BusinessMirror July 23, 2021

Virus scare marks eve of PHL campaign in Tokyo Olympics

By Jun Lomibao

T

OKYO—The Games of the XXXII Olympiad—an edition that would go down in history as the most unique, no thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic—come off the wraps with Friday’s opening ceremony that, mathematically, was more than five-and-a-half years in the making.

Originally scheduled almost exactly a year ago today, the Tokyo Olympics Organizing Committee

ROTARY CLUB OF MANILA JOURNALISM AWARDS

2006 National Newspaper of the Year 2011 National Newspaper of the Year 2013 Business Newspaper of the Year 2017 Business Newspaper of the Year 2019 Business Newspaper of the Year

TOLENTINO: “Our athletes and coaches, even us officials, have two opponents in these Olympics—their rivals in the competition and Covid-19.”

and the International Olympic Committee stood their ground in making sure the Games would go on despite the surge of virus infections that spurred the Japanese government to put Tokyo under a state of emergency.

And for Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, the 19 Filipino athletes competing in the Olympics, trying to beat their opponents is as heavy as the task of avoiding getting infected.

“Our athletes and coaches, even us officials, have two opponents in these Olympics—their rivals in the competition and Covid-19,” Tolentino said.

One Philippine coach showed potential symptoms of the virus on Thursday, scaring not only the entire delegation here, but back home as well.

But that was immediately addressed by Tolentino and Chef de Mission Mariano “Nonong” Araneta.

“We, in coordination with the

coach’s national sports association, decided to isolate the coach from Team Philippines even before the result of his confirmatory test comes out,” Tolentino said.

Other than that virus scare though, Team Philippines’s quest for the country’s first gold medal will commence at the Seaforest Waterway on Tokyo Bay starting at 8:30 a.m. (Tokyo time) on Friday, with Cris Nievarez plunging into the men’s single sculls heat of rowing. Olympics stories on page A12.

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

EJAP JOURNALISM AWARDS

BUSINESS NEWS SOURCE OF THE YEAR

(2017,2018, 2018) (2017, 2019)

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

2018 BANTOG MEDIA AWARDS

PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY

DATA CHAMPION

THE QUICK BROWN FOX MSMES CAN’T AFFORD JUMPS OVER THE LAZY MAJOR LOCKDOWN–DTI www.businessmirror.com.ph w

July 23, 2021 Vol. 16 No. 281 n Friday, July 23, 2021 Vol. 16 No. 282 Friday,

n

THE QUICK BROWN FOX DOF: REVENUE RULE ON JUMPS OVER THE LAZY VAT WILL BE REPLACED

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

T

@TyronePiad

HE micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) cannot afford to have another massive lockdown amid the threats of a spike in Covid-19 cases driven by the Delta variant, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said in a TV interview that the MSMEs are worried already because their cash flows have been depleted following the imposition of enhanced community quarantine in 2020 and just earlier this year.

“Kung manipis na yung cash flow mo, tapos magla-lockdown ka na naman, ano pa ang matitira?... Mabigat talaga yung another lockdown [If your cash flow has been depleted and a lockdown is imposed, what more will be left of the business? Another lockdown will have a major impact on them],” Lopez explained.

If there will be another massive lockdown, Lopez said small businesses will be forced to trim their work force or temporarily close operations.

This is why DTI is pushing for a granular lockdown as much as possible, Lopez said. He explained that See“MSMEs,” “Pasa,” A2 See A2

P25.00 P25.00nationwide nationwide| |22sections sections16 24pages pages| |7 DAYS A WEEK

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

T

The construction industry, which accounts for some 4.2 million workers, is normalizing slowly amid renewed caution over a possible variant-driven spike in Covid-19 cases. Construction industry players said they would rather focus on preventing the spread of the virus in the workplace. In photo, workers are busy rushing a condominium project along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City. NONOY LACZA

@BNicolasBM

heads the DOF’s Revenue Operations Group, said on Thursday the new RR that is targeted to be issued this month will now be in line with the provisions of Republic Act 11534 or the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) law.

“So in effect RR 9-2021 will be repealed by the regulations that are gonna be coming out to implement CREATE,” Tionko said in a webinar hosted by the Tax Management Association of the Philippines, Inc. (TMAP).

HE Department of Finance (DOF) clarified on Thursday that the controversial Revenue Regulations (RR) 9-2021 will be repealed and replaced with a new one that will allow exporters to keep enjoying zero-percent value-added tax (VAT) on their local purchases of goods and services “ directly and exclusively used” in a registered project or activity.

Finance Undersecretary See “Pasa,” A2 Antonette C. Tionko, who

See “DOF,” A2

Longer import clearances sought The quick brown fox jumpsvalidity over the lazy

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

T

@jearcalas

HE global shipping problem has forced meat importers to seek an extension of the validity of import clearances for meat products, a measure seen to avert additional costs in the retail price of certain food items.

The Meat Importers and Traders A ssociat ion (MI TA) w rote Ag r icu lture Secretar y Wi l liam D. Dar with a request to extend the validity of both sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPS-IC), and minimum access volume import certificate (MAVIC), by 30 days, to accommodate the

delays experienced both in shipping and arrival.

This means that the validity of the SPS-IC would be extended to 90 days from 60, while MAVIC would be valid for 120 days from the current 90.

Skeds in disarray

MITA President Jesus C. Cham explained that the shipping schedules are in “disarray” as result of Covid19-related mobility restrictions, container imbalance and lack of vessels.

“As a result, shipments are not able to sail or dock in a predictable manner, either at origin or transshipment ports,” Cham said in his

PESO PESOEXCHANGE exchangeRATES ratesnnUSUS48.4660 50.3120 nnJAPAN japan 0.4536 0.4562 n UK 67.7347 69.0180 n n HK HK 6.2567 6.4725 n CHINA 7.5030 7.7780

letter to Dar, a copy of which was obtained by the BusinessMirror.

“We are seeing delayed arrivals of more than 2 months from the initial [estimated time of arrival],” he added.

Cham pointed out that the extension of validity for SPS-ICs is meant “to account for delayed sailings” while the proposed extension of the MAVICs’ validity is “to account for delayed arrivals.”

The importers face additional costs should the two documents go beyond their validity dates, which could be passed on the value chain—with consumers ultimately paying for it.

DOLE

See A2 A2 See “Pasa,” “Longer,”

n SINGAPORE 36.4265 n australia AUSTRALIA 37.0246 37.7329 nn EU EU 59.3581 58.5575 nnSAUDI SAUDIarabia ARABIA13.4147 12.9371Source: Source: (March 31, 2021) singapore 36.8965 BSPBSP (July 22, 2021)

SUMMIT

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Friday, July 23, 2021

MSMEs...

Continued from A1

essential activities are only permitted to allow the safe reopening of the economy.

The Trade department is also looking into expanding the operating capacity of establishments whose employees are all fully vaccinated with Covid-19 doses.

“Kung vaccinated lahat ng workers doon sa loob, hopefully, we can generate more customers dahil makokompyansa silang mas safe sa loob ng store na yun [If all the workers are vaccinated in a store, we can hopefully generate more customers because people will have confidence that they are safe inside],” Lopez said.

But such proposal has yet to be finalized, he added.

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Maria A. Concepcion earlier called for the promotion of micro-herd immunity, which refers to a close system—such as building and commercial space—that achieved 80-percent vaccination rollout already. This is seen to help the economy reopen and recover safely as it will allow more mobility.

“I believe that if we are able to vaccinate 80-plus percent of employees in a building, that means herd immunity is achieved in that group, so why don’t we increase their capacity?” Concepcion said previously.

According to a June survey by DTI, the number of businesses that closed operations slowed down to 10 percent from a peak of 40.20 percent in August last year following the easing of mobility restrictions.

Less than half or 44 percent of the MSMEs surveyed have maintained full operations while the remaining 46 percent are only partially operating. The June data also showed that 53.8 percent of the MSMEs reported decline in sales.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

DepEd tells teachers to use app on vaccination status

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

T

HE Department of Education (DepEd) has developed an app to provide a safer avenue for the agency's teaching and non-teaching personnel as they give information and status of their vaccination.

This, as the Cabinet has yet to tackle a legal question raised by one of its members, on whether private schools can bar unvaccinated teachers from attending face-toface classes.

Education Secretar y Leonor Magtolis Briones said development of the DepEd Mobile App is in support of the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan (NDVP. Through this app, DepEd personnel can log in and provide updated information on their vaccination status and they will no longer be required to do manual data collection in all governance levels.

“We decided to create this platform to give our personnel and teachers a hassle-free and contactless way of handing out their vaccination status. We also want to maximize the use of technology in consolidating information of the

vaccinees,” Briones said.

The process of using the DepEd Mobile App is done remotely. It may be downloaded in App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android).

“The app can generate and send consolidated reports per division and region. Overall, this technology simplifies and lessens administrative tasks and minimizes inaccuracy and errors in data collection,” said Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del B. Pascua.

The OUA memorandum released on Monday also provided a User Guide to orient personnel on the step-by-step process for using the application, from registering up to providing personal information.

The application features a Question Set for users to update their vaccination status, in addition to other details related to Covid-19.

Pascua also noted that the data collected from the application would be vital in crafting policies and addressing challenges in the vaccination program of the national government.

“All the information collected will guide the Department’s leaders across all governance levels in making appropriate decisions to respond to the ongoing pandemic.

Only timely and accurate informa-

tion can help provide appropriate solutions to DepEd’s concerns,” Pascua added.

Based on the submissions by the 15 regions as of July 8, out of 788,839 eligible population of DepEd personnel, 37.91 percent are already vaccinated while 62 percent remain unvaccinated.

There were 299,021 who were vaccinated for both first dose and second dose while 489,818 were not vaccinated.

To reach this unvaccinated personnel, the DepEd said that various DepEd Regional and Division Offices are also continuously promoting the Vacc2School campaign to encourage personnel in registering with their local government’s vaccination drive.

Can teachers be coerced?

Meanwhile, a legal question was raised on Thursday involving the right of private schools to bar unvaccinated teachers from school premises.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra yesterday begged off from issuing a legal opinion on the question raised

by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. on the legality of a requirement by some schools for their teachers to be vaccinated before the start of a face-to-face class.

Guevarra admitted that Locsin raised a “tough policy question” which should be brought before the entire Cabinet.

“Tough policy questions like these will most likely be discussed at the Cabinet meeting first,” Guevarra said.

In his official Twitter account, Locsin posted, “@ DOJPH Help please. Need your opinion. Is it legal for schools to require teachers to vaccinate before letting them in the classroom when face to face allowed? Can they fire teachers who refuse for cock and bull conscientious reasons? I’m serious.”

But Guevarra did not directly give an answer to the question.

With school year 20212022 set to open on September 13, there had been suggestions for face-to-face classes to be allowed in selected areas, but President Duterte has yet to approve it.

Duterte’s last Sona to focus on policy, not politics–Roque

L

ESS about politics, and more about policies.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said this was how President Duterte is expected to deliver his sixth and last State of the Nation Address (Sona) next week.

“Probably his political plans will not be included. What is important is his road map for his last year in office,” Roque said at an online press briefing on Thursday when asked about the possible content of Duterte’s Sona.

Roque earlier said the speech will consolidate the achievements of his administration in the past five years covering its socioeconomic programs, infrastructure, peace and security, and foreign policy.

He said Duterte will also be calling on Congress to pass his priority legislations.

DOF...

Some of Duterte’s family members will not be able to attend the Sona.

“We are sure that because of the good relations of the President with both houses of Congress, urgent bills will still be passed [on time],” Roque said.

He said this may include the pending Bayanihan 3, which is expected to grant additional funding to the government’s pandemic-related initiatives.

First daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has said she will not be able to attend the event, while Davao Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte, the youngest son of the President, was recently afflicted with Covid-19, according to Roque.

Duterte’s Sona will be held at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday, July 26, 2021. Samuel P. Medenilla

Continued from A1

The announcement of the intended repeal of RR 9-2021 came after exporters expressed concern that the regulation could cripple the industr y. The old RR was issued in line with the provisions of Republic Act (R A) 10963 or the Ta x Reform and Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TR AIN) that certain transactions previously considered zero-rated shall be subject to 12-percent VAT upon satisfaction of two specific conditions.

Since RR 9-2021 took effect on June 27, whic h mea nt that only three d ay s w a s le f t covered for the second quarter, Tionko said they decided not to i mple ment the said reg u lation for that period.

“For t hose three days, I dou bt i f a ny one pa id VAT on that or anyone passed on

Longer...

Continued from A1

An expiration of the documents, despite the availability of the imported goods, would mean additional “delay and unnecessary workload” for the Department of Agriculture (DA) since importers will have to apply for new ones.

Cham also stressed that every time the SPS-IC and the MAVIC expire, the importers ask the exporters to hold the shipment, with the shipper being forced to reschedule on the next available vessel, which translates to additional costs.

On top of this, it also results in the uncertainty of the arrival of the imported meat products since the schedule of the next available vessel is currently “unpredictable”—all the while the products losing their shelf life, Cham explained.

“Needless to say, reefers occasionally run afoul of regulations and end up abandoned or condemned through no fault of the importer or exporter,” he said.

“The country and economy also pay a price,” he added.

Cham told the BusinessMirror that arrival of shipments is now taking more than three months, while other industry players noted it already takes about four months.

People familiar with the matter told the BusinessMirror that the DA is already “looking into” MITA’s proposal.

MITA’s letter was also sent to Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua, Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez and Anti-Red Tape Authority Deputy Director General Ernesto V. Perez.

The delays caused by the global shipping problem compound the country’s dwindling pork supply. The Philippines is in dire need of pork, which the government is banking on to be filled by imported supply, as domestic shortfall is estimated to be at least 400,000 metric tons (MT), a consequence of the African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks.

As early as March, the BusinessMirror broke the story that the global container imbalance and lack of vessels pose a huge threat to the government’s plan to flood the market with imported pork. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2021/03/30/3-month-shipment-delays-negate-bid-to-hike-meat-imports/.)

Royal Cargo Inc. (RCI) COO Jet B. Ambalada earlier told the BusinessMirror that congestion at transshipment points also worsened the situation for the Philippines. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/03/26/foodshortage-seen-on-global-supply-woes/.)

“We are facing shipping and logistics problems. For example in Europe, there are a lot of delays due to Covid-19 problems and challenges such as lockdowns,” he said in an interview in March.

“The major problem is that our transshipment points are already congested.

For example, Singapore and China ports are congested since these countries are sourcing a lot of raw materials,” he added.

VAT and if ever, there is still time to refund because the deadline is still July 25, [right], so the impact isn't ver y great,” she said.

But Tionko said the whole month of July will be covered by the new RR that they will issue soon.

“By this quarter, we can already implement CR EATE since it’s only the start [of the quarter] and the regs [regulations] are likely to come out soon,” she said.

A sked what happens if vendors have already issued VAT invoices for the sale of goods and ser vices this month to exporters prior to the repeal of the old RR, Tionko said: “ That’s being addressed; it’s either by the issuance soon of the new regs [regulations] or if it will take more time than they think, then probably an interim issuance [whichever comes first].” She explained it might be “useless to issue a suspension” that overlaps with the release of a new rule. “So we will see how it works out," she said.

According to RR 16 -2005 and RR 13-2018, a zero-rated sale of goods or properties or ser vices by a VAT-registered person is a ta xable transaction for VAT pur poses, but this shall not result in any output ta x. However, the input ta x on purchases of goods, properties, or services related to such zero-rated sale, shall be available as ta x credit or refund.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Economy BusinessMirror

Friday, July 23, 2021 A3 Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

House front-loads scrutiny of Duterte administration’s pandemic spending

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

T

HE House of Representatives will assert its oversight power to scrutinize the Duterte administration’s spending for its Covid-19 pandemic response when session resumes, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said Thursday.

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Velasco said there is a need to convene its oversight power over

Congress-approved funding, including allocations and spending for pandemic response.

“Definitely, that [probe] is needed.

We also have that power of oversight.

Definitely, all the budgets we pass, we need to find out whether [these were] spent well,” he said.

Congress will open its third and last regular session on Monday, July 26.

“I’m sure we are going to have a few hearings [when we resume session] so that the Executive will be able to explain

PHL receives more than 500K doses of Covid vax

By Recto Mercene

@rectomercene

W

HEN it rains, it pours as 562,770 doses of PfizerBioNtech Covid-19 vaccine arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) at 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 21, 2021, on board a Hong Kong Air DHL flight.

This was followed by the arrival of 1.5 million doses of Sinovac vaccine, airlifted by Cebu Pacific (CEB) from Beijing at 7:49 a.m. yesterday, July 22, 2021.

Today, July 23, Friday, Cebu Pacific flight CEB 5J 671 will airlift 1 million doses of Sinovac vaccine at about 8 a.m. from Beijing. The government reportedly secured the supply agreement with the US drugmaker last month with a total of 40 million Pfizer doses to the Philippines.

“Thank you America,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., tweeted, as Palace spokesman Harry Roque confirmed the arrival of the US-made Pfizer vaccine at the airport.

“We are grateful to Cebu Pacific [CEB] and other carriers for their continuous support in the safe delivery of these vaccines. With this steady supply coming in, we can truly accelerate our vaccination program,” said Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force Against Covid-19.

The vaccines were subjected to special handling, stored in temperaturecontrolled refrigerated containers, and were inspected by airport authorities prior to transfer to cold storage vans and facilities.

“We are keen in supporting the government’s health and safety initiatives,” said Alex Reyes, chief strategy officer of CEC. “We are glad to keep on transporting essential cargo and Covid vaccines to the country and provinces within the airline’s reach.”

Over the week, CEB has also delivered around 640,000 Sinovac, As-

traZeneca, Gamaleya Sputnik V and Johnson and Johnson vaccine doses to various provinces from Manila.

To date, CEB has carried over 13 million Covid-19 vaccine doses from China to Manila, and over 3.8 million doses to 21 provinces.

CEB operates the widest domestic network in the Philippines, covering 30 destinations, on top of its five international destinations. Its 74-strong fleet, one of the youngest in the world, includes two dedicated ATR freighters and an A330 freighter.

Galvez also reminded local government units (LGUs) to ensure that Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines “must be stored properly so it won’t go to waste.”

“We want to remind our LGUs to guarantee that their respective storage facilities have the right temperature for Pfizer vaccines,” Galvez said, adding that Pfizer vaccines need storage temperatures of between minus 70 to minus 80 degrees Celsius.

Galvez said the national government is trying to avoid a repeat of the Muntinlupa incident where an undisclosed number of Covid-19 vaccines were discarded due to storage temperature issues. Because of this, Muntinlupa won’t receive a share from the latest doses of Pfizer vaccines that arrived Wednesday.

“That’s really what we wanted also, to teach some lessons to LGUs that we must never neglect the proper handling of Covid-19 vaccines,” Galvez said.

Out of the 562,770 doses, 51,480 doses were shipped to Cebu and Davao, while the rest were immediately brought to a cold chain storage facility in Marikina prior to distribution to various parts of the country.

On Thursday, PharmaServ was scheduled to deliver Janssen doses to Laguna and Sinovac jabs to other parts of the province, such as Biñan, Cabuyao, Calamba, San Pablo, San Pedro and Sta. Rosa.

and show to us where the government used the funds allotted as the Covid-19 pandemic response,” he added.

Earlier, lawmakers demanded a full accounting of the funds for Bayanihan 1 and Bayanihan 2.

The government has failed to spend about P6.5 billion in funds under Bayanihan to Recover as One law or Bayanihan 2.

Data from the budget department showed there was an unobligated amount of P6.487 billion out of the

total P141.59 billion released allotment for special appropriations under Bayanihan 2 as of June 25.

After the expiration of Bayanihan 2 last June 30, unobligated funds shall be reverted to the Bureau of the Treasury.

Despite appeals from various groups and lawmakers, President Duterte, however, did not call Congress to a special session to extend the validity of appropriations under Bayanihan 2.

Aboitiz renews vow to fight malnutrition, end hunger through ‘Kain Tayo Pilipinas’

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

T

HE Aboitiz group has thrown its support to the “Kain Tayo Pilipinas” program, which seeks to feed and alleviate malnutrition in the country’s, as part of its commitment to help the Philippines achieve the goal of ending hunger by 2030.

In a news statement, the Aboitiz group said that it will make financial donations to the program, while continuing its own social initiatives “that address involuntary hunger and advocate for food security in the country.”

The Kain Tayo Pilipinas program is one of the flagship programs of the Pilipinas Kontra Gutom (PKG) movement led by private corporations, nongovernment organizations together with concerned government entities.

Launched last July 20, the program implements a three-fold approach of feeding, education, and collaboration to “holistically address” the issue of hunger and malnutrition in the country, according to the same statement.

This means that the feeding program will be complemented by education programs, with the aim of making nutrition knowledge accessible and sustainable to every Filipino family.

“We in the Aboitiz Group support Pilipinas Kontra Gutom and Kain Tayo in its mission to alleviate malnutrition and achieve zero Hunger by 2030,” Aboitiz Foundation President and COO Maribeth L. Marasigan said.

“Aboitiz is also a part of PKG’s work stream 1, a multi-sectoral team that is focused to address availability and accessibility in its goal of elevating farming as a dignified and sustainable profession that will contribute to food security. In the face of the economic slowdown brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, we need to collaborate and work together to expand our reach and to help feed more Filipinos in need,”

Marasigan added.

Among the programs that the Aboitiz have implemented in line with the zero hunger goal are the Kutitap Feeding Program and Pilmico Livelihood Program, which are spearheaded by its food unit, Pilmico.

The Kutitap Feeding program seeks to address malnutrition in public schools, while support local businesses while the Pilmico Livelihood Program, which was launched in 2014, aims to provide sustainable livelihood to Filipino farmers and promote consumption of locally produced food, according to Aboitiz.

“The Kutitap Feeding Program was launched as a sustainable initiative, empowering local bakeries through the technical training of bakers and equipment donation, and the regular donation of nutritious baked goods to children in public schools,” it said.

“Such initiative helps sustain the businesses of the bakeries involved in the program and significantly decreases the number of severely wasted and wasted students while increasing school attendance,” it added.

Aboitiz said its foundation, in collaboration with various business units of the group, has also supported the Livelihood Recovery Project for Partner Cooperatives and Associations Nationwide (REstart) that helps cooperatives through donation of farm inputs, bakery restarter packages and egg-laying machines.

“Most recently, the Aboitiz Group empowered Hindang and Marawi-Baloi farmers to become ‘agri-preneurs’ in Iligan,” it said.

“Aboitiz Foundation donated farm equipment—such as corn shellers, moisture checkers, PVC tarps, weighing scales, and other farm inputs—to help the farmers increase their crop production and grow their cooperatives, which in turn will contribute to the food security in their provinces,” it added.

Value of PHL mineral exports reaches P1.1 trillion in five years, group says

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

P

HILIPPINES’S mineral exports in the past 5 years reached a whopping P1.1 trillion despite President Duterte’s promise to close down large-scale mining projects, anti-mining group Kalikasan-People’s Network for the Environment (KalikasanPNE) reported on Thursday.

“Duterte’s mining legacy is that for every P10 worth of minerals that were extracted and exported over the past five years, only P1.40 worth of taxes, royalties, and fees trickled back down to our economy. We protest Duterte’s mining push for 100 new mining projects through his Executive Order 130 when the industry only contributed a measly average of 0.6-percent GDP and 0.5-percent employment contribution,” Leon Dulce, national coordinator of

Kalikasan-PNE said in a news statement.

These concerns were raised

by Kalikasan-PNE to highlight a nationally coordinated action protesting President Duterte’s Executive Order 130 which paved the way for the lifting of mining moratorium put in place by his predecessor, Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III when he signed Executive Order 79 almost a decade ago.

As a sign of protest against the resurgence of mining activities, communities, churches and activists from Cordillera to Davao unfurled banners in freedom parks, churches, and right outside Malacañang Complex at Mendiola.

Dulce noted how promoting mining for economic recovery pales in comparison to agriculture, which contributed at least 8 percent to the GDP and 23 percent to employment in 2020.

“That’s a trillion pesos that

could have been invested in our agriculture, which also serves as an economic base for building heavy industries. That’s a trillion pesos stolen from our people’s sovereign wealth, and from the future generations to come,” Dulce alleged.

Worse, Dulce added, EO 130 “will usher in an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.”

“Last year’s slew of typhoons from Rolly to Ulysses resulted in P41 billion in damages. Scientists noted that mining and quarrying infesting watersheds in Cagayan Valley, Marikina-Rizal, and Bicol worsened the disaster impact.

Alongside this, mining operations caused Covid-19 super spreader events affecting at least 362 mine workers across mining projects from the Cordilleras to Compostela Valley,” Dulce said.

He cited the Didipio coppergold mine of AustralianCanadian mine firm Oceanagold,

which was recently renewed by President Duterte for another 25 years despite facing protests by communities and local governments.

Dulce added “43 percent of environmental defenders killed since 2001 are anti-mining activists, who have been ardent until the end in standing firm against the destructive practices done by mining companies.”

“This does not even include those who continue to get harassed for standing with the community versus mining,” Dulce added.

“With the lifting of the mining moratorium now, we expect President Duterte to flaunt this move as a so-called economic booster, especially with the SONA just a few days from now. But more than that, we also view Executive Order 130 as a ‘license to kill’ for anyone who stands in the way of mining companies.”

A4 Friday, July 23, 2021 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

The Nation BusinessMirror

Covid Delta variant cases in PHL climb to 47, DOH report shows

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

T

HE Department of Health (DOH) is urging the local government units (LGUs) to initiate “enhanced response” following indications there may already have been local transmission of the dreaded Covid Delta variant in some areas of the country amid recorded spikes in infections.

The DOH on Thursday reported the detection of 12 local cases of Delta (B.1.617.2) variant, 187 Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant cases, 142 Beta (B.1.351) variant cases, and 12 P.3 variant cases on the latest whole genome sequencing by the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC).

“With the detection of additional cases, it is crucial that we implement enhanced response immediately in the areas where these cases were detected and its contiguous local government units as well as areas with case spikes with the premise that there may be ongoing local transmission already,” DOH said,

even as the health agency withheld confirmation of a local transmission of the Delta variant.

According to the report of the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Health (UP-NIH) and the UP-PGC to the DOH, the latest include additional 12 local Delta variant cases.

The indicated addresses of these local cases were as follows: Region 3 with six cases, Calabarzon with two cases, Region 5 with one case, and the National Capital Region with three cases.

All cases have been tagged as recovered but DOH regional and local health offices are validating their outcomes. This brings the total Delta variant cases to 47.

Also, in the previous sequencing on July 15, 2021, 16 Delta variant cases were detected among five returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) and 11 local cases.

Of the 16 cases, 2 died and the rest have completed their initial 10-day isolation period.

Upon release of sequencing results, immediate contact tracing,

quarantine, and RT-PCR retesting were done on all cases and their close contacts.

Third generation contact tracing was also initiated. Eight Delta variant cases that returned positive on the reswab were placed in isolation and their contacts remained in quarantine.

Alpha variant

OF the additional 187 Alpha variant cases detected, 179 were local cases and eight are currently being verified if they were local or ROF cases.

Based on the case line list, 54 cases have died while 133 have been tagged as recovered. This brings the total Alpha variant cases to 1,668.

Beta variant

OF the additional 142 Beta variant cases, 134 were local cases and eight cases are currently being verified if they are local or ROF cases.

Based on the case line list, 21 have died and 121 have recovered.

The total Beta variant cases are now at 1,827.

P.3 variant

OF the additional 12 P.3 variant cases, 11 were local cases and one is currently being verified if this is a local or ROF case. All cases have been tagged as recovered.

The P.3 variant has been reclassified as “alert for further monitoring.”

This variant is currently being investigated and information continually collected to monitor its public health implication.

The DOH also reiterated that the detection of local cases with the Delta variant and other variants of concern, the public must “strictly” adhere to the minimum public health standards and continue to avoid enclosed spaces and mass gatherings.

“Continued implementation of the PDITR [Prevention, Detection, Isolation, Treatment, and Reintegration] strategies and localized lockdowns, active case detection, contact tracing, completion of isolation/quarantine, and increased vaccination of the priority groups are necessary to control the further transmission of Covid-19 and

its variants.”

The DOH also requested the LGUs to increase their samples for whole genome sequencing especially in areas with identified spikes of cases and clustering.

Daily scorecard

MEANWHILE, DOH reported it has logged a total of 5,828 additional Covid-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 1,530,266.

The DOH also recorded 3,257 recoveries and 17 deaths.

Due to technical issues encountered in COVIDKaya, the manual solution was implemented as a contingency measure. However, the DOH stressed that cases reported as of July 21 “may not have up-todate data entries” in certain fields (e.g. health status, residence, quarantine status).

“The issue is currently being investigated and a resolution is expected in the next few days. Rest assured that the DOH is exerting all efforts to update the cases as soon as possible,” the DOH assured.

Popcom program taps FB to slash teen pregnancy amid pandemic

By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

T

HE Commission on Population and Development (Popcom) aims to better utilize social media to encourage more parents to talk to their children and provide sexuality education at home.

Undersecretary for Population and Development (POPDEV) Juan Antonio Perez III told the BusinessMirror that only 10 percent of parents are willing to talk to their children about love, sex, and relationships as inscribed in the Constitution.

The 1987 Constitution prescribes that parents have the “natural right and duty” to rear “the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character.”

“The Constitution gives parents the primary role in this aspect for minor children who have high rates of pregnancy but only 10 percent of parents are willing to take on this role,” Perez told the BusinessMirror on Thursday.

In order to help parents fill this role of guiding minors, Popcom and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) developed the Konektado Tayo FB page.

“This platform will be a parenting aid in adolescent sexuality and reproductive health,” Perez said. The FB page to date has reached over 13 million people and has about 4,200 followers.

Together with the Department of Health (DOH), Popcom and USAID on Thursday launched the “Konektado Tayo” campaign to bridge the communications gap between Filipino

parents and their adolescent children, particularly those concerning adolescent sexuality and development.

The campaign will use FB, through the page, as the primary platform to reach the above-mentioned target audiences and help improve their quality of conversations about love, sexuality, and relationships.

Through the campaign, DOH, Popcom, and USAID aim to achieve “three Es.” The first is to encourage Filipino parents of teenagers to communicate with their children about topics on love, sexuality, and relationships.

The second is to equip the adults with the knowledge and skills to feel confident about the information they will share with their children on relevant topics.

The last is to enable parents to build their teens’ values and life skills, which they will need as they transition to adulthood.

“With Konektado Tayo, parents will never be alone in this endeavor, as we commit to provide our shared efforts in creating strategies and avenues for meaningful dialogues with their children toward their overall development, their families and eventually, our nation,” Perez said in a news statement.

According to the DOH, parents play a critical role as main educators in making their children realize and achieve their full potential, so that they can complete their education and create opportunities for a better future.

The DOH underscored the importance of connections among young people, the people who matter the most to them, and those they can trust, such

as their parents and mentors.

It believes having open, respectful, discreet, and compassionate conversations on sensitive issues, such as relationships, sexuality, and sex, by way of “Konektado Tayo,” can help prevent risky sexual behaviors, while promoting responsible decision-making among young Filipinos.

“Let us all commit to support our adolescents by providing avenues and platforms for them to freely share their thoughts about their sexuality, sexual and reproductive health needs, and concerns they may have as they go through this crucial period in their lives,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said.

Earlier estimates made by the University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI) showed that the lockdowns increased teen pregnancies by 21.04 percent.

Based on the UPPI estimates, the community quarantines will lead to 102,000 adolescents aged 15 to 19 years olds becoming pregnant.

This is 18,000 more than the 84,000 expected teen pregnancies without the lockdowns.

One of the things that should also be monitored with this number, Perez said, is the observation that there is a high chance that a second or third pregnancy could follow.

With this, Perez said, there is a need to attain zero repeat pregnancies nationwide. In order to address this, Perez said that apart from national governments, the LGUs have an important role to play to prevent even more adolescents from getting pregnant.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

WHO report flags drowning as ‘unrecognized threat to health’

T

HE World Health Organization (WHO) has singled out drowning as an “unrecognized threat to health” that has claims thousands of lives in Southeast Asia and Western Pacific regions every year.

WHO said based on the Regional Status Report on Drowning in the Western Pacific and Regional Status Report on Drowning in South East Asia, some 74,000 lives are claimed by drowning in the Western Pacific and 70,000 in Southeast Asia as of 2019.

The WHO said extreme weather events, which can lead to intense floods increase the exposure of populations to potentially hazardous interactions with water.

“Despite many lives being lost each year, drowning remains a largely unrecognized threat to health and wellbeing,” said Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO regional director for Southeast Asia. “We need to work across all sectors to develop national water safety plans and policies and implement tested and low-cost water safety interventions to prevent drowning and save lives. No child or adult should lose their life to drowning.”

Based on the latest death statistics from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), an average of 3,405 Filipinos drowned between 2015 and 2019.

Preliminary data showed that for 2020, a lower number of Filipinos, at 2,753, died of accidental drowning and submersion. This represented a 16.45percent decline from the 3,295 Filipinos who died of drowning in 2019.

Between 2015 and 2019, the highest number of Filipinos who died of accidental drowning or submersion was at 3,810, which was recorded in 2017.

The Office of Civil DefenseNational Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (OCDNDRRMC) earlier reported that there were 22 tropical cyclones, flash floods, and inter-tropical convergence zones that occurred in 2017.

“Climate change, to which the Asia Pacific region is particularly vulnerable, places already vulnerable communities and individuals at increased drowning risk,” WHO said in a news statement.

Of the 70,000 drowning deaths in Southeast Asia Region in 2019, more than 33 percent were among children aged under 15 years. On average, men were three to four times more likely to drown than women.

In the Western Pacific Region, older people accounted for 34 percent of drowning deaths in 2019. Men are at higher risk than women in 2019 as 66 percent of drowning deaths in the region were among men.

In Southeast Asia, the WHO said the impact of drowning and effective approaches to its prevention differ across and within countries.

While some governments have well-developed water safety strategies and well-established national mechanisms for drowning prevention, other countries are at an early stage of developing and expanding drowning prevention interventions.

Cai U. Ordinario

WWF-PHL joins call to oppose proposed Dumaguete City land-reclamation project

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

E

NVIRONMENTAL solution provider World Wide Fund For Nature-Philippines (WWF) has joined the growing number of groups and individuals opposing the proposed 174-hectare land-reclamation project in Dumaguete City.

“Development at any cost is not development for neither people nor planet. Causing nature to fail to be of service to life is not development but collapse,” the group said.

This as WWF urged the local government unit of Dumaguete to rethink their plan to reclaim their coastline for the construction of a smart city and

to open up to public review the realworld cost-benefit study done that led to their decision.

“We hold that the social and environmental costs gravely undercut any perceived gains it may bring to Dumaguete,” the group said.

Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) earlier warned against the intrusion of Chinese nationals in the waters of Dumaguete should the dump-and-fill project will push through.

According to WWF, while the project is being pushed for its supposed boost to the local economy that may bring jobs to Dumaguete City, entire reefs and ecosystems—

the very core of natural life services that has sustained Dumaguete and the larger island it belongs to, will be destroyed.

With it, the group said, “we will lose an unimaginable share of the area’s biodiversity which defines our country’s natural unique heritage and with it, erase the historical sustaining relationships that Dumaguete, with its fisherfolk and surrounding communities, have with the sea.”

“The waters of Dumaguete are teeming with marine life and engenders a strong sense of place to its people. These natural resources provide services and benefits to many, including livelihood to fishers and

enlivening the surrounding seas as part of a fragile, unique and essential ecosystem. We believe that the government of Dumaguete aims to have a genuinely better Dumaguete that never separates people from the very nature that sustains them and would be willing to engage with the many voices that matter in shaping the waters and land of Dumaguete so that nature’s ability to serve life, is never compromised, not now, not tomorrow,” WWF stated.

Nevertheless, WWF said Dumaguete is home to a strong scientific community as part of its vital citizenry who understands the importance of protecting the city’s natural resources.

News BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Friday, July 23, 2021 A5

Batasan on weekend lockdown SC junks petition against Nayong ahead of Duterte’s last Sona Pilipino Covid-19 vaccination site

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

T

HE Batasang Pambansa Complex will be placed on lockdown this coming weekend in preparation for the last State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Duterte on Monday.

House Sergeant-at-Arms Ret. Police Major General Mao Aplasca said the lower chamber, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Presidential Security Group (PSG), will implement a “very stringent” protocols to ensure the security of President Duterte, House and Senate leaders and members, guests, personnel, and suppliers, who will take part in the yearly rites.

Within two months, Aplasca said the House was able to formulate security and contingency plans for Sona day, as well as conduct tabletop and simulation exercises from the screening of those who would enter the Batasan Complex until the culmination of the President’s address.

Aside from security threats, the House also geared up on how to quickly and efficiently respond in the event of accidents and natural calamities, such as fire incidents and earthquakes.

He said the House is closely coordinating with the AFP and PNP in-

telligence units to plan and address any security threat.

But Aplasca noted that there have been no major security threats throughout the Sona preparations.

Aplasca also cited that individuals who would be allowed to enter the House premises must be included in the official list of attendees and employees.

A “No ID, No Entry” policy would be strictly implemented. All guests and staff will have to present their Sona IDs and car passes issued by the House to be granted access to the Batasan Complex and the Plenary Hall.

Earlier, House Secretary-General Mark Llandro Mendoza said at least 350 fully vaccinated attendees, including lawmakers and former and current government officials are expected to attend on Monday.

He said former presidents; vice presidents, speakers and other important persons are invited on Monday. Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo already confirmed her attendance.

According to Mendoza, strict health protocols and security guidelines will be implemented on Monday for the opening of the third and last regular session in the morning and Sona in the afternoon.

“We carefully choose who may attend the Sona and we and the PSG require that they should be fullyvaccinated,” he said.

Mendoza said mandatory RTPCR testing will be conducted for those who will enter the plenary hall, while antigen test for other attendees and staff entering the Batasang Pambansa but assigned outside the plenary hall.

President Duterte is expected to showcase his administration’s accomplishments on social programs, infrastructure projects, peace and security initiatives, and foreign policies in his Sona, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said last Wednesday.

He said the Chief Executive is also expected to answer the question on “what and where we are now, and what he will be looking forward to his last year as president.”

Section 23 of the 1987 Constitution states that the President shall address Congress at the opening of its regular session. Congress will open its third and last regular session also on Monday, July 26.

The opening of the session and the Sona will be available via Zoom for other members and guests of the House.

Also, Presidential Broadcast Staff-Radio Television Malacañang (PBS-RTVM), which will be inside to cover the Sona, will live feed the event through People’s Television Network (PTV), Presidential Communications Operations Office and RTVM Facebook pages and RTVM YouTube channel.

T

By Joel R. San Juan

@jrsanjuan1573

HE Supreme Court has dismissed a petition for a writ of kalikasan seeking to stop the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases from cutting the trees at the Nayong Pilipino compound in Parañaque City to give way for the establishment of a mega vaccination site for Covid-19.

In a four-page resolution, the Court en banc held that the petition for writ of kalikasan and writ of continuing mandamus filed by former Boac, Marinduque Mayor Pedrito Nepomuceno against the IATF was insufficient in form and substance, thus, warranting its dismissal.

It noted Nepomuceno’s petition suffered formal defects as it was unsigned, unverified and unaccompanied by a certification of non-forum shopping.

It also noted that the petition failed to show proof of service to the adverse parties and payment for Sheriff’s Trust Fund.

On the substantive requirements, the Court said the petitioner failed to identify the environmental laws that may be violated or threatened, and the environmental damage of such magnitude as to put at risk the life, health or property of inhabitants in two or more cities or provinces to warrant the issuance of a writ of kalikasan.

“Nepomuceno’s invocation of the State’s responsibilities to protect and advance the people’s right to a balanced and healthful ecology and preserve and protect the environment, without identifying the respondents’ unlawful act or omission, is insuf-

ficient to justify the issuance of the writs prayed for,” the SC said.

Furthermore, the Court noted that the petition is not supported by any evidence other than online articles discussing the proposed vaccination center.

“Verily, unverified news articles on the Internet are hearsay evidence, twice removed, and are thus without any probative value. All told, the petition is insufficient both in form and substance,” the Court declared.

Nepomuceno filed the petition last May 11, 2021 against the IATF in a bid to prevent the cutting down of trees at the Nayong Pilipino compound.

Nepomuceno, in his petition, argued that the establishment of the vaccination center will destroy the environment and violate environmental laws.

He claimed that the proposed vaccination center did not undergo the mandatory Environmental Impact Analysis by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and had no Environmental Compliance Certificate.

He added that the IATF failed to conduct consultation with concerned local government units.

Last, in view of the disagreement between the government and the Nayong Pilipino Foundation, Nepomuceno argued that the issue of “environment or life” was brought to light.

A6 Friday, July 23, 2021

Olympics

A BusinessMirror Special Feature

www.businessmirror.com.ph

OLYMPICS 2020+1 TO TEST LOCAL PROTOCOLS, GUIDELINES

By Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

T

HE Olympic Games 2020+1, which formally start today, will be a test to see if the protocols imposed by the Philippine government on the conduct of sporting activities during the Covid-19 pandemic actually work.

According to Dr. Patrick Dizon, Head of Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy, Department of Orthopedics of The Medical City, this will be the first time that the Olympics will be held during a pandemic and that because of the restrictions, Filipino athletes will have to work doubly hard to avoid injury.

He noted that the athletes may not be at the peak of their health because the restrictions have had a great effect on their training schedules.

“What can the athletes do is based on what the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases or IATF is allowing them to do,” he said. “So most of them are actually training at home or training alone.”

He pointed out that one thing that athletes cannot do is to “jump from home exercise to Olympic competitive level.” According to Dr. Dizon, just like the rest of the Filipino people, the athletes “are coming from nothing, just lying down at home and waiting for COVID to go away.” What the athlete has to do is to gradually move from home exercise to more progressive training.

“Athletes have to train constantly and little by little. So it has to be a stepwise progression from training alone until they reach competitive level and once they reach competitive level, the athletes and their coaches can then come up with their training timetable on how they can actually compete at the Olympic level,” Dr. Dizon related.

Since weightlifting is an individual sport, Dr. Dizon said that Hidilyn Diaz “can actually progress quicker because she started training alone and once the quarantine restrictions were lifted, she was able to start training with her trainor.”

“She has to progress at a

WHILE Hidilyn Diaz has been fully vaccinated, she still has to be careful about contracting the virus during the Olympic Games.

steady pace so that she can reach the Olympic weight level that she wants to compete in. That is what she is aiming to do,” he said. “So really the only thing our athletes can do is to slowly progress their athletic capabilities.”

As for their nutritional requirements, that will also depend on the sport they are engaged in. Diaz would require a high protein diet in order to build up muscle. Sprinters, on the other hand, would require a mixture of high proteins and high carbohydrates so that they can run in bursts of speed.

“And, since we were all quarantined at home for some time, our athletes really have to watch what they eat so that they will be able to train properly,” he said.

Dr. Dizon expected the athletes to gradually increase their training under the supervision of the Philippine Sports Commission.

“We are hoping that under the Philippine Sports Commission, they had a very organized step ladder training program so that they

will have less injuries when they join the Olympics. More conditioning, more strengthening, more training before the event can actually prevent injuries,” he said.

“I believe that this will be the first Olympics where the athletes will be coming from COVID and we will be able see during these Olympics if our protocols actually worked,” he added.

In addition to avoiding injury, Filipino athletes will also have to exert extra effort to avoid contracting the Covid-19 virus.

In addition to being vaccinated, Dr Dizon said Filipino athletes should continue to practice the basic health protocols while in Japan. These would include wearing a face mask, frequent washing of the hands, and maintain physical distancing.

“Each sport has specific protocols that need to be followed. In swimming, for example, swimmers have to wear masks when they enter the pool area. After the event, they have to immediately put their

Smart Omega unveils new Mobile Legends roster

S

MART Omega, the professional esports team backed by Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), has unveiled its new Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) lineup.

In a virtual press conference, Smart Omega has welcomed former players from Execration Billy Jazha “Z4pnu” Alfonso, Renz Errol “Renzio” Cadua, Kiel Vj “Kielvj” Cruzem, Grant Duane “Kelra” Pillas, Patrick James “E2MAX” Caidic, and Joshua “Ch4knu” Mangilog as members of its official roster for MLBB.

Smart Omega will also develop four rookie players Robert Remar “Hito” Candoy, Dian Felix “Dian” Cruz, Dean Christian “Raizen” Sumagui, and Romeire “Allidap” Padilla to complete its 10-man team, together with their coach, Jaime “Pakbet” Abalos.

“We are extremely excited

about this development in the Smart Omega team. These young men have shown their passion, determination, and heart in their gameplay, and we are more than happy to support their growth and development in the professional esports industry,” said Jude Turcuato, FVP and Head of Sports at PLDT and Smart. “We would also like to thank our former players who have decided to move on with their careers. We wish them all the best,” he added.

The new Smart Omega esports athletes will be housed in the Smart Omega bootcamp, complete with fully functional facilities to help them prepare for future tournaments. Smart has also provided the players with Smart 5G devices and a Smart 5G Rocket WiFi device to help them sharpen their skills and train seamlessly on the telco’s

superfast 5G network.

Z4pnu also shared that they are grateful to be part of the new team. “Maraming salamat sa pagtanggap sa amin dito.

Gagawin namin ang best namin.

Para sa amin, start pa lang ito ng aming journey at pinapangako namin na gagawin naming lahat ng makakaya namin,” [Thank you for welcoming us in this team.

We will do our very best. For us, this is just the start of our journey and we promise to do the best that we can] Z4pnu shared.

“Ang message ko naman sa fans, sana suportahan niyo pa rin kami kahit may bago kaming team, sama-sama pa rin kaming lalaban sa mga tournament. At alam ko, lahat kayo nandyan.

Maraming salamat,” [To our fans, we hope that you will continue to support us in this new team, we will still be together, fighting in tournaments. And I know that you all will be there. Thank you] he added.

Following their sensational win at the recently concluded Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Southeast Asia Cup 2021 (MSC), the Kings of MSC – the former Team Execration -- managed to do a “Cinderella-run,” striking a legendary comeback to book a Grand Finals spot, facing the undefeated fellow Filipino squad Blacklist International. The MSC featured some of the best squads from the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand.

masks back on and leave the pool area at once,” Dr. Dizon said.

In an article that came out in Scientific American titled “COVID risks at the Tokyo Olympics aren’t being managed, experts say” and written by Maddie Bender, it noted that very strict protocols have been imposed on all athletes to prevent the spread of the virus. These guidelines are laid out in detail in the official

playbook for the Games.

According to the playbook, those who arrived in Japan after July 1, have to be tested twice 96 hours before their flight with an approved RT-PCR or antigen test.

Upon arrival, they have to be tested again through a rapid saliva-based antigen test that is processed as they go through immigration and claim their baggage. If the test comes out negative, they are allowed to check into their accommodations. Athletes are required to complete a health check using an app and to give saliva samples for an antigen test, followed by an RT-PCR test on the same sample if results are unclear or positive.

Athletes and staff have to wear their face masks at all times “unless they are sleeping, eating, drinking, training or competing.” They also have to avoid physical contact like handshakes and hugs and they are only allowed to go to areas that have been listed in a preapproved “Activity Plan.”

The article also pointed out that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) should have adopted a “tiered risk management approach” where the IOC “should have designated different sports as having high, moderate or low COVID transmission risk” so that the proper protocols would be put in place, thereby reducing further the risk of COVID-19 transmission.”

Outdoor sports events like sailing, archery and equestrian competitions can be considered as

low risk. Moderate risk events include those that are held outdoors but close contact is unavoidable and these include rugby, field hockey and soccer. Indoor sporting events that involve close contact like boxing and wrestling are high risk.

There are events though that fall into gray areas like swimming.

It is considered low risk for individual events but moderate risk for relays. A contact sport like water polo is high risk. However, if these events are conducted in outdoor pools, the risk would be lessened.

While there is still the probability that a number of athletes might get the virus, Olympic organizers have assured though that all health safety protocols are in place and that everything is being done to control the risks and prevent the Games from becoming a super spreader event.

Since spectators will not be allowed during the Games, the risk of getting the virus would have been reduced.

“Our athletes will have to follow the safety protocols we are also following at the moment,” Dr. Dizon said. “So it’s really limit the number of people and following all protocols and wearing protective equipment.”

Even if Filipino athletes have been vaccinated against the virus, Dr. Dizon said there is still a chance that they will get the infection while they are in Tokyo. Hence, it is important for athletes to continue following safety protocols.

News

BusinessMirror

A8 Friday, July 23, 2021

Imee pitches power to halt petroleum VAT S

EN. Imee Marcos moved Thursday to grant President Duterte special power to suspend or cut back the value-added tax (VAT) on petroleum products during a state of calamity or national emergency, citing the lingering Covid-19 contagion.

Senate Bill 2320, Marcos’s remedia l leg islation, intends to amend the Internal Revenue Code to give the President special power within one year, or for the duration of a calamity besetting the country.

Marcos pointed out that when there is a reduction or suspension of the 12-percent VAT, it triggers downward adjustments in prices of petroleum products and basic commodities.

She stressed the need to adopt m it igat i ng mea su res for t he

ranks of unemployed workers seen to grow in number as more businesses close shops with the very tentative quarantine status of many economic hubs, especially with current concerns of a Delta variant-driven spike in Covid cases.

As affected sectors are unable to quickly bounce back, fuel price hikes compound the situation, pushing up costs of basic commodities, among others.

The senator recalled, for instance, that since January, the price of gasoline per liter has increased

by P13, diesel at P10 and kerosene at P9.

In turn, she suggests that in order to stabilize government’s financial position, the excise tax on petroleum products must be kept.

Butch Fernandez

WTO to continue discussing IP waiver for Covid vaccine

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @Tyronepiad

T

HE World Trade Organization (WTO) has yet to decide on the proposed waiver of the intellectual property (IP) protection for Covid-19 vaccines amid the pandemic.

At the recent meeting of the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), the WTO members said they will continue discussions on the waiver proposal of certain TRIPS obligations.

The TRIPS Council intends to hold an informal meeting in early September as a follow up. The next formal meeting is set in October, but members may convene earlier if needed.

The intergovernmental organization said that members have been conferring on the waiver request over the last nine months.

In a formal TRIPS Council meeting last month, WTO said members “moved closer to a textbased process to address the proposals put forward by delegations aimed at improving the international response to Covid-19 and achieving the common goal of providing global equitable access to vaccines and other medical products.”

The TRIPS Agreement is a multilateral accord on IP covering copyright and related rights, trademarks, geographical indications, industrial designs and patents, among others. The agreement, which took effect on January 1, 1995, sets the minimum standards of IP protection, enumerates enforcement procedures and covers dispute settlement. “ W hile delegations remain committed to the common goal of providing timely and secure access to high-quality, safe, efficacious and affordable vaccines and medicines for all, disagreement persisted on the fundamental question of what is the appropriate and most effective way to address the

shortage and inequitable access to vaccines and other Covid-related products,” WTO noted.

Over 100 countries, according to previous reports, have supported the proposal which is seen to allow quicker mass production of the Covid-19 doses amid surging infection rate. They seek IP waiver instead of securing voluntary licensing.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders, said earlier that IP holders could put in place some restrictions preventing the grant of voluntary license.

In securing a voluntary license, the patent holder grants a generic company permission to produce the patented article subject to terms and conditions.

MSF Legal Advisor Yuan Qiong Hu previously said that the IP-holding company can dictate who they want to work with, set the terms and conditions for the licensing, choose which countries can supply, and decide which IPs are only allowed for production at a certain price tag.

Opposing parties, however, said maintaining IP rights for Covid-19 vaccines will encourage pharmaceutical firms to further their research and development.

US defense chief: We will keep SCS open, back allies

T

By Rene Acosta

@reneacostaBM

HE United States stressed the importance of keeping the South China Sea open to navigation and overflight amid China’s continuing activities to militarize the regional waters, and America’s top military general assured US allies in Southeast Asia of support.

The necessity of keeping the South China Sea—which is being claimed by Beijing almost in its entirety—to international use was underscored by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III a week before his scheduled trip to Southeast Asia.

“On the importance of freedom of navigation of the seas and the skies, this is, this is really important, not only to the United States of

America, but to all of our allies and partners in the region and around the world,” Austin said during a news briefing on Wednesday, US time.

Austin, who will take his first official trip to Southeast Asia next week and confer with officials in the region, was joined by Pentagon chief General Mark Milley during the news briefing. A transcript of

the briefing was provided by the US Embassy in Manila on Thursday.

Earlier, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that he would expect to discuss four key security issues with his US counterpart, and these are the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), the Mutual Defense Treaty, the West Philippine Sea and the US-Philippines bilateral relations.

He said an addendum to the VFA to implement it, which is already under review by the Office of the President, is also up on the table when he meets with Austin, who is due in Manila on July 29.

Aside from Manila, the US defense chief’s travel would take him to Vietnam and Singapore, with the region’s security still topping his agenda.

Austin said the US will work with its allies and partners in order to ensure that the regional passageway is free for international use, unhampered by China.

“What we have done and what we will continue to do is to work with our allies and partners to make sure ...that we can navigate...the skies... and the seas to the degree that we

should have the right to...in accordance with international law,” he said, adding “our emphasis will remain on that.”

Part of the emphasis is to “keep those alliances strong.”

On the other hand, Milley directly acknowledged that the US military’s continuing reinvigoration was being influenced by China, which he said was a “pacing threat” for the US. “As we go forward, China is the pacing threat for us in uniform, the United States,” he said. “So we are gearing our capabilities, our programs, our training, our skills, our activities, et cetera, militarily with China in mind. There’s no question about it.”

The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff said the US will meet China’s challenge with the help of its allies.

“And we will work very closely with Japan, with other countries —South Korea, Philippines, Australia and other allies and partners in the region—to make sure that we have proper capability to deal with it, whatever comes to us in the future,” Milley said.

DOT pledges vaccines for Siargao tourism frontliners

S

IARGAO, the surfing capital of the Philippines, is now open to domestic tourists from general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ areas.

And just in time—the destination just made it to TIME magazine’s “The World’s 100 Greatest Places of 2021” for its popularity among surfers, ease of booking resorts, and improved Internet connection.

With this, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat told the BusinessMirror she has already requested for vaccines for the island, adding there were “13,500 active tourism workers” there. “ Underst a nd ably, a mong the top priorities for tourists traveling during this period are their health and safety. One of the ways we can ensure this is by getting our frontliners vaccinated as soon as possible, to give an extra layer of protection between them and our tourists,” she underscored.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has been actively seeking vaccines for tourism frontlin-

Voluntary licensing

The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) said in an earlier interview with the BusinessMirror that voluntary licensing ensures the quality of the Covid-19 doses to be manufactured.

“The safeguards of voluntary technology transfer include knowhow transfer, sharing of expertise, and joint training of skilled workers with the shared objective of developing and manufacturing quality and safe Covid-19 vaccine,” PHAP said.

In identifying partners, PHAP said IP-holding firms consider the capacity of the applicant to deliver the expected output and quality assurance processes without compromising safety and quality.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ers in key leisure destinations; Panglao Island and Boracay Island have received their initial deliveries of vaccines for their workers.

As for Siargao’s entry on TIME’s world ’s 100 greatest places list, Romulo Puyat said, “I am pleased that the country’s innate beauty continues to draw attention from travelers all over the world despite the pandemic.

We are doubling our efforts to create a future of Philippine travel that is safe, more fun, and provides travelers with an authentic and meaningful experience throughout their journey.”

Wrote TIME writer Duncan Forgan: “W hile destinations such as Boracay, Cebu and Palawan nailed the mass market, the teardrop-­shaped island off the coast of Mindanao until recently had been best known to a dedicated band of surfers lured by consistent waves. But the secret is out, and new spots are popping up on the island, including the beachfront Inara Siargao Resort, an intimate five-suite property that can be

booked on Instagram.”

He added, “Just before Covid-19 shutdowns, Siargao got additional cell towers to improve data connectivity, which will be a boon to tourism when it reopens to vaccinated international travelers.”

According to the publication, the list is a tribute to individuals and businesses who were able to “adapt, build, and innovate” amid the challenges of the pandemic.

It also highlights “ingenuity, creativity, revitalization and reopenings in destinations across the world.”

The island has been consistently on the list of the world’s best islands in international travel publications for Cloud 9, a famous wave in Siargao and consistent favorite of local and foreign surfers.

Siargao may be reached by direct air service from Manila via Cebu, as well as by ferry transport from Surigao Del Norte. It follows strict health and safety protocols, with unique travel entry requirements that are published on the official Facebook page, “Surigao Del Norte Tour-

ism and Culture Office.”

Meanwhi le, t he DOT re minded accredited accommodation establishments operating as quarantine hotels that room sharing is allowed for individuals belonging to the same household and traveling together, especially families with minors.

“We have received reports that some of these DOT-accredited hotels have been implementing a one-room-oneperson policy even for travelers coming from the same household. While the Department is aware of the downturns that the pandemic brought to the tourism industry, particularly the accommodation sector, we would like to reiterate that all DOTaccredited establishments must strictly follow the guidelines released by the Department to avoid confusion among travelers who need to quarantine,” said Romulo Puyat.

DOT Administrative Order No. 2021-004-A requires single occupancy bookings only if quarantining guests are from different households. Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

DOE says to heed charter’s 60:40 rule in oil-gas deals

By Lenie Lectura

T

@llectura

HE Department of Energy (DOE) said Thursday it would honor the 60:40 Filipinoforeign ownership requirement of the 1987 Philippine Constitution insofar as oil and gas exploration activities with China, if any, are concerned.

DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said that while both countries continue to “explore what kind of treaty or agreement we can come up with,” the Philippine government is bound by the provisions of the Constitution.

“If we can move forward, yes. But we have to follow our Constitution.

Our governments are talking. We can talk to you, but our rules will be limited by the provision of the Constitution...If we follow the Philippine Constitution, we can apply the current 60-40 arrangement,

which we also apply to other nations or contractors,” said the DOE official.

The Constitution provides that Filipinos must own majority or 60 percent of a company while limiting foreign ownership to 40 percent.

The moratorium on oil and gas exploration has been lifted in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Thereafter, the Chinese foreign minister said China and the Philippines have reached consensus on joint exploration of oil and gas resources in waters disputed in the South China Sea. The lifting of the moratorium effectively allows private firms to resume exploration activities.

Pangilinan-led PXP Energ y Corp., which holds a 78.98-percent operating interest in Service Contract (SC) 72 or the contract to explore Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea through Londonlisted Forum Energy Plc., said it “will take guidance” from the

Philippine government insofar as foreign partners for the exploration project is concerned. PXP was supposedly going to partner with China National Offshore Oil Corporation, one of the largest national oil companies owned by the People’s Republic of China.

Other SCs previously affected by the moratorium include SC 54 operated by Nido Petroleum Philippines Pty. Ltd.; SC 58 and SC 59 operated by PNOC Exploration Corp.; and SC 75 also operated by PXP Energy.

Last week, the Department of Energy (DOE) said it has endorsed to the Office of the President the awarding of three new Petroleum Service Contracts (PSCs) located in the WPS. However, the agency has yet to release details of the three contracts.

But the agency said operators of SCs 54, 58 and 59 sought suspen-

sion of work activities amid the Covid-19 pandemic. For SC 72, the DOE said the operator is set to drill exploratory wells next year while the SC 75 group is scheduled to conduct exploratory activities.

DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi said his office is consistently monitoring the progress of each project to ensure that the service contractors’ commitments are being fulfilled.

Cusi said these activities are concrete and explicit forms of the enforcement of sovereign rights consistent with real gains in the South China Sea arbitral award.

Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, petroleum licensing is the most important sovereign right of a coastal state like the Philippines.

With the lifting of the moratorium in the WPS, the service contractors are obliged to comply with approved work commitments in their respective areas.

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Friday, July 23, 2021 A9

Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT

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

23.

Ms. JINZHI WANG Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

July 23, 2021

24.

Mr. RONGKUAN ZHANG Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

25.

Ms. SU SU KHAING Burmese

26.

Mr. XUDONG WU Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

27.

Mr. FENG XU Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

28.

Mr. JINYAO LI Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

29.

Ms. JIALI ZHOU Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

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

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

Name and Address of Employer: KOOK JAE PRESS DIE INC. PEZA, Rosario, Cavite

1.

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Salary Range

Mr. SUNGKON KIM Korean

General Marketing Manager Identify, develop and evaluate marketing strategy, based on knowledge of establishment objectives, market characteristics, cost and markup factors.

USD3,600.00USD4,000.00/annum

Name and Address of Employer: BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC. Lot 4044 Molino Blvd. Niog III, Bacoor, Cavite

Myanmari Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Salary Range

1.

Mr. QINGJIAN QI Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

30.

Mr. MINGQING WU Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

2.

Mr. LONG JIANG Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

31.

Mr. WEILIN FU Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

3.

Mr. LIM LEAN CHOU Malaysian

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

32.

Mr. WENHAO ZHANG Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

4.

Mr. KONG CHENG Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

33.

Mr. XIAOCHUAN HE Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

5.

Mr. HUAYUAN WANG Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

34.

Mr. XING GAN Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

6.

Ms. HONGLI LIU Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

35.

Mr. CHENGXIN PAN Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

7.

Mr. GUANGSHENG MA Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

36.

Mr. WEI XU Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

8.

Mr. CHENGHUAN YANG Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

37.

Mr. JIADONG ZHOU Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

9.

Mr. YAOHUA YAN Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

38.

Mr. YUQING WU Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

10.

Mr. XIANG WANG Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

39.

Mr. LAU CHU MIN Malaysian

Malaysian Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

11.

Mr. SONGKUN LIAO Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

12.

Mr. GUOQING MI Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

13.

Ms. HOANG THUY TIEN Vietnamese

Vietnamese Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

14.

Ms. JIAYI ZHANG Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

15.

Mr. LIJIAN CHENG Chinese

Malaysian Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Name and Address of Employer: YAMAZEN MACHINERY & TOOLS PHILIPPINES INC. SEPZ-LTI, Biñan City, Laguna

1.

17.

Mr. JISHANG LIU Chinese

Mr. LEI MING Chinese

Position and Job Description

Salary Range

Mr. AKIRA HARAGUCHI Japanese

Director and Treasurer Determine and monitor the organization’s products, services and programs.

Php110,000.00Php150,000.00/ month

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Salary Range

Mr. GUOBIN XIONG Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative Field incoming help requests from end users via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/ month

Name and Address of Employer: SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. San Francisco (Halang), Biñan City, Laguna

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month 1.

16.

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

Mandarin Customer Relations Officer Assist sales team in business acquisitions, plan, retention and management.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

18.

Ms. QIUYU LAI Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

19.

Mr. YU MA Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

20.

Mr. ZHONGQIN CHEN Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

21.

Mr. ZHIWEI PANG Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

22.

Mr. HAO WANG Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php20,000.00Php50,000.00/month

Name and Address of Employer: NIDEC PHILIPPINES CORPORATION SEZ, Laguna Technopark, Biñan City, Laguna

1.

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Salary Range

Mr. ATSUSHI MUKAI Japanese

Vice President of Sales and Production Division Assist to the management of sales and production division.

Php60,000.00Php100,000.00/ month

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

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

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

A10 Friday, July 23, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Protests? Kill the Internet

G

eorge Orwell wrote in his book 1984, published in 1949: “Who controls the past, controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.” Consider this from 70 years ago. “Suddenly there sprang into his mind, ready-made as it were, the image of a certain Comrade Ogilvy, who had recently died in battle, in heroic circumstances…. It was true that there was no such person as Comrade Ogilvy, but a few lines of print and a couple of faked photographs would soon bring him into existence.” Orwell was clearly describing the Internet in 2021.

Government stifling the freedom of the press has taken a different turn in the 21st century because of the Internet. You can talk about journalists and editors either feeling or actually being threatened by the government and it is a valid complaint.

Today, only 13 percent of US adults get their news from print copies and 37 percent from online sources. Television accounts for 41 percent, but that is in answer to the question “Where do you prefer to get your ‘local’ news?”

The days of government raiding a newspaper office or destroying the presses only happens under infrequent cases, as when Hong Kong police shut down Apple Daily. Today, control the Internet to control the past, present, and future. Further, as the saying goes, if it is not on the Internet, it does not exist.

Online or print, the average person would probably say that press freedom would allow someone to say almost anything as long as it did not include spurious innuendo, things taken out of context, and outright lies. President Benigno Aquino III, by the efforts of Sen. “Tito” Sotto, signed into law the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

“Freedom On The Net 2020” survey by the Freedom House lists the Philippines as “Partly Free.” However, the analysis leads with the nonrenewal of the ABS-CBN franchise, which has nothing directly to do with the Internet. The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 “could be used to prosecute online speech.” Further, the Philippines gets a low score on “quality of Internet connections” and “beyond the reach of certain segments of the population.”

But for “Does the government exercise technical or legal control over Internet infrastructure for the purposes of restricting connectivity?” the score is high. “Does the state block or filter, or compel service providers to block or filter, Internet content?” The answer is NO. If a government genuinely wants to restrict the freedom of speech, press, and communication, all it has to do is follow the lead of China, Russia, Turkey, Vietnam, Thailand, most of the Arab Middle East, and, of course, Cuba.

A week ago, as the anti-government protests built momentum, the Cuban government killed the Internet. “There was no formal organizer of Sunday’s protests; people found out about the rallying points over social media, mostly on Twitter and Facebook. Protesters and pro-government activists alike wielded smartphones to capture images and send them to relatives and friends or post them online.”

The country was “basically offline” until 2008, then gradually came on-line in December 2018 when Cubans got access to mobile Internet for the first time via data plans purchased from the state telecom monopoly. These days, more than half of all Cubans have Internet access.

With the government shutting down the Internet, the only reliable news is coming from relatives in the US through limited cell phone messages. If the Cuban protests are not on the Internet, they do not exist.

Since 2005

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business ✝ Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Founder Publisher Editor in Chief Associate Editor News Editor

T. Anthony C. Cabangon Lourdes M. Fernandez Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug

Senior Editors

Lorenzo M. Lomibao Jr., Gerard S. Ramos Lyn B. Resurreccion, Dennis D. Estopace Angel R. Calso

Online Editor

Ruben M. Cruz Jr.

Creative Director Chief Photographer Chairman of the Board President Advertising Sales Manager Group Circulation Manager

Eduardo A. Davad Nonilon G. Reyes D. Edgard A. Cabangon Benjamin V. Ramos Aldwin Maralit Tolosa Rolando M. Manangan

BusinessMirror is published daily by the Philippine Business Daily Mirror Publishing, Inc., with offices on the 3rd floor of Dominga Building III 2113 Chino Roces Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Makati City, Philippines.

Tel. Nos. (Editorial) 817-9467; 813-0725. Fax line: 813-7025.

(Advertising Sales) 893-2019; 817-1351, 817-2807.

(Circulation) 893-1662; 814-0134 to 36. E-mail: news@businessmirror.com.ph.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Printed by brown madonna Press, Inc.–Sun Valley Drive KM-15, South Superhighway, Parañaque, Metro Manila MEMBER OF

More venues for licensure exams Sonny M. Angara

Better Days

U

nlike other countries that have already vaccinated a significant portion of their population, the Philippines still finds itself in the early stages of its nationwide vaccination program mainly due to the limited supply of doses. According to recent data from our health authorities, around 65.3 million or 93 percent of the 70 million target population for 2021 have yet to be fully vaccinated.

Admittedly, there is still a long way to go to achieve what our health experts call population protection and herd immunity; however, we’re expecting that the government will further ramp up the vaccination efforts with the arrival of more doses in the country. That being said, it is imperative that while we are still in the midst of a raging pandemic with a new, even more virulent variant threatening even the most vaccinated countries, the government continues to be on the lookout for policies that will not only help curb the spread of the virus but also provide Filipinos with a small sense of normalcy.

A low-hanging fruit in this regard would be to expand the reach of government services, especially those that are usually availed of by many Filipinos. For instance, I have recently urged the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) to consider establishing more satellite venues in the provinces for its board examinations to allow aspiring professionals to take their licensure exams in much

closer proximity to their homes.

Not only would this lessen the risk of exposure to the virus, it could also help reduce the out-of-pocket expenses of test-takers—many of whom have yet to be employed and hence are still experiencing financial constraints amid the pandemic. On top of the usual costs to these licensure exams such as transportation to the regional offices and accommodations, examinees might even need to undergo Covid-19 testing that could cost as high as P5,000.

These financial and mobility constraints could affect a significant portion of our soon-to-be teachers, doctors, nurses, policemen, and other professionals especially as PRC announced in February that they have scheduled 101 licensure examinations for 2021 in order to make up for only conducting 11 exams last year.

In fact, PRC Chairman Teofilo Pilando Jr. reported that only around 200,000 examinees applied last year, which is less than half of the 660,000

I have recently urged the Professional Regulatory Commission to consider establishing more satellite venues in the provinces for its board examinations to allow aspiring professionals to take their licensure exams in much closer proximity to their homes.

Not only would this lessen the risk of exposure to the virus, it could also help reduce the out-ofpocket expenses of test-takers.

who took the exams in 2019. So it is expected that since PRC was forced to postpone most of the licensure exams last year, an influx of aspiring professionals would grab the opportunity to take the exams this year.

Consider that for the remainder of the year, among the scheduled licensure examinations are for veterinarians, engineers, customs brokers, therapists, teachers, accountants, agriculturists, social workers, and criminologists. Also among the thousands of licensure examinees are future doctors, nurses, midwives, medical technologists, x-ray technologists, therapists, pharmacists, nutritionists-dietitians, and dentists. So any means to ensure that our future frontliners—whether on the front lines of our health-care system or of our economic recovery—are afforded even a small convenience should push through.

We commend PRC for issuing a series of resolutions designating new testing areas for various licensure exams, in addition to planning the rollout of computer-based licen-

The Vice President and all impeachable officials are immune from suit

By Atty. Romulo B. Macalintal

T

hose who argue that the Vice President (VP) has no immunity from suit (IFS) argue that only the President enjoys such immunity. But they are one in saying that such presidential immunity is neither provided for under any law nor under the 1987 constitution.

The immunity enjoyed by the President is only a tradition established by decisions of the Supreme Court (SC) to assure that his functions are not distracted or hindered by attending to cases filed against him during his tenure of office. It said that “It will degrade the dignity of the high office of the President, the head of State, if he can be dragged into court litigations while serving as such.”

Since there is also no law or constitutional provision providing for IFS of the VP, then there is no rhyme or reason why jurisprudence could not be widened or why the said immunity could not be extended to the VP. If the President enjoys such immunity, then the VP is also

entitled to it because they belong to the same category of elective officials who could only be removed from office through the process of impeachment as provided under Section 2, Article XI of the constitution.

In other words, IFS is not exclusive to the President. It is also enjoyed by the VP, Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court, Members of the Constitutional Commission (Comelec, COA, Civil Service), and the Ombudsman who, under the said provision of the constitution, could only be removed by impeachment.

The IFS of the President, as well as those other impeachable officials is derived from the said constitu-

Clearly, and as stated, the IFS of the President was derived from such constitutional order, which shows that such immunity should also be enjoyed by the VP and other impeachable officers. To limit the immunity to the President would be discriminatory and violative of the constitution’s equal protection clause.

tional mandate that they could only be removed through impeachment proceedings, which are under the exclusive jurisdiction of Congress.

If cases against them could be filed before a court of justice during their incumbency, they would be placed in danger of being removed from office by judicial action, which is contrary to the said constitutional mandate that they could only be removed from office through the process of impeachment.

Thus, in a 1988 case, wherein a disbarment case was filed before the SC against then Associate Jus-

sure exams before the end of the year in consideration of the ballooning cost—both from the PRC and the examinees—and the safety of everyone involved. But with an expected high number of examinees, the government should be able to provide them with venues where they can feel secure; allowing them to focus only on the tests. Our call—particularly for PRC to have satellite testing venues in provinces where there are over 100 examinees—could be done through local partnerships wherein our LGUs can provide appropriate testing sites and personnel for their constituents, all of which adheres not only to the standards of the Commission but also to stringent health and safety regulations.

Part of our economic recovery is ensuring that Filipinos are provided with the opportunity to become productive citizens. And for a number of our countrymen, this includes passing licensure examinations for aspiring professionals. This is especially true during this time when the country needs more doctors, nurses, teachers, policemen, and many other highly skilled workers.

Hence, collaboration between the national government and the local government in this regard should be strengthened if only to address, at the very least, some of the prohibitive circumstances that hinder Filipinos from attaining their full potential.

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

tice, later Chief Justice, Marcelo Fernan, the SC dismissed the case and said that one of the qualifications of a Justice of the SC is that he must be a member of the Philippine BAR. To grant a complaint for disbarment against Fernan during his incumbency at the SC “would in effect be to circumvent and hence to run afoul of the constitutional mandate that Members of the Court may be removed from office only by impeachment…. To allow a public officer who may be removed solely by impeachment to be charged criminally while holding public office, would be violative of the clear mandate of the fundamental law.”

Just like the President who should not be distracted from his functions during his incumbency by facing cases filed against him, the SC said that “without the protection of this rule, the Members of the SC would be facing cases brought against them by unsuccessful litigants or their lawyers See “Macalintal,” A11

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Business ethics paradoxes Minding the past Harald Eustachius A. Tomintz

Tito Genova Valiente

annotations

EAGLE WATCH

P

erhaps, we have all heard about this adage: “The business of business is business.” Some would take this phrase to mean that there is a certain evil, or at least an amorality, that is inherent in any business that cares only about its own survival. It is why the phrase “business ethics” seems to convey a certain paradox. Is there such a thing as an ethical business anyway? If an ethical activity creates profits for companies, then these companies would surely pursue this activity anyway without further prodding, would they not?

Traditionally, the act of generating value in the marketplace has already been seen as a great boon for society. The creation of new jobs and products, the fostering of innovation, and the efficient improvement of the quality of life are all highly desirable benefits produced primarily by competition in an accessible market that reduces economic barriers. Humanity has benefitted from trading goods and exchanging services—long before there were nations and states as we know them today.

In fact, entrepreneurial activities already bring many out of poverty through the development of livelihoods. One can readily see the role of diverse and many micro, small, and medium enterprises in a healthy economy—something that is now, regrettably, stifled due to lockdown policies. When commercial activity is slowed down, it causes a noticeable negative impact. So, should we not consider that the mere existence of business already creates a social good?

Yet, nowadays, people concern themselves with the idea of a still greater role for corporations in society. The destruction of the environment is among the perceived ills of the world, and it is said to be exacerbated by, allegedly, reckless capitalism and consumerism. In many European countries and the developed world, corporate social responsibility—the practical application of business ethics—is tied primarily to sustainability and offsetting waste produced by economic activity.

In a developing country like the Philippines, business ethics can come in a variety of flavors to address a multitude of other social issues, too. Therefore, the proposed Corporate Social Responsibility Act includes a list of things—other than environmental sustainability—that may also be considered as activities of responsible firms: charitable works, employee welfare programs, developing scientific research, or even promoting culture and education, among others.

Can we claim that all these activities are desirable means and ends of ethical business practices?

Depending on personal beliefs, consumers might be inclined to agree or disagree with some or all of those.

This often means that a business practicing any of these initiatives may be forced to contend with critics who would accuse it of not actually practicing what it preaches. What, then, is a business to do when it must manage resources while addressing so many social issues?

Another marriage of ethics and business could come from the voluntary philanthropic contributions of those benefiting from profit generation, or even from creating a strategy that uses the competencies of a

Macalintal. . . continued from A10

or by other parties who, for any number of reasons might seek to affect the exercise of judicial authority by the Court. It follows that a prosecuting officer should motu propio dismiss any charges against a Member of the SC. The remedy of a person with a legitimate grievance is to file impeachment proceedings.”

Clearly, and as stated, the IFS

In a developing country like the Philippines, business ethics can come in a variety of flavors to address a multitude of other social issues, too. Therefore, the proposed Corporate Social Responsibility Act includes a list of things—other than environmental sustainability—that may also be considered as activities of responsible firms: charitable works, employee welfare programs, developing scientific research, or even promoting culture and education, among others. business to address a specific social problem by treating it like any other market demand. However, forcing a company to engage in a certain kind of responsibility, especially one that does not make business sense, tends to reduce efficiency and destroy value instead.

In general, ethical acts in business are meant to be an application of practical philosophy to management decisions. In the same way that it is impossible to simply reach into the minds of others and glean their true motivations, it becomes exceedingly difficult to judge enterprises based on intent alone.

Likewise, many actions that individuals routinely perform can be regarded as unethical depending on the approach used. Thus, we should evaluate actions based on costs and tangible results.

Economic activity is a part of life and will likely always continue to be.

It is right to think about the greater needs of individuals, and managers ought to be wary of these so that they can continue to meet demands in the marketplace, which can include the call for better business practices. Still, if enterprises are meant to continue their traditional role of producing economic value, they need to be allowed to examine what best allows them to remain competitive and efficient as well.

In the end, there might not be any real paradox, after all. For example, one thing that the businessperson and the environmentalist can generally agree upon is that the cost of inefficient production is a deadweight loss. There are many studies that show how businesses can generate even more profits while reducing waste and creating innovative processes. If this can apply to other initiatives, then we must truly reevaluate if the concept of “ethical business” is an oxymoron.

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

of the President was derived from such constitutional order, which shows that such immunity should also be enjoyed by the VP and other impeachable officers. To limit the immunity to the President would be discriminatory and violative of the constitution’s equal protection clause. Hence, there are clear indications and valid reasons why the SC could enlarge the application of IFS to the VP, in a given case. Abangan.

The author is an election lawyer.

“War is a great silencer of hypocrisy.”—James H. Blount

James H. Blount is the author of the book, The American Occupation of the Philippines, 1898-1912.

B

lount came to the country as an Army Officer from 18991901, who was later appointed into a civil position, as United States District Judge in the Philippines from 1901-1905. As such, he participated in the war with the Filipinos and later presided in assumed peace over cases involving Filipinos.

In the preface to the book, Blount writes: “To have gone out to the other side of the world with an army of invasion, and had a part, however small in the subjugation of a strange people, and then to see a new government set up, and as an official of that government, watch it work out through a number of years, is an unusual and interesting experience, especially to a lawyer.”

Blount had the benefit of two perspectives—that of a conqueror and a purveyor of justice in a colonized world. To conclude a heroic shift in attitude in Blount is naïve, but the book remains a treasure chest of histories where the voices of the colonial administrators are mixed with the military might and, in the interstices, the nearly silenced points-of-view of Filipino leaders.

Our problem therefore as readers of the histories parlayed by Blount is to bracket each episode described. Each bracket allows a pause that could well give us another way of fleshing out narratives withheld from us for a long time.

After all, every story about this island-republic, in failed revolutions or deceptive peace, there hides both truth and lies, archival distortion and documentary impressions.

While the writer of the book has a position that presents a more favorable—and f lattering—insight about the Philippines and the

birthing of a nation, Blount shall remain an outsider who provides judgment, the lawyer who was first a soldier accustomed to the ways of the weapon and, later, the lawyer steeped in the tradition of Western jurisprudence.

W h at v a lu e does the book, now re-read, possess amid the continuing colonization and Americanization of our country? As a nonhistorian (a status I have always been proud of), I sense in the book an adventitious opportunity to be a voyeur of text and images closeted in the educated Filipino gaze. This is a gaze that has been schooled in Western traditions and, for all the adventure in pedagogy, has yet to be fully brought out in the open.

Why the caveat? Because there are entries in the book of Blount that threaten to induce this feeling of the American colonial legacy being benign. There lies the prison that we have been in for many years, long after the last American governorgeneral had passed on.

Friday, July 23, 2021 A11

Still, the voyeur in us can be pleasured by some of Blount’s words: “The task here undertaken is to make audible to a great free nation [the America] the voice of a weaker subject people [the Filipinos] who passionately and rightly long to be also free, but whose longings have been systematically denied for the last fourteen years [1898-1912], sometimes ignorantly, sometimes viciously, and always cruelly, on the wholly erroneous idea that where the end is benevolent, it justifies the means, regardless of the means necessary to the end.”

Ethnocentrism wins! The America is always “the great free nation” and us, the weaker subject who also want to be free.

The rest is history. On March 12, 1912, the Jones Bill is filed in the House of Representatives.

The bill carries the title “A bill to establish a qualified independence for the Philippines, and to fix the date when such qualified indepen-

dence shall become absolute and complete.”

Blount describes the bill as having a “supreme virtue” because it promises and fixes the date of independence to July 4, 1921.

Then follow the more supreme (my word) details about election.

Blount takes note of the Philippine Assembly in 1903, whose 80 members each represented some 90,000 people. In the footnote is written

The bankrupt field of presidentiables Manny F. Dooc

TELLTALES

T

he field is barren despite the number of “wannabes’’ who want to seek the presidency. Survey results consistently show, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, former Senator Bongbong Marcos, and Senators Grace Poe and Manny Pacquiao as the leading presidential aspirants. Mayor Sara’s rating of 28 percent was practically the same result she got late last year, which was also conducted by Pulse Asia. Ranked were the same set of probable candidates who headed the pack in previous surveys. VP Leni Robredo only placed 6th and outside of the top 5 pick, together with Senator Panfilo Lacson who placed 7th. The other probables such as Senator Bong Go, former Senator Antonio Trillanes and Senator Richard Gordon have remained at the tail end of the survey.

There has been no significant change in the standings of the presidentiables and notably, no new name has surfaced on the list who has stirred the voters’ interest. The filing of the certificates of candidacy is barely two months away, but no name from the ranks of the opposition that can capture the imagination of the voters has appeared on the horizon.

It appears that no one from the opposition possesses the talents and the charisma that the electorates hankering for a political messiah can rally behind. Normally, an unpopular regime would give rise to a reinvigorated opposition and produce a leader who can unify all disgruntled elements of the country. But this is not happening despite all the dire predictions of the anti-Duterte forces. Either the opposition got it all wrong and that Duterte still enjoys the support of the masses or it is bereft of a bankable standard bearer

who can generate enthusiasm among our people.

No one has the color, the wit, the language and the boldness of a Ninoy Aquino or an Arsenio Lacson who could take on the administration fearlessly and on equal terms.

Unfortunately, they died before they could run for president. If the opposition cannot produce a viable and credible candidate, then what about importing a member of the ruling party who has the stature and clout to give Duterte’s anointed candidate a run for his/her money?

In 1953, the Nacionalista Party, realizing its lack of suitable presidential material, offered the very popular Secretary of National Defense, Ramon Magsaysay, to turn coat and drafted him as the official candidate of the opposition against President Elpidio Quirino. The Liberal Party was then at the zenith of its power headed by Quirino who

was seeking reelection. Most of the prominent members of the Nacionalista Party like Jose P. Laurel, Senator Claro M. Recto, and other party luminaries virtually gave way to The Guy whose popularity among the masses was unsurpassed. He was credited with foiling the advance of the Hukbalahap and winning the support of the countryside, which was sympathetic to the communist guerillas. He was treated like a demigod by his fellow Filipinos when he carried the lifeless body of Moises Padilla after he was tortured and murdered by his powerful political enemies in Negros. Senator Camilo Osias contested the nomination but Magsaysay emerged victorious. Magsaysay won the presidency by a landslide vote against Quirino.

History was repeated when incumbent President Diosdado P. Macapagal lost to Ferdinand E. Marcos who switched parties to run under the opposition banner in the 1965 presidential election. In fact, Macapagal’s Vice President, VP Emmanuel Pelaez, also transferred to the Nacionalista Party to run against Macapagal, but Marcos won the closely contested nomination.

In both the 1953 and 1965 presidential elections, the weak opposition invited stalwarts of the ruling party to put up a winning candidate against the administration bet. This strategy turned the tide of the elections.

But Duterte runs a tight ship and I don’t think this opportunity is available at present. The ruling party, whether PDP-Laban or Hugpong ng Pagbabago, has not promoted or empowered any particular leader within the party to become the president’s political heir except his own daughter, Mayor Sara, and his ever

this information: “The total population of the Philippine Archipelago on March 2, 1903, was 7,635,426.

Of this number, 6,987,686 enjoyed a considerable degree of civilization, while the remainder, 647,740 consisted of wild people.”

Given that population profile, who shall be allowed to vote then?

Blount recalls the existing law in the Philippines where the qualifications for voting consist of two types: property qualification and educational qualification. Blount has more details: “In any case, in order to vote, the individual must be 21 years old, and must have lived for six months in the place where he offers to vote. The property qualification requires that the would-be voter owns at least $250 worth of property, or pay a tax to the amount of $15.”

Blount explains how the Americans adopted the Spanish cedula system, where individuals pay tax according to a graduated scale and where certain civic rights are given to those who pay the higher tax and denied to those who pay less.

Regarding the educational qualification, the would-be voter is required to speak and write either English or Spanish, or must have held certain municipal offices under the Spanish regime, before the American occupation. The Jones Bill, according to Blount, adds to the educational qualification the “speaking, reading, and writing of the native dialect of a given locality.”

Assuming similar voter’s requirements are imposed for the next election, what kind of politicians do you think will be elected to lead this nation? Just some wild thoughts, really.

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

loyal political sidekick, Senator Bong Go. Leaving the President is the last thing they would do. Moreover, they have not reached that stature where they can challenge the ruling party.

Mavericks like former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and even Senator Manny Pacquiao were cut down to size. Unfortunately, the real opposition has failed to develop its homegrown leader who can beat Duterte’s candidate. Without her personal baggage, Senator Leila de Lima’s martyr status could have been built up overtime and prepared for the big event to the opposition’s advantage.

Nobody has a commanding presence, or exceedingly better, to forge unity among the opposition and dissuade other potential rivals from joining the presidential derby. Right now, every opposition leader thinks that he or she has a better chance to win than the others, so why would he or she give way and forgo the chance of becoming the tenant in Malacañang.

In 10 weeks, more or less, the candidates will troop to the Comelec to file their COCs. Now, 1SAMBAYAN is sending signals that it is open to getting the likes of Pacquiao to be its anointed candidate.

This should also pave the way for a possible endorsement of Lacson who it rejected earlier for authoring the Anti-Terror Act. This shift only betrays the sorry state of the opposition and the obvious lack of viable candidates. On the other hand, the few who are open to nomination by 1SAMBAYAN should now step up and demonstrate that they are willing, capable and prepared to tackle the heavy burden of the presidency. It’s the only way to gain the nod of the fickle electorates.

TOKYO OLYMPICS ON!

Sports

By Jun Lomibao

T

BusinessMirror

A12

| Friday, July 23, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

T

OKYO—If there’s someone on Team Philippines who has trained the most at the Tokyo Olympics, she’s no other than Margielyn Didal.

Didal, free and easy with her sport, never separates herself from her skateboard as she roams the 44-hectare Olympic Village where 11,000 athletes from all over the world are staying for close to three weeks.

“Margielyn skateboards around the village and because of that, she gets extra training outside of her competition venue,” Chef de Mission Mariano “Nonong” Araneta told BusinessMirror on Thursday.

“But, of course, she observes protocols,” Mariano said. “There are Covid-19 staff spread out the village who make sure everyone wears a mask and observes social distancing.”

Didal is competing in women’s street of skateboarding, one of four sports making their Olympic debut in Tokyo, the others being surfing, karate and sport climbing.

The event is set on Monday at

Didal: Most trained athlete in Tokyo the Ariake Urban Sports Park with the 22-year-old Cebuana, who won gold medals at the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games and Philippines 2019 Southeast Asian Games, expecting world-class challenges from skateboarders from the US, Brazil and Japan.

“The world’s best are here and

Opening ceremony remains a mystery

T

OKYO—Expect host Tokyo to present a one of a kind opening ceremony for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad on Friday, according to Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino on Thursday.

“They [Tokyo] will make sure that the opening ceremony will be the best ever,” said Tolentino, who arrived here on Wednesday with POC Secretary General Atty. Edwin Gastanes and POC Legal Head Atty.

Billy Sumagui.

The organizers will only reveal the opening ceremony program and highlights four hours before the 8 p.m. event on Friday, but Tolentino said he got wind that Tokyo is going

digital with its presentation.

“I heard that they’re using lasers, holograms and drones, exactly what they are remain a secret,” Tolentino said. “But the opening ceremony will perhaps be the best ever, because of the pandemic.”

The opening ceremony is set for 8 p.m. when the sun has set and the whole of Japan starts to get dark.

While the center of the National Stadium will be festive and colorful, the stands are expected to be eerily silent.

Tokyo Olympics organizers banned fans from all venues during the 17-day Games that end on August 8—and that includes both the opening and closing ceremony.

MARGIELYN DIDAL roams the Olympic Village, warms up at the competition venue.

we expect the competition to be very tough,” coach Daniel Bautista said, saying Didal didn’t tinker much with her tricks but focused on polishing them and avoiding errors.

“She’ll basically do the same tricks that she’d used in past competitions, but we trained

focused on limiting mistakes,” Bautista said.

Didal, ranked No. 17 by World Skate, will be pitted against world Nos. 1 and 2 Pamela Rosa and Rayssa Leal of Brazil, No. 3 Aori Nishimura of Japan, Leticia Bufoni also of Brazilian and Momiji Nishiya also of the host country. Jun Lomibao

The 205 member countries— only North Korea opted to skip the Games—attending the Olympics are allowed only three VVIPs at the stands—the national Olympic committee president and secretary general and sports minister, in the Philippines’s case Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez.

It means that at least 605—wire reports say a thousand VVIPs and dignitaries—of the 68,000-seat stadium will be occupied for the kickoff event for what has been dubbed as “the greatest show on earth.”

The organizers, Tolentino said, limited the number of officials from six countries who can join the parade to six, but opened the ceremony to as many athletes as each member nation wanted to send.

“But we won’t do that [sending more athletes in the parade],” Tolentino stressed. “I don’t want to risk the health and safety of our athletes.”

Eumir Felix Marcial (boxing) and Kiyomi Watanabe (judo) are the country’s flag bearers during the parade where the male Filipino participants will be wearing cocoon silk barongs with a machine-embroidered pitchera design muslin inner shirts and light wool black pants, and the female will be clad in cocoon silk short blazers with a machine embroidered front and sleeves and neoprene spaghetti-strapped black inner blouses and neoprene black pants—all from Kultura.

Highlighting their parade uniforms are Rajo Laurel-designed “alampay” (shawl) also with a native Filipino touch. Jun Lomibao

OKYO—Cris Nievarez kicks off Team Philippines’s campaign on Tokyo Bay some 12 hours before Tokyo unveils what is perceived to be the most high-tech opening ceremony of the Games that were postponed for a year and still struggling—but managing—to combat Covid-19.

But a day before Nievarez plunges into the heats of rowing’s men’s singles sculls at the Sea Forest Waterway at 9 a.m. Japan time on Friday, Team Philippines officials made a stern decision of sending home a coach whose virus tests yielded conflicting results.

“While waiting for another confirmatory test, I have ordered our chef de mission [Mariano Araneta] to separate him [coach] from our team,” Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino told members of the Philippine media on Thursday morning.

“If the next result is negative, we are sending him home. If he again tests positive, he will be brought to a quarantine hospital,” Tolentino said.

The daily tests at the Olympic Village on athletes and coaches yielded a false positive test on the coach, prompting his isolation and a confirmatory test, which turned out be negative. A third test, however, yielded another false positive on the coach, who already ran a fever.

Armed with two negative RT-PCR tests, the coach passed the rigid screening at the Narita airport.

“The coach must have gotten it on the plane or at the airport, during the incubation period,” Tolentino said.

“To further mitigate the risks to the Philippine team, we have decided to separate the coach from the delegation,” POC Secretary General Edwin Gastanes said.

Tolentino, however, said the issues on the coach won’t affect the entire campaign.

“Maybe, to the national sports association involved, they are affected because they lost a coach, but to the rest of the Team Philippines, I don’t see their morale going down because of this. Everyone is in high spirits and raring to go to battle for the country,” said Tolentino.

Nievarez, meanwhile, set a modest goal of finishing at least third in his star-laden heat to advance deep into the rowing event.

“The target is to beat Nicaragua and Benin,” Nievarez, 21, told BusinessMirror on Thursday, a day before the pandemic Olympics open at the National Stadium.

Nievarez needs to wind up third in Heat 5—which includes Croatia’s Damir Martin, silver medalist at Rio 2016, and Alexander Vyazovkin, a three-time world indoor (ergo) champion—to advance to the quarterfinals.

World champion Carlos Yulo, on the other hand, decided to drop his signature triple back and double forward routine—his primary weapon in the men’s floor exercise—after a bad landing while training two weeks ago.

Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion said Yulo continued to nurse his right hip while training on Thursday. The Filipino world champion’s competition starts on Saturday (July 24) with the qualifiers.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez and Chief of Staff Marc Velasco arrived here on Thursday bringing with them government’s full support to the 19-athlete delegation.

Ramirez said he is the “humble representative of millions of Filipinos, who wish the athletes success.”

“The quadrennial meet will be under a very different circumstances, but know, that you, athletes, are not alone as millions of Filipinos back home will be glued to their screens, cheering and praying for you. Today, I am not just a sports official, I am a father, proud to see his children achieve and see that their dreams are within reach,” Ramirez said.

The Olympic team includes Ernest John Obiena (athletics), Eumir Felix Marcial (boxing), Irish Magno (boxing), Nesthy Petecio (boxing), Carlo Paalam (boxing), Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting), Kurt Barbosa (taekwondo), Margielyn Didal (skateboarding), Elreen Ando (weightlifting), Jayson Valdez (shooting), Juvic Pagunsan (golf), Kiyomi Watanabe (judo), Kristina Knott (athletics), Yuka Saso (golf), Bianca Pagdanganan (golf), Luke Gebbie (swimming) and Remedy Rule (swimming).

RAMIREZ BRINGS GOVT SUPPORT TO ATHLETES T

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino talks with female flagbearer Kiyomi Watanabe at the Team Philippines Secretariat inside the Olympic Village. Tolentino buckles down to work a day after arriving in Tokyo. Also in photo are Chef de Mission Mariano “Nonong” Araneta and POC Secretary General Atty. Ed Gastanes.

T

OKYO—Cris Nievarez gets himself wet in rowing’s men’s singles sculls and as the first Filipino to plunge into action in the Tokyo Olympics, set a modest goal of finishing at least third in his star-laden heat to advance deep into the event.

“The target is to beat Nicaragua and Benin,” Nievarez, 21, told BusinessMirror on Thursday, a day before the pandemic Olympics open at the National Stadium.

Beating Nicaragua’s Felix Potoy and Benin’s Privel Hinkati means Nievarez will wind up third in Heat 5 where Croatia’s Damir Martin, silver medalist at Rio 2016, and Alexander Vyazovkin, a three-time world indoor (ergo) champion, are heavily favored.

There are six heats in men’s singles sculls of rowing that will be staged at the Sea Forest Waterway on Tokyo Bay and the top three in each heat will advance to the quarterfinals.

Those who miss the top three will battle it out in Saturday’s repechage

where the top two performers move on to the quarterfinals on Sunday.

“Cris has prepared himself physically and mentally for this, he knows these are the Olympics and he understands the magnitude of the Games,” Nievarez’s coach, many-time national rower Edgardo Maerina, said.

“I prepared hard during the small window since I got my qualification for the Games,” said Nievarez, who earned a continental quota slot for the event from the sport’s international federation only in May. A native of Sariaya in Quezon, Nievarez is the only Southeast Asian qualifier in men’s singles sculls and one of only five Asians—Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia and Japan— in the event that will be raced over 2,000 meters.

“We are taking it one race at a time and we hope that Cris makes it as No. 3 in his heat tomorrow [Friday],” rowing association treasurer Magnum Membrere said. Jun Lomibao

PHILIPPINE Sports Commission Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez and Chief of Staff Marc Velasco arrives in Tokyo on Thursday

OKYO—Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez and Chief of Staff Marc Velasco arrived here on Thursday bringing with them government’s full support to the 19-athlete delegation.

Ramirez owns the distinction as the only chairman since the PSC’s establishment in 1990 to be at the helm of the sports agency in three Olympics (Beijing 2008, Rio de Janeiro 2016 and Tokyo 2020) said he is the “humble representative of millions of Filipinos, who wish the athletes success.”

“The quadrennial meet will be under a very different

Nievarez first Filipino to plunge into action CRIS NIEVAREZ is bracketed in a tough group.

circumstances, but know, that you, athletes, are not alone as millions of Filipinos back home will be glued to their screens, cheering and praying for you. Today, I am not just a sports official, I am a father, proud to see his children achieve and see that their dreams are within reach,” Ramirez said.

The PSC has been with the 19 Olympians every step of their way in their Olympic journey, helping them raise their standards to worldclass levels in terms of performance in the international scene.

“We spent P2 billion for the training and exposure of our athlete since 2016 to form a strong team for Tokyo,” he said. “Never in the history of our country has government been this supportive of the Filipino athlete, financially— thanks to President Rodrigo Duterte’s full support.”

Ramirez also extolled the Olympians for their hard work and perseverance during the pandemic.

“Our athletes are a source of inspiration and pride. The chance to show the world your athletic excellence, a chance to make your Olympic dreams come true, at a time when sports competitions, training and qualifications, values and character were greatly challenged, a chance to show a global arena, what Filipino athletes are made of,” Ramirez said.

The Philippines will be sending its second-biggest delegation since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

“We are all invested in this because we all believe in the dream, now on the brink of reality. This is history unfolding before our very eyes and we get to be part of it,” said Ramirez. Jun Lomibao

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

SHI, YUYU Project Coordinator 1.

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

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

CHU, GUOREN Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 11.

YAN, CHANGHAO Project Coordinator 2.

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

12.

3.

HUANG, DANGHUI Customer Service Representative (Chinese Accounts) Brief Job Description: Assists clients with all their concerns.

13.

14.

4.

SOLORZANO GARCIA, LUIS RAUL Spanish Team Lead Brief Job Description: Manage hot escalations with Spanish native speakers

15.

GOMEZ FERNANDEZ, JOSE LUIS Construction Manager 5.

Brief Job Description: Oversee and direct construction projects from conception to completion LOZANO DURAN, MARIA LUISA Procurement Manager

6.

Brief Job Description: Plan, direct, and coordinate purchasing materials, products, and services in compliance with the company’s procedures.

GOTOR OLABARRIA, JESUS Temporary Works Design Coordinator

7.

Brief Job Description: Main point of contact of the design Team with Construction Department and Subcontractors liaising with them as required

Basic Qualification: Minimum of 5 years’ experience in purchasing and administration management Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent in communication, organizational, and planning skills. At least more than 5 years’ experience.

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

AMAZON OPERATION SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. B21 Three E-com Moa Complex Harbour Drive Cor. Bay Shore Brgy. 076 Pasay City LYU, ZHENGFEI Investigation Specialist I 8.

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

17.

18.

HERMANTO Indonesian Customer Service 9.

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

CHEN, XIAOJIE Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 10.

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

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

WANG, DAN Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 19.

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

WANG, JINGKE Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 20.

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

YAN, XINGLIANG Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 21.

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

ZHANG, SHA Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 22.

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

ZHANG, XIAOLAN Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 23.

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

CHANG, ZHUANG Mandarin Customer Service 24.

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

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

TIAN, LEI Mandarin Customer Relations Officer

Basic Qualification: Fluency in both English and Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

QIN, SUOYI Mandarin Customer Relations Officer

Basic Qualification: Excellent in English; More than 20 years of experience Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

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

NI, WENHAO Mandarin Customer Relations Officer

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 ACCIONA CONSTRUCTION PHILIPPINES INC. 21/f Tower 2, The Enterprise Center 6766 Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City

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

LUO, CHENG Mandarin Customer Relations Officer

16.

Basic Qualification: Fluency in Spanish and English languages both in written and oral methodologies. Ability to contribute to a highperforming, motivated workgroup by applying interpersonal and collaboration skills to achieve project goals and realize value. Ability to contribute to the creation of an environment that motivates individuals to work collaboratively as a team. Coaching skills. Ability to work creatively and analytically in a problem-solving environment. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Excellent time management skills. Good project, management skills. Good leadership skills. Good performance management skills including feedback techniques.

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

LIU, YUANMING Mandarin Customer Relations Officer

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 ACCENTURE, INC. 7f Robinsons Cybergate Tower 1 Pioneer St Mandaluyong City

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

LIU, KAIWEN Mandarin Customer Relations Officer

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently. Preferably 6 months to 1 year customer service experience. Detailoriented and has the ability to multi-task.

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

HU, DINGGUO Mandarin Customer Relations Officer

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

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

WU, CHAOZHE Mandarin Customer Service 25.

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

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

WU, SHUNTIAN Mandarin Customer Service 26.

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

Friday, July 23, 2021 A13

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience

No.

YAN, CHENGHONG Mandarin Customer Service 27.

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

28.

29.

30.

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

31.

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

LIN, XIAOTING Key Accounts Specialist Consultant 32.

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

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

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

Brief Job Description: Oversee the relationships of the company with Chinese clients; responsible for obtaining and maintaining long term key customers by comprehending their requirements.

SINGH, SHASHANK Deputy General Manager - Pex 33.

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

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

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

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

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

Basic Qualification: Can develop strong positive relationships with executive and management contacts; able to speak and communicate using mandarin.

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

Brief Job Description: Lead & Drive Strategic as well as Tactical improvement initiatives in partnership with all stakeholders (leadership, client & operations) from designing through to BAU

Basic Qualification: Lean & Six Sigma; Analytics; BPO Operations & Quality Management Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

CRONYX INC. No. 4th-10th Flr. Yinhope Bldg. Dela Rama Cor. Zoili Hilario St. Seascape Village, Ccp Complex Subd. Zone 10, Barangay 076, District 1 Pasay City XIE, SUICHAO Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 34.

Brief Job Description: Assist/Help Customers. Give customers information about products and services

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 Months Customer Service Experience. Good in oral and written communication Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

CTBC BANK (PHILIPPINES) CORP. 16-19 Flr. And Unit 2201 & 2202 2nd Flr., Fort Legend Tower 31st. St. Cor. 3rd Ave. Fort Bonifacio Taguig City CHEN, JR-CHENG Institutional Credit Management Group Head 35.

Brief Job Description: Overall responsibility for the quality of the bank’s corporate loan portfolio

Basic Qualification: Minimum of 10 years’ experience as a credit manager. Preferably with exposure in a matrix set-up/ environment Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

DEXIN INTERNATIONAL IMPORT AND EXPORT CORP. 534 Tomas Mapua St. 029 Bgy. 298 Santa Cruz Manila

36.

KYAW HTWE Chinese Cargo Office Agent Brief Job Description: Prepare airline and Customs Documentations

Basic Qualification: Have Skills in Documentations Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

37.

38.

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

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

COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS PHILIPPINES, INC. 2nd, 3rd, And 4th Floors, Science Hub Tower 4 Bldg. Mckinley Hill Cyberpark 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: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

C’EST LA VIE EVENT MANAGEMENT INC. 230 Narra Street Marikina Heights Marikina 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: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

ZHOU, GUOJUAN Mandarin Customer Service

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

ZHANG, SHUAI Mandarin Customer Service

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

YU, WENTAO Mandarin Customer Service

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

YI, GANGXIANG Mandarin Customer Service

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

39.

40.

41.

HSU, MING-CHI a.k.a. MING HSU Computer System Analyst Brief Job Description: To provide Chinese customer service BAI, YU Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: To provide Chinese customer service LI, KE Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: To provide Chinese customer service LIN, XUEBIIN Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: To provide Chinese customer service MA, CHAO Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: To provide Chinese customer service

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in systems and networks Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

A14 Friday, July 23, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

42.

43.

44.

45.

46.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION PENG, TIANHENG Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: To provide Chinese customer service SUN, YUANZHI Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: To provide Chinese customer service XIA, ZHENFANG Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: To provide Chinese customer service YAN, YUEQIONG Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: To provide Chinese customer service ZHANG, YUNFEI Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: To provide Chinese customer service

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls

No.

CHEN, ZHUANLONG Customer Service Representative 60.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

61.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls

47.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for maintaining customer relations through on-time, safety-conscious, budget-friendly transportation of products, or raw materials.

YANG, JUNJIE Hub Manager

48.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the continuous optimization of efficient establishment support, covering all needed services for all type of logistics units.

ZHENG, KAI Purchasing Supervisor

49.

Brief Job Description: Oversees the purchasing department and are responsible for sourcing materials, contract management, budget control and disbursement.

WANG, ZHEN Systems And Process Support Manager

50.

Brief Job Description: Oversee communication network systems, implement plans and programs for IT infrastructure and manage proper usage of computer networks and supervise software installation tools

Basic Qualification: 5-10 years’ work experience in supervisory position, job-relevant degree, multilingual.

PAN, ZEXING Customer Service Representative 62.

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: 5-10 years’ work experience in supervisory position, job-relevant degree, multilingual.

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: 5-10 years’ work experience in supervisory position, job-relevant degree, multilingual.

51.

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

HOANG THI ANH Customer Service Representative 52.

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

HUYNH MY TAM Customer Service Representative 53.

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

LI, WEIQUN Customer Service Representative 54.

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

NGUYEN PHAN TRONG TIN Customer Service Representative 55.

56.

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

TENG, JUNHONG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service.

ZENG, PENG Customer Service Representative 57.

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

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints, They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and the help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

WANG, PENGCHAO Customer Service Representative 63.

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints, They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and the help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: 5-10 years’ work experience in supervisory position, job-relevant degree, multilingual.

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

WU, CHANGHAN Customer Service Representative 64.

FLYING DRAGON NETWORK PHILIPPINES INC. 4th-11th Floor Aseana 3 Building Aseana Avenue Corner Diosdado Macapagal Tambo Parañaque City CHU, HONGCHENG Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints, They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and the help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

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

FLASH EXPRESS SOFTWARE (PH) CO., LTD. INC. 9th Flr. Arthaland Century Pacific Tower 5th Avenue 30th Street Cor. 4th Avenue Fort Bonifacio Taguig City NIU, CHUN Central Control Manager Of Automobile Transportation

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints, They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and the help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

MA, HAN Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: College graduate level, preferably with Customer Service or Sales experience, fluent in Mandarin and Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

65.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate level, preferably with Customer Service or Sales experience, fluent in Mandarin and Basic English

66.

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints, They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and the help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

LIN, JINHUI Customer Service Representative 67.

Brief Job Description: Providing product and service information and resolving product and service problems.

CHEN, GAOZHENG Construction Supervisor 68.

Brief Job Description: Oversee the construction of projects and monitor activities at worksites

LIU, QINGJUN Construction Supervisor 69.

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

Brief Job Description: Oversee the construction of projects and monitor activities at worksites

FULL CHARGE SERVICES, INC. U 801 State Center Bldg. 333 Juan Luna St. 027, Brgy. 287 Binondo Manila

58.

59.

TAN, FUMING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service.

WANG, QIANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service.

Basic Qualification: College graduate; Preferably 6 months to 1 year experience in Customer Service; Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English

PI, FU Construction Supervisor 70.

Brief Job Description: Oversee the construction of projects and monitor activities at worksites

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate; Preferably 6 months to 1 year experience in customer service; Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English.

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

Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can manage large amounts of incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can manage large amounts of incoming calls

No.

Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can manage large amounts of incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can manage large amounts of incoming calls

ZHANG, HAO Construction Supervisor 71.

Brief Job Description: Oversee the construction of projects and monitor activities at worksites

72.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can manage large amounts of incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can manage large amounts of incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Experience working with customer support.

73.

74.

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

Minimum of 5 years in the construction industry with some leadership experience. Fluent in Mandarin / basic English

Brief Job Description: Supervise teams of technicians, oversee workers, and perform inspections on work orders.

LI, LIHUA Technical Supervisor 75.

Brief Job Description: Supervise teams of technicians, oversee workers, and perform inspections on work orders.

LI, SHAOBO Technical Supervisor 76.

Brief Job Description: Supervise teams of technicians, oversee workers, and perform inspections on work orders.

PI, WEI Technical Supervisor 77.

Brief Job Description: Supervise teams of technicians, oversee workers, and perform inspections on work orders.

WANG, TAO Technical Supervisor 78.

Brief Job Description: Supervise teams of technicians, oversee workers, and perform inspections on work orders.

XU, TAO Technical Supervisor 79.

Brief Job Description: Supervise teams of technicians, oversee workers, and perform inspections on work orders.

YUE, CHAOHUI Technical Supervisor 80.

Brief Job Description: Supervise teams of technicians, oversee workers, and perform inspections on work orders.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College graduate.

Minimum of 5 years in the construction industry with some leadership experience. Fluent in Mandarin / basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, at least 1-2 years of working experience in the related field. Fluent in Mandarin/ basic English.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, at least 1-2 years of working experience in the related field. Fluent in Mandarin/ basic English.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, at least 1-2 years of working experience in the related field. Fluent in Mandarin/ basic English.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, at least 1-2 years of working experience in the related field. Fluent in Mandarin/ basic English.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, at least 1-2 years of working experience in the related field. Fluent in Mandarin/ basic English.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, at least 1-2 years of working experience in the related field. Fluent in Mandarin/ basic English.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, at least 1-2 years of working experience in the related field. Fluent in Mandarin/ basic English.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, at least 1-2 years of working experience in the related field. Fluent in Mandarin/ basic English.

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

HECTECHURE CORP. Units A&b 20/f Rufino Pacific Tower 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St. San Lorenzo Makati City

LIU, GUANGRUI Mandarin Network Administrator Analyst 81.

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Network Administrator Analyst will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Network Administrator Analyst, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

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

HOORAY E-COMMERCE CORPORATION Unit 4b 4/f #24 Ptc Building Doña Soledad Avenue Corner Argentina St. Better Living Subdivision Don Bosco Parañaque City GAO, XIAOJIAO It Specialist 82.

Brief Job Description: Offer technical support to company and troubleshoot computer HUANG, MUYU It Specialist

83.

Brief Job Description: Offer technical support to company and troubleshoot computer MO, PING It Specialist

84.

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

Minimum of 5 years in the construction industry with some leadership experience. Fluent in Mandarin / basic English

Brief Job Description: Supervise teams of technicians, oversee workers, and perform inspections on work orders.

HNIN THANT THI Technical Supervisor

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate.

Minimum of 5 years in the construction industry with some leadership experience. Fluent in Mandarin / basic English

Brief Job Description: Oversee the construction of projects and monitor activities at worksites

CAO, JIAN Technical Supervisor

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can manage large amounts of incoming calls

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ZHANG, JIANXUN Construction Supervisor

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

HAMMERTIME CONSTRUCTION INC. Unit 203-s3 2nd Flr. Fbr Arcade Bldg. #317 Katipunan Ave. Loyola Heights 3 Quezon City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate level, preferably with Customer Service or Sales experience, fluent in Mandarin and Basic English

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

GOLDEN BIG BULL TECHNOLOGY LIMITED INC. 20 Flr Unit A-b Citibank Square Bldg. Eastwood Cyberpark Bagumbayan 3 Quezon City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints, They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and the help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

ZHANG, RUI Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate level, preferably with Customer Service or Sales experience, fluent in Mandarin and Basic English

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints, They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and the help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

ZHANG, YINGJIE Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: College graduate level, preferably with Customer Service or Sales experience, fluent in Mandarin and Basic English

Basic Qualification: College graduate level, preferably with Customer Service or Sales experience, fluent in Mandarin and Basic English

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

GATEWAYSOLUTIONS CORP. Unit 2306 Antel Global Corporate Center Julia Vargas Ave. Ortigas Center, San Antonio Pasig City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

www.businessmirror.com.ph

85.

Brief Job Description: Offer technical support to company and troubleshoot computer LIAO, ZHICHENG Marketing Officer Brief Job Description: Help develop customer research databases

Basic Qualification: Ability to offer technical support to company Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to offer technical support to company Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to offer technical support to company Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent knowledge of office and marketing software Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

INFOVINE INC. 9/f Y Tower, Moa Complex Coral Way Drive Cor. Macapagal Brgy. 076 Pasay City CHAU MY HANG Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 86.

Brief Job Description: Assist/Help customers, give customers information about the product and services CHEN, WEN-LOU Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

87.

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

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

Basic Qualification: With atleast 6 months Customer Service experience/Good oral coomunication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months Customer Service experience/Good oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months Customer Service experience/Good oral communication and written

Basic Qualification: College graduate.

Minimum of 5 years in the construction industry with some leadership experience. Fluent in Mandarin / basic English

88.

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

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

KUO, HAN-WEI a.k.a. LAUREN KUO Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate Brief Job Description: Assist/Help customers, give customers information about the product and services

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

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION ZHANG, LINHUA Mandarin Customer Support Representative

89.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

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

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

90.

Brief Job Description: Managing including calls & Korean customer service representative

108.

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

J-NA ALLOUT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORP. 3/f Lipams Bldg. #48 President Avenue Bf Homes Parañaque City SHIN, HOCHUR Korean Customer Service Representative

No.

109.

Basic Qualification: College graduate, speaks and write fluently (Korean & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

110.

JDB MANAGEMENT AND CONSULTANCY CORP. 107 T & D House Magallanes St. 069, Bgy. 655 Intramuros Manila JIN, JUNTONG Strategic And Facilitation Officer 91.

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

LEE, JONGMIN Strategic And Facilitation Officer

92.

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

LI, ZHENGBIN Strategic And Facilitation Officer

93.

Brief Job Description: Your primary function is to help the company and its Chinese clients to generate more income for the company LIN, JUNYUAN Strategic And Facilitation Officer

94.

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

PENG, QING Strategic And Facilitation Officer

95.

Brief Job Description: Your primary function is to help the company and its Chinese clients to generate more income for the company TIAN, YUFENG Strategic And Facilitation Officer

96.

Brief Job Description: Your primary function is to help the company and its Chinese Clients to generate more income for the company primary function WANG, KUNKUN Strategic And Facilitation Officer

97.

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

ZHANG, LI Strategic And Facilitation Officer

98.

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

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language

99.

100.

Brief Job Description: Generating a database of online prospects

HAM, HANTER Korean Purchasing Manager Brief Job Description: Developing and implementing purchasing strategies

112.

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language.

113.

114.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

115.

116.

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

117.

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language.

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

118.

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in English and Korean Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

119.

120.

121.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in English and Korean Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

122.

M AND J SOLUTIONS PROVIDER INC. Ub 111 Paseo De Roxas Bldg. Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City

HOURI, LIZ Hebrew Sales And Marketing Executive 101.

Brief Job Description: Contributing to the development of marketing strategies of Hebrew clients

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in marketing or related courses / a minimum of 5 years sales 1-2 years management experience crm software (sales force) professional certified marketer (pcm) is a plus fluent in Hebrew preferred English speaker

123.

124.

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 MARKETROLE ASIA PACIFIC SERVICES, INC. 26/f, 27/f, 28/f The Enterprise Center Tower 1 6766 Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City

102.

103.

104.

105.

106.

107.

HSU, WEI-CHI Chinese Speaking Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Provide outstanding and exceptional customer service HUANG, MENG Chinese Speaking Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Provide outstanding and exceptional customer service LI, XINKUN Chinese Speaking Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Provide outstanding and exceptional customer service SUN, YI Chinese Speaking Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Provide outstanding and exceptional customer service SUN, WEI Chinese Speaking Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Provide outstanding and exceptional customer service XU, LIANGXI Chinese Speaking Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Provide outstanding and exceptional customer service

125.

Basic Qualification: Can Speak Chinese/ Mandarin Fluently Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

126.

Basic Qualification: Can Speak Chinese/ Mandarin Fluently Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

127.

Basic Qualification: Can Speak Chinese/ Mandarin Fluently Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can Speak Chinese/ Mandarin Fluently Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can Speak Chinese/ Mandarin Fluently

YANG, PENG Chinese Speaking Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Provide outstanding and exceptional customer service ZHAO, XIN Chinese Speaking Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Provide outstanding and exceptional customer service ZHAO, RUI Chinese Speaking Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Provide outstanding and exceptional customer service ZHENG, WANG Chinese Speaking Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Provide outstanding and exceptional customer service ZHENG, YONGPENG Chinese Speaking Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Provide outstanding and exceptional customer service

CHEN, CAIGEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries CHEN, CAIZHI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries GUO, JIASHENG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HUANG, JIANNAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LI, YONGYAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LI, WENJIE Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LI, XIA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIAO, ZHIGUAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIU, RONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LU, LANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries MO, SHENGSHI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries SU, NANCHANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WU, MENGNA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WU, JINNAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries BAI, JINHUI Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIU, ZONGSHI Chinese Customer Specialist

128.

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming Calls and Customer Service Inquiries NGUYEN XUAN NHA Chinese Customer Specialist

129.

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming Calls and Customer Service Inquiries TANG, LEI Chinese Customer Specialist

130.

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

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming Calls and Customer Service Inquiries

Basic Qualification: Can Speak Chinese/ Mandarin Fluently

WANG, ZHIGANG Chinese Customer Specialist

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

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Can Speak Chinese/ Mandarin Fluently

No.

132.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can Speak Chinese/ Mandarin Fluently

133.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can Speak Chinese/ Mandarin Fluently

134.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can Speak Chinese/ Mandarin Fluently Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

135.

Basic Qualification: Can Speak Chinese/ Mandarin Fluently Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

136.

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

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

JK ESSENTIALS CORP. Building 66-18a Ground Floor Former Panorama Compound, Veterans Center Western Bicutan Taguig City JEON, EUNYEONG Korean Online Account Manager

111.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Friday, July 23, 2021 A15

131.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

137.

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

138.

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

139.

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

140.

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

141.

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

142.

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

143.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION WU, SHUFANG Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries XU, ZHONGSHENG Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHANG, JINMING Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ANONG, WUXI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

CHEN, ZHENZHU Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

LEI, CHANGCHENG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

LIANG, YABIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

LIU, FANGFANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

LIU, ZUNQIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

LIU, JUN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

LU, KANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

MENG, LINGQIAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

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

144.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write chinese language

145.

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

146.

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

147.

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

148.

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

149.

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

150.

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

151.

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

152.

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

153.

QIN, HAOZHUANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

QIN, MING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

RONY WIBOWO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service.

RUAN, XUEXIA Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

WOO CHUNG VUN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service.

WU, DI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service.

ZHANG, WENQIANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

ZHANG, DEYI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

ZHANG, LIKUN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

ZHAO, YINGLONG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

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: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/ Level and fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/ Level and fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/ Level and fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/ Level and fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

A16 Friday, July 23, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

154.

155.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION ZHOU, LI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service ZHU, SHA Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English

No.

172.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

173.

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th/f Pearl Marina Building Pacific Drive Don Galo Parañaque City Sky Garage Bldg. Aseana Avenue, Entertainment City Tambo Parañaque City CAI, QIUMIN Chinese Customer Service 156.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

CHEN, DONGSHENG Chinese Customer Service

157.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

DAI, AICHUN Chinese Customer Service

158.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

FAN, YANAN Chinese Customer Service

159.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

HUANG, JINHONG Chinese Customer Service

160.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

HUANG, WENQIAO Chinese Customer Service

161.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

LAI, HONGGANG Chinese Customer Service

162.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

LI, SHENG Chinese Customer Service

163.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

LI, YALUN Chinese Customer Service

164.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

LIANG, QIUYU Chinese Customer Service

165.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

LIN, SHUNTANG Chinese Customer Service

166.

167.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

LIU, QIANGQIANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LUAN, HONGJI Chinese Customer Service 168.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

LUAN, PENGLIN Chinese Customer Service

169.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

LUO, XIAOFENG Chinese Customer Service

170.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

SONG, YUTING Chinese Customer Service

171.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (Native language and English)

174.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (Native language and English)

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION WANG, HAOFEI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

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

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

WANG, YONGJIANG Chinese Customer Service 175.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (Native language and English)

WU, BINGHUI Chinese Customer Service 176.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (Native language and English)

XU, KUAN Chinese Customer Service 177.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (Native language and English)

178.

179.

180.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (Native language and English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (Native language and English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (Native language and English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (Native language and English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (Native language and English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (Native language and English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

ZHANG, MENG Chinese Customer Service

181.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (Native language and English)

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents

YIN, XIN Chinese Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (Native language and English)

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

YANG, WENBI Chinese Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (Native language and English)

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

YANG, MINGWEI Chinese Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (Native language and English)

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

ZOU, HAIFENG Chinese Customer Service 182.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents

KOK KAH SENG Malaysian Customer Service 183.

184.

185.

186.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

YIN AYE Myanmari Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

DAO TUAN ANH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

NGUYEN LAM Y NHI Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

NGUYEN THI QUY Vietnamese Customer Service 187.

188.

189.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

TO MY NGAN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

TRUONG XUAN DUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

No.

190.

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year Chinese Customer Service experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (Native language and English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (Native language and English)

191.

192.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (Native language and English)

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year Chinese Customer Service experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English)

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

Brief Job Description: Evaluate the Effectiveness of Curriculums and Teaching Techniques Established by School Board

TIBBS, HANNAH LOUISE Instructional Developer Brief Job Description: Develops and Designs Courses and Curriculum

Basic Qualification: 5-10 Yrs. Experience in Working for British Curriculum Schools/ PCGE or Similar Accreditation/ Excellent Computer Skills and E- Learning School Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: 5-10 Yrs. Experience in Working for British Curriculum Schools/ PCGE or Similar Accreditation/ Excellent Computer Skills and E- Learning School

OCEAN NETWORK EXPRESS PHILIPPINES INC. Units 1101-1105 11/f Aseana Ii Building Bradco Avenue Tambo Parañaque City SEKINE, MAKOTO Japan Sales 193.

Brief Job Description: Maximizing sales potential for Japanese accounts, crafting sales plans and justifying plans to the upper management

Basic Qualification: At least four (4) years of related experience preferably in shipping/ logistics industry Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

PRANCING DESEN TECHNOLOGY SERVICES INC. Unit 1620 Burgundy Transpacific Place Taft Ave. 079, Bgy. 727 Malate Manila ZHAO, CHUNYANG Mandarin Product Developer 194.

Brief Job Description: Enhance Existing Product In order to meet Customer expectations ZHU, YAN Mandarin Product Developer

195.

196.

197.

198.

199.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (Native language and English)

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

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year Chinese Customer Service experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English)

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

HALL, GAVIN WILLIAM Instructional Coordinator

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

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

VONG TU LINH Vietnamese Customer Service

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

NORD ANGLIA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL MANILA INC. Neo Chinatown Bradco Ave. Aseana Tambo Parañaque City

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year Chinese Customer Service experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English)

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

200.

Brief Job Description: Enhance Existing Product In order to meet Customer expectations

Basic Qualification: Proven Working Experience in The Related Field Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proven Working Experience in The Related Field Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Skills in Computer networking and Hardware

CHENG, JIAWEI Mandarin Technical Support Brief Job Description: Technical support service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Skills in computer networking and hardware

MA, RONG Mandarin Technical Support Brief Job Description: technical support service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: skills in computer networking and hardware

WANG, YU Mandarin Technical Support Brief Job Description: troubleshoot hardware/software issues

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Skills in Computer Networking and Hardware

WU, TAO Mandarin Technical Support Brief Job Description: Technical Support Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: skills in computer networking and hardware

XIAO, WENFENG Mandarin Technical Support Brief Job Description: Technical support service

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

ROBSON LIFESTYLE CONSULTING CORPORATION 7/f Finman Centre 131 Tordesillas St. Bel-air Makati City

ZHOU, CHUNQIANG Mandarin Speaking - Business Development 201.

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

Brief Job Description: Identifying business development opportunities within mandarin speaking business communities

Basic Qualification: Speaks and writes fluent in English and Mandarin language, excellent oral and written communication in mandarin, has a notable network of potential clients locally and internationally, notable business development and marketing skills.

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (Native language and English)

SMMT, INC. Unit 2208 The Trade And Financial Tower 7th Avenue Corner 32nd Street Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

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

202.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (Native language and English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

Brief Job Description: Provide support in the analysis of project requirements

Basic Qualification: Graduate of Information Technology Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

SOUTHVILLE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL AND COLLEGES INC. 1281 Tropical Ave. Cor. Luxemburg St. Bf International/caa Las Piñas City

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

GARCIA BERMUDEZ, AQUILES RAFAEL Quality Assurance Sr. Specialist

AGADA, PETER JAMES Quality Assurance And Academic Specialist 203.

Brief Job Description: To ensure that services meet the established standards set by the institution

Basic Qualification: Fluent in English, Nigerian and Filipino languages; graduate of industrial engineering; with experience in quality assurance in both industrial and academic settings.

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

TOPJUAN TECH CORPORATION Rm. 411 First Intramuros Bf Condominium Corporation Aduana St., 069 Bgy. 655 Intramuros Manila COELHO, KARL BASIL Executive Vice President- Product Strategy Operations 204.

Brief Job Description: Develop and drive our product strategy to enable strong product performance that meets targets.

Basic Qualification: 7+ years of experience, with at least 2 years of experience in an internal strategy group or at a strategy.

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

*Date Generated: Jul 22, 2021 In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on July 15, 2021, the name of MULLER, RAINER WILFRIED under OAMPI INC., should have been read as MUELLER, RAINER WILFRIED and not as published.

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

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

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

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Companies BusinessMirror

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Friday, July 23, 2021

B1

NGCP to build ₧22.2-B power network

T

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

HE National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) proposed to construct two interconnection projects worth P22.2 billion to ensure reliable transmission service to its customers.

In separate filings with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the grid operator said it plans to construct the Batangas-Mindoro interconnection project worth P16.87 billion and the Quezon-Marinduque interconnection project worth P5.32 billion. The NGCP is asking the ERC to issue orders provisionally autho-

rizing the implementation of the projects and approve these after hearings are conducted.

The Batangas-Mindoro interconnection project involves the laying down of submarine cables, installation of overhead transmission lines and development of substations.

Construction would be completed

in 110 months, the NGCP said. This project will address the inefficient power supply in the island of Mindoro. Once completed, the island will be connected to the Luzon grid, which will eventually benefit Palawan, according to the NGCP. “With the interconnection, Mindoro can already source adequate and reliable power supply, and access to a more competitive generation sources in the Luzon grid. Also, with a reliable transmission backbone, Mindoro may export power through the development of renewable power in the province,” the NGCP said.

“Further, this will fulfill the government’s direction of interconnecting off-grid areas to the main grid.

Lastly, this will prepare the country to the planned ASEAN power grid interconnection,” the operator of state-owned power grid added.

AC Energy scales up upcycling tack

A

C Energy is scaling up its waste management program by producing eco-bricks out of plastic collected from solar panel packaging materials.

The power firm has piloted the circularity approach in its 120-megawatt (MW) solar plant in Alaminos, Laguna construction site, diverting away from landfills a total of 32,540 kilogram (kg) of plastic collected from the solar panel packaging materials—or the equivalent of about 25 compact size cars—to be upcycled into eco-bricks and utilized in building solar plant facilities.

“This pilot plastic waste conversion project will allow us to close the loop and reduce the environmental impact in our construction sites and host communities. With the success of this first run, we hope to replicate this program in our other project sites as we continue expanding our presence in the country and abroad,” Irene S. Maranan, AC Energy’s vice

First Gen, Menarco ink deal

M

ENARCO Development Corp. (Menarco), a firm controlled by the family of businessman Menardo Jimenez, has tapped First Gen Corp. to supply 800 kilowatts of electricity to power Menarco’s 32-storey tower in Taguig City.

First Gen, through Green Core Geothermal Inc. (GCGI), will source the power from a geothermal plant of GCGI. The power supply agreement is good for two years, commencing later this month.

First Gen Vice President Carlos Lorenzo L. Vega said they are “happy” that the firm’s agreement with Menarco Development will complement Menarco Tower’s image as “a very innovative, energy efficient, healthy, safe and hi-tech office boutique tower.”

Menarco said its tower is the “first and only office tower in Southeast Asia to hurdle the stringent health and environment requirements to be certified ‘gold’ by the International Well Building Institute and to gain a gold certification from the US Green Building Council.”

“Menarco Tower is designed to offer humanity-centered spaces which ensure the building community’s health and well being, as well as minimizing any adverse impact on the environment. Menarco is proud to partner with First Gen for our renewable energy needs,” Menarco Development Founder and CEO Carmen Jimenez-Ong said. Lenie Lectura

president and head of corporate communications and sustainability, said.

“Sustainability is fully integrated in our company’s strategy and vision of achieving 5,000 MW of renewables by 2025,” Maranan added.

According to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the global demand for plastic will continue to grow and likely double in the next 20 years. However, only nine percent of the total plastic produced is recycled today, and it is estimated that eight million tons of plastic leak into the environment.

AC Energy intends to extend this circular approach within its project locations by developing Eco-hub recycling facilities through partnerships with the local community, through the segregation of garbage, and the set-up of collection points in sari-sari stores, groceries, markets, and shops where plastic products are usually found.

The firm said these partnerships

“aim to provide sustainable supply chains with community involvement, a key objective of the Eco-hub recycling facility.” This project will soon be implemented in Ilocos Norte in partnership with the provincial government, and will be the first of many such sustainability projects that AC Energy envisions to create within its developments, according to the company.

“Through its partnership with innovative environmental solutions group, Green Antz Builders Inc., AC Energy can successfully integrate a circular approach in its renewable energy developments to fulfill its parallel goal of protecting the environment, creating jobs to reignite the economy, and engaging its host communities meaningfully while creating clean energy.” Since 2018, AC Energy has invested over P300 million in sustainability projects focused on environmental and community initiatives. Lenie Lectura

Mindoro’s power system is presently being operated by the Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) of the National Power Corp., Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative and Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative.

The NGCP said that with the fore-

casted increase in the demand for Mindoro island, the current source of power can no longer accommodate the future load requirements.

“The implementation of the interconnection of the Luzon grid to the Mindoro grid will resolve this issue

by providing Mindoro with an access to a more reliable and competitive generation sources in the Luzon grid.

By being connected to the main grid, the power quality issues which result to frequent power interruption experienced by the customers will be addressed,” it said.

Meanwhile, the NGCP said the proposed Quezon-Marinduque interconnection project must start as soon as possible because the available generation capacity in Marinduque may no longer support the needs of residential and business in a few years.

“To avoid this from happening, implementation must commence as early as now. Considering that NGCP needs 54 months to fully complete the project, implementation must commence immediately,” the NGCP said.

B2

Companies BusinessMirror

Friday, July 23, 2021

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

July 22, 2021

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

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

43.1 107.1 86.2 24.3 7.96 9.57 44.6 20.55 56.05 20.1 112.6 76 1.38 4.37 2.93 0.36 928 0.63 230 0.93

45.25 107.6 87.5 24.45 8.49 9.6 44.75 20.8 57 20.4 113.4 76.5 1.4 4.4 3.13 0.385 976 0.7 234.8 0.99

45.05 104.5 84.55 24.5 7.94 9.5 44.5 20.3 56 19.9 108.1 75.7 1.38 4.37 2.96 0.385 976 0.66 228 0.93

45.05 107.6 87.5 24.5 8.49 9.7 45.2 20.9 56 20.1 113.4 77 1.38 4.45 3 0.385 976 0.66 239.6 0.93

45 104.5 84.55 24.1 7.94 9.5 44.5 20.3 56 19.9 108.1 75.6 1.38 4.3 2.96 0.385 976 0.65 210 0.93

45.05 107.6 87.5 24.45 8.49 9.6 44.6 20.8 56 20.1 113.4 76.5 1.38 4.4 3 0.385 976 0.65 234.8 0.93

2,700 1,718,360 948,370 177,900 2,900 62,900 3,763,800 180,100 800 42,100 234,700 20,390 3,000 254,000 27,000 100,000 10 117,000 19,010 20,000

121,585 183,366,265 82,007,662 4,343,375 23,851 603,120 168,964,010 3,713,755 44,800 841,595 26,320,384 1,549,399 4,140 1,117,680 80,720 38,500 9,760 76,400 4,241,236 18,600

INDUSTRIAL

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

8.21 1.25 23.75 0.62 29 74.1 269.2 17.2 3.24 12.5 19.58 11.7 15.02 6 2.81 13.02 24.25 15.98 7.88 11.82 82.9 0.64 1.25 92.15 204.6 29.15 7.24 6.21 0.255 15.24 7.9 1.02 4.52 0.137 136.4 0.8 2.28 50 1.23 14.42 7.7 6.51 6.31 14.4 1.01 1.73 1.68 1.82 5 5.35 20.3 2.93 9.1 0.98 5.83 1.26 5.21

8.22 1.26 23.85 0.63 29.1 74.5 269.4 17.26 3.25 12.96 19.6 11.9 16.9 6.09 2.83 14.5 24.45 16 7.9 11.84 83 0.66 1.26 93 205 29.75 7.97 6.29 0.26 15.26 8 1.04 4.67 0.139 136.5 0.81 2.48 50.95 1.24 14.88 7.8 6.54 6.32 14.5 1.05 1.78 1.7 1.92 5.35 5.4 20.6 2.94 9.14 1 6.2 1.3 5.25

7.99 1.24 23.5 0.59 29 74 267 17 3.19 12.8 19.4 11.34 16 5.88 2.81 14.2 24.4 15.6 7.55 12.1 84.75 0.66 1.29 90 204 29.1 7.98 6.24 0.26 15.02 7.94 1.01 4.73 0.134 134.2 0.8 2.4 51.85 1.23 14.42 7.7 6.5 6.22 14.24 1.01 1.69 1.67 1.83 4.53 5.3 20.6 2.85 8.9 1 6.18 1.29 5.11

8.25 1.27 23.95 0.64 29.2 74.5 270.4 17.3 3.28 12.98 19.68 11.9 16 6.2 2.84 14.2 24.45 15.98 7.88 12.24 84.75 0.66 1.3 93.95 207 29.15 7.98 6.29 0.265 15.52 7.94 1.04 4.73 0.146 137 0.82 2.4 51.85 1.27 14.88 7.7 6.55 6.34 14.66 1.01 1.83 1.72 1.85 4.53 5.35 20.6 2.98 9.36 1 6.18 1.34 5.25

7.98 1.24 23.35 0.59 28.8 73.55 267 17 3.19 12.5 19.4 11.34 16 5.7 2.81 14.2 23.85 15.6 7.55 11.82 83 0.64 1.25 89.85 202.2 29.1 7.2 6.16 0.25 15.02 7.79 1.01 4.68 0.134 134.2 0.8 2.4 50 1.22 14.42 7.51 6.49 6.22 14.2 1 1.65 1.67 1.82 4.53 5.25 20.6 2.85 8.9 1 5.83 1.25 5.11

8.22 1.26 23.75 0.62 29.1 74.5 269.4 17.2 3.25 12.5 19.6 11.9 16 6.09 2.81 14.2 24.25 15.98 7.88 11.82 83 0.66 1.26 93 205 29.1 7.2 6.29 0.26 15.26 7.81 1.03 4.68 0.139 136.4 0.81 2.4 50 1.24 14.88 7.7 6.51 6.31 14.5 1.01 1.73 1.7 1.82 4.53 5.35 20.6 2.94 9.1 1 6.18 1.3 5.25

30,779,700 215,000 1,748,900 10,657,000 175,400 60,250 97,770 1,086,300 2,377,000 11,900 158,400 179,200 500 6,401,600 240,000 2,200 892,300 473,000 2,669,500 8,459,600 172,320 453,000 6,430,000 48,040 411,620 900 200 40,800 820,000 7,100,900 66,200 2,626,000 13,000 9,100,000 413,380 186,000 12,000 3,810 1,745,000 3,100 131,600 118,700 509,200 173,300 131,000 10,947,000 444,000 112,000 1,000 35,900 5,000 6,438,000 211,500 95,000 1,600 997,000 677,300

-33,053,958 39,563,090 611,895 -14,404 -58,986,255 -256,675 11,760 -433,129 1,204,597 30,100 650 2,162,238 -

250,918,353 270,140 41,611,590 6,661,780 5,092,465 4,437,074 26,330,760 18,681,276 7,722,140 153,438 3,105,188 2,077,670 8,000 39,323,654 675,510 31,240 21,577,780 7,509,218 20,896,432 101,644,814 14,351,949 290,560 8,164,810 4,386,852.50 84,432,958 26,200 1,518 253,003 210,450 108,784,616 516,861 2,695,070 60,910 1,278,500 56,403,877 150,660 28,800 191,484.50 2,162,230 45,668 1,002,130 771,804 3,214,191 2,469,406 131,820 19,329,630 742,280 204,390 4,530 191,765 103,000 18,874,090 1,933,343 95,000 9,853 1,281,930 3,521,534

67,634,177 -124,740 -7,891,645 -6,400 -1,851,175 -42,186.50 -11,468,100 3,368,366 313,850 21,390.00 5,840 -50,524 8,460 1,082,860 -880,584 13,999,938 1,930,058 109,254.50 8,780 -163,762.50 -28,550,414 -27,525,700 41,168 1,350,460 -4,680 5,360 -12,977,485 808,000 -1,540 -572,013 -1,709,505 1,010 17,900 -676,080 -103,000 222,360 -13,800.00 67,350 125,284

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL 0.96 0.97 0.95 0.98 0.95 0.96 1,498,000 1,445,830 ASIABEST GROUP 6.6 6.99 7 7 7 7 100 700 AYALA CORP 752 754 754 760 743 754 138,920 104,854,885 ABOITIZ EQUITY 39 39.5 38.1 39.7 38 39 949,000 37,137,450 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 9.74 9.84 9.6 9.84 9.55 9.84 2,101,800 20,413,408 3.95 3.96 3.91 4 3.91 3.95 1,809,000 7,163,250 AYALA LAND LOG 6.8 6.99 6.99 6.99 6.99 6.99 7,400 51,726 ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.9 0.92 0.88 0.92 0.88 0.91 707,000 640,820 0.6 0.62 0.63 0.63 0.6 0.6 1,113,000 678,690 ATN HLDG A COSCO CAPITAL 5 5.01 5.06 5.06 4.98 5.01 1,677,200 8,398,395 DMCI HLDG 6.23 6.24 6.1 6.25 6.1 6.24 5,679,700 35,192,450 FILINVEST DEV 7.89 7.94 7.95 7.96 7.9 7.9 150,400 1,188,351 GT CAPITAL 569 574 554 574 554 574 73,870 41,955,835 HOUSE OF INV 3.98 4 3.98 3.98 3.98 3.98 10,000 39,800 JG SUMMIT 59.5 60.4 58.2 60.4 58.05 60.4 1,346,880 80,986,304 0.69 0.72 0.74 0.74 0.68 0.72 421,000 293,640 LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG 3.19 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 615,000 1,968,000 10.7 10.78 10.92 11.1 10.62 10.7 15,340,100 166,200,080 LT GROUP 0.51 0.52 0.55 0.55 0.51 0.52 53,000 27,100 MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV 3.64 3.65 3.56 3.65 3.56 3.65 9,422,000 34,152,990 PACIFICA HLDG 3.45 3.52 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3,000 10,500 PRIME MEDIA 2.71 2.73 2.78 2.78 2.59 2.73 238,000 649,710 REPUBLIC GLASS 2.53 2.88 2.88 2.88 2.51 2.87 4,000 11,140 SOLID GROUP 1.17 1.18 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 12,000 14,040 953.5 960 950 960 940.5 960 195,070 186,205,825 SM INVESTMENTS 111.3 111.5 111.8 112.4 111.2 111.5 209,860 23,406,647 SAN MIGUEL CORP 0.73 0.75 0.73 0.73 0.73 0.73 1,000 730 SOC RESOURCES TOP FRONTIER 138 139 139.3 139.3 139.3 139.3 10 1,393 WELLEX INDUS 0.27 0.275 0.26 0.27 0.26 0.265 100,000 26,300 ZEUS HLDG 0.211 0.22 0.205 0.22 0.201 0.22 1,840,000 391,810

133,950 -62,240,860 -8,908,725 -1,432,024 514,800 -21,840 -4,528,813 -9,646,680 -348,396 19,606,765 1,487,418.50 -368,000 -114,861,798 -9,771,550 41,250 -37,069,980 -1,924,987 -

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.63 0.64 0.63 0.64 0.62 0.64 423,000 264,990 ANCHOR LAND 7.31 7.75 7.3 7.77 7.3 7.3 2,200 16,107 AYALA LAND 34.05 34.5 34.3 35 34.05 34.05 7,208,100 248,511,510 ARANETA PROP 1.16 1.17 1.16 1.16 1.16 1.16 60,000 69,600 AREIT RT 36.2 36.25 36.15 36.35 36.15 36.2 204,000 7,387,675 1.39 1.4 1.38 1.4 1.38 1.4 12,000 16,620 BELLE CORP A BROWN 0.89 0.92 0.9 0.93 0.87 0.92 368,000 333,100 CITYLAND DEVT 0.81 0.82 0.81 0.82 0.8 0.81 335,000 271,670 0.133 0.134 0.129 0.135 0.128 0.134 1,660,000 221,090 CROWN EQUITIES CEBU HLDG 6.34 6.69 6.32 6.32 6.32 6.32 5,600 35,392 CEB LANDMASTERS 2.94 3 2.83 3.02 2.83 3 2,143,000 6,316,250 CENTURY PROP 0.46 0.465 0.46 0.465 0.45 0.465 11,230,000 5,126,050 DOUBLEDRAGON 10.8 10.84 10.9 10.9 10.74 10.84 382,100 4,130,992 DDMP RT 1.9 1.91 1.92 1.94 1.9 1.9 24,319,000 46,518,630 DM WENCESLAO 6.98 7 7 7.02 7 7 30,200 211,402 0.28 0.29 0.28 0.29 0.28 0.29 170,000 48,500 EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO 0.395 0.4 0.41 0.42 0.395 0.4 28,870,000 11,755,350 1.13 1.14 1.11 1.14 1.11 1.13 9,722,000 10,950,950 FILINVEST LAND 0.88 0.9 0.88 0.88 0.88 0.88 11,000 9,680 GLOBAL ESTATE 7.14 7.26 7.27 7.27 7.12 7.26 21,400 153,298 8990 HLDG PHIL INFRADEV 1.27 1.29 1.26 1.3 1.26 1.27 49,000 62,070 KEPPEL PROP 3.12 4.15 3.11 3.11 3.11 3.11 6,000 18,660 CITY AND LAND 1.51 1.52 1.46 1.54 1.46 1.52 278,000 418,540 MEGAWORLD 3.01 3.02 2.91 3.05 2.91 3.02 10,645,000 32,020,440 0.345 0.355 0.34 0.355 0.34 0.345 14,470,000 5,062,850 MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES 0.57 0.58 0.55 0.59 0.53 0.58 4,588,000 2,627,830 2.76 2.77 2.61 2.76 2.61 2.76 1,584,000 4,242,610 PRIMEX CORP 15.62 15.7 15.7 16.1 15.62 15.62 4,345,000 68,811,398 ROBINSONS LAND 0.32 0.325 0.315 0.335 0.315 0.325 2,200,000 711,850 PHIL REALTY ROCKWELL 1.52 1.54 1.52 1.52 1.51 1.52 74,000 111,810 STA LUCIA LAND 2.81 2.88 2.88 2.94 2.8 2.88 191,000 543,650 SM PRIME HLDG 34 34.5 33.7 34.7 33.7 34 3,707,500 126,715,440 VISTAMALLS 3.78 3.92 3.76 3.92 3.76 3.92 5,000 19,120 SUNTRUST HOME 1.48 1.52 1.46 1.56 1.46 1.52 157,000 239,500 3.52 3.53 3.5 3.54 3.47 3.53 744,000 2,614,540 VISTA LAND

SERVICES ABS CBN 11.4 11.48 11.3 11.5 11.26 11.48 14,900 170,042 GMA NETWORK 12.32 12.34 11.88 12.36 11.86 12.34 3,143,900 38,050,336 MANILA BULLETIN 0.405 0.415 0.415 0.415 0.415 0.415 10,000 4,150 GLOBE TELECOM 1,914 1,920 1,900 1,940 1,900 1,914 34,635 66,342,255 PLDT 1,281 1,282 1,290 1,290 1,281 1,282 72,680 93,363,815 0.139 0.14 0.136 0.146 0.136 0.139 372,940,000 52,531,780 APOLLO GLOBAL 23.15 23.35 23.55 23.6 23 23.15 4,561,200 106,062,875 CONVERGE 3.91 4 3.9 4.05 3.9 4 242,000 948,740 DFNN INC 7.92 7.93 7.75 8.03 7.75 7.93 5,364,000 42,511,306 DITO CME HLDG 2.1 2.18 2.12 2.18 2.12 2.18 2,000 4,300 JACKSTONES NOW CORP 2.23 2.25 2.21 2.29 2.21 2.25 526,000 1,175,640 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.41 0.42 0.4 0.425 0.4 0.41 5,250,000 2,170,650 PHILWEB 2.25 2.33 2.24 2.37 2.24 2.34 63,000 143,090 2GO GROUP 8.19 8.2 8.18 8.2 8.18 8.2 4,800 39,285 ASIAN TERMINALS 14.36 14.38 14.38 14.38 14.36 14.38 38,000 545,780 2.81 2.89 2.82 2.89 2.81 2.89 226,000 641,530 CHELSEA CEBU AIR 45.6 46 45.65 46.15 45.4 45.6 199,700 9,118,410 157 157.1 156.1 159.8 156.1 157.1 553,740 87,622,381 INTL CONTAINER 17.12 17.6 17 17 17 17 1,500 25,500 LBC EXPRESS MACROASIA 4.7 4.75 4.62 4.8 4.62 4.7 1,830,000 8,596,330 METROALLIANCE A 1.97 1.98 1.95 2 1.95 1.98 155,000 306,650 HARBOR STAR 1.14 1.15 1.19 1.19 1.12 1.14 70,000 80,230 ACESITE HOTEL 2.91 2.95 2.59 2.98 2.59 2.95 5,461,000 15,303,980 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.115 0.116 0.117 0.122 0.115 0.115 330,530,000 38,777,780 2.63 2.79 2.6 2.87 2.56 2.8 64,000 167,660 DISCOVERY WORLD WATERFRONT 0.57 0.58 0.54 0.59 0.54 0.58 2,402,000 1,392,260 0.36 0.365 0.35 0.37 0.35 0.37 230,000 82,950 STI HLDG BERJAYA 5.4 5.5 5.4 5.5 5.4 5.5 8,600 47,170 BLOOMBERRY 5.99 6 6 6.16 6 6 6,435,000 38,952,265 LEISURE AND RES 1.53 1.58 1.55 1.59 1.52 1.58 139,000 214,610 PH RESORTS GRP 1.76 1.78 1.73 1.8 1.73 1.76 394,000 697,410 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.41 0.415 0.415 0.42 0.41 0.41 6,740,000 2,771,500 ALLHOME 7.69 7.7 7.53 7.74 7.5 7.69 1,053,700 8,097,469 METRO RETAIL 1.33 1.34 1.33 1.35 1.32 1.33 607,000 807,710 40 40.05 39.4 40 39.3 40 1,512,100 60,234,255 PUREGOLD 53.05 53.2 52 53.6 52 53.05 98,030 5,202,140 ROBINSONS RTL 94.1 96 97 97 96 96 660 63,520 PHIL SEVEN CORP 1.23 1.24 1.23 1.25 1.23 1.24 518,000 639,070 SSI GROUP 20.4 20.5 20.4 20.8 20.4 20.5 319,600 6,556,920 WILCON DEPOT APC GROUP 0.37 0.38 0.365 0.39 0.36 0.38 1,490,000 569,650 EASYCALL 5.61 5.9 5.85 5.85 5.85 5.85 2,000 11,700 GOLDEN MV 437.8 448 437.8 448 437.8 448 1,210 541,978 IPM HLDG 6.25 6.3 6.25 6.25 6.25 6.25 9,000 56,250 1.41 1.42 1.45 1.46 1.4 1.42 9,396,000 13,437,300 PRMIERE HORIZON 4.25 4.49 4.4 4.49 4.4 4.49 506,000 2,226,860 SBS PHIL CORP

9,300 -49,977,995 142,055 -21,060 19,500 100,900 -1,914,492 11,876,970 441,350 711,420 -8,800 -1,300 1,450 -190,420 71,820 2,115,980 24,576,578.00 8,770 -17,196,950 761,300 25,680,040 -28,734,450 6,760.00 -34,591,695 -299,400 2,838,711 -58,040 -41,950 2,454 522,792 -3,450,545 20,155,195 209,000 -32,910 -985,600 32,450 -13,082,021 -26,780 4,100 7,891,170 -622,790 13,657,665 -1,668,794 -48,970 98,400 -200,845 -447,300 -

MINING & OIL ATOK 7.4 7.42 7.05 7.56 7.02 7.4 32,500 239,774 720 APEX MINING 1.58 1.59 1.57 1.6 1.56 1.58 1,767,000 2,790,400 158,000 ATLAS MINING 5.75 5.79 5.61 5.88 5.6 5.79 2,472,700 14,209,050 -16,732 BENGUET A 4.81 4.9 4.71 4.9 4.71 4.88 107,000 510,820 4.72 5.4 4.7 4.72 4.7 4.72 12,000 56,440 BENGUET B CENTURY PEAK 2.81 2.88 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 4,000 11,600 DIZON MINES 6.32 6.45 6.3 6.45 6.3 6.45 1,300 8,205 FERRONICKEL 2.43 2.44 2.44 2.49 2.42 2.43 2,207,000 5,376,480 -2,433,420 0.295 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.28 0.3 1,900,000 549,500 GEOGRACE LEPANTO A 0.146 0.147 0.145 0.148 0.144 0.146 11,770,000 1,719,700 LEPANTO B 0.153 0.158 0.153 0.154 0.153 0.153 500,000 76,850 MANILA MINING A 0.01 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.01 0.01 151,000,000 1,610,200 MANILA MINING B 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 8,400,000 93,000 MARCVENTURES 1.16 1.19 1.16 1.19 1.15 1.19 103,000 120,200 1.29 1.32 1.26 1.35 1.26 1.33 109,000 142,130 NIHAO NICKEL ASIA 5.6 5.61 5.41 5.63 5.41 5.6 6,999,400 39,086,371 9,958,510 0.38 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 10,000 4,000 OMICO CORP ORNTL PENINSULA 0.88 0.89 0.87 0.89 0.87 0.89 302,000 265,720 -11,570 6.01 6.02 6 6.05 6 6.01 293,200 1,766,363 241,200.00 PX MINING SEMIRARA MINING 16.74 16.76 16.52 16.8 16.52 16.76 1,376,800 23,015,900 9,326,154 UNITED PARAGON 0.0087 0.0088 0.0089 0.0089 0.0087 0.0088 112,000,000 984,800 ACE ENEXOR 17 17.4 16.42 18 16.42 17.4 129,500 2,236,234 -1,720.00 ORNTL PETROL A 0.011 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.011 0.012 12,100,000 139,400 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 1,100,000 13,200 4,800 ORNTL PETROL B 0.011 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.011 0.012 6,500,000 74,500 PHILODRILL PXP ENERGY 7.1 7.24 7.08 7.25 7.08 7.24 70,700 505,927 -45,686

PREFFERED HOUSE PREF B 100.5 101.6 100 100 100 100 20,000 2,000,000 HOUSE PREF A 100.8 101 100.8 100.8 100.8 100.8 5,000 504,000 CEB PREF 45.1 45.5 45.1 45.2 45 45.1 22,600 1,018,545 -193,835 DD PREF 101 101.5 100.9 101.5 100.9 101 5,830 590,825 FGEN PREF G 105.2 105.6 105 105.6 105 105.6 860 90,762 506 516 505 506 505 505.5 11,000 5,556,730 GLO PREF P GTCAP PREF A 993 1,019 995 995 993 993 325 322,955 GTCAP PREF B 1,021 1,045 1,020 1,020 1,020 1,020 2,000 2,040,000 MWIDE PREF 101 101.2 101.2 101.2 101.2 101.2 1,840 186,208 PNX PREF 3B 106 106.4 106.1 106.4 106.1 106.4 40 4,247 PNX PREF 4 1,002 1,007 1,002 1,007 1,002 1,007 1,105 1,107,735 PCOR PREF 2B 1,020 1,024 1,024 1,024 1,024 1,024 40 40,960 PCOR PREF 3A 1,108 1,110 1,110 1,110 1,110 1,110 25 27,750 PCOR PREF 3B 1,155 1,165 1,160 1,160 1,160 1,160 50 58,000 SFI PREF 1.53 2 1.52 1.52 1.52 1.52 4,000 6,080 77.95 78 78.8 78.8 77.95 78 41,970 3,274,533.50 SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2E 76 77.45 77.45 77.45 77.45 77.45 40 3,098 SMC PREF 2H 76 76.9 76.5 76.7 75.8 76 169,330 12,893,339.50 SMC PREF 2I 78.1 79 78.25 78.25 78.25 78.25 14,400 1,126,800 SMC PREF 2J 75.75 76 75.7 76 75.7 76 27,940 2,115,160 SMC PREF 2K 76.5 76.9 76.45 76.9 76.45 76.5 1,750 133,950 -23,025

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 10.66 11.3 11 11.1 11 11 19,300 213,004 -211,904 GMA HLDG PDR 11.1 11.24 11.1 11.1 10.9 11.1 998,200 10,903,180 -10,195,252

WARRANTS LR WARRANT 1.44 1.45 1.52 1.52 1.4 1.44 638,000 933,720 -

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ALTUS PROP 16.76 17.14 17.1 17.16 16.76 17.14 44,300 759,318 113,084 ITALPINAS 2.24 2.28 2.23 2.34 2.23 2.28 94,000 211,930 KEPWEALTH 4.87 5.12 4.84 5.12 4.84 5.12 5,300 25,700 0 MERRYMART 3.62 3.64 3.6 3.73 3.57 3.62 4,402,000 16,105,510 5,600

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

FIRST METRO ETF 99.8 100.2 103.2 103.2 99.3 99.8 28,670 2,879,523 157,170

www.businessmirror.com.ph

SMC power arm continues cleaning portfolio of coal

S

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

MC Global Power Holdings Corp. will convert a proposed 300-megawatt (MW) coal plant in San Carlos, Negros Occidental to a gas-powered facility.

The power arm of conglomerate San Miguel Corp. said it has informed the Department of Energy (DOE) about the plan. The proposed coal plant, it said, would be “changed to LNG” (liquefied natural gas).

Also, a 328-MW coal plant in Davao del Sur would no longer be pursued by the power firm.

These are on top of the four coal power plant projects that SMC Global Power has decided to drop from its growing portfolio.

These are: the 300-MW coal plant expansion in Malita, Davao Oriental, which was supposed to be undertaken by subsidiary San Miguel Consolidated Power Corp.; a 300-MW coal plant in Malabuyoc, Cebu; the 4x355-MW project of SMC Global Power subsidiary Central Luzon Premiere Power Corp.;

and, the 2x355-MW coal power plant project of Lumiere Energy Technologies Inc. (LETI), another unit of SMC Global Power.

The company said it has decided to drop new coal power projects to give way to renewable energy (RE) and gas power projects.

The DOE earlier declared a moratorium on endorsing new coal projects. Coal represents 57 percent of the country’s power generation mix last year, followed

by RE at 21 percent, gas at 19 percent and oil at two percent. In terms of generating capacity, coal accounted for 42 percent, RE at 29 percent, oil at 16 percent and gas at 13 percent.

SMC President Ramon S. Ang earlier said the power firm is moving away from building new coal power

facilities, despite new technologies that make them cleaner.

“It’s a company direction that is in line with all the major sustainability initiatives we have undertaken these past couple of years,” Ang has said.

The direction for SMCGP it to add more renewables into its power portfolio utilizing technologies that will significantly cut its carbon footprint while continuously addressing the country’s need for reliable and affordable power.

“SMC has always maintained a diverse power portfolio utilizing renewables and traditional, but proven technologies. This is to ensure that as we transition to cleaner sources, we will not undermine our commitment to meet the growing demand for affordable and reliable energy,” added Ang. The company has already started its transition to cleaner energy with its ongoing construction of 31 Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facilities all over the country.

The BESS facilities—worth more than $1 billion—will have a total capacity of 1,000-MW and are set for completion this year until 2022.

These, Ang said, represent SMC’s full-scale solution to fix power quality issues in the grid. More signifi-

cantly, the project will allow for the integration of over 3,000-MW of intermittent renewable power sources to the grid.

As such, Ang said SMCGP will put up solar plants in combination with battery storage facilities at 10 locations throughout the country. These will be operational by 2023.

It has also lined up several hydroelectric power plants in Luzon.

Strategic Power Development Corp. (SPDC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SMC Global Power, will build a 300-MW Pumped-Storage Hydropower Project worth P26.3 billion in Malay, Aklan.

The multi-billion peso hydro power project is meant to cover a portion of the renewable energy requirement of the Visayas grid particularly during peak hours. This will also contribute to the stabilization of the grid by providing ancillary services and peaking power.

The power firm said it is also gearing up to build a 1,300-MW LNG combined-cycle plant in Batangas City, “which will provide clean and stable” power to Meralco over the next 20 years, beginning 2024.

The facility will provide power at a very competitive price, cheaper than what modern coal plants in the country currently offer.

All Home Batangas retailer’s milestone A LL Home Corp., the Villar group-led retailer, said last Thursday that it opened its milestone 55th location in Santo Tomas in Batangas, as the company continue its expansion outside of Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Located along Maharlika Highway, the newest store is joined by sister brands “All Day” supermarket, “Coffee Project,” “Bake My Day” and “AllDay RX” to bring the “comprehensive retail for the first-class urban city of Santo Tomas.”

With the opening of this location, All Home’s store network now stands at 55 stores nationwide, with 41 stores in Metro Manila, seven in Luzon, three in Visayas and four in Mindanao, according to the company.

“As the country’s vaccine efforts are now in full swing, we are optimistic, even more so as we see more concrete milestones leading towards containing and hopefully ending the pandemic. As the economy continues to open up, we fully intend to further grow our presence beyond Metro Manila,” company chairman Manuel B. Villar Jr. said. “We are proud to mark the opening of our 55th store, and the continuing mission to bring All Home’s complete,

elevated home-shopping experience to even more Filipinos.”

All Home’s net income grew 27 percent in the three months of the year through March to P344.2 million from last year’s P270.21 million as it increased its margins from sales.

Revenues rose 6 percent to P3.6 billion from last year’s P3.36 billion, the company said.

It said its gross profit, earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization (ebitda) and net income margins were at 31.9 percent, 22.1 percent and 9.6 percent, respectively, which were all higher by over 125 basis points from same period last year.

All Home said it has established itself as “a builder’s haven, providing a reliable resource for contractors, architects, interior designers and homeowners.”

“From building a home, renovating one, or starting a DIY home improvement project, the company offers building and design professionals a comprehensive selection of unique, stylish and competitivelypriced items.”

According to the company, “customers near and around the Santo Tomas area can also enjoy the All Home experience online.” VG Cabuag

mutual funds

July 22, 2021

NAV

One Year Three Year Five Year

per share

Return*

Y-T-D

Return

Stock Funds

ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

208.52

3.68%

-6.12%

-5.63%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.3518

30.43%

-1.85%

-0.3%

2.96%

6.57%

-10.13%

-8.14%

-7.78%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 2.8891 Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.744

7.64%

-5.73% n.a.

-8.23%

-7.45%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7269 9.26%

-4.51% n.a.

-1.98%

First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a

-3.99%

-3.74%

-6.61%

First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,4 0.6814

0.07%

-7.19%

-7.77%

MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

98.31

-2.76% n.a.

-3.56%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

42.6065

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

448.46

Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d,5

1.0342

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.1049

8.3%

-3.51%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

32.1285

6.81%

-3.64%

4.6145

6.93% 22.03% 5.26%

-4.47%

-4.68%

-9.05%

3.6%

-4.34%

-5.02%

-8.29%

17.42% n.a. n.a.

-3.66%

-5.75% -5.42%

-3.51%

-7.6%

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.8318

4.16% n.a. n.a.

-8.89%

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.3708

6.01%

-8.77%

-3.83%

-3.92%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

731.3

5.93%

-3.76%

-4.04%

-8.78%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.6732

8.09%

-7.22%

-6.84%

-6.36%

5.17%

-5.78%

-5.24%

-7.76%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8349 5.44%

-4.12%

-4.19%

-9.02%

United Fund, Inc. -a

-4.12%

-3.17%

-7.47%

-3.56%

-3.52%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.3425 3.071

6.62%

-10.32%

Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c

98.1622

5.91%

-8.73%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

$1.2165

17.97%

5.76%

6.95%

1.13%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.7749

22.19%

10.89%

11.54%

6.1%

-1.53%

Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a

1.643

5%

-0.32%

-2.57%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.1458

3.82%

-1.5%

-2.28%

-6.11%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.5063

3.26%

-0.64%

-1.49%

-4.59%

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,1 0.1872

0.48% n.a. n.a.

NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a

1.8987

2.64%

1.12%

-0.69%

-3.32%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.5595

1.29%

0.15%

-2.05%

-6.03%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

15.9565

2.03%

0.27%

-2.01%

-5.79%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

1.9855

2.82%

-1.16%

-1.67%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.3946 2.98%

-2.06%

-3.01%

-5%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9607

1.01% n.a. n.a.

-6.05%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.8627

1.02% n.a. n.a.

-9.11%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.8467

2.12% n.a. n.a.

-9.26%

3.99%

-4.88%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

0.8444

-2.65%

-3.48%

-5.74%

-5.19%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a

$0.03833

-1.54%

2.92%

1.32%

-2.02%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

$1.1129

9.75%

3.62%

3.92%

-3.24%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.6905 17.11%

8.4%

8.07%

3.94%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,3 $1.2126 8.53%

4.97%

4.43%

0.87%

Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

TCI sees subscribers transferring by Oct

T

ELECOMMUNIC ATIONS Connectivity Inc. (TCI), the joint venture among the three telecommunication companies for mobile number portability, will start its commercial operations on September 30, when subscribers may start transferring from one provider to another.

Melanie Manuel, the general manager of TCI, said her group is “trying hard to meet the September 30 deadline.”

TCI deployed the necessary infrastructure for mobile number portability (MNP) within 22 months through a combined investment program of P120 million.

Telcos, under the Republic Act 11202 or the Mobile Number Portability Act, are now required to allow subscribers to shift from one pro-

vider to another without changing their mobile numbers.

“There might be fortuitous events, barring those events we should be able to implement by September 30,” Manuel said during a press briefing on July 22.

New entrant Dito Telecommunity Corp. believes that the MNP will foster competition in the telco market, as consumers now have more power in choosing their service providers.

“The entire telco industry and the Philippine government are pushing forward with the same goal of providing Filipinos with better telco services. Aside from encouraging healthier competition amongst the players, MNP also grants Filipinos the freedom to switch to their preferred mobile service provider seamlessly and conveniently without hesitations,” he said. Lorenz S. Marasigan

372.42

1.43%

1.9234

-1.12%

0.96%

0.14%

1.22%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2334

1.17%

3.69%

4.29%

0.58%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.2639

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.15%

2.41%

0.36%

-1.76%

2.24%

1.22%

-1.4%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4424 -0.37%

3.29%

1.7%

-0.44%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.4916

-3.54%

4.44%

1.11%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a,6

1.3166

1.09%

4%

2.68%

-0.35%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9815

0.45%

4.49%

1.86%

-0.49%

1.0351

-0.36%

4.71%

1.45%

-0.66%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

-3.09%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.2147

1.09%

5.34%

2.13%

0.27%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

0.22%

4.62%

1.45%

-0.32%

1.7494

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$486.72

2.27%

3.16%

2.17%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є220.17

1.93%

1.06%

0.94%

0.59% 0.45%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.2008

-2.46%

2.52%

1.33%

-6.22%

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0261 - 0.38%

1.85%

0.78%

-1.88% -3.27%

PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

$1.057

-1.9%

0.7%

-0.83%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$2.523

2.01%

5.2%

1.95%

Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0630324 3.7%

3.57%

2.13%

1.15%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.1876 -0.77%

3.38%

0.73%

-1.12%

2.53%

0.42%

First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0537 1.05% n.a. n.a.

0.53%

-0.5%

Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a

130.36 1.3064

1.46% 1.66%

3% 2.82%

2.55%

0.76%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.058

1.14%

1.65% n.a.

0.53%

Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d,7 1.305

29.22% n.a. n.a.

15.53%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -b,d,2

$0.99

4.21% n.a. n.a.

1.02%

Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d,7 1.3189

31.19% n.a. n.a.

16.76%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -b,d,2

$0.99

5.32% n.a. n.a.

1.02%

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

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

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

6 - Re-classified into a Bond Fund starting February 21, 2020 (Formerly a Money Market Fund).

7 - Launch date is July 6, 2020.

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

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

BPI posts highest quarterly income amid drop in loans

By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

T

HE Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) reported a doubledigit growth in its net income in the second quarter of the year, as the bank posted its highest quarterly income since the onset of the health and economic crises.

The bank said its net income in the second quarter of the year hit P6.8 billion, up 28.8 percent, from the same period last year and up 36.3 percent from the first quarter of 2021. Net income for the first half of 2021 was P11.8 billion, up 1.2 percent year-on-year.

Despite the higher net income, the bank’s total revenues for the first six months of the year declined by 6.7 percent to P48.1 billion.

Broken down, net interest income dropped by 6.6 percent to P33.9 billion while non-interest income was down by 7.1 percent to P14.3 billion largely due to lower trading income. Fees & Commissions showed

a growth of 37.2 percent across feebased businesses.

Its total operating expenses for the first semester at P24.1 billion was also up 3 percent. BPI’s cost-toincome ratio stood at 50.1 percent, a 4.75-percentage point increase from the 45.3 percent recorded in the prior year.

The bank’s higher net income came from its lower provisions, which hit P6.5 billion. This was lower by 55.7 percent than the P14.7 billion booked in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, BPI’s non-performing loan ratio was 2.94 percent, with NPL coverage ratio at 120.3 percent.

In line with the industry trend, BPI’s total loans as of June 30 this year was P1.4 trillion, a 4.5-percent drop year-on-year. The bank blamed this on softer demand in corporate, small and medium enterprises and auto loans.

BPI’s total deposits were also down by 4.5 percent year-on-year at P1.7 trillion.

What associations can learn from museums

Y

OU may wonder what associations and museums have in common. For one, both have been adversely affected by the ongoing pandemic in terms of declining budgets and revenues, having postponed or cancelled events, going digital out of necessity, and re-imagining what they will be like in the future. Both, too, have shown remarkable resilience.

Below are excerpts from a recent post from The New York Times entitled, “10 Ways for Museums to Survive and Thrive in a Post-Covid World” by art and culture writercritic Jason Farago. I culled six out of the 10, which I thought provides situational similarities between museums and associations: 1. One mission, many forms. “The post-Covid museum, if it is to have a life at all, has to boil down its purpose to an essence, and then put that mission in motion in a hundred different ways: hi-res and low, permanent and fleeting, academic and popular, all together,” wrote Farago. Similarly, associations need to stick to their purpose of being, align their member services to it, and execute these offerings in various formats to deliver exceptional value and member experience.

2. “Community” is more than a marketing term. Farago said: “During lockdown, one gallery was converted into a food bank, and local citizens showed up. It also hosted a Covid testing and a voter registration site. Want to matter to a local audience? Ask them what they need.” In like manner, it is in the best interest of associations to use “community” as a strategy—to organize their members into communities of practice or interest, let them learn from each other, and listen to their needs.

3. Education is for everyone. “In the post-Covid museum, education cannot be confined to a single department; it’s going to have to be everyone’s job. With cheaper and rougher digital tools—every exhibition should become a Zoom classroom, a podcast lecture, a Twitter thread,” Farago wrote. The same case applies to associations. Providing continuing education will continue to be one of their most relevant value propositions.

Association World Octavio Peralta 4. Join together and co-produce.

“A post-Covid museum could distribute the burden of its largest undertakings and help itself by fashioning more on-going partnerships,” he added. Collaboration is the new currency that associations are using as one of their vital resources to scale up member services.

5. Everything is digital; not everything is hi-res. “First, museums can engage with an audience far beyond their hometowns if the tone and the timing are right. Second, online audiences don’t expect a simulation of a gallery visit on screen. They want a museum experience native to the web,” he wrote. Quite similar, associations have gone digital to serve their members and are poised to further enhance their members’ experience through innovations in their virtual offerings.

6. Reboot, remake, re-contextualize. Farago said: “A nimbler postCovid museum should look both outward and inward, into its own history and out to a new age.” This is absolutely true with associations which are revamping internal processes and acquiring external talents for operational efficiency and service delivery excellence.

So, yes, associations can learn a thing or two from museums that are transforming themselves into the next normal.

The column contributor, Octavio “Bobby” Peralta, is Founder & CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives and concurrently, President of the Asia-Pacific Federation of Association Organizations. The purpose of PCAAE— the “association of associations”—is to advance the association management profession and to make associations well-governed and sustainable.

PCAAE enjoys the support of the Tourism Promotions Board, the Philippine International Convention Center and the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific. E-mail: obp@ adfiap.org

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Friday, July 23, 2021

‘Banks’ accountability for cash agents will protect consumers’

By Butch Fernandez

S

@butchfBM

ENATOR Grace L. Poe reminded banks to “take responsibility” for their cash agents.

Poe conveyed the reminder as she chaired a hearing on July 22 of the Senate committee on banks and financial institutions. The hearing was held jointly with the committees on labor, national defense and reconciliation. The members tackled the proposed “Bangko sa Baryo” and “Philippine Veterans Bank” bills and the proposed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Remittance Protection Act, among other pending bills.

At the outset, Poe asserted that

“holding banks accountable for the actions of their cash agents will provide better protection for consumers, especially those who rely on the ‘padala’ (remittance) of their relatives to help them get by during these trying times.”

She suggested that the central bank’s push for financial inclusion will benefit from the necessary safeguards and encourage more to consider tapping the services of formal channels.

“Many of our countrymen are intimidated to go to banks; that’s why there is this informal economy and underground lenders,” Poe said noting that “even if the terms are not good, they gravitate toward them out of familiarity.”

Poe pointed this out at the hearing called to tackle proposals for a “Bangko sa Baryo” that seeks to serve the banking needs of provincial clients all over the country.

At the same time, the senator took note that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported to the panel there are 17,000 cash agents in the country “now serving 79 percent of the country that suggests 21 percent remain un-served.”

The BSP said that 13 banks have cash agent operations and it is purely up to the banks on how they would choose their cash agents based on their selection criteria. The BSP

S

It is testament to the bank’s policies that it not only stayed strong but grew.”

The bank achieved all-time high total revenue of P50.4 billion in 2020, up 48 percent from its year ago level. Its net profit in 2020, however, was only at P7.4 billion due to its pre-provision operating profits of P30.7 billion during the pandemic year.

The financial magazine also lauded the bank’s partnerships with a foreign financial institution.

“Security Bank took advantage of

added that while it “requires banks to get its approval when getting cash agents, the choice of which cash agents to get and the parameters of their engagement also rest with the banks.”

In turn, the Senate panel is now looking at formalizing accountabilities and making banks take responsibility for their cash agents by spelling out safeguards in the proposed law.

“We must ensure full accountability as we seek to institutionalize the inclusion of cash agents in serving the unbanked,” Poe said.

She added that apart from the remittances to relatives within the Philippines, OFWs will also benefit from such safeguards.

At the same time, the Philippine Statistics Authority estimated the number of OFWs at 2.2 million in 2019 and their remittances amounted to over $33.5 billion.

PHL non-life insurers expected to accelerate digitization

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

T

HE country’s non-life insurance companies are expected to accelerate developing their digital infrastructure and product offerings as the industry continues to adjust to the “new normal” arising from Covid-19 pandemic, according to insurance credit ratings agency AM Best Co. Myles Gould, head of the firm’s analytics for Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand, said insurers are already responding to Insurance Commission’s move to widen the scope of remote selling by insurance companies in the Philippines, regardless of the amount of premium payable on the policy sold.

“It supports the remote selling for a range of products that previ-

ously couldn’t be transacted in this way, including SME [small and medium-scale enterprises], and commercial type products,” Gould said during the first “Virtual Philippine Insurance Summit” on July 22. “So these changes are expected to be here to stay.”

“As a result, we expect insurers to respond and we are seeing this already, to developing both new and refining existing products to fit more neatly with a digital-based sales environment,” Gould said during the last day of the two-day summit on industry updates and discussions on environmental issues, pandemics, innovation and disaster management.

Moreover, Gould said they also expect product innovation and market campaigns via digital mediums to grow.

AM Best also said all these developments are seen to present opportunities for competitive advantage and cost efficiencies.

The increased use of digitalization to support sales and policy administration is also projected to “grow the scope, the reach and efficiency of insurance companies over time,” Gould added. “AM Best views digitalization and innovation, more generally, as a key differentiator and competitive tool for insurance companies in the Philippines over the medium term.”

In March this year, AM Best assigned a “stable” outlook to the Philippines non-life insurance sector.

Apart from increased use of digitalization in retail sales and policy administration, the ratings

agency said the country’s solid growth prospects in the long term supported by an increasing trend in GDP per capita bode well for the non-life insurance industry.

It also viewed positively the rising minimum net worth requirements as it expects it to lead to consolidation and strengthened industry capital position.

On the other hand, AM Best identified the headwinds for the local non-life insurance sector, which includes the country’s significant exposure to natural catastrophe risks, the near-term economic slowdown and operational disruption from Covid-19 pandemic and the “fierce market competition” in the sector, “with soft pricing conditions for fire insurance pressuring underwriting results.”

Business’ path to ‘green’ recovery needs funds–ADB

By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

L

OCAL businesses can lead the green recovery but only with sufficient support to finance their needs especially after the pandemic, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

In an Asian Development Blog, ADB Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department Principal Financial Sector Specialist Arup Kumar Chatterjee said countries should support small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) through green lending programs, including bonds.

Chatterjee said SMEs compose 96 percent of all Asian businesses and provide two out of three private-sector jobs. As a result, they also account for a large share of global resource consumption, pollution, and waste generation.

“For SMEs, access to green financing is akin to the mainspring of a clock that turns the gears and moves the hands,” Chatterjee said. “Resetting the developmental clock by focusing its mainspring on a ‘green recovery’ that builds back

better is the goal. And the rethinking happening amid the current crisis offers the right timing for action.”

Chatterjee said SMEs lack awareness, technical capacity, and financial literacy to tap sustainability-related investments that can lower their costs and enhance competitiveness.

He said this can change if institutions such as state-owned development banks can help them fill the financial gaps in the market for SMEs. They can also support SMEs’ broader green banking environment by offering them low-cost credit lines to finance their green lending programs.

The ADB expert also said institutions can create public-private partnership facilities and seed clean technology funds and refinancing. They can also help unlock capital through liquiditysupport instruments, such as green loan guarantees.

“Such measures can translate into the highest long-term multiplier effect available on economic growth, energy, and resource efficiency,” Chatterjee said. “Green bonds also offer a range of sustainable financing options, includ-

Bank touts award for method of handling ops during crisis

ECURITY Bank Corp. (SBC) has been named the Philippines’ Best Bank by a London-based financial magazine “for the way it handled its operations at the onset of the global health crisis.”

“In the competitive field of Philippine banking, the best response to Covid-19 came not from the biggest banks but a rising star, Security Bank,” a citation said. “From the outset, Security Bank took a stance of protection: of itself, its people, its customers and its community.

B3

its ties with MUFG to build a strategic partnership with Bank of Ayudhya in Thailand, another member of the MUFG extended family,” the magazine said.

“The two will work together on the consumer finance division, with digital a priority. A cash management agreement was also struck with MUFG. Elsewhere in the bank, the wealth management business grew impressively,” it added.

Security Bank President and CEO Sanjiv Vohra said this recognition

affirms the bank’s commitment to customers. “[The year] 2020 was one of the toughest years for multiple sectors, including the banking industry. We thank our clients, partners and employees for their continued trust in Security Bank, which has made this recognition possible,” Vohra said.

“Being named the Philippines’ Best Bank energizes us towards our goal of being the most customer-centric bank in the Philippines,” he added.

Bianca Cuaresma

ing from banks that aggregate SME loans, and securitization of SME loans into asset-backed securities.”

Chatterjee said SMEs can play a significant role in a country’s recovery from the pandemic. He said the pandemic crippled economic activity in the region.

Covid-19 slashed earnings,

remittances, and consumption, and swelled the ranks of the poor in developing countries in Asia by 162 million.

He added that this is measured by the $3.20 a day international poverty line.

“Clearly, SME survival and resilience is essential for a green recovery.”

B4

Friday, July 23, 2021 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

Relationships BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Today’s Horoscope

❷

❶ Have a restful night at a Grand Deluxe King room.

By Eugenia Last

PHOTOS: THE GRAND HYATT MANILA

z

❷ THE splendid

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Daniel Radcliffe, 32; Paul Wesley, 39; Marlon Wayans, 49; Woody Harrelson, 60.

❸ THE Peak is

Happy Birthday: Refuse to let anyone limit what you can do this year. Analyze situations, and find the best way to stabilize your life. Make decisions that help you save and also initiate profits. Look for opportunities to work in conjunction with people who share your beliefs and concerns. Positive change comes when you do what’s best for you. Your numbers are 3, 14, 20, 27, 31, 36, 43.

lobby of The Grand Hyatt Manila.

one of the best restaurants in the BGC today, with options that range from US Prime Angus Beef to fresh Tiger Prawns and Grilled Salmon.

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take a moment to look at every angle of a situation before you make a move. Patience and discipline will help you navigate your way through situations that can determine how your life will unfold. HH

b

❶

❸

Staycationing during a pandemic

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Embrace change, learn all you can and make adjustments that will help you reach your goal. Refuse to let emotions stand between you and what’s correct or best for you. Learn from your mistakes and experience, then proceed. HHHHH

c

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Listen carefully; the information you receive will have underlying concerns that can leave you in a precarious position. Take your time, and make decisions based on facts and figures, not hearsay. Don’t get involved in something because someone close to you does. HHH

d

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Look for a good deal, and you’ll find one. Ask questions, negotiate on your behalf and don’t settle for less than what you want. Change begins with you, so don’t let anyone push you in a direction you don’t want to go. HHH

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Hidden matters will surface. Don’t ignore what’s going on around you, or you will miss an opportunity to excel.

An innovative idea will put you in the spotlight and boost the possibility of working with someone who wants the same results. HHH

THE pool area with a private pool house at the right for your limited social gatherings.

f

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Expand your interests, and you will discover opportunities that will encourage you to follow a path that is new and exciting. Self-improvement projects and taking better care of yourself and your financial concerns are encouraged. Romance will enrich your day. HHHHH

I

LOVE staycations.

Even if it’s just in Metro Manila...even it it’s less than 10 kilometers from my home.

An overnight stay or two in an attractive hotel—with a pleasant staff, comfortable rooms, and delicious cuisine—is a welcome respite from the drudgery of one’s own home surroundings (i.e., I don’t have to cook, I don’t have to clean my room, and the air-conditioning is free). The staycation experience can expectedly be jacked up by a swim in the hotel pool or a 60-hour deep tissue massage with facial.

Until Covid-19 swooped down on us, that is, and took away every bit of fun in our lives. Now staycations can feel quite stiff and a bit distressing, even if one knows hotel managements have gone through a lot of effort to make their properties feel safe and secure, while protecting their guests from the dreaded virus.

At the Grand Hyatt Manila in Bonifacio Global City, I got a taste of what staycations would be like under Covid. My hired car arrived at the entrance, and after the usual preliminary inspections at the entrance, I went through the hotel’s glass doors and came upon the property’s massive, luxurious lobby.

There was something missing though: walking toward the reception area, the place seemed empty and devoid of personality.

It was quiet, and despite having an overnight luggage, no one bothered to help me wheel it. In fact, I noticed that as soon as the car pulled up in the hotel driveway, not one attendant opened the car door, as one would usually expect in a four- or five-star hotel.

But that, I realized later, was probably Covid’s fault. No one was allowed to touch doors of cars, or

g

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Keep your thoughts to yourself and avoid getting into a battle or being criticized. Channel your energy into something that makes you feel good about yourself or a contribution you make. HH

h

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Touch base with people you don’t see often, and you’ll receive valuable information that transforms what you do next. Choosing to follow a path that is out of the ordinary will awake the spirit within and give you something to work toward. HHHH

helped with guests’s luggage anymore, as part of the health and sanitation rules of the hotel, and probably the local government. So checking in was quite a sanitized and depersonalized experience.

Then, antigen tests were still required for staycation guests, and after a very smooth experience thanks to the efficient medical personnel on hand, I was ushered to my room, this time with someone else wheeling my luggage and the hotel’s PR ensuring my arrival at my room was easy as possible.

When everyone had all left, out came my spray bottles of alcohol and liquid disinfectant. I couldn’t help it. I was still not vaccinated and there’s still so little we know about the coronavirus and its growing number of mutations. So I sprayed everything… the bedsheets and under the bed, the bathroom, the dresser area… yes, practically every nook and cranny of the room.

Let that not be a reflection on the hotel. Paranoid me had just taken over. Here it’s good to point out that guests are actually provided amenity kits, which include hand sanitizers and surgical masks.

I took a little tour around the hotel premises

and despite it being a weekend, there was no one swimming at the big blue pool. I did bring my bathing suit, so at the back of my mind, I was thinking of going swimming the next day. There was a small wedding reception in the pool house, with the men and women all sparkly and dressed to the nines, having fun. I assume most of them belonged to just one family as they were not masked up.

After a brief chat with Gottfried Bogensperger, the hotel’s general manager, about the property’s operations in the time of Covid, the best part of my stay was about to begin. Dinner!

The Peak Grill on the 60th floor is probably Grand Hyatt’s most popular restaurant, other than No. 8 China House. But, really, who can resist a tender juicy steak? And at The Peak, they do it very well. I could see why, despite the pandemic, the restaurant was quite full, that my dining companion Joyce and I were given seats at the balcony instead.

The dark exteriors aside, our meal was excellent, with the certified Angus ribeye perfectly marbled and

Continued on B5

i

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Time is on your side. Slow down, enjoy the moment and refrain from participating in events geared toward indulgent behavior. Keep your money in a safe place, and avoid unnecessary expenditures. HHH

j

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Plan something you can enjoy with a friend or lover. An opportunity to discuss your intentions will lead to a long-term plan and positive lifestyle changes. Speak from the heart, and you’ll reach a worthwhile agreement.

HHH

k

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You are heading in the right direction, so don’t start making changes to accommodate someone else. Do your own thing and stand behind your dreams, hopes and wishes. It’s up to you to follow through and make things happen. HHH

l

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A proactive approach will help you maintain leverage when trying to get your way. Rely on experience and knowledge to back your plans and verify the information before passing it along. HHH Birthday Baby: You are proactive, opportunistic and quick-witted.

You are friendly and persuasive.

‘royal majesties’ by mark valdez and brooke husic The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Interject 4 Coarse sound, vocally 8 Walk in water 12 Shape of a Slinky 14 Killer whale 15 Milky gem 16 David Sedaris piece 18 How a strict parent may seem 19 Chooses 20 Place to find queens 23 Pushing Daisies star Pace 24 Spanish bills 25 Possessed 27 Six-pack muscles 30 Name, in Paris 31 Zodiac ram 32 Holds tightly (to) 34 Place to find queens 37 Papa’s partner, say 38 Pond carp 39 Not sharp 40 Place to find queens 43 Video surveillance device 45 Feeling like :-)

46 Toddler in Monsters, Inc. with a scary name 47 Angsty rock subgenre 48 The Princess Diaries star Andrews 49 They’re sold in briquettes 51 Public transport option 52 Place to find Queens 57 The “A” in MFA 59 Damage from a fender bender 60 Six-time Tony winner McDonald 61 Playbill listing 62 Ye ___ Shoppe 63 Breakfast or dinner 64 Sketched or doodled 65 Lost traction 66 Gibbon, e.g.

DOWN 1 Got a perfect score on 2 Prescribed amount 3 The “D” in CD 4 You’ve Got Mail movie genre 5 Zones 6 Villain in The Lion King 7 Jewelry brand specializing in charm bracelets

8 “Yay!” 9 Condiment with latkes 10 Out of style 11 “Do it or ___!”

13 Erie or Huron 17 Like a puppy or kitten 21 Natural ‘dos 22 Drink from a flask 26 Geeky 27 Back in Black band 28 Pretty meh 29 Income source outside of one’s day job 31 “thank u, next” singer Grande, to fans 33 ___ spray (certain decongestant) 34 Morse code character 35 Chowder mollusk 36 Red Sesame Street resident 38 Lock’s partner 41 Twirl 42 Popular swimsuits on Fire Island 43 Skyrocket 44 Czech dance 46 Kicked out 48 One of 12 on a courtroom panel

9 “Kinky Boots” lyricist Lauper 4 50 Layer of gunk 51 The ___ (Shakespeare’s nickname) 53 “I hope this e-mail finds you ___.”

54 Word after “bright” or “bad” 55 Hip-hop subgenre that rhymes with a hip-hop genre 56 New Haven Ivy 58 Stitch Solution to today’s puzzle:

Show BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PODCAST FEATURING EXPERT’S ADVICE ON LOVE, LIFE AND CAREER LAUNCHED

FROM the same team that produced the successful The Howie Severino Podcast comes another original podcast that will dish out tips and advice on love, life and career: Share Ko Lang, hosted by Dr. Anna Cristina Tuazon.

Available weekly beginning July 21, Share Ko Lang is an offshoot of the digital series with the same title previously aired on GMA News’ Facebook page and YouTube channel.

The podcast features stories from various personalities that everyone can relate to, and in the process allows listeners to get to know themselves better.

“You can expect to get to know our celebrity guests at a deeper, more human level,” says Tuazon, who is fondly known as Dr. Anna, about her podcast. “You’ll realize they cry and laugh just like we do, and live and love fiercely like we do.”

A clinical psychologist, Dr. Anna has been a familiar face on air and online. She is often tapped as a resource person in discussing issues like mental health and relationships.

Share Ko Lang aims to keep people feel connected through the various stories that will be shared by known personalities and for their stories to become inspiration for the listener to make his or her life better.

“More than ever, we need authentic stories. We may not always have a chance for physical connection nowadays but in listening about our shared humanity, hopefully people won’t feel so alone in their experience,” Dr. Anna said.

It was in 2020 when GMA News and Public Affairs launched its very own podcast channel to bring Philippine television’s best hard-hitting journalism and documentary storytelling into the podcast space. Earlier episodes included previously aired snippets from various public affairs programs Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, I-Witness, Bawal ang Pasaway kay Mareng Winnie, Brigada, as well as episodes from digital shows Frontliners, Share Ko Lang, Need to Know and Quarantined with Howie Severino.

Earlier this year, GMA News and Public Affairs launched its first original podcast The Howie Severino Podcast hosted

by GMA News’ multi-awarded veteran broadcast journalist Howie Severino.

With fresh episodes uploaded every Thursday, the podcast features Howie having insightful conversations with personalities from various fields and industries. Some of the notable guests previously featured in the said podcast included awardwinning broadcast journalists Jessica Soho and Atom Araullo, comic artist Manix Abrera, and historian Ambeth Ocampo.

Currently The Howie Severino Podcast is among the top 30 podcasts in Spotify Philippines.

Share Ko Lang is set to become the second original podcast produced

by GMA News and Public Affairs. It is available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other streaming platforms beginning July 21, with new episodes streaming weekly.

DR. ANNA CRISTINA TUAZON

STAYCATIONING DURING A PANDEMIC CONTINUED FROM B4 well seasoned, grilled to a medium rare delight. As most of my steak dinners go (even at home), the steak was the star and the creamy mashed potato the backup dancer that helped round out the impeccable act.

Prior to our mains, we had the Maryland crab cake as an appetizer, which came with a celeriac remoulade and parsley aioli.

After a restful night, I woke up close to noon… too bad since I really wanted a swim. But it was on to lunch at The Grand Kitchen, the buffet dining restaurant of the hotel. It’s a serviced buffet so your waitstaff will approach you to get your order after you peruse the menu card. With or without a pandemic, I think serviced buffets should be the norm, as it helps eliminate food waste. In our pre-Covid days, I’ve seen how diners go from one station to another, just piling up stuff on their plates as if there was no tomorrow (aka the Wendy’s salad phenomenon).

The buffet was a decent mixed bag of international dishes, something one would normally expect of a five-star hotel. But the best part of my dining experience at The Grand Kitchen was actually the garlic baguette served at the beginning of the meal. It was crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside tasting deliriously of garlic. Definitely, I couldn’t just have one and asked the waitstaff if I could purchase six pieces on my own account. He wouldn’t hear of it, and after probably checking with his boss, handed me a generous bag of baguettes, with olive oil and balsamic vinegar in tiny covered plastic cups. For joy!

So despite my initial distress and paranoia about leaving home and checking into a hotel, along with having to face all the health and sanitary precautions of being out in public, my stay at The Grand Hyatt turned out to be more than just average. Truly, in times like these, a well-prepared cuisine and thoughtful customer service will always win over any picky guest. ■

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Friday, July 23, 2021

B5

What is thing called vlog?

P

RACTICALLY, everyone knows—meaning, an awesomely significant number of people—what a vlog is. Video log or video blog, a vlog is a form of blog, with video accompanied by music, text and other metadata.

Clusters of them have been “monetized,” which marks them as earning something for the vlogger.

I never took seriously the monetization of vlogs until I came across data about top 10 vloggers in the world. Online is available the lists of top bloggers earning millions already. In one list, the top blogger, named Moz, is reportedly earning $41.3 million per year.

Forbes has an article, titled “Highest-Paid YouTube Stars of 2020.” In this report is identified the topearner—a nine-year old boy who became uberpopular with his video showing him “unboxing” toys from their packages and providing a running review of each of them.

There is no end to how much a vlogger can earn. One does not need to be a global celebrity or a nationally recognized name. For months now, I have been following up on this vlogger named Brenda Madge. He is a TV comedian who does not hide his past and, in fact, capitalizes on the simplicity of that life, which he now complicates through narratives that relentlessly defy logic. In one of his earlier vlogs, he is shown distributing income to his friends who have become his associates and have provided variety to his presentations. The more interesting angle to this is Brenda—if you still do not realize it, he prides in being “brain-damaged”, by alias at least—parlays the opportunity to friends to vlog. He, in other words, have helped his friends by providing them with a unique source of livelihood even in these days of lockdowns and isolations.

While I do not propose “vlogs” to be regulated in the same way that I do not agree porn should be removed online, despite or maybe because of preposterously inane proposal from a Philippine senator, it is imperative to view and be critical of these online images and data. Their presence should alert communications educators given how the technologies of the Internet and its concomitant practice, like vlogging, render irrelevant any traditional and established form of mass media.

My particular interest is viewing vlogs as social artefacts. What kind of vlogs do we produce in this country? Who views them? What are the more popular themes and subject matter that attract vloggers?

Given their preponderance and the money these vlogs earn, they must have audiences to sustain their virtual shelf life. From vlogs which, from a thinking viewer’s perspective, are crude, insane, vulgar introspections on daily life to self-conscious recording of an individual’s evolution as a character and whatever-response to the world around, the vlogging phenomenon is not about indulging us but

enabling other people to indulge in their personal fantasies, self-inflicted phantasms, and financially rewarding psychosis.

Not all is dismal in the world of vlogging. There is the more engrossing travel vlog, which really threatens any dream of a travel writer. Travel vlogs abound online and they are more entertaining than the usual travel writing, which, by tradition, puts the writer/narrator at the center. Rich in images and possessing an immediacy one cannot find in regular travel essays, travel vlogs bring the reader/viewer to the place being experienced by the vlogger. The heavy visualization, a given in travel vlogs, puts the audience on a ship, in the plane up in the sky, or within a rushing train. More visceral than virtual, travel vlogs are here to displace tourist brochures and orientation.

Travel vlogs, however, are not created equal.

Having been preoccupied for several weeks viewing travel vlogs, I am able to create categories delineating the presence of the narrator in this new business.

Their types are: (a) the omnipresent/omniscient narrator; (b) the mediating tour guide; and (c) the assured/assuring facilitator.

The first, the all-knowing kind, is a holdover of the ancient documentaries. Over-annotated, the material here anticipates every move, doubt and query of the “traveler” and robs anyone of the magic of discovery.

Pedantic, this guide does not believe in the evil of sensory overload. He also appears to enjoy himself more than the traveler he is with.

The guide who mediates knows when to stop. He

has data and directions, but he keeps them to the minimum. The bits and pieces of trivia and significant materials are carefully curated. Good editing is his competitive advantage. He respects the unique ability of the traveler to find joy in his own way.

The facilitating kind is almost absent in the vlog. He prefers to embed text instead of voice. The Japanese travel vloggers belong to this category. In tony night trains or supremely hygienic buses, the vlogger allows the place—the tunnels, the mountain views, the sceneries—to speak for themselves.

Fascinated by canal cruises, I have two favorite travel vloggers. They are a couple: Timothy West and Prunella Scales. Stage and film actors both, they are known now for their Great Canal Journeys, which aired from 2014 to 2020 on Channel 4 of the UK. They use canal barge and so-called “narrow boats” to travel the breadth of the man-made canals in the UK and the Netherlands.

Articulate and with genial screen presence, they are never boring. And yet despite what their admirers expect them to do, which is to annotate, West and Scales never attempt to overwhelm the landscape that unfolds in their journey. A strong personal reference crops up every now and then, and this is the onset of Alzheimer’s in the wife. As West, the husband, puts it, however, what memory is needed in enjoying the amazing network of canals and locks and flood gates?

With regard to our country’s vloggers, please do not ask me what themes preoccupy them, and earn them lots of moolah. ■

Britney Spears’ new attorney says father must step aside

BY ANDREW DALTON The Associated Press LOS ANGELES—A judge allowed Britney Spears to hire an attorney of her choosing at a hearing Wednesday in which she broke down in tears after describing the “cruelty” of her conservatorship.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny approved Spears hiring former federal prosecutor Mathew Rosengart, who called on Spears’ father to immediately resign as her conservator.

“The question remains, why is he involved,” Rosengart said outside the courthouse.

Britney Spears, taking part in the hearing by phone, told the judge she approved of Rosengart after several conversations with him. She then asked to address the court, but asked that the courtroom be cleared.

As Rosengart began to argue for a private hearing, Spears interrupted him to say “I can talk with it open.”

“My dad needs to be removed today,” she said, adding that she would like to see him charged with abusing his position.

She spoke so rapidly she was at times difficult for the court reporter and the dozens of media members in the courtroom to understand.

She said she wanted the conservatorship to end immediately but not if it required going through any more “stupid” evaluations. She said she did not want another opportunity for “people to question my intelligence for the millionth time.”

She described being denied things as basic as

coffee, her driver’s license and her “hair vitamins” by the conservatorship.

“If this is not abuse, I don’t know what is,” Spears said. She recalled that “I thought they were trying to kill me” in the early years of the conservatorship as she was being overworked and constantly examined.

She began to sob as she talked about taking comfort in a therapy dog when she felt abandoned by her family.

James Spears would not be stepping down as Rosengart challenged, his attorney Vivan Thoreen said in court, adding that he has only ever had his daughter’s best interests in mind.

Thoreen said Britney Spears had many inaccurate beliefs, among them that “her father is responsible for all the bad things that have happened to her.”

“Whether it’s misinformation, lack of correction, or being wrongly advised, I don’t know,” Thoreen said.

Britney Spears has been under court supervision since February 2008. She was in the midst of a public meltdown at the time and her family sought the conservatorship for her protection. Fans from the #FreeBritney movement outside the courthouse cheered the decision to appoint Rosengart, then cheered Rosengart himself when he walked out.

In court, he called into question whether the conservatorship should ever have been put into place, and said he and a team of attorneys from his firm would be taking a close look at the details of the arrangement.

“This is not working,” Rosengart said. “We know that.”

STAGE and film actors Timothy West and Prunella Scales on their Great Canal Journeys.

B6 Friday, July 23, 2021

Enjoy a safe and convenient household this rainy season with Sharp Philippines

E

NJOY a safe and convenient household this rainy season with Sharp Philippines. We are now in the middle of the year, which means more rainy days are coming. Apart from staying cozy inside your home, now more than ever is the time for you to know about how technology can help you to enjoy a safe and convenient household. So, how can Sharp Philippines make your rainy days much better?

We Filipinos are indeed familiar with the worries that come with the rainy season.

Drying clothes can be challenging, the humidity swiftly changes, and the breakout of mosquitoes after every rainfall. However, there are ways in which we can have better preparation for this season.

The great thing is, Sharp Philippines came up with a range of brilliant and innovative home appliances. Sharp can help you be comfortable within the safety of your home. And with these products, any day of the wet season will just be another worryfree rainy day.

Sharp home appliances will definitely ease your life during the rainy season.

No Holes Tub Fully Automatic Washing Machine

THE rainy season poses a problem in doing your laundry. The answer to this dilemma is to find a fully automatic washing machine that will last you a long time.

Sharp got you covered this rainy season as it offers an amazing range of washing machines, including fully automatic ones.

The brand's ULTRAWash top load washing machine series features an elegant and rust-proof body, waterproof LED display.

It also has a lid damper that helps in slowly closing and avoiding damage to the tempered glass lid.

Moreover, it has ten washing modes: Normal, Spin, Wash, Rinse-Spin, Eco, Jeans, Soft, Baby, Tub. Also, the series comes with a preset timer to set the delay start time from 1 hour to 24 hours and automatically operates according to its selected program and specified time.

This washing machine is also designed to run even with low water pressure. Aside from that, it has an Air Dry Function that lessens the moisture content of the clothes after spin-drying. With its dual filter feature, it can be effective in preventing lint and other particles that can be left on clothes.

The Sharp ULTRAWASH washing machine series is available in five variant variants according to its load capacity: ES-JN065A9 (GY) - 6.0kg ES-JN075A9 (GY) - 7.0kg ES-JN085A9 (GY) - 8.0kg ES-JN095A9 (GY) - 9.0kg ES-JN105A9 (GY) - 10.5kg ES-JX105A9(GY) - 10.5kg (Inverter) This JN ULTRAWASH Series is built with a durable plastic body that protects the inner body so no more fear of rust forming especially if your washing machine is placed outside your home.

Plasmacluster 2-in-1 Air Purifier with Dehumidifier (DW-E16FP-W)

DURING the rainy season, your home will likely be too humid. Having a high humidity environment creates excess moisture that leads to mold or rot. Indoor humidity can

also cause respiratory problems, asthma, and allergy attacks.

Sharp better solution is to use a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier collects and removes excess moisture from the air.

This Sharp air purifier and a humidifier in one also emit 7,000 ions per cubic meter. It can eliminate dust, odor, molds, and viruses with its three-step filtering system: Pre-Filter, Deodorizing Filter, and a true HEPA filter.

The Sharp Plasmacluster 2 in 1 Air Purifier Dehumidifying (DWE16FP-W) is ideal for 24 sqm. room particularly bedrooms, living rooms, and condominiums.

Air Purifier with Mosquito Catcher

IT'S common knowledge that the rainy season is also the breeding season for mosquitoes and many other diseases.

All of us need to take the necessary steps to prevent dengue and malaria for our family's welfare. With this in mind, Sharp released a series of air purifiers, equipped with mosquito catchers.

Sharp Plasmacluster Air Purifier with Mosquito Catcher comes in three variants. The FP-JM30P-B is recommended for 23 sqm., the FPJM40P-B is for 30 sqm. Meanwhile, FPGM50E-B is suitable for 40 sqm. which is also equipped with HAZE mode. It is dangerous for humans due to the mixing of various chemicals like a vehicle or industrial smoke. HAZE mode releases high-density Plasmacluster ions and discharges strong airflow for 60 minutes.

This innovative home device captures mosquitoes with its 5 unique and effective catching mechanisms. It entices the mosquito with its black exterior and UV light inside. It also has an ideal entrance size to attract flying insects plus the powerful airflow that can suck them. Lastly, the glue sheet inside where mosquitoes will stick on it.

Sharp Plasmacluster with, this mosquito catcher has interesting features like built-in dust and odor sensors, on/off Plasmacluster Ion modes, and inverter operation.

You can purchase the products from the official partner stores of Sharp Philippines nationwide. They are also available online through the flagship stores of Sharp in Shopee and Lazada

Sarangani pushes Mt. Busa as national protected area

L

OCAL authorities of Sarangani and conservationists are joining hands in pushing the declaration of Mt. Busa mountain range, home to one of Mindanao’s last verdant primary forests, into a national protected area.

Its declaration as a protected landscape under the country’s Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (E-NIPAS) Act of 2018 would prohibit activities such as poaching or disturbing wildlife, hunting, collecting any wildlife or byproducts, mining, land conversion, slash-and-burn farming, and unauthorized cutting or removal of timber.

E-NIPAS or Republic Act 11038 is a law which aims to ensure the ecological integrity of protected areas and mandates the creation of management boards for declared protected areas.

According to Sarangani Environmental Conservation and Protection Center (ECPC) executive director Cornelio Ramirez, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) central office has started assessing the proposed measure to further conserve the mountain range and its watershed.

He said that their office has already submitted the requirements for the proposed declaration to the DENRRegion 12 and the central office in Manila for processing.

The assessment was facilitated by the Mt. Busa Conservation Task Force, which is supported by the Sulong Kalikasan program of governor Steve Chiongbian Solon.

“Its declaration into a protected area will add more teeth to the protection

efforts and the enforcement of various environmental laws. It will also provide for the allocation of regular funds from local and national governments that will strengthen the implementation of conservation programs for the site,” says Ramirez.

At the House of Representatives, Sarangani Rep. Rogelio Pacquiao has filed House Bill 9055 declaring the mountain range as a protected landscape.

At the grassroots level, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has passed Resolution No. 2020-10-042 declaring Mt. Busa environs as a local conservation area. The municipal boards and barangay councils of Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum have also endorsed a parallel resolution, while community stakeholders have mounted a signature campaign supporting the said request.

The 2,064-meter peak straddles the towns of Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum, and covers a total area of 118,443.15 hectares in Sarangani’s western half.

A DENR key biodiversity and important

bird area, the mountain range is habitat to some 200 plant, 58 bird, 30 amphibian, 24 reptile, 12 mammal, and at least 18 flora and fauna species, and 36 waterfalls. Other threatened wildlife species of conservation concern found in the area are the Philippine eagle, southern rufous, Mindanao flying lizard, Taylor’s dwarf reed snake, Kalaw, tarsier, and frog and orchid species.

It was named by the DENR as a Key Biodiversity Area based on the vulnerability and irreplaceability of species in the area.

Mt. Busa is culturally significant as it is considered a hallowed ground to the Tboli indigenous peoples, and known to the tribe as Bulul Tembob. It is also economically vital as it balances the area’s ecosystem, including the Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape, one of Mindanao’s richest fishing grounds.

The peak also maintains two major river systems—Pangi, site of the whitewater rafting adventure, and Siguel which feeds a hydro power plant for domestic and agricultural use.

BATAAN FETES BELLO. Aside from a warm welcome, Bataenos also awarded Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III a plaque to acknowledge his contribution to the massive employment and provision of livelihood opportunities extended to the province thru various projects and programs of the labor department. The labor chief gladly accepts the plaque personally handed over by Bataan Governor Albert Garcia on July 16, 2021, at the Bunker, in Balanga Provincial Capitol in Balanga, Bataan. ( Photo by Dodong Echavez/ IPS)

CSC, FDCP raise funds for fallen heroes

T

HE Civil Service Commission (CSC), in partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), will hold an online film showing and Zumba session to raise funds for government workers who died in the line of duty. Registration started on 19 July, and ends on 13 August.

The online Zumba session will be held on 1 September 2021 to launch the 121st Philippine Civil Service Anniversary (PCSA), while the film showing will be accessible online thru the FDCP Channel from 1-12 September.

Registration procedures

THESE anniversary events are open to all government workers and their family members who are at least 18 years of age at the time of registration.

Participants must register online through bit.ly/PCSAFilmShowing.

Registration fee is PHP250 per participant.

Participants may pay in cash or check at the CSC National Capital Region (NCR) Field Office where they are clustered, or through online banking. The participant will also be required to register for free at the FDCP Channel via https://fdcpchannel.ph.

Participants will receive a voucher code on 16-20 August 2021 from the Field Office where they registered. The code provides access to join the online Zumba session on 1 September at 8 a.m., and to view FDCPselected Filipino films starting 10 a.m. on 1 September to 12 m.n. of 12 September at the FDCP channel. The activity is also in line with promoting Philippine cinema and pride in being Filipino.

Honoring servant-heroes

PROCEEDS from said anniversary events will go to the CSC’s Pamanang Lingkod Bayani (PLBi) program, a special project which recognizes state employees who died in the line of duty.

CSC honors their hard work and sacrifice through the program’s three (3) components: the Pamanang Parangal sa Lingkod Bayani, a posthumous award/citation in the form of a plaque signed by the CSC Chairperson; the Pamanang Lingkod Bayani Iskolarsyip, a

scholarship program in partnership with the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges offering a discount on tuition fees for three (3) immediate family members; and the Pondong Pamanang Lingkod Bayani, a one-time grant of financial assistance.

As of July 2021, assistance have been provided to 206 PLBi beneficiaries.

The fund has previously been supported by the CSC’s annual R.A.C.E. to Serve Fun Run, a benefit event promoting health and wellness among government workers. The fun run has been postponed since last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021 Civil Service anniversary

THE online Zumba and film showing is facilitated by the CSC NCR as part of the 121st Philippine Civil Service Anniversary in September 2021.

The CSC has introduced a 10-year anniversary theme, Transforming Public Service in the Next Decade: Honing Agile and Future-Ready Servant-Heroes. The anniversary celebration features a line-up of HR events, special treats, and contests for government workers to spur agility and future-readiness in the public sector. Events for the media and the public will also be launched.

For more information about the PCSA events, visit the official webpage, www.csc.gov. ph/pcsa2021, or send an email to roncr@csc. gov.ph or pcsa@csc.gov.ph.

Quarantine satellite office opens at the SM Mall of Asia

THE Bureau of Quarantine‘s first Satellite Office at the SM Mall of Asia facilitates the vaccination of international travelers and the issuance of WHO International Certificate of Vaccination and prophylaxis. Shown during the ribbon cutting ceremony are (from left) DOH Undersecretary Dr. Gerardo Bayugo, DFA Undersecretary Brigido Dulay, Department of National Defense Undersecretary Cesar Yano, Department of Transportation Secretary Raul del Rosario, and SM Supermalls President Steven Tan.

S

M Mall of Asia recently opened the Bureau of Quarantine Vaccination Satellite Office, the first ever satellite office of the Bureau to be able to respond with the changing needs of their valued clients by providing an accessible and convenient area in the mall. With this, the Bureau will be able to implement its mandate through the vaccination of international travelers and issuance of WHO International Certificate of Vaccination and prophylaxis (ICV).

The event also launched simultaneously

the new International Certificate of Vaccination with a unique QR Code wherein other stakeholders (local and international) will be able to verify the authenticity of the said certificate; and the BOQ One Health Pass, a single platform for all arriving international passengers that will automate the Health Declaration Checklist and will streamline the process of all agencies in the management of Returning Filipinos.

The Bureau of Quarantine Satellite Office is located at GSE at the second level of North Park Building.

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

The World

Thailand to join COVAX program, acknowledges low vaccine supply

B

A NGKOK—T he head of Thailand ’s National Vaccine Institute apologized on Wednesday for the country’s slow and inadequate rollout of coronavirus vaccines, promising it will join the UN-backed COVAX program to receive supplies from its pool of donated vaccines next year.

Thailand is battling a punishing coronavirus surge that is pushing new cases and deaths to record highs nearly every day. There is fear that the numbers will get much worse because the government failed to secure significant vaccine supplies in advance of the onslaught.

The spread of the highly contagious Delta variant has exacerbated the situation, as Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s government seeks to buy vaccines to supplement the modest amounts it has on hand of Sinovac and Sinopharm from China and locally produced AstraZeneca.

In addition to failing to buy enough vaccine, Prayuth’s government has come under severe criticism because some studies show the Chinese vaccines are less effective against the Delta variant than those produced by Pfizer and Moderna.

“I apologize to the people that the National Vaccine Institute has not managed to procure a sufficient amount of vaccines appropriate for the situation, although we have tried our best,” vaccine institute director Nakorn Premsri said at a news conference. “The mutations (of the virus) were something that could not be predicted, which have caused a more rapid spread than last year. The vaccine procurement effort did not match the current situation.”

He said Thailand is in the process of joining COVAX, a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines directed

by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and the World Health Organization. Nakorn said he expects Thailand will be able to receive vaccines from COVAX by the first quarter of next year.

Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that did not join COVAX. The government explained in February that since Thailand is categorized as a middle-income country, it would not get free or cheap vaccines from the program. It claimed it would have to pay high prices in advance without knowing which vaccines it would get and when it would get them.

“Buying vaccines directly from the manufacturers is an appropriate choice...as it’s more flexible,” government spokesperson Anucha Buraphachaisri said at the time.

That explanation was later criticized when the government urgently imported Sinovac at a high price even though questions had already arisen about its efficacy.

Thailand planned to administer 100 million inoculations this year and has reserved 105.5 million doses from several companies. Of those, 61 million doses were to be AstraZeneca vaccine produced by Siam Bioscience, a company owned by Thailand’s king, 19.5 million doses from Sinovac, 20 million doses from Pfizer and 5 million doses from Johnson & Johnson.

Last week, however, new doubts were cast on the plan when it was revealed that Siam Bioscience is unlikely to be able to deliver its full share until May 2022 because of production problems.

Supakit Sirilak, chief of the Department of Medical Sciences, said at the same news conference that Thailand is still negotiating with other vaccine makers to secure additional supplies.

“Our target to inoculate 100 million doses this year is still possible,” he said.

Thailand reported 13,002 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, another record high, bringing its total to 439,477 cases.

It has administered around 14.8 million vaccine doses, including 10.7 million doses since June. Around 11.3 million people, or 16 percent of the country’s 69 million population, have received at least one dose. AP

Marina Bay Sands casino closes as Covid spreads in Singapore

T

he Marina Bay Sands casino in Singapore will shut for two weeks after authorities detected a Covid cluster, the latest to emerge after an outbreak at a fishery port that pushed the government to reimpose social restrictions.

Eleven Covid cases have been linked to the casino owned by Las Vegas Sands Corp., prompting the decision to close until August 5 for deep cleaning and to break the spread of the virus, the Health Ministry said on Thursday. Testing will be done on all staff working at the casino, which is part of a larger complex including a hotel, dining and luxury shopping mall.

The Marina Bay Sands casino cluster is a fraction of the 179 new coronavirus cases found on Wednesday. Most of those cases that day came from a fishery port cluster which appears to be at the epicenter of a resurgence in infections found in food markets, karaoke clubs and now one of two casinos in Singapore.

Singapore’s Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said the fishery cluster prompted it to reimpose stricter measures, including a ban on dining-in and limiting social interactions, starting from today.

“Unfortunately, while our fishmongers and stall assistants were going about earning an honest living, they got infected at the Port,” Ong said in a Facebook post. “As they went on to work at various markets around the island, many more cases in the community were seeded.”

Smaller clusters and a smattering of cases have since emerged

across 41 food markets in Singapore. Although authorities are racing to track the fishmongers who visited the fishery port by offering free tests to them, supermarkets and food markets largely remain open.

Singapore’s plan

Heath officials have speculated that the Covid infection from the fishery port cluster may have been introduced by fishing vessels from either Indonesia or other nearby countries. They said the virus variant detected from the cluster is similar to infections found in people coming into Singapore from Indonesia, which has become the new virus epicenter of Asia.

While Singapore’s cases are far less than the thousands of daily cases in Indonesia and Malaysia, the country is closely watched as its government tries to become the first major economy in Asia to transition away from a Covid-zero approach to instead treating the virus as endemic and more fully reopening.

Singapore initially pledged to announce further easing of curbs in the second half of July—when more than 50 percent of the population is fully vaccinated—and again when it hits the two-thirds mark around National Day on August 9.

However, the resurgence in cases, the third such one this year after an outbreak in Changi Airport in May and a food market just outside the central business district in June, has raised the likelihood of a longer delay in reopening Singapore’s borders. Bloomberg News

BusinessMirror

Friday, July 23, 2021

B7

US virus infections nearly triple in 2 weeks amid misinformation

M

ISSION, Kan.—Covid-19 cases nearly tripled in the US over two weeks amid an onslaught of vaccine misinformation that is straining hospitals, exhausting doctors and pushing clergy into the fray.

“Our staff, they are frustrated,” said Chad Neilsen, director of infection prevention at UF Health Jacksonville, a Florida hospital that is canceling elective surgeries and procedures after the number of mostly unvaccinated Covid-19 inpatients at its two campuses jumped to 134, up from a low of 16 in mid-May. “They are tired. They are thinking this is déjà vu all over again, and there is some anger because we know that this is a largely preventable situation, and people are not taking advantage of the vaccine.”

Across the US, the seven-day rolling average for daily new cases rose over the past two weeks to more than 37,000 on Tuesday, up from less than 13,700 on July 6, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Health officials blame the Delta variant and slowing vaccination rates. Just 56.2 percent of Americans have gotten at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In Louisiana, health officials reported 5,388 new Covid-19 cases Wednesday—the third-highest daily count since the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020. Hospitalizations for the disease rose to 844 statewide, up more than 600 since mid-June. New Orleans leaders urged people to resume wearing masks indoors.

Utah reported having 295 people hospitalized due to the virus, the highest number since February. The state has averaged about 622 confirmed cases per day over the last week, about triple the infection rate at its lowest point in early June. Health data shows the surge is almost entirely connected to unvaccinated people.

“It is like seeing the car wreck before it happens,” said Dr. James

Williams, a clinical associate professor of emergency medicine at Texas Tech, who has recently started treating more Covid-19 patients. “None of us want to go through this again.”

He s a i d t h e p at i e nt s a r e younger—many in their 20s, 30s and 40s—and overwhelmingly unvaccinated.

As lead pastor of one of Missouri’s largest churches, Jeremy Johnson has heard the reasons congregants don’t want the Covid-19 vaccine. He wants them to know it’s not only OK to get vaccinated, it’s what the Bible urges.

“I think there is a big influence of fear,” said Johnson, whose Springfield-based church also has a campus in Nixa and another about to open in Republic. “A fear of trusting something apart from scripture, a fear of trusting something apart from a political party they’re more comfortable following. A fear of trusting in science. We hear that: ‘I trust in God, not science.’ But the truth is science and God are not something you have to choose between.”

Now many churches in southwestern Missouri, like Johnson’s Assembly of God-affiliated North Point Church, are hosting vaccination clinics. Meanwhile, about 200 church leaders have signed onto a statement urging Christians to get vaccinated, and on Wednesday announced a followup public service campaign.

Opposition to vaccination is especially strong among white evangelica l Protestants, who make up more than one-third of Missouri’s residents, according to a 2019 report by the Pew Research Center.

“We found that the faith community is very influential, very trusted, and to me that is one of

In this June 13, 2021 file photo, a Silver Dollar City employee takes the temperature of guests before they are allowed to enter the park just west of Branson, Mo. Across the US, the sevenday rolling average for daily new cases in the US rose over the past two weeks on Tuesday, July 21. Nathan Papes/The Springfield News-Leader via AP

the answers as to how you get your vaccination rates up,” said Ken McClure, mayor of Springfield.

The two hospitals in his city are teeming with patients, reaching record and near-record pandemic highs. Steve Edwards, who is the CEO of CoxHealth in Springfield, tweeted that the hospital has brought in 175 traveling nurses and has 46 more scheduled to arrive by Monday.

“Grateful for the help,” wrote Edwards, who previously tweeted that anyone spreading misinformation about the vaccine should “shut up.”

Jacob Burmood, a 40-year-old Kansas City, Missouri, artist, said his mother has been promoting vaccine conspiracy theories even though her husband—Burmood’s stepfather—is hospitalized on a ventilator in Springfield.

“It is really, really sad, and it is really frustrating,” he said.

Burmood recalled how his mother had recently fallen ill and “was trying to tell me that vaccinated people got her sick, and it wasn’t even Covid.

I just shut her down. I said, ‘Mom, I can’t talk to you about conspiracy theories right now.’... You need to go to a hospital. You are going to die.”

His mother, who is in her 70s, has since recovered.

In New York City, workers in city-run hospitals and health clinics will be required to get vaccinated or get tested weekly as officials battle a rise in Covid-19 cases, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday.

De Blasio’s order will not apply to teachers, police officers and other city employees, but it’s part of the city’s intense focus on vaccinations amid an increase in Delta variant infections.

The number of vaccine doses being given out daily in the city has dropped to less than 18,000, down from a peak of more than 100,000 in early April. About 65 percent of all adults are fully vaccinated, compared with about 60 percent of public hospital system staffers, said system leader Dr. Mitchell Katz.

Meanwhile, caseloads have been rising in the city for weeks, and health officials say the variant makes up about 7 in 10 cases they sequence.

“We have got to deal with it aggressively. And in the end, there is also a thing called personal responsibility,” de Blasio said, urging inoculated people to raise the issue with unvaccinated relatives and “get up in their face.”

Back in Louisiana, New Orleans officials issued the new guidance on indoor masks, hoping to avoid the kind of virus-related shutdowns that devastated the city’s tourism economy in 2020. Mayor LaToya Cantrell stopped short of requiring masks. She said the advisory “puts the responsibility on individuals themselves.”

The announcement came as the city’s seven-day average of new cases rose to 117, the highest level since early February. It had fallen as low as eight in mid-June. AP

China blasts dam to divert floods that killed at least 25

B

EIJING—China’s military has blasted a dam to release f loodwaters threatening one of the country’s most heavily populated provinces, as the death toll from the widespread flooding rose to at least 25.

The dam operation was carried out late Tuesday night in the city of Luoyang, just as severe flooding overwhelmed the Henan provincial capital of Zhengzhou, trapping residents in the subway system and stranding them at schools, apartments and offices.

Another seven people were reported missing, provincial officials said at a news conference.

A video posted on Twitter by news site The Paper showed subway passengers standing in chesthigh muddy brown water as torrents raged in the tunnel outside.

Transport and work have been disrupted throughout the province, with rain turning streets into rapidly flowing rivers, washing away cars and rising into people’s homes.

At least 10 trains carrying about 10,000 passengers were halted, including three for more t han 40 hours, accord ing to

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, residents move their belongings across a flooded street in Zhengzhou in central China’s Henan province on July 21. China’s military has blasted a dam to release floodwaters threatening one of its most heavily populated provinces, as the death toll in widespread flooding rose to more than two dozens. Zhu Xiang/Xinhua via AP

Caixin, a business news magazine. Sections of 26 highways were closed due to the rain, the Transport Ministry said on its social-media account.

A blackout shut down ventilators at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, forcing staff to use hand-pumped airbags to help patients breathe, according to the city’s Communist Party committee. It said more than 600 patients were being transferred to other hospitals.

A woman aboard a subway in a flooded tunnel told her husband the water almost reached her neck and passengers had trouble breathing, the Henan Business Daily newspaper reported.

It said staff at a subway station told her husband all passengers had been evacuated but acknowledged that wasn’t so after he started a video chat with his wife on his cellphone showing she still was aboard.

The precise times and locations of the deaths and disappearances

weren’t immediately clear, although the province said more than 100,000 people have been evacuated to safety.

Henan province has many cultural sites and is a major base for industry and agriculture. It is crisscrossed by multiple waterways, many of them linked to the Yellow River, which has a long history of bursting its banks during periods of intensive rainfall.

State media on Wednesday showed waters at waist height, with rain still coming down.

To the north of Zhengzhou, the famed Shaolin Temple, known for its Buddhist monks’ mastery of martial arts, was also badly hit.

China routinely experiences floods during the summer, but the growth of cities and conversion of farmland into subdivisions has worsened the impact of such events.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a letter to China’s President Xi Jinping “to convey his heartfelt condolences on the tragic loss of lives and devastation,” UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Wednesday. AP

Motoring BusinessMirror

Henry Ford Awards Best Motoring Section 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 2011 Hall of Fame

Editor: Tet Andolong

B8 Friday, July 23, 2021

Wheel Gallery rolls out the Method Race Wheels

W

Story by Randy S. Peregrino

HEEL Gallery Inc., the industry expert for offroad wheels and tires, was recently named the official distributor of Method Race Wheels in the Philippines. Likewise, the partnership made the off-road wheels distributor the brand’s first international retailer of MR107 Bead Grip wheel.

The MR107 Bead Grip wheel is the same wheel used on the factory Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux in the Dakar Rally. This wheel is a culmination of Method ’s years of off-road racing experience and technological expertise to withstand the harshest conditions while boasting a load rating of up to 4,000 lbs.

Established in 2002, W heel Gallery has since served the growing aftermarket customization trend in the country. The company introduced Concept One W heels simultaneously, bringing in fresh new styles with a wide selection of fitments. The company was also the first to popularize 20-inch wheels in the country with MKW, TIS, and A mer ic a n R ac i ng. Met hod R ace W heels is the latest addition to its growing line-up. “ W hee l Ga l ler y h a s proven to b e a n aut o m o t i v e a f t e r m a r k e t leader i n t he Ph i l ippi nes, a nd we are e xcited to pa r t ner w it h a wel lk now n a nd est abl i shed bra nd to br i ng ou r i ndu st r y-lead i ng produc t s to m a rket. O u r com m it ment

to c u stomer e x per ience, produc t qu a l it y, a nd persi stent i n novat io n w i l l b e re p re s e nt e d w e l l t h rough ou r new pa r t ner,” sa id Mat t Ha r r i s, Globa l Sa les Di rector for Met hod R ace W hee l s. “ We a l so look for wa rd to v isit i ng t he Ph i l ippi nes soon to e x plore t ra i ls w it h t he of f -road com mu n it y.”

Method Race Wheels design, engineer, and develop high-performance wheels for the most demanding offroad races in the world. Some of the manufacturer’s notable achievements include the Dakar Rally, Baja 1000, and King of the Hammers.

Moreover, the company’s leadership actively participates in off-road racing events while working with some of the best motorsport teams and drivers in the world to push the limits of their products. The application of their race-proven R&D knowledge separates them from all other wheel compa n ies i n t he m a rk et pl ace.

Me t ho d R ace W he e l s’ mot to e m b o d ie s e ac h pro duc t t he y de ve l o p for r ac i n g or e ve r yd ay u se — L i g hte r. St ronge r. Fa ste r.

Tracking the right price

T The MR107 Bead Grip® wheel used in the Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux in the Dakar Rally. Photos by Wheel Gallery/Method As Method Race Wheels designs, develops, and distributes high-performance wheels and accessories for race and street application, these products represent its commitment to quality, driven by high-performance standards. Further, innovation is one of the driving forces behind Method Race W heels®, and customers ca n f ind t heir l atest breakthrough in their recently patented Bead Grip® Technology.

The wheel manufacturer developed this technology from the demands of off-road racing to hold tires securely in place despite requiring lower tire pressure to gain additional traction. Method Race W heels® with Bead Grip® is proven and tested to hold tires securely in place with as little as ten psi without using a mechanical Beadlock ring—a first in automotive wheel engineering. Bead Grip’s reduced weight over a traditional Beadlock wheel allows for less strain on the vehicle drivetrain while simultaneously unleashing more available horsepower to t he d r iver. Bead Gr ip® products by Method R ace

The Method MR305 Bronze Lifestyle.

The Method wheel with Beadgrip technology.

W heels® are a lso safe for on-road veh ic les, a depa r t u re f rom t rad itiona l Bead lock wheels, which are of f-road use only and require reg u lar maintenance.

Currently, W heel Galler y also retails TSW, Breyton W heels, and Black R hino W heels in the Philippines. Evolving with the times, W heel Gallery has catered to the growing off-road market in the Philippines by promoting the Overlanding lifestyle with their wheels and

tires. Wheel Gallery will continue to push the aftermarket wheel industry envelope with more specialized wheel and tire packages and more exciting and vibrant new designs in the years to come.

Method R ace W heels® will be available at Concept One Wheels at 318 Santolan Road, San Juan, and any Authorized Dealers. For more information, customers may visit www.conceptonewheels.ph or @ conceptonewheels.ph.

Suzuki Philippines reveals new and improved Ciaz

S

UZUKI Philippines Incorporated (SPH), the country’s pioneer compact car distributor, announces the launch of an upgraded version of its Ciaz to the market. The New Ciaz offers its patrons the opportunity of an enhanced driver and passenger experience. Staying true to the Ciaz’s theme of “Up Your Game,” Suzuki ups its game by providing numerous improvements to its previous models in all the forms that matter— from its newly designed exterior to its refurbished interior, along with the same reliable driving performance.

Sleek and elegant exterior design The new version of the Suzuki Ciaz creates an instant impression w ith its newly revamped and polished exterior. Some improvements made to the prev ious designs include a new stylish chrome grille as well as a new bumper design show ing off a v ibe sportier than ever. Dazzling LED lamps and newly designed fog lamps w ith chrome accents surround the A ll-New Ciaz as well, adding even more sophistication to its facade.

Plush and refined interior In addition to its superb exterior, the New Ciaz offers just as much inside as it does on the outside.

They say it’s not about the destination, it’s about the ride—and with Suzuki’s new plush interior, it offers a drive like no other.

Elegant fabric seats, a refined instrument panel, and a black interior with silver accents greet the driver once its doors open. Ergonomically designed seats and its roomy cabin ensure that you get to share and enjoy a comfortable experience with others as well.

Additionally, the New Ciaz offers an upgraded infotainment system.

The now eight-inch infotainment system is equipped with a soft touch button and an added compatibility of Apple Car Play and Android Auto functions. Users will get to connect their smartphones via Bluetooth or a USB cable to use their apps through the Ciaz’s intuitive display.

Unparalleled performance The New Suzuki Ciaz goes above and beyond to offer the performance needed for its users to drive to the next level. The Ciaz’s powerful 1.4L petrol engine offers exceptional driving

performance which can help you cruise faster and smoother to your next destination with a maximum output of 91HP at 6,000RPM. Along with the exceptional performance, the New Ciaz comes with an improved safety features as well—which include a reverse camera, dual airbags and lastly, an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with an electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) to ensure that its wheels do not lock under heavy breaking and that both wheels get the right amount of braking force.

The New Suzuki Ciaz is set to join the market in three different colors— Mineral Gray Metallic, Pure White Pearl and Super Black Pearl. To top it all off, the New Ciaz is priced at only P888,000.

Like Suzuki Philippines on Facebook to know more about the New Ciaz. For more information about Suzuki Philippines and its automobile line up, please visit our online showroom at www.suzuki.com.ph.

For more information about Suzuki, visit http:// suzuki.com.ph/auto/, like on https://twitter.com/ SuzukiAutoPH and follow on Instagram at @suzukiautoph.

HE part that struck me most when the Chevrolet Tracker was recently launched was its price of P1,142,888 for the LS model.

That’s a steal. Equally palatable to SUV buffs is the Tracker LT Redline Edition pegged at P1,242,888.

I have always believed that pricing is a key component in attracting buyers. No matter how good your product is but if the pricing isn’t right, goodbye.

Of course, the vehicle’s features are of prime import. Listen to Albert B. Arcilla, the lawyer president and CEO of Chevrolet Philippines-TCCCI: “The Tracker will appeal to Filipino customers who want more from their crossover SUV. It offers fuel efficiency, safety, comfort, convenience, and connectivity all packaged in a practical and capable SUV.” Believe him. A lready, Chev y’s latest model has been named the best-selling utility vehicle in major Latin American markets, including Brazil, Mexico and Argentina, on top of its consistent strong showing in China, one of Chevrolet’s biggest markets worldwide.

Chevy’s romance with the SUV has come a long way, indeed, dating back to its invention in 1935 of the Carryall, the world’s first SUV. All the best, Albert.

Petron promo vaccine

WHEN you own a Petron Loyalty Card and are vaccinated, you can win lucrative prizes by joining the “Panalo Bakunado” promo from July to August 31.

Christine Giray of Gadgets said prizes include five motorcycles, free Petron fuel for a year or a maximum of P60,000, five Samsung S21 smartphones, free Petron Gasul for a year or a maximum of 12 refills for 10 winners, free Petron lubes for a year or a maximum of P5,000 for 10 winners, and free eFuel Card worth P1,000 for 100 winners.

To join, visit the Petron promo microsite at https://bit.ly/3hfp7MP and fill in the following information— (1) Loyalty Card number; (2) first name, middle initial, family name; (3) birthday; (4) mobile number; and, (5) home address. You only need to register once.

Winners will be drawn on September 6, 2021, with the motorcycle victors required to redeem their units within 90 days from receipt of the prize certificate.

The promo is in line with Petron/ San Miguel Corporation’s (SMC) goal of assisting the government’s vaccination mission through the conglomerate’s Ligtas Lahat inoculation program.

Said Ramon S. Ang, the Petron/ SMC President-CEO: "We are banking on the success of the nation’s vaccination efforts to boost the business environment in particular and our economy in general. We are inspired to do more, grow stronger, and contribute further for the betterment of the Filipino people."

PEE STOP Belated birthday greetings (July 21) to both Danny “Sir John” Isla, the former Lexus Manila president now based in Auckland, New Zealand; and, Malaya Sol M. Sadiwa, the smart sis of Ikap and daughter of tekkie Ricky and filmmaker/book author Aya. Coach Dayong, Mayo, Dada, Migel and Shang also send their felicitations to fictionist/poet/columnist Sol Juvida, who is celebrating today (July 23). Cheers!