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Saturday, July 27, 2019 Vol. 14 No. 290

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Desalination: The future of water? I By Jonathan L. Mayuga

A pioneer in tapping saltwater for household use may yet provide a viable option for mitigating Metro Manila’s water woes.

MAGINE this. An almost limitless supply of water for Metro Manila’s 14-million-plus population with a spare to boot for our city gardens, nearby farms and swimming pools. 3. Post-treatment (stabilizing the pH level)

4. Freshwater storage

2. Reverse osmosis 1. Pretreatment

DESIGNUA | DREAMSTIME.COM

Desalinated water

Concentrated seawater disposal

DESALINATION PROCESS The proposal to introduce water desalination to supply Metro Manila’s growing need for the previous commodity cropped up at the height of a severe water crisis that plagued the Metro cities last summer. But there’s a catch. We may have to spend much more to enjoy the luxury of water abundance with the desalination option.

Rain dance

INFREQUENT monsoon rains over the past few days have started to increase the water level at Angat Dam, inching slightly above the critical level but still below the normal operating level. As of 6 a.m. Tuesday, water at Angat was 161.56 meters—a good sign that the water shortage problem may soon come to pass. While it is now above the critical level of 160 meters, it is still way below the 180-meter normal operating level, which means residents of Metro Manila, with a population of over 12 million, will continue to experience severe water shortage. More rains and water at Angat may soon reach normal operating level. The question is, how much longer?

Severe supply shortage

THE supply shortage this year is the worst the National Capital Region (NCR) has experienced in recent years. First felt in the East Zone—the concession area of Manila Water Co. Inc. with about 6.8 million customers last March 6— the water supply shortage started to affect the close to 9 million customers of Maynilad Water Services Inc., which covers the West Zone Concession Area last month.

Both companies were compelled to implement rotational water service interruption despite partially sourcing water from Laguna de Bay and deep wells, as the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) reduced water supply allocation coming from Angat. Because of the water supply shortage, concerned government officials have called on the public to conserve water and suggested rainwater harvesting for nonessential water uses to reduce the demand for clean water coming from Angat Dam.

Solutions, solutions, solutions

WHILE the Duterte administration, through the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), is developing various short-, medium- and long-term water source projects that can boost potable water supply for the evergrowing population in Metro Manila, the provision of water using an assortment of water-treatment technologies—for domestic, commercial and industrial uses—is gaining traction. One such technology, desalination, is becoming the buzzword. One company is pitching the call for the adoption of desalination technology and tapping the country’s unlimited supply of this precious economic resource from the ocean to provide adequate fresh water. Through desalination, a process that takes away mineral components from saline or saltwater, the provision of fresh water, possibly tap or clean drinking water, however, is very expensive; hence also a lucrative undertaking. Continued on A2

“U

ltimately, we need to consider: Who will foot the bill for the investment and the extra costs? Will consumers be willing to pay for it [desalination]? Are they also willing to explore other options that are within their means to address? And do they have access to these options?”

ENGR. ANTONIO TOMPAR

President and chief executive officer of Mactan Rock Industries Inc.

AERIAL view of Moalboal, a seaside town in the southern region of Cebu. SIWABUD VEERAPAISARN | DREAMSTIME.COM

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 51.1070

n JAPAN 0.4705 n UK 63.6742 n HK 6.5388 n CHINA 7.4355 n SINGAPORE 37.3835 n AUSTRALIA 35.5194 n EU 56.9792 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.6274

Source: BSP (July 26, 2019 )

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A2 Saturday, July 27, 2019

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Desalination: The future of water? Continued from a1

It entails the use of more energy, the steady supply of which remains a big challenge for the Philippines.

Extremes: Supply shortage, excessive rainfall

ARTURO TAHUP, associate for low carbon communities of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), said cities will always have to grapple with how to meet their water needs. “In the case of Metro Manila, we are facing both extremes—people do not have enough water flowing into their faucets, yet an hour’s worth of continuous rain will cause flooding.” According to Tahup, beyond securing the limited supply of fresh water, people need to improve the management of demand. “Water usually flows out of the faucet then goes directly to the drains and ends up in sewerage, untreated—this illustrates not only the gravity of our wastewater problem but also an opportunity to improve our management of demand,” he said.

Expensive, unaffordable— DENR exec

FOR the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), while the technology is already available, desalination is something that needs further study.

Undersecretary Benny Antiporda, deputy spokesman of DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, said the cost of producing desalinated water will be burdensome to consumers who would surely shoulder the cost of production. “Desalination means money. It requires a huge amount of money. You will only make the people of the Philippines poorer because it is expensive,” said Antiporda, also DENR’s undersecretary for solid waste management and local government unit concerns. Instead of pushing for desalination, Antiporda said he is keen on rainwater harvesting to mitigate the effect of water supply shortage and, at the same time, put in place a flood-control measure that has become a perennial problem in low-lying areas. “What we need is to build water-impounding facilities in vacant areas to harvest rainwater,” he said. For instance, Antiporda said spaces like road crossings can be developed for water impounding underneath these. “By harvesting rainwater, we’ll reduce the pressure on Angat and we’ll have plenty of water to use,” he said.

‘Ripe for the taking’

SOUGHT for comment, Engr. Antonio Tompar, president and chief executive officer of Mactan Rock Industries Inc., a pioneer in desalination, said that the techno-

THE bay area in Cebu. The province is now a leading consumer of desalinated water. ALEXEY KORNYLYEV | DREAMSTIME.COM

logical advance in water treatment through desalination is already ripe and may yet provide a lasting solution to the perennial water shortage in Metro Manila and other parts of the country. Cebu, a province facing severe shortages in the future, is now a leading consumer of desalinated water, Tompar said. The Mandaue, Cebu-based firm is one of the leading watertechnology solution providers in the country. Its biggest water system is a 22,000-cubic-meter per day (CMD) seawater facility in South Road Properties in Cebu City that supplies SM Seaside and City de Mari of Filinvest. The company offers “build, own, operate and manage,” or BOOM, scheme to institutions or private and exclusive subdivisions, or “bulk water” supply to water districts.

Gaining traction

TOMPAR said desalination is gaining traction not only Cebu but in other areas where water scarcity or supply shortage is a problem, citing three big projects lined up in Manila. “I have more projects now in desalination,” he said. He confided that when the company started desalination way back 25 years ago, it required around 5 kilowatts of electricity to desalinate 1 cubic meter of seawater. “Now as a standard, it is half of that, [and] in some cases, less than 2 kilowatts is enough,” he said. Tompar plans to seek an audience with Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi to discuss how the cost of desalination can be further reduced. He said there are power companies that are willing to work with the company “to give power at P6 per cubic meter.” “I will ask him, through a letter of intent, to bring down the power cost,” he said. Tompar noted the Philippines is surrounded by seawater and there are several hotels, some with shopping malls along bay areas like those in Cebu, that are already using desalinated water. In Cebu, he said, groundwater is already contaminated by sewage, thus making desalination very feasible. “Come to think of it, desalination is now very competitive,” he added. “In Mactan, conservatively, more than half of the water there

is desalinated. In the bay area in Cebu, more than 50 percent is desalinated. In our company alone, we are producing about 30,000 cu. m. of desalinated water,” he said.

‘Brackish’ water desalination

TOMPAR said he is eyeing a project in Metro Manila where the company will turn brackish water, like that from Pasig River, into potable water. The desalination of brackish water will require less power, he said, compared to removing minerals from saltwater. “One project we would like to do in Metro Manila is brackish water. It requires only one-half kilowatt per cu. m.,” he said. That means a lower cost of just P5 per cubic meter because brackish water’s salinity is lower. According to Tompar, some portions of Laguna de Bay have very low salinity. “We can already supply water from Laguna de Bay at very low prices,” he said. Mactan Rock, he added, is manufacturing its own desalination plants, which is why its cost is lower. “We pioneered this 30 years ago. Right now, we are just importing component parts that are not available in the Philippines [like] membrane, pumps…. But the structure, assembly, pipes and technology, we already have it. I am building more desalination [units] in the bay area not only in Mactan but in Metro Manila,” Tompar stated. Industry-wise, he said, some private companies also buy imported equipment but added that, modesty aside, “when it comes to open bidding when there are fair bidding chances for desalinated water supply, we will win. We are the lowest bidder.”

Less pollution, less cost

ACCORDING to Tompar, government efforts to rehabilitate water bodies are important to reduce the cost of desalination, or any water treatment method, for that matter. “In Laguna de Bay, Manila Water and Maynilad also have desalination. Sometimes, when the salinity is high, they do desalination,” he said. Given the opportunity or accessibility, he said water from Pasig River can be extracted by the firm, which will clean it up and put it in desalinated brackish water for industries. “We are not going to supply it, I will make it potable but I will sell it as nonpotable for flushing CR, cleaning toilets, etc. Hotels now,

even in the Philippines, even those coming from MWSS, Maynilad and Manila Water, they don’t declare it as potable. They give bottled water,” he said. With less pollution, in Laguna de Bay and Pasig River, desalination can provide cheap water, he said. “But water from Manila Bay will cost a little more than brackish.” Nevertheless, he said, because of the need, three more big installations await near the bay, citing the company’s offer for affordable water supply. “We are cheaper by P10 per cu. m. by industry standard. We don’t extract directly from the sea. We extract seawater from deep water near the sea. There are chemical pollutants but the desalination process cleans it. I have several desalination projects in Manila. Our company’s brackish bulk water costs only about P7.78 per cu. m.,” he said.

Optimizing freshwater resources

ACCORDING to Tahup, desalination is one proposal among a range of options to consider in optimizing existing fresh water resources. “Water desalination is not new, and technology will continue to improve and become energyand cost-efficient. However, the country is also currently challenged in securing enough power, which large-scale desalination would require vast amounts of. In the meantime, water conservation, gray-water recycling and rainwater harvesting are already feasible and [are] practical options in urban areas such as Metro Manila,” he said. Whether or not desalination is a viable option depends on the specific context of each community, he pointed out. Desalination, Tompar said, works in communities struggling with water scarcity, drought and salinization. However, he said, the cost implication and efficiency, as well as waste management, would need to be factored in should a decision be made to replicate it on a scale such as Metro Manila’s. “Ultimately, we need to consider: Who will foot the bill for the investment and the extra costs? Will consumers be willing to pay for it? Are they also willing to explore other options that are within their means to address? And do they have access to these options?” he asked.

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US farmers press to end trade war as $16-B aid unveiled

HE US just unveiled $16 billion more in federal aid for agriculture. Farmers were of course happy for the funds, but mainly, they want an end to Donald J. Trump’s trade wars. “America’s farmers ultimately want trade more than aid,” sa id Zippy Duva l l, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, the nation’s largest general farm organization. “It is critically important to restore agricultural markets and mutua l ly benef icia l relationships with our trading partners around the world.” The fresh package comes after last year’s $12-billion tranche for farmers. Agriculture incomes have been depressed in the wake of China’s retaliatory tariffs, which hurt demand for everything from cotton to pork to soybeans. For Trump, appeasing his rural-voter base has become crucial ahead of

2020 elections. “This is a Band-Aid [solution] when we really need a long-term fix,” said Ben Scholz, president of the National Association of W heat Growers, adding producers understand holding China accountable for “unfair trade practices. But a trade war is not the solution, especially when farmers are the casualties.” The second round of aid payments will help shore up farmer incomes and give Trump time to strike a deal with China, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said on a conference call Thursday. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are

set to travel to China Monday for the first high-level, face-to-face trade talks between the world’s two biggest economies since discussions broke down in May. But, in the meantime, farmers are suffering. American farm income dropped 16 percent last year to $63 billion, about half the level it was as recently as 2013. Years of overproduction have kept crop prices near historical lows, with the trade spat only adding more pressure. In the meantime, rival Brazil has taken advantage of the US dispute to strengthen its ties with China. Not only are farmers wary of the prolonged trade war, but there are also concerns over how the latest aid package was constructed. The aid uses similar damage criteria as last year’s $12-billion aid package. But rather than funds based on crop type, the new program sets a per-county rate based

on the blend of crops grown in the area, with payments ranging from $15 to $150 an acre. “We harbor some concerns about disparities in payments from county to county, which could put some farmers at a financial disadvantage,” said Roger Johnson, president of the National Farmers Union, the second-largest US general farm group. “This assistance is desperately needed, but the ad-hoc rollout and convoluted structure of these programs has caused significant confusion among producers.” Debbie Stabenow, the topranking Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee echoed the criticism. “Today’s announcement only confirms my previous concerns that this aid is not equitable and favors certain farmers over others,” the Michigan senator said. “Bottom line—it’s not fair.”

This is a Band-Aid [solution] when we really need a long-term fix.” —Scholz

Agricultural markets largely took the announcement in stride, given the package is designed to avoid distorting planting decisions. “It’s a discussion point, but not really” a factor for prices, said Rich Nelson, chief strategist at Allendale Inc. in McHenry, Illinois. The payments may be a consideration for acreage decisions next year, and so could influence trading further down the road. The new payments will be based on the shortfall in exports of each crop compared with the highest year of exports over the past decade, said US Department of Agriculture Chief Economist Robert Johannson. Last year’s payments were based on the shortfall in exports compared to 2017, so this tranche may end up being more generous. Still, Perdue said individual farmers shouldn’t expect the aid will fully compensate them for trade losses. “There’s no promises and no thoughts this will make anyone whole,” he said. Overall trade aid is capped at $500,000 per person.

Trump announced the new package in May as he stepped up his trade war with China by threatening new tariffs against the Asian nation. With aid flowing to farmers, he has avoided erosion of his political support in rural areas. In June, 54 percent of rural voters approved of Trump’s job performance versus a national approval rating of 42 percent, according to a Gallup survey of 701 self-identified rural voters. John Brengle, a fifth-generation farmer who grows corn and soybeans on 5,000 acres in Metcalf, Illinois, said in a telephone interview the aid was “very necessary” after “the trade war has hurt us tremendously.” He’s had to cut costs because of the trade dispute’s impact and delay replacement of equipment. Still, he stands by Trump. “There’s no doubt in my mind” that something had to be done about China, Brengle said. “I’m not 100-percent sure the American farmer can afford the war, but as long as Trump’s standing up to China, I’m backing him,” he said. Bloomberg News

A4 Saturday, July 27, 2019 • Editor: Efleda P. Campos

Philexport bullish on hitting 6% export growth goal this year

XPORTERS are optimistic about reaching a 6-percent revenue growth target this year on the back of services sector as they go full blast in implementing the newly approved export development plan.

Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) President Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said the export plan will now be brought down to different departments that will be mandated to make this part of their programs. “We might not do it in the merchandise but services export is doing quite well,” he said, citing the business-process outsourcing (BPO) and tourism sectors. “We are also hoping that somehow, the agricultural sector will develop better and some breakthrough in the policies on the mining sector,” he added. Ortiz-Luis said there are still a lot of products that the country is supposed to export like fruits. “We have developed markets but we don’t have the products. So, hopefully, the policies now and the funding will be able to push next year,” he said.

The Philexport chief pointed out that the services sector can somehow offset the slower merchandise exports, which he considers a worldwide problem. “The world tradings have been suffering for so many reasons, among others, the trade war between China and the US. While it [trade war] is not affecting us directly, it has affected our major markets, the suppliers like Japan, US and China also,” he said. Ortiz-Luis said they hoped that the electronics industry, still the country’s top exporter, should grow above the current 3 percent.To boost export growth, he further said industry players are focusing in Asia, particularly the Asean. “Because of the economic agreement [Asean Economic Community], the tariff structures and the easier access to this market,” OrtizLuis added.

Lopez highlights push for ‘smarter’ MSMEs

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), as chairman of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council (MSMEDC), staged this year’s National MSME Summit on July 16, 2019, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Pasay City, to showcase vital and game-changing whole-ofgovernment policy reforms, programs, and initiatives to empower and build revolutionary Filipino entrepreneurs. Driven by the government’s strong desire to encourage innovation among MSMEs, the summit’s theme— “Inclusive and Sustainable Innovations for Globally Competitive MSMEs”— underscored the need to develop MSMEs and young entrepreneurs by equipping them with the values, skills and entrepreneurial spirit necessary for their businesses to succeed in the digital economy. “We attribute our country’s undeniable economic growth and success to the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit of the MSME sector, which plays a significant role in reducing poverty and achieving inclusive growth,” Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said during the summit. The DTI chief noted that data gathered from the local government units (LGUs), through the Philippine Business Registry (PBR), indicated that there are about 1.5 million registered enterprises in the country. “We need to encourage all MSMEs to innovate. I remember very simply—anything new to a firm is innovation, anything new to the world is invention. We call on MSMEs to explore novel ideas, business models, transform from traditional to digital,” DTI-Regional Operations Group (ROG) Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said. The Philippines is currently considered one of Asia’s economic bright spot, with an average gross domestic product growth average of over 6 percent. The country has also been given high investment grade ratings of “BBB+”—highest ever, notch lower “A” rating from international credit rating agencies. And, as of April 2019, the country’s unemployment rate slid down to 5.1 percent and underemployment was at a record-low of 13.5 percent. In line with the vision of President

Duterte to provide better and comfortable lives for all Filipinos, Lopez highlighted various MSME programs under the seven-point strategy essential for MSME development—mindset, mastery, mentoring, markets, money, machines and models—that are focused and targeted to benefit those at the bottom of the pyramid, and aimed to help ordinary people succeed and prosper in life. The midterm mark of the Duterte administration gave birth to the DTI’s groundbreaking initiatives for MSMEs: Pondo para sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) which provides an easy access and no collateral microfinancing fund for Pinoy entreps; Kapatid Mentor ME (KMME) Program which give way to a massive campaign for entrepreneurship development producing confident entrepreneurs with the right mindset and business know-how; Go Lokal! which mainstreams MSME products without incurring the high cost of operating a retail outlet; and the recently launched Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay (NSB) to bring DTI services to the grassroots. Lopez added, “The MSME development is the embodiment of our President’s “Tapang at Malasakit” program to help lift more of our countrymen out of poverty, and bring long overdue economic development to all the parts of our country. By accelerating the 7Ms strategy for MSME development, I am confident that our economic priority agenda to achieve inclusive growth and shared prosperity for all will bring into sharper focus the areas of higher importance and greater impact for our MSMEs.” The summit was graced by Madam Honeylet Avanceña who reiterated the Duterte administration’s full support to MSMEs and commitment to further advance entrepreneurship in the country, especially in the countryside. Attended by more than 1,000 participants from the ranks of entrepreneurs, tech startups, academe, business experts, mentors, and enablers, the Summit provided immense opportunities to exchange knowledge and insights from starting a business to preparing for the challenges ahead in today’s globally competitive business environment.

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BusinessM

A6 Saturday, July 27, 2019| Editor: Jun Lomibao

ALAPHILIPP NORMAL PE

Fine wooden toys, fruit pie in Queyras

AINT-MICHEL-DE-MAURIENNE, France— At the foothills of the Col d’Izoard, the scene of some Tour de France memorable feats, the small village of Arvieux is home to a children’s paradise. Created in 1920, the wooden toys’ cooperative “L’Alpin chez Lui,” which roughly translates as the “Mountain Man’s Home,” has been entertaining generations of young boys and girls with its finely crafted toys. Nearly a century after local craftsmen from the Queyras valley started the shared business, production methods have changed but the spirit remains the same in the small ski resort crossed by the peloton on Thursday. “Most of the pine wood comes from nearby forests,” says Giovanna Graziosi, who has been

managing the cooperative since 2013. “In addition to jigsaws [tools], we also use computer-assisted machines to reduce costs and improve workers’ safety. But we still ask painters to do the details on many objects with their brushes, like in the old days.” Toys come in all sizes and shapes. There are the classics, such as the mountain cable car, and new hits like the Yetis, a game challenging kids to pile up yetis on a wooden mountain without making them fall over. Graziosi is currently working on a new collection that will be sold in Italy, where she says wooden toys have nearly disappeared. “It’s difficult to compete against tablet computers,” she says. “But we keep on going. Hopefully we’ll still be there next year for the 100th anniversary.” AP

Bacteria farmers in the wilds of France

IALET, France—There are those who merely talk of giving it all up and starting a new life. And there are others, far fewer, who actually do it. The husband-wife cheese-making team of Frederic and Amandine Basserie gave up a comfortable town existence to live on a wind-swept mountaintop with knockout views of the wild Cevennes region of southern France, which the Tour de France zipped through this week. They don’t just make cheese. They cultivate bacteria, too. In opting for a simpler, rootsier way of life, the Basseries also decided to go the whole hog and rear goats using traditional methods. That means no artificial additives in their cheeses. Instead, they encourage bacteria to lend a hand. When he milks their goats, Frederic deliberately doesn’t clean their teats with industrial disinfectants, to avoid killing bacteria in the milk that assist in the process of turning it into cheese. The milk isn’t pasteurized, for the same reason. And Amandine only uses soap and water to clean the bowls, tools and surfaces she uses in making the cheese, again to avoid hurting the microscopic organisms they regard as

coworkers in their enterprise. “We cultivate our bacterial flora. We respect it just as we respect our goats,” said Frederic, an interior decorator in his previous life. “The bacteria contribute to the quality of the product. It’s not just what the animals eat.” By the taste of things, Frederic, Amandine, their 40 milk-producing goats and the bacteria are together doing a great job. When fresh, just weeks old, their Pelardon cheeses are oh-so creamy and delicately flavored with hints of the wild herbs, grasses and other plants that the goats feast on during long daily treks into woods and hills around the farm, under Frederic’s watchful eye. He takes a book with him to while away the hours while they eat. When stored for a few months in a cool room, the cheeses undergo an amazing transformation, hardening and becoming tangy, peppery, even spicy-hot. Making about 120 of the small round cheeses a day that they sell for less than €2 (dollars) each, they know they’ll never get rich. But they ooze contentment, kissing each other before they go off to their chores. “We live as we want. We’re surrounded by nature and have a good quality of life,” Frederic said. AP

THE pack passes a lavender field during the 17th stage of the Tour de France from Pont Du Gard and Gap, France, on Wednesday. AP

By John Leicester | The Associated Press

AINT-MICHEL-DE-MAURIENNE, France—With the Alps spread like giant teeth in front of him and rivals speeding away, seeking to steal the precious yellow jersey off his shoulders, Julian Alaphilippe switched off the part of the brain that stops normal people from taking death-defying risks. Because the French rider is no normal person. And downward he plunged, flying through hairpin bends on tires barely wider than his thumb. The lunar-like landscape of giant slopes of barren scree became a blur as he hit top speeds of nearly 90 kph. “It was a day of folly,” Alaphilippe said. “I unplugged my brain and I was on the limit on each bend,” he said. “I did a crazy descent, where I took risks. I wanted to save my jersey.” Job done. With one big Alpine stage completed and just two more to go, Alaphilippe is still in yellow and one step closer to delivering a first Tour de France title since 1985 to his country, crossing fingers, toes and everything else that he makes it through the mountains to Paris on Sunday still in the lead. “We’re all dreaming of that. Even I’m starting to imagine it,” he said. Continuing to contribute more than anyone to making this the most exciting Tour in decades, the French rider recovered from a mini-wilt on a lung-burning ascent to 8,668 feet above sea level on the Galibier pass and then rode like a fury downhill on the other side as if his jersey depended on it. Which it did. With a decisive, well-placed attack on the slopes of the Galibier—the last of three climbs to above 6,500 feet on Stage 18—Colombian rider Egan Bernal got away from Alaphilippe and ate into his lead. A slow descent or, worse, a fall from Alaphilippe on the treacherous bends could have seen Bernal do even greater damage to his lead or perhaps erase it entirely. But Alaphilippe is like a dog with a bone when it comes to that iconic shirt. He has now worn it for 13 stages at this Tour, the most by any French rider at a single edition since Bernard Hinault held it for 17 days in winning the race for a fifth time in 1985. The upside for rivals trying to wrench it from his jaws is that the last two Alpine stages to the ski stations of Tignes and Val Thorens both finish with punishing ascents, meaning there’ll be no downhill for Alaphilippe to recover on, as he did Thursday, if he again cracks going uphill. Bernal and others are banking on it. Bernal’s reward for speeding away from Alaphilippe on the grind to the top of the Galibier

JULIAN ALAPHILIPPINE: I did a crazy descent, where I took risks. I wanted to save my jersey. AP

A MAN takes pictures of the riders during the 17th stage. AP

GERAINT THOMAS slips back to third place in the general classification. AP

was a jump from fifth to second in the overall standings. Having started the day two minutes and two seconds behind Alaphilippe, Bernal is now just 90 seconds behind him, breathing down his neck and making an already thrilling Tour only more uncertain in its outcome after more than 3,000 kilometers of racing through Belgium and France. “It’s very good for the morale. But Julian demonstrated once again that he is very strong,” Bernal said. “Everything is possible. I’m in the mix but to win the Tour is difficult.” Bernal ’s Ineos teammate, defending

BRITISH fans stand along the road during the 18th stage on Thursday. AP

champion Geraint Thomas, tried to make it a one-two punch on the Galibier by also attacking on the

With one big Alpine stage completed and just two more to go, Julian Alaphilippe is still in yellow and one step closer to delivering a first Tour de France title since 1985 to his country, crossing fingers, toes and everything else that he makes it through the mountains to Paris on Sunday still in the lead.

Mirror CYCLING

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph | Saturday, July 27, 2019 A7

PE’S NO ERSON

2 riders DQed after altercation D AVE BRAILSFORD has dismissed the idea that Team Ineos has a discipline issue after Luke Rowe was ejected from the Tour de France along with Tony Martin (JumboVisma) following their clash on Stage 17. The incident marked the second time in as many years that one of Brailsford’s riders has been ejected from the Tour after Gianni Moscon was disqualified in 2018 following a similar incident. The Italian tried to strike Elie Gesbert on stage 15 of last year’s Tour. Brailsford spoke outside the Team Ineos bus on Thursday morning following an unsuccessful appeal against Rowe’s disqualification. The incident was captured on television, and footage showed Martin trying to force the Welshman off the road and Rowe retaliating by raising his hand to the German’s face. Both Rowe and Martin were in Embrun ahead of Stage 18, but

did not start. When asked by Cyclingnews if the team had a discipline issue after losing two riders in similar circumstances two years running, Brailsford shook his head and replied: “No not in the slightest. No.” Brailsford was also asked by Cyclingnews if the International Cycling Union (UCI) need to look at its consistency regarding such incidents. He was asked about the comparison between Rowe and Martin and when Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) hit a fan on the roadside during the Giro d’Italia after being taken down by the fan running alongside him. Lopez was not ejected from the race. “I think that’s a very good point. There’s the act of aggression and normally from where I’m sitting, one of the parties is unhappy,” Brailsford said. “If someone says, ‘Okay he tried to hit me or push me, someone is

unhappy with the situation whereas no one is unhappy here. They were both trying to get to the front and do the same job at the same time. It got a bit heated, but you see that in most racing sports. That’s part of the sport. I think consistency would be a really good point for them to take in consideration and maybe explain to everyone.” Brailsford admitted that the chances of overturning the UCI’s decision was small, although Rowe did turn up at the start of Stage 18 hopeful of racing. The Team Ineos manager was adamant that the incident could not become is distraction for the rest of the team. “You’ve got your appeal and then if they say no then you go to Court of Arbitration for Sports. That’s the whole point of them. I’m not going to go into technicalities in case I get it wrong but that’s for the lawyers,” he said. “It’s a bit

late in the day for all of this and what we’re mindful of is that it doesn’t form a distraction in one of the most important days of the year for us.” After watching the footage several times on Wednesday night and again on Thursday morning, Brailsford also stuck to his guns, suggesting that the UCI had made the wrong decision. “Even more so now. Having really looked at the rules, looked at the incident and spoken to both riders and spoken to Richard [Plugge] at Jumbo, I think that collectively everyone thinks that it was a harsh decision. There’s the spirit of the law and the application of the law. Sometimes a bit of context wouldn’t go amiss,” Brailsford said. “Our key thing is not to allow this to become a distraction and to focus on what we need to do. We’re going to race with seven guys and we’re going to make it 100 percent dialed in.” Cyclingnews

QUINTANA: I’LL NEVER SURRENDER! C

last hairpins leading to the top, lined by thick, cheering crowds. But Thomas couldn’t make his offensive stick. Alaphilippe caught him again on the downhill to the finish. Thomas is still 1:35 behind Alaphilippe, as he was at the start of Stage 18, but slipped back to third overall behind Bernal. Thomas suggested the stage simply hadn’t been ridden hard enough to ma ke A l aphi l ippe crack. “We wanted it to be hard but the pace wasn’t there,” he said. “The call was made for Egan to go and hopefully that would kick it off a bit, but it didn’t. That’s when I went as well,

just to test. But at least Egan gained some time on everyone else.” Colombian rider Nairo Quintana won his first stage of this Tour, and third of his career, flying away from everyone on the Galibier and putting some color back into what so far had been an underwhelming Tour for the former two-time runner-up. Quintana vaulted from 12th overall to seventh, now 3:54 behind Alaphilippe. With Quintana and Spanish riders Mikel Landa and Alejandro Valverde, Movistar now has three riders in the top 10, a possible launching pad for the team to launch more offensives. “If we find a favorable ground over the next two days, we will keep attacking,” Quintana said. With attacking opportunities running out for rivals, Alaphilippe knew he’d be in for a torrid time. “It was a big mouthful,” Alaphilippe said. “I had imagined the worst.” But he continues to confound even his own expectations. Although his lead has shrunk, with the duo of Bernal and Thomas applying pressure from both sides, Alaphilippe continues to make converts to what is now a legion of hopeful believers with each step closer to the Champs-Élysées. “No matter where I finish in Paris, this Tour will have left a mark on French people,” he said. “And I’ll have learned a lot about myself.”

OLOMBIAN Nairo Quintana’s roller-coaster relationship with the Tour de France took another dramatic turn on Stage 18 with the Colombian bouncing back after a disappointing two weeks to win the first stage in the Alps and jump from 12 to seventh in the general classification (GC) in the process. The former Vuelta à España and Giro d’Italia winner has flattered to deceive in the Tour de France ever since a string of three podium places between 2013 and 2016, while the last few years have seen the 29-year-old’s Tour hopes flicker between the mercurial to the mediocre in comparison to those early years of promise. But on Stage 18 to Valloire the pint-sized climber provided another timely reminder of both his undoubted class and ultimate underachievement that seems to follow him at the biggest race of all. He escaped as part of a 33-strong group early in the stage and was ever-present as the break thinned out on the Col d’Izoard and the Galibier. With 26 kilometers to go the Colombian took off and quickly distanced a group that contained just Romain Bardet and Alexey Lutsenko and when the gap quickly expanded beyond 30 seconds the stage win never looked in doubt. “This win reflects the amount of work I’ve put in to be ready for this type of performance,” he said at the finish. “It was a really grand day for me, and it was within the team strategy. We wanted to put ourselves

in the right position for winning the stage and for Mikel Landa to improve his GC position. So it’s a fantastic day for me, my family and for the team, for my teammates, and for the country.” Quintana and his Movistar team have never appeared to sing from the same hymn sheet at the Tour de France. It’s a similar scenario to 2018 when the team arrived with a three-pronged attack that was quickly dented in the mountains before Quintana eventually helped paper over the cracks with a stage. At times, in this year’s race, it has looked as though the Spanish squad has tried their best to replicate last year’s blueprint with questionable tactics at several key points. They have remained in contention and relevant simply because they have one of the strongest squads but the fact that Quintana now sits above Landa in GC will raise questions over the team’s tactics for the rest of the race. For today at least Quintana who is leaving the team for Arkea at the end of the year will not concern himself with such matters. A third stage win in the Tour is a significant milestone for any rider, even one who perhaps hasn’t been at his best since the summer of 2016 or the Giro of 2017 when he finished second. “This stage was one for the pure climbers, for the real climbers in the bunch, and I was present. I was ready for it. It’s a beautiful win, and on a stage like this, with this type of profile, it makes me emotional,” he said in his winner’s

NAIRO QUINTANA celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win Stage 18. AP

press conference. “Even though we don’t have the position we originally wanted we’ll keep fighting. Even though I crashed a few days ago, I didn’t want to surrender. Mikel Landa and Alejandro Valverde were wellpositioned so I wanted to help them get into a better position on GC. I managed to get into the break, which was very strong, with two teammates. We were waiting for Mikel to attack because he told us he was in very good shape today, but when we saw how it was unfolding at the end of the stage we decided to go for the stage victory.” Quintana played down any suggestions of a conflict within the Movistar armada but there has seldom been a demonstration of him or Landa sacrificing their races for each other, while Valverde is perennially cast in the role of a shadowing parent who makes sure that the two youngsters never have a public tantrum.

“There is no conflict and I’m not upset with them,” Quintana said. “Everything was very clear this morning. The idea was to put riders in the break to help Mikel’s attempt to get into the podium positions. But in the end, Andrey [Amador] and I decided to bet on a stage win.” Landa’s post-stage comments reflected a different mood in the camp. The Spaniard failed to attack on the Galibier, but he finished in a group that contained the yellow jersey. He is now a minute behind Quintana on GC. When asked if Movistar would support Quintana on Stage 19, Landa, who is also set to leave the team at the end of the season, responded with a long pause before saying: “We will see, no? We have to play it tactically with our riders.” Whatever happens on Stage 19, i f L a nd a a nd Q u i nt a n a are involved, it’s likely to be entertaining. Cyclingnews

BMX FREESTYLE SURGES IN POPULARITY

ITH the introduction of an International Cycling Union (UCI) World Cup, inclusion in the UCI Urban Cycling World Championships and a year out from its Summer Olympics début, BMX Freestyle is on the up and up. The latest announcement for the discipline—that BMX Freestyle Flatland will be included alongside Park at the UCI Urban Cycling World Championships—is further demonstration of the health and popularity of this incredible sport. A little over four years ago, the UCI announced the integration of BMX Freestyle Park into its official cycling disciplines. The first UCI BMX Freestyle World Cup for Park was held in 2016 as part of the FISE World Series, (International Festival of

Extreme Sports) organized by Hurricane Action Sports Co. The following year, BMX Freestyle Park was part of the inaugural UCI Urban Cycling World Championships in Chengdu, China, alongside trials and cross-country Eliminator. 2018 saw the inclusion of BMX Freestyle Flatland in the UCI World Cup, and this year Flatland’s first UCI World Champions will be crowned at the Chengdu UCI Urban Cycling World Championships. Meanwhile, the Park speciality, already part of the Bueno Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games, will make its début in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The partnership between the UCI and Hurricane Action Sports C. has seen BMX Freestyle catapulted into the limelight with more competitors, a higher level of competition,

a more structured calendar and an explosion as far as the women’s competition is concerned. “Thanks to our partnership, the UCI has been able to benefit from Hurricane’s 20 years of experience organizing the FISE World Series,” UCI President David Lappartient said. “Together we have established a UCI World Cup and UCI World Championships of the highest quality, helping the discipline to grow and develop even further. “As manufacturers of BMX Parks, Hurricane also ensures all our events take place in excellent conditions on the best parks in the world,” he said. “The UCI is strongly encouraging its National Federations to integrate BMX Freestyle into their structures, and Hurricane provides valuable support during this process.”

For Hurricane Action Sports Co. CEO Hervé André-Benoit, the discipline has developed at an incredible rate since the partnership between Hurricane and the UCI. “The level of riders continues to increase, and the explosion in the women’s category—with triple the number of competitors—is a major result of this collaboration,”André-Benoit said. “There is now a clearer and more structured calendar of international competitions with the UCI World Cup as the reference series.” The number of nations represented at international level has increased, and the popularity of the discipline means a qualification procedure has had to be introduced to limit the number of male athletes registered for events. UCI News

Sports BusinessMirror

A8 Saturday, July 27, 2019

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph • Editor: Jun Lomibao

PRINCESS SUPERAL is back at the helm of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.

OLYMPIC champion Joseph Schooling struggles at world championships. AP

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • lifestylebusinessmirror@gmail.com

BOTTY Founder and Recreator Cary Gee; Bo’s Coffee Founder, Chairman and CEO Steve D. Benitez; and Chief Operating Officer Rachel Fallarme

BusinessMirror

Saturday, July 27, 2019 A9

Save time when you go on a coffee run with this Messenger-based app PRIMETIME

DINNA CHAN VASQUEZ @dinnachanvasquez luckydinna@gmail.com

OU’RE driving to the office and yearning for a cup of coffee and maybe a cookie, but you have no time to park, get off, fall in line and then go back to the car again. What do you do, aside from making your own cup from a sachet of your choice of three-in-one (powdered coffee, cream and sugar) once you get to the office? Bo’s Coffee Advance Ordering BOTTY, a first in the Philippines, is now making it easier for people to skip the long lines. You can order ahead so your coffee is pickup ready when you go to your preferred Bo’s

Coffee branch. Your coffee can be handed to you by a store personnel once you literally drive by the store. I really appreciate this part where someone is waiting for you at the curb to hand you your orders. BOTTY is not an app so it doesn’t eat up your phone’s precious memory. It can be accessed through the Facebook Messenger app and is quite userfriendly. “I really like that BOTTY can be accessed through the Messenger App and, soon, through Viber. Filipinos are very fond of texting and this makes it very convenient,” said Steve Benitez, CEO of Bo’s Coffee. “We’ve experienced this, right? You go to a store, there’s a QR code which you scan. After that, you are redirected to the App Store,” said BOTTY Founder and Recreator Cary Gee. Bo’s Coffee Chief Operating Officer Rachel Fallarme pointed out that their airport stores are open 24/7 so one could actually order coffee in advance. “We have stores in Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals 1 and 3, and also in Mactan,” she said. Bo’s Coffee is a proud Filipino coffee chain that

CONTINUED ON A12

Ka-Grab Kalinga Summit champions inclusive opportunities

By Pauline Joy M. Gutierrez

T the core of Ka-Grab Kalinga Summit, an initiative that pushes for the increasing inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the work force organized by the Singaporebased mobile platform app Grab, are stories of hope in time of struggle against the stigma surrounding disabilities. Grab driver Glenn Barias spends an average of eight hours on the road four to five days a week. When he’s not working, he would get dialysis treatment for chronic kidney disease (CKD). A week’s session would cost him P9,000 — an amount so much more than what he and his wife, Cheryl, also diagnosed with alopecia areata (hair loss), spend to get through the week comfortably. Glenn was a phone technician before he was diagnosed with CKD. Since then, employers have been reluctant to give him a job. “There’s already a law that entitles persons with disabilities (PWDs) to equal opportunity for employment, but that’s not always the case,” said Cheryl. In 2016, the couple joined Grab as operator and driver. “I would sometimes get a passenger who is also going through dialysis. I’ll drive them to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute in Quezon City. I would insist that they do not pay me but they would often say I need the money too. I guess all of us understand that we’re under the same situation,” shared Glenn. Darcy De Guzman, also a PWD, is a chef by profession. In 2003, he

Grab Philippines 10x27.5 c/o Leo (advertising)

figured in an accident in Florida and had to undergo lumbar surgery. When he returned to the country, he did stints as a salesman before landing a job as a GrabExpress Driver. There’s no more pain, according to Darcy, but there are lots of things that he can no longer do with ease like he used to. He would get up early in the morning to deliver food and rest by noon. By 3 pm, he’s back to working. Some days it gets tiring, he said, but he makes sure to be grateful when it ends. He said, “We are thankful to Grab because the company gave us an opportunity to work freely and without discrimination. They made us feel like we’re still a part of the society.” Glenn, Cheryl and Darcy were just among hundreds of differentlyabled partners of Grab that were honored at the Summit. “Our Ka-Grab partners have always been a driving force in our success at Grab, and as a company by the people for the people, we firmly believe in the talent, hard work, passion and determination of Filipinos regardless of their physical disabilities,” said Brian Cu, Grab Philippines president. The event, Cu said, underscores Grab’s commitment to the commu-

HUSBAND and wife Glenn and Ma. Cheryl Barias have been partners with Grab since 2016. They are hardworking members of the workforce despite being differently-abled

nity by exerting an active role of promoting equal opportunities to PWDs, highlighting their contributions as part of the workforce, and discouraging discrimination. To date, PWDs still have not been fully mainstreamed in society and have experienced limited support in terms of health services, employment and education opportunities. A report, titled “Assessment of Local Mechanisms for Programs

and Services for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs): Focus on PDAO”, undertaken in January to May 2018 by the University of the Philippines Public Administration Research and Extension Foundation (UPPAF), stated that local governments rarely enforce laws that entitles persons with disabilities to equal opportunity for employment. It cites “low awareness among local legislators on the

DARCY De Guzman, a GrabExpress driver, was diagnosed with orthopedic disability. Notwithstanding this physical challenge, he continues to work to provide for his wife and three kids.

requirements of RA 10070” and “more than half of the provinces (58%) and higher income municipalities (63%) are non-compliant with RA 10070.” “As a business leader and community leader, Grab believes that we must support, champion and celebrate our PWD community. We at Grab will continue to provide equitable economic opportunities to everyone who shares our passion

for providing best-in-class experiences to Filipino people,” said Cu. Grab has approximately 150 PWD partners onboard and continues to open more opportunities within the Transportation Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) community. Along with them are 220 parents with PWD children and 130 PWD children with orthopedic disability, psychosocial challenges and other health impairments.

A10 Saturday, July 27, 2019

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

MICROSOFT PAYS $25 MILLION TO SETTLE CORRUPTION CHARGES

THE popular FaceApp is under fire for privacy concerns. AP

NEW YORK—Microsoft is paying more than $25 million to settle federal corruption charges involving a bribery scheme in Hungary and other foreign offices. The US Securities and Exchange Commission said Microsoft will pay about $16.6 million to settle charges that it violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. While the case centered on Hungary, the SEC said it also found improprieties at Microsoft offices in Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Turkey. The Justice Department said Microsoft will also pay an $8.75-million criminal fine stemming from the Hungarian bidrigging and bribery scheme. Federal prosecutors said that from 2013 through 2015, a senior executive and other employees at the Hungary office took part in a scheme to “inflate margins in the Microsoft sales channel” in connection with Microsoft software licenses sold to Hungarian government agencies. Savings were falsely recorded as discounts and used for corrupt purposes, the prosecutors said. Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a letter to employees Monday that the misconduct was “completely unacceptable” and involved a small number of employees. Smith outlined changes to prevent public sector discounts from being used improperly and said the company is expanding its use of artificial intelligence to flag suspicious transactions. AP

Myths and risks in app that gives you peek into older self

BY RACHEL LERMAN The Associated Press

AN FRANCISCO—Is a peek into the future worth your privacy in the present? That concern was pushed to the spotlight this week with the resurgence of a smartphone app that uses artificial intelligence to transform your current face into your younger and older selves. People raised fears on Twitter and other socialmedia sites that on iPhones, FaceApp would be able to see and upload all your photos, including screenshots with sensitive financial or health information, or photos of kids with the names of their schools in the background. That’s not actually true, but the scuttle serves as a good reminder to think twice before downloading new apps. Even large, mainstream apps routinely collect user data. But many trendy-at-the-moment apps are guilty of mining user data as a primary purpose. Some personality quizzes on Facebook and similar services collect user information as a business, opening people up to breaches, such as in the Cambridge Analytica scandal. On Wednesday, the ranking Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer, wrote in a letter to the FBI and Federal Trade Commission that he’s concerned FaceApp could pose “national security and privacy

risks for millions of US citizens.” The New York Democrat is asking the two agencies to assess the situation. As for FaceApp, the app grabs a photo only if you specifically select it to see your face change, security researcher and Guardian Firewall CEO Will Strafach said. The confusion comes from an iPhone feature that shows your photo library within the app. It is an Apple feature that lets you select a specific photo, but doesn’t give the app full access to the library, even though it may appear that way. You have the option of granting access to your entire photo library, but even then, there is no evidence the app is uploading anything other than the photo selected. “I’m always looking for privacy concerns,” said Strafach, who used a network analyzer tool to track what was happening. “When it’s not happening, it’s not happening.” There’s a version of FaceApp for Android, but those phones don’t tap photo libraries the same way. That’s not to say the app isn’t free of problems, Strafach said. Among other things, photos get sent to the cloud for processing in both the iPhone and Android versions, exposing them to hacking and other problems. FaceApp does not explicitly tell users that

the photos are being sent to the cloud. Some apps try to limit exposure by doing the processing on the devices themselves, not in the cloud. FaceApp’s privacy policy also said it is using data from the app to serve targeted ads, and to develop new products and features. It added that it does not sell data to third party apps, but lists many exceptions including one that allows it to share data after removing information that identifies users. FaceApp, which is developed in Russia by Wireless Lab, has had surges of viral popularity before. The app also allows people to swap their genders or add facial hair or makeup. Wireless Lab told technology news site TechCrunch that it may store users’ photos in the cloud, but “most” are deleted after 48 hours. It said no user data is transferred to Russia. The company has not responded to questions from The Associated Press. It told TechCrunch that users can request to have their data deleted. Even with those admissions, Strafach urged people to resist the pull of the app. He said the app should have been upfront and told users it was processing photos in the cloud rather than on phones. “Bottom line is they were handling sensitive data and they handled it cavalierly and that’s just not cool,” he said. ■

FOODPANDA MAKES IT RAIN GREAT DEALS

THE rainy season has begun. What better way to enjoy the cozy weather than by staying in and enjoying delicious food. foodpanda (www.foodpanda.ph), the on-demand delivery platform, launches its sixth edition of its biggest food sale event: Hot ’N Hungry—to help ease the rainy blues with the best comfort food deals. “We all know how difficult it is to get a hold of our favorite meals when it’s raining hard outside. We, at foodpanda, want to deliver delicious and delectable treats to our customers in the comfort of their own homes through our sixth edition of Hot ‘N Hungry. This edition is the biggest food sale of foodpanda so far, since we have restaurants giving out discounts up to 15-percent off. With this, we’ll make warm and good food much more accessible—all with just one click on our platform,” says Iacopo Rovere, CEO of foodpanda Philippines. Hot ‘N Hungry, which is ongoing until July 31, is the perfect way to indulge on your favorite comfort food without the hassle of getting wet from the rain. These amazing deals are available to our foodpanda customers in three key cities: Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao, with more to come. From the sixth edition, users can expect an even bigger and better food deals. Customers can enjoy massive discounts from over 50 partners, as foodpanda grants its customers with exclusive promos from popular and well-loved vendors, such as Racks, Papa John’s, Super Bowl of China and many more.

Fujifilm launches high-end camera BY RIZAL RAOUL S. REYES FUJIFILM Philippines, the local subsidiary of Tokyo, Japan-based Fujifilm, recently launched the GFX100 large-format camera geared to tap the selected industry professionals and elite customers. “Our mission is to develop a camera to pursue the essence of photography,” Toshihisa Iida, general manager of the Optical Device and Electronic Imaging Products division of Fujifilm Philippines, said in his opening remarks. “If preserving our precious moments is the essence of photography, what equipment should capture such moments? We need a camera that can capture the deep, best image quality. GFX100 is that camera. There are so many new features I can talk about, but all of these were developed for three key things: image quality, mobility and durability. These are the three key features you absolutely need in a camera to preserve images for the future,” he added. Iida pointed out that the GFX100’s megapixel technology, powered by the company’s mirrorless digital camera system, has earned praise from

professional photographers and photo enthusiasts for its use of large image sensor. Through its in-body image stabilization (IBIS) mechanism, he said the GFX100 gives stronger power to the complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor camera system that enables the camera to deliver greater flexibility in various shooting conditions. Powered by the X-Processor 4, the GFX100 can shoot uncropped 4K and switch aspect ratio. Moreover, the camera is a workhorse as it can handle large amounts of data, produce images with rich tones, superior resolution and advanced color reproduction. With the new GFX100 model, a flagship model of the GFX Series, Iida said Fujifilm has redefined the standards of large-format photography. With the GFX100, Iida said it also becomes easier to produce premium-quality video footage, with more detailed textures and three-dimensional definitions, while portraying a scene’s atmosphere. When the digital channel initiatives (DCI) is selected, Iida said the camera records video with a sensor area

measuring about 49.5 mm diagonally. Jan Gonzales, a Fujifilm X ambassador, said the GFX100 has helped a lot in his work. “The GFX100 has reinvented the standard of a large-format camera. The image quality and detail is just exceptional. Its 16-bit RAW capability, fine color and tonal gradation is very apparent, making me work faster than ever before. Working with low light at lower shutter speeds still gives me tack-sharp images through its IBIS mechanism. With its superfast autofocus speed, it makes camera handling very convenient,” Gonzales shared. Meanwhile, Fujifilm Chairman and CEO Shigetaka Komori said the introduction of the GFX100 equipped with a large-format sensor has enabled the company to deliver higher image quality to photographers. “We have achieved the ultimate image quality, with threedimensional look and feel. In addition, GFX is a very practical camera in active shooting situations,” he said in a press statement. “We will never stop our commitment to innovation. The GFX is a good example of that,” he added.

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BusinessMirror

Saturday, July 27, 2019 A11

PROMATE Titan-20C

PROMATE Powertank-20

Give portable chargers a boost

Antitrust scrutiny of big tech heats up BY MARCY GORDON & BARBARA ORTUTAY The Associated Press

ASHINGTON—The US Department of Justice opened a sweeping antitrust investigation of major technology companies and whether their online platforms have hurt competition, suppressed innovation or otherwise harmed consumers. It said the probe will take into account “widespread concerns” about social media, search engines and online retail services. Its antitrust division is seeking information from the public, including those in the tech industry. “Without the discipline of meaningful marketbased competition, digital platforms may act in ways that are not responsive to consumer demands,” Makan Delrahim, the department’s chief antitrust officer, said in a statement. “The Department’s antitrust review will explore these important issues.” The terse but momentous announcement follows months of concern in Congress and elsewhere over the sway of firms like Google, Facebook and Amazon. Lawmakers and Democratic presidential candidates have called for stricter regulation or even breakups of the big tech companies, which have drawn intense scrutiny following a series of scandals that compromised users’ privacy. Facebook may soon face a significant judgment from the Federal Trade Commission over its privacy practices, one that will reportedly include a $5-billion fine and impose other limits on its operations. The FTC also reportedly plans to hand Google a multimillion-dollar fine over its handling of children’s information on YouTube. Europe has investigated and fined several major tech companies

over the past several years. “It seems like the nation’s law-enforcement agencies are finally waking up to the threat posed by big tech,” said Stacy Mitchell of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, which has criticized Amazon for stifling independent businesses. Mitchell testified at a House hearing last week. President Donald J. Trump also has repeatedly criticized the big tech companies by name in recent months. He frequently asserts, without evidence, that they are biased against him and conservatives in general. But big tech could also present a difficult target, as current interpretations of antitrust law don’t obviously apply to companies offering inexpensive goods or free online services. The Justice Department did not name specific companies in its announcement. The Justice investigation mirrors a bipartisan probe of big tech undertaken by the House Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust. Its chairman, Rep. David Cicilline, a Rhode Island Democrat, has sharply criticized the conduct of Silicon Valley giants and said legislative or regulatory changes may be needed. He has called breaking up the companies a last resort. Major tech companies already facing that congressional scrutiny declined to comment on the Justice Department’s probe. Amazon and Facebook had no comment. Apple and Google referred inquiries to public statements by their executives. Shares of Facebook, Amazon and Apple were down slightly in after-hours trading. Traditional antitrust law focuses on dominant businesses that harm consumers, typically defined as price gouging and similar behaviors. But many tech companies offer free products that are paid for by a largely invisible trade in the personal data gleaned from those services. Others like Amazon

offer consistently low prices on a wide array of merchandise. “That is going to be a tough one for [regulators] to prove,” said University of Pennsylvania law professor Herbert Hovenkamp. Beyond that, the companies could face scrutiny for buying up smaller rivals that might be a threat to their business. Last week, Cicilline accused industry giants of creating a “start-up kill zone” to insulate them from competition. For instance, Google bought YouTube in 2006 when it was still a fledging video site struggling to survive an onslaught of copyright infringement lawsuits, and acquired the technology for its nowdominant Android software for smartphones in an even smaller deal. Facebook snapped up Instagram— now the fastest-growing part of its business—in its infancy, and Apple bought the technology powering its ubiquitous Siri assistant. The Trump-era Justice Department has already tried to push the bounds of antitrust law, albeit unsuccessfully. The government sued to block AT&T’s acquisition of Time Warner, arguing that the combined company could hike prices for programming, to consumers’ detriment, but lost the case both in lower court and on appeal. In his January confirmation hearings, Atty. General William Barr acknowledged curiosity about how Silicon Valley giants grew so huge “under the nose” of antitrust enforcers. “You know, you can win that place in the marketplace without violating the antitrust laws,” he said. “But I want to find out more about that dynamic.” Trump has been a fierce critic of AT&T, which owns CNN, in addition to many large tech companies. At various times, he has publicly criticized Google, Facebook, Apple and Amazon for allegedly shady, biased or unpatriotic behavior. ■

PORTABLE chargers or power banks are important accessories in this digital age. Now that we’re all glued to our computers and phones, we need extra battery power to recharge our gadgets on the go. A power bank can also charge your other gadgets, such as gaming devices and cameras. If you’re using a smartphone and other hi-tech gadgets, then you probably have a power bank in your bag. Some people have two small ones or a big one, depending on their needs. But not all power banks are created equal. It is important that you buy yours from reputable brands. Promate Technologies, a global leading brand in mobile accessories, IT peripherals, and digital lifestyle consumer electronics, is the first to have a Power Delivery system for its power banks. Designed to be a more universal charging standard, it allows a wide range of devices—not only smartphones—to charge quickly over a USB connection. This technology is the latest addition to Promate’s over 1,000 products in its portfolio and it covers 17 major product categories such as data and power cables, Bluetooth audio solutions like speakers and headsets, photography enhancements and hi-tech car gadgets. All products have global warranty for two years. One of the primary objectives behind the development of USB Power Delivery was to produce a single charging standard that could be used across all USB devices. There are a lot of power banks to choose from. What you get should be based on your lifestyle. Some people need ones that are light and sleek. Others are looking for ample power reserves. The plethora of choices from Promate (www.promate.ph) includes the Promate Powertank-20, a 20,000mAh power bank that is built to last wherever you go. Along with 18W Power Delivery and Quick Charging 3.0 port, PowerTank-20 ensures the quickest charge to your smartphone, as well as the power bank itself. The Promate Titan-20C, meanwhile, is for those who want a lot of power without having to give up style. It is a highcapacity power bank with a powerful 20,000mAh lithiumpolymer battery in a modern minimalist design. Charging any USB-enabled devices with both USB-C and USB-A high-speed charging ports. The Titan-20C features automatic voltage regulation, which detects connected devices and provides the optimum charging output. You can charge two devices simultaneously during your long trips with high capacity you will never run out of power. The powerhouse of all power banks is the Promate Capital-24, an 80W power delivery backup battery with 24,000mAh. With a Quick Charging 3.0 port, Capital-24 ensures the quickest charge to a USB-C device, MacBook or other Power Delivery-enabled USB-C device at the optimal charging speed, up to 65W as well as the power bank itself. Capital-24 features power indicator LED along with the one-touch button that indicates the amount of battery life left.

Smartmatic presents alternative digital poll system BY RODERICK L. ABAD Contributor FOLLOWING the success of the recent 2019 midterm elections, Smartmatic has vowed to keep on providing a secure voting technology and transparent poll process to the Philippines as the government looks for an alternative Automated Election System (AES). “Smartmatic has been a leader in providing an efficient, secure and transparent automated election system in many counties and in the Philippines. We want to continue this and strengthen our partnership with the government in providing a secure, faster and credible election system,” said Ramaakanth Sake, president of Smartmatic Asia Pacific. The company participated in the AES Technology Fair of the Department of Information and Communications Technology on July 15. The event had different local and global providers presenting their concept or prototype of an

alternative AES that could be utilized for the 2022 national and local elections. Smartmatic showcased its latest direct recording electronic voting machines, which use a touch screen to eliminate the need for paper ballots and lessen the possibility of read errors. Per the elections technology firm, the touch screen would need a voter’s fingerprint prior to its perusal. In case of overvoting, the system provides realtime feedback so the voters may change their ballot before casting the vote. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) requires that the machine will print out a receipt to be used as a reference if ever a manual recount is needed. In 2015 the Comelec thought of using the touch screens for the 2016 polls but scrapped the idea due to the cost of implementation. Smartmatic started providing election technology to the Philippines in 2008 and since then has extended election tools and services in three national elections to some 55 million voters registering 3.1

billion votes. For the recent elections this year, the Comelec bought a total of 97,350 vote-counting machines (VCMs) from Smartmatic. Also, the company delivered 93,826 headphones, 93,826 modems, and hardware for the Election Management System that supports the operations of the entire automated platform. Overseas, Smartmatic secured in June 2018 the contract to modernize the elections of Los Angeles County, the largest electorate in the US. The Voting Solutions for All People (VSAP) will replace the county’s obsolete voting system that lacks technical and functional elasticity needed to continue to accommodate a growing and increasingly diverse electorate. Smartmatic and its team will be responsible for systems integration, engineering and manufacturing of the system components designed by and for the county during prior phases of the VSAP program that centers on security, accessibility and usability.

This will make it easier for voters with disabilities or limited English proficiency to cast a ballot. It will feature an independent, open-source developed vote tally system owned and operated by the county. The government of Finnmark, a country in the eastern part of Norway, also tapped Smartmatic for its online election using blockchain technology. It was previously implemented in a binding online poll in March 2016, when Smartmatic and Cybernetica helped the Utah Republican party to conduct its Presidential Preference Caucus. Founded in Florida during the 2000 election, Smartmatic is focused on building the most secure, accessible and easy-to-use election technologies designed to safeguard the process from start to finish. Since 2003, it has successfully designed and enforced secure voting technologies for election commissions on five continents in 25 countries, with more than 4.6 billion recorded and tabulated votes with zero security breaches.

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • lifestylebusinessmirror@gmail.com

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Google Station now available in more than 400 sites nationwide GOOGLE Station is now available in more than 400 sites across the country, five months after Google announced its fast, free and open public Wi-Fi in the Philippines in partnership with Smart. Google Station (station.google.com) was initially available in 50 sites, including airports in Manila, Clark, and Davao; LRT 2 and MRT 3 stations, and select universities in the provinces, as part of Google’s Next Billion Users initiative to connect Filipinos to more opportunities through reliable Internet access. Since its launch, Google Station has seen an average of one million monthly active users with people connecting to the Internet for an average of 22 minutes per session several times a day. “We remain committed to serving the Filipino community with fast, free and open Wi-Fi so more people can join the millions of Filipinos already using Google Station,” said K Suri, director for Next Billion Users for Southeast Asia. “This is just the beginning. With our partnership with Smart, we aim to set up Google Station in more locations nationwide so Filipinos can connect to opportunities and benefit from the growing digital economy,” he concluded.

Save time when you go on a coffee run with this Messengerbased app CONTINUED FROM A9 has been serving quality coffee since 1996. “We really want to give our loyal customers the best of both worlds. If they want to unwind and relax, they can come to our stores and enjoy the ambiance. When they want to save time and don’t have time to line up, we also have the platform for that—and that’s BOTTY,” said Benitez. Bo’s Coffee introduced BOTTY in April. By June 2019, it became available in 47 stores. “For now, it is just for select stores but there are plans to expand it to all stores so that all our customers in the Philippines can have this experience,” said Benitez. BOTTY is available at selected Bo’s Coffee stores in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Palawan, Davao and Cagayan de Oro. To use BOTTY, simply open the Messenger app and search for Bo’s Coffee Advance Ordering BOTTY. Then, you can send your location or choose the store to place your order. Choose your drink size, perks and quantity. You can pay online using Visa or MasterCard credit/debit cards, PayMaya Card and Cash. Your order will be ready in 15 minutes, skip the queue and present your collection number. Soon, other online payment options will be accepted, such as GCash and GrabPay. Delivery service will soon be available as well via GrabExpress. ■

Avita: Budget angel TECHNIVORE ED UY

whereiseduy@gmail.com

N a market dominated by tech giants and black/ gray slabs, newcomer brand Avita brings a dash of color choices for people who want their work to show off their personality. But are these head-turning colors enough to warrant your attention? We review the Avita Liber 14-inch Intel Pentium N4200 laptop. There was a time when laptops were the grail of geek devices, and it was the device everyone wanted to own. Now ask any kid to choose between a laptop and a smartphone, and I bet most would rather choose the latter. From being the “darling” of tech geeks, laptops have been in the “meh” zone for quite a while now and unlike smartphones that continue to evolve with more features and colorful designs, most of the laptops today still come in the dull black, gray silver and maybe one other “rebellious” shade. This is where newcomer Avita comes in, bringing in an entire gamut of color options—14 color variants to be exact that can suit any mood or personality. The Avita Liber is the first model from the laptop brand and comes in Angel Blue, Avita Purple, Blossom Pink, Champagne Gold, Cloud Silver, Fragrant Lilac, Himalayan Blue, Matt Black, Pearl White, Shamrock Green, Space Grey, Sunflower Yellow, Sunrise Orange and Urban Ruby. Avita is a consumer lifestyle brand created by the former R&D and branding team of Radio Corp. of America (RCA) in the United States in 2016. Now owned and run by Nexstgo, the brand has been present in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, and was launched in the Philippines last year. Our review unit is 14-inch Liber entry model NS14A1SG with the following specs: ■ Operating System: Windows 10 Home ■ CPU: Pentium N4200 Processor ■ Display: 14” FHD IPS (1920 x 1080) ■ Memory: 4GB DDR3 1600MHz ■ Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics/Intel HD Graphics ■ Storage: 128GB SSD SATA M.2 ■ Integrated Camera: 720p HD ■ Audio: 1W x 2 Stereo Speaker, Internal Dual

Array Digital Mic ■ Keyboard: Island-type Keyboard ■ Wireless: IEEE 802.11 b/g/n (Wi-Fi 4) /ac (Wi-Fi 5) ■ Bluetooth: Bluetooth v4.2/v4.0 ■ Dimension: 333mm (W) x 222mm (D) x 16mm (H) ■ Weight: Starting from 1.46 kg ■ Battery: Li-ion Battery, 36Wh; Up to 10 hours ■ Material: Aluminum ■ I/O Ports: 1 x 3.5mm Headphone, 1 x USB 3.0 Type-C (PD 2.0 Charging, Display out), 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x Micro-HDMI/Mini-HDMI, 1 x MicroSD Card Reader ■ Price: P19,990 Colored laptops aren’t new, but Avita probably has the most number of color options available, with plans for patterns and design collaborations in the future, and these vibrant shades make it easily stand out from the competition. The Avita Liber 14” has a pretty sleek build with its thin metal chassis and matte finish giving it a more premium look. Exploring the left side, you’ll find a Kensington lock, a single USB 3.0 port, and the power button that’s just above them. The power button looks like a fingerprint reader but don’t get your hopes up, its still just a plain button. The port placement seems unbalanced though, as you’ll find a lot of ports on the right side including the charging port, USB 3.0, USB 3.0 Type-C, mini HDMI, a 3.5mm audio port and a microSD card slot. The Avita Liber has a Full HD IPS 1920 x 1080 display with an integrated 720p camera at the top. The screen bezels are quite thick but not enough to distract from your viewing experience, as the display is unexpectedly quite good. The details are clear, color reproduction is sharp, and the viewing angles are alright, as well. Whether you are watching a movie, browsing the Internet or just typing away, you won’t be disappointed with the Liber’s display. Since it’s quite light, I wouldn’t suggest opening the lid with one hand as it might topple backwards, so its best to use both hands when opening the cover. On the main body, the first thing you’ll notice is the large touchpad. The touchpad is smooth to touch and accurate, plus you can hear and feel the click when you press on it. It is easy to reach and the large size makes it a bit more comfortable to use if you don’t have a mouse. As far as the keyboard, however, the spacing between keys is nice, but I would have loved if it had a bit more “spring” when you press on it. But maybe it’s just because I grew up using a typewriter and miss the loud “clickity-clack” sound. Underneath you’ll find two stereo speakers, one on each side. The placement should bring balance,

but since its placed under the unit, sound can easily be muffled. The quality also isn’t something to rave about, and you’ll be a lot happier using headphones or a Bluetooth speaker. As for performance, the Liber is pretty capable of handling your usual everyday tasks as its powered by a Seventh-Gen Intel Pentium N4200 processor, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a 128GB SSD, and Intel HD Graphics—something you’d expect from a laptop in its price range. I’ve been using it for the past month, and I’m actually quite surprised that I’m not missing my Macbook Air that much. Granted that I’m mainly using it for writing, blogging, Web browsing, socialmedia postings and minimal photo editing. There is very little slowdown even with eight browser windows open on Chrome and a couple of office apps running in the background. This makes it a great choice for students and those who work on basic office-related tasks like the ones I mentioned above, making presentations/charts, plus streaming videos, and file transfers—but certainly not for gaming. I think browser games are okay, but I won’t suggest installing those more complicated resource hungry ones. DEVOUR ■ Nice slim stylish design ■ A lot of color choices ■ Sturdy and lightweight ■ Bright display ■ Large trackpad ■ Good battery life ■ Affordable price DISLIKE ■ Not for gamers ■ Dated hardware ■ Weak speakers ■ Screen wobbles a bit

FINAL WORD WHILE the colors of the Avita Liber is the first thing that got my attention (I have the Urban Ruby), I’ve actually found a lot to like about this promising new brand. It is lightweight, has an eye-catching design, premium build quality, a bright clear display and surprisingly good performance. But the best reason that makes the Avita Liber 14” an easy recommendation is its price tag. At P19,990, I think it’s one of the best options out there, especially if you want a laptop that matches your favorite color. If you are looking for a sleek looking laptop you can bring anywhere for normal daily use, with a long lasting battery (it can last up to 10 hours), you should definitely check out Avita Liber which is exclusively available in Octagon stores. ■

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If you have any information / objection to the above mentioned application/s, please communicate with the Regional Director thru Employment Promotion and Workers Welfare (EPWW) Division with Telephone No. 400-6011. ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR