66 1.66 1,000 1,660 0.5 0.51 0.465 0.52 0.465 0.5 88,210,000 43,900,450 TRANSPACIFIC BR 2.42 2.44 2.4 2.42 2.37 2.42 650,000 1,554,930 PHILWEB 2GO GROUP 8.35 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.32 8.35 13,200 111,074 CHELSEA 3.08 3.09 3.1 3.14 3.07 3.09 329,000 1,014,310 53.8 54 54.2 54.5 53.5 54 375,520 20,249,931 CEBU AIR 159.9 160 164 164.8 160 160 1,107,400 178,753,531 INTL CONTAINER LBC EXPRESS 18 18.32 17.42 18.36 17.42 18.32 3,800 67,024 1 1.07 1.01 1.08 1 1.07 243,000 243,520 LORENZO SHIPPNG 5.41 5.42 5.31 5.49 5.31 5.42 2,290,600 12,407,354 MACROASIA 2.11 2.12 2.12 2.12 2.09 2.12 73,000 154,330 METROALLIANCE A HARBOR STAR 1.22 1.23 1.22 1.24 1.21 1.22 334,000 405,300 ACESITE HOTEL 1.88 1.98 1.9 1.99 1.9 1.98 88,000 171,000 0.135 0.136 0.124 0.135 0.12 0.135 433,150,000 55,983,740 BOULEVARD HLDG 3.15 3.2 3.27 3.27 3.2 3.2 169,000 549,040 DISCOVERY WORLD WATERFRONT 0.59 0.6 0.62 0.62 0.6 0.6 1,264,000 761,190 7.19 7.49 7.5 7.5 7.49 7.49 1,400 10,492 IPEOPLE 0.385 0.39 0.39 0.4 0.385 0.385 15,110,000 5,833,100 STI HLDG BERJAYA 5.22 5.5 5.22 5.5 5.22 5.5 2,500 13,106 6.5 6.55 6.54 6.63 6.5 6.5 9,216,800 60,121,746 BLOOMBERRY 2.05 2.1 2.06 2.06 2.06 2.06 43,000 88,580 PACIFIC ONLINE 1.59 1.61 1.58 1.65 1.58 1.59 30,934,000 48,905,630 LEISURE AND RES PH RESORTS GRP 1.96 1.97 1.96 1.99 1.95 1.96 1,134,000 2,225,970 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.42 0.425 0.435 0.435 0.42 0.42 2,110,000 896,600 7.9 7.97 7.9 7.98 7.9 7.9 113,500 897,216 ALLHOME 1.43 1.44 1.48 1.48 1.43 1.43 2,325,000 3,340,290 METRO RETAIL PUREGOLD 40.55 40.6 40.5 40.65 40.15 40.6 1,365,500 55,330,340 ROBINSONS RTL 54.95 55.65 53.7 55.8 53.6 55.65 2,201,830 120,371,333 96.3 97 97.05 99.9 96.5 97 18,450 1,788,568 PHIL SEVEN CORP SSI GROUP 1.22 1.23 1.22 1.24 1.22 1.22 5,079,000 6,208,790 WILCON DEPOT 19.8 19.84 20.15 20.15 19.6 19.8 1,723,800 34,273,438 0.38 0.385 0.385 0.385 0.38 0.385 570,000 216,950 APC GROUP 6 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 4,000 24,400 EASYCALL GOLDEN MV 430 439 425.2 439 425.2 439 1,020 447,552 5.6 5.65 5.65 5.65 5.65 5.65 1,200 6,780 IPM HLDG 1.66 1.67 1.65 1.69 1.64 1.66 4,181,000 6,939,940 PRMIERE HORIZON 4.21 4.34 4.21 4.3 4.21 4.3 93,000 391,850 SBS PHIL CORP

160,480.00 -45,023,890 -1,661,070 -30,031,976 9,116,980 -81,600 0 -463,809 4,000,830 -7,335 -16,961,185 3,079,621 -6,114,416 -13,644,880 27,070 -70,560 93,652,060 223,192 55,660 -15,290 124,900 -148,779,110 -17,117,005 -374,790 -1,981,810 233,280 152,660 -11,314,576 11,290,420 4,049,600 -328,610 5,720 77,340 -26,303,790 -162,600 -14,600 358,090 4,567,812 13,500 21,900 2,980 -15,414,630 -600 -1,739,890 22,010,010 108,016,445 -4,513,240 -8,121,975 212,550 596,282.00 -165,650 244,800 832 820,110.50 23,987,148 302,622 1,200 592,320 53,550 -38,431,304 47,281,200 -72,650 -29,454 -775,370 17,397,530 -5,376,495 -1,469,547 -3,485,530 7,346,834 19,250 -209,340 -

MINING & OIL ATOK 8.6 8.65 8.8 8.9 8.6 8.6 265,400 2,307,955 -7,806 APEX MINING 1.62 1.64 1.6 1.64 1.6 1.64 1,746,000 2,843,270 -6,520 ATLAS MINING 6.3 6.33 6.3 6.44 6.26 6.3 853,400 5,388,987 -873,674 Primarily invested in foreign currency securities 5.77 5.78 5.74 5.8 5.69 5.77 282,000 1,621,729 BENGUET A 5.54 5.61 5.68 5.71 5.54 5.54 116,600 654,410 BENGUET B Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03815 -0.65% 3.18% 1.31% -2.48% COAL ASIA HLDG 0.31 0.32 0.31 0.32 0.31 0.32 690,000 214,900 31,000 PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b $1.1396 16.3% 4.31% 5.24% -0.92% CENTURY PEAK 2.83 2.86 2.85 2.85 2.85 2.85 15,000 42,750 6.62 6.84 6.68 6.84 6.61 6.84 80,300 532,407 -5,958 DIZON MINES Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.7668 24.55% 9.58% 9.09% 5.63% 2.53 2.54 2.58 2.58 2.52 2.53 2,647,000 6,728,610 -1,781,890 FERRONICKEL Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,3 $1.2204 12.27% 5.54% 5.04% 1.52% GEOGRACE 0.335 0.34 0.33 0.34 0.33 0.34 410,000 137,550 0.158 0.159 0.155 0.161 0.155 0.159 49,080,000 7,688,850 LEPANTO A Bond Funds 0.159 0.163 0.16 0.16 0.159 0.159 2,000,000 319,000 LEPANTO B Primarily invested in Peso securities MANILA MINING A 0.011 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.011 0.011 2,800,000 31,000 ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 372.37 1.78% 3.24% 2.44% 0.35% 0.011 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 5,200,000 62,400 MANILA MINING B 1.22 1.25 1.22 1.25 1.22 1.25 556,000 690,060 -36,270 MARCVENTURES ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.9281 -0.73% 1.21% 0.15% 1.46% 1.59 1.6 1.72 1.83 1.58 1.6 9,356,000 15,867,380 90,710 NIHAO Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 3.2289 1.16% 3.79% 4.31% 0.44% NICKEL ASIA 5.62 5.63 5.53 5.68 5.53 5.62 13,548,700 76,258,801 32,540,152 ORNTL PENINSULA 1.01 1.03 1.04 1.04 1.01 1.03 637,000 651,450 10,350 Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a 2.2633 -1.72% 2.25% 1.31% -1.42% 6.57 6.58 6.5 6.59 6.44 6.57 722,900 4,727,325 -162,567 PX MINING First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.441 -0.42% 3.29% 1.67% -0.5% 15.44 15.48 14.78 15.58 14.78 15.44 10,115,700 155,221,814 1,625,870 SEMIRARA MINING UNITED PARAGON 0.0097 0.0098 0.0096 0.01 0.0094 0.0098 313,000,000 3,057,600 Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a 4.4879 -3.42% 4.36% 1.33% -3.17% 18.2 18.3 18.6 18.9 18.3 18.3 231,700 4,286,768 182,770 ACE ENEXOR Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a,6 1.3237 1.96% 4.24% 2.79% 0.19% 0.012 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.012 0.013 24,400,000 302,800 ORNTL PETROL A 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.012 1,600,000 19,300 ORNTL PETROL B Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.9819 0.72% 4.66% 2.22% -0.48% PHILODRILL 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.012 59,400,000 713,700 -2,400 Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.0362 0.77% 4.66% 1.68% -0.56% 8.04 8.05 8.07 8.07 7.92 8.05 963,500 7,754,755 126,290.00 PXP ENERGY Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.2139 1.28% 5.5% 2.51% 0.25%

PREFFERED Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

1.7493 0.32% 4.77% 1.84% -0.32% HOUSE PREF B 101.5 101.7 101 101.5 101 101.5 6,770 686,655 Primarily invested in foreign currency securities 100.5 101 100.3 101 100.3 101 8,410 843,580 HOUSE PREF A AC PREF B2R 523 523.5 523.5 523.5 523.5 523.5 20 10,470 ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $486.13 2.59% 3.2% 2.24% 0.47% PREF A 32 - 45 45 45 45 300 13,500 BC ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є220.12 2.22% 1.12% 1.11% 0.43% 52.65 52.8 52.15 52.9 52.15 52.8 48,520 2,554,729 -1,731,806 CEB PREF ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.1905 -2.39% 2.33% 1.18% -7.02% 101 102 102 102 102 102 100 10,200 DD PREF FGEN PREF G 107.5 109 106.2 109 106.2 109 710 77,362 First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.026 0.39% 1.72% 0.87% -2.26% 504 516 505 505 505 505 8,840 4,464,200 GLO PREF P PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b $1.0506 -1.89% 0.47% -0.85% -3.85% 100.7 101 101 101 101 101 8,100 818,100 MWIDE PREF 100.8 101.8 101.8 101.8 101.8 101.8 3,000 305,400 MWIDE PREF 2B Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.5067 2.56% 5.45% 2.01% -1.14% PNX PREF 3B 106 106.8 106.8 106.8 106.8 106.8 20 2,136 Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0629937 3.98% 3.56% 2.21% 1.08% 1,003 1,006 1,006 1,006 1,006 1,006 170 171,020 PNX PREF 4 1,028 1,030 1,030 1,030 1,030 1,030 50 51,500 PCOR PREF 2B Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.1729 -0.25% 3.28% 0.79% -1.57% PCOR PREF 3A 1,115 1,116 1,115 1,115 1,115 1,115 7,930 8,841,950 Money Market Funds 1,146 1,160 1,148 1,155 1,146 1,146 1,700 1,951,930 PCOR PREF 3B Primarily invested in Peso securities 78.85 78.9 79.5 79.5 78.9 78.9 39,020 3,080,892.50 SMC PREF 2C 76.2 76.95 76.2 76.2 76.2 76.2 1,950 148,590 SMC PREF 2E ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 130.31 1.69% 3.05% 2.53% 0.39% SMC PREF 2F 78.95 79.55 79.5 79.55 79.5 79.55 760 60,423 First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.053 1.1% n.a. n.a.

0.47% 78 78.5 78 78 78 78 20,790 1,621,620 SMC PREF 2H 78.3 79.5 78.35 78.35 78.3 78.3 13,400 1,049,245 SMC PREF 2I Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.3054 1.71% 2.56% 0.68% 2.85% 76 76.5 76 76.5 76 76.5 67,010 5,126,260 SMC PREF 2J Primarily invested in foreign currency securities SMC PREF 2K 75.65 75.95 75.95 75.95 75.55 75.55 839,000 63,721,991 -

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0577 1.22% 1.67% n.a.

0.5% PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS Feeder Funds ABS HLDG PDR 12.4 12.9 13 13.96 12.3 12.4 37,200 483,742 -136,242 Primarily invested in Peso securities 12.9 12.98 13.1 13.1 12.9 12.9 109,400 1,420,576 - GMA HLDG PDR

Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d,7 1.2815 n.a. n.a. n.a.

13.45% WARRANTS Primarily invested in foreign currency securities LR WARRANT 1.91 1.92 1.88 1.95 1.87 1.91 775,000 1,464,600 -

ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -b,d,2 $0.99 7.61% n.a. n.a.

1.02% SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ALTUS PROP 17.26 17.3 17.42 17.48 17.22 17.3 52,100 904,250 -12,156 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).

2.56 2.57 2.51 2.57 2.5 2.57 256,000 651,660 10,160 ITALPINAS 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.

KEPWEALTH 5.16 5.25 5.13 5.15 5.13 5.15 1,300 6,675 2.57 2.69 2.57 2.6 2.57 2.57 8,000 20,590 MAKATI FINANCE 4 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last October 12, 2018 (formerly, One Wealthy Nation Fund, Inc.). 5 - Launch date is December 09, 2019.

4.17 4.18 4.06 4.24 3.98 4.18 12,981,000 53,239,370 931,290 MERRYMART 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 EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

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." FIRST METRO ETF 105.6 106 106 106 105.6 105.6 23,640 2,501,444 189,620 0.8834

-0.78%

-2.05%

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Friday, July 2, 2021

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Downsides cited in LandBank, UCPB merger

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By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

NTERNATIONAL credit watcher Fitch Ratings Inc. warned last Thursday that the slated merger between Land Bank of the Philippines and United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) may have a negative impact on LandBank’s credit profile.

In an analysis, Fitch Ratings said the weak metrics of UCPB could

potentially pull down LandBank’s financial strength.

ING sees bank lending contraction until Dec

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ANK lending in the country is expected to remain in the contraction territory up until the last three months of the year, an ING Bank paper said.

After the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) released the country’s bank lending number since May, ING Bank said credit extended by banks will continue to contract in the coming months after “failing to bounce back sharply” despite aggressive easing by the central bank.

“We expect bank lending to remain in the red for the next few months but eventually revert to growth by the fourth quarter as base effects fade and economic activity improves,” ING Bank said.

Banks will continue to put on a “risk premium” on loans to account for the uncertainty in the economic landscape, ING Bank said.

However, lending will likely pick up towards the end of the year as monetary policy cuts start working their way into the economy, according to ING Bank.

Bank lending first collapsed into the contraction territory in December

2020 by 0.7 percent. May is the sixth consecutive month of bank lending contraction despite the aggressive efforts of the BSP to lower interest rates and boost liquidity conditions.

Earlier this week, the BSP reported that bank lending contracted at a slower pace in May, declining by 4 percent during the month. This is slower than the 5 percent contraction recorded in April.

“Despite bank lending crash landing and in the red for 6 months and counting, the May downturn was less severe than the 5 percent drop in April, suggesting that rate cuts

by BSP in late 2020 are beginning to take hold,” ING Bank said.

“BSP indicates that policy moves tend to operate with a 6-month to 9-month lag and we could see the early signs of these accommodative moves feeding through to the economy,” ING Bank added.

In its statement on bank lending, the BSP reiterated its stance to keep the monetary policy settings accommodative to push economic activity and support the recovery in the country. Bianca Cuaresma

A champion’s mindset on winning in a crisis

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have always known that the word “champion” means a winner or a victor of a competition or a contest. Recently, I came to know another definition of “champion” in an ideological sense: an evangelist or a visionary who advocates for the triumph of an idea or a belief.

I came to this realization when my organization, the Philippine Council of Association and Association Executives (PCAAE), organized the webinar, “A Champion’s Mindset: How to Win in a Time of Crisis,” featuring Bo Sanchez, a bestselling author, ministry builder, preacher and entrepreneur.

Sanchez presented these eight actions (with my own insights about associations) in order to have a winning frame of mind of a champion, especially during a crisis such as this pandemic. These actions can apply both to you as a person and/or to your organization: 1. Give yourself a gift. You may have very little control over what happens to you, but you have total control over what you do to what happens to you. How you look at a situation changes that situation. In short, everything is about perspective. In the context of associations, this pandemic has caused pains and disruptions on how they do things. Associations that have gifted themselves by adapting well to these challenges came out as winners.

2. Dream your dream. One of the most glaring differences between successful and unsuccessful people is the frame of their thinking. If you find a big enough reason to change something, you can change absolutely anything.

Associations are purpose-driven organizations. Staying on course with your purpose and mission ought to be the dream that you should pursue despite all odds.

3. Rise to a rhythm. Have magnificent mornings. Mornings are the best times to meditate and to reflect.

Associations that exude positivity and caring at the onset of any crisis will win over their members and stakeholders.

Association World Octavio Peralta 4. Manage your media. Choose what you receive each day especially from social media. Associations need to filter and curate news and resources that are only relevant and useful to their members and to their mission.

5. Build your body. Work on four basics: sleep, water, sun, and movement. Associations and their staff need these essentials, too, to operate effectively and efficiently.

6. Focus on your family. Create patterns of connection and be kind.

Associations are communities that constantly link people, ideas, and other organizations. Engaging members in the most meaningful way is how associations survive and thrive.

7. Serve the suffering. A crisis brings the best in people and organizations, associations included. During the pandemic, associations which looked after their members in terms of providing them information and education they require, solving their problems, or being there when they need them, go a long way to be known as caring organizations.

8. Let your spirit soar. Spirit connotes the courage and determination that help people and organizations to survive in difficult times and to keep their beliefs intact. Associations that uplift the sense of community, caring and camaraderie among its members are poised to be “ahead of their game.”

The column contributor, Octavio Peralta, is founder & CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives and, concurrently, president of the Asia-Pacific Federation of Association Organization. Peralta’s views expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect those of the BusinessMirror’s. E-mail: obp@adfiap.org.

“UCPB has been under a longdrawn rehabilitation program because of its weak financial health, but its size relative to LandBank could significantly weaken the larger bank’s financial profile, as it would make up about 14 percent of [LandBank’s] assets, based on our preliminary understanding of the pro forma merged entity,” Fitch Ratings said.

UCPB reportedly has more than P22 billion in non-performing loans (NPL) at the parent level at end-2020.

“The addition of these to LandBank could cause its NPL ratio to rise by nearly 2 percentage points when combined. This would exac-

erbate asset quality pressures that LBP already faces from the current economic slowdown,” the credit watcher said.

Fitch Ratings also said risks from the merger could consume considerable “managerial bandwidth” and incur significant integration expenses.

“Any merger benefit will accrue only over the long term, but pressure on LandBank’s profitability would be immediate,” Fitch Ratings said.

The merger would, however, reinforce the government’s propensity to support the bank if needed and would increase LandBank’s market share by about 1.7 percentage points, accord-

ing to the credit watcher.

LandBank reported early June that despite the economic recession, its assets grew 16.14 percent to P2.405 trillion in the first quarter of the year, from P2.071 trillion in the same period last year.

The bank attributed the increase in assets to the 16.21 percent growth in deposits to P2.123 trillion from P1.827 trillion in 2020.

Earlier this week, President Rodrigo Duterte approved Executive Order (EO) 142, ordering LandBank and UCPB to enter into a merger. The detailed structure of the merger, however, is yet to be determined.

A joint statement after the presi-

dent signed EO 142 said the mergers is a ‘win-win’ for coconut farmers and other agricultural workers in the country.

LandBank President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo, in particular, said that the merger will promote “unprecedented rural development,” especially those in the countryside who belong to the underserved and unbanked sectors.

“LandBank’s track record of being consistently compliant with the Agri Agra Law [Republic Act 10000] shows our commitment to perform our mandate, to empower not only the farmers but all workers in the agriculture sector,” Borromeo said.

‘BSP to be active in further enhancing capital markets’

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ANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin E. Diokno expressed confidence that the economic disruptions caused by the pandemic did not overshadow growth in the country’s capital markets and that the country’s monetary authority will continue to play an ‘active role’ in deepening the sector.

In a briefing last Thursday, Diokno said the BSP is currently working with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Fi-

nance and the Bureau of the Treasury in performing this role.

“The capital market roadmap is a calibrated, deliberate, and sequenced program consisting of immediate to medium-term action plans. This approach ensures synergy in policy direction at the national level as well as the smooth execution of the necessary reforms by concerned regulatory authorities,” the governor said.

Diokno said the development of the country’s capital markets supports the BSP’s mandate of promot-

ing the stability of the domestic financial system.

“Deep capital markets facilitate the efficient allocation of funds in the economy. By diversifying funding sources, they also support financial system resilience as stresses on a single creditor will not be propagated in the system,” Diokno said.

The BSP governor said developments in the Philippines capital sector will benefit the economy as it facilitates the efficient allocation of funds in the economy and promotes

sustainable growth by addressing funding gaps.

Diokno also said the existence of alternative sources of funds, like capital markets, would drive banks to enhance their own efficiency in providing funding and can improve overall financial inclusion in the country. “ The BSP will continue to strengthen its efforts towards capital market development as this is in line with its mandate of ensuring financial stability,” the governor said.

Bianca Cuaresma

DOLE backs tax incentives for BPOs using WFH scheme

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

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alls providing tax incentives to economic zone-based business process outsourcing (BPO) companies implementing work-from-home (WFH) scheme received support from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

A statement issued last Thursday quoted Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) companies on WFH arrangements should be eligible to receive government incentives prescribed under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (Create) law, or Republic Act (RA) 11534.

“But we maintain that companies that do not produce physical goods and that are well-suited to remote work must also enjoy the benefits of the tax incentives provided in the law,” Bello said.

“We need to provide the industry the support it needs to reach its growth targets and potentials, especially now that we recover from the effects of the pandemic,” he added.

In an earlier interview with the BusinessMirror, IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (Ibpap) President and CEO Rey E. Untal said IT-BPM firms currently operate through a blended work and service model, with 70 percent of employees working from home and 30 percent working on-site.

Untal added that the uncertainties created by the pandemic have benefited the local IT-BPM sector as it was able to secure additional accounts and clients.

Moreover, Bello said the department is particularly keen on expanding the benefits granted to firms operating in economic zones.

Under Section 309 of RA 11534, qualified registered product or activity “exclusively conducted or operated within the geographical boundaries of the zone or Freeport” are entitled to corporate recovery and tax incentives.

The DOLE secretar y added that IT-BPM firms operate within ecozones even while under WFH arrangements.

“Such special working arrangements are recognized under existing DOLE guidelines,” Bello said.

The secretary was referring to various DOLE issuances, such as DOLE Department Order 202, series of 2019 (“Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Telecommuting Act”) and Labor Advisory 17 and 17-B, series of 2020 (“Guidelines on Employment Preservation upon the Resumption of Business Operation”).

DOLE has also issued Department Advisory 02-09 (“Guidelines on the Adoption of Flexible Work Arrangements”) and Department Advisory 04-12 (“Guidelines on the Implementation of Flexible Work Arrangements”), which recognize and regulate alternative work arrangements.

Noting that “the pandemic has

accelerated the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the adoption of new technologies are now transforming the labor market in the new normal,” Bello said, “telecommuting has emerged as a viable and safe alternative work mode.”

“As one of the country’s key employment generators, the IT-BPM industry is one of the most important drivers of our economy,” Bello said, adding that the sector generated 1.32 million jobs in 2020, with $26.7 billion in revenues.

The IT-BPM industry sought DOLE’s position after the Departments of Finance and Trade, and Industry released the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Create Law. While the IRR provides temporary measures for exceptional circumstances, specifically the current pandemic, the provisions still require the approval of the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) upon the recommendation of the Investment Promotion Agency.

Under RA 11534, the corporate income tax rate is reduced to 20 percent from 30 percent for domestic corporations with net taxable income of P5 million

BOC files cases over smuggled goods

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

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HE Bureau of Customs (BOC) filed three criminal complaints against importers over P87 million worth of misdeclared smuggled goods.

Three complaints were filed by the bureau before the Department of Justice.

According to the BOC, they filed a case against a “Denian Dry Goods Trading” firm for its alleged misdeclaration of 343 cartons of Union-brand cigarettes, 588 cartons of Astro American Blend-brand cigarettes and 32 cartons of laptop table worth P50.77 million. The incident happened on September 18, 2020 at

the Port of Cagayan de Oro, documents from the BoC revealed.

The bureau also said they also filed a criminal complaint against a “Micastar Consumer Goods Trading” for allegedly misdeclaring P33.19-million worth of copy paper, insulators, chairs, bricks and cigarettes at the Port of Manila on May 2, 2021.

Likewise, the bureau said a complaint was also filed against Jantheara Trading International, which allegedly misdeclared an estimated 2,500 bags of imported onions amounting to P3.3 million on May 17, 2021 at the Port of Davao.

Similar complaints have also been filed against the licensed customs brokers who processed

the importations of the three importers, adding that both importers and customs brokers purportedly violated several provisions of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (Republic Act 10863) and other applicable laws.

Earlier this week, Customs said they have seized P4.43-billion worth of suspected smuggled goods from January to May this year.

Counterfeit products worth P1.98 billion cornered the bulk of the total value of seized goods during the period.

Last year, the BOC seized P10.629 billion worth of smuggled goods, with imported cigarettes and tobacco products making up the bulk.

and below and have total assets of P100 million and below effective July 1, 2020. All other local firms and resident foreign companies are imposed a 25-percent income tax.

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Friday, July 2, 2021 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

Relationships BusinessMirror

Here’s how hotels can serve their guests better—keep your employees healthy

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OVID-19 is here to stay. That’s what Dr. Tony Leachon, former special adviser to the National Task Force on Covid-19, said in a webinar with members of the Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) on Tuesday. As such, we will need to get vaccinated or get booster shots every year against the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease.

He told hoteliers, “I think you need to budget every year for a booster dose because the virus will be with us forever. I mean, just like the flu the virus will keep on coming. A hundred years ago, the Spanish flu killed around 50 million. This will happen again.”

It’s important that companies prioritize the health of their employees.

Hopefully, these vaccines will become widely available when pharmaceutical companies seek full approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

“That’s the time for the private sector to directly order from [pharmaceutical companies] without going through the government,” he added.

As these vaccines are currently approved for emergency use only, the private sector has had to partner with the national government for them to able to import these, donating even some of their share for public use. As of June 28, the Philippines has imported some 17.5 million of vaccines, with Sinovac accounting for 68.8 percent of total, as per the Philippines Vaccine Tracker.

‘MIX AND MATCH’ IT was a very informative webinar which drew over

400 participants. After all, the tourism sector has been badly hit by Covid-19 due to travel restrictions here and abroad, and most of the hotels that remain open, especially those in Metro Manila, are hanging on by catering to quarantining guests.

It was only fairly recent that a few hotels were allowed to accept social events and business meetings, while most people still prefer to order their food for delivery instead of dining in the food and beverage outlets of a hotel.

Another interesting point that Leachon raised was that booster shots will likely be needed for those who have been vaccinated with the China vaccine, Sinovac.

The booster shots can be given six months after the individual has received his second Sinovac dose.

He was also in favor of “mixing and matching” vaccines, as they are currently doing in Germany and Canada. “German Chancellor Angela Merkel started with the AstraZeneca and then the Moderna. In Canada, they started with the Astra and their second dose is now Pfizer. The G7 countries are already doing this, so why can’t we,” he asserted.

SEAL OF GOOD HOUSEKEEPING I ASKED PHOA President Arthur Lopez if he thought the hoteliers would follow Leachon’s suggestion of allocating an annual budget for Covid booster shots for their employees. “I think they will if it is for the survival of the business,” he said.

Veteran hotelier Jose Mari del Rosario, president of Phinma Microtel, told me many will likely do it. “Yes, it’s a good program. This will further assure guests that our hotels are a safe haven [and] hotels are proactive. We already do it for flu vaccines shots anyway.”

He added, “For me, it’s like a Seal of Good Housekeeping. It’s very much aligned to the health/ safety mindset that our industry has taken, and which has gained traction without much prodding.

Even before the DOT [Department of Tourism] made it mandatory, responsible owners were already doing it.”

As for funding booster shots of employees who received Sinovac, del Rosario is taking a more prudent approach. “We’ll probably wait for further

conclusive studies.”

Leachon warned that the onset of the rainy season will be particularly difficult for the country as people will not be able to practice physical distancing as they squeeze in together under sheds, which could set off the more virulent Delta variant of the virus. The Department of Health has already recorded 17 cases of the Delta variant.

NO OUTBREAKS DUE TO TOURISM HE praised the hotel industry for partnering with the government and doing its share in strictly implementing health and sanitation protocols in their properties to prevent any Covid-19 infections.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat herself recently asserted that there has been no recorded case of Covid outbreaks because of tourism.

The good secretary has been pushing for the opening of more travel destinations, and so far Baguio, Panglao Island in Bohol, El Nido in Palawan, and Boracay Island in Aklan are among the major destinations that are accepting tourists from Metro Manila, even if it is still under general community quarantine. She also moved to subsidize 50 percent of the cost of RT-PCR tests for domestic travelers.

According to an internal survey of PHOA, there is a very high “vaccination confidence” rate among the employees of its member-hotels, ranging from 91.3 percent to 97 percent as of June this year. As of June 25, many of its member-hotels have already reached at least 51 percent vaccination of its employees.

Noting the vaccine confidence of the tourism industry in general, Leachon said, “That’s very good.

Because if you’re protected by the vaccine, then you can work. That’s the secret of the US and Israel, that’s why they have been able to ditch the face mask already.”

However, unless government gets it act together and sync with the vision of the business sector, I think we will continue to remain in this Covid rut. True enough, even Leachon sees the country achieving the so-called herd immunity only by December 2022, unless vaccination speeds up. Tiis-tiis na lang, people. n

New voluntary flight change policy starting July announced CEBU Pacific (CEB), the Philippines’s leading carrier, will be implementing a new policy for passengers who want to make voluntary changes to their flights, in line with the continuous streamlining of processes across the business.

Starting July 1, the travel fund option for voluntary flight changes will only be available for passengers who pre-purchased the CEB Flexi add-on during initial booking, as this new and improved product allows passengers to cancel their flights for free, up to two hours before departure, and store the value of the

booking in a Travel Fund for as low as P499.

The amount in this virtual wallet is valid for two years and may be used to book new flights or purchase other add-ons such as seat selection, additional baggage allowance, or travel insurance.

Passengers who wish to change their bookings voluntarily without purchasing CEB Flexi can make use of the Unlimited Rebooking option of CEB and rebook as many times as they want up to two hours before their scheduled time of departure. CEB has permanently removed change fees since March to provide guests with the much-needed flexibility during this time.

“We have made it a point that we are agile in responding to our customers’ needs amid the fluid situation. It is our commitment to provide safe, affordable and convenient air travels for everyone in the years to come, and we need to make sure that we operate sustainably. This is why we are announcing this new and permanent policy after over a year of careful assessment,” said Candice Iyog, vice president for marketing and customer experience

at Cebu Pacific.

The CEB Flexi product has been made available to offer added flexibility to passengers so they may travel with peace of mind. This is also in line with the carrier’s commitment to keep supporting the industry in its efforts to boost the traveling public’s confidence to fly amid changing travel restrictions.

Passengers can also avail of the CEB Flexi product as a bundle through GO Flexi, and enjoy free cancellation, checked-in baggage with a combined weight of up to 20 kilos, and a standard seat.

“Trust that we will continue to listen to our customers and prioritize their needs as we endeavor to respond the best way possible. We have enhanced our products so everyone has access to greater flexibility on top of guaranteed safe and seamless travels with CEB,” added Iyog.

More information can be found at www. cebupacificair.com. CEB operates the widest domestic network in the Philippines covering 32 destinations, on top of its six international destinations, spanning Asia and the Middle East.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

z

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Margot Robbie, 31; Alex Morgan, 32; Ashley Tisdale, 36; Larry David, 74.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Keep your emotions in check this year, and the rest will be easy. Loyalty, dedication and ambition will help you reach your goal. Don't wait for opportunities to come to you. Make things happen, and you will be looked up to by those looking for leadership.

Your destiny is in your hands. Focus on what you can achieve, not the impossible. Your numbers are 6, 10, 19, 26, 30, 39, 44.

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Focus on the way you look and feel. Exercising, updating your appearance and spending time with the person who brings out the best in you will pay off.

Determination and hard work will help you get ahead.

Romance is in the stars. HHH

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take your time, and think about the consequences before you do or say something. If you don't like what's going on, be quick to back out of any situation that makes you feel uneasy. Take better care of your home, health and family. HHH

c

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Listen carefully and choose your words wisely. Misunderstandings can turn your world upside down. Stick to the truth; don't take on something beyond your capability. A minimalist approach will help you budget your finances.

Romance is featured. HHHH

d

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Put what you know to good use. Refuse to let anyone play emotional games with you. Be blunt regarding what you want and what you are willing to do. Refuse to let anyone or anything stand in your way. Make a change that counts. HH

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Learn as you go, and make a difference. Your dedication and hard work will not go unnoticed. Be the spark, and you will encourage others to pitch in and help. Personal growth will lead to a brighter future, and romance is favored. HHHHH

f

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Think before you say something you regret. Taking on too much responsibility or making a promise you cannot keep will cause a rift with someone you love and respect. Find out what someone expects and negotiate based on what's realistic. HHH

g

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You'll gravitate toward people who offer mental stimulation.

The discussions you have will broaden your outlook and encourage you to make physical and emotional changes that improve your life. HHH

h

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Take better care of yourself and your relationship with others. Protect against injury, illness and unnecessary risks. Make positive changes at home that will encourage you to be creative and novel in the way you organize your daily routine. HHH

i j

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Trust in what you know, not in what others tell you. Stick to a lifestyle you can afford and a healthy regimen that will protect you from overindulgent behavior. HHHHH CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Handle situations involving a friend, relative or lover cautiously. Emotions will flare up quickly, leaving you or someone you care about in an awkward position.

Take the high road and let bygones be bygones. HH

k

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You'll have an innovative idea that can help you raise your income. Put your talent to good use, and you'll find an outlet for something you enjoy doing.

Spend quality time with someone supportive; build a solid foundation. HHHH

l

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Spend time reflecting and bringing about change that will improve your life. A new direction will entice you, but consider what you will have to sacrifice before you make a move. Someone will lead you astray. HHH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are persistent, energetic and changeable.

You are adventuresome and entertaining.

‘it’s all in the timing’ BY DAVID ALFRED BYWATERS The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 What you need to solve a crossword on your phone 4 Turning points in ballet?

8 Not imaginary 14 Damage 15 Easter egg event 16 Woman whose help is requested in a Beach Boys hit 17 When to wish a tennis player luck?

19 C in chemistry class?

20 Big bags 21 Informal assent 23 Pius VIII or Urban VIII 24 Assert 26 When you actually had to call people?

28 Closes the door on 30 Gunk 31 Unclothed 32 San Francisco’s ___ Hill 34 Certain IRAs 38 Had for lunch, say 39 When not to interrupt a jazz soloist?

42 Kanga’s child 43 Multiple fish, in Italian

5 Everything 4 46 Round of applause 47 European peaks 50 Instinctual drives 52 When to decide on a lover’s suitability?

56 Egg-cooking aid 57 Wicked force 58 Phys. ed. sites 60 Roman clothes 62 Eye part with rods and cones 64 When to read Luke and John?

66 Legendary Norse sea monster 67 Kite-flying obstacle 68 Dessert for the kittens who found their mittens 69 Throws around 70 MMXXI, e.g.

71 Perceived visually DOWN 1 Roadies’ burdens 2 Skydiving need 3 Makes impossible 4 One of 95 for Martin Luther 5 Your and my 6 “I wish I had that!” feeling

7 Difficult to climb 8 One may wear a quiver 9 Half a Latin dance 10 Destroyer destroyer 11 Remove from a package 12 Take in, as a dog 13 Freeway drivers’ options 18 Piece of footwear with a blade 22 Rainbow shape 25 Far from full-size 27 Grassy layer 28 Sound made with two fingers 29 Head gesture 33 Upper undergarment 35 International economic disparities 36 Speakers’ fees 37 Covers with rolls of grass 39 Not very spicy 40 Feeling crummy 41 Move like a butterfly 44 Feline 46 Fan’s words to a TV camera, perhaps 48 Ancient Greeks, e.g., religiously 49 Pig’s home 51 Holding a grudge

52 Private jets, corner offices, and others 53 In plain view 54 Plucked Indian instrument 55 Ready for a refill 59 Achy 61 Bias 63 Word before “money” or “moon” 65 Sailor’s place Solution to Wednesday’s puzzle:

Show BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Friday, July 2, 2021

B5

BRITAIN’S Prince Harry, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, sit with Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge. AP

GABBY CONCEPCION and Sanya Lopez

‘First Yaya’ takes final bow tonight GMA’s well-loved prime-time series First Yaya concludes its run tonight, July 2, after months of clinching victory in the ratings game and winning the hearts of viewers.

In its final week, Melody (Sanya Lopez) convinces President Glenn (Gabby Concepcion) not to withdraw from his position, to which he agrees. Luis (Gardo Versoza), President Glenn’s political foe disguised as an ally, is enraged by his competitor’s bold statement against him and plots to assassinate President Glenn.

Will this be the end of Melody and President Glenn’s fairytale-like romance?

Also in the cast are Pilar Pilapil, Pancho Magno, Cassy Legaspi, Joaquin Domagoso, Maxine Medina, Kakai Bautista, Cai Cortez, Thou Reyes, Patricia Coma, Clarence Delgado, Thia Thomalla, Jon Lucas, Glenda Garcia, Sandy Andolong, Buboy Garovillo, Analyn Barro, Anjo Damiles, and Jerrick Dolormente as Lloyd Reyes.

Gabby reveals what he will miss the most in the series: “Mami-miss ko ’yung samahan at tawanan. Hindi naman parating masaya sa set pero ito kakaiba dahil ngayon lang ako nakaranas na kahit sa set o sa labas, talagang masaya kami. Hindi ko malilimutan ’yung samahan ng buong cast, staff, at production team.”

Sanya, in turn, describes how her first title role changed her life, “Mas lumalim po ’yung pagkakakilala ko lalo na sa mga kasambahay sa buhay natin. Mas na-realize ko na lahat tayo, lalo na ang mga kasambahay, lahat tayo may dinadalang problema. Dito mas nakilala ko ’yung sarili ko at natutunan ko na sa buhay natin, hindi lang sarili natin ’yung mahalaga, pati na rin ’yung buhay ng ibang tao.”

The finale of First Yaya—under the helm of director LA Madridejos and associate director Rechie del Carmen—airs tonight on GMA’s prime-time block.

William, Harry to unveil Diana statue as royal rift simmers

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By Danica Kirka The Associated Press

ONDON—They were once so close.

Princes William and Harry grew up together, supported each other after their mother’s untimely death and worked side by side as they began their royal duties—two brothers seemingly bonded for life by blood, tradition and tragedy.

But those links are now painfully strained as William sits in London defending the royal family from allegations of racism and insensitivity made by Harry and his wife, Meghan, from their new home in Southern California.

Royal watchers will be looking closely for any signs of a truce—or deepening rift—on Thursday when William and Harry unveil a statue of their mother, Princess Diana, on what would have been her 60th birthday. The event in the Sunken Garden at London’s Kensington Palace will be their second public meeting since Harry and Meghan stepped away from royal duties over a year ago.

People shouldn’t expect a quick resolution of the conflict because the two men are fighting over core beliefs, says Robert Lacey, a historian and author of Battle of Brothers: William, Harry and the Inside Story of a Family in Tumult. William is defending the monarchy, and Harry is defending his wife.

“It’s a matter of love versus duty, with William standing for duty and the concept of the monarchy as he sees it,” Lacey said. “And then from Harry’s point of view, love, loyalty to his wife. He is standing by her.

These are very deeply rooted differences, so it would be facile to think that there can just be a click of the fingers.” But finding some sort of rapprochement between the princes is crucial to the monarchy as Britain’s royal family seeks to appeal to a younger generation and a more diverse population.

When Harry married Meghan just over three years ago, it seemed as if they would be central figures

in that next chapter of the royal story.

The Fab Four—William and his wife, Kate, together with Harry and Meghan—were seen as a cadre of youth and vigor that would take the monarchy forward after the tumultuous 1990s and early 2000s, when divorce, Princess Diana’s death, and Prince Charles’ controversial second marriage to Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, cast doubt on the future of the institution.

Meghan, a biracial former TV star from Los Angeles, was expected to be an important part of that effort, with Black and Asian commentators saying that for the first time there was a member of the royal family who looked like them.

But the words “Fab Four” were quickly replaced in tabloid headlines by “Royal Rift.”

First, their joint royal office was dissolved. Then, Harry stepped away from royal duties and moved his family to North America in search of a more peaceful life. William pressed on with royal tasks, including goodwill events like accompanying his grandmother to Scotland this week to tour a soft drink factory.

The relationship was further strained in March when Harry and Meghan gave an interview to US talk show host Oprah Winfrey.

Harry confirmed rumors that he and his brother had been growing apart, saying “the relationship is ‘space’ at the moment”—though he added that “time heals all things, hopefully.” Harry also told Winfrey that his father, Prince Charles, didn’t accept his calls for a time. And then came the real shocker. The couple revealed that before the birth of their first child, an unidentified member of the royal family had expressed concern about how dark his skin might be.

Days after the broadcast, William responded, telling reporters that his was “very much not a racist family.”

But whatever their disagreements, out of respect for their mother, William and Harry won’t put their differences on display during the statue ceremony, said historian Ed Owens, author of The Family Firm: Monarchy, Mass Media and the British Public

1932-1953, which examines the royal family’s public relations strategy.

“We’re not going to see any acrimony or animosity between the brothers on Thursday,’’ Owens said. “I think reconciliation is a long way off, but nevertheless these are expert performers. Harry and William have been doing this job for long enough now that they know that they’ve got to put, if you like, occasional private grievances...aside for the sake of getting on with the job.”

Lacey believes William and Harry will ultimately reconcile because it is in both of their interests to do so. Harry and Meghan need to repair relations to protect the aura of royalty that has allowed them to sign the lucrative contracts with Netflix and Spotify that are funding their life in California, Lacey said.

If they don’t, they risk becoming irrelevant like the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, who were shunned by the royal family after the duke gave up the throne in the 1930s to marry an American divorcee. His brother, Queen Elizabeth II’s father, then became king.

“It’s very appealing, particularly in America, the idea that they rebelled against this stuffy old British institution,” Lacey said. “But there’s a point they can’t go too far, and they’re approaching that point.’’

“On William’s side, it is impossible to go on ostracizing, boycotting the only members of the royal family who are of mixed race in a multiracial world of diversity,” he added.

The critical moment may be next year, when the queen celebrates her platinum jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne. Under normal circumstances for these big occasions, the queen would want the whole family together on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, where the royals have traditionally gathered to wave to the public.

“Who’s going to be on the balcony at Buckingham Palace?” Lacey asked. “That family grouping has surely got to include Meghan and Harry and their two children, Archie and Lili, alongside their cousins, the children of William and Kate.’’ n

Erich isn’t taking any prisoners

I HATE Erich Gonzales.

I hate her because she’s skinny without, I’m assuming, putting much effort into it. I hate her because she’s got a gorgeous face that just gets more beautiful by the day. I hate her for her long, luscious hair. And I hate, hate, hate her because a few minutes before the presscon of her new show La Vida Lena, my true love Mario Maurer got in touch with her.

“Nagkamustahan po kami. We’re always in touch po,” she said. Hmmph! Maybe I can take a page out of her character in La Vida Lena and seek revenge. You see, in the soap she plays Magda, a woman who takes justice into her own hands and becomes the new face of karma. Growing up, Magda had to endure bullying because of a scar that covers half her face. Despite this, she has remained kind, hardworking and incredibly sweet to her loved ones and friends.

With people like her in mind, Lena creates a soap that becomes popular for its ability to smoothen the

skin. But instead of fortune, this product only brings her loss, suffering and cruelty in the hands of the Narcisos, the wealthiest family in town.

After Magda refuses to sell her soap formula to Royal Wellness, a company owned by the Narcisos, Magda puts up with a series of calamitous events— she is manipulated into falling in love, loses a loved one, and is thrown in jail.

Later on, Magda turns to plastic surgery to get a new face, then returns to her hometown with the intention of using her disarming beauty to make everyone who mistreated her and her family pay.

How far is Lena willing to go to get revenge? Who will make her merciless heart beat again—Jordan (Carlo Aquino), her childhood best friend; Adrian (JC de Vera), a Narciso who falls hard for her; or Miguel (Kit Thompson), who once tricked her into loving him? Completing the powerhouse cast of La Vida Lena are Janice de Belen, Agot Isidro, Raymond Bagatsing, Sofia Andres, Christian Vasquez, Pen Medina, Ruby Ruiz, Soliman Cruz, Malou Crisologo, Josh Ivan Morales, Hasna Cabral, Danica Ontengco and Renshi de Guzman.

La Vida Lena started airing this week on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5 and Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. Its episodes are also available to viewers in and out of the Philippines on iWantTFC, while viewers outside of the Philippines can also catch the show on The Filipino Channel (TFC) on cable and IPTV.

nnn MORE than 40 artists took part in the much-awaited Star Magic Black Pen Event, which streamed on June 19 via Star Magic’s YouTube channel and Facebook page, as well as on other ABS-CBN platforms. The hashtag #StarMagicBlackPenEvent also figured on social networking platforms for days, as fans welcomed the new Star Magic artists who have officially inked their contracts with the talent management company.

Star Magic held a media conference to introduce its first batch of 13 budding and familiar artists: Kaila Estrada (daughter of John Estrada and Janice de Belen), Luis Vera Perez (of the revered Vera-Perez clan), Vitto Neri (son of Victor), Rans Rifol (from girl group MNL48), Vance Larena (who has already done a number of indies), Arabella Davao (daughter of Jackie Lou Blanco and Ricky Davao), Maureen Wrob (Asia’s Next Top Model winner), Mary Jay Apostol (who gave such a stellar performance in the movie Birdshot), Paolo Gumabao (son of Dennis Roldan), Migo Manikan (son of Spanky Manikan), Zabel Lamberth (a familiar face because she starred in a number of TV commercials), Sela Guia (also of MNL48) and Jake Ejercito (son of Laarni Enriquez and former president Joseph Estrada).

I will write more of the other new Star Magic artists in the succeeding weeks. In the meantime, if you missed the stream of the contract-signing, it will still be aired as a special on July 4, 9:30 pm, on A2Z and Kapamilya Channel.

ERICH GONZALES

B6 Friday, July 2, 2021

PCPPI employees inoculated, thank Muntinlupa

RedDoorz expands offering through Sans Hotel for the new normal travelers

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EDDOORZ, Southeast Asia’s (SEA) fastest-growing technologydriven hotel management brand, announced its new line of accommodations - Sans Hotels. Launched in a time when the entire tourism industry is still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, the introduction of this latest lifestyle economy concept marks a new chapter for RedDoorz as it successfully maneuvers towards becoming a multi-brand accommodation platform.

In the recent launch event with the Department of Tourism (DOT), RedDoorz and the DOT are anticipating strong local travel demands as the economy begins to reopen.

“Since the start of the pandemic, we’ve been working closely with hotels like RedDoorz in driving better business operations for safe and fun domestic travels across the country. The firm has definitely taken advantage of the benefits and opportunities from the DOT’s accreditation requirements in order to meet new customer requirements and demands and new travel experiences. With their growing accredited Sans Hotels, we are delighted to witness broader opportunities for hotel owners to weather this pandemic,” said Director Virgilio Maguigad, Department of Tourism.

Sans Hotels is a trendy, economy lifestyle hotel brand that aims to provide vibrant experiences for customers at a low cost. Each hotel has a unique design, theme, and personality that is especially designed for the Gen

Zs and millennials market who value the seamless integration of stylish comfort and smart technology. The first Sans Hotel is now open for travellers in Manila and will open more properties in Tagaytay City and Cebu City.

“We are excited to grow with local hotel players in high demand cities for the new customer segment - the younger sector who are eager to go out and explore not only for staycations, but even for any kind of safe travels. With RedDoorz’ service guarantee that is guarantee and the strict implementation of hygiene and sanitation practices in all our properties, our multibrand platform offers the owners an opportunity to leverage our footprint, user bases, technology, best practices, other assets, and solid experiences of our regional team,” said Miguel Capistrano, RedDoorz Philippines.

The current situation presented many growth possibilities for RedDoorz to contribute in the speed up of the industry’s recovery. RedDoorz is focusing on the digitalization of its consumer and partner assets, and launching tangible & impactful initiatives as it improves its business operations with the help of government partners and other stakeholders, DOT acknowledges the need to support the tourism sector’s road to recovery and supports the diversification of hotel businesses whereby RedDoorz, and Sans Hotels by extension, plays a key role in achieving DOT’s recovery goals and continuously provides affordable, safe, and worry-free accommodations to travellers.

The company has been recognized as one of the most resilient travel businesses to have emerged in SEA throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

Aboitiz hails BTr initiative promoting financial literacy and inclusion via PB-2

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N its commitment to proactively support the country’s economic recovery, the Aboitiz Group partnered with the Department of Finance and the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) to facilitate Premyo Bonds 2 or PB-2.

As a special guest for PB-2’s 2nd Quarter Rewards Draw, Aboitiz Group President and CEO Sabin M. Aboitiz commended the BTr for opening opportunities for more Filipinos to contribute directly to the national COVID-19 response while building their own investment portfolio. Such a sustained financial literacy campaign, he said, is an important foundation towards uplifting the lives of Filipinos.

“Financial inclusion means different things to different people. For us, it means giving our kababayans access to a holistic and equitable financial system,” Aboitiz said. “But you cannot achieve financial inclusion without financial literacy. We don’t just want to provide a temporary fix; we want a sustainable solution that

helps people out of poverty, which is the number one priority.”

Issued in December 2020, Premyo Bonds 2 is the second tranche of the government’s savings mobilization program to make government securities available to retail investors. Proceeds from Premyo Bonds 2 will be used to fund the country’s COVID-19 response and boost the Philippine economy.

“At its core, Premyo Bonds started with the vision of increasing financial inclusion among all Filipinos by giving them a simple, affordable, and safe way to start their investment journey. Specifically, for those who have never made any financial investments before,” explained National Treasurer, Rosalia De Leon.

“From the onset, Aboitiz has been a firm believer of our thrust to develop the retail investment market in the country as a way of mobilizing small savings for the funding of our country's development,” she added.

The Aboitiz Group contributed PHP3 million to PB-2’s quarterly raffle cash prize while its banking subsidiary, UnionBank, is one of the bond program’s partner banks. In 2020, UnionBank also helped BTr facilitate the launch of BONDS.PH, the first blockchain-enabled retail treasury bond issuance in Asia.

“We are glad to have the opportunity to work with the Bureau of Treasury and the Department of Finance again, this time to facilitate the second tranche of Premyo Bonds. We are seeing that more Filipinos are interested in understanding and taking up investment products, and Premyo Bonds 2 is a great way to encourage this further,” Aboitiz noted.

He added: “Clearly, we still have a long way to go, but, as we in Aboitiz have said many times, partnerships between the public and private sectors are going to be the key ingredient in ensuring that the needs of our communities are addressed more equitably and sustainably.”

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EPSI-COLA Products Philippines Inc. (PCPPI)—the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country—hopes to speed up its employee vaccination through the City Government of Muntinlupa.

The local government unit, host to PCPPI’s headquarters and biggest manufacturing plant, has inoculated the economic frontliners under the A4 category of the Inter-Agency Task Force priority list during the LGU’s launch last June 7. PCPPI employees, being part of the essential workforce, are classified under this category.

“We laud Muntinlupa City’s fast vaccine rollout for our economic workers. We are encouraging more of our employees to get vaccinated. The sooner we get fully immunized, the safer we get, and the earlier our economy could recover,” PCPPI President and Chief Executive Officer Frederick D. Ong said.

While vaccination is underway through

the local government of Muntinlupa City, PCPPI is also awaiting the delivery of 20,000 doses of AztraZeneca vaccines. This vaccination program is part of “A Dose of Hope”, an initiative led by Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion.

“We participated in the ‘A Dose of Hope’ initiative to help in the faster rollout of vaccines, and in support of the private sector’s goal of reviving the economy,” Ong added.

PPCPI is the exclusive bottler of PepsiCo beverages in the country. The group manufactures and sells well-known brands such as Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, 7-Up, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Sting, Aquafina, Tropicana, Lipton, and Premier.

Rio Tuba Mining among Palawan’s highest taxpayers

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IO Tuba Nickel Mining Corp., (RTNMC), a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC), is hailed as one of the largest corporate taxpayers in Palawan.

The mining company’s real property taxes alone, not counting income and excise taxes and other local taxes paid to the local and national government, is instrumental in realizing high-impact development programs that boost the economic health of the province.

Hon. Mayor Abraham M. Ibba of the Municipality of Bataraza, RTNMC’s host community, says these taxes greatly help improve the living conditions of the residents of Bataraza.

RTNMC has paid the provincial coffers P340 Million in real property tax from 2016 until 2020.

“RTNMC’s taxes is a big boost to our economic health. About 85 percent of our gross income is from the contribution of the two mining companies, RTNMC and Coral Bay Nickel Corp. (CBNC), that we host,” says Ibba.

In 2017, the real property tax paid to the Bataraza LGU amounted to P13,936,017.00,

an increase of more than 35 percent from the previous year.

In 2018, RTNMC was again lauded as the number one taxpayer in Palawan with a total real property tax payment of P10. 3 Million.

Additionally, RTNMC’s payments of mayor's permits and licenses have reached around P34 Million as of 2019.

Romana Bermudez, acting Bataraza Municipal Treasurer, says the company's taxes significantly impact the town's economy.

“Since RTNMC is a mining company inside the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), it currently pays five percent gross income tax,” explains Bermudez.

RTNMC is instrumental in creating the Rio Tuba Export Processing Zone through Presidential Proclamation No. 304 in 2002 that facilitate the establishment and hosting of other businesses which bring jobs to the communities.

The contribution of RTNMC has been consistently recognized every year by the Provincial Government of Palawan as municipal treasurers are also honored for diligently performing tax collection in their respective locality.

The mining company plays a significant role in providing jobs and basic services to its surrounding communities and creating a venue for an active economic hub with good support infrastructure.

As among the largest corporate taxpayers in Palawan since 2014, RTNMC was acknowledged as the 28th Largest Corporate Taxpayer in the Philippines in 2015. And in 2016, contributed nearly P800 Million in tax revenues and P41.3 Million in royalties, a feat achieved by very few other Palawan-based business operations.

Palawan’s mineralized lands, particularly in the southern part of the island province, has kept the economy afloat, especially during the pandemic.

Gifted to Give: 500 YOC Commemorative Plate now available

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T was 500 years ago when Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan representing the Spanish Empire, arrived in the Visayan region of the Philippines in 1521.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has released the official theme and the logo for the 500th Anniversary of the arrival of Christianity which will be marked in 2021.

“Gifted to Give”, that’s the theme of the celebration of the 5th Centenary of Christianity in our country. It’s taken from the gospel of St. Matthew, Chapter 10, Verse 8 where we hear Christ telling his apostles: “Freely you have received. Freely give.” It’s actually Christ’s order for his apostles to do all, to give all they have got in their work and mission of apostolate. The theme and logo of the celebration was approved by the permanent council of CBCP on September 18, 2019.

The 500 Years of Christianity is a once in a lifetime event that deserves a once in a lifetime commemoration. The 500 Commemorative Home & Business Plate is a valuable souvenir to go with it and the best memorabilia for this joyous event.

The 500 YOC Commemorative Home & Business Plate symbolizes the generosity of every Filipino Catholic. In spite of the onslaught of Coronavirus we can still multiply the “act of giving”. Every purchase

signifies the Catholic’s giftedness to give and support the mission project of the church, dioceses, parishes and other religious sectors.

Join the growing member of Proud Catholic that truly gives and avail the 500 YOC Commemorative Plate now!

It is going to be available at your dioceses, parishes and religious congregations. You can also avail it on Shopee and Lazada.

For more info, you can also go to www. giftedtogive.com

Sports BusinessMirror

Editor: Jun Lomibao

MONUMENTAL SCARE

Obiena warms up just right for Tokyo pole vault campaign

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J OBIENA is getting himself warmed up with a flourish after collecting the men’s pole vault silver medal just under three weeks before the Tokyo Olympics open in Japan.

Obiena cleared 5.87 meters to finish behind the 5.92-meter golden effort the US’s Christopher Nilsen pulled off and ahead of bronze medalist Piotr Lisek (5.82m) of Poland in the Irena Szwewinska Memorial/ Bydgosszcz Cup on Wednesday at the Krzyszkowiak Stadium in Bydgosszcz, Poland.

Rio 2016 gold medalist Thiago Braz da Silva also cleared 5.82-m but settled for fourth place.

The 25-year-old 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Obiena surpassed his Philippine outdoor record of 5.85m he set in Berlin, Germany last June 12.

Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association President Philip Ella Juico was pleased with Obiena’s performance in the past few days, saying it’s a “good sign” that he will do “something great” in the Tokyo Olympics athletics competitions set from July 31 and August 3 at the Japan National Stadium.

“It’s very encouraging and it’s a good development,” Juico said on Thursday. “I think he will do something great in the Olympics—the messages sounded like that in the past few weeks.”

“It’s a good sign, and most importantly, his confidence is getting stronger with the adjustments they are doing,” he added. Juico praised Obiena’s father Emerson Obiena and Ukrainian Coach Vitaly Petrov

EJ OBIENA clinches a silver medal in a meet in Poland.

for doing their best to prepare the Filipino pole vaulting pride.

He said that Swede Armand Duplantis’s 6.18m world record doesn’t intimdate Obiena at all.

“That’s not a pressure, but that’s a goal, a part of his aspiration,” Juico added.

Obiena hiked his medal haul during his pre-Olympic European sortie in 2020 and 2021 to four golds, four silvers and three bronzes.

“I am grateful, but more needs to be done,” Obiena posted on his social media sites. He is still scheduled to compete at the Wanda Diamond League in Stockholm on Sunday.

Obiena will fly to Tokyo on July 23, the day the Olympics open.

Josef Ramos

PHL Tokyo Olympics mission locked, loaded, ready to fire

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-MINUS 22 days and the Philippine campaign in the Tokyo Olympics is locked, loaded and ready to fire with 17 athletes—and potentially two more in swimming—all geared up for the greatest competition of their lives and the entire delegation secured of its more than three-week stay in the Japanese capital.

“In three weeks, the urn in Tokyo will be burning and Team Philippines—from the athletes and coaches down to the secretariat are ready for action,” Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said on Thursday.

Chef de Mission Mariano Araneta will lead a first batch of officials which will be flying to Tokyo

via Narita Airport on July 15 and will head directly to Conrad Hotel, Team Philippines’ official home during the July 23 to August 28 games.

Joining Araneta are team doctor Randy Molo, POC general manager and Secondary Olympic Attache Dinah Remolacio, Covid-19 Covid-19 Liaison Officer (CLO) chief Atty. Billy Sumagui, Games Management Officer and Secondary CLO Martin Gregorio and Protocol Officer and Secondary Activity Monitoring Officer Jarryd Bello.

“The POC and the Philippine Sports Commission [PSC] secured the Conrad Hotel just in time and we’re glad that has been accomplished,” Tolentino said. “In terms of administrative and secretariat

‘Rise Up Shape Up’ on virtual learning

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IRTUAL learning for sports and physical education will highlight the Philippine Sports Commission’s (PSC) “Rise Up Shape Up” edition on Saturday.

The online program will showcase the different stories and insights of sports educators and women coaches in the new normal mode of learning caused by the global health crisis.

University of the Philippines Community Recreations Director and UP College of Human Kinetics Assistant Professor Michiko Aseron

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph | Friday, July 2, 2021 B7

will talk about Kinetika Online, a public service of the university that encourages people to do exercise during the lockdown.

“The web series does not only promote balance in physical, mental, and emotional health but also supports the promotion of sports on a digital platform,” PSC Women in Sports Oversight Commissioner Celia Kiram said.

Joining Aseron in the episode is Dr. Jenny Lee Victor-Esiong of the Benguet State University Institute of Human Kinetics. She will discuss

THE national men’s basketball team sends the mighty Serbians to the drawing board wondering what hit and almost knocked them. FIBA.BASKETBALL

By Joseph Ramos

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ALK about pride and Gilas Pilipinas got plenty of it after giving mighty Serbia a scare in a 76-83 loss at dawn on Thursday when most of the basketball-crazy Filipino fans were in bed unaware of a battle that was almost won in Serbia.

“I was very proud of the effort.

I wanted to play better than we played, and I know we can play better,” Gilas head coach Tab Baldwin said in the post-game press conference for the International Basketmatters, we’re all settled.”

The PSC transferred on Thursday P11 million for the accommodation expense of Team Philippines from the total P48 million allocation for participation. The entire PSC budget for the Olympic campaign is pegged at P200 million.

The athletes will also arrive in Tokyo in batches depending upon their competition schedule.

The country expected to have two more swimmers on the team as provided for by the International Olympic Committee universality rule.

The Tokyo Olympics-bound Filipinos are golfers Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan and Juvic Pagunsan, pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnast Caloy Yulo, rower Cris Nievarez, taekwondo jin Kurt Barbosa, skateboarder Margie Didal, shooter Jayson Valdez, runner Kristina Knott, judoka Kiyomi Watanabe, weightlifters Hidilyn Diaz and Elreen Ando and boxers Eumir Marcial, Irish Magno, Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam. strategies in transforming online classes to a better platform for sports and movement Esiong serves as the university’s dancesport coach since 2008 and was a former dance troupe member, varsity basketball and soccer player having competed nationally from 1998 to 2002.

De La Salle University faculty member Karina Crisostomo will also give tips on Managing Stress in Online Learning.

“The PSC women in sports program wanted to highlight our women educators, coaches, and athletes to inspire young girls to get active and be involved in sports as a form of empowerment,” Kiram said.

ball Federation Olympic Qualifying Tournament at the Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade.

“Certainly the flow of the game was very competitive although we put in a great effort,” Baldwin said. “I thought we answered most of the questions asked by Serbia today.”

Serbia is the Rio 2016 Olympics silver medalist behind the US and is currently perched at No. 5 in the world. The Philippines, on the other hand, was expected to suffer a blowout for being ranked 26 rungs below the Serbians at No. 31

But Gilas, a team composed of young collegiate stars with no professional support from the Philippines Basketball Association, made heads turn in the global basketball community with a gallant stand against one of the strongest favorites to complete the four remaining men’s basketball slots in the Tokyo Olympics,.

Gilas erased a 40-56 deficit late in the third period and took a 7473 cushion with 3:50 to go on RJ Abarrientos’s layup.

But it certainly pays to have a 7-foot-4 National Basketball Association (NBA) center around

PhilCycling National Trials for Road unwrap July 10-11 at Clark Freeport

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OMPETITIVE cycling completes its 1-2 punch against the pandemic with the staging of the PhilCycling National Trials for Road on July 10 and 11 at the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone in Pampanga.

After the successful staging of the National Mountain Bike Trials in Danao City last June 11 to 13, it’s the turn of the road cyclists to get into action, thanks to the collaboration among the PhilCycling, Standard Insurance, Smart, MVP Sports Foundation, Bases Conversion and Development Authority and the Clark Development Corp.

“Competitive cycling’s been out for more than one and a half years now, but we’re back to racing, thanks to the private sector support and the government’s endearing effort to beat the pandemic through sports,” Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and PhilCycling President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said.

The PhilCycling had to secure the approval of the Philippine Sports Commission and as importantly the Central Luzon (Region 3) Regional Task Force, Office of Civil Defense, Department of Health, Philippine National Police, Province of Pampanga and the Department of Tourism for the races that will be staged in a bubble environment.

Races will be in Men and Women Individual Time Trial and Criterium on July 10 and Road on July 11. All participants—cyclists, race officials, staff, among others—were subjected to at least

one RT-PCR and Antigen tests as prescribed by the health protocols set by POC Medical Director Dr. Jose Raul Canlas.

High anticipation over the return of road cycling drew enthusiastic support from Go for Gold, Chooks-to-Go, GAC Motor (official mobility partner), Gatorade (official sports drink), Versa (communications partner), 7-Eleven, Le Tour de Filipinas, 7-Eleven, UBE Express Inc., Powerade, Wilkins, Coca-Cola, Shimano, Bike-X and MadCrank.

Race officials, organizers and staff will be billeted at the Quest Hotel Plus Conference Center, while cyclists will return to their homes right after the awarding ceremonies for their events.

The Clark Parade Grounds is the main (start-finish) finish venue. The ITT races are set at 24.6 kms for the men and 18 kms for the women, the criterium will be over a 2.3-km circuit at the Clark Parade Grounds while the road races will be on a 24.6-km loop (six laps for the men and four laps for the women).

Pogacar clobbers foes with amazing ITT performance

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AVAL, France—Tadej Pogacar waited until the penultimate stage to take control of the Tour de France last year.

The young Slovenian rider did it after only five stages this summer, with a stunning display in Wednesday’s time trial that won’t be forgotten by his rivals.

In the first big battle between the main contenders—a 27.2-kilometer test against the clock coming early in the race—Pogacar

reigned supreme, powering to victory to assert himself as the favorite at the showcase event.

“Today was a really good day for me. I didn’t do any mistakes,” Pogacar said. The 22-year-old UAE Team Emirates leader did not seize the yellow jersey but gained time over his main rivals.

Just look at the damage: Pogacar was 44 seconds faster than last year’s runner-up, Primoz Roglic, while 2018 champion Geraint

Thomas dropped one minute and 18 seconds. Richard Carapaz, a former Giro champion with big ambitions at the Tour this year, was 1:44 off the pace.

World champion Julian Alaphilippe was among the day’s losers, 1:11 off Pogacar’s pace.

“The goal was not to lose time, but I gained time so I’m super happy. I’m just excited for the whole Tour,” Pogacar said.

The Tour is a race of attrition

as Boban Marjanovic nailed 10 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and grabbed 10 rebounds in the crucial stretch to put off the Filipinos’ onslaught.

Naturalized 6-foot-11 Ange Kouame stood his ground against the taller Marjanovic and Serbia’s other big men by piling up 17 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and two assists.

Jordan Heading was spectacular with 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting beyond the three-point zone, while Justine Baltazar added 10 points and four rebounds.

Kai Sotto had 10 points, five rebounds, two steals and two assists and at 19 and lanky at 7-foot-4, showed signs of eventually fulfilling his NBA dream Abarrientos, who contributed nine points, had a great showdown with former NBA player Milos Teodosic, who compiled 13 points and six assists for Serbia.

The Gilas cadets made up for a stinging 67-126 loss a national team coached by Yeng Guiao absorbed in the 2019 Fiba World Cup in Foshan, China.

“Sometimes with a young and developing team, we can be a bit bigger than we are, Baldwin said.

“But that’s what the learning process is all about.”

The Philippines battles the Dominican Republic (0-1 win-loss) also at 2:30 a.m. on Friday hoping for a win that would send them to the semifinals alongside Serbian (2-0). Serbia blasted the Dominican Republic, 94-76, earlier in Group A.

and remains wide open. But the mountain stages in the Alps and the Pyrenees will be crucial, and Pogacar proved last year—when he became the second-youngest winner in the race history—that he can compete with the best climbers.

In addition, he has a stronger team this year and the Tour is less mountainous. More importantly, another long time trial will be on the program on the eve of the finish on the Champs Elysees. AP

IN the first big battle between the main contenders, Tadej Pogacar reigns supreme, powering to victory to assert himself as the favorite at the showcase event. AP

EALA

Eala gearing up on London grass

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LEX EALA’S build up for Wimbledon went to a roaring start as she beat Czech Republic’s Darja Vidmanova, 6-4, 6-4, at the J1 Roehampton tournament on Thursday in London.

The 16-year-old tennis sensation Eala, a long-time Globe ambassador, is looking to conquer Wimbledon for her third grand slam tournament victory in her young but decorated career.

But Eala needs to gain some more experience on grass and is using the International Tennis Federation Grade 1 tournament to further sharpen her skills heading for the Wimbledon juniors tournament that starts on Monday.

The No. 3 ranked juniors player in the world had no troublein disposing of the 18-year-old Vidmanova, currently ranked nN. 35 in the ITF juniors rankings.

Eala’s next opponent will be Matilde Paoletti of Italy.

Eala and 18-year-old Indonesian Priska Madelyn Nugroho slipped past Nicole Rivkin of Germany and Hanne Vandewinkel of Belgium, 7-6, 7-5, in the doubles e vent.

The Eala-Nugroho tandem won the Australian Open girls’ doubles in 2020.

Eala and Nugroho’s opponent in the next round will be the pair of Barbora Palicova of the Czech Republic and Radka Zelnickova of Slovakia.

B8 Friday, July 2, 2021

Motoring BusinessMirror

Editor: Tet Andolong

Ford rolls out Ranger Raptor X

and Ranger Wildtrak 4x4 F

Story by Randy S. Peregrino

ORD Philippines recently announced the expansion of its 4x4 pickup truck lineup, strengthening its leadership in the hotly contested segment in the country.

Just when we thought that the American automaker finished perking up its best-selling Ranger Raptor, they dropped another surprise. This time by introducing the new limitededition Ranger Raptor X. Nevertheless, that is not all because even the current Ranger Wildtrak 4x4 will now be available with an exclusive power roller shutter.

“The Ranger Raptor X leverages on the immense success of the Ranger Raptor in the market as we continue to boost our 4x4 truck lineup and reach a new group of performance pickup enthusiasts who are into aesthetic modifications,” shared Ford Philippines managing director Michael Breen.

The “X” with an attitude

Launched in 2018, the Ranger Raptor stems from building on the tough, versatile, and capable Ranger pickup success. As an integral part of the Ford Performance family, the brand’s version of a high-performance midsize pickup truck has since become one of the biggest-selling pickup trucks in the country. Further, it has created a legion of proud owners and fans.

Exterior-wise, the limited-edition Raptor X gave the model another level

of smoldering presence. Undoubtedly, this newest variant will turn heads with its unique design elements and exterior upgrades. More rugged and aggressive with a sportier look, the Raptor X features striking over-thetop (OTT) body stripes covering the bonnet, roof, and tailgate with a Carbon Twill Texture in Matte Black.

It has a framed design in a Searing Red Keyline Graphic and side body stripe decal covering side doors and rear quarter panel. Moreover, the grille, door handles, bumper cover, tailgate handle, fender vent, and fog light bezels have also received matte black treatment.

Now conveying a tougher stance on the road and capable of tackling the harshest driving environments thanks to the matte black wheels with 33-inch BF Goodrich All-Terrain tires. Further complementing the tougher stance is an extended leg sports bar and red front tow hooks.

As for the interior, the known Ranger Raptor’s iconic Ford Performance interior and body-contoured sport seats received a Raptor X treatment with red stitching throughout the interior for that adventure-ready look and felt behind the wheel. The AC vents also have chrome accents for that premium touch, and Hy-

The Ranger 4x4 Wildtrak’s power roller shutter

drographic and Black Alley accents across the dashboard round out the interior enhancements.

Beyond the cosmetic upgrades, of course, is the 2.0L Bi-Turbo diesel engine under the hood. It can generate 210 hp and a staggering 500 N-m of maximum torque. Its 10-speed auto transmission, meantime, has proven durability and on-road and off-road capability when transferring power to all four wheels.

Then there is also the cuttingedge Terrain Management System (TMS), offering six modes for various driving experiences. The driver can choose to enable the available Baja mode to unleash the pickup’s prowess. Let us not even forget the 2.5-inch FOX Racing shocks capable of delivering 30 percent more wheel travel than a standard Ranger setup.

The new limited-edition Raptor X comes in three striking colors. There is Arctic White, Conquer Gray, and Performance Blue. According to Ford, the newest variant will be available in dealerships starting July. With a price tag of P2.038 million, only 200 units will be up for grabs throughout the year.

Wildtrak 4x4 with power roller shutter

Also announced was the official availability of the new Ranger Wildtrak 4x4 with power roller shutter. This new feature available on the existing variant is a piece of segment-first original equipment manufactured by Ford. It offers greater security and func-

Meet the limited-edition Ranger Raptor X

The newly opened Ford Talisay in Cebu

tionality when transporting cargo.

“At Ford, we remain committed to designing products and services that are attuned to customer’s needs and lifestyles. With the power roller shutter, our customers can enjoy added protection, convenience, and safety with a feature bearing the Ford quality DNA,” Breen added.

The power roller shutter has several ways to activate a sleeker and cleaner profile than most aftermarket offerings. One way is inside the cabin through a switch on the dash-

board. Another is via a button in the tray or by simply using the key fob. It also has an anti-pinch design feature to prevent injury or damage when in contact with an object. The Ranger Wildtrak 4x4 with power roller shutter can be had for an introductory price of P1.728 starting million and is already available in Ford dealerships nationwide.

Ford Talisay now open to serve

Meanwhile, Ford Philippines also announced the inauguration

Stunning sales increase

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T is simply stunning. Almost unbelievable. I refer to the 360.8-percent increase in vehicle sales just a while back.

Is it vengeance of sorts for customers, or a counterpunch if you will, to suddenly splurge on cars even as we still continue to reel under the enormous weight of the pandemic?

We had been practically immobilized

by Covid-19 since it started assaulting mankind on December 17, 2019, massively limiting our mobility and cruelly confining us—the seniors mostly—almost literally at home.

As a result, the motoring industry absorbed its worst sales performance in decades last year, sending revenues plummeting in record freefall.

And then this. Barely 17 months later, sales of cars and trucks totaled 22,062 in May, thoroughly routing the puny 4,788 units sold in the same month last year.

It overwhelmingly overshadowed the April 2021 sales of 17,843 units for a 23.6 increase in just a matter of barely a month for that unthinkable increase nearly reaching 400 percent.

The roars of joy became all the more louder when, in a five-month span this year, sales totaled 69,463 for an astounding 58.7-percent increase in the same

period in 2020. “The industry remains optimistic of a nascent recovery,” said Rommel Gutierrez, the long-serving, lawyer-president of CAMPI (Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc.).

As usual, Toyota led the sales race with an imposing 47.65 percent market share from January to May this year, with Mitsubishi second at 15.36 percent and Ford third at 7.48 percent. From fourth to 10th were Suzuki, Nissan, Isuzu, Honda, Hyundai, Sojitz Geely and Kia. With lockdowns seen to be continuously easing down as a result of the government’s frenzied stance of speeding up the vaccination drive nationwide, it won’t be long when the so-called new normal would be replaced by the old normal.

It’s been a while since I last heard the “business as usual” refrain. Music to the ears.

Petron wins Endurance

HERE’S a glass to Petron Blaze Team for emerging Class 2 champion at the Kalayaan Cup on June 12 at the demanding Clark International Speedway in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Here’s the complete report from

of its 50th dealership in the country. Located at Cebu South Road Properties Road, Cansojong, Talisay City, Fairlane Automotive Ventures, Inc. (FAVI) operates Ford Talisay. The new branch aims to expand the Ford brand further in the Queen City of the South, reaching more customers and giving them access to Ford’s segment-leading vehicles and the Ford ownership experience.

Boasting an expansive floor area of 1,397 sq.m, it can accommodate a seven-car showroom display and 11 service bays with provisions for future expansion.

The showroom brings to life the dealership branding guidelines of Ford, showcasing a more globally aligned exterior and interior look and feel called Ford Signature to offer customers a better dealership environment and experience.

“We thank our partners from Ford Philippines for their support and collaboration in seeing the construction of Ford Talisay into fruition so that we can serve our customers from Talisay City to Southern town of Cebu,” said Andre Borromeo, general manager, FAVI.

Christine Giray of Great Minds Media/ Gadgets Magazine: “Driving a vintage Honda Civic EK with a surplus engine, the Petron Blaze Racing Team—headed by pilot-businessmanrace car driver Mon Dimapilis, along with teammates Jevoy Moreno, Mikko Rayo, Moses Dumaguing, Powee Base, and Rod Chang—bested the tough field in the 241lap race within the 12-hour period.

“With Petron Blaze 100 as the official fuel for the endurance run, all competitors were able to benefit from the high-performance advantages offered by this 100-octane pure gasoline. What distinguished the Petron Blaze Racing Team was the added advantage of also using Petron Blaze Racing engine oil as lubricant, creating the perfect winning combination.

“According to Dimapilis, they started using Petron Blaze Racing oil since their car preparation and shakedown in early 2021 to properly tune the engine and optimize its performance.

“In the past, using other oil brands, we needed around 3 liters within 12-hours,” said Dimapilis. “This time, we used only one liter of Petron Blaze Racing oil.

Matched with the high-performance Petron Blaze 100 gasoline, we could feel the instantaneous engine response, smooth acceleration, and greater power.”

PEE STOP Honda has extended the Brio options of zero special installment plan and credit card payment platform up to August 31 this year.

The package includes two free Honda Access and the Modulo facemask worth P520, among others. For more details, visit www.hondaphil.com.