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H1 DEFICIT HITS P560.4B ON LOCKDOWN IMPACT T www.businessmirror.com.ph

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Thursday, July 23, 2020 Vol. 15 No. 287

P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 18 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

HE national government’s budget deficit for the first half of the year soared to P560.4 billion as the Covid19-induced lockdown caused the drop in state revenues and the hike in government spending.

The six-month budget gap, which nearly matched the entire 2019 budget deficit of P660.2 billion, also represented a 13-fold increase from P42.6 billion as of end-June last year.

This year’s first-semester deficit also fell short by 25.38 percent of the government’s revised program of P751.1 billion.

Government revenues slid by 6.09 percent to P1.453 trillion from P1.548 trillion a year ago, while state expenditures jumped by 26.63 percent to P2.01 trillion from P1.59 trillion in the same period in 2019, latest data from the cash operations report released by the Bureau of the Treasury showed.

For June alone, the government recorded a P1.8-billion budget surplus, reversing the P41.8-billion budget deficit it posted in the same month last year.

“The fiscal surplus was driven by 50.06-percent growth in government receipts as the 2019 income taxes came in and the resumption of some economic activities, outpacing the 26.65-percent expansion in government spending,” the Treasury said in a statement.

The last time that the government had a budget surplus for June was in 2008 when it posted P769 million.

Revenue collection for the month surged to P351 billion from last year’s P233.9 billion.

Tax revenues spiked by 54.56 percent to P325.4 billion from only P210.5 billion in the same month in 2019.

Continued on A2

THE BROADER LOOK » B4-B5

PANDEMIC SHAPES DIRECTION OF DUTERTE ADMINISTRATION’S UNFINISHED BUSINESS

’SINCE $81-M BANK HEIST, LAZARUS BUSY WITH OTHER ATTACKS’

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

T

HE infamous cybercrime group believed to be behind one of the world’s biggest cyber-heists back in 2016 has been on the prowl since.

Kaspersky Security Researcher Seongsu Park, in a webinar on Wednesday, revealed that the BlueNoroff—a unit of Lazarus Group—has been launching cyberattacks in the past few years, noting that it has reached more targets besides banks, and its schemes have evolved as well.

Continued on A2

PEOPLE wait between the neoclassical pillars of the historic Manila Central Post Office Building, home of the Philippine Postal Corporation, the country’s official transmitter of mail, money and goods, at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila. Despite the inconvenience in a time when social distancing is the norm, many people still rely on the snail mail. NONIE REYES

See “Pasa,” A2

‘Prudent’ PHL debt policy draws investors

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HE Department of Finance said investors continue to have strong confidence in the country due to its “prudent” debt policy that enabled it to withstand external shocks like the Covid-19 pandemic.

In an economic bulletin on Wednesday, Finance Undersecretary and Chief Economist Gil S. Beltran said the country’s external debt dropped to 19.67 percent of gross national income (GNI) as of the end of first quarter of the year from 20.98 percent in the same period in 2019.

GNI includes gross domestic product plus net factor income from abroad.

For the same period, the external debt as a percent of Goods and Services and Primary Income also dropped to 54.4 percent this year from 54.8 percent last year because of the decline in public sector debt to $38.3 billion from $40.13 billion.

“The Philippines’ prudent debt policy has enabled the country to strengthen its defenses against external shocks like the Covid-19 pandemic. This is one of the reasons for the strong confidence of investors

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 49.3160

in the Philippine economy,” Beltran said.

As of end-March this year, the country’s external debt reached $81.421 billion, higher than the $80.431 billion a year ago.

Of the $81.421-billion external debt for the first quarter, the bulk came from the private sector at $43.12 billion, while $38.30 billion was from the public sector.

Compared with two decades ago when the country was recovering from the Asian financial crisis, external debt ratios in 2020 were 41.4 percent of the debt-GNI ratio and 51.2 percent of the debt-exports

ratio in 2000, he added.

Citing latest World Bank data, he pointed out that the country’s external debt ratios are also lower in 2018.

“As a percent of GNI, the Philippines’ external debt ratio is only 19.9 percent, compared to the 33.6-percent average for nine Asian economies. The country’s ratio is the third lowest behind China and India,” he said.

In 2018 India and China posted an external debt ratio as a percent of GNI of 19.3 percent and 14.5 percent, respectively. Bernadette D. Nicolas

MANILA Mayor Isko Moreno, together with Manila Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna, grants a certificate of tax credit to the ALC Group of Companies as a token of appreciation after the group lent government three hotels located in Manila for use as quarantine facilities for Covid-19 patients.

Receiving the certificate are ALC Group Chairman D. Edgard A. Cabangon and ALC Realty President D. Edward A. Cabangon. Mayor Isko thanked the ALC Group, owner of a chain of hotels and motels in the metropolis, for being among the first who initiated and responded to the local government’s call for quarantine facilities at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

n JAPAN 0.4619 n UK 62.7694 n HK 6.3628 n CHINA 7.0646 n SINGAPORE 35.6639 n AUSTRALIA 35.1722 n EU 56.8860 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.1538

Source: BSP (July 22, 2020)

News BusinessMirror

A2 Thursday, July 23, 2020

Instant coffee ‘still king’ in PHL amid virus Continued from A12

He said Philippine coffee roasters suffered a 90-percent loss in business in April, although the market recovered a bit in May and June. “I hope we can recover early next year, but it will be a hard time for us to recover that lost market.”

Government has already allowed the reopening of restaurants and cafés at 50 percent dining capacity, although the BusinessMirror has observed there are still very few people getting together in these establishments, possibly due to health concerns.

On the upside, Pacita U. Juan, president and co-chairman of the PCB, pointed out that coffee farmers were back to planting because of Covid-19. “They have nothing to do but plant, which is good for the Philippines, where demand is so much higher than production.”

Data from the Bureau of Plant Industry indicated that 117,454 hectares of farmland are currently planted to coffee, yielding an average of 300 kilograms per hectare.

According to the PCB web site, the Philippines now produces about 30,000 metric tons of coffee a year, in four varieties: Arabica, Liberica (Barako), Excelsa and Robusta. The country, along with Asean neighbors Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Laos, produced some 41.8 million bags of coffee in 2018, accounting for 24.54 percent of the world’s production of coffee, as per data from the International Coffee Organization, of which the Philippines is a member.

Torrejon, meanwhile, predicted that worldwide coffee prices will likely decrease, with Brazil announcing record-high production and Vietnam still having a surplus production. “As we see now, the market trading in New York [is] at the 90s [US$ per pound] level and therefore directing it to go towards south at the $85 [per pound] level. So I’m not very optimistic about green coffee prices, and probably we will see some cutbacks in production from other countries like Colombia and Indonesia. [And with] people going back to farms, this means more production and maybe lower prices in the Philippines,” he underscored.

Other countries such as Singapore and Malaysia have seen a rising trend towards bottled fresh coffee drinks like cold brews, and packaged ready-to-drink coffee, according to its representatives in the webinar.

Torrejon also forecasts the same for the Philippines: “We’re going to see more of that being consumed at home and outside. And it’s readily available in supermarkets, which is the main channel [for F&B retail] nowadays.”

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PCCI prods govt to let firms run full capacity, as closures increase

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By Elijah Felice Rosales

HE country’s largest business network on Wednesday asked the government to allow the full operations of firms nationwide, as micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in rural areas close their shops permanently due to quarantine restrictions.

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President Benedicto V. Yujuico said the only way toward economic recovery right now is to permit the 100-percent operational capacity of business activities. He reported numerous MSMEs in the countryside are now on the brink of ceasing for good after suffering revenue cuts for the duration of the quarantine.

Among PCCI members, more than 50 percent have shut down, and employment is down by 25 percent to 30 percent for those surviving.

PCCI members in tourismreliant Palawan, for one, reported at least 800 hotels and operators have closed down already. On the other hand, the PCCI in Taytay— a town in Rizal where the main industry is garments—said over

Only 4 PHL provinces Covid-free

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ROM 41 provinces in May, the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Wednesday that there are only four remaining provinces with no Covid-19 cases in the country.

Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho, director of the DOH Health Promotion and Communication Service, said that as of July 21, Batanes, Quirino, Aurora and Dinagat Island are still Covid-free.

Ho said that one of the factors for why these provinces still have no recorded infections is that they are “isolated”.

“Bukod sa isolated dahil ang iba sa mga probinsiyang ito ay isla. Ipinagmamalaki po namin ang balitang ito at inaanyayahan na ipagpatuloy ang measure na kanilang nasimulan to make sure that wala silang Covid-19 [Besides being isolated, some of them are islands. We are proud of this fact and encourage them to keep doing what they did to ensure they don’t have infections]," Ho said.

She said the local government units in these provinces are “very active in terms of screening people.”

Meanwhile, as of 4 p.m. of July 22, the DOH recorded 1,594 confirmed cases, bringing the total number of Covid-19 cases to 72,269.

The additional cases were reported based on the total tests done by 78 out of 89 current operational laboratories.

There were 342 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 23,623.

Six deaths were recorded, of which 5 (83 percent) occurred in July and 1 (17 percent) in June. Deaths were from the National Capital Region (2 or 33 percent), Region 6 (2 or 33 percent), Region 7 (1 or 17 percent), and the Bangsa­moro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (1 or 17 percent).

Eighty-nine duplicates were removed from total case count. These numbers undergo constant cleaning and validation. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

8,000 firms have permanently ceased operations, leaving just 1,000 doing business in limited capacity.

“The almost five months of lockdowns have put more firms at greater risks of permanent closure,” Yujuico said in a statement.

“Obviously, we don’t need economists to tell us there could be a faster slide and steeper decline in GDP during the second quarter when economic activity was reduced to a minimum. Extending the lockdown further could already spell disaster for the country,” he added.

Yujuico said this is no longer a matter of public health and economy, as prolonging quarantine restrictions will only result in the deterioration of both.

“Business closures mean a drop in taxes and budgetary income, putting at risk the sustainability of public finance and the ability to fund public services, including health and education,” the PCCI chief argued. “Govern-

ment needs to be more sensible and rational in its decision on the lockdowns.”

For one, he said restaurants cannot just operate on 50-percent dine-in capacity as allowed by the government right now for those based in general community quarantine areas.

In terms of expenses, Yujuico explained that operating half the capacity will not generate enough revenue to pay for rent, utilities and wages. Some firms are also providing for the shuttle vans of their workers, as most public transport has yet to be authorized to ply the roads.

As a proposal, he said the government should emulate what its counterparts in Europe, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam did: reopen the economy while implementing social distancing, conducting widespread testing, hiring a network of contact tracers and only imposing lockdowns on specific communities.

Sotto bill shields employers from Covid-19 claims suits

By Butch Fernandez

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ENATORS are on track to open hearings on a bill filed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III shielding employers from potential lawsuits by workers saying they were afflicted with Covid-19 in the workplace, as soon as Congress reconvenes its regular session next week.

Sotto, however, hastened to clarify that his Senate Bill 1515 is “not an absolute blanket shield from any liability of the employer” as it will not cover acts that constitute the commission of a crime.

To be known as “Employer’s Liability Protection from Covid-19 Act,” Sotto said the remedial legislation was filed to address the need to “boost the reopening of the economy.”

It mirrors a similar concern raised by businessmen in America, but the head of the Labor committee, Sen. Joel Villanueva, had earlier told the BusinessMirror an immunity shield such as that proposed in the US is not needed locally, because there is an occupational safety law in place.

The Senate leader noted that employers and private establishment owners are apparently aware of the risks their returning employees will face in the workplace, as well as their responsibilities to their workers as employers.

In filing Senate Bill 1515, Sotto affirmed the need to protect private establishments

and their owners from lawsuits and claims of their employees who may have contracted the Covid-19 virus in the workplace or in the performance of their work.

He added that small- and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) will “greatly benefit in this law.”

Once enacted into law, the remedial legislation will “prevent the further depletion of their already exhausted resources in defending themselves against labor lawsuits in relation to Covid-19 infection of their workers.”

Sotto said that SB 1515 is in line with the Duterte government’s policy to encourage private enterprises and support businesses, especially during the coronavirus outbreak, and to reinvigorate employment and spending.

As provided in the Sotto bill, no private establishments authorized by the government to operate during Covid-19 outbreak shall be liable for any claims made by employees by reason of getting infected while working. Sotto added that the liability protection shall extend not only to the registered owner or owners but even the officers of the private establishment.

But in order to ensure that the measure is applicable to them, the Senate President reminded employers must “observe relevant laws and mandated community safety protocols” issued by the government on the prevention, spread and management of Covid-19.

‘Since $81-M bank heist, Lazarus busy with other attacks’ Continued from A1

After the news on the $81-million Bangladesh Bank Heist erupted a few years ago, Park said that cyberhacking groups responded differently. Some vanished while others just changed their tactics to avoid detection.

There are also groups which continued with what they were doing. “They just keep doing what they want to do,” he said.

The BlueNoroff was one of

those groups that did not stop.

Park said the Lazarus subgroup has its own malware and a “strong capability to manipulate the system” of banks, financial technology firms and cryptocurrency businesses. It can even temper legitimate transactions, he added.

In the past year, Kaspersky noted that the group was able to cyber-attack several banks in Taiwan, Mexico, Chile, Myanmar, Italy, China and Japan, among others.

Park said the Lazarus unit used ransomware in the Taiwan bank case. “Ransomware is malicious software that infects your computer and displays messages demanding a fee to be paid in order for your system to work again,” Kaspersky defines.

He added that the study by the Russian cybersecurity firm revealed that the same codes were used in the cyberattacks.

BlueNoroff also launched a cyberattack on the automated teller machine of a bank in Chile last year.

According to him, the cyberhacking group was also using sophisticated social engineering. For example, it creates fake websites mimicking a cryptocurrency trading application.

After conducting reverse engineering, Park said that the BlueNoroff has the capability to erase its digital footprints after launching a cyberattack.

Beyond monetary loss

YEO SIANG TIONG, Kaspersky’s general manager in Southeast Asia, said that the cost of the cyberheist has gone beyond monetary loss.

“The $81-million cyber heist also resulted [in] multiple lawsuits, reputation losses, billions of fine, one indictment and arrest, and several top bank officials’ resignations and even terminations,” the cybersecurity firm said in a separate statement.

With this, Tiong advised the banks to always make sure they have a robust security system in place.

He said the banks should be able to protect backup servers because they contain information—such us passwords, logins and authentication tokens—that can be hacked.

“When deploying specialized software for money processing, follow recommendations and best security practices from your software vendor and security professionals,” Tiong added.

He said that employees should also be well-equipped with the knowledge regarding cyber threats as to avoid becoming victims of phishing activities.

According to Kaspersky, there were 40.51 million financial phishing e-mails detected in the first five months across the world.

Majority or nearly 80 per-

cent of consumers in the Southeast Asian region almost got infected with banking malware on their personal computers in the same period.

In the Philippines, 0.02 percent of the population were almost infected with Android banking malware in the January-to-May period.

To recall, Philippine companies including Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. and Bloomberry Resorts Corp. were dragged into the bank heist in 2016, because the money taken by hackers from the Bangladesh Bank’s account in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York was funneled through bogus accounts in RCBC, and then allegedly laundered in Philippine casinos. A US court in New York dismissed the case earlier this year, but the Bangladesh Bank contested the decision.

The Bangladesh Bank then filed a new civil suit against the said firms last month for “conversion/ theft/ misappropriation; aiding and abetting the same; conspiracy to commit the same” and fraud, among others.

As of press time, there are no updates yet on the case.

H1 deficit hits ₧560.4B on lockdown impact Continued from A1

Significantly contributing to the increase in state revenues was the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), which saw a 79.10-percent year-on-year increase in its tax take to P282.7 billion from last year’s P157.8 billion.

For its part, the Bureau of Customs collected P42.6 billion in June, down by 16.97 percent from P51.3 billion in the same month last year.

On the other hand, nontax revenues rose by 9.53 percent to P25.6 billion from P23.3 billion in June last year, as revenues from other offices, including privatization proceeds, went up by 12.64 percent to P14.3 billion in June from last year’s P12.7 billion.

For the month, disbursements also grew 26.65 percent to P349.2 billion from last year’s P275.7 billion, mainly due to subsidies to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and the National Housing Authority.

Of this amount, P321.7 billion was for primary spending, which was net of interest payments.

The government’s economic team projects the country’s budget deficit this year to widen to P1.613 trillion, or 8.4 percent of GDP. They also said earlier they are willing to allow a stimulus package that would not breach their deficit target of as much as 9 percent of GDP this year.

Fund lack could stymie PSA rice stocks survey Continued from A12

Less frequent

BANGSAL disclosed that due to PSA’s “low” budget for 2020 the agency may opt to reduce the frequency of the CSS from monthly to quarterly basis.

Citing PSA, Bangsal added that the agency may also just conduct the CSS at a national level instead of the planned provincial level, again, due to limited funds.

Bangsal also raised concern on how efficiently PSA can conduct the CSS since the rice industry has been deregulated and commercial warehouse owners may not easily cooperate unlike before, when NFA oversaw their licenses.

Bangsal pointed out that the PSA has yet to come up with a methodology for its CSS and a new methodology would mean the new rice stocks data could be incomparable to previous figures.

“Because there are changes in methodology, the new data won’t be comparable in previous stocks data since PSA does not have a methodology on how to do the CSS yet. This will be a challenge for the PSA,” he explained.

Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) National Manager Raul Q. Montemayor said the PSA may also have a hard time finding the right warehouses to survey since commercial warehouses no longer need to get a license to store rice.

“The law removed the licensing requirements for importers.

This means that even if you do not have a license you can import rice. And this could be a challenge for PSA as they will not be easily able to track where the imported rice went and stored,” Montemayor said at the webinar.

Based on the latest memorandum order of the Department of Agriculture, interested rice importers should now submit as an additional requirement the list of their distribution points and warehouses.

Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

The Nation BusinessMirror

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House to implement strict health protocols, screening on Sona

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

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ESPITE the limited number of attendees, the House of Representatives on Wednesday assured that strict health protocols and security guidelines will be implemented during President Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, July 27, 2020, at the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City.

During a media briefing, House Deputy Secretary-General Ramon Ricardo Roque said mandatory swab tests for Covid-19 will be conducted a day before the Sona and rapid tests will be implemented on Sona day itself.

He said all lawmakers, staff, guests and other attendees who will enter the session hall during the opening of the second regular session in the morning and Sona in the afternoon of July 27 shall undergo the Covid-19 testing.

“Senators, House members, guests, technical staff who shall be physically present at the opening in the morning and the Sona in the afternoon shall undergo mandatory RT-PCR, or swab tests...on July 26, Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.,” Roque said.

“Mandatory rapid tests will be on July 27, 6 a.m. to 12 noon for House members and staff. For the Senate, they will have their own collection venue, as well as for Malacañang,” he added.

Roque said anyone who tests positive for Covid-19, whether through swab or rapid test, will not be allowed to enter the plenary hall.

He said persons with temperature reading of 37.5°C, or higher, shall be denied entry and redirected to quarantine tents attended by the House’s medical personnel.

Besides testing, Roque said health screening, sanitation and disinfection, and limiting of personnel and guests will be strictly implemented on Monday.

He added face masks shall be worn at all times, with an added requirement of face shields for those entering the session hall.

“Physical distancing of 2 meters shall be strictly followed.

Floor markings of at least 6 feet apart will be placed at all entrances, elevators, and places with foot traffic,” he said.

Roque said checking of body

temperature, disinfection, and submission of health declaration forms will be conducted at all building entrances.

For his part, House SecretaryGeneral Luis Montales said preparations and coordination for Sona 2020 are under way.

“We are working closely with Malacañang, the Senate and other offices and sometimes we have to wait for the decisions of these offices,” he said.

Like two previous Sonas, the fifth Sona will be directed by Director Joyce Bernal.

Moreover, Montales said, the number of lawmakers from the lower chamber that would attend the opening of session would not exceed 25, while the same number of lawmakers will be attending the Sona in the afternoon.

In total, Montales said they are expecting 127 people inside the plenary during the Sona.

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

Lockdown

MEANWHILE, House sergeantat-arms Ramon Apolinario said the Batasang Pambansa complex will be put on a lockdown starting Friday. “[This will be implemented] as part of security protocols to enable all security forces and other utility personnel to disinfect, clean, and clear all areas, especially the session hall,” he said.

Apolinario also said the Quezon City Police District and fire marshals shall be in charge of security outside the Batasan complex.

Earlier, the lower chamber said no members of the media will be allowed inside the Batasan Complex to physically cover the annual Sona.

But 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.

Montales said the media will also not be allowed to physically cover the opening of the second regular session.

The RTVM assured public that President Duterte’s Sona will be aired live and without edits.

Kapa Ministry founder Apolinario arrested, two dead in Surigao raid

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HE Philippine National Police (PNP) reported on Wednesday the arrest of the leader of KAPA Community Ministry International, who is facing syndicated estafa charges arising from an investment scam.

Joel Apolinario, founder and leader of KAPA, was arrested along with 23 of his bodyguards on Tuesday on an isolated island resort at Sitio Dahican, Barangay Handamayan, Lingig, Surigao del Sur by teams from the Police Regional Office 13 (Caraga).

Apolinario’s arrest was disclosed by no less than PNP chief Gen. Archie

Gamboa, who commended the operating teams from the Caraga police for bagging the fugitive suspect.

“The special directive came from President Rodrigo Duterte,” Gamboa said of the order to get Apolinario.

Gamboa said policemen from Caraga “have been monitoring the whereabouts of the suspect and his armed men since January this year,”

adding the operation is also “pursuant to the PNP’s campaign against loose firearms as Apolinario was reportedly carrying unlicensed highpowered firearms and ammunition for his personal bodyguards.”

PRO 13 Director Brig. Gen. Joselito Esquivel Jr. reported to Gamboa that policemen engaged Apolinario and his men in a firefight during the service of the warrant of arrest.

Two of Apol ina r io’s bodyguards were killed in the firefight while another was reportedly wounded and brought to Bislig City District Hospital.

Esquivel said that numerous high-powered firearms were recovered during the operation, including 30 units of M-16 rifles, two M-4 rifles, a Garand rifle and three caliber 60 machine gun.

The operating teams also recov-

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@jrsanjuan1573

WO retired magistrates of the Supreme Court led the 11th group of petitioners seeking the scrapping of Republic Act 11479, or the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) for being “unconstitutional.”

Retired SC associate justices Antonio Carpio and Conchita Carpio-Morales, who also served as Ombudsman during the Aquino administration, together with members of the University of the Philippines Law faculty and alumni also sought the immediate issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) to enjoin the implementation of the law, which was signed by President Duterte on July 3, 2020 and took effect 15 days after.

The petitioners also sought the conduct of oral arguments to determine the merits of the multiple arguments against the constitutionality of the ATA. The petitioners said the Court should declare the entire ATA, or Sections (3), 3(b), 3(h), 3(i), 3 (k), 3 (m), 4,5 to 12, 16, 25, 26, 27, 29, and 30, 34, 35 and 36, 45, 46, and 49 null and void for being unconstitutional.

They argued that there is an actual controversy ripe for adjudication of the Court because the mere enactment of the ATA poses an “unconstitutional curtailment of civil liberties and invalid intrusion into judicial prerogatives by the other branches of government.”

ered a caliber 50 Sniper rifle, three caliber 22 rifles, a carbine, a shotgun, two RPGs, five .45 caliber pistols and assorted rounds of ammunition.

Early this month, the National Bureau of Investigation filed with the Department of Justice a criminal complaint against Apolinario and other leaders and members of KAPA for eight counts of syndicated estafa and five counts of violation of the securities code.

The charges were the first to be filed against the leaders of the ministry, which the NBI said was engaged in investment scam and violated the Securities Regulation Code.

The NBI complaint said KAPA has swindled people by way solicitation of in the guise of donations with a promise of perpetual monthly interest equivalent to “30 percent return or interest in the guise of ‘blessings.’”

Rene Acosta

Brewing tempest at PMA: Top DND exec Take ‘offensive’ strategies ‘intervened’ in cadet’s Honor Code issue to boost economy, solon

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HE controversy surrounding the case of a cadet of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) has thickened, with students and alumni of the country’s premier military school calling on the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association Inc. (PMAAAI) to do something and “save” the institution.

This developed as a “top defense official” reportedly “intervened” in the case of Cadet 3rd Class (second year) Desemoore Guillermo, who was supposed to have left the academy “voluntarily” for violating the Honor Code, the timehonored and sacred covenant among the cadets of one of Asia’s foremost military schools.

Sources said that the defense official reportedly sent a message to PMA Superintendent Vice Admiral Allan Ferdinand Cusi to “look” into the case of Guillermo, who was supposed to have left the PMA this month after a Board of Senior Officers had recommended for her dismissal as a consequence of the Honor Code violation.

Guillermo reportedly stole five pieces of grapes from the refrigerator of the “First Class Club,” the club exclusively owned by the 1st class cadets, or the graduating class of the PMA, in violation of the code, which says that a cadet “do not steal, cheat and lie or tolerate those among us who do.”

While Guillermo reportedly admitted her guilt and submitted her resignation in preparation for her exit from the PMA, her case reached Cusi which created a board composed of senior officers, which eventually recommended her dismissal.

However, when the decision reached Cusi, the PMA head, reportedly issued an order on July 7 that meted Guillermo only with 51 demerits, 180

hours punishment tours and 180 confinement days inside barracks “effective July 2020,” instead of a dismissal, or resignation.

One of the sources said that the defense official’s order to look into the case of the cadet influenced the decision, since he and other graduates of the academy believed that it was an “implied order” for Cusi to reverse the recommendation.

Reports said that the defense official ’s wife is a friend of Guillermo’s aunt.

Cusi’s decision over the code’s violation raised a howl from the cadet corps and even from alumni of the academy, with one retired general, saying it has shocked “everybody.”

“This greatly demoralized not only the Cadet Corps, but also the PMA Officer Corps, especially the Peemayers for what they considered a grave mistake committed by the Superintendent. This is very sad because this has serious implications to both the cadets and alumni,” the general earlier said.

Graduates of the academy fear that those who have been forced to resign from the PMA for violation of the code will use Cusi’s decision as a precedent in appealing their cases, which the retired general said was snowballing.

The “deplorable” action of Cusi has “caused a lot of grumbling and restiveness among the cadet corps and alumni,” the retired general said as he pushed for the collective call that it be “rectified soonest so as not to set a bad precedent.”

“If not corrected or rectified, it is feared that this would surely open a wide door for more honor violations. It is also grossly unfair and unjust for those former cadets who have resigned/dismissed due to honor violations,” he said. Rene Acosta

Retired SC justice, ex-Ombudsman lead 11th group seeking to void ATA

By Joel R. San Juan

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Thursday, July 23, 2020 A3

The petitioners claimed they are in imminent danger of prosecution due to the enactment of ATC. The petition noted that Carpio was previously linked in the alleged “Oust Duterte Movement,” while petitioners from UP Law conduct classes that require discussions of the history, roots, and motivations of past and present societal movements like the Communist Party of the Philippines and past rebellions, as well as other controversial issues such as the West Philippine Sea and extrajudicial killings which may be misconstrued as “advocacy” or “inciting” terrorism under the ATA. The petitioners said the definition of terrorism under ATA is both “vague and over breadth” that would allow law enforcers to arbitrarily and selectively enforce the law.

Section 4 on the definition of terrorism, according to the petitioners, contains a qualifier that supposedly protects advocacy and protests but is actually rendered meaningless by the succeeding phrase “which are not intended to cause death or serious physical harm to a person, to endanger a person’s life, or to create a serious risk to public safety.”

The ATA, according to the petitioners would promote an “arrest now, explain later” mentality.

“The vagueness of the provisions vests law enforcers with unbridled discretion to interpret the law and result in arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement as the wording of the law could be used for any hypothetical

scenario,” the petition read.

“The lack of standards in the wording of the ATA enables malicious criminal prosecution of innocent right-holders. Unsuspecting citizens would second-guess their actions, chilling them into silence,” it added.

The petitioners added that the ATA illegally allows an executive body, the AntiTerrorism Council (ATC) to encroach on a judge’s exclusive prerogative to issue arrest warrants.

The petition also assails the overbroad discretionary powers to wiretap private communication based on mere suspicion and in violation of the right against unreasonable searches and seizures, as well as the grant of unbridled discretion to the ATC to impose security classifications on all its records.

“In its fight against terrorism, the government must not be the source of terror and impunity itself. We must never let reason continue to escape us,” Morales said.

Retired Justice Carpio added: “The Constitution declares that the right of the people ‘to be secure in their persons xxx against unreasonable xxx seizures of whatever nature and for any purpose’ shall be ‘inviolable.’ To guarantee this, the Constitution erected two fortresses: the first fortress is that only a judge can issue warrants of arrests; the second fortress is that warrants of arrest must be issued only upon probable cause. What has the ATA done? The ATA has demolished both and reinstated the

ASSOs [Arrest, Search and Seizure Order] of the martial law era. Section 29 of the ATA begins with the tell-tale heading Detention Without Judicial Warrant of Arrest.”

Carpio and Morales are joined by Constitutional Law professors from the University of the Philippines, College of Law: Associate Dean and Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea Director Jay L. Batongbacal, Institute for the Administration of Justice Director Dante B. Gatmaytan, former Supreme Court Public Information Office chief Theodore Te, and Senior Professorial Lecturers Victoria V. Loanzon and Anthony Charlemagne C. Yu in the petition.

Other co-petitioners include former Magdalo Party-list Representative and Security Analyst Francisco Ashley L. Acedillo and incumbent UP Student Council councilor Tierone James M. Santos.

They were represented by UP Professors Luisito Liban, John Molo and Gwen de Vera and assisted by lawyer Darwin Angeles.

Liban is a former senior partner of Sycip Salazar Hernandez and Gatmaitan, who previously argued the constitutional challenge against the Reproductive Health Law. De Vera, for his part, has appeared in several Supreme Court cases and is a former Dean of the Manuel L. Quezon School of Law. Molo has argued several landmark cases before the Supreme Court, including Belgica v. Ochoa which declared the pork barrel unconstitutional.

tells national government

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OUSE Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Salceda on Wednesday urged the national government to take “offensive” strategies to boost economic confidence in the country amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The lawmaker-economist from Albay released a 34-point manifesto on how to help President Duterte defeat Covid-19 and rescue the economy in preparation for the 5th State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday.

According to Salceda, the government should be on the attack and not just the defensive position when it comes to economic opportunities.

“We must now be equally focused on economic revitalization,” said Salceda, adding that offensive actions mean creating and attracting new industries and investments, new jobs and opportunities, new streams of revenue, and new approaches to boosting market confidence.

“These times call for courage. We cannot defeat this virus, nor the slump it has created in the economy, by hiding. We have done what was necessary to keep this pandemic from growing exponentially. Despite the limits of our own means, epidemiological models suggest we may have prevented as much as 3.5 million infections by taking the necessary lockdown measures.

Now, it is time to fight the economic downturn,” Salceda said.

He also warned that taking a purely defensive position to this virus and its economic impacts may not be the best approach to benefit the economy.

“We cannot defeat the economic recession by trying to stop change. It will happen,” he said.

Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Fr. Suganob, Marawi siege survivor, dies

CATHOLIC priest Fr. Teresito “Chito” Suganob SCREENGRAB FROM PTV

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ATHOLIC priest Teresito “Chito” Suganob, who miraculously survived the Marawi siege while being held captive by Maute Group terrorists in 2017, passed away on Wednesday.

In a news statement, Marawi Bishop Edwin de la Peña said the 59-year-old priest died in his home in South Cotabato while he was asleep due to cardiac arrest.

“The doctor estimated his death between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. Please include him in your prayers,” de la Peña said. De la Peña said they will announce the funeral arrangements for Suganob as soon as it becomes available.

Suganob, who served as the vicar general of Marawi prelature, was among the hostages taken by the Maute Group from the Cathedral of St. Mary during the Marawi siege on May 23, 2017.

In September on the same year, he was eventually rescued by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. During his captivity, Suganob was said to have been forcibly converted into Islam.

However, leaders from the Church and Islam have dismissed the said conversion since it was done under duress. Samuel P. Medenilla

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Rachel Maddow, Mary Trump make formidable TV combination MSNBC host Rachel Maddow

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EW YORK—Not only can President Donald J. Trump’s niece Mary sell books, she can draw a crowd on television.

Her one-hour interview with Rachel Maddow on Thursday reached 5.2 million people, the biggest audience ever for one of Maddow’s shows and largest ever for a regularlyscheduled show on MSNBC, the Nielsen company said.

That’s not bad for July, when television audiences are generally the smallest of the year.

Mary Trump’s book Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man approached 1 million units sold on preorders alone.

First-week sales figures are due later this week.

Mary Trump also drew a crowd to CNN on Friday, where she was interviewed by Chris Cuomo

during the 8 and 9 pm Eastern hours, though not to the level as Maddow’s audience. Cuomo’s first-hour audience of 2.19 million was up 28 percent from the year’s average, while the second hour’s 2.66 million was up 39 percent, Nielsen said.

CBS won the week in prime time, averaging 3.2 million viewers. NBC had 3 million, ABC had 2.8 million, Univision had 1.4 million, Fox had 1.3 million, ION Television reached 1.1 million and Telemundo had 820,000.

Fox News Channel led the cable networks with an average of 2.94 million viewers in prime time. MSNBC was second with 2.03 million, CNN had 1.59 million, HGTV had 1.29 million and TLC had 1.26 million.

ABC’s World News Tonight led the evening news networks with an average of 8.9 million viewers. NBC’s Nightly News had 7.6 million and the CBS Evening News had 5.2 million. AP

By Eugenia Last

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CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Daniel Radcliffe, 31; Paul Wesley, 38; Marlon Wayans, 48; Woody Harrelson, 59.

Happy Birthday: A steady pace forward will get you where you want to go this year. It’s OK to do things differently, use your imagination and create something new and exciting. Trust in your ability to get things done and your persuasiveness to solicit the help you need to launch your plans this year. A positive change is heading your way. Your numbers are 5, 17, 21, 24, 33, 39, 46.

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Stay focused on what you want to achieve. Don’t waste time and energy on negative situations, arguments or people who are too demanding. Consider what you want to accomplish, and follow a direct path to your designated destination. Romance will ease stress. HHH

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take a moment to mull over what’s happening around you.

The changes others make will present an opportunity or a challenge, depending on how you handle the situation. Don’t act in haste or on hearsay.

Verify information and proceed. HHHHH

c

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Take a step back, think matters through thoroughly and regroup.

An emotional situation will be easy to handle if you are practical, intelligent and have something to offer that persuades others to support your efforts. HH

Celebs narrate for TFC’s ‘Bahay Book Club’ Season 2 THE storytelling continues as TFC launches the second season of Bahay Book Club, which are narrated both in Filipino and English languages by some loud and proud global Filipinos: Catriona Gray, Pia Wurtzbach, Apl.de.ap, Jaime Kailani, Bobby Rubio, and Ali Ewoldt which can be seen on TFC’s various platforms. Bahay Book Club is a collection of stories that are five to 10 minutes long each, written by Filipino authors which aims to introduce the rich Filipino culture to the younger Filipino generations and the non-Filipinos around the world.

Kicking off the second season was the story The Sea Creature and the Legend of the Pearl, which was narrated by Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray. It is a story about the sea creature Hiyas and how a mother inspired her to create what we know now as pearls.

Among the six stories is the Legend of the Rainbow, which will be narrated by Mama Earth Organization founder and children’s book author Jamie Kailani.

This tells us the story of how a king’s effort to make his daughter smile brought into the world the colorful rainbow.

Broadway star Ali reads the story Lola’s Hands.

In this touching story, a young girl remembers

Today’s Horoscope

her lola (grandmother) while she prepares her lola’s signature family dish.

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach is also among the storytellers and she will read the story of Maria Makiling. It is a story about the nymph named Maria, who teaches two men a lesson after one of them ignored her request despite the generosity she showed them.

Bobby Rubio, the writer and director of Pixar’s Float, will lend his voice this time in narrating the story The Centaur and the Elves, which is about a boy who gets lost while on his way home, meets a centaur and an elf along the way, and is puzzled as he finds himself repeatedly circling the same mango tree.

Filipino-American rapper Apl.de.ap shifts from being a The Voice Teens Season 2 judge to a narrator of the story The Epic of Ibalon, which follows the quest of LamAng in finding his missing father and he is joined by two magical creatures, a rooster and a dog.

Bahay Book Club can be seen via TFC on cable and satellite. It can also be seen via TFC IPTV, and on TFC Online (www.TFC.tv) exclusive for Premium subscribers. More information is available at www. facebook.com/KapamilyaTFC.

CCP outreach reunites youth choir for virtual music camp, performances THE Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Outreach Program under the Cultural Exchange Department, in partnership with the Andrea O. Veneracion Sing Philippines Foundation Inc. and the MADz Music Studio, reunites the 36 tour group members of the Sing Philippines Youth Choir (SPYC) from 19 provinces all over the country for a virtual music camp and performances this whole month of July 2020.

The monthlong virtual music camp will include sessions on Breath as the Powerhouse of the Voice, Vocal Production and Placement, Articulation and Diction, Interpretation and how to apply dynamics to produce nuances and McClosky Vocal Technique and Therapy.

Leading the pool of trainers is Philippine Madrigal Singers’ Choirmaster Mark Anthony Carpio together with virtuosos and MADz alumni Bianca Camille Lopez Aguila, Katrina Marie Saga, Nil’s Flores, and Tomas Virtucio.

The virtual version of the music camp and performances came about due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting community quarantine and need for social distancing. With the new normal set-up, the project team faces a number of challenges due to the inability to have face-to-face sessions. But the choristers from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and the National Capital Region are excited to reunite and continue advancing their choral skills, make music together utilizing a new platform and, more important, find comfort, peace, joy, and fulfillment from doing the project through this most difficult time.

To culminate the virtual camp is a special online performance of selected songs including the previous concerts of the SPYC at the CCP Main Theater and a premier of an originally composed SPYC theme song. The original camp schedule was from March 9 to 13 in General Santos City, followed by a Europe tour and competition supposedly this August. The SPYC 4th batch music camp was also supposed to happen in CCP this October.

More information is available through ccp.ced2014@ gmail.com or info@madzmusicstudios.com.

d

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Listen to your inner voice, and you will know precisely how to handle a delicate matter. You may not fancy a change, but today you will benefit if you make a move.

Trust your intuition, and take a leap of faith. HHHH

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Set your sights on what you want, but don’t go overboard trying to achieve the impossible. Do your research, and you’ll discover the ins and outs that will help you implement the success you are looking for at a price you can afford. HHH

f

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Refuse to let an emotional matter come between you and common sense. An effective change can make your life better and your troubles diminish. Do what’s best for you, and you will feel good about what you’ve accomplished. HHH

g

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Keep your thoughts to yourself, and go about your business. Focus more on personal growth, achievements and health, not what others are doing. Don’t let the implications or changes others make disrupt your plans or your life. HHH

h

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Discuss your options with someone who has experience, and the information offered will help you make a decision that will influence your future and where and how you live. Apply your skills and knowledge to something that excites you. HHHH

i

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Don’t get hung up on detail. Take a step back, consider what’s most important to you and do what you feel will bring the return or response you want. Don’t let anyone mess with your personal life or emotions. HH

j

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Do what makes you feel comfortable. Altering your living space to fit your lifestyle will ease stress. An investment will pay off if your decision to invest was for practical reasons. HHHHH

k

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Keep busy.

Self-improvements will keep you from laboring over emotional issues you cannot change.

You can’t buy love or respect. Primping, pampering and spending quality time with someone you love are favored. HHH

l

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Consider what you enjoy doing most, and try to work it into your daily routine. A little comfort, kindness or relaxation will go a long way toward easing stress. A creative project will lead to unexpected opportunities.

HHH Birthday Baby: You are alert, loving and possessive.

You are outgoing and popular.

‘batter up!’ by agnes davison and zhouqin burnikel The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Strike callers 5 Berry in some beauty products 9 Star Wars creator George 14 Hammer target 15 Knocks loudly 16 Pass into law 17 It’s often set in the evening 20 Pesto ingredient 21 Tuna steak choice 22 Hearty meal 23 Knight wear?

28 Nutrition label stat 30 Brew with a rhyming name 31 Showtime sister station 34 Be of use 37 Disappointing fireworks 38 2001: A Space Odyssey computer 39 Mouth piece?

42 Check for accuracy 43 Large 53-Down product 45 Puccini opera set in Rome 46 Places where lives are saved, briefly 47 Dubai resident 50 Braying beast 52 Minivan, often

5 Eye drop?

5 58 Title for Anthony Hopkins 59 Jif competitor 62 At bat, or what’s associated with 17-, 23-, 39- and 52-Across?

66 Chinese or Korean 67 Additionally 68 Amanda of Brockmire 69 Makes less sharp 70 Driver’s supports?

71 They may be pierced DOWN 1 Action-reversing computer command 2 Posts, as a postcard 3 Button associated with a social media board 4 Small slice 5 2012 Oscar-winning political thriller 6 Native for whom a tropical sea was named 7 Olympian Ohno 8 Equal: Prefix 9 Deadly 10 Yet to be broadcast 11 Airport vehicle

2 Common injury spot for NBA players 1 13 Joan of Arc, e.g., for short 18 Certain first-time parent 19 Poet Angelou 24 GPA disaster 25 Shade of purple 26 More mature, perhaps 27 Takes it easy 29 NYC’s Fifth, e.g.

31 Sticky-fingered one 32 ___ Mia! 33 Assert 35 Playful prank 36 “How was ___ know?”

40 Record label for Alicia Keys 41 Island with many statues 44 Champagne first created for Alexander II 48 1986 sci-fi movie starring Sigourney Weaver 49 Model Banks 51 Mexican shawl 53 Cupertino-based tech giant 54 Witherspoon of Little Fires Everywhere 56 Sleep lab concern

57 IndyCar champion Danica Patrick, e.g.

60 Southwest art colony 61 Tennis court fixtures 62 Knee protector 63 Baton Rouge sch.

64 Feel less than 100 percent 65 Butter portion Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

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Parentlife BusinessMirror

Thursday, July 23, 2020

What to do with your stuff the kids don’t want

By Liz Weston NerdWallet

Parenting tips for online learning

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S schools turn to cyberspace to make remote teaching possible, parents are suddenly forced to embrace distance learning and assume added responsibilities with their child’s schooling. Here are five things parents need to know to prepare themselves as they weave family life into their child’s home learning with online safety in mind: 1. COMMUNICATE. In the most recent survey conducted by multinational cyber-security specialist and antivirus provider Kaspersky, it was revealed that the majority of parents (58 percent) have spent less than 30 minutes talking to their children about online safety throughout their kids’ childhood.

As parents of today’s digital kids, you can do more.

Laying down clear-cut rules and discussing these with your child from the get-go is a good start. Have a heart-to-heart talk with your kid/s to explain the family guidelines on behaving online and engaging in online activities such as signing up on web sites, making online purchases, downloading music or video files, or joining chat or messaging rooms.

Some activities pose security risks if children are not made aware of possible dangerous outcomes— confidential login details or financial data used in online shopping may be used fraudulently. Children may also unknowingly download materials from torrent sites which may come with free malware that

can wreak havoc on one’s device.

2. SURF TOGETHER. One of the key findings in Kaspersky’s survey showed that 50 percent of parents manually check their children’s devices to look through browsing history after use. Parents may think that doing so is alright, but children may feel otherwise. Building mutual trust is possible when parents spend time online with their children, particularly during online learning sessions. This is important as parents teach their kids how to explore the Internet safely, and how to use this platform for studying online and socializing with friends, classmates and teachers.

It’s also advisable to keep devices out in the open, placed in communal spaces around the house to help parents stay on top of any potential issues. Doing so also prompts children to self-check because of an adult’s presence within the space.

3. LIMIT ONLINE TIME. The Web is so named because it’s like a web. Or a maze, and anyone can get lost in it.

Kids can get distracted from schoolwork, or they can have extended screen time past their school hours at home. They can become endlessly glued on to their devices if they are unmonitored.

Set boundaries by scheduling their time on their screen and going offline. One good way is to set off the alarm to alert you and your child. Kaspersky’s survey results show that a quarter (26 percent) of children experienced being addicted to the Internet. This has often led to kids clamming up emotionally and socially, displaying irritability or signs of depression when not online. Other children even sacrifice sleep to spend an extra hour online. Setting boundaries will help keep your child from spending too much time playing games or watching videos rather than studying. Besides needing boundaries, kids thrive better with a good balance of activities to enjoy a healthy childhood despite this pandemic situation.

4. DEBRIEF DAILY. Oftentimes, search results for study purposes don’t exactly lead to the kind of

information one is looking for. A child might make an innocent search for a school topic but may find mature content intended for adults.

Children seeing harmful content online (27 percent) is the top online threat that families have reported experiencing, based on a Kaspersky survey released in Q4 of 2019. Among the dangerous things that kids encounter on social media are sexting and cyberbullying. In a previous international survey from Global Kids Online, a third of children in the Philippines have been reported to having seen sexual images throughout 2018. Spending a few minutes with your child before bed each day, talking about their good and bad encounters, including their online activities, will help normalize the conversation.

5. EDUCATE YOURSELF. Kaspersky suggests for parents to catch up with the cyber world and to plan their conversations with their children ahead of time.

There are also advanced solutions, like Kaspersky Total Security 2020 which is loaded with the Safe Kids feature to help parents protect their kids when online.

Parents will appreciate the security solution’s adult-site blocker, screen-time manager, app-use controls and social-network tracker (because kids now have their own Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts!). With the GPS child-locator in Kaspersky Total Security 2020, parents can even check their kid’s location and find out if the child steps beyond the safe area specified.

“In one of the surveys in the past where children were asked globally, 75 percent of the kids said they’d feel safer if they could speak with their parents about online dangers. Again, we start by educating ourselves and choosing the correct tools to help us and kids each to stay safe online,” said Yeo Siang Tiong, general manager for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky.

The single-user license of Kaspersky Total Security 2020 retails for P1,390. It is now available in all major IT stores nationwide.

Learn more at www.kaspersky.com. n

Refueling families creative tank during the quarantine period STAYING at home the past few months has pushed some to either go back to a hobby they let go of, or find out where their skills secretly lie. From making banana bread from scratch to redesigning spaces to accommodate work from home routines, the quarantine has brought out inner creators and designers in families, as a way of coping and maintaining a certain level of mental health. While others have picked these creative hobbies up fairly quickly, some may still be looking for inspiration or simply a clue on where and how to start.

That eureka moment can come from anywhere—a song, an Instagram story, or even a reality show. If you’re still wondering how to keep busy in order to ease your mind while staying at home, here’s a list of four ideas where you can find inspiration to get going: n PRACTICE YOUR SKILLS IN THE KITCHEN. The quarantine period might have led you to uncharted territory that is the kitchen and forced you to become best friends with your frying pan. If the first couple of dishes you tried cooking have left

you feeling defeated, it might be time to take a crack at it once again, and Top Chef: Junior can be the inspiration for you. Featuring culinary masters of the future, from ages nine to 14, the show’s two seasons may give you the kick you need, because if these kids can do it, maybe you can, too.

For the bakers who have perfected cinnamon rolls and cookies one too many times, the mouthwatering challenges on Top Chef: Just Desserts can take your craft to the next level. n REDESIGN YOUR OLD CLOTHES. Retail therapy is a tried-and-tested way to deal with stress, but with the quarantine ongoing, it hasn’t been readily available for everyone. Consider redesigning or rethinking how to use your current wardrobe as a form of coping and take inspiration from The Rachel Zoe Project, It’s a Brad, Brad World, or Hollywood Style Wars. These stylist-centered series feature what goes on behind the scenes of creating top-red carpet and event looks. That extra oomph—in the form of a reworked vintage piece from your parents’ closet, or added sparkles to an overused

jacket—will make you feel like you’re wearing something new every time you step out for essential errands. n DESIGN YOUR AT-HOME WORKSPACE. With the quarantine forcing many to merge home and office, the lines between the two have suddenly blurred for the past few months. It’s important still to stay productive while keeping a good balance between work and home life, and one way to maintain this is to dedicate a space just for accomplishing tasks related to your job. Watch Top Design or Best Room Wins to get ideas on how to rearrange your space to create a working environment perfect for you to stay productive at home.

There are many ways families can keep their creative juices flowing in so many different ways, one of the easiest being all these reality competition shows and more that they can binge on through hayu (www.hayu.com), the first allreality subscription streaming service of its kind.

Those who sign up now will get a free three-month trial.

PARENTS who are downsizing or simply decluttering may have to get creative at finding homes for all their unwanted possessions—particularly these days.

The generations that came after the baby boom are famously less interested than their predecessors in the trappings of domestic life, says Elizabeth Stewart, author of No Thanks Mom: The Top Ten Objects Your Kids Do NOT Want (and What To Do With Them).

Gen Xers and millennials often don’t want to polish silver or hand-wash china, Stewart says. They’re also typically not interested in dark, heavy furniture, books, photo albums, vintage linens or someone else’s collections.

It’s hard enough for parents to realize that their adult kids don’t want their stuff. The next challenge is figuring out what to do with it all. n THE PANDEMIC IS AFFECTING VALUES. Some of what parents own may have real value, but finding buyers right now can be a challenge, says estate appraiser Julie Hall, author of Inheriting Clutter: How to Calm the Chaos Your Parents Leave Behind.

“During these times where people are concerned and worried, they’re not going to be opening their wallets quite as much as they would have,” Hall says.

Even before the pandemic and recession, many items that people thought were valuable really weren’t, Stewart says.

Steamer trunks, antique sewing machines, Persian rugs, old books and silver-plated objects are among the items that may seem rare and costly but typically aren’t, she says. n AN EXPERT OPINION COULD HELP. Personal property appraisers can help people determine what might be worth selling. But not everyone feels comfortable having strangers in their homes right now. Most appraisers need to see and touch objects to determine values, although some, including Hall, will work virtually to appraise common items such as vintage lamps, old cameras, costume jewelry and figurines.

“People just wanted to email me a few photos and needed a quick answer whether it was valuable or not so they could just get rid of it and not feel bad about it,” she says. People can use auction sites such as eBay to estimate values, but they should check the most recent “sold” listings, Hall says. n FINDING HOMES FOR EVERYTHING ELSE. Owners of sterling silver flatware, china and crystal may be able to sell individual pieces to Replacements Ltd., a tableware retailer that makes purchases through an online process, Stewart says. The value of books often can be established with an Internet search or by visiting Biblio.com, a marketplace for rare, out-of-print and collectible books.

If you’re comfortable with people coming to your home or garage, you can list items for sale on Craigslist or neighborhood apps such as Nextdoor. Those are good sites to list items you want to give away, too, and many communities have Freecycle groups to help you find homes for unwanted items.

Charities accept a wide variety of household items, including clothing and furniture, and some will pick up donations. Charities are often selective about what they’ll accept, and many were inundated when pandemic lockdowns lifted. It’s best to call or check the local organization’s website to see what is and isn’t being accepted.

Stewart encourages her clients to look for potential recipients more locally, as well. Domestic violence shelters, refugee services and housing authorities may need clothes, furniture and household goods to help people establish new homes, she says. School or community theater groups might want vintage clothes for costumes. Youth clubs might accept furniture, game tables or musical instruments for their recreation rooms.

Stewart also suggests inquiring if friends, neighbors and extended family members could use an item, particularly those with sentimental or emotional attachments.

“It’s much more palatable for people to give to someone they know than to give to a faceless organization,” Stewart says. “You don’t wake up at 3 in the morning and say, ‘Should I have really given that thing away?’” AP

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INTERNATIONAL ICT AWARDS PHILS. 2020:

Transcending excellence in the ‘new normal’

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By Tony M. Maghirang

HROUGH the years, the International ICT Awards (IICTA) has been widely recognized as the “leading and most prestigious private-sector awards event for identifying and recognizing the most outstanding companies in the Philippines that provide information and communications technology services.”

Founded in 2007, the awards-giving event has earned a reputation of setting the gold standard with its objective and rigorous judging, as all criteria and procedures for judging are published in advance. According to organizers, its adjudication process is executed by a completely independent panel of judges, with members recognized as top professionals in industries and the academe, as well as those from the Philippine government—all of whom are engaged in ICT in their line of work.

Organizers describe the competition for its coveted awards as fierce, with the announcement of results eagerly awaited each year.

Against the backdrop of the current health crisis, this year’s finalists and winners of the 14th IICTA will be announced on August 3 as a gala show on prime-time TV via ANC, and as a virtual event streamed on Facebook. It will also be displayed on the giant LED screen at the Edsa-Ortigas Avenue intersection, then uploaded later on YouTube. As its first virtual presentation, the IICTA will demonstrate the execution and delivery of progressive recognition events under the new normal.

Citations for the IICTA are now only bestowed for specific categories.

There are at least three eligible nominees to ensure competitive adjudication. Seven category awards will be handed out this year for the best companies in health services, software development and information technology (IT), contact center and business-process outsourcing or BPO and global in-house center. It will also recognize the Best Company of the Year Outside the National Capital Region (NCR), Best Foreign-Owned Company of the Year and Most In-

novative Company of the Year. The highlight will be the announcement of top enterprises vying for two premier awards: Best Employer of the Year and Best Company of the Year.

Companies which are awarded in the same category for three consecutive years are inducted into the IICTA Hall of Fame. To date, these include Accenture Inc. for Best Company of the Year, Affinity Express Philippines Inc. for Best Company of the Year-Animation and Games Development, Convergys Philippines Services for Best Company of the Year and Best Employer of the Year, Lexmark Cebu for Most Innovative Company of the Year, and Pointwest Technologies for Best Filipino-Owned Company of the Year.

The IICTA is organized and produced by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (CanCham), with Globe Business and PLDT Enterprise as title sponsors.

The event is now funded entirely by private-sector sponsorships, with no fees for nominations and viewing. Payne clarified that neither CanCham nor any sponsors are involved in, or influence, the independent judging.

Broadening the scope

IN an exclusive interview with ENVOYS&EXPATS, CanCham President and CEO Julian Payne explained that, as the country’s IT-BPM (business-process management) industry has grown spectacularly over the past decade, the concept for the IICTA had

CANADIAN Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines President and CEO Julian Payne CANCHAM

evolved and broadened.

“The IICTA was launched to promote the nascent industry, and to demonstrate to the public its potential by recognizing and publicizing excellence,” Payne explained. “[It] was started in 2007 by Richard Mills, CanCham’s former vice president. The IT-BPM industry was then just developing in the Philippines.

At the start, it was almost entirely focused on voice and nonvoice contact centers.”

The CanCham executive recalled two key developments that subsequently influenced the evolution of the IICTA: “First, the IT-BPM sector became very well-known, so the objective of publicizing the industry became superfluous. But the value of identifying and recognizing excellence continued, as provision of ICT services became more competitive with excellence and innovation being critical for international competitiveness.

“Second, the use of ICT expanded exponentially across all business and industrial sectors, ranging from banking and creatives, to education, health and retailing, [among others],” he shared. “Indeed, the potential for provision of ICT services by companies in the Philippines to international users is most likely beyond what we now imagine.”

The chamber’s president added, “The award categories for established IT-BPM companies remain as the core of the event. In recent years, however, CanCham—as the organizer of the IICTA, [and] in consultation with the title sponsors—has expanded the scope of the categories to include other ICT services. We intend to continue this expansion.”

Payne also pointed out that the focus of the event is on companies located in the Philippines that provide ICT offerings to international markets. “We are promoting excellence to support the export of ICT services to international markets.

They include Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan and Korea, as well as the huge United States market.”

The CanCham chief added the IICTA not only generates profits for

RECENT winners of the IICTA CANCHAM

companies, but also significant levels of well-paying local employment and tax revenue for the benefit of the country.

He cautioned, however, that ICT services provided by companies in the Philippines must continue to be internationally competitive. That includes quality as well as cost-effectiveness of their locations, support services, industry incentives and ease-of-doing business procedures, such as those currently available with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza).

“The Philippines has to recognize that the level of international competition is increasing,” Payne opined.

“It must take necessary measures to match up with the main players or yet, be better than them.”

Regarding the IICTA, CanCham’s top executive clarified that “it is called such, as the ‘international’ aspect is ingrained in it. That is, companies that provide services exclusively within the Philippines are not eligible. There has to be an international component of the ICT services provided.”

“In short,” he emphasized, “nominees must be engaged in some minimal level of international business to be eligible for the various awards.”

Challenges, past and future

PAYNE admitted that the limited number of nominees being submitted by smaller and new companies had been somewhat of a “disappointment.”

“One of the things we need to do better is to make sure we facilitate nominations being submitted by small and new start-up companies [where] creativity and innovation is ‘born unseen’—not just the large and ‘repeating’ ones,” he explained.

“We need to encourage nominations from outside the NCR, and [those] from Filipino-owned companies.

These were addressed by adding new categories with eligibility criteria designed for such companies. While we have made some progress, in some cases, we have not yet received the required minimum of three nominations for such categories to allow

necessary competition.”

With a level playing field for smaller companies established, another challenge that arose was the need to make requirements for supporting documentation user-friendly: “One impediment we noted early on was that some nominees would send voluminous, sophisticated documents.

Those were wonderful, and obviously cost a lot to prepare. We realized that the system of allowing such paper documents actually worked against small companies.

“Around 2014, we decided to do away with paper submissions.

This is an ICT-based awards event, and we should use the potential of technology. So, we changed the process to require mandatory use of online submissions using our IICTA web site [www.ictawards.org. ph], with limited fields for essential information related specifically to the judging criteria for each award category, with no more elaborate paper submissions,” Payne elaborated.

“Since then, all nominations had to be submitted using the forms available on the web site. Any company with a computer and Internet connection can now easily prepare and submit a nomination.”

A third hurdle was gaining acknowledgment from the wider business community beyond the IT-BPM industry, as well as with other chambers of commerce. “We are pleased that this annual event is now gaining wider recognition with support sponsorships by business associations such as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, as well as others.”In 2019, for the first time, the IICTA also received an official endorsement of support from the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Peza, and the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines, which was again accorded to the awards-giving body this year.

“We greatly value these sponsorships by business associations and

the endorsements, because they indicate [that the IICTA now] has a very broad base of support and credibility in the local business community,” Payne acknowledged.

A more recent challenge has to do with the increasing public demand that private-sector companies ensure their activities are sustainable in economic, environmental, social and commercial terms. In response, the IICTA introduced in 2020 a sustainability element in the judging criteria.

Payne notes that this year's theme, “Transcending Excellence,” triggered them to reflect this demand and incorporate sustainability in the awards: “This year, we added a criterion in every category determining a nominee’s action supportive of sustainable development, as a manifestation of its performance beyond and surpassing standard commercial factors in running an excellent enterprise.”

Private-sector funded

CANCHAM’S CEO was quick to point out that the IICTA is purely an initiative of, and is fully funded, by the private sector. It never, and does not, receive any financial or in-kind support from the Philippine or any foreign government, nor is any payment required to submit a nomination.

Up until this year, financial support was through private-sector sponsors, led by title sponsors Globe Business and PLDT Enterprise. Tickets to the gala dinner event also generated revenue until this year.

“Cognizant that potential sponsors are facing difficult times with reduced businesses due to the pandemic, we particularly appreciate their continued support this year,” the CanCham president revealed.

While it was difficult to raise funds in these times, Payne is adamant in limiting support to those from the private sector: “It means we have to be responsive on how [they view] the event, and that it can be entirely free from government influence in establishing categories and judging the nominations.”

China connects to PHL via BRI, digital ‘Silk Road’

By Recto L. Mercene @rectomercene

A

MBASSADOR of the People’s Republic of China Huang Xilian has confirmed that in the first five months of this year, contracts amounting to $3.11 billion, or about P155.5 billion, were signed for Chinese projects in the Philippines.

According to the envoy, the number of projects were “up 29.5 percent year-on-year. The completed turnover was at $970 million [around P48.5 billion, or an increase of 13.2 percent from last year].”

Citing Chinese statistics, Huang said bilateral trade reached $19.37 billion in the first five months of this year, as his country remains the largest trading partner of the Philippines.

“China's [foreign] direct investments in the Philippines [in the same period last year was at] $18.25 million, up 82.5 percent year-on-year,” he stated.

In a statement, Huang noted the communist country has strengthened coordination between the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Philippines’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program, under a joint memorandum of understanding.

"It was through this project that China has coordi-

nated epidemic prevention and control, resumed work and production, and promoted the construction of key cooperation projects in the Philippines," he said, then added, "This has helped stabilize the local economy, ensuring employment and improving people's livelihood in the country.”

PHL ‘priority’ in the pandemic

THE ambassador reiterated a previous commitment that when a coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine is developed and put into use, “China will give priority by providing it to the Philippines as a global public good.”

Marking the 2020 as the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the Philippines, Huang said this year also witnessed “the profound friendship between our two countries in our common battle against the pandemic that has swept the world.”

In the fight against the contagion, he said both nations have forged closer partnership through antiCovid-19 cooperation, setting a good example for international cooperation.

At present, both countries are making every effort to accelerate the resumption of work and help the

public resume their normal state of lives.

Huang said since the outbreak, the Philippines has provided valuable support to China, as the latter is also working through various channels to fully support this country’s resistance to the virus, “including the timely dispatch of experienced medical experts to the Philippines and [provision of medical materials...]”

Since the pandemic started, the Chinese diplomat averred that his government has provided the Philippines with “252,000 testing reagents, 130 ventilators, 1.87 million medical masks, protective suits, goggles and other epidemic-prevention materials.”

A large number of Chinese local-government enterprises and civil groups, he revealed, had donated “tens of millions sets of [personal protective equipment] and other medical supplies to different local governments and hospitals in the Philippines.”

“As the most serious global crisis since the WWII, the pandemic has had a far-reaching impact on the economic development of countries, including China and the Philippines, from both ends of demand and supply, with people traveling restricted, [as well as] global production and supply chains disrupted,” Huang commented.

He said China was able to curb the spread of virus

rapidly and took the lead in driving to the resumption of business and production.

BRI and ‘Build, Build, Build’

THE ambassador claimed that against the backdrop of Covid-19’s spread, “China, the Philippines and other BRI partners have accelerated their cooperation in the field of public health, and are committed to building a ‘Health Silk Road.’ [including] a community of common health for mankind.”

The BRI is an ambitious project connecting Asia with Africa and Europe via land and maritime networks along six corridors, with the aim of improving regional integration, increasing trade and stimulating economic growth. Some 138 countries—the Philippines included—and 30 international organizations have joined the BRI. “China [considers] the BRI as the most important platform to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with the Philippines and other countries along [its] route,” was his claim.

At the same time, Huang said China is continuing to synergize the BRI with the Philippines’s “Build, Build, Build,” while steadily carrying out major cooperation projects in infrastructure construction, fur-

ther consolidating and upgrading China-Philippines relations. The infrastructure projects include ports, railways, highways, power stations, aviation and telecommunications.

The envoy added there will be more Chinesefinanced projects in the country to buoy up the local economic recovery and improvement of people's livelihood. Huang asserted there has been steady progress made in Chinese-assisted key projects, such as the two bridges over the Pasig River in Manila and the Philippine National Railways South Long Haul Project.

Meanwhile, the Philippines’s third telecommunication carrier, Dito Telecommunity Corp., where Chinese companies have participated in, “has now come to the stage of full construction,” as work and production have been proceeding smoothly.

The ambassador promised there will be more Chinese cooperative projects in the Philippines in the future.

Silk Road e-commerce

ACCORDING to the Chinese diplomat, China and the Philippines have been negotiating on the establishment of a “fast track” for two-way essential travel and a “green channel” for the smooth flow of goods to

ensure the stability of the industrial and supply chains.

“Thanks to the joint efforts of [our governments], the BRI has given full play in terms of creating vitality and opportunities to bilateral economic and trade exchanges,” Huang said.

He added that during the pandemic, new industries and business modes have emerged, creating new lifestyles such as working-from-home, telecommuting and e-commerce, among others.

Companies from the two countries have made active use of the “Silk Road e-commerce” platform to give full play to the advantages of cross-border e-commerce, and are “working hard” to address challenges brought by the pandemic to cross-border trade and investments, Huang said.

Even as epidemic prevention and control worldwide has become the new norm, Huang said China “will actively explore with the Philippines [in strengthening e-commerce cooperation, 5G, big data, artificial intelligence and cloud computing.”

“By building a ‘Digital Silk Road’ and a ‘Green Silk Road,’ we [promote not only] the economic recovery on the basis of transformation and upgrading, but also achieve a high-quality sustainable development, benefiting our two peoples,” he concluded.

Sports BusinessMirror

Editor: Jun Lomibao

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph / Thursday, July 23, 2020 A9

CAN FROOME WIN THE TOUR? D

OUBTS about Chris Froome’s ability to win this year’s Tour de France emerged from within Team Ineos with technical director Carsten Jeppesen saying “a lot has happened” since he last won the Tour.

Froome hopes to join Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Jacques Anquetil and Miguel Indurain as five-time champion, but Jeppesen cited his age of 35 and his serious crash last year as complications.

After finishing second behind

Geraint Thomas at the 2018 Tour, following his Giro d’Italia victory, Froome suffered careerthreatening injuries last June and was forced to watch from home as a 22-year-old Egan Bernal claimed the yellow jersey.

Claiming he is back to full fitness, Froome will ride alongside Bernal and Thomas at this year’s Tour but will leave the team at the end of the season to move to Israel Start-Up Nation.

“There is no doubt that he has put a lot of work into it. As always, Chris has been a fantastic athlete and incredibly dedicated. I do not believe that there’s anyone who has trained as hard during this coronavirus crisis as he has,” Jeppesen told Danish broadcaster TV2.

“But I’m not 100 percent sure that he will get so ready that he is where he needs to be to be able to win. A lot has happened since Froome won last,” Jeppesen said. “We have won the

Tour with both Geraint and Egan, and Froome has grown older and has been subjected to a very, very serious crash last year.”

Jeppesen worked with the team since its inception in 2010 and currently holds the official title of Head of Technical Operations and Commercial, tasked with managing the equipment the riders use, along with sponsor relations.

While Jeppesen’s comments will reignite the debate over the internal hierarchy at Team Ineos, there are still doubts if the team will take Froome to the Tour at all. Despite his impending transfer, Jeppesen does not see Froome giving anything less than 100 percent for the team and believes that having three leaders won’t cause problems.

“Now we have known Chris and worked with him for many years, and if there is one thing you can say about him, it is that he is a

professional at your fingertips,” he said.

“With it being decided out on the road, it may sound a bit like a phrase, but by and large that’s the way it is—the best man wins. I really think they all have so much respect for each other that it becomes no problem,” he added.

Froome will return to action at the Route d’Occitanie on August 1, where he is set to line up alongside Bernal, while Thomas is expected to join them for the Tour de l’Ain and Critérium du Dauphiné ahead of the start of the Tour on August 29.

Bernal, meanwhile, traveled on a chartered flight from Colombia and arrived in Madrid early this week. The 23-year-old hopes to defend his title at the Tour de France, but said he needs to consider where his form is during an upcoming team training camp in Andorra and then once racing officially begins.

“I train for that but it is a different year, completely different. “We have not competed and for the moment what I want is to go to Andorra and see what level I am in,” Bernal said.

“Then enjoy the races that will take place before the Tour. There we will look at what level I am, at what level are my colleagues. I think that will start from there.”

“The best thing is to go step by step, not get too far ahead of what may happen and just be here and now. Right now it is to go to the camp, see what level I am on. I haven’t competed in a long time, nobody has,” he added. “It is a different season but we must have our feet on the ground.

We are going through a very difficult moment and we must try to do things well so that everything turns out well.”

Cyclingnews

MIKEE: NO SPECIAL TREATMENT

M

IKEE COJUANGCO-JAWORSKI’S election to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board underlines the Philippines’s coveted niche in the world sports map.

But according to Cojuangco-Jaworski, her appointment to the powerful POC body doesn’t equate to the country being accorded a “special

CHRIS FROOME’S impending transfer could create a leadership crisis at Team Ineos.

Ramirez initiates ‘rigodon’ at PSC

A

TTY. GUILLERMO IROY and Merlita Ibay swapped positions as the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) board reorganized the agency in an effort to prevent the payroll theft from happening again.

PSC Chairman brought Iroy back as Acting Executive Director, citing his legal expertise as paramount in the agency’s pursuit of charges against alleged payroll schemer Paul Michael Ignacio.

Ibay, on the other hand, got her former position back as Deputy Executive Director for Finance and Administrative Services, her forte.

“It was a collective decision of the board as part of a plan to re-stabilize the organization,” said Butch Ramirez, who convened the PSC board for the second time this week on Wednesday.

Ramirez reported back to work after a monthlong leave to attend to his wife, who

By Doug Ferguson The Associated Press

D

UBLIN, Ohio—Tiger Woods made his 19th trip to Muirfield Village as a pro and it was unlike anything he remembered.

“I hadn’t taken these lines,” he said.

That typically refers to shots off the tee. He was talking about the direction he was walking.

There was no need to go from the range to the side of the clubhouse, into the locker room, down the stairs and out a side door to get to the putting green. With no fans around, it was a straight shot.

On the course, he could cut corners—with his legs more than with his driver.

“Like for instance, it was nice walking off the 16th green going straight to the tee instead of walking around,” he said. “It’s certainly different around here with some of the walks. You get from point A to point B very directly. I hadn’t felt this ever here. Usually I’m meandering roundabout.”

What hasn’t changed is the prize money.

They played for a $9.3 million purse at the Memorial. Ryan Palmer made just over $1 million for his runner-up finish, the biggest paycheck of his career, including his 2010 Sony Open victory.

Next week, the prize fund is $10.5 million for a World Golf Championship.

That’s worth remembering before players start getting comfortable with not having spectators.

Tournaments and the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour are having to cut costs and tap into rainy day funds so they can keep going without a key source of revenue.

Players have not competed for nearly $80 million in prize money because of cancellations, including a World Golf Championship and the British Open. But

underwent surgery, on Monday.

The PSC board also appointed Queenie Evangelista, who heads the Bureau of Coordinating Secretariat and Support Services, as Acting Deputy Executive Director.

Ramirez acknowledged the lapses in the agency and vowed to initiate actions.

“As the highest accountable official of the agency, I take responsibility to effect changes, to make sure that there are no gaps in the organization,” Ramirez said. “I feel sad, frustrated and hurt, but we all have to have composure.”

“I hope all stakeholders and partners ‘are at peace with these decisions and continue to support us through this,’” he added.

The PSC board will announce later in the week the other changes in the organization’s structure.

treatment” by the movement.

“No additional support from the IOC,” Cojuangco-Jaworski told a radio interview on Thursday.

“That’s what we reiterate, I’m the IOC representative to the Philippines, not the Philippine representative to the IOC,” she said.

“My responsibility is global.”

TIGER WOODS looks from a bunker toward the 10th green during the third round of the Memorial on Saturday in Dublin, Ohio. AP

a member of the Tokyo Olympics Working Group and the 2024 Paris Coordination Commission.

“I must show them that their votes will not go to waste,” Cojuangco-Jaworski said. “More work to come.”

Cojuangco-Jaworski, 46, won the country’s lone gold medal in the 2002 Busan Asian Games.

Ramon Rafael Bonilla

Nominations open for sports tourism awards for 2019 N

OMINATIONS for the Fourth Philippine Sports Tourism Awards (PSTA) are underway despite the inactive sports scenario because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Organized by Cebu-based Selrahco Management and Consultancy Services and Supported by the Department of Tourism and the Philippine Sports Commission, the awards honor sports groups, private entities and government agencies based on events organized or hosted in 2019.

Categories for nominations are Sports Tourism Destination of the Year, Sports Tourism Organizer (private and government), Sports Tourism Event (domestic and international), Sports Tourism Sport Association, Sports Tourism Destination Marketing, Sports Tourism Hotel, Sports Tourism Event Sponsorship, Sports Tourism Charity Event, Sports Tourism Airline, Sports Tour Operator, Adventure Event, Sports Venue, Sports MICE Event,and Sports Media Coverage.

Two special awards will also be given to prominent sports personalities in the private and government sector.

The only one of its kind in the country, PSTA encourages professionalism in the planning

and management of sporting events to help promote tourism.

According PSTA founder and president Charles Lim, Clark Special Economic Zone and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) have been encouraged by the sports community to jumpstart the recovery of the sector, being among the areas with very low incidence of Covid-19 due to its strict health protocols.

Lim said that the awards will help the two business enclaves reclaim their standings as premier sports tourism hubs in the region for having co-hosted the 30th Southeast Asian Games last year.

Clark and Subic are prioritizing health safety for athletes, organizers and stakeholders, with the guidance from the Inter Agency Task Force, Philippine Sports Commission and the Department of Tourism.

“Despite the setbacks we experienced in the past months, the tourism industry activities in Clark will soon rise once more to show what made it the sports tourism destination of the year for two years,” Clark Development Corp.

President Noel Manankil said.

“The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority believes that as resilient as the Filipinos are,

Players miss fans, level of income due to pandemic they’re playing, and that’s a good thing.

Zach Johnson is among those stunned that only seven players have tested positive for the coronavirus, the most recent Grayson Murray before he left for this week’s 3M Open in Minnesota.

“We would love to have them back,” Johnson said of the fans. “But if it’s responsible and smart not have to have them, we probably should play without them. Our product is better with fans. The impact of not playing far outweighs in a negative way the positives of playing. Completely shutting down should not be an option if we can play.”

Players talk about missing the volume, the energy, without fans. The silence was never more deafening than when Justin Thomas made a 50-foot birdie putt in a playoff at Muirfield Village, and Collin Morikawa matched him from 25 feet.

During the Workday Charity Open, Rahm chipped in from rough left of the 14th green—a spot made famous by Woods chipping in for par when he won the Memorial in 1999. Rahm looked around at nobody and said amid the quiet, “Just like when Tiger did it.” Then he walked to

Altough her ascent to the IOC ladder meant a lot to the local sports community, CojuangcoJaworksi said it doesn’t relate to a greener pasture at all.

Cojuangco-Jaworski said her election to the Executive Board meant more responsibilities— she chairs the IOC’s education commission with a direct hand in the Olympic channel and she is

COJUANGCO-JAWORSKI

the 15th tee because the grandstand behind the green was no longer there.

It’s not just the cheers. No spectators means no pro-ams. It’s no corporate hospitality, either local or national, both significant. No ticket sales. No concessions. No merchandise. That’s revenue.

And the show goes on.

The PGA Tour is among other sports at the professional and college level that have reduced salaries for employees during the Covid-19 pandemic. Contracts are in place, sure, but golf hasn’t had a reduction in purses.

“Not yet,” Kevin Streelman said with a wary smile. “We need the pro-ams. We need ticket sales. We need charitable dollars. Those are all significant implications. We’re fortunate to play for what we do, to keep the circus going. But it’s probably not sustainable in this situation.”

The Memorial was supposed to be the first tournament with fans. Tournament director Dan Sullivan submitted a plan for a reduced capacity that the state enthusiastically approved. Other sports in Ohio were eager to see how it worked.

And then it was scrapped as coronavirus cases began to spike, another decision that made health and safety the priority, which can’t be faulted. But it was hard not to see the financial hit to the Memorial. Structures already had been built—the Nicklaus Club next to the 14th green, a concession area behind the 16th tee, a small grandstand overlooking the 18th.

It led to an awkward exchange before the tournament when Jack Nicklaus was asked about the difficult decision his team made to not have fans.

“We didn’t make it. The tour made the decision,” Nicklaus said.

Nicklaus then eased off blaming the tour and suggested players had objections, especially with pro-ams, even with testing for everyone involved.

“They’re trying to make a living,” Nicklaus said. “And that makes it very difficult for them.

In this particular time and what’s going on, I don’t blame them for wanting to make sure that they can stay safe and stay in a bit of a bubble and make sure that the whole world gets to watch good, quality championship golf.”

Commissioner Jay Monahan owned that as a tour decision, adding everyone was on the same page. “We’re going to return our spectators, we’re going to return our pro-ams when we feel it’s the right time,” he said.

How soon is anyone’s guess.

The US Open from September 17 to 20 at Winged Foot in New York is the next possibility. Domestically for the PGA Tour, it would be October 1 to 4 at the Sanderson Farms Championship in Mississippi. Its executive director, Steve Jent, was at the Memorial, hopeful to see how fans would work. Instead, he saw a lot of empty space and vacant tents.

Monahan said the tour is doing everything it can to have fans by the back end of the year, even if it’s limited. Golf has to start somewhere.

It can’t go from zero to the Waste Management Phoenix Open, the rowdiest event in golf.

And it can’t sustain this model of players having the course to themselves for very long.

Players miss the excitement fans create.

More telling will be how they feel about missing their level of income.

tourism will spring back to the heights it has reached before as one of the country’s most popular destinations,” said SBMA Chair Atty.

Wilma Eisma, who expressed optimism in resuming several events after its quarantine status has been reclassified.

Previous PSTA awardee events and organizers include Ironman 70.3, Sunrise Events, Philippine Football Association, Tabuelan 111, SunPiology, Ceres Football Club, Fat Boys 10s Rugby and the Philippine Inter-Island Sailing Federation.

Government awardees are Clark Development Corp., SBMA, Province of Cebu, City of Davao, City of Dumaguete and the Municipality of Lubao (Pampanga).

Institutional recipients are Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Resorts World Manila, Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa and the Automobile Association Philippines.

For more information on the PSTA nominations, email gabe.selrahco@gmail.com or contact 0906-4067051 or 0949-4628108.

All along the watchtower Bleachers’ Brew Rick Olivares | bleachersbrew@gmail.com

WHEN I returned to journalism as a profession in 2006 after a long sabbatical, one of the first stories I constantly wrote about was Philippine football. It wasn’t easy to get space those years as not many people were interested in the game. However, I kept at it.

It was mostly about University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) football matches and the odd Azkals story. Then in late 2008, I began to write some stories about purported shenanigans in the leadership of the local game. After several more pieces, I got banned from covering the sport or even from entering the premises of the federation’s offices.

I remember one time, when I got called to air their side, I went over to their offices, and I got all these funny looks from the people inside.

One of the coaches who I had questioned then about what was being done to the futsal team entered the then-president’s room and told me a wholly different story from the players and the other coaches.

As a writer, I alternate between reports and match recaps to feature stories to opinion pieces and match analysis. I move from sports to music to travel to pop culture.

Truthfully, I would rather write feature stories and analysis. But when there is the need to fire some shots in the direction of something not kosher, then I do not hesitate to do so.

It is never easy writing these “exposes” or offering pointed barbs if you will. I have been threatened, bribed and wished eternal damnation. And twice I have been called out during a presser including one international match (the Suzuki Cup) by an angry coach who has not gotten good press from me. But I take comfort in the thought that British journalist Andrew Jennings who knows a thing or two about exposes and pointed barbs as well as getting banned once told me that I “had earned by badge of courage by being banned.”

That’s probably the best compliment I have received because you are in the trenches and for the most part waging a long and lonely war of attrition.

To be honest, I am wary of people who say they are doing this for the game, for the people, etc. How many times have we heard that?

Since my return to local football in the past two months, I have done webcasts on the 10th anniversary of the 2010 Suzuki Cup, as well as various articles including quite a few rooted in the present where I have pointed out the ills of the game—still happening 10 years later.

For the most part, I have received nothing but “yeas.” If there are a few “nays” they are tempered by the off-the-record comment that they agree but cannot say so publicly.

There are undoubtedly good people in sport across the board. Folks who work tirelessly, do not receive the pay or recognition they deserve, and fly under the radar. And for them, I feel bad.

I am shocked at the audacity of some of these people in the game of football. To callously treat players and coaches so badly by not paying what is due or even living up to agreements and contracts. Then they hide behind statutes, the pandemic, and whatnot.

Why does there have to be an article like mine (to go with the work of some other bloggers and social media posts from those affected) before action is taken? Why aren’t these teams properly vetted? Isn’t it before you can secure a credit card, your earning capacity is verified? But then again, some still fail to pay even if the vetting shows they can do so.

So maybe that is why these problems in football and sports exist.

So I will continue to write—the recaps, features, analyses and well, opinion columns and exposes. I have never kowtowed to anyone and am not a gun for hire.

I asked one official, “why is there a climate of fear where some cannot talk about this alleged lack of pay or unfulfilled promises?”

That means they are fearful of losing their slots and yet, they suffer in silence.

Hopefully, we are headed towards better days. I look forward to seeing the Azkals play again and surpassing the feats of their 2010 colleagues. I look forward to club competition again that I missed so much.

So really...what I write next depends largely on what is done. Then as in today, I will be watching with a very keen eye along that watchtower.

Tally ho.

A10 Thursday, July 23, 2020 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

How rich countries, PHL face the crisis

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S of June 2020, most G-20 member countries had committed to fiscal stimulus packages in their attempt to soften the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Out of all G-20 countries, Japan had passed the largest fiscal stimulus package that amounts to $2.18 trillion or about 40 percent of its gross domestic product.

From the Associated Press: “European Union leaders finally clinched an unprecedented €1.82 trillion [$2.1 trillion] budget and coronavirus recovery fund early Tuesday. To confront the biggest recession in its history, officials said the EU had a consensus on a 750 billion euro coronavirus fund to be sent as loans and grants to the countries hit hardest by the virus. That comes on top of the seven-year 1 trillion euro EU budget.”

Bloomberg News: “Australia’s government will pump a further A$20 billion ($14 billion) into supporting the jobs market as a surge in coronavirus infections threatens to prolong the nation’s first recession in almost three decades. The government’s signature wage subsidy program, which is currently supporting about 3.5 million workers, will be extended by six months until the end of March, albeit at a lower rate, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Tuesday. A supplement to unemployment benefits will also be extended, again at a lower rate.”

USA Today: “Congressional leaders are hoping to have another coronavirus aid package ready by the end of July, another tranche of funds to pile on to the $3 trillion already passed to counter the pandemic and its sweeping impacts on the country. But while both sides of the aisle agree more funds will be necessary to help families, workers, businesses and the national economy recover, Republicans, Democrats and the administration still have significantly different ideas of what should be included in the next package, including the possibility of another stimulus check for some Americans.”

In the Philippines, our lawmakers are crafting legislation that can help cushion the pandemic’s economic impact. The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading early last month the proposed P1.3-trillion Accelerated Recovery and Investments Stimulus for the Economy (ARISE), which is expected to propel economic growth this year. At the Senate, the Bayanihan to Recover As One measure was approved on second reading before Congress went on a scheduled seven-week recess from June 5 to July 27.

Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, House Committee on Ways and Means chairman and one of the principal authors of ARISE, said the stimulus package will help protect and assist up to 15.7 million workers, create 3 million short-term jobs, and 1.5 million infrastructure jobs over three years, and help up to 5.57 million micro, small and medium enterprises.

While the Philippine stimulus package being deliberated in Congress can’t compare to the trillion dollars earmarked by rich countries, it can help lessen the pain. In its final form, however, we hope that the measure will be inclusive and equitable. Our lawmakers must find a way to help millions of poor families in the informal sector—the street vendors, solo micro entrepreneurs, homebased workers, transport workers, tuberos, small coastal fisherfolks, landless rural poor, garbage collectors, on-call service workers (repairs, etc.), domestic service workers, bit players in the entertainment industry, and tourist aides, among others.

The informals constitute at least two-thirds of the Philippine labor force.

But they remain invisible to policy-makers. For example, when the distribution of the cash assistance under the social amelioration program for the poor came, the government was flooded with complaints on the exclusion of numerous informal workers and their families. What the DSWD has is the list of around 4 million beneficiaries of the conditional cash transfer program.

We hope that Congress can formulate measures to make the informals more visible. Let’s not exclude the people who need government support the most.

Since 2005

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business ✝ Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua

In the year 2022 James Jimenez

spox

W

ith this virus not going anywhere anytime soon, it has become an absolute necessity for everyone to imagine all the different ways things will have to change. In a way, we’ve all been forced to become futurists, except that the future we’re envisioning isn’t going to come in a hundred years but, in many cases, as soon as tomorrow. Or, in the case of the Presidential elections, 2022.

For the sake of argument, let’s assume that we can easily and quickly amend all the necessary laws and regulations that currently govern election in our country. It isn’t carte blanche exactly because in what we are about to do, we are still limited by existing technologies and an unyielding deadline—the 9th of May 2022.

With one last reminder that— despite being grounded on existing technologies and capabilities—the rest of this article is completely speculative, off we go!

A new election scenario BY 2022, the coverage of the existing alternative modes of voting will have been expanded to include persons with disabilities, and the elderly.

However, the vast majority of voters remain unable to access alternative modes of voting and will still have to go vote in person.

On that year, we will no longer speak of an Election Day, but of a Voting Period—three days to a week during which people can come to the polling place to cast their ballots.

But to ensure that the numbers of

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be greeted by contact tracing stations where they will be required to log in with their Comelec app even as they have their temperature taken and recorded. Face shields, masks and gloves will be available for those who have none. Every voter will be provided with a disposable lab coats to wear over their street clothes. Once past the contract tracing stations, voters will see markers and cordons intended to enforce social distancing rules for the people waiting to take their turn to vote.

These guides lead to the largest and widest open space available on campus. The gym, the basketball court, or the soccer field or wherever students usually gather for flag raising ceremonies. These open spaces will substitute for the old polling places—cramped little classrooms where voting actually takes place.

With voting liberated from the tiny classrooms, clustered precincts— groupings of individual voters—can grow in size. Since 2010, our clustered precincts have averaged about 800 voters each. In 2022, those clustered precincts will contain anywhere from a thousand to 5,000 voters, drastically reducing the number of See “Jimenez,” A11

Current economic realities—like it or not

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people at the polling places remains at safe levels, the Commission on Election (Comelec) will have already designated voting day assignments for everyone at least a month before voting starts. Unlike in past elections when people were free to come and vote whenever they wanted during election day, the 2022 polls will see a majority of the voter coming to vote on a specific day and at a specific time.

This will be achieved by the Comelec through a mobile app, rolled out a year before, where voters could sign up and essentially book an appointment to vote. The app is also designed to facilitate the delivery of voter education, as well as campaigning by candidates, allowing users to access both voter education content from the Comelec and campaign materials from all candidates.

During the voting period, the app is also primed to send how-to-vote instructionals—including the reminder to bring your own pen—as well as hourly alerts informing the user of how crowded the precincts are at that particular time.

Once the voters arrive at the polling centers—the school campuses where elections take place—they will

OUTSIDE THE BOX

W

hen you are young, you dream of a wide future. When you are old, you focus on today and tomorrow. Pondering the future is more of an intellectual exercise rather than preparing an action plan. For my generation, it is now about doing what we can do today because tomorrow may never come.

Our children are our future.

“The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country,” wrote American revolutionary Thomas Paine.

A study by the University of Washington published in the British medical journal The Lancet says, “The planet is not prepared for an ongoing global population crash with 23 nations projected to see their populations fall by 50 percent by 2100.

There will be twice as many people over 80 years old as there will be under five years old.”

Nonetheless, there may be some more immediate concerns.

One more time. If the Philippine economy contracts by 15 percent in

2020, the size of the economy will be at almost the same level as at the beginning of 2016. The more accurate and rational way to measure an economy is by using gross domestic product per capita adjusted by purchasing power parity. While denominated in US dollars, PPP factors in currency exchange rates and inflation, giving a truer value of the economy.

At end 2019, this amount for the Philippines was $8,900. Reduce that by 15 percent and you get $7,570.

At the end of 2015 the amount was $7,300 and at the end of 2016 that amount was $7,700. These are the facts, whether one chooses to accept them or not. Ignorare periculum

We can weather this storm.

However, at every opportunity —and let me stress this in capital letters—BUY PHILIPPINE MADE. Every “Made in China/USA/Japan” product we buy literally takes food out of the mouths of Filipinos and gives it to another country.

Nolite fieri imprudentes—“Do not be foolish.”

tuo—look it up. Ok, “Ignore at your own risk.”

Examining data back to 1871, there has never been—even during the Great Depression—a global economic downturn of the current magnitude. Over 92 percent of the world’s economies are contracting. In 1931 it was 84 percent of the world’s economies. In the 2009 debt crisis, that figure was 62 percent. Recessions are deeper or longer lasting when a high percentage of the world’s economies are contracting.

Overall global corporate debt is increasing at an extreme pace. In the first quarter, US corporate debt jumped to a record 48 percent of the nation’s GDP. This is unsustainable, of course. But to keep that economy alive, private capital expenditure

cannot be allowed to die.

Philippine corporations will not take on new debt to fund expansion.

That is not favorable for the short term but is critical in the long run.

How bad is the overall situation?

The European Union just reached a deal to provide nearly 1 trillion dollars in loans and grants to member countries that are in economic trouble. The EU will borrow the money.

But no worries. They promise that the loan will be paid back by 2058.

All the leaders that signed that deal will be dead. Pace requiem.

We can weather this storm. However, at every opportunity—and let me stress this in capital letters—BUY PHILIPPINE MADE. Every “Made in China/USA/Japan” product we buy literally takes food out of the mouths of Filipinos and gives it to another country. Nolite fieri imprudentes— “Do not be foolish.”

Balancing immediate health needs with longer economic concerns is not even close to being easy. But it can be made more sensible if we realize that we must be flexible as we go down the path.

E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Visit my web site at www.mangunonmarkets.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis tools provided by the COL Financial Group Inc.

Opinion BusinessMirror

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Finance can’t thrive in a muzzled world

The most precious

By Clara Ferreira Marques

Msgr. Sabino A. Vengco Jr.

Bloomberg Opinion

Alálaong Bagá

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he press has rarely been under attack as it is today. Hong Kong’s new national security legislation has chilled reporting in a territory that was long a beacon of free speech. Russia’s harassment of current and former journalists has this month alone included detentions, searches and a conviction. Meanwhile, in the US, where press freedoms are guaranteed by the constitution, President Donald Trump regularly refers to critical media as “enemies of the people.”

This is bad news for investors as well as journalists. Fund managers need cheap, unfettered access to information to thrive in the long term.

Yet big money rarely wades in to defend free media.

Consider how dark the picture has become over the past decade.

At the end of 2019, there were 248 journalists in jail, not far off double the number a decade earlier.

Far more pervasive are everyday pressures: the squeeze on media owners, the rise of state-owned, government-friendly outlets and efforts to silence opposition voices with laws intended to protect official secrets, or to prevent the spread of fake news. Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Hungary used the coronavirus emergency to tighten already extensive controls. I have written before on the Philippines, where the country’s largest media company, often accused by President Rodrigo Duterte of bias, was denied an extension of its broadcast franchise earlier this month. In Malaysia, an election win for the opposition in 2018 was supposed to herald a new era of freedoms, yet the editor of the country’s best-known online outlet faces a potential jail term in a contempt case related to reader comments.

Financial troubles aren’t helping. Research published by the Pew Research Center in April showed newsroom employment at US newspapers halved between 2008 and 2019. Overall, journalist numbers dropped by nearly a quarter. And that’s hardly improved during the pandemic, when the BBC, Britain’s Guardian, Australia’s ABC and many others have shed employees.

As with climate, or broader environmental, social and governance concerns, there’s a clear moral case for investors to take an interest, and avoid the sovereign bonds of countries with poor records on free speech, or shares in state-owned entities. After all, many already shun weapon manufacturers, tobacco or gambling stocks.

Self-interest speaks even louder. At a basic level, press freedom is positively correlated with good levels of development. Research carried out by Sciences Po in Paris and published by Unesco in 2008 established that link. It did find outliers with high gross domestic product per capita and limited media liberties— Singapore, for one—but no country had a free press and low wealth.

There’s more. Unrestrained reporting dramatically reduces the price of information, leveling the playing field for investors. More questions are asked and more corruption is uncovered. In repressive systems, it’s not only about those who are hounded, but also about others who become silent. US energy giant Enron couldn’t stop the 2001 Fortune article that began its unraveling, any more than German payments processor Wirecard AG was able to silence questions on its accounts.

Without that persistent interrogation, risks rise and so does the

Jimenez. . .

continued from A10

precincts and allowing the open space to be utilized and still maintain the appropriate distancing measures.

The vote counting machines themselves will have undergone many changes as well, including

Unrestrained reporting dramatically reduces the price of information, leveling the playing field for investors. More questions are asked and more corruption is uncovered. In repressive systems, it’s not only about those who are hounded, but also about others who become silent.

US energy giant Enron couldn’t stop the 2001 Fortune article that began its unraveling, any more than German payments processor Wirecard AG was able to silence questions on its accounts. cost of borrowing. A study by the University of Notre Dame and the University of Illinois at Chicago, tracking counties where the number of newspapers dropped to two or less between 1996 and 2015, found bond yields rose as much as 11 basis points.

Finally, there is practical evidence that media coverage makes it more likely bad corporate decisions will be reversed. Not only do board members have more cover to question decisions, but also regulators are pressed to act. A 2008 study on media and corporate governance in Russia observed that a single additional article in the Financial Times or the Wall Street Journal increased the probability of reversing a corporate governance violation by five percentage points. And the effect is present both in countries with bad courts, and in countries with good ones, where the press amplifies existing mechanisms to effect change.

Divesting from problematic spots isn’t always realistic, given how widespread limitations are: For almost 90 percent of the world’s population, the media is partially or fully restricted.

It’s also harder to build a global consensus than, say, over environmental causes. Engagement can be difficult.

That doesn’t mean it is impossible, or that it isn’t worth trying, given the outsize benefits for investors, companies and wider society. In some democracies, like the US, there is room to speak out more forcefully. In countries with significant refinancing needs, buyers of stocks and sovereign bonds have clout, as seen over the issue of Amazon deforestation.

In others, like China, it will be harder. Dictating to sovereign governments is unpalatable for either funds or companies investing directly, but both can argue that certain policies, like restricting the press, impede their ability to work and to continue to invest. That is certainly true in Hong Kong, as in the Philippines, Malaysia and Russia. Investors can even press behind closed doors. But they can ill-afford to remain silent, while also eagerly flying the flag for diversity and ESG. For years, fund managers, investment banks and large corporates have defended their work in some of the world’s least liberal countries, say Saudi Arabia, by arguing that the direction of travel indicates progress.

That won’t work with press freedom, where the only movement in recent years appears to be in reverse. now being able to read ballot marks made with ordinary ballpoint pens. From being designed for use in a one-day, one-precinct, onemachine scenario, these devices will now have to be configured to operate continuously for up to five days, with up to five machines running simultaneously in each precinct, allowing voters to maintain social distancing even as they cue

T

he twofold parable of the treasure found in a field and of the invaluable pearl discovered by a merchant plus the parable of the net filled with good and bad fish, round up three Sundays of comparison for the kingdom of God, teaching us as much about God’s reign as about ourselves (Matthew 13:43-52).

A treasure and a mega pearl The parables of the treasure and of the pearl complement each other and are not merely different versions of the same theme. The first refers to some treasure found perchance buried in a field and by a laborer, while the second is about a pearl of great price sought by a merchant. One employs list in hiding again the treasure he has accidentally stumbled upon and buys the field with its secret treasure with all that he possesses.

The other openly searches for fine pearls and negotiates to acquire the extraordinary one he has finally located. Both have made a surprising and joyous discovery, and both sell all they have in order to possess their wonderful finds. Finding alone is not

enough; one must take further action and pay the price.

Both persons boldly invest all they own in exchange for their precious acquisitions. Is it a wise move to sink all of one’s capital into a single transaction? Usual business principles no longer apply when the investment deals with eternal consequences and is about the kingdom of God. To acquire or to enter into a relationship that means eternal life with God, one must be free and ready to give up in exchange all possessions in this world. God’s reign is inestimable and most precious, and requires all a person is and has.

A dragnet catching all

The concluding parable pictures “a

Thursday, July 23, 2020 A11

net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind.” A dragnet (like our own fishermen’s pukot or panalikop), after one end has been paid out into the sea in a loop then slowly hauled ashore by a team of men working both ends of the net, usually collects everything and all sorts of fish. The process of sorting out the catch on the shore dramatizes the mixed kinds of people the saving plan of God has to deal with. Good fish are put into baskets, while the bad ones and the garbage are discarded.

The parable of the wheat and the weeds comes to mind. The truth is again underlined that in our world there is the temporary thriving together of the good and the bad. Ultimately, the divine judgment comes and the evil ones are disposed of while the good are gathered and taken in. The dragnet fishing selected by Jesus in his parable illustrates this inevitability, and to his followers the imperative that as “fishers of men” they work together as a team and according to plan. They are sent to gather all into the embrace of God’s saving love, rich and poor, mighty and lowly alike, ensuring none slips through the net of redemption. The task of separating permanently the wicked from the righteous belongs to God’s

Developing a post-Covid pedagogy Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo

LABOREM EXERCENS “Whose tomorrow is tomorrow?

“And whose world is the world?”

—From “Solidarity Song” by Bertolt Brecht

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ovid-19 represents a huge challenge to the officials of the Philippine trifocal educational system—DepEd, CHED and Tesda. How to provide educational services in Covid times? How to teach while maintaining social distance? How to provide students rounded education by going virtual, without face-to-face instruction and interaction? How to ask tens of thousands of teachers and trainors to abandon old classroom teaching techniques by going digital?

And yes, how to reach the excluded youth—those without the means to purchase the digital learning devices, those whose parents have lost jobs and livelihoods, and those living in poor communities devastated and isolated by the pandemic? Is education, modern society’s weapon for inclusion, becoming once more an instrument for exclusion like in the old colonial times?

But even as they grapple with the difficult challenge of adjusting education to new teaching formats and using non-conventional educational technologies, the education planners have to address other critical policy issues facing the sector. In this connection, Unesco’s International Commission on the Futures of Education (ICFE) came up with nine policy recommendations requiring “concrete actions today that will advance education tomorrow.” These are as follows: 1. Commit to strengthen education as a common good. Education, like health, is part of the “social commons” defined as the sociocultural resources that all members of society must be able to share and enjoy. If education and health are accessible to only a few, then society becomes highly unequal. It is, therefore, the bounden duty of the State to continue making education, from

elementary to tertiary levels, accessible and affordable to all, with or without Covid-19. ICFE wrote: “In education as in health, we are safe when everybody is safe; we flourish when everybody flourishes.”

2. Expand the definition of the right to education so that it addresses the importance of connectivity and access to knowledge and information. Indeed, learning in today’s world requires digital connectivity. And the right to education includes the right to such connectivity and access of learners to relevant information and knowledge.

In short, the right to education does not end in being accepted as an enrolee in a school. In the Philippines, the task for the education planners is to continue building up the digital infrastructure for all schools nationwide, especially in the urban and rural poor communities.

3. Value the teaching profession and teacher collaboration.

Philippine mass and social media are full of discussions on the plight of the underpaid and overworked teachers, both those in the public and private schools. Like the health personnel, they are the frontliners in the difficult task of honing the skills and developing the potentials of the youth. All possible support must be extended to them. Likewise,

up to slide their ballots in. And for transparency, these machines will, throughout the voting period, regularly update a public access web site with real-time information on the number of ballots cast.

Under the hood, so to speak, these new demands placed on the vote counting machines will force a change in the automated electoral system’s core architecture so sig-

nificant and far-reaching that, in hindsight, people will say that the 2022 elections was nothing short of a massive reset of the Comelec’s automation project.

Once they’re done voting, voters make their way to exit stations where they are required to take off their protective gear, placing them in appropriately marked disposal bins. After going through manda-

angels, followed by the everlasting joy of those saved and the endless frustration and self-accusation of those who condemned.

Alálaong bagá, wise are the people concerning God’s kingdom when they have learned in actual living that life in communion with Him is more precious than anything else in this world, in fact the most precious treasure one can ever come upon, more than just a rare find or a good buy. Such a believer is like the head of a household who knows how to care for his loved ones as well as for oneself by bringing out as needed the wisdom and the guidance from the Gospel of Jesus Christ in response to the challenges of life. Our evangelizers today need to focus on guiding and inspiring all, without being diverted into merely pulling out weeds and putting down worthless fish. Rather we are to proclaim in word and by example the fascinating, joyous meaning and purpose of life in God’s love, discovered like a treasure in a field or a pearl of great price located. People will love and are joyfully fulfilled by the most precious find ever in their life.

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

they should be given space to develop academic courses in a flexible and autonomous manner. And yes, academic freedom and the search for truth, be it in science or economic or political courses, must be respected.

4. Promote student, youth and children’s participation and rights. According to the ICFE, the “construction of desirable change,” for example adjustment in the curriculum, in the educational system should involve the students and the youth. It should not be a one-way topdown process. Participation can be secured through information sharing, consultations and constructive dialogues. The ICFE justifies such participation in the name of “intergenerational justice” based on democratic principles.

5. Protect the social spaces provided by schools as education is transformed. The ICFE explains that the “school as a physical space is indispensable.” However, the traditional classroom organization “must give way to a variety of ways of ‘doing school.’” Of course, the meaning of what a school is— physical or digital or combined—is likely to change given the shift to distance education and a variety of blended learning systems coming on stream.

6. Make free and open source technologies available to teachers and students. Again, this is related to the phenomenon of digitalization. In the academic circles, there are widespread calls for the adoption of open access digital tools to overcome the commercial tentacles of the private companies trying to control the digital platforms.

Also, “education cannot thrive with ready-made content built outside of the pedagogical space and outside of human relationships between teachers and students.”

7. Ensure scientific literacy within the curriculum. It is unavoidable that there will be so many changes in the curricular offerings and modes of instruction given the adjustments imposed by the pandemic. However, such changes should be subjected to rigorous academic assessment and scientific

tests. The pandemic is not an excuse to lower standards and resort to “short-cuts” in the delivery of instruction. There should be a serious and continuing effort to weed out misinformation.

8. Protect domestic and international financing of public education. No comment.

9. Advance global solidarity to end current levels of inequality.

Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde, chair of the ICFE, gave an eloquent explanation for this call in her introduction of the ICFE report as follows: “It is evident that we cannot return to the world as it was before…our common humanity necessitates global solidarity. We cannot accept the levels of inequality that have been permitted to emerge on our shared planet. It is particularly important that the world supports developing countries with investment in 21st century education infrastructures; this will require the mobilization of resources and support from developed countries, in particular with debt cancellation, restructuring, and new financing... Already we see that the disruptions brought on by the pandemic are exacerbating inequalities both within and across countries…”

Ms. Zewde concludes that the pandemic has the potential to radically reshape the world. The problem is that the re-shaping is being led mostly by the developed countries and their global corporate behemoths, including the big pharmas and telcos. Covid-19 has bared that the re-shaping process is unequal and creating more imbalances and inequalities at the national and global levels. Humanity cannot passively sit back and observe what plays out.

The ICFE, therefore, calls for a global order based on “renewed commitments to international cooperation and multilateralism, together with a revitalized global solidarity that has empathy and an appreciation of our common humanity at its core.”

The point is that the pandemic presents an opportunity for humanity to help shape a better world—in the education sector and other areas of life on earth.

tory hand hygiene protocols, the voters are required to log out with their mobile apps. This last log out will, of course, serve contact tracing purposes but it will also sign the user up to receive postelection updates, including election results.

much of what this article envisioned will remain firmly confined to the realm of what is possible. But there are some parts of it that are more probable than others. The theoretical mobile app I described, for instance, only combines the functions of various apps already in use. It shouldn’t be too difficult a challenge for any mobile app developer to turn this into reality.

A final note

Snap back to reality and, of course,

A12 Thursday, July 23, 2020

‘Land transport sector losing ₧21B monthly on lockdown restrictions’

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By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

HE head of the House Committee on Economic Affairs said on Wednesday the land transportation sector loses P21.3 billion monthly due to disrupted operations during the Covid-19 quarantine period.

In a hearing on the “Economic Aspect of Public Transport Issues,” AAMBIS-OWA Rep. Sharon Garin, the panel chairman, said land transportation sector was one of the hardest hit in the Covid-19 pandemic.

“In terms of public transportation, the estimated loss on a monthly basis is P21.3 billion.

That’s high impact, that’s just land transportation. This is something that while our operators, our drivers are suffering losses, at the same time, it trickles down to losses of workers because they cannot go to

work, and if the workers cannot go to work, the businesses cannot operate. So P21 billion is a very conservative estimate if we look at that,” Garin said.

One of the basic problems, Garin said, is that even if the government lifted this lockdown, the people are still afraid to go out because there is no sense of security outside their homes.

“Also even if you open up 100 percent the manufacturing, restaurants or other businesses, if jeepneys are not allowed to operate then many of the workers in NCR

will still not be able to go to work,” she pointed out.

“Transportation is integrated and interconnected with all the businesses that we have. If there is no transportation our [produce] will not go to the market and will not go to the people. We have to take note of these [problems],” she added.

Airlines reeling

BESIDES land public transportation, Garin said the pandemic is also hurting the airline industry with a recorded 1,354-percent loss already.

“In terms of flights, departing in 2019, there were 61,000 at 2020, we’re halfway. Arriving international flights at 61,000 and then we’re at 12,000 right now, so the operations are very limited,” she said.

“What’s the effect? Originally, PAL, Cebu Pacific, AirAsia, had a total of about a 13,000 work force, now they’re down to about 2,500,” Garin added.

Meanwhile, Garin called on the transportation industry to work together: “if your industry does not operate and if not fully opperational, the whole country’s economy will suffer. For whatever your agency needs, we will be

willing to help as long as it will help all the stakeholders in this industry.”

Under the House-approved HB 6815 or the proposed P1.3-trillion Accelerated Recovery and Investments Stimulus for the Economy (ARISE), Garin—along with Albay Rep. Joey Salceda and Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo—is pushing for a P70-billion subsidy for the DOTr as assistance to the transpor-

tation industry.

For his part, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade told lawmakers DOTr adopted a partial, gradual, calculated, and phased approach in providing mobility to commuters to secure their safety amid this health emergency.

According to Tugade, there are phases being implemented for allowing the operation of the different modes of public transportation.

INSTANT COFFEE ‘STILL KING’ IN PHL AMID VIRUS

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

@akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

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OVID-19 has reduced the market for fresh roasted coffee in the Philippines, with consumers choosing the cheaper alternative of drinking instant variants while stuck at home during the government-imposed community quarantine.

“Instant coffee is still king, especially in the Philippines,” said Emmanuel Torrejon, board director of the Philippine Coffee Board (PCB) at the recent webinar on Cafe, Coffee, Covid-19 —Roasting Ideas for a New Normal. “So if they can’t have their coffee in a café or in a lounge or in the business meetings, they have instant coffee. So we’re sliding back from regular roasting ground fresh coffee to a bit of three-in-one instant coffee again.”

While this may be good news for companies producing instant, threein-one coffee, he said, “It would not

be the best for cafés, especially the specialty coffee shops who have lost their clientele, and they’ve been selling a lot of these coffees together with a lot of gadgets. That’s really the trend, [selling] a lot of home gadgets [like] pour overs.”

A 29-gram pack with 30 sachets of three-in-one coffee sells for about P175, while roasted ground coffee will cost anywhere from P350 to P500 per 250-gram pack. At cafés, a small cup of regular brewed coffee will cost at least P110.

Torrejon noted an increase in online selling of roasted beans or roasted ground coffee especially from small start-ups. These are mostly consumed at home, but “the house market is small; it’s very insignificant.... The bigger market is where it’s drunk together with friends, family, associates, business meetings, hotels airlines and that’s all lost.”

Continued on A2

Fund lack could stymie PSA rice stocks survey

L

IMITED budgets may constrain the government from surveying rice stocks held by commercial warehouses, which are owned and run by private traders and importers, according to a Congress official.

Novel Bangsal of the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD) revealed that the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) may face challenges in conducting the commercial rice stocks survey (CSS), partly because of limited funding.

The CSS is a survey of the rice stocks held by commercial warehouses. Its conduct was turned over to the PSA from the National Food Authority (NFA) as mandated by the rice trade liberalization (RTL) law that took effect in 2019.

Under the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the RTL law, the final turnover of the CSS from the NFA to PSA shall be on July 1. The IRR also stipulated that the budgetary requirement for conducting the CSS starting this year “shall be provided” in the annual budget of the PSA. Citing PSA, Bangsal said a 2020 budget for the PSA’s CSS was approved under the agency’s Tier 2 fund.

However, Bangsal added that whether the CSS indeed got appropriation for this year would still need to be verified amid government’s spending for Covid-19 efforts.

“Whether the PSA will be able to conduct the CSS this year is still something that we need tot verify,” he said at a webinar about the RTL law hosted by various farmers groups on Wednesday.

Continued on A2

Gordon to seek documentation on prison deaths, Risa files reso

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

& Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

T

HE chairman of the Senate Justice committee will ask prisons officials to provide relevant data and materials documenting the deaths of high-profile inmates, as more senators joined Senate President Vicente Sotto III’s call for an inquiry.

At the same time, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday said the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) will work on improving existing protocols on handling deaths inside the country’s penal facilities.

Speaking at a pre-State of the Nation Address (Sona) press briefing, Guevarra admitted that current protocols are quite “inadequate.”

The DOJ chief said: “You know when the BuCor people presented to us their protocols we noted that these are somehow inadequate. So this will be the subject of further discussion, how to improve their protocols in case death among prisoners.”

Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday joined Sotto in calling for an inquiry into Covid deaths of highprofile inmates in the New Bilibid Prisons. The nine deaths among the 21 Covid-infected prisoners included four Chinese drug convicts and Jaybee Sebastian, who had testified in Congress that thenJustice Secretary Leila de Lima had abetted the drug trade among inmates like him, supposedly to raise funds for her Senate run in 2016. She won, but was jailed in

2017 on drug-related charges she insists constitute political persecution.

Sotto earlier asked the Committee on Justice, chaired by Richard Gordon to spearhead the upcoming probe.

On Wednesday, Gordon expressed readiness to mount an inquiry, saying he will ask BuCor officials to provide Senate probers with relevant data and produce pictures, closed-circuittelevision (CCTV) footage and medical health certificates of affected inmates to quell speculations these were not staged deaths.

In filing Senate Resolution 473, Hontiveros said she found it “baffling how Covid-19 was able to wipe out several drug lords with one blow.”

T he Hontiveros Resolution noted that BuCor itself had earlier confirmed that drug convict Jaybee Sebastian, along with eight other high-profile inmates, succumbed to Covid-19, adding that their remains were immediately cremated at Panteon de Dasmariñas Public Cemetery in Cavite.

The others are Benjamin Marcelo, Zhang Zhu Li, Jimmy Kinsing Hung, Francis Go, Jimmy Yang, Eugene Chua, Ryan Ong, and Amin Imam Buratong, convicted of running the “drug tiangge” in Pasig City.

Hontiveros’s Senate Resolution No. 473 cited that the alleged corruption inside BuCor as revealed in previous Senate investigations, “including cases of ‘Good Conduct Time Allowance [GCTA] for Sale’ and other schemes in which highranking officials of the Bureau would dispense favors to rich inmates, in exchange for monetary

consideration, noting these ‘cast a cloud of doubt over said deaths and seemingly secretive and immediate disposal of remains.”

According to Hontiveros, “the lack of reliable information on the deaths of the inmates, the track record of some officials within the BuCor, and the improbability of the fatality rate, creates enough doubt in the mind of a reasonable person on the truthfulness of these deaths.” On the fatality rate, she wondered aloud how nearly half of the Covid-infected inmates died, when the average death rate for Covid in the country is just 2 percent.

NBI probe

DOJ chief Guevarra earlier ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the inmates’ deaths.

The BuCor initially refused to confirm the death of Sebastian and the others, prompting speculations that they were actually freed or summarily executed.

“So many stories have been swirling around that seems to dispute that the cause of death of these convicted drug offenders was Covid-19. In fact there are theories that they did not die and so forth and so on, and that the bodies have already been replaced by someone else and they were let go. Because of these various theories and also for the benefit of the BuCor, to dispel any doubt that there was an anomaly over these deaths allegedly due Covid-19, we thought it proper and prudent to request the NBI to make its own inquiry into the matter,” Guevarra said.

Companies BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Thursday, July 23, 2020

B1

‘Holcim Philippines can survive pandemic’

By VG Cabuag

C

@villygc

ement manufacturer Holcim Philippines Inc. expressed confidence that it can overcome the economic challenges caused by the pandemic and hinted that it is no longer for sale after its deal with San Miguel Corp. failed to secure regulatory approvals.

Holcim Philippines Chairman Tomas Alcantara said the company was able to grow its earnings last

year on higher efficiencies and improved costs across all areas of the business.

“This was the result of continuing improvement initiatives that make our performance sustainable and our company more resilient and adaptable to market developments,” Alcantara said.

“These achievements motivate us to do even better. We are committed to make sure Holcim Philippines continues to be an even stronger partner for the country’s progress.”

Holcim Philippines President and CEO John Stull said LafargeHolcim will remain the majority shareholder of the company after it failed to secure the nod of the Philippine Competition Commission for the deal with San Miguel.

“We are very pleased to know that we are no longer in the sales

process, and we are very excited about the future working with one the largest and most successful companies in the building materials sector and we are happy to be part of the group,” Stull said during the company’s annual stockholders' meeting.

“Being a member of one of the world’s the leading building materials providers [the LafargeHolcim Group] is a source of strength during these times. The group has been supporting partners all over the world to recover better, with sustainability at the core of its efforts. Together with our partners, we too are determined to help move the country forward.”

San Miguel in May withdrew its $2.15-billion offer to buy Hol-

PSALM sets auction for Paco property

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

T

he Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.

(PSALM) said it is selling its property in Paco, Manila, for P513 million.

In a bid invite, the agency said the auction for the 20,975-square meter property will take place on September 10.

Covid-19 closes KidZania

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

A

@lorenzmarasigan

BS-CBN Corp. has decided to cease the operations of its edutainment facility KidZania Manila, operated by Play Innovations Inc., due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It will be permanently closed on August 31.

The lockdown to contain the spread of Covid-19 has caused a “massive impact” on the revenues of Play Innovations Inc., as it was forced to suspend its operations to prevent the spread of the disease.

“Even if we are allowed to operate in the future, the ‘new normal’ will prohibit mass gathering and require children to remain at home. These conditions have left us with no choice but to close the play city’s doors permanently,” the company statement read.

The company said it will provide its employees with severance benefits, as mandated by law, and will help them with job placements.

KidZania Manila allowed children to play and learn about different careers in various industries.

The theme park opened in August 2015 and catered to youngsters aged 4-17 years. Its 9,000-square-meter facility in Bonifacio Global City featured over 100 role-playing activities in various establishments set up within its two-level area.

Inside the facility, visitors are given their own money called kidzos. They can use it to spend in different places, such as department store, tiangge and restaurants, among others.

Once they run out of kidzos, they can work as a pilot or a flight attendant in the Aviation Academy of Cebu Pacific. They can also play the roles of members of the cabin crew or passengers.

The property, which is composed of eight lots, used to be the site of the former Manila Thermal Power Plant in Isla de Provisor, Paco, Manila.

PSALM has set the minimum bid price at P513,439,000.00.

The winning bidder shall pay for all taxes, fees and other charges due on the sale transaction.

Proceeds from the sale of PSALM’s assets will be used to augment funds to settle the state firm’s assumed fi-

nancial obligations.

PSALM has about P51.47 billion maturing debts and P23.95 billion of IPP (Independent Power Producer) Lease Obligations for the rest of 2020. Also, PSALM needs about P3.42 billion in operational expenses for the rest of the year.

PSALM is the entity created by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, the law that restructured the power industry by privatizing the

assets of the National Power Corp.

(NPC). Funds in settling PSALM’s assumed financial obligations are sourced from collections from its power generation, privatization proceeds, and universal charge (UC).

PSALM, with the supervision and approval of the Energy Regulatory Commission, administers the collection of the UC, which is collected every month by the distribution utilities from all electric consumers.

‘Lot owners accept Makati Subway offer’

T

he owners of 55 lots in Makati have accepted the purchase offer of the private consortium undertaking the construction of the Makati Subway to date, according to lawyer Claro Certeza, City Administrator.

Certeza, who chairs the PPP Selection Committee of Makati City, said the initial 55 lots have a combined value of P1.18 billion and cover a total area of 7,638.83 square meters.

“These landowners who promptly accepted the offer, will each get a P1million incentive granted by Makati Subway Inc.,” Certeza said.

Five of the 55 property owners have submitted all the required documents and have already been paid a total of P62.9 million by the Makati Subway Inc. The owners of the remaining 49 lots are currently processing the documents for the transfer, he said.

“Despite the ongoing crisis, the Makati Subway has remained on track. Our private sector partner has been communicating and negotiating with concerned property owners for the acquisition of lands needed for the project,” Certeza said.

Makati City officials, led by Mayor Abby Binay, and the city's private sector partners conducted a ceremonial drilling in front of the Old City Hall building to mark the start of the Makati subway project in December 2018. Former Vice President Jejomar Binay also attended the event. From www.pia.gov.ph

He said he hoped other property owners will soon follow suit so that the initial phase of the project can be completed, and the private partner can proceed to the construction itself.

Last July 30, 2019, Mayor Abby Binay led the historic signing of the joint venture agreement between Makati City and Philippine Infradev Holdings, Inc. for the subway project.

According to Certeza, “The subway project comes at an opportune time when we are trying to rebuild our economy and to secure employment for thousands of Filipinos dis-

placed by the pandemic.”

Around 10,000 jobs are projected during its construction and operation, particularly for city residents, including senior citizens who are still fit to work.

It will link the central business district, city hall and other key areas in the city, and is expected to increase work productivity by cutting down the daily commute or travel time of workers. It will also have connections to other mass transport systems of the national government like the MRT 3 and the Pasig River ferry.

CEREMONIAL BELL RINGING The Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) hosted a ceremonial bell ringing for the listing by way of introduction of

Altus Property Ventures Inc. (APVI). The company was officially listed in the PSE on June 26. Photo shows from left by row: Faraday D. Go, APVI Director; Atty. Roel A. Refran, PSE COO; Kerwin S. Tan, APVI Treasurer and Compliance Officer; Frederick D. Go, APVI Chairman and President; Ramon S. Monzon, PSE President and CEO; Renee D. Rubio, Securities Clearing Corporation of the Philippines COO; Atty. Rosalinda F. Rivera, APVI Corporate Secretary; Anna Katrina C. De Leon, APVI VP Controller; Cora Ang Ley, APVI Director; Rachelle C. Blanch, PSE VP and Market Operations Head. Contributed Photo

cim Philippines after it failed to secure the approval of the local antitrust body.

San Miguel’s unit, First Stronghold Cement Industries Inc., was supposed to buy some 5.53 billion shares of the cement firm, or about 85.73 percent.

For the first three months of the

year, the company’s income fell 29 percent to P501.54 million, from last year’s P703.86 million.

Sales revenues in the first quarter reached P7.3 billion, a 10-percent decline from last year’s P8.1 billion amid softer prices and lower volumes particularly towards the end of the quarter.

B2

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, July 23, 2020

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

July 22, 2020

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

ASIA UNITED BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK CITYSTATE BANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK COL FINANCIAL FIRST ABACUS FERRONOUX HLDG IREMIT MEDCO HLDG MANULIFE NTL REINSURANCE PHIL STOCK EXCH VANTAGE

46 91.9 69.7 19.8 7.01 7.31 35.5 17.12 20.05 47.3 17 99.05 52.15 20.6 0.47 2.43 0.95 0.275 665 0.6 158 1.06

46.45 91.95 70 20.15 8.44 7.39 35.7 17.76 20.3 47.95 17.1 99.9 52.95 21 0.56 2.55 0.99 0.29 745 0.61 160 1.14

44.1 92 70.7 20.2 8.49 7.37 36 17.78 20.1 47.95 17.1 99.9 53.3 20.7 0.47 2.55 0.93 0.29 670 0.61 160 1.06

46.45 92.3 70.7 20.2 8.49 7.44 36 17.78 20.45 48 17.1 100 53.4 21.2 0.47 2.55 0.94 0.29 670 0.62 160 1.06

44.1 91.5 69.6 20 8.44 7.28 35.5 17.78 20 47.95 17.1 99.05 52.95 20.6 0.47 2.55 0.93 0.27 670 0.6 158 1.06

46.45 91.9 69.7 20 8.44 7.31 35.5 17.78 20.1 47.95 17.1 99.05 52.95 20.6 0.47 2.55 0.94 0.275 670 0.61 158 1.06

46100 1922750 2303390 144200 10400 119700 4312400 5000 62000 700 1000 244790 15180 5200 60000 39000 6000 550000 20 19000 3270 4000

2114310 176836369 161122778.5 2896210 87996 876045 154003390 88900 1250320 33570 17100 24376028.5 807838 108370 28200 99450 5630 154700 13400 11590 522690 4240

1568855 6116529.5 -47413038 106000 145389 -64962095 -872430 -17912113.5 -531750 435710 -

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 2.29 2.3 2.3 2.36 2.29 2.3 5633000 13129220 823940 1.17 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.15 1.19 147000 171720 ALSONS CONS ABOITIZ POWER 26.6 27 26.75 27 26.6 26.6 974200 26096830 1931190 0.152 0.157 0.158 0.166 0.157 0.157 2110000 334550 BASIC ENERGY 23.6 23.8 24.15 24.15 23.5 23.6 258500 6130085 -1082550 FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG 60 61 61 61.5 60 60 27840 1689060 -558600 261.6 262 262.8 264.6 261 262 155390 40777716 -8408868 MERALCO 13.32 13.34 13.3 13.36 13.2 13.34 496900 6601196 -388472 MANILA WATER PETRON 3.11 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.1 3.11 1181000 3673540 -523400 3.32 3.39 3.4 3.45 3.3 3.39 79000 266390 PETROENERGY 11.24 11.38 11.02 11.4 11.02 11.38 200500 2280706 -606144 PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL 18.24 18.28 18.24 18.3 18.22 18.28 33300 607900 -60189.9997 8.01 8.05 8.08 8.08 8.01 8.01 51800 417553 8020 SPC POWER AXELUM 2.19 2.2 2.23 2.24 2.18 2.2 1959000 4310750 -3286970 CENTURY FOOD 14.5 14.56 14.6 14.68 14.5 14.5 2095900 30444674 -26755344 4 4.02 4.02 4.02 4.02 4.02 9000 36180 -36179.9997 DEL MONTE DNL INDUS 4.8 4.84 4.89 4.94 4.75 4.8 3467000 16863410 -3269310 EMPERADOR 9.09 9.1 9.05 9.22 9 9.1 6172300 56313986 -28821528 64 64.95 64.8 65 63.6 64 75410 4835621 -1154788 SMC FOODANDBEV ALLIANCE SELECT 0.61 0.62 0.58 0.62 0.57 0.61 2076000 1267300 -3100 FRUITAS HLDG 1.19 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.19 1.2 3421000 4093360 -251300 31 31.95 30.75 31 30.7 31 14300 441385 GINEBRA JOLLIBEE 129.9 130 134.7 134.7 130 130 751080 98,521,041( 57,505,929.9996) 6.68 7.04 7.05 7.05 6.34 7.04 20700 132440 MACAY HLDG 5.05 5.1 5.14 5.14 5.05 5.05 242500 1231814 -723457 MAXS GROUP SHAKEYS PIZZA 6.13 6.14 6.1 6.2 6.1 6.14 696300 4277931 -392190 1.29 1.3 1.25 1.3 1.22 1.29 5661000 7179400 80740 ROXAS AND CO 4.04 4.23 4.25 4.25 4.25 4.25 1000 4250 RFM CORP ROXAS HLDG 1.48 1.51 1.48 1.5 1.48 1.48 10000 14900 0.103 0.108 0.103 0.109 0.103 0.109 40000 4180 -1090 SWIFT FOODS 122.3 123 122 123.9 122 122.3 626350 76772271 -13834522 UNIV ROBINA VITARICH 0.82 0.83 0.85 0.87 0.82 0.83 4464000 3776010 -122460 54.2 56.9 54.45 54.45 54.45 54.45 250 13612.5 CONCRETE A 58.1 62 58 58.1 58 58.1 300 17417 CONCRETE B CEMEX HLDG 0.93 0.94 0.95 0.95 0.93 0.94 1522000 1427130 -25380 9.9 9.91 9.9 9.98 9.9 9.9 184700 1832894 -693000 EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP 5.07 5.08 5.05 5.1 5.05 5.08 254600 1292215 -648940 HOLCIM 5.24 5.25 5.51 5.6 5.1 5.25 4326400 23110046 245790 7.27 7.31 7.4 7.43 7.11 7.27 2084300 15156471 1272717 MEGAWIDE TKC METALS 0.67 0.68 0.68 0.69 0.67 0.68 190000 127820 -100580 VULCAN INDL 0.81 0.82 0.83 0.83 0.78 0.78 109000 88630 1.92 1.93 1.89 1.95 1.89 1.92 213000 412760 9500 EUROMED PRYCE CORP 4.22 4.23 4.25 4.34 4.22 4.23 188000 801670 -370700 GREENERGY 1.77 1.78 1.68 1.79 1.65 1.78 10980000 19200430 214390 5.05 5.07 5.06 5.1 5.06 5.07 178000 901565 -39576 INTEGRATED MICR IONICS 0.98 1 0.99 1 0.97 1 350000 345710 1.27 1.29 1.29 1.3 1.26 1.29 390000 494470 SFA SEMICON 6.24 6.25 5.97 6.26 5.9 6.24 7000400 42217528 150631 CIRTEK HLDG

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL 0.465 0.475 0.485 0.485 0.465 0.47 3630000 1711800 7.92 8.2 8.35 8.35 7.91 7.92 33200 262783 ASIABEST GROUP AYALA CORP 746 765 761 770 746 746 197550 149986785 49.5 50.9 51.5 51.5 49.5 49.5 582840 29141613.5 ABOITIZ EQUITY 5.95 6 6.01 6.03 5.95 5.95 3662300 21877944 ALLIANCE GLOBAL AYALA LAND LOG 1.64 1.66 1.65 1.66 1.65 1.66 94000 155400 6.07 6.24 6.1 6.24 6.06 6.06 1900 11672 ANSCOR 0.5 0.53 0.5 0.54 0.5 0.51 310000 158700 ANGLO PHIL HLDG ATN HLDG A 0.61 0.62 0.64 0.64 0.6 0.61 7850000 4834770 0.62 0.64 0.64 0.64 0.62 0.64 760000 476810 ATN HLDG B 5.17 5.18 5.24 5.24 5.16 5.17 504100 2608776 COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG 3.58 3.6 3.8 3.81 3.58 3.58 11904000 43720740 8.98 9 8.98 8.98 8.98 8.98 500 4490 FILINVEST DEV FJ PRINCE A 3.5 3.77 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 6000 21000 441 441.8 439.8 444.8 439.8 441.8 59570 26308274 GT CAPITAL 3.3 3.32 3.32 3.32 3.32 3.32 103000 341960 HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT 66.2 67.45 68.3 68.95 66.2 66.2 1781790 120089810 LODESTAR 0.59 0.6 0.58 0.62 0.57 0.59 801000 479270 2.43 2.46 2.43 2.46 2.43 2.43 138000 336220 LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP 7.81 7.82 7.88 7.95 7.82 7.82 2610600 20553316 METRO PAC INV 3.3 3.31 3.36 3.41 3.31 3.31 19738000 65943980 2.91 3.07 3.09 3.09 2.91 3.08 30000 88490 PACIFICA HLDG PRIME MEDIA 0.78 0.79 0.82 0.82 0.77 0.79 49000 37810 915 929.5 925 940 915 915 193670 179015835 SM INVESTMENTS 99.8 99.85 100 100.3 99.5 99.8 165260 16497773 SAN MIGUEL CORP SOC RESOURCES 0.65 0.7 0.64 0.7 0.64 0.7 34000 22070 121 124 122.7 124 120 124 5600 689360 TOP FRONTIER 0.14 0.15 0.151 0.151 0.14 0.14 1040000 153190 ZEUS HLDG

-230750 -7611035 -3938294.5 -3588505 156440 -66211 -14531050 -5855516 -341960 -64739142.5 -101840 -1692441 -16133540 -36104625 6634767 -558520 -

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.52 0.53 0.54 0.55 0.53 0.53 3121000 1668180 32.95 33 33.2 33.9 33 33 9084700 303249480 AYALA LAND BELLE CORP 1.36 1.42 1.37 1.43 1.35 1.36 90000 122400 0.75 0.76 0.72 0.76 0.72 0.76 3972000 2940450 A BROWN 0.124 0.125 0.129 0.131 0.121 0.123 9790000 1210000 CROWN EQUITIES CEBU HLDG 5.86 6.15 5.8 6.15 5.8 6.15 68700 398810 4.9 4.94 4.95 4.96 4.91 4.94 1381000 6816400 CEB LANDMASTERS 0.36 0.365 0.365 0.37 0.36 0.365 810000 293200 CENTURY PROP CYBER BAY 0.255 0.275 0.275 0.275 0.275 0.275 30000 8250 16.32 16.38 16.4 16.4 16.32 16.32 72600 1187506 DOUBLEDRAGON 6.3 6.37 6.27 6.4 6.27 6.37 2050000 13055721 DM WENCESLAO EMPIRE EAST 0.27 0.275 0.26 0.275 0.26 0.27 1060000 283650 0.96 0.97 0.98 0.98 0.96 0.96 5612000 5415480 FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE 0.8 0.83 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 4000 3200 8.76 8.99 8.8 8.99 8.8 8.99 11100 98936 8990 HLDG 0.84 0.86 0.82 0.87 0.82 0.86 773000 656090 PHIL INFRADEV KEPPEL PROP 3.2 3.53 3.16 3.16 3.16 3.16 1000 3160 0.71 0.74 0.71 0.71 0.71 0.71 1000 710 CITY AND LAND 3.19 3.2 3.2 3.24 3.15 3.2 23487000 75195370 MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED 0.186 0.188 0.181 0.196 0.181 0.188 49330000 9305540 PHIL ESTATES 0.29 0.3 0.29 0.29 0.29 0.29 110000 31900 1.34 1.42 1.38 1.42 1.38 1.42 58000 80820 PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND 15.94 16.2 16.5 16.5 15.94 15.94 574200 9240610 0.235 0.249 0.239 0.255 0.239 0.249 1160000 288800 PHIL REALTY 1.55 1.58 1.55 1.55 1.55 1.55 4000 6200 ROCKWELL STA LUCIA LAND 1.82 1.83 1.88 1.89 1.83 1.83 7000 13070 30.9 30.95 31.1 31.3 30.9 30.9 24409300 757473300 SM PRIME HLDG 3.84 3.85 3.84 3.86 3.83 3.85 81000 311270 VISTAMALLS SUNTRUST HOME 1.19 1.2 1.17 1.2 1.16 1.2 221000 260230 3.61 3.68 3.69 3.71 3.61 3.61 656000 2398410 VISTA LAND

28728560 -5430 20540 -392660 -2646470 -184750 -367934 -3564020 -75176 42500 3909880 -93500 -3375704 267080270 -1291930

SERVICES

GMA NETWORK MANILA BULLETIN MLA BRDCASTING GLOBE TELECOM PLDT APOLLO GLOBAL DFNN INC DITO CME HLDG ISLAND INFO JACKSTONES NOW CORP TRANSPACIFIC BR PHILWEB 2GO GROUP CHELSEA CEBU AIR INTL CONTAINER LBC EXPRESS LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA METROALLIANCE A PAL HLDG HARBOR STAR ACESITE HOTEL BOULEVARD HLDG DISCOVERY WORLD WATERFRONT CENTRO ESCOLAR STI HLDG BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY PACIFIC ONLINE LEISURE AND RES MANILA JOCKEY PH RESORTS GRP PREMIUM LEISURE ALLHOME METRO RETAIL PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL PHIL SEVEN CORP SSI GROUP WILCON DEPOT APC GROUP EASYCALL IPM HLDG PRMIERE HORIZON

5.78 0.39 12.2 2108 1348 0.049 3.61 2.87 0.072 1.79 2.04 0.18 2.02 9.06 3.62 40 98.95 12.12 0.73 5.37 1.78 6.2 0.8 1.18 0.027 1.59 0.375 6.31 0.305 2.12 7.09 2 1.27 2.22 2.2 0.305 7.1 1.49 48.1 61.7 127 1.13 15.42 0.32 6.65 3.52 0.219

5.8 0.405 12.8 2120 1349 0.05 3.78 2.88 0.075 1.8 2.05 0.181 2.03 9.1 3.65 40.2 99 13.16 0.77 5.38 1.79 6.3 0.81 1.25 0.029 1.82 0.385 6.49 0.31 2.19 7.1 2.14 1.3 2.71 2.3 0.31 7.12 1.5 48.6 62 127.5 1.14 15.44 0.33 6.82 5.33 0.22

5.91 0.4 13 2090 1344 0.052 3.01 2.97 0.071 1.54 2.07 0.18 1.98 9.2 3.65 39.9 100.4 13.18 0.71 5.69 1.81 6.1 0.82 1.19 0.028 1.59 0.375 6.48 0.305 2.12 7.24 2 1.29 2.3 2.29 0.31 7.2 1.53 49.05 62 126.8 1.15 15.8 0.33 6.79 5.33 0.225

6.05 0.405 13 2130 1359 0.052 4.5 3.02 0.075 1.98 2.07 0.18 2.12 9.47 3.75 40.45 100.4 13.18 0.74 5.69 1.81 6.3 0.82 1.19 0.029 1.59 0.385 6.48 0.31 2.2 7.24 2.15 1.29 2.3 2.29 0.315 7.23 1.53 49.1 63 127 1.16 15.8 0.345 6.8 5.33 0.225

5.76 0.39 12.08 2090 1342 0.049 3.01 2.88 0.071 1.52 2.04 0.177 1.94 9.05 3.54 39.5 97.5 13.18 0.7 5.36 1.75 6.1 0.79 1.19 0.026 1.59 0.37 6.48 0.295 2.12 7.02 2 1.27 2.22 2.29 0.305 7.02 1.48 48 61 126.5 1.12 15.42 0.32 6.79 5.33 0.212

5.8 0.405 12.8 2110 1349 0.05 3.61 2.88 0.072 1.8 2.05 0.18 2.03 9.1 3.65 40 99 13.18 0.74 5.38 1.79 6.3 0.8 1.19 0.029 1.59 0.385 6.48 0.305 2.19 7.1 2.01 1.27 2.22 2.29 0.31 7.1 1.49 48.1 62 127 1.13 15.44 0.33 6.8 5.33 0.22

2504000 790000 4000 64890 143495 9960000 1940000 18379000 500000 1112000 2900000 5160000 1244000 23700 503000 57800 1491720 100 61000 3867500 193000 6200 268000 1000 84400000 2000 390000 400 6790000 51000 8019800 65000 107000 1129000 27000 8970000 285200 3308000 1955300 2635170 35260 906000 1707800 3450000 26500 12000 10280000

14652185 312200 48902 136464120 193626990 494200 7710880 53870420 36340 2028190 5952050 922470 2519830 217468 1845670 2315515 148289334.5 1318 43250 21066771 341010 38980 213320 1190 2333700 3180 144950 2592 2034550 109590 57050388 132730 136050 2565930 61830 2778900 2025686 4967940 94383530 162322600.5 4477919 1029340 26415788 1139950 179975 63960 2269730

-12449700 -56910725 98000 84550 1158570 7199.9999 32930.0002 -320.0001 7190 -39860 -24194672.5 -2647265 609200 -44631294 111600 -111784 4399180 -35865735 -70294982 25313 -30830.0003 -16698862 -23100 -

MINING & OIL ATOK 7.8 7.98 8.15 8.16 7.98 7.98 11400 91383 APEX MINING 1.44 1.45 1.34 1.48 1.34 1.45 41526000 58867770 898380 0.0008 0.0009 0.0008 0.0009 0.0008 0.0009 1412000000 1132600 ABRA MINING 2.62 2.65 2.63 2.68 2.62 2.62 591000 1565160 -324520 ATLAS MINING BENGUET A 1.85 1.88 1.87 1.98 1.75 1.88 914000 1701220 1.85 1.9 1.82 1.93 1.71 1.9 310000 574420 62490 BENGUET B 0.193 0.194 0.18 0.195 0.18 0.193 1410000 268310 -38350 COAL ASIA HLDG CENTURY PEAK 2.62 2.7 2.61 2.7 2.61 2.7 163000 439200 7.17 7.34 7.05 7.43 7.05 7.33 11700 83664 DIZON MINES 1.06 1.07 1.02 1.07 1.02 1.06 11735000 12382400 -865850 FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE 0.223 0.228 0.229 0.229 0.222 0.223 240000 53890 0.12 0.122 0.118 0.124 0.118 0.12 60860000 7412250 LEPANTO A LEPANTO B 0.12 0.121 0.116 0.124 0.116 0.12 22290000 2689740 -626450 MANILA MINING A 0.0086 0.0089 0.0087 0.009 0.0085 0.0088 142000000 1236800 0.0085 0.0088 0.0087 0.0087 0.0087 0.0087 12000000 104400 MANILA MINING B MARCVENTURES 0.69 0.72 0.68 0.72 0.68 0.69 1698000 1175460 53720 NIHAO 1.27 1.28 1.22 1.31 1.22 1.27 282000 354490 2.23 2.24 2.12 2.28 2.12 2.24 31160000 68765740 -4975530 NICKEL ASIA OMICO CORP 0.38 0.4 0.4 0.43 0.4 0.4 1430000 589500 0.55 0.56 0.55 0.58 0.51 0.56 1491000 831740 ORNTL PENINSULA 2.88 2.89 2.9 3 2.88 2.89 4615000 13536650 -261900 PX MINING SEMIRARA MINING 9.5 9.59 10.38 10.5 9.45 9.5 10833700 107164852 3448629 0.0047 0.0049 0.006 0.006 0.0047 0.0048 669000000 3582200 UNITED PARAGON 5.8 6 6 6.2 5.8 6 20900 125545 ACE ENEXOR ORNTL PETROL A 0.0083 0.0084 0.0084 0.0085 0.0082 0.0083 32000000 267800 0.0088 0.0095 0.0089 0.0096 0.0088 0.0095 34000000 314400 ORNTL PETROL B 0.0076 0.0078 0.0076 0.0076 0.0076 0.0076 1000000 7600 PHILODRILL PXP ENERGY 5.97 6 6.18 6.2 5.95 5.97 605500 3659524 -50818

PREFFERED HOUSE PREF A 100.2 102 102 102 102 102 10 1020 103.5 104.7 103.5 103.5 103.5 103.5 1860 192510 ALCO PREF B AC PREF B2R 512 518 512 512 512 512 160 81920 100.3 102.3 100.3 100.3 100.3 100.3 500 50150 CPG PREF A 101.2 102 102 102 102 102 40 4080 DD PREF FGEN PREF G 106.2 107.9 106 106 106 106 2000 212000 513 521 521 521 521 521 1100 573100 GLO PREF P 1012 1019 1019 1019 1019 1019 10 10190 GTCAP PREF B MWIDE PREF 100.6 101.5 101.5 101.5 101.5 101.5 130190 13214285 104.5 106.8 106.8 106.8 106.8 106.8 1500 160200 PNX PREF 3B 1015 1025 1015 1015 1015 1015 10 10150 PNX PREF 4 PCOR PREF 3A 1047 1056 1056 1056 1055 1055 1250 1319000 1099 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 4000 4400000 PCOR PREF 3B SMC PREF 2C 78.1 78.55 78.55 78.55 78.55 78.55 16240 1275652 75.3 75.5 75.25 75.3 75.25 75.3 1100 82815 SMC PREF 2D 76 76.95 75.7 75.8 75.7 75.8 3760 284838 SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H 76.9 77.1 77.1 77.1 77.1 77.1 1000 77100

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS GMA HLDG PDR 5.49 5.5 5.58 5.6 5.47 5.49 1069600 5913282 -3730327

WARRANTS LR WARRANT 0.68 0.69 0.69 0.69 0.63 0.68 35000 22870

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ALTUS PROP 15.34 15.36 15 15.88 14.74 15.36 1686000 25927498 173098 1.79 1.8 1.81 1.85 1.78 1.79 1742000 3147960 -457770 ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH 6 6.09 5.6 6.4 5.6 6.09 546900 3300775 -18362 2.35 2.36 2.44 2.49 2.29 2.36 37205000 88181180 104290 MERRYMART 0.57 0.58 0.59 0.59 0.57 0.57 1078000 615910 11400 XURPAS

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

FIRST METRO ETF 92 92.6 93.95 93.95 92 92 11020 1021701.5 25760

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ANI buys into payment unit of DFNN via share-swap deal

By VG Cabuag

A

@villygc

grinurture Inc. (ANI), the agribusiness arm of businessman Antonio Tiu, said it has signed a deal with a unit of DFNN Inc., for the acquisition of shares in one of its financial platforms via a share-swap transaction.

In its disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, ANI said it is acquiring 51 percent of Pay8 Inc.’s authorized capital stock after increasing its capitalization, through a share swap.

Based on current valuation, the deal is valued at P377.91 million, but is still subject to ANI’s due diligence, the company said.

“The intended acquisition is part of completing the agricultural eco-

system being envisioned by ANI. The financial platform that will be introduced is anticipated to reach the farmers mostly in the unserved rural areas of the country,” ANI said.

Pay8 is majority owned by Hatchasia Inc., which in turn is owned

by DFNN, a company that supplies software and technology to many gambling firms and also runs its own gambling joints.

Hatchasia and Pay8 are compa-

nies primarily engaged in the business of information and technology that provides multiple systems and platforms to various industries, DFNN said in a separate disclosure.

“The financial platform that will be introduced is anticipated to reach the farmers mostly in the unserved rural areas of the country and is targeted to have a major impact in the drive for financial inclusion of the much-neglected banking requirements of our agribusiness sector by enabling farmers, producers, distributors and end users to make cashless payments within its closed looped ecosystem,” DFNN said.

“More importantly, this platform should address the steady decline in revenue of the agricultural sector by providing much needed access to financial services.”

Under the agreement, ANI will buy up to 71 million common shares of Pay8 after it effected an increase in its authorized capital stock to P141.12 million from

P100 million at par value of P1.

In return, the agribusiness company will swap its shares of equivalent value based on a P12 per share valuation of ANI shares.

It will also acquire of up to 24.5 million shares or 20 percent of the shares of Hatchasia at P5 apiece.

“The intended acquisition of shares in Hatchasia, Inc. will give the company participation in the management of Pay8 Inc.’s parent company to ensure alignment. This acquisition will not be a cash-basis transaction,” it said.

ANI said technology will play a big role in what it envisioned to create an agricultural ecosystem, in which accredited merchants where the farmers can purchase their farm inputs and other supplies, and the company has the option to buy the produce. The company aims to integrate other suppliers and buyers in the ecosystem.

A platform will be set up wherein orders and payments will be facilitated.

ERC moves schedule of SPTANC hearings

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

T

he Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has moved to September the public hearings on the applications of Solar Philippines Tanauan Corp. (SPTANC) to develop transmission facilities to connect its solar power facilities to the substations of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

The agency has set on September 16 the “compliance with jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, pre-trial conference and presentation of evidence.”

SPTANC filed in February this year an application to develop and own dedicated point-to-point limited transmission facilities to connect the Naic Solar Power Plant to the Meralco TMC 2 substation.

The solar power provider will construct and own a 140MW solar power in Maragondon, Cavite. This

will be connected to Meralco’s TMC2 115-kilovolt substation through the construction of a transmission line.

SPTANC said the transmission facility will ensure unhampered supply of electricity in Luzon.

The ERC finds the application “sufficient in form and substance with the required fees having been paid.”

Separately, SPTANC will put up another solar power facility that needs to be connected with Meralco’s substation.

“SPTANC filed an application on December 18, 2019 seeking the commission’s approval of its authority to develop and own dedicated point-topoint limited transmission facilities to connect the Tanauan solar power plant to the Meralco,” it said.

The ERC originally scheduled the hearing on this application last March 26.

The agency, however, cancelled all hearings that were scheduled

Malaysia bourse beats world as glove mania spurs record volume

A

mateur traders and a spectacular rally in rubber glove stocks are driving record volumes on Malaysia’s stock exchange, helping the bourse operator outperform the rest of its major global peers this year.

Bursa Malaysia Bhd. has jumped 60 percent this year, eclipsing the 43-percent gain by Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd.—the world’s biggest exchange by market value—even as the latter surged 10 percent on Tuesday after billionaire Jack Ma’s Ant Group announced plans to seek a dual listing in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Similar to the trend in many other countries, individual investors have piled into the Southeast Asian stock market to scoop up battered shares in the wake of the global pandemic, spurred by government stimulus and record low interest rates. An unprecedented rally in glove makers also fueled the fevered buying, sending overall trading volumes to a record 12.5 billion shares on Monday.

“Retail participation continues to chalk new highs and their net buy-

ing momentum hasn’t diminished,” said Jeremy Goh, an analyst at Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd. in a recent note. The exchange will deliver record profit of 80 million ringgit in the second quarter, he said, adding that average daily trading value has jumped 86 percent in that period.

A big part of the trading frenzy in Malaysia has been helped by the meteoric rally in the shares of glove makers. More than $1 of every $10 invested in the nation’s stock market right now is a bet on gloves due to the supernormal demand for hygiene products during the pandemic.

That has in a way shielded the exchange’s shares from the volatility seen in equity markets globally and at home this year.

While liquidity can evaporate as fast as it came in, Goh said that there are encouraging signs it may sustain for the rest of the year. He has raised his earnings estimates for Bursa Malaysia for this year by 10 percent ahead of the company’s results due late July. Goh expects the bourse to report a record quarterly profit. Bloomberg News

from March 17 to April 13 due to the pandemic.

“To contain the spread of Covid-19, SPTANC is directed to implement the health protocols and community quarantine guidelines

mutual funds

required to be observed. Moreover, SPTANC and all those who have signified their intention to appear as oppositor, are highly encouraged to send only one representative each,” the ERC said.

July 22, 2020

NAV One Year Three Year Five Year Y-T-D per share Return* Return Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a 201.12 -26.75% -9.82% -5.59% -20.14% ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 1.0364 -38.2% -13.55% -6.17% -25.01% ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 2.7111 -36.06% -14.52% -8.07% -26.29% Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.6912 -30.26% n.a. n.a. -23.03% First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.6653 -26.75% n.a. n.a. -21.66% First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a 4.3155 -23.91% -8.52% -5.31% -19.01% First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,4 0.6809 -25.47% -11.08% n.a.

-20.23% MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

80.56 -34.21% n.a. n.a.

-21.95% PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a 40.4777 -25.72% -8.24% -4.56% -21.07% Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 432.89 -23.65% -7.64% -4.83% -18.75% Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d,5 0.8808 n.a. n.a. n.a. -14.49% Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a 1.0202 -26.02% -8.15% -4.51% -20.72% Philequity Fund, Inc. -a 30.0806 -25.62% -7.61% -4.18% -20.63% Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.7986 -26.74% n.a. n.a. -21.56% Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a 4.1229 -25.45% -7.7% -3.94% -21.07% Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a 690.4 -25.24% -7.66% -4.13% -20.82% Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 0.6228 -35.03% -11.81% -8.23% -26.85% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.1782 -29.66% -9.29% -5.38% -24.49% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.7918 -25.37% -7.84% -4.1% -20.88% United Fund, Inc. -a 2.8803 -25.53% -6.78% -3.69% -21.16% Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 92.6836 -25.03% -7.18% -3.31% -20.75% ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

$1.0312 3.25% 0.15% 0.7% 0.27% Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.4526 10.16% 7.03% n.a.

5.36% Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a 1.5647 -13.19% -4.18% -3.64% 0.12% ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 2.0668 -12.98% -4.52% -2.04% -5.24% First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.4271 -11.06% -3% -3.19% -7.77% First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,1 0.1863 n.a. n.a. n.a.

-18.47% NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a 1.8499 -6.5% -1.05% -0.45% -5.69% PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a 3.5141 -8.73% -2.14% -1.57% -7.26% Philam Fund, Inc. -a 15.6387 -9.69% -2.47% -1.78% -7.79% Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a 1.9311 -12.34% -3.54% -9% -1.57% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.2963 -17.55% -4.64% -2.95% -14.68% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9511 -9.12% n.a. n.a.

-6.36% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.854 -18.67% n.a. n.a. -14.29% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.8291 -20.8% n.a. n.a. -16.52% Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.812 -20.97% -5.68% -4.17% -16.7% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03893 3.79% 2.79% 1.89% 1.91% 0.2% PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b $1.014 1.43% 0.49% 1.06% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.0052 5.66% 4.84% 3.94% 2.42% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,3 $1.1383 2.57% 2.54% n.a.

0.85% Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 367.16 4.46% 3.2% 2.59% 2.58% ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.9451 2.24% 1.04% -0.07% 2.27% Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 3.1959 4.61% 5.07% 5.07% 2.5% Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a 2.3045 4.94% 3.13% 2.37% 3.65% First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4514 5.61% 3.45% 1.98% 3.91% Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a 4.6563 10.47% 4.52% 6.48% 2.71% Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a,6 1.3024 6.74% 4.21% 2.32% 3.64% Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.9638 7.23% 4.4% 2.34% 4.64% Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.0388 10.38% 3.85% 1.91% 7.73% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1799 6.67% 4.88% 2.9% 3.39% Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a 1.7456 5.52% 4.22% 2.36% 2.62% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $475.9 3.47% 2.52% 2.77% 1.61% ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є216.01 -1.09% 0.7% 1.01% -1.72% ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.2311 3.8% 3.02% 2.66% 1.98% First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0262 2.34% 1.71% 1.43% 1.55% PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b $1.0775 -1.01% 0.01% 0.5% -1.47% Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.4732 5.1% 3.5% 3.25% 2.9% Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0607827 2.35% 2.01% 1.86% 0.8% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.2122 4.03% 2.1% 2.57% 1.17% Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 128.49 3.75% 3.26% 2.46% 2.11% First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0427 2.59% n.a. n.a.

1.6% Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.2851 3.03% 3.04% 2.59% 1.59% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0461 1.63% n.a. n.a.

0.75% Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d,7 1.0099 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -b,d,2 $0.95 n.a. n.a. n.a.

-4.04%

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."

Editor: Eleanor Leyco-Chua

Health&Fitness BusinessMirror

Forum tackles health outcomes that matter

A

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

s the world combats Covid-19, it opened the eyes of the people that investing in health not only saves lives but is also a crucial investment in the country’s economy.

More than 350 people recently attended the Health for Juan and Juana: The Innovation Imperative Forum webinar with the theme “Health as an Investment” intending to widen understanding on sound Health Technology Assessment (HTA) principles and models and draw lessons from them as the Philippines crafts its own fit-for-purpose value assessment processes.

The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) together with its partners, conducted the forum to gain perspectives from government, patients, health-care professionals, and international value assessment groups to discuss shared values in HTA, as well as models that put patients and multi-stakeholder engagement at the center of policies.

“We must keep in mind that value assessments should include all outcomes that matter to patients and families and society. What matters to us is that we are given hope that there is a chance for a cure or that there will be major health improvement for our condition,” said Mr. Teodoro Padilla, PHAP executive director.

He added, “What matters is being able to treat a disease with very few options or even prevent outbreaks and pandemics.”

Continuing with the narrative on the Innovation Imperative, the webinar focused on HTA as a tool for access to new vaccines, tests, and treatments, evaluating their value beyond cost-effectiveness.

The webinar provided opportunities for participants to share their understanding of HTA and its impact on them.

The forum was moderated by former health secretary Dr. Manuel Dayrit, adjunct professor at the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, and Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go, head of the Stephen Zuellig School of Development Management at the Asian Institute of Management.

In the forum, Pharmaceutical Research Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Vice President of International Advocacy Dr. Kevin Haninger highlighted the value of innovative medicines and key attributes of a well-functioning HTA system.

“Transparency, flexibility, stakeholder engagement, and patient access are key attributes of a wellfunctioning value assessment system,” said Dr. Haninger.

Sound HTA is an integral component of the effective and efficient implementation of Universal Health Care. In the Philippines, HTA has been explicitly included in the National Health Insurance Law of 1995 and in the Universal Health Care Act signed by President Duterte in February 2019. The UHC Act is a landmark legislation enabling Filipinos to have access to preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care for medical services.

The state of HTA in the Philippines The UHC law prescribes the creation of an HTA council (HTAC) which will facilitate provisions for financing, converge recommendations on health technologies to be financed, coordinate the HTA process within the Department of Health (DOH), and PhilHealth, and review and assess existing packages.

“Filipinos who cannot afford treatment should not bear the heavy burden of paying medical services”, emphasized Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque adding, “Accessibility and quality health care should be made available to all.”

For her part, Ms. Melanie Santillan, Senior Manager Benefits Development and Research Department at PhilHealth said that it is their aspiration and dream to see that every Juan and Juana to be able to access quality health-care services even in the farthest area of the archipelago.

Covid-19 highlighted the importance of the implementation of UHC provisions, such as HTA, and a collaborative environment to innovate the public health-care system.

“The pandemic challenged our health system and exposed its strengths and limitations,” said Paul Perez, President of Cancer Coalition Philippines.

“We are in a situation where we need to prioritize healthcare spending and the time when we need new and innovative health technology,” noted former Health Undersecretary Dr. Madeleine Valera.

Meanwhile, Dr. Maria Encarnita Limpin, vice president of Philippine College of Physicians, said that HTA is the tool that will help the government meet its objective of equity in health-care services through the National Healthcare System.

“From the physician’s point of view, HTA should ensure that healthcare services provided are of good quality. Quality should not be compromised over quantity,” she said.

Learning from HTA pioneers Admittedly, the Philippines can learn from countries that have successfully implemented HTA. At the global level, HTA has been in implementation since the 1990s. Dr. Alicia Granados, Head of Global Health Technology Assessment Scientific Strategies of Sanofi, said that in Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia, the success of HTA is attributed to two factors—multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder approach.

In Asia, Taiwan’s HTA development is remarkable. From its

early beginnings in 2007, HTA became a model for other countries to look up to. Their success lies in collaboration, synergy and transparency. “ We worked ver y hard and decided to fit the policy-making structure. We tried to make it better,” remarked Dr. Jasmine Pwu, Director of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR).

“We did not break down the old system to build a new one. We supported it to make better decisions,” she added.

The role of patients in HTA Both the CCPh and the Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations believe that integral to the success of the HTA process is patient involvement.

“Patients have something to say about all aspects of HTA but the most important thing they can contribute is a description of the benefits or unwanted effects of a healthcare technology,” stated Einstein Rojas, a board member of PAPO. In her closing remarks, former Health Secretary Dr. Esperanza Cabral stressed, “For health technology to be appropriate, feasible and driven by public health goals, it should be designed in coordination with both public and private sector, and most importantly with the community, patients and health-care providers.”

Experts in the field of health value assessment from both public and private sectors gathered in the Health for Juan and Juana Forum Series 2, to put the spotlight on the value of innovation, dialogue, and multi-stakeholder participation as the way forward in the country’s strategy to improve health outcomes.

On May 27, the Health for Juan and Juana: The Innovation Imperative Forum tackled collaborations for innovative health technologies to address Covid- 19 as well as the country’s aspirations, supportive policies, enabling environment, and patients’ needs and expectations toward building a resilient health system and ensuring access to desired health outcomes.

Health-care groups call for solidarity amid rising Covid-19 cases

S

everal health-care professional organizations call for solidarity against Covid-19 as morbidity and mortality spiked sharply with the partial lifting of community quarantine measures in major areas in the country including Metro Manila and Metro Cebu.

The groups, including the Philippine College of Physicians, Philippine Medical Association, Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, and Philippine College of Chest Physicians, Philippine Pediatric Society, Philippine College of Occupational Medicine, and Philippine Society of Public Health Physicians, call on the government and the citizenry to join hands as signs of another surge appear.

Citing data from the Department of Health, Dr. Encarnita C. Blanco-Limpin, vice president of the Philippine College of Physicians says that there is a notable increase of positive cases recorded per day from June until the onset of July.

While there is an increase in samples tested from March until July, Dra. Limpin emphasizes that the data also shows a clear spike in positive cases. Compared to the average 200 positive cases per day in March, the data reveals that positive cases now reach more than 2,000.

She says, “This is not merely about the test that we are doing but really an increase in the number of people who are getting sick from Covid-19.”

Recently, major hospitals have released public advisories of reaching full capacity of allocated Covid-19 wards and Intensive Care Units (ICUs), prompting a warning of having an overwhelmed healthcare system should positive cases continue to increase. The groups warn that the Philippines may become the next global epicenter of Covid-19 unless prompt action is taken by our leaders and the general public.

Moreover, this has increased the demands of a health-care work force that already faces fear, fatigue, anxiety, and even stigmatization.

The rise in unproven tests and treatments Possibly responsible for the rise in cases is a surge of unproven tests, treatments, and preventive measures. Dr. Arthur Dessi Roman of PSMID meanwhile warns that the continued use of Rapid Antibody Tests (RATs) for clearance to return to work means that infectious patients are being cleared and maybe spreading the disease.

On the other hand, patients that are being told that they are “immune” may become complacent in the practice of nonpharmaceutical interventions. Also, unproven treatments such as steam inhalation and vitamin supplements may be giving people a false sense of security, leading to relaxed vigilance in the prac-

tice of proven measures. Wikipedia lists unproven treatments for Covid-19, many of which originate from the Philippines.

“Everyone is urged to comply with practices and strategies that have been proven to be effective in mitigating the spread of Covid-19,” Dr. Roman says. “As we comply, it is equally important to correctly use these strategies: handwashing and hand hygiene, use of mask, and social distancing.”

Enhanced adherence vs enhanced quarantine The country may no longer be able to endure another period of ECQ as many Filipinos have lost jobs, so the group emphasizes the role of each individual as the true frontliner—the first line of defense against Covid-19. Since the development, manufacturing, and distribution of safe and effective interventions that can prevent and treat may take several more years, each Filipino must master the list of core preventive interventions and recognize how effective these are when properly implemented. In addition to physical distancing, hand washing and wearing masks in public, new scientific findings have highlighted the need for other measures as well.

Dr. Romelei Camiling-Alfonso, technical staff of the Philippine Society of Public Health Physicians meanwhile explains that with the recognition that airborne

transmission plays a role in spreading disease, adequate ventilation is now more important in public transport and the workplace, together with the use of face shields and the conduct of public activities in open spaces.

She says, “There is more work do to.

Most of the policies, most should be operationalized at the local government and when we talk to the barangay captions and the mayors, they still need more help to bring the systemic intervention at the level of the community.”

Dr. Limpin also calls fellow Filipino citizens and the government to join together against Covid-19. “What is important is for us to help one another,” Dr. Limpin reiterates. “We do not want our healthcare system to breakdown because of the increasing rise of Covid-19 cases in the country. We need to join together, do what we should be doing as Filipino individuals to prevent the increase of cases.”

In their statement, the groups say “Instead of resorting to and promoting unproven strategies, we must join hands and make sure everyone knows these strategies that have worked in controlling the pandemic in other countries.”

“All sectors—the public, government, business, civil society, faith-based organizations, healthcare workers, and academe—must work together to prevent infections and to save lives while we wait for a vaccine.”

Thursday, July 23, 2020 B3

FITNESS RULES

By Greggy H. Romualdez

Practical home workout equipment that won’t break the bank

T

he commercial gym scene has changed drastically since the onset of quarantines and lockdowns brought about by the pandemic. For one, they have ceased to operate in many parts of the country still under general community quarantine and enhanced community quarantine. Those allowed to operate in limited areas under modified GCQ are permitted to do so under stringent rules such as limited gym capacity, the wearing of face masks and physical distancing.

Unable to wait for the reopening of gyms, some have resorted to putting up their own home gyms complete with treadmills, rowing machines, full-on weightlifting equipment: heavy plates, Olympic bars, power cages and whatnot. A complete home gym set up, will of course, come with a hefty price tag. Needless to say, not all of us are prepared to shell out the big bucks.

But, must working-out from home always require a major investment? Not really. We can buy small, relatively inexpensive items that will make home workouts possible without burning a hole in your pocket. Here are some of them:

Exercise mat—Perhaps the most basic and practical piece of exercise equipment. Just lay it on the floor and perform ab exercises, push-ups, glute bridges and various stretches.

Indispensable when doing yoga poses alone or during online classes.

Dumbbells—The costliest item on this list, a pair of dumbbells, when used correctly, will provide a good upper and lower body workout.

For the upper body there’s shoulder presses, floor presses (which you can do on an exercise mat) and bicep curls. To work the lower body you can do walking lunges, goblet and dumbbell squats.

Jump rope—A jump rope or skip rope as some would call it is an excellent calorie burner. There’s a multitude of free jump rope programs to choose from online. Most anyone can do this cardio exercise. For beginners, take it slow. Skip or jump over the rope at a pace that is comfortable. You can try this beginner’s workout that simply consists of jumping rope for 10 minutes, with a 30 second work and 30 second rest cycle. Jump rope for 30 seconds, rest for 30. Repeat for a total of 10 minutes.

Go and feel the burn.

Resistance bands—These come in various lengths and resistance levels depending on what kind of exercise you wish to perform. Resistance band squats, chest presses, bicep curls are just some of the things you can do to firm up and tone those muscles that have been made inactive by a prolonged quarantine.

Household items— Not willing to shell out for equipment, but bodyweight exercises just won’t cut it? Easy to find household items can sometimes suffice. Fill a backpack with heavy stuff, wear it and do some squats for a nice leg workout. Or grab a small suit case or duffel bag to do some bicep curls for an awesome arm pump. Or how about wrapping your arms around a filled up water dispenser bottle and doing some challenging front squats? A one liter bottle of any beverage that you can grip can be used to do light-resistance, high-repetition shoulder presses.

Indeed, these are challenging times. Some creativity must be deployed in getting our fitness fix. After all, regular exercise should be part of an over-all plan to boost immune system function, and remain healthy throughout this pandemic and beyond.

The micronutrients you need to support your immune system

I

n an effort to further inform the public of the benefits of nutrients, an independent review was made on the global scientific evidence regarding the roles of nutrients in support of immune response, including response against viral infections.

The study was composed of a panel of experts, invited by Prof. Manfred Eggersdorfer, PhD, Professor for Healthy Ageing at the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands.

He is active as a member of the Advisory Board of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and has authored numerous publications in the fields of vitamins, innovation in nutritional ingredients, reviewer for a variety of journals and associate editor of the “International Journal of Vitamin and Nutrition Research.”

The research findings show a strong relation in the role of specific nutrients in supporting immune health in reducing the risk, duration, and severity of viral infections. The supplementation of nutrients on top of a well-balanced diet may help lower the risk of infection, and may play a role in faster recovery.

With restrictions on mobility and physical distancing slowly being eased, here are ways on how you can further support your immune system to fight against the risk of a viral infection.

Key nutrients

The expert panel confirmed that nutrients work together to support an effective immune system and reduce the risk of viral infections, including respiratory tract infections. These include the vitamins A, C, D, Zinc, as well as omega-3 fatty acids. For optimal results, it is desirable to ensure the intake of adequate amounts to help support the immune system.

Deficiencies or low status in nutrients have the potential to negatively affect the body’s immune function and may, therefore, decrease resistance to infections. As supported by Covid-19 data, it is the elderly that are especially vulnerable, because they have relatively weaker

immune systems, may suffer from comorbidities and nutritional frailty, and therefore often do not have an inadequate intake and uptake of the essential nutrients.

Oranges, fish, and meat to keep the doctors away

While there are ways to naturally consume the necessary nutrients with a healthy and wellbalanced diet, nutritional supplements are a convenient and efficient way to assure adequate intake, help eliminate gaps in nutrition, and add support to the immune system.

For a strong immune system, an intake of 200 to 500 mg/day of vitamin C is recommended for healthy people. This can be achieved by eating three oranges or two kiwi fruits every day or by taking a supplement. Vitamin C requirements change depending on the health status of a person, and an intake of 1g to 2g per day is helpful for people who are sick.

Vitamin D is also effective in reducing the risk of respiratory tract infections. Studies have shown that an intake of 2000 IU daily is optimal.

Fatty fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. However, if it is difficult to eat 2-3 portions of fatty fish per week to achieve the recommended amount, a supplement of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) amounting to 250 mg a day would be a good alternative.

Zinc, while not stored in the body, is found in most of the meat we consume. Foods rich in Zinc are crab, beef, pork, and chicken, vegetables such as mushrooms and kale; chickpeas, lentils, and beans are also very good sources of zinc, with the recommended intake of 8 to11 μg a day.

It is good to note that while nutritional supplementation will not necessarily prevent infections or cure the infection, it may help decrease the risk of falling ill, symptoms, and the duration, plus help in facilitating recovery. Therefore, a resilient immune defense is important to help reduce the risk or manage the implications of viral infections.

TheBroaderLook BusinessMirror

B4 Thursday, July 23, 2020

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Pandemic shapes direction of Duterte

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie, Butch Fernandez @butchfBM & Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

B

Reporters

ORDERING on the cavalier, President Rodrigo Duterte will address, physically inside the hallowed halls of Congress, Filipinos half of whom have become despondent with the coronavirus disease 2019 and the extreme measures his government took to curb its spread. Duterte will stand, in a manner of speaking, between the portal of the past and future; the unfinished business and the hazy way forward.

And as he leads the reopening of the second regular session of the 18th Congress, lawmakers (mainly) and government officials would aim to find their bearings anew to help the country’s economic rebound from the crippling effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, while continuing the “unfinished business” set out in the time of “normalcy;” a time that appears to have felt like yesterday.

Nonetheless, the going would be easy for the Duterte administration as all lawmakers concede the need to respond to the impact of Covid-19 and the measures against its spread is urgent.

Both the majority and the minority in the Senate, for one, agree such response will largely shape the direction of the second regular session of the 18th Senate when the chamber reconvenes on July 27.

This is because many of the carryover bills from 2019, which senators had vowed to continue working on in 2020, have been overshadowed by the massive, mind-boggling challenges of dealing with the pandemic, described around the world as the worst

crisis to hit humanity since the 1929 depression.

Prostrate state

IN fact, even the 2020 budget had to be drastically altered via the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act. That law, Republic Act 11469, was passed in a special session in late March, to give the President flexibility to realign billions in agency budgets for the huge requirements of the moment: urgent purchases of personal protective equipment; providing outright doles to millions of households whose livelihood was disrupted by the virus-induced lockdowns; and, beefing up capacities of public hospitals and building quarantine facilities, among others.

As a result, much of the “unfinished business” from the Senate before it adjourned sine die on June 5 will not just involve passing a slew of stimulus and recovery measures including the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act (or Bayanihan 2), but the pandemic is reshaping the context in which even the remainder of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) is being viewed.

For instance, the senators who are sometimes accused by economic managers and congressmen of taking their sweet time passing the second tax reform the Trabaho bill that evolved into the Citira (Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Reform Act) and now, Create (the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act) have committed to urgently pass their version of the bill by August, at least.

But it’s just the first part of the bill the reduction in corporate income tax (CIT) that is seen to draw unanimous support. The contentious other half the rationalization of tax incentives is still expected to spark debates, notwithstanding claims by the House that its revised version of Citira, or Create, considers the near-prostrate state of many businesses, especially export-oriented firms in economic zones.

Opting easy

HOUSE Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda said his committee in the Lower House is preparing for “likely” bicameral conference committee proceedings on tax reforms that will be crucial to economic recovery reforms, and which are pending in the Senate.

“As I said before, the committee is prepared to accept the Senate version of the CREATE, but if there are provisions that will erode revenue too much, or are contrary to the committee’s basic principles on tax equity, efficiency and effectiveness, then we are also prepared to fight for a more sustainable version,” Salceda said. “I prefer the easier path, of course.”

He added that the committee is also preparing for bicam proceedings on the Pifita (Passive Income and Financial Intermediaries Taxation) Act and the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act (Rpvara), or Package 3 of tax reform.

‘We’re prepared’

SALCEDA reiterated he prefers “the easier, faster route of no bicam.”

“So I hope the Senate passes

a version that accepts our basic principles,” he added. “But, if not, we are prepared to have a bicam on these.”

Meanwhile, as chairman of the House economic stimulus and recover y cluster, Salceda said given that the stimulus bills have also tax provisions, “we are also prepared to go into bicam on these bills.”

The solon said the committee will also explore ways to provide small-business regulatory relief.

“We will study and hear from stakeholders if there are charges that we can waive for small businesses, or regulations that we can relax so they can stay afloat,” he added.

Salceda said he, especially, wants small businesses to be able to register with the appropriate agencies for free, with some sort of tax holiday of maybe two years, “so that they can benefit from stimulus programs, and, when they recover, pay their fair share of taxes.”

“We will study what would be most helpful to small businesses,” he added.

Economic recovery

DUBBED by the Department of Finance (DOF) as the “largest fiscal stimulus program for enterprises in the country’s history,” the CREATE bill, if passed, will trigger an immediate cut in the CIT rate from the current 30 percent—the highest in the region—to 25 percent this year.

This would be followed by a 1-percentage point reduction starting 2023 until it reaches 20 percent by 2027. As a result, the government is expecting to give up at least P667 billion in revenues from this reduction.

The DOF also said the CREATE bill, if enacted into law, will benefit non-large taxpayers as there will be an extension of the applicability of the net operating loss carryover for losses incurred this year from the current three years to five years.

Finance Assistant Secretary and Spokesman Antonio Joselito Lambino II said they are still hoping that all the remaining

tax reform packages, including CREATE, will be passed by the end of the year to help the economy bounce back from the slump caused by the pandemic.

“The immediate 5-percent reduction in CIT will help small businesses by leaving more money in their hands so that they can retain jobs and pay for expenses. The ability to offer fiscal and non-fiscal incentives will allow us to attract the most desirable investments in terms of job creation and technology,” Lambino told the BusinessMirror. “These benefits have been shared with our legislators.”

Reform packages

LAMBINO explained that “Package 3 will help LGUs [local government units] in their resource mobilization and Package 4 will broaden investment and insurance opportunities.

“These will also help our economy recover from the pandemic,” he added.

With the gover nment’s vow on ta x refor m, Lambino said credit rating agencies continue to laud the Philippines and affir m its invest-grade ratings, which they consider as a “vote of confidence” in a sea of downg rades a nd negat ive out look rev isions worldw ide.

“The credit rating agencies continue to cite our positive track record in debt management and our commitment to tax reform as key factors in their favorable assessments of our credit-worthiness. The Duterte administration intends to maintain its approach to debt management; and we hope Congress will pass the remaining tax reform packages that will further improve the fairness, simplicity, and equity of our tax system,” he said.

While the country has been receiving multiple affirmations of its investment grade credit ratings, Lambino said it would still be hard to predict what the future holds for the country’s credit ratings as the forthcoming upgrades would depend on several factors, including how long the pandemic will last and how long a vaccine becomes available. The economic team is eyeing to achieve an A rating before mid-2022.

“In the meantime, the Duterte administration’s economic team is committed to exercising prudent and responsible management of the country’s resources,” he said.

Tax cuts

In this photo provided by the Malacanang Presidential Photographers Division, Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, left, listens as they discuss issues related to the new coronavirus during a meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) at the presidential guest house in Panacan, Davao City, southern Philippines on Tuesday July 7, 2020. Arman Baylon/Malacanang Presidential Photographers Division via AP

SENATE Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said in June, as the senators began their break, that the chamber “gives its word” that when sessions resume in July, the Bayanihan 2 and the CREATE bill will get priority attention. But he was explicit in his support only for the CIT reduction.

“The Senate of the Philippines expresses its full support for the passage of the enhanced and repackaged Create [bill], previously known as the Citira. In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, economies the world over are on the brink of collapse, with businesses needing massive government support in order to rebuild, recover and retain jobs for their employees.”

According to Zubiri, the amendments in the CREATE bill “address this need head-on; offering businesses an unprecedented and outright 5-percent tax cut, thereby reducing the CIT rate from 30 to 25 percent.”

“This reduced CIT rate will allow businesses to recoup the unanticipated losses they incurred during the various stages of community quarantine across the nation,” Zubiri added.

The passage of the CREATE bill, he said, “will be particularly vital

to MSMEs [micro, small, and medium enterprises], which make up 99 percent of the nation’s corporate taxpayers and employ a majority of Filipino workers.” The MSMEs were particularly hit hard by the lockdowns that began in mid-March.

Other cogs

IN a hint that beyond the CIT cut, there may yet be much debate between the two chambers, especially on the incentives, Zubiri said: “While we see the merits of the measure, we are also committed to ensuring that the best version of the bill should pass the Senate—one that is truly responsive to the extraordinary needs of our time,” he said.

Rest assured, Zubiri said, “that your legislators are working tirelessly in scrutinizing the measure in its finer points in order to craft and approve the most effective economic recovery plan possible.

“You also have our word that we will take up the bill upon resumption of the session in July and work to pass it by the month of August.”

So, too, will the other cogs in the CTRP wheel the Pifita and the Rpvara. Both measures are up for bicameral conference committee deliberations.

Top priority

HOUSE Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the lower chamber will prioritize the immediate passage of the proposed Bayanihan 2 and other fiscal measures when the Second Regular Session of the 18th Congress opens on July 27.

Cayetano said Bayanihan 2 and other fiscal measures are needed to ensure that MSMEs and banks are given assistance and opportunities to bounce back from the financial losses caused by government’s grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Aside from Bayanihan 2, these measures include the Financial Institutions Strategic (FIST) bill and the Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enter prises for Economic Recovery (Guide) bill.

“In the coming days, we will be working and coordinating closely with various national government agencies in preparation for [the President’s] fifth Sona [State of the Nation Address] and the beginning of the second regular session,” Cayetano said.

Cayetano said the House is holding consultations with different sectors and groups to ensure that its legislative agenda are aligned with the needs of the people and the vision of the President.

Before the Congress sine die adjournment in June, the House had approved the following: House Bill (HB) 6815 or the P1.3-trillion Accelerated Recovery and Investments Stimulus for the Economy (Arise) bill; HB 6817, or the AntiCovid-19 Discrimination bill; HB 6864, or the Better Normal for the Workplace, Communities, and Public Spaces bill; and, HB 6920, or the P1.5 trillion Covid-19 Unemployment Reduction Economic Stimulus (Cures) bill.

All these bills are now pending before the Senate.

How-to hoped for

THE Senate minority, meanwhile, expects Duterte to unwrap the administration’s comprehensive economic recovery plan when he delivers his fifth Sona before a joint session of Congress on Monday.

“At the top of our [Sona] wish list is to hear the President’s plan on how to revive our economy heavily hit by the pandemic and help millions of our countrymen, including hundreds of thousands of overseas Filipino workers, who lost their livelihood,” Senate Minority Leader

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace

TheBroaderLook BusinessMirror

Thursday, July 23, 2020

B5

administration’s unfinished business

In this handout photo provided by the Malacanang Presidential Photographers Division, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, left, talks with troopers during his visit to the Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City, southern Philippines, on Friday, July 3, 2020. The Philippine president on Friday signed a widely opposed anti-terror law which critics fear could be used against human rights defenders and to muzzle dissent. Simeon Celi Jr./Malacanang Presidential Photographers Division via AP

Franklin M. Drilon said in a radio interview last Tuesday.

Drilon suggested that the upcoming Sona is an “opportunity for the President to present an overall plan on how the country will survive the pandemic.”

Drilon disclosed that at the top of the opposition’s SONA wish list is to hear straight from Duterte his administration’s plan “on how to revive our economy.”

At the same time, Drilon deplored the administration’s “lack of an overall comprehensive plan in the fight against Covid-19” lamenting that because the government did not have an overall plan, “it resulted in a shotgun approach in dealing with the pandemic and in implementing the longest lockdowns in the world, which did little to prevent the spread of the virus but only damaged the economy.”

Expect cooperation

THE opposition senator asserted that “we want to hear the government’s plans on how we can get out of this situation as a whole; and I assure them that the members of the opposition will cooperate with the administration in crafting measures to help them address the pandemic.”

At the same time, Drilon conveyed a wish to “hear President Duterte talk about how much the country would really need to beef up the economy,” even as he noted “conflicting figures between the Department of Finance and Congress.”

Drilon recalled that members of the House of Representatives were reported to be eyeing a P1-

trillion stimulus package to revive the economy but Malacañan and the DOF found the amount too high as the government can only allow up to P140 billion. That figure is the price tag the Senate put on its own version of Bayanihan 2, which hurdled second reading before its June break.

Proposed bills

FOR Salceda, the eye is on the revenue ball.

Salceda said his committee is now working on the passage of several bills providing government with much-needed revenue to support the economy now sputtering with the lockdown-easing measures.

He said his “committee is prepared to do whatever it takes, on the tax side, to get us back to positive territory.”

According to Salceda, their proposals “will yield about P591 billion in five years; more than enough to cover the period’s incremental debt payments due to our Covid-19 response and new programs to boost the economy.”

These measures include the proposed motor vehicle road users’ tax, the tax on compensation and tax on revenues of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos), tax administration reforms and the proposed digital taxation.

“First, we will optimize existing revenue sources; that means, as much as possible, we will try to improve or update existing taxes, or enhance tax administration,” Salceda said. “That is why my digital economy taxation bill only closes

tax loopholes for the tech giants instead of creating new taxes and why my proposed taxes on Pogos clarifies confusion in taxing those companies.”

Essential services

THE lawmaker added the committee’s proposal on motor vehicle road users’ taxes “also just updates the rates, which has not been done since 2004, even if it was mandatory to do so under the law.”

Salceda added: “On entirely new taxes, except for purposes of health or some other much greater good, I am skeptical of consumption taxes, especially at a time when you need to boost consumption.”

He said he “will also not entertain taxes that will affect the poorest of the poor, so barter trade taxes will not even be discussed.”

He said other reforms that would bolster the government’s revenue include: the implementation of oversight into customsbonded warehouses; full digitalization of the taxpayer filing and payment in the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR); and, application of zero tax for some period and tax base expansion after for MSMEs. “I will also continue to exercise active oversight on the BIR and the Bureau of Customs (BoC),” Salceda said. “First, I hope to see to it that they complete basic digitalization– that means, most essential services that most taxpayers deal with should be possible to do remotely.”

Over, above

SALCEDA added he will be rolling

out “a legal review of the impediments to digitalization in the coming session.”

Likewise, he said his committee will study the call on luxury taxes.

“We just have to study which luxuries in particular will be worth the effort, since luxuries consumption is also depressed during economic crises. They are very progressive taxes, and if we can find luxury goods worth taxing, I prefer luxury taxes over broad consumption taxes,” he said.

“We favor luxury taxes, but we need very strong tax administration measures to ensure that we are able to collect them. Otherwise, we will just widen the tax gap,” Salceda explained. “For example, we have to figure out whether it is better to impose them on imports or at the point of sale. Proper entry, reporting, valuation and assessment will be just as important in this case as collection.”

Protecting consumers

FOR his part, House Committee on Trade and Industry Chairman Weslie Gatchalian said the global pandemic saw the unprecedented rise of e-Commerce in the country.

“Unfortunately, during this period, we are also seeing an increase in the number of scammers who are seeking to take advantage of the latest technological development,” Gatchalian said. “Thus, the Committee saw the need to introduce regulations to this largely unregulated market to ensure that online consumers and merchants are protected, industry best practices are adopted and cross-border

disputes [are] resolved.”

The lawmaker said the panel is now ready to present the substitute bill to HB 6122 or the Internet Transaction Act for the plenary approval of all the members.

In relation to consumer protection, he said the committee has also approved the creation of a technical working group to work on the amendments to the 28-year-old Consumer Act. “ T he amend ments seek to bridge the gap between the law and the advances that have happened since it was passed in 1992,” he said.

Lacking sufficiency

LIKEWISE, Gatchalian said the committee is also considering the amendments to the Price Act, which, as seen when the pandemic struck the country, is insufficient because thousands of Filipinos fall victim to unconscionable price increases that are not subjected to any price ceiling.

He said the three bills being prioritized by the Committee are fully supported by the Department of Trade and Industry.

“Once passed, these bills hope to create a more inclusive economy for every Filipino,” he said.

According to Gatchalian, other bills that have been referred to the trade and industry panel and now under study are amendments to the Cheaper Medicines Act and the Intellectual Property Code.

Engaging Cha-cha

SENATORS, led by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, are also ex-

pected to pick up key reforms that were part of their unfinished business, and which they believe would pull the rug from under resurgent moves in the House, supposedly fueled by a “clamor” from local executives, to amend the Constitution.

The amendments to the Public Service Act (PSA), where Sotto is a key mover, and the retail liberalization amendments, are of this mold.

Drilon said on Sunday that the avowed need for Charter change, which is to make the Charter more investment-friendly, will be mooted by the passage of the amended PSA. Drilon, a former secretary of justice, also reminded House advocates for Charter change that their other avowed basis for Chacha, i.e., to “institutionalize” the Mandanas ruling, is not necessary since SC rulings are deemed part of the law of the land already.

Meanwhile, the pandemic has also given some lawmakers cause to push their pet bills.

Two measures pending in late 2019, the Department of Disaster Resilience and the Department of Overseas Filipinos were recently cited as becoming more relevant in light of the pandemic-induced problems.

For instance, the latter bill is seen needed in times like the pandemic, when nearly half a million Filipino workers were displaced from their jobs, sending various government agencies scrambling to repatriate them. At press time, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported the number of those repatriated is nearing 100,000.

B6 Thursday, July 23, 2020

Give in to your cravings when you #DineInSM! PLDT Enterprise enables free access to WHO, DOH’s COVID KAYA tracing app

M COVID KAYA is a real-time reporting platform utilized by health workers in the Philippines to track COVID-19 cases

I

N support of the government’s efforts to ramp up contact tracing capacity for COVID-19 cases, PLDT Enterprise enables free access to COVID KAYA app developed by the Department of Health (DOH) Epidemiology Bureau.

PLDT Enterprise is offering registered health workers free access and required connectivity for the COVID KAYA mobile tracing app in cooperation with DOH, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

Contact-tracing app COVID KAYA is a real-time reporting platform used exclusively by registered health workers in the country to track all COVID-19 cases and contacts. Through this partnership, app users need not worry about incurring mobile data charges.

“PLDT Enterprise's focus on bayanihan is best exemplified by our commitment to continuously provide the right technology solutions for the problems we face today.

With this initiative, we hope to further

enable DOH in their endeavors to respond to and combat COVID-19,” said Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT President & CEO and SVP & Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups.

Healthcare providers using this app can easily report cases to the DOH Epidemiology Bureau, allowing the health agency to handle case investigations and interview those who may have come in contact with infected individuals. The app's real-time monitoring capability will show the bottlenecks and delays in patient services across the continuum of care. Moreover, frontline responders will be able to use COVID KAYA to better manage their work.

With WHO's support, DOH aims to simplify using COVID KAYA to allow the smooth flow of critical data among frontline responders. Currently, the two main priorities for the app include boosting the efficient data entry and data management of COVID-19 cases and their contacts, as well as simplifying real-time data entry in COVID KAYA.

“The timely sharing of data and speedy action to contain transmission is critical in saving lives,” said Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, Acting WHO Representative in the Philippines. “As the country expands testing, contact tracing in order to track, isolate and treat is an important step in reducing the impact of COVID-19 to secure a healthy future and building back our society and economy. COVID KAYA is a helpful tool for the government and public health work force to quickly collect, analyze and share information - we need to empower our front liners and help them make decisions efficiently.”

This collaboration with WHO and DOH is one of the ongoing initiatives that PLDT Enterprise has been engaging in since the pandemic began. PLDT Enterprise is continuously pushing efforts to make connectivity more accessible and available to the public and private sectors at this time.

For more information, please visit pldtenterprise.com.

Megaworld Lifestyle Malls partners with UV Care for intensified mall disinfection

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OOKING to intensify its safety and sanitation efforts, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls has partnered with UV Care, a certified and trusted brand that specializes in UV-C sterilization, for a more thorough and intensive deep cleaning and disinfection of its mall facilities and high touchpoint areas.

“We are continuously looking for effective ways we can upgrade the safety and sanitation of our malls. With deep cleaning and intensive disinfection part of our top priorities, we have partnered with certified and trusted brands and companies, especially those with innovative technologies that can help in ensuring customer and mall safety.” says Graham Coates, first vice president and head of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls.

UV technologies include: UV Escalator Handrails This UV technology disinfects handrails and helps stop the spread of germs from one hand or person to another.

UV Handheld Vacuum, This eliminates bacteria in common areas like waiting areas, including public furniture like sofas, chairs, and the like. This also helps clean product surfaces especially with retail partners and their products.

UV Sterilizing Cabinet, Customers now have the option to sanitize their personal belongings, including shopping bags, through UV sterilization and ensure they go home with clean products and essentials.

UV Care has not only conducted experiments against germs and bacteria, but they have also implemented experiments particularly against COVID-19 itself. Results have confirmed that through their UV technologies and sterilizers, the virus has been sanitized by more than 99.99%, making it effective.

This collaboration with UV Care aims to reinforce Megaworld Lifestyle Malls’

ISS the fun of dining out? Craving something you haven’t had in a long time? Wondering where you can eat safely? While visiting SM for some essential shopping and chores is a must, you can now discover a new and safe dining experience as SM resumes its dine-in services in its malls nationwide!

“With our #DineInSM campaign, SM Supermalls allows you to satisfy your cravings and enjoy fun time over food you crave without compromising your health and safety,” said Jonjon San Agustin, SM Supermalls senior vice president for marketing.

Here are some things to expect when dining at SM: New ways to dine. Indulge the foodie and the shutterbug in you with SM’s awesome and larger-than-life themed dining spaces.

From the tropics to jungle safaris, dine safely and in comfort, and snap photos at the new instagrammable murals and signages with your

fave #DineInSM buddy!

Gifts and promos. From big discounts to buy-one-take-one promos, SM Supermalls is ready to welcome you back with some of the best food deals and while you’re at it, look out for fun augmented reality games at participating restaurants. Mallgoers may also receive special tokens and prizes for every minimum spend!

Safe dining. No need to worry! All restaurants at SM have implemented strict health measures – complete with transparent dividers — so you can simply enjoy moments of fun and laughter as you dine-in.

Dining entertainment. While dining, catch a variety of shows and performances on SM’s YouTube channel or Facebook Live on your mobile phones. You can also gain access to exclusive content for a minimum spend at select restaurants!

For more information, visit www. smsupermalls.com or follow @smsupermalls on all social media platforms.

Philippine Statistics Authority: "Sama Na, Census Na!"

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HE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) through Executive Order No. 352 and Republic Act No. 10625 will kick off the 2020 Census of Population and Housing (CPH) in September this year. All households and institutional populations will be enumerated to count all members and determine their respective demographics and socioeconomic characteristics. The PSA will undertake the entire process of enumerating the population of the Philippines by going through collecting, compiling, evaluating, analyzing, publishing, and disseminating data through the 2020 CPH. This entire process consists of listing by batch some characteristics of each individuals and households at a certain time and area which will be conducted by the PSA rempresentatives. Some data to be gathered are sex, age, marital status, education, religion, ethnicity, disability, occupation, and records of birth and death. Information on main sources of water, electricity, fuel resources, housing units, garbage disposal, toilet facility, ICT devices, vehicles, and internet access will also be collected.

More than 100,000 enumerators and Census supervisors will conduct the house-to-house data gathering all over our country. Census interview will last for only 15 to 30 minutes per household.

No less than the Popstar Royalty Sarah Geronimo-Guidicelli is leading the call for the public to participate in the 2020 CPH. Her 60-second infomercial was recently launched through a virtual press conference attended by Minette Esquivias, Officer-In-Charge, Censuses and Technical Coordination Office, Florante Varona, Officer-In-Charge, National Censuses Service and Joseph Cajita, Chief Statistical Specialist, Population and Housing Statistics. Watch the infomercial via: https://youtu. be/5VkY7ZT0FF8.

Also launched in the same press conference were the CPH Dance Video and Music Video shot (pre-pandemic) in Legazpi City (representing Luzon), Cebu City (representing Visayas) and Davao City (representing Mindanao), indicating that the upcoming 2020 CPH will be conducted nationwide. Ms. Flor Varona composed this jingle. All of the band members are from the different offices of the Philippine Statistics Authority. The dancers are from the Central office (NCR), as well as from the Regional Field Offices.

The 2020 CPH aims to provide the government executives and policy makers the updated data on population and housing that could be used as bases for their social and economic development plans, policies, projects and programs. The results of the census will also be used to develop key strategies for population management. This will also be beneficial to businesses, industries and non-profit organizations, including research and academic institutions.

The 2020 CPH will be the 15th Census of Population and 7th Census of Housing. PSA assures the public that all responses to the 2020 CPH are confidential, as provided by Section 26 or Republic Act No. 10625 and Section 8 of Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012. No data or tabulation may be produced to identify any household nor any individual.

Responding to CPH is mandatory, as stipulated in Section 25 of RA 10625 or Philippine Statistical Act. Therefore, answering all the questions in this official census is obligatory.

A lot of preparations have already been made for this undertaking. One of these is the training of more than 100,000 enumerators who will be following safety precautions against the Covid-19 pandemic, like the wearing of face-masks, physical distancing and adhering to the health protocols of the government.

Every Filipino citizen is urged to participate in the 2020 Census of Population and Housing by providing truthful answers to the census questions. Everyone's cooperation will be of great help to the development of the country today.

Celebrate the 25 magical years of Enchanted Kingdom

sanitation and disinfection efforts across its 19 lifestyle malls in the country and further guarantee mall-goers’ safety.

Megaworld Lifestyle Malls has 19 lifestyle malls across the country including Eastwood Mall, Eastwood Citywalk and The Clubhouse at Temple Drive in Quezon City; Lucky Chinatown in Binondo, Manila; Uptown Bonifacio, Forbes Town, McKinley West and Venice Grand Canal in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City; Newport Mall at Resorts World Manila in Pasay City; Three Central Mall, Paseo Center and San Lorenzo Place Mall

in Makati City; California Garden Square in Mandaluyong City; The Village Square Alabang and Alabang West Parade in Las Piñas City, Twin Lakes Shopping Village in Laurel, Batangas; Southwoods Mall in Binan, Laguna; Mactan Alfresco in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu; and Festive Walk Mall in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

To find out more about Megaworld Lifestyle Malls’ safety and sanitation efforts, visit https://megaworld-lifestylemalls.com/ safer-and-happier/ or check out Megaworld Lifestyle Malls on Facebook.

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OTHING can stop Enchanted Kingdom from bringing magic to everyone right in the comforts of their homes! In celebration

of its 25th Anniversary, the country’s first and only world-class theme park will hold its virtual 25th Anniversary kick-off this July 25, 2020!

Although we can’t go out just yet, Enchanted Kingdom still finds a way to reconnect with everyone and provide magical experiences and entertainment they all long for. The 25 Magical Years virtual celebration will be hosted by Josh Colet with performances from EK’s homegrown talents—Victoria’s Way and Kingsmen, plus one of It’s Showtime’s TNT Divas Gidget Dela Llana. Catch this magical show on July 25, 2020, Saturday, 6PM-7PM simulcast at Pinoy Box Office Channel (PBO) and EK's Facebook account (www.facebook.com/ enchantedkingdom.ph).

For more information, visit Enchanted Kingdom’s official website and Facebook page at www.enchantedkingdom.ph and www.facebook.com/enchantedkingdom.ph.