BusinessMirror June 03, 2019

‘PHL NOT A PRIORITY FOR TRADE-ROW VICTIMS’

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

T

HE Philippines may not benefit from the ongoing US-China trade war as some firms caught in the middle of the “tariff” war are opting to relocate to Vietnam and Malaysia, where infrastructure is deemed better and production costs are cheaper, according to trade experts.

Hinrich Foundation Research Fellow Stephen Olson said Chinese firms affected by the trade war will likely relocate to the Asean region but would prioritize Vietnam and Malaysia for their better business environments.

“Countries like Vietnam and Malaysia, frankly speaking, are in the better position

ROAD TO PROGRESS Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar (right) is seen at the recent inspection of the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) Phase 1-Contract Package 1, which was declared 97-percent complete. See story on A12. PHOTO COURTESY OF DPWH

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to reap those benefits in particular due to better ICT [Information and Communication Technology] infrastructure, efficiency of labor, customs, and ports,” Olson said in a recent roundtable with reporters.

“These are the competitiveness factors that would attract [relocating Chinese firms].

And indications show that spillage of outward movement from China [is] more likely toward Vietnam and Malaysia than it would be in the Philippines,” he added.

Distortions MEANWHILE, World Trade Organization (WTO) Deputy Director General Alan Wolff noted that the Philippines has a “stake” in the “amicable” resolution of the US-China trade war since the two big economies are

See “Trade-r0w,” A2

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

www.businessmirror.com.ph

n Monday, June 3, 2019 Vol. 14 No. 236

Peza investments dip 24.5% in Jan-April ’19 40.97% E

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

@alyasjah

CONOMIC zones developed slower in the first four months of the year, as investments applied to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) slumped nearly 25 percent on stalled expansions and new projects.

Investments registered with the Peza from January to April declined 24.54 percent to P29.49 billion, from P39.08 billion during the same period last year. This translated to 159 new projects, two

less from the prior year’s 161.

In spite of slower investment activities in economic zones, exports of locators as of March slightly improved 0.59 percent to $12.94 billion, from $12.86 billion.

Further, new projects in the information-technology industry in the four-month period amounted to P4.63 billion, down 7.08 percent from P4.98 billion during the same stretch last year. In spite of this, ex-

The decline in Peza investments in 2018, down to P140.24 billion from P237.57 billion in 2017.

Peza Director General Charito B. Plaza attributed the double-digit decline to uncertainties arising from the Trabaho bill

ports of IT firms as of March grew 6.75 percent to $3.07 billion, from $2.87 billion.

Peza Promotions and Public Relations Group Manager Elmer H. San Pascual said the investment body cannot yet persuade economic See “Peza,” A2

Bipartisan consensus for ‘sin’ tax bill in Senate

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GROSS BORROWINGS TRIPLE IN Q1 AS GOVT ISSUES MORE LOCAL I.O.U.

By Cai U. Ordinario

G

@caiordinario

ROSS borrowings more than tripled in the first quarter this year on the back of higher domestic borrowings, according to data released by the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).

The data showed that gross borrowings grew 303.84 percent to P582.07 billion in the January-to-March period from P144.13 billion in the same period in 2018.

Gross domestic borrowings surged 699.63 percent to P490.27 billion in the first quarter of the year from P63.31 billion in the same period last year.

Domestic borrowings from retail Treasury bonds (RTBs) reached P235.83 billion, while Treasury bills (T-bills) reached P113.28 billion in the Januaryto-March period this year.

In 2018, there were no RTBs

secured during the January-toMarch period while T-bills reached P18 billion in the first three months of the year.

External gross borrowings, meanwhile, grew 10.84 percent to P91.795 billion in the Januaryto-March period this year, from P82.82 billion in the same period in 2018.

Data showed that project loans reached P6.6 billion while program loans hit P48.34 billion in the first three months of the year.

The government also issued global bonds amounting to P78.04 billion in the January-to-March period of this year.

Last year, project loans reached P8.3 billion while program loans only reached P21.44 billion in the first quarter.

Further, panda bonds reached P11.97 billion and global bonds P102.68 billion in the first quarter of 2018.

Pampi tells DA to tweak imports halt bid; asks FDA to name brands in recall

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S

ENATORS crossed party lines over the weekend, agreeing to fast-track final passage of the Palace-backed higher “sin” tax bill before the current Senate adjourns its last session on Friday. The next Congress including newly elected lawmakers will convene on July 22.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon confirmed on Sunday a recent all-senators caucus forged a consensus to front-load approval of the revenue-raising bill in one sitting and to send it to the House of Representatives for adoption without amendments so there will no longer be a need to convene a bicameral panel to reconcile conflicting provisions.

See “Sin tax,” A2

the country’s top trade partners.

However, Wolff pointed out that trade war could still cut both ways for the Philippines.

“There can be distortions in several directions in trade flows which would benefit the Philippines, some of them would hurt the Philippines,” he told the BusinessM irror in an interview in Geneva, Switzerland, in mid-May. “For example, the Philippines is part of a global value chain and is caught up in a bilateral dispute such as the US and China. That could be a negative; on the other hand, there are companies that are looking for alternative sources that could benefit the [Philippines],” he added.

BILLBOARDS at one property developer’s site at the Clark Freeport at the weekend show more investors taking up stakes in the premier economic zone. The upbeat mood of businesses that believe they have a future in Clark is tempered by the anxiety of ecozone locators around the country that approval in Congress of the Trabaho bill and its rationalization of tax incentives could throw a monkey wrench into their business plans. BERNARD TESTA

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 52.2570

OCAL meat processors have joined the call of importers for the Department of Agriculture (DA) to adopt a scientific basis in proposing a two-month moratorium on purchasing meat products from “high-risk” countries, or those near African swine fever (ASF)-affected states.

Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (Pampi) President Felix O. Tiukinhoy Jr. said the government’s call for an import suspension has no technical and scientific basis.

Nonetheless, Tiukinhoy added that he has already relayed to his group’s members the request of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol for a voluntary halt to importation from countries deemed ASF high

risk. “We told our members that they decide among themselves. We told them what the secretary said, but it would be up to our members to decide on their own,” Tiukinhoy told the BusinessMirror.

Disclose brands

PIÑOL told the BusinessMirror that he would look into the Pampi’s proposal that the government disclose the brands of the imported pork and process pork products that should be recalled from the market so as not to hurt locally produced ones.

“That could be done. We will coordinate with the FDA [Food and Drug Administration],” Piñol said via SMS.

n JAPAN 0.4768 n UK 65.8961 n HK 6.6592 n CHINA 7.5720 n SINGAPORE 37.8976 n AUSTRALIA 36.1148 n EU 58.1673 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.9352

See “Pampi,” A2

Source: BSP (31 May 2019 )

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Monday, June 3, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Ecop tells NCR wage body: Junk pay hike petitions

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

E

@alyasjah

MPLOYERS want Metro Manila’s wage board to dismiss outright all petitions for a pay hike.

‘18th Congress must focus on economic reforms above all’

T

HE 18th Congress must prioritize the passage of economic reform bills to encourage more foreign direct investments and guarantee the country’s economic takeoff.

Leyte Rep.-elect Martin Romualdez made the statement shortly after arriving home from the Japan trip with President Duterte.

Romualdez said the 18th Congress’s urgent task is to pass important legislative measures that reform the country’s relatively restrictive and less competitive economic policies.

The congressman tagged one of the frontrunners in the speakership race cited in particular the amendments to the Foreign Investments Act, the Public Service Act and the Retail Trade Liberalization Act—all meant to encourage investments in industry and services, and boost private construction.

“We, the incoming members of the 18th Congress, are faced with the important task of pursuing vital economic legislation needed to sustain higher productivity growth. Global industrial giants see a great potential in us, but we just have to work hard to gain their trust and confidence,” said Romualdez.

Trade-row. . .

Continued from A1

Olson, a former US trade negotiator, cited reports that the Philippines may see somehow an uptick in investment in factories manufacturing automotive parts as some Chinese firms relocate in Manila.

“We see the trade dispute between the US and China to result in ripple impacts throughout the region, but they can be a double-edged sword,” he said.

“Trade diversions can cut both directions” with some economies getting hurt and some benefitting, he added.

Not caught in the middle

ONE thing is certain for the Philippines as global trade is impacted by the US-China trade war: slower business growth, Philippine Mission to the WTO Special Trade Rep. Jose Antonio S. Buencamino said.

“The thing is, trade war slows down global growth. Look at the forecasts of [World Bank], [International Monetary Fund], all their forecasts indicating slower global trade, and when the global businesses slow [down], who suffers? Everybody suffers,” Buencamino told the B usiness M irror in an interview in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 16.

Buencamino noted that the Philippines may benefit from the US-China trade war if Chinese firms evading the high tariffs slapped

by Washington relocate to the country.

“But what if Vietnam gets all those businesses moving out of China? Right now, it

“The President has issued the marching orders, and we need to follow if we all want to become a prosperous middle-class country free from poverty by 2040. The way I see it, we need to focus more on institutionalizing reforms that will encourage the influx of more investments, the creation of more jobs, improvement in human capital investment and the building of better infrastructure,” Romualdez added.

Citing Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, he said a total of 26 business deals—with a total estimated investment value of $5.5 billion or P288 billion and seen to generate 82,737 jobs —were signed between the Philippines and Japan just before President Duterte addressed the Japanese businessmen at 25th Nikkei Conference on the Future of Asia in Tokyo. The deals cover infrastructure, manufacturing, electronics, medical devices, business-process outsourcing, power, electricity, transport, automotive, food manufacturing and marine manpower industries.

“We also need new pieces of scientific legislation alongside improvements in communication, technology, entry of foreign investors, total expenditure on research and development,

is Vietnam getting them,” he said.

“It’s never a sure thing that the business is yours. It’s a global thing: when business globally is good, then we do well; when global business is slow, then we are also slow,” he added.

Nonetheless, Buencamino said the Philippines “is not caught in the middle” of the US-China trade war: “We are watching. We are not that important that we have ourselves caught in between.”

Duterte’s concern

PRESIDENT Duterte recently expressed deep concern over the escalating trade war between the United States and China which he said is “becoming a protracted war on the global and trade investments everywhere.”

“We are deeply concerned about the ongoing trade war between the US and China.

And it is creating uncertainty and tension. It is causing downward stressors on the global economy,” Duterte said in his speech during the 25th Nikkei Future of Asia Conference last Friday in Tokyo, Japan.

“The world is watching in earnest. There must be a resolution soon,” he added.

The US and China are among the country’s top trade partners, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed.

In the January-to-March period, the US emerged as the country’s top export destination while China was the top import source.

The US cornered 16.1 percent or $2.64 billion of total exports, while China accounted for 21.3 percent or $5.58 billion of total imports during the period.

Peza. . .

easing of start-up procedures, implementation of public sector contracts, knowledge transfer, total public expenditure on education, and development and application of technology,” Romualdez said.

Anti-red tape ASIDE from enacting economic measures, Romualdez said the 18th Congress must exercise its oversight function to ensure the swift implementation of the Ease of Doing Business Act, the implementing rules and regulations of which have yet to be issued one year after its passage.

This law, which includes the organization of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta), is seen to simplify procedures and establish timelines in securing permits and other transactions with the government, he said.

Republic Act 11032, also known as the EODB Law, was signed by Duterte last year to reduce processing time of transactions, simplify steps for securing documentation requirements, boost interconnectivity infrastructure and create the Arta. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Continued from A1

zone firms to expand, as they are still bracing for the possibility—though slim, according to most Congress sources —that the government’s rationalization plan for tax incentives, which they oppose, may happen in the last few session days of the 17th Congress.

Locators have put on hold new projects and expansion plans in anticipation of a change in the country’s corporate tax and incentives regime. Finance officials are making a push to lower corporate income tax and rationalize tax incentives under the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High-Quality Opportunities bill. If approved, the Trabaho bill will gradually reduce corporate tax to 20 percent by 2029, from 30 percent, and introduce a new menu of incentives for investors.

Locators, mostly multinationals, oppose the component on incentives rationalization. They said they might relocate to another Southeast Asian competitor with more competitive incentives if the government lifts their existing tax perks, particularly the 5-percent tax on gross income in lieu of all local and national taxes.

This presents a threat not only to the country’s investment climate, but also to the employment of millions of Filipinos working in economic zones.

“For those new ones that we had serviced, while on their due diligence, [they] have been impressed [with] what they have seen in our economic zones and the ease of doing business in the Peza. However, their final question to us is: will there be a change in your incentives?” San Pascual disclosed in a text message to reporters.

Economic zone firms directly employ 1.48 million workers as of March, according to the Peza. Last year investments applied to the Peza crashed 40.97 percent to P140.24 billion, from P237.57 billion in 2017. Peza Director General Charito B. Plaza had attributed the double-digit decline to the uncertainties brought about by the Trabaho bill.

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (Ecop) filed before the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board of the National Capital Region motions to dismiss petitions for wage increases. The board is evaluating wage hike petitions filed by labor groups in April.

The petitions were submitted by the BPO Industry Employees Network, Metal Workers Alliance of the Philippines, Pambansang Kilusan ng Nagkakaisang Manggagawa and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).

Citing the Amended Rules of Procedure on Minimum Wage Fixing, Ecop said any wage order issued by the board should not be disturbed for a period of 12 months from its effectivity. Further, no petition for wage increase shall be entertained within the said period, the group added.

However, under the same rules, if supervening conditions exist such as extraordinary surges in prices of basic goods and services, the board can proceed with its wage-fixing function even before the expiration of the said period.

“Interestingly, it appears that the last wage order issued by the board took effect on November 22, 2018. This means that the said petitions were all filed around six months after the effectivity of the wage order,” Ecop said in a statement.

“As a rule, a petition should be entertained by the board only for one reason —if there exists any supervening conditions,” it added.

Supervening conditions cited by the labor groups in their petitions were high inflation rate, additional taxes under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, inadequacy of the current pay rate and rising fuel prices. Workers

Sin tax. . .

Continued from A1

“That is right. We [senators] had a consensus to introduce amendments on Monday [June 3] and after that, since the bill is certified urgent, we can pass it on second and third reading. And then it will be sent to the House and they will decide on Tuesday whether or not to adopt our version; and if they do accept it, they will simply adopt it as there is no longer time for a bicameral conference committee,” Drilon said in a mix of English and Filipino.

The Minority Leader confirmed an agreement reached during an all-senators’ caucus to approve the revenue bill with no member indicating plans to filibuster to block passage of the money measure

Pampi. . .

Continued from A1

Tiukinhoy urged the government to disclose the brands of pork and processed pork products to be recalled amid intensified efforts to keep out the ASF, which has ravaged hog populations in more than a dozen countries and territories, including Hong Kong and Asean neighbors Vietnam and Cambodia.

Tiukinhoy explained that the FDA order could create confusion among consumers that all canned products, imported or locally produced, may contain ASF virus, and hence veer away from buying even the safe ones.

“It is unfair to us for the FDA to issue sweeping general statements without naming the brands. If there are canned products that are imported from these ASF-affected countries, then disclose them,” he said.

“Because if that is the language of the government, then other products and brands, that are free from ASF, would be affected as consumers may be wary or suspicious of them, as well,” he added.

Pampi issued an earlier statement

It appears that the last wage order issued by the board took effect on November 22, 2018. This means...the petitions were all filed around six months after the effectivity of the wage order. As a rule, a petition should be entertained by the board only for one reason—if there exists any supervening conditions.”—Ecop said an increase in the minimum wage rate will also increase their productivity.

“Ecop, on the other hand, filed motions to dismiss on all four petitions on the ground that the allegations of the labor groups on the existence of a supervening event were baseless, groundless, unfounded and not supported by evidence,” the statement read.

“As such, it is submitted that all four petitions should not be entertained and instead be dismissed outright. Pending the decision of the board, Ecop respectfully prayed that all motions to dismiss against the wage increase be granted,” it added.

The TUCP is seeking an additional P710 to the minimum wage of Metro Manila workers, while the petitions filed by the other three intend to put the rate at P750 per day.

The last wage adjustment in the daily pay rate of Metro Manila workers was in November of last year. The wage order issued then increased the minimum wage to P537 for nonagricultural workers. awaited by Malacañang.

Drilon said he backed the Palace-certified initiative because he considers it crucial to national health. He said he wants to “reduce the number of smokers, especially among the poor, because the diseases related to smoking are a big drain on the pocket.” He also supports the measure “in order to fund universal health care,” Drilon added.

Meanwhile, he also affirmed the senators’consensus to assist tobacco farmers affected by the imposition of higher sin tax rates.

“Under RA 7171 passed in 1992, as the farmers’ income theoretically declines with the reduction in the number of smokers, the government helps the farmers and 15 percent of the excise tax collected goes to the Virginia leaf tobacco industry in order to help our farmers,”Drilon said, mostly in Filipino. Butch Fernandez assuring consumers that processed meat products produced by the group do not contain materials from ASF-infec ted countries.

Pampi is working out a system with local supermarkets, to display on separate shelves the imported and locally produced processed meat products, Tiukinhoy said.

The local meat processing industry produces more than P300 billion in sales annually and provides direct employment to 150,000 people.

Just like the issue of “synthetic” vinegar recently, Laban Konsyumer Inc. President Victorio Dimagiba pointed out that the government is mandated under the Food Safety Act to immediately disclose the specific brands of processed meat products that should be pulled out from the market.

“More important in the recall is the country of origin of canned meat products as infected with African Swine Fever, as well as the brand name,” Dimagiba told the Business M irror.

Under the Food Safety Act, regulatory authorities are mandated to disclose vital information to the public on food items suspected to pose risks to human health and to public safety. Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

The Nation BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Monday, June 3, 2019 A3

Absence of hostages prompts military to intensify ops in Sulu

M

By Rene Acosta

@reneacostaBM

ILITARY operations are expected to further intensify in the province of Sulu following the arrival of more soldiers there and the death of the last remaining captive of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

The deployment of the Army’s 1st Brigade Combat Team (1st BCT) over the weekend has

made Sulu as the most military saturated province in the country, given that the 11th Infantry

Division (11th ID) has also been predeployed or based there.

“As of now, we are really saying there is no more [captive]. In the past, we have records but, without the proof of life, there is no more report [that] they are still there,” Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command Spokesman Col. Gerry Besana said.

Over the weekend, the ASG under its chieftain, R adullan Sahiron, killed Ewold Horn, the Dutch captive held by the local terrorist group, following a firefight with soldiers at Sitio Bud Sub-Sub, Barangay Pansul, Patikul, Sulu, wherein Sahiron’s wife

was also killed.

Horn, who was snatched in TawiTawi along with another foreigner in 2012, was the last remaining captive of the ASG in Sulu, according to Besana. More than a week ago, however, Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana said that the ASG is still holding 11 captives, including the Dutch.

With the absence of any kidnap victims in the hands of the ASG, Besana said nothing will no longer hold the military from further intensifying its operations in Sulu in its effort to stop terrorism in the province.

In December last year, the

military created the 11th ID and based it in Sulu, purposely to end the ASG-borne terrorism in the province, the first in the military’s history where a division-sized of soldiers was deployed in a province to run after a single indigenous threat group.

The division was backed up by specialized units from the Army, Navy and the Marines. On Friday the Army also sent its 1st BCT in Sulu, still to run after the ASG, which according to Besana, still has a record of 200 fighters in the province.

Besana said that while the military maintains a very big number

of troops in Sulu, it could not just carry out an all-out war against the ASG in the province since it was holding kidnap victims until the death of Horn.

“That was correct. It became the limitation [the presence of kidnap victims]. We cannot go all-out.

We are only doing surgical and selective [operations]. If we bomb [them], the kidnap victims will be hit,” he said.

The local military spokesman justified the military solution as only a part of the holistic approach in dealing with the problem of terrorism in Sulu as it needs to involve the other stakeholders.

A4 Monday, June 3, 2019 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

Govt issues tight quarantine rules vs African swine fever

ARRIVING passengers at the Clark International Airport are greeted with prominent warnings such as these, as authorities step up the campaign—including tight quarantine rules—to keep the Philippines free from the African swine fever which has ravaged hog populations in more than a dozen countries.

BERNARD TESTA

A

By Recto Mercene

@rectomercene

LL kinds of animal meat, fresh, frozen, cooked or uncooked, or canned from countries struck by African swine fever (ASF) will not be allowed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) and other seaports, according to the guidelines released by the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ).

The BOQ guidelines were disseminated to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Bureau of Customs (BOC), and the Food and Drug Ad-

ministration, which have agents posted at the Naia.

“These agencies are directed to confiscate any kind of animal

EU countries must clear donations to NGOs in PHL with DFA—Locsin

A

LL donations by nongovernment organizations (NGOs) to their affiliates in the Philippines should be cleared first with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. “Over a month ago I fired off a memo to all our European embassies to tell their host governments to clear any and all donations to their NGOs in the Philippines with the DFA. Or we will deregister them in the SEC [Securities and Exchange Commission]. If that hasn’t been done do it now,” Locsin said in his tweet, but provided no further details.

The secretary’s outburst came following the Duterte administration’s claims that foreign governments have been providing support to organizations that are allegedly communist fronts.

The Philippine government, through the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, has submitted to the EU and the Belgian embassy in the Philippines documents supporting claims that NGOs are being used to funnel funds to the communist movement.

Belgian Ambassador Michel Goffin had also committed to review the documents.

“We are aware of the claim made by the Philippine government. We take this claim seriously and have started immediately investigating the matter, together with the European authorities,” he said in a statement quoted by the Philippine News Agency.

“The funding of nongovernment organizations is subject to strong le-

gal requirements under Belgian law.

Should these abuses be established, the Belgian government will not hesitate to stop its support and to seek to recover the amounts already disbursed,” he added.

Some months back the European Union has said an external company will audit EU’s grants to NGOs in the Philippines that were allegedly funneled to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

“The EU now will verify and evaluate these documents. A financial audit by an external company is due to be conducted in April,” the EU Delegation in Manila said in a statement.

The Philippine government on March 28 submitted documents and pieces of evidence to EU Program Manager on Governance Louis Dey and Goffin, asking the two parties to “immediately cease” the release of funds.

The Belgian embassy in Manila said it was taking the claim seriously and had immediately started investigating the matter, together with European authorities.

“The funding of nongovernment organizations is subject to strong legal requirements under Belgian law.

Should these abuses be established, the Belgian government will not hesitate to stop its support and to seek to recover the amounts already disbursed,” Goffin said in a statement.

The bloc underscored that CPP and the NPA were recognized by the EU as terrorist groups, which means that no asset could be held in EU by these organizations. Recto Mercene

meat, processed or unprocessed, cook or uncooked coming from the countries affected by the African swine fever,” said BAI-Naia Head Reynaldo Quilang.

These agencies are also being asked to closely scan all pieces of luggage coming from affected countries, such as China, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia and Ukraine, while Vietnam, Zambia, South Africa, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Mongolia and Moldova.

“All incoming luggage including hand-carry bags coming from the ASF affected countries will be subjected to x-ray scanning with the help of BOC,” Quilang said.

Memorandum Order 09, Series of 2019 is addressed to all veterinary quarantine personnel and related agencies at various airports and seaports across the country.

According to the guidelines, the importation of meat intended for personal or noncommercial use are allowed without permit under the following conditions:

Processed meat products including cooked and canned meat with maximum weight of 10 kilograms (kg) and sourced from countries free from ASF; Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and other Transboundary Animal Disease.

Any commodities in excess of the allowed limit of 10 kg shall be subjected for confiscation and penalties as prescribed by pertinent regulations.

Unprocessed meat products, including fresh, frozen, uncooked meat products sourced from countries free from ASF, HPAI, FMD, and other transboundary animal disease even in quantities for personal use, sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance is required.

Quilang said they will confiscate any kind of meat, processed or unprocessed, cooked or uncooked coming from the affected countries, including the brand “MaLing” from China.

He appealed to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) not to bring processed meat or canned goods like MaLing in their luggage as it will be confiscated.

“We are doing this to prevent the spread of ASF in our country, to save our farmers from the effect of African swine fever.”

Meanwhile, the BOC at the Naia confiscated some 84 kg of imported meat from Japan recently. The items were was brought into the country through the Naia without clearance and health certificate.

The meat shipment from Japan is not included in the list of banned countries for pork meat importation.

Customs-Naia district collector Mimel Talusan said they have seized some 4,496 kg of meat and meat products from January to May this year.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Higher ‘sin’ taxes to ensure funding for universal health care program–lawmaker

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

A

MEMBER of the House Committee on Economic Development urged the Senate to approve a new “sin” tax-reform law to fill the funding gap in the implementation of the universal health care (UHC) program.

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr., citing the Department of Finance (DOF), said the first year of UHC’s implementation in 2020 will require some P258 billion to implement, which the government can cover from its current funding sources in the amount of P195 billion.

Without a new sin tax-reform law, Villafuerte said the UHC will be left with a funding gap of around P62 billion in the first year alone.

“The Senate’s immediate passage of the sin tax bill will pave the way for the adoption of an enrolled congressional bill before the sine die adjournment next week, which will be a fitting cap to the legacy of a highly productive 17th Congress,” Villafuerte said.

The Senate has until Tuesday to approve the measure. The House of Representatives already approved its version of the sin tax bill last year.

According to the lawmaker, the Senate needs to pass the new sin tax bill tight away because accomplishing the measure’s primary objectives, which are to discourage smoking and raise enough revenues for UHC will, in turn, help accomplish the President’s goal of attacking poverty and improving the lives of Filipinos.

“It would be a massive opportunity lost if the legislature fails to

pass this new sin tax-reform law within this Congress as it would be back to square one for the measure when a new Congress opens in July,” Villafuerte said.

Citing the Department of Health (DOH), he said UHC, without a steady funding source from higher sin taxes, will mean that Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) members will continue to be covered for only 18 primary-care drugs and seven conditions while shouldering 90 percent of the cost of prescribed medicines.

“But if the Congress gets to pass the law before it adjourns on June 7, PhilHealth coverage will expand to cover 120 drugs, and there will be no limit on primary care treatment. The DOH has also proposed that medicine purchases will be limited to a fixed fee—the cost of the transaction alone,” he added.

Villafuerte said that while the DOF and DOH have appealed to the Congress to approve a P60per-pack increase in the excise tax for cigarettes, with a 9-percent hike every year thereafter, the current Senate formula of a staggered increase of P45 for the first year with incremental increases of P5 until it reaches the P60 level is still acceptable.

Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, who chairs the Senate ways and means committee, is expected to sponsor this week Committee Report 714, which proposes an excise tax increase on tobacco products of P45 in 2020 or an increase of P10 in the first year of implementation, followed by a series of annual P5 increases until the rate reaches P60 in 2023.

Thereafter, the rate automatically increases by 5 percent.

BFAR: 3-month closure of Davao Gulf to help pelagic fish spawn

DTI to consumers: Avoid steel bars made by Wan Chiong

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales @alyasjah

T

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has warned consumers against buying steel bars made by Wan Chiong Steel Corp., whose operations are suspended over violations on product standard and environmental laws.

In a statement on Friday, the DTI advised consumers to refrain from purchasing Wan Chiong steel products. It also instructed hardware stores to halt the sale of steel bars produced by the Pampangabased manufacturer.

“To ensure the safety of consumers and to prevent the release of substandard products to the market, DTI orders hardware stores to pull out stocks and stop selling steel bars produced by Wan Chiong Steel Corp. while suspension order is not yet lifted,” the statement read.

Wan Chiong’s operations were suspended in January after the government found its manufacturing plant in Pampanga producing deformed 16 millimeter steel bars and rolls. The DTI’s Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (DTI-FTEB) and Central Luzon office sealed bundles of steel products during the issuance of the suspension order.

Fur ther, the Env ironmenta l Management Bureau in Pampanga issued a notice of violation to Wan Chiong for noncompliance with an environmental law.

Wan Chiong’s furnace allegedly emits thick smoke and dust that could

pollute the air. Authorities concluded this is a clear violation of the Philippine Clean Air Act. “While DTI-FTEB is looking into the revocation of the steel plant’s Philippine Standard License if they fail to comply with the agency’s requirements, Wan Chiong is advised to appeal to the bureau and do necessary corrective actions,” the statement read.

In April the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (Pisi) reported to the DTI the sale of substandard rebars in several stores in the Cordilleras, particularly in Benguet, Mountain Province and Ifugao. The group found this out in the market monitoring and test buys it initiated in the first quarter.

Of the 12 stores visited by Pisi, four allegedly sold low-grade steel bars manufactured by Wan Chiong.

Wan Chiong’s 16 mm rebars sold in La Trinidad, Benguet, reportedly lacked weight and failed in elongation. The 12 mm rebars sold by two stores in Bauko, Mountain Province, were believed to be underweight, while those in Lagawe, Ifugao, were also underweight and with low elongation.

Pisi Vice President Joel T. Ronquillo had said consumers are on the receiving end in the proliferation of substandard steel bars in the market.

“The substandard rebars are definitely unsafe to use. The burden and great effect would be for the end users and consumers that will use the substandard rebars without their due knowledge,” Ronquillo said in the Pisi report.

THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) “Bantay Dagat Patrol” sets out to sea from the Toril Fishport, Davao City, as the closed fishing season begins June 1 to August 31. PNA

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

D

AVAO CITY—The regional Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has closed anew the 23-hectare Davao Gulf to allow the unhampered spawning of pelagic fish species, such as round scad.

Davao Gulf will be closed from June to August, the season when female fish species are known to carry and lay their eggs.

This would be the sixth time that the annual closed season policy was imposed. Davao Gulf is the third fishing ground to be accorded protection after the seas off Zamboanga City and the Visayan Sea. During the closed season at the Davao Gulf, prohibited fishing activities include the use of bag nets and ring nets, the main catching devices of commercial fishing boats. These nets traps the pelagic fishes, locally known here as karabalyas, galunggong and matangbaka.

The BFAR said these pelagic fish “are so classified as these species live in the zone of the gulf or lake waters being neither close to the bottom nor near the shore.”

While municipal fishing will still

be allowed, the BFAR warned that all ships of whatever tonnage using the prohibited nets would be penalized.

Republic Act 10654 imposes a fine of P20,000, or three times the value of the catch on the offender, or whichever is higher. A higher fine of P100,000 to as much as P500,000 would be imposed on commercial fishers.

Conviction would send offenders to jail from six months up to six years.

When Davao Gulf was first temporary closed in 2014, BFAR Director Fatima Idris cited a scientific study by a Filipino researcher who found that catch in the gulf declined by 7 percent.

Another recent study also noted a 20-percent decrease in fish caught last year during and after the closed season.

BFAR used the 300 units of 5.5horsepower engines given for free to the affected fishermen aboard the commercial fishing boats.

The fishermen were also given 300 fishing gears for hook-and-line fishing.

The BFAR said the most abundant fish species in the Davao Gulf are the Carangidae (jacks, pompanos, mackerels, runners and scads), at 32 percent, followed by Scombridae (mackerel, tuna and bonito), at 20 percent, and Clupidae (herrings, shads, sardines, hilsa ad menhadens) at 10 percent.

Agriculture/Commodities BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng • Monday, June 3, 2019 A5

Experts: Agri data ‘crucial’ amid climate change

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

T

HE quality of the Philippines’s agriculture data will improve with the use of area frame sampling and remote sensing, according to experts from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

In an Asian Development Blog, ADB Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department Associate Statistics Officer Pamela Lapitan and Consultant Anna Christine Durante said better statistics are crucial not only for production but also preparing for extreme weather conditions and climate change.

However, the two experts lamented that the lack of technical capacity in the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) prevents the country from tapping into the opportunities presented by both methods.

“So, what’s keeping the Philippines and Vietnam from using these methods? One reason is the lack of technical

capacity in government statistical service. The development of the area frame sampling method is a major task that requires investment of technical capabilities and other resources,” Lapitan and Durante said.

“Substantial work is still needed to strengthen the statistical systems and improve the methodologies needed for the use of area frame sampling and remote sensing,” they added.

Lapitan and Durante said area frame sampling is a data collection method that involves the process of segregated land into defined areas while remote sensing often involve global positioning systems (GPS),

Govt urged to roll out policies promoting use of agri drones

as well as satellites to gather information.

The authors said remote sensing is considered highly effective due to its versatility, completeness of coverage and accuracy.

They said a recent study showed that area frame sampling methodology significantly improved the level of precision of paddy rice statistics.

This is an advantage, Lapitan and Durante said, compared to existing administrative data collection in most countries. Methods that produce precise results are not usually publicly available while other data collected may even be politically motivated.

“The advances in remote sensing technology hold promise for the development of a complete and updated area frame sampling procedure. While remote sensing served as a prime contributor to the localization and geocoding of sampling units, these advantages are yet to be fully utilized for statistical purposes and ultimately, for policymaking,” Lapitan and Durante said.

In March, the BusinessMirror published a Broader Look piece titled “Fuzzy PH agriculture data leads to glut, confused farm sector” which highlighted the

‘Allow tobacco farmers to help craft budget of local govts’

T

BLOOMBERG NEWS

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

T

OP Chinese drone manufacturer SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd. (DJI) said the Philippines should adopt “proactive regulations” that would encourage the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (AEV) in farming to cut production costs and improve productivity.

Nicky Ye, DJI senior sales specialist, said the government should follow China’s lead, which adopted strategies that helped attract farmers to agricultural drones.

“For example when DJI produced Agras [agricultural drone] and other companies entered the market, the government first observed how the drones would be beneficial to the market and agriculture,” Ye told the BusinessMirror.

“From there, [Beijing] eventually came up with laws. Now we have regulations that oversee agricultural drones which involve testing and how to use them,” he added.

New Hope Corp. President Anthony Q. Tan noted that local government regulations disallow night flight. This, Tan said, hinders farmers from using drones in spraying crops to protect them from nocturnal pests. NHC is the exclusive distributor of agricultural drones manufactured by DJI in the Philippines.

Tan added there should be more collaboration among drones manufacturers, users and regulators to come up with rules that will expand the use of the technology for agriculture.

“I think we need what works within certain parameters. That’s the approach undertaken by China and Vietnam, which let the market explore the use of drones. Then they started to regulate,” he said.

“New Hope is a 100-percent advocate of regulations and we support regulations. For us to move forward we have to be compliant but there needs to be an alignment [in government policies],” Tan added.

Ye said the regulations implemented

by China paved the way for the increase in the use of agricultural drones, which have

helped farmers become more efficient in crop production.

Last year, DJI sold 20,000 units of agricultural drones. From January and April this year, the company has already sold over 10,000 units.

“Labor in the Philippines is becoming tight. If you have this new technology, it could improve the efficiency to spray and also maybe in the future, it would attract more and more young people to go back to agriculture,” Ye said.

“Agricultural drones will be a very important tool to help farmers in the Philippines. The Philippine market is not very mature [for agriculture drones] unlike China but I believe it will be as big as China in the future because of its huge potential,” he added.

Last year, the United Nations’s Food and Agriculture Organization urged governments to craft guidelines to improve the adoption of drones in agriculture. Sans the guidelines, the FAO noted governments will have a hard time attracting the youth to farming.

The FAO noted that some countries have banned the importation and use of drones due to lack of proper study on their benefits and risks. There are also countries that prohibit the use of agricultural drones due to the lack of a regulatory framework.

“UAS [unmanned aerial system] for agriculture could be a magnet for educated youth in developing countries to develop service enterprises based or at least operating in rural areas, thus generating jobs opportunities and improving agricultural production and farmers’ returns on investment,” the FAO said.

“As the industry is fast developing in countries where the regulations are enabling, and on hold or winding down where these are too strict, expensive to comply with or disabling, regulators should be fully aware that the impact of their decisions reaches far beyond security and privacy and could determine whether agriculture becomes a data-driven and profitable enterprise or not,” it added.

HE government should put in place a mechanism that would allow tobacco farmers to participate in the local budget process involving billions of pesos channeled to tobaccoproducing provinces, a nongovernment organization said.

Rights Services Inc. (Rights), a network of farmer groups and member of Sin Tax Coalition, said it high time for local government units (LGUs) to include tobacco farmers in their budget process.

This, Rights noted, would ensure that the “sin” taxes allocated to every tobaccoproducing LGU would be used for the benefit of the farmers.

“Allowing tobacco farmers to directly participate in the local budget process is expected to further improve their income and eventually help them shift to healthier and more productive crops,” Rights Program Manager Cynthia Esquillo said in a statement.

The group, which expanded its advocacy to include a tobacco industry interference program, was prompted to issue a statement after Sen. Richard J. Gordon recently dismissed the benefits of the new sin tax law, which is currently being deliberated upon in the Senate.

However, Rights said Sen. Juan Edgardo M. Angara had pointed out that the sin tax law benefits tobacco farmers. Quoting Angara, Rights said in 2018 alone, some P17 billion was allotted to Virginia leaf growers.

If properly allotted and distributed, every farmer would get P500,000.

“Based on a recent study on tobacco excise taxes by Social Watch Philippines [SWP], also a Sin Tax Coalition member, farmers in Candon City—a tobacco-growing region—received a P15,000 subsidy for every hectare where tobacco is planted, excluding other inputs such as fertilizers,” Rights said.

However, Esquillo noted that the share in the taxes per farmer is not enough to help them improve their livelihood.

“This also explains why Rights Inc. is also asking LGUs to include civil society organizations [CSOs] in the local budget process,” she said. “Besides helping to keep the budget process transparent, CSOs are also expected to see to it that the farmers get what they really deserve.”

Esquillo also urged the government prosecute officials who have misused tobacco funds. Rights noted that in July 2018, the House of Representatives panel on good government recommended that charges be filed against six Ilocos Norte local officials who used tobacco excise taxes to purchase vehicles.

The Sin Tax Coalition is an alliance of like-minded groups advocating for the passage of the new law on tobacco taxes. Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

challenges in collecting agriculture data.

In an interview, University of Asia and the Pacific’s Center for Food and Agri Business Executive Director Rolando T. Dy urged the government to adopt modern technologies such as drones and satellite images to collect and validate data.

The use of such equipment, he added, would reduce errors committed by humans in statistical work as they provide opportunities for cross-checking manually gathered data.

Philippine Institute for Development Studies Senior Research Fellow Roeh-

lano M. Briones also told the BusinessMirror that experience and technology are also factors that can spell the difference between good and bad statistics. He said the PSA had to go through years and decades before reaching a certain standard in data collection and processing efforts.

He added that while the PSA has become an independent agency capable of undertaking the task of collecting and processing quality data, there are other practices done by countries that are helping them come up with the data they require.

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TRP, INC. Toyota Industrial Complex, Brgy. Pulong, Sta. Cruz, Sta. Rosa City, Laguna

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MEDIC-PRO CORP. Medic-Pro Bldg., Sitio Puting Bato, Brgy.

Inarawan, Antipolo City

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT Regional Office No. IV-A 4th Flr. Andenson Bldg. II, Brgy. Parian, Calamba City Telefax No.: (049) 545-7362 June 03, 2019

NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION FOR ALIEN EMPLOYMENT PERMIT (AEP) Notice is hereby given that the following employers have filed with this Regional Office application/s for Alien Employment Permit/s.

Name and Address of Company/Employer

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National MR. JOHN GREGORY PHILLIPS/

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BRIGHTON MACHINERY CORP. GMBP, Brgy. Maduya, Carmona, Cavite

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CAM MECHATRONIC (PHILIPPINES), INC. LISP II, Brgy. La Mesa, Calamba City, Laguna

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MR. YUXIN CHEN/ Chinese

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MR. WENYANG PAN/

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Production Trainer

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Chinese MR. TOSHIYUKI UEMORI/

Production Engineering Manager

Japanese MS. MI AE HYUN/ Korean

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Director

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

Chinese

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Monday, June 3, 2019 A7

Chinese Customer Service Representative

HENRY JOHN S. JALBUENA Regional Director

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A8 Monday, June 3, 2019

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Monday, June 3, 2019 A9

A10 Monday, June 3, 2019 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

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editorial

Thriving, not just surviving

F

OR too many years the Philippines was like a drowning man—just able to keep its head above water but not able to swim.

The genuine debt-slavery to Western financial institutions was eventually broken during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. However, even prior to that, as the Philippines entered the 21st century, economic growth had begun to be sustainable. Since the beginning of 1999, the country has posted 81 consecutive quarters of gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

The succeeding Aquino administration carried on with the successful management of government finances. The Duterte administration has done the same and added policies to build on the past.

We have now booked 29 consecutive quarters of GDP growth of 5 percent or greater.

The nation and its people are no longer just surviving but have entered the realm of thriving and building a more prosperous future.

But there are problems that need to be solved. The economy is hobbled by a Constitution that was designed to make it hard for the “opposition” to successfully challenge in the legislature or at the ballot box the post-Edsa political powers.

The at-large voting for the Senate and to a lesser extent the PartyList system made sure that political and economic power remained— and expanded—in the National Capital Region. The economic provisions of the Constitution insured that the same groups that dominated the economic life of the country retained their power.

The nation’s land transportation system is a disaster area and, considering the improvements in technology and increased urbanization, is relatively unchanged since World War II. Philippine agricultural production is a Third-World Basket Case, except the basket is always half empty.

The Philippines’s GDP per person adjusted by purchasing power parity is nearly P400,000, but we have not been able to bring that wealth and income generating opportunities to the economically lowest 15 percent of the nation.

However, part of the problem is that our politics seems to be centered on opposition both in word and action. Even the term means “to oppose or resist by a group of adversaries.” What we do not need is opposition. What would help are alternative solutions, and they never seem to come except on what we might call social issues. It is fair and reasonable to “object” to the death penalty, mandatory ROTC training, the age of criminal responsibility and even foreign policy initiatives.

Where are the concrete proposals for creating more local and domestic investments rather than arguing about the constitutional restrictions, which will not be changed any time soon? When will we hear alternative ideas for the next industry that might give us something similar to the call-center boom?

It is said that the dogs only fight over bones. Throw large chunks of meat for all the animals to feed on and they work together. In our case, as the “meat” of the economy gets larger, so also does the fighting. The Philippine economy can enter its next economic boom phase. We are close. But we need more constructive cooperation and less destructive confrontation.

More than words: Why language matters Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II

RISING SUN

T

HE issue about our national language being taken out of the college curriculum is not a simple matter as there are many considerations in such a move. As classes in most schools start today, allow me to write a few lines about the controversial topic.

The Supreme Court itself agreed with the Commission on Higher Education to remove Filipino and Panitikan from the college curriculum. The top man at CHED, Chairman Prospero de Vera III, said that Filipino and Panitikan were not removed from the general curriculum but simply transferred to the senior high school curriculum because these subjects are supposed to be part of every student’s foundation before he or she enters the university. Aside from that, de Vera said that colleges

and universities are still free to offer optional courses in Filipino and Panitikan.

Some argue that it will not be logical for most schools to offer these optional subjects in Filipino and Panitikan if these are not a requirement anyway. Others say that this move kills the Filipino culture, instead of strengthening nationalism at this crucial time when our very sovereignty is being challenged. If there will be no action to fight for the survival of our identity and

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O

N April 12, 2019, President Duterte signed into law Republic Act 11291 known as the “Magna Carta of the Poor.” The Magna Carta is in implementation of the declared policy of the State “to uplift the standard of living and quality of life of the poor and provide them with sustained opportunities for growth and development.” It mandates the State “to adopt an area-based, sectoral and focused intervention to poverty alleviation where every poor Filipino must be empowered to meet the minimum basic need through the partnership of the Government and the basic sectors” (RA 11291, Section 2).

The “poor” shall refer to individuals or families whose income falls below the poverty threshold as defined by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) and/ or who cannot afford in a sustained manner to provide their minimum basic needs of food, health, education, housing, or other essential amenities of life, as defined under RA 8425, otherwise known as the “Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act.” In determining who constitute the poor, the Multidimensional Poverty Index determined by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shall be considered (Section 3 [f]).

“Basic Sectors” shall refer to the disadvantaged sectors of Philippine society including farmer-peasants, fisherfolk, workers in the formal

sector, including migrant workers, workers in the informal sector, indigenous peoples and cultural communities, women, persons with disability, senior citizens, victims of calamities/natural and human-induced disasters, youth and students, children, urban poor and members of cooperatives (Section 3 [a]).

Under Section 4 thereof, full enjoyment or realization of the following rights of the poor are requirements toward poverty alleviation: a) Right to Adequate Food is the right of individuals or families to have physical and economic access to adequate and healthy food, or the means to procure it. (Implementing Agency: Department of Social Welfare and Development [DSWD], Department of Agriculture); b) Right to Decent Work is the

language, it is very easy for these to get obliterated in the face of globalization. And this is why various groups and organizations are making sure that their voices and objections are heard.

If you would go to any café or restaurant and try to listen to young Filipinos talk to each other, you would notice that many of these people are using the English language, and eloquently at that. Similarly, there are good English language speakers in the universities, and offices or companies. Investors favor us because Filipinos are known to be good English speakers, particularly those who are part of the work force.

On the other hand, if one would visit some poorer communities or remote villages and barangays, even some universities and schools in the metropolis, one wouldn’t be hard pressed to find students who would surely benefit from additional instruction in the English language.

Whether we accept it, there are more opportunities for our citizens if they can communicate well in the English language. It does not mean,

however, that Filipino and Panitikan should not be learned. I think there needs to be a good balance so that our fullest potentials may be realized.

Those who are good in the English language should benefit from learning more about our national language and literature, to strengthen national identity and instill love for our own culture and heritage. While those who apparently need to learn better communication in English, to be able to get good jobs, for example, should study English more. There is no one common solution applicable to all people. We come from different backgrounds and life situations so we need to learn what we need to move forward. But first of all, love for country, language and culture must be nurtured.

To end this column, I think it is only fitting to paraphrase what the nationalistic writer Jun Cruz Reyes said: Language is not merely words.

It forms our consciousness, identity and sensibility. The honor and glory of any country may also be found in its literature and history.

right to the opportunity to obtain decent and productive employment, in conditions of freedom, equity, gender equality, security and human dignity. (Implementing Agency: Department of Labor and Employment [DOLE]); c) Right to Relevant and Quality Education is the right to attain the full development of the human person. (Implementing Agency: Department of Education [DepEd], Commission on Higher Education [CHED], Technical Education and Skills Development Authority [Tesda]); d) Right to Adequate Housing is the right to have a decent affordable, safe and culturally appropriate place to live in, with dignity, security of tenure in accordance with RA 7279, otherwise known as the “Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992,” in peace, with access to basic services, facilities, and livelihood.

(Implementing Agency: Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council [HUDCC]); e) Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health is the right to have equitable access to a variety of facilities, goods, services and conditions necessary for the realization of the highest attainable standard of health. (Implementing Agency: Department of Health [DOH]).

The Magna Carta further provides for non-diminution of the rights of the poor provided under existing laws which shall remain in full force and effect (Section 5).

The Neda shall maintain and periodically review, in consultation with PSA, a single system of classifi-

cation to be used for targeting beneficiaries of the government’s poverty alleviation programs and projects to ensure that such programs reach the intended beneficiaries.

The DSWD, in coordination with Neda and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), shall identify the target beneficiaries (Section 7).

All government agencies shall formulate, within 100 days from the issuance of the rules and regulations to implement this Act, a comprehensive and convergent plan to set the thresholds to be achieved by the government for each of the recognized rights of the poor. This plan shall consider development plans of provinces, cities and communities. NAPC with the technical assistance of Neda, shall be tasked to compile and harmonize these plans. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall, likewise, review the National Poverty Reduction Plan for inclusion in the budget of implementing agencies (Section 8).

The NAPC shall ensure that the basic sectors and the local government units are engaged in the formulation and implementation of the NPRP. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall monitor the compliance of the LGUs in aligning their respective development, investment, and poverty reduction plans with the NPRP, and in implementing the same (Section 9).

The funding for the poverty alleviation programs and projects See “Kapunan,” A11

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Opinion

Why it pays to wait

Obscurity in this VUCA world

BusinessMirror

Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.

Rodelisa P. De Villa

THE PATRIOT

DEBIT CREDIT

R

ECENTLY, I went home to Cavite. I alighted at Petron Carmona at the same time with this (very motherly) woman.

There was no traffic light so getting to the other side was a bit of a challenge. I was so eager to cross the highway but she held my hand and said, “Let’s cross later. Those vehicles run too fast and we might get hurt.” I looked at her and nodded.

“The road will clear up one way or another,” she added while smiling.

So I waited with her. Few more buses passed by and I was really getting impatient. I took a step forward but she tugged my hand and said, “Later anak. Let’s wait it out.”

Eventually, the road cleared and we were able to cross the road, unscathed. I thanked her multiple times for helping me cross safely, and then we parted ways.

Earlier that day, I got a haircut. I was getting exasperated by the slow styling that was being done but I kept my mouth shut. Apparently, Kuya noticed my fidgeting and asked me (in the nicest and brotherly way possible), “May lakad ka ba after nito?” I was caught off-guard by his question but I was even more surprised to realize that I had no other activity coming after my haircut. I just smiled and said “Wala naman po.” After an hour, I thanked him for a job well done with my hair and I went home to prepare my things.

I guess in a world where deadline is (ironically) a lifeline and time is a trending currency, it is so easy to be misled by the thought that things should be done right away.

Deadlines come up before we could even breathe. Meetings with superiors (and/or subordinates) are held more than catch up dates with friends. E-mails to clients are sent more often than “Good morning” texts to parents.

The things to do accumulate like

the traffic in Edsa, sometimes worse.

But the whole point is we should deliver...we should always deliver. If Plan A is not the way, we are expected to improvise to get to wherever point we have to be without wasting so much time.

And seeing how this ‘world’ made me this impatient just after a year and several months, I realized how dangerous it could have been for me had I not met the woman and the Kuya (I forgot to ask their names) last weekend.

Last night I was browsing through my subscribed channels in YouTube and I came across Toni Gonzaga’s vlog—“Why it pays to wait.” Although I did not click the play button (since I may have watched it once or twice already), I realized that being in a hurry gives you results, but not necessarily the best ones.

Apart from the vlog, those chance encounters, in the simplest way possible, made me understand more why it really pays to wait. And so I will. I will wait it out, patiently.

“A ng naghihinta y a y hindi nagbibilang.”

Rodelisa de Villa is an experienced Audit Associate at RG Manabat & Co. She graduated from Ateneo de Naga University in March 2017 and passed the CPA Board examination in October 2017.

This column accepts contributions from accountants, especially articles that are of interest to the accountancy profession, in particular, and to the business community, in general. These can be e-mailed to boa.secretariat.@gmail.com.

Chinese tourists are still in love with Hollywood

By Adam Minter Bloomberg Opinion

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HE number of Chinese tourists traveling to the US fell for the first time last year since 2003, dropping 5.7 percent to 2.9 million. Coming against the backdrop of the trade war, the decline has stoked fears that geopolitical tensions and growing anti-China sentiment are finally spilling into the spending choices of the country’s growing middle class.

Those concerns are overblown. True, the Trump administration has altered the perception of the US held by many Chinese. But Chinese tourists continue to flock in growing numbers to Los Angeles and other cities and sites that make an effort to actively welcome them. Of course, there’s no guarantee that those numbers will continue to grow. But for now they’re a reminder to citizens, companies and brands that the Trump administration and the trade war don’t need to be the final word on American openness.

The travel and tourism industry might not have the same allure as technology, but its economic importance is profound, accounting for 7.8 percent of US GDP in 2018. The majority of that activity was the result of domestic tourism.

But the US isn’t the world’s most popular international destination for nothing, and total spending by foreign travelers was $198.8 billion. Of that, Chinese accounted for roughly 11 percent, despite the fact that they only represented 4 percent of visitors.

Clearly, shopping is important to Chinese tourists. In part, the allure is the bargain: Many luxury items can be purchased in the US for 30 percent less than their cost in China. But retail therapy isn’t the only activity motivating arrivals. For many, there’s also a fan’s interest in having an experience of the US as depicted in the film and television programs that remain among the most influential and popular cultural products

available in China. Others are curious to experience American diversity and values for themselves. And large numbers are interested in visiting family and friends who have settled there, perhaps as students or for longer-term reasons.

Los Angeles, more than just about any other American city, checks off all of these boxes, and as a result it’s long been one of the most popular destinations for Chinese tourists. Yet for all its allure, the city and its tourist-oriented businesses long ago realized that they couldn’t passively rely upon outlet malls and Universal Studios to keep drawing in Chinese visitors. In 2014, California opened up three travel and tourism offices in China designed to promote the state as a travel destination. That same year, Los Angeles established a “China Ready” training and certification program designed to help participants court and cater to visitors. To win certification, businesses establish Chinese-language web sites and other informational materials, accept China UnionPay credit cards, and attend seminars on Chinese cultural preferences, among other items.

In turn, the seminars train businesses in marketing via Chinese social media— the most influential means of turning a city or site into a tour destination.

The results are impressive. While overall Chinese tourism to the US declined 5.7 percent in 2018, the number visiting Los Angeles increased 6.9 percent, to 1.2 million. That made it the most-visited American city by Chinese, and earned praise from Chinese state media. And it’s not just Los Angeles.

New York City, a destination with its own allure, has made a concerted effort to boost its visibility on Chinese social media, with tangible results. In 2018, Weibo Corp., owner of the eponymous, Twitter-like social-media site, ranked New York as the second-most popular destination marketing account on its site, after Hong Kong. Sure enough, in 2018 New York enjoyed a 5.4-percent increase in Chinese travelers.

I

AM a Golden State Warriors fan but what struck me in this ongoing 2019 National Basketball Association Finals series between the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors is the 30-year professional journey of Toronto Head Coach Nick Nurse.

Of all the coaches in the NBA, active and retired, Nurse is the only one who has coaching experience in the collegiate level (NCAA), overseas leagues (England, Belgium, Italy), in the minor league (NBA Developmental League) and in the NBA. He had coached 15 teams in five different countries before being named as the head coach of the only NBA team based in Canada. Making matters more challenging is the fact that he replaced previous Toronto Raptors Head Coach Dwane Casey, who won the NBA Coach of the Year in 2018.

Being Casey’s assistant for five years, Nurse was immediately considered for the position, together with six other candidates. In an October 2018 article written by Evan Rosser, Nurse was quoted as saying: “I don’t really know how to tell you this, right, but in the last five years, I had 1,000 people, at least, tell me I was going to be a head coach in this league... And then those same thousand people were surprised when I got the job.” A year after being named head coach of the Raptors, Nurse now faces eight-time NBA champion Steve Kerr in the game’s biggest stage —the NBA Finals.

Compared to Warriors’ Coach Steve Kerr, Nurse appears to be a lightweight as Kerr has played alongside NBA legends Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Tim Duncan and was mentored by NBA greats Phil Jackson and Greg Popovich. Nurse’s

coaching career started in obscurity as a coach in small universities in Iowa and South Dakota. After a decent coaching performance overseas, where he was named Coach of the Year in one of his 11 seasons abroad, he returned to the United States to coach a new basketball team under the NBA Developmental League. In short, only a handful of people knew Nurse and what he had done until this 2019 NBA Finals.

I think Nick Nurse, and hopefully many other previously unknown persons like him, has absorbed the lessons in what pastor Chris Edwards called as the Obscurity Principle. In an article published in 2014, Edwards described the obscurity principle as “painful and time consuming in its application, but necessary to the process of preparation” that every believer undergoes as part of God’s plan. From

Monday, June 3, 2019 A11

being unknown, inconspicuous, or unimportant, obscure or irrelevant people are exalted in keeping with what is written in the Bible in Isaiah 60:22, which says, “The smallest family will become a thousand people, and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation. At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.” Edwards enumerated some “obscure” people in the persons of Noah, Moses, David, Joseph, and Elijah, among others, who, in God’s perfect timing were thrust from obscurity into the limelight to assume leadership roles during critical periods. What is common to these leaders is the fact of transformation, “cultivated in protracted periods of time in obscurity.”

In the corporate world, while independence and self-reliance are attributes expected from business leaders, great things happen to the bruised and the humbled persons who have grown completely dependent on Him. In Edwards’ words, “The reality is God goes to work on our pride and our flesh in the years of obscurity so that He might get us to the place where He may then exalt us.” In the case of Nurse, his coaching stints overseas were not part of his own plan. But it was this unscheduled detour that made Nurse adapt and, I presume, decide to accept his fate based on faith.

During our own years of obscurity, the greatest challenge is to endure and to remain faithful.

In this VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity) world, human nature tells us to act and not wait. VUCA elements allow companies to assess their current state in relation to the competition and the industry and dictate their future by way of strategic planning,

risk assessment, and change management. Leaders who appreciate the VUCA elements help increase the organization’s capacity to anticipate and understand the significance of preparedness, anticipation, evolution and intervention in business. Inspirational speaker and author John Maxwell once said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership, but knowing how to lead is only half the battle. Understanding leadership and actually leading are two different activities.” I believe that in every organization there are obscure yet faith-based leaders who can actually connect corporate concerns in this VUCA world with this Obscurity Principle.

Without the period of waiting in obscurity, future leaders like Nurse would fail to learn these lessons of dependence, humility, adaptability and faithfulness. Waiting goes directly against our human tendencies. But with a better understanding of this Obscurity Principle, people who wait and labor in the shadows should find refuge in the promise that God is actually preparing them for a big break not to bring glory to themselves but to Him. For Nick Nurse, his “coming out party” might be this 2019 NBA Finals. For others, it will come soon having in mind what the Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:26-27, “Remember what you were like then. Most of you were not clever or powerful. Most of you did not come from rich or important families. People think that you are not great or important. But God chose you.... Yes, God chose the weak people in the world so that the powerful people would be ashamed.”

For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.

Face it, Opec, Russia is no longer your friend

H

By Julian Lee | Bloomberg Opinion

the Iranian barrels have really gone before they start pumping more of their own. They have already indicated that they will meet any requests for more oil from Iran’s customers who find themselves in need.

So much for solidarity.

But if the group turned in a poor performance at the end of 2018, its current chaos looks pitiful.

Having agreed to meet in April to review the current production deal, seemingly at the insistence of Russia, the group canceled that gathering just a month before it was due to take place. That decision may also have been initiated by Russia—Novak said at the time that it made sense for Opec and its friends to discuss any potential extension of output cuts in May or June.

The regular half-yearly Opec meeting is now scheduled for June 25, with a gathering of the bigger Opec+ group the following day. That’s a bit late to discuss the future of a deal that’s due to expire four days later, as it will take at least a month to implement any changes.

But now even that has been thrown into doubt.

Two weeks ago, most Opec+ ministers met in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to assess the output deal and make recommendations for the June meeting. But things didn’t quite go according to plan. Novak, who signed up to the original schedule, seems to have a more pressing commitment and wants the date changed.

One suggestion is to hold the Opec+ gathering on July 4. Another is for the weekend of June 22 and 23. Neither is popular.

Several of the group’s members have already pushed back against a change. Arrangements have already been made, diaries set, flights and hotel suites booked. There is still no decision on when to hold the meetings and public holidays across the Muslim world this week will probably delay one even further.

And then there is the nagging sense that Russia is starting to control Opec just a little too much.

Its level of influence over the group is out of all proportion to its participation in the collective output cuts. Four months into the current deal, Russia’s compliance was still only around 80 percent, compared with 150 percent for the whole of Opec. It really isn’t pulling its weight.

It is still only the Opec countries that

are making the sacrifices to try to prop up oil prices.

And they are being hampered by a lengthening list of US import tariffs that is beginning to have a chilling effect on economic growth forecasts. Crude prices fell about 7 percent in two days last week, after data showed US stockpiles barely fell the previous week and President Donald J. Trump announced tariffs on all imports from Mexico.

Russia’s commitment to output cuts has always seemed shaky, particularly since prices have recovered from the 2016 lows that triggered this whole Opec+ process. Saudi Arabia clearly values the partnership with Russia, although it may be losing its shine—negotiations between Saudi Aramco and Russia’s Novatek PJSC to jointly develop liquefied natural gas in the Arctic are currently on hold.

Most of the non-Opec contribution to the production cuts are from natural decline that will happen anyway. The group may be better served by cutting the ties now and getting on with the job on its own.

The group needs to show competence and unity of purpose if it really wants to put a lower limit on oil prices. Right now it seems they would struggle to organize a bunfight in a bakery, even if they could decide when to hold it.

Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers “TUPAD” Project; c) Tesda—Skills Training, Private Education Student Financial Assistance and the Training for Work Scholarship Program; d) DepEd—Alternative Learning System and Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education; e) CHED—Student Financial Assistance Program (STUFAP); f) National Housing Authority— Socialized housing program; g) DOH—Basic health-care services; h) Philippine Health Insurance Corp.—Expanded Primary Package for the Poor and Senior Citizens; and i) Socia l Housing Finance

Corp.—Community Mortgage Program for quality organized informal allocation of the agency budget.

Allocations for the implementation of these programs and projects shall be given preferential consideration in the funding allocation of the agency budget. Any additional funds to the existing appropriation of the pro-poor programs in the different departments and agencies shall be included in the GAA (Section 10).

Any donation, contribution and grant which may be made to the programs implemented under the NPRP shall be exempt from the donor’s tax in accordance with the specific provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended by RA 10963 or the “Tax

Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion” (Section 12).

A Social Weather Station Survey in the last quarter of 2018 revealed that 11.6 million families or half of the Filipino people considered themselves poor.

The last electoral exercise saw national and local candidates wasting hundreds of millions of pesos on campaign expenditures, media advertisements and vote buying.

It would be tragic if these elected public officials divert public funds, especially those allocated for poverty reduction and alleviation, to recoup and replenish the monies they’ve spent. Then the poor, who they vowed in their campaign speeches to protect and provide for, will remain poor.

AS the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) reached the point where the benefit of bringing in outsiders to achieve its goals is outweighed by the difficulty of managing the expanded group? It certainly seems so.

Six months ago, the group couldn’t reach a deal on production levels without help from Russia. Now it can’t even agree on the date of a meeting, and Russia seems to be the problem. So much for any hope members might have of putting a floor under oil prices.

The rot really became evident in December. A deal to extend a policy of output restraint was reached only after Russian oil minister Alexander Novak took over an office at the heart of Opec’s headquarters in Vienna and brokered a compromise that both Iran and Saudi Arabia would accept.

Russia had taken the reins of a group that it didn’t even belong to because it had become too dysfunctional to run itself. Saudi Arabia and Iran were at loggerheads over production policy—not for the first time—as well as how the group should respond to the reimposition of US sanctions on Tehran.

The Saudis haven’t started to snap up Iran’s customers—yet. They want to make sure that, unlike last year,

Kapunan. . .

continued from A10

implemented under this Act shall be sourced from the existing appropriations as authorized under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of the different departments and agencies implementing these programs, including those enumerated below: a) DSWD—Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and Sustainable Livelihood Program, and Kapit-Bisig Laban sa KahirapanComprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services National Community Driven Development Program; b) DOLE—Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) and

2nd Front Page BusinessMirror

A12 Monday, June 3, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Gains from tax perks outweigh forgone revenue, Tieza insists ₧791B

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

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@akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

HE economy stands to gain a lot more in terms of investments and income earned by laborers and businesses in tourism enterprise zones, despite the billions of pesos in forgone tax revenues estimated from the 10-year extension of fiscal incentives to TEZ locators.

Expecting some pushback from the Department of Finance (DOF) with the enactment of Republic Act 11262 (RA) in April, which gives Tieza “sole and exclusive jurisdiction to grant incentives…” to TEZ locators, the agency drew up a cost-benefit analysis to make its case for extending the tax perks for another 10 years.

In an interview with the BusinessMirror, Tieza Chief Operating Officer Pocholo Paragas said, “assuming that there will 30 TEZs by 2029, a total of P791 billion in economic benefits will be generated by the TEZs in 10 years vis-à-vis the P46 billion in government revenues projected to be lost due to the grant of fiscal incentives.”

Of the P46-billion estimated forgone revenue, he said P45 billion alone will come from the granting

of income tax holiday or a 5-percent tax on gross income of the TEZ locator. In its stead, Tieza projects P248 billion in income of an investor in the TEZ (based on average income of P9.46 billion per TEZ for a period of 10 years).

He added that although there will be an estimated P1 billion in forgone import taxes and duties of, say, 36 TEZs (or P36-million forgone import tax and duties of one TEZ per year), the government still stands to earn P14 billion from income taxes of TEZ operators and registered tourism enterprises (RTEs).

The economy will also benefit in terms of P152 billion in labor income (based on average labor income of P5.06 billion per TEZ for a period of 10 years), which

Economic benefits that Tieza projects the TEZs to generate in the 10 years that incentives are extended, in contrast to the P46 billion in forgone government revenues

will generate an estimated P30 billion in revenue from taxes on employees’ compensation, based on a 20-percent withholding tax alone.

Paragas also argued that while local suppliers are projected to earn P63 billion over 10 years (based on estimated average earnings of P2.1 billion per TEZ for 10 years), the government will be able to raise some P26 billion in revenue from valued-added tax (VAT) and income tax payments for the period (based on 12-percent VAT on sales of local suppliers and 30-percent corporate income tax on their income).

The Tieza chief announced earlier that some P222 billion in capital investments are projected to be poured in by locators in private TEZs, with the enactment of the new law. RA 11262 amends Sections 84 and 103 of RA 9593 (Tourism Act of 2009), extending Tieza’s mandate to award fiscal

incentives by another 10 years, as the incentives made available under the original law did not become available until the Bureau of Internal Revenue issued a revenue regulation in December 2016.

(See, “10-yr extension of Tieza tax perks to yield P222 B,” in the BusinessMirror, May 28, 2019.)

The DOF is opposed to the new law on Tieza, saying it is “misaligned” with government’s program to overhaul the corporate tax system, which includes modernizing the fiscal incentives structure so these perks are extended only to “investors who make positive contributions to society.” (See, “DOF: Tieza gave P123-M tax holidays from 2015 to 2017,” in the BusinesMirror, May 30, 2019.)

Contained in Package 2 of the DOF’s comprehensive tax reform program, the revamp of investors’ incentives has been widely criticized by foreign chambers of commerce and even by government agencies such as the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, who see it as a threat on the viability of foreignowned businesses in the country.

Tieza is the infrastructure arm of the Department of Tourism and is tasked to oversee the development of tourism enterprise zones.

Members save ₧11.15B in Pag-IBIG Fund in Q1

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EMBERS of Pag-IBIG Fund saved over P11.15 billion during the first three months of 2019, improving 16 percent year-on-year and setting a new record for the highest amount saved by members in any quarter.

“Last year, we encouraged PagIBIG Fund members to save more, and we are happy to note that many saw the merit of this campaign. Our members’ savings collections from January to March 2019 reached a record high, increasing by P1.50

INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE (ITCZ) AFFECTING MINDANAO AND PALAWAN as of 4:00 am - June 2, 2019

billion compared to the P9.65 billion we collected during the same quarter last year and is higher than any quarter in the previous years,” said Secretary Eduardo D. del Rosario, who chairs the Housing and Urban Development

Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees.

“This is good news because the amount of member’s savings collected finances the programs we provide to our members. More collections mean more funds that we can utilize for our short-term loans and home financing programs, in line with the directive of President Duterte to provide social benefits to more Filipinos,” del Rosario added.

Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Acmad Rizaldy P. Moti noted that the increase in savings was not confined to its Regular Savings program as the amount saved under its Modified Pag-IBIG 2 Savings Program also saw a continued surge in the first three months this year. Collections from the MP2 in first quarter of 2019 amounted to P1.93 billion, up 150 percent from the P771.7 million collected during the same period in 2018. This is by far the highest amount saved by members under the MP2 program.

The MP2 is a voluntary savings program that provides active members and retirees who are former Pag-IBIG members with another savings option that has a term of only five years. With a minimum savings amount of P500, the MP2 yields higher dividend earnings compared to other offerings in the market.

“For 2018, we declared an MP2 dividend rate of 7.41 percent, which is higher compared to other offerings in the market. We also enhanced the program by giving MP2 savers the option to receive dividends on an annual basis or compounded dividends at the end of the five-year maturity period,” said Moti. “More and more members are seeing the value of saving in Pag-IBIG Fund. Many are saving more than P100 a month under our Regular Savings program while others are opting to save even more under the MP2 because of its higher returns. We thank our members for trusting us to grow their hardearned money and for recognizing that Pag-IBIG Fund is more than just about home loans. You can count on us, your Lingkod Pag-IBIG, to grow your savings too,” he added.

LOGISTICS DEAL Isuzu Makati (Gencars Inc.) recently delivered Isuzu FVR and QKR aluminum vans to J&T Express for their logistics operations. At the turnover held at their warehouse office in Taguig City are (from left) Albert Zata - VP Sales, Gencars Inc.; Wilfredo Javier - Warehouse Administration, J&T Express; Elenita Go - Senior Sales Executive, Gencars Inc.; Myrol Subingsubing - Sea Freight Supervisor, J&T Express; Lerma Nacnac - EVP, Gencars Inc.; Gerry Teruel - Consultant, Gencars Inc.; Ian Kaisier Mandilag - Procurement Assistant, J&T Express; Jona Feh Arcon - Procurement Assistant, J&T Express; Arron Wang - Procurement Director, J&T Express; Shojiro Sakoda - EVP, Isuzu Philippines Corp.; Noli Lunar - Gateway Supervisor, J&T Express; Annabelle Inocencio - Transport Supervisor, J&T Express; and Hiroto Nakaguro - Sales Department Head, Isuzu Philippines Corp. RUDY ESPERAS

CLLEx Contract Package 1 in Tarlac to open this year P UBLIC Works Secretary Mark A. Villar announced the nearing completion of the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEx) Phase 1 - Contract Package 1, beginning at the connection of Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx) in Balincanaway, Tarlac.

At the project inspection recently, Villar said the Contract Package 1 with a budget of P1.603 billion is now 97 percent completed.

Contract Package 1 involves the construction of a four-lane expressway, spanning 4.1 kilometers, with the provision of an underpass bridge and two farm passages.

Overall, the CLLEX Phase 1 is divided into four packages. It covers the construction of a 30-kilometer, four-lane expressway, which, when completed, will shorten the usual travel time of

70 minutes between Tarlac City and Cabanatuan City to just 20 minutes.

Its alignment will traverse the municipalities of La Paz, in Tarlac and Zaragoza and Aliaga in Nueva Ecija and will benefit an annual average daily traffic of 11,200 motorists.

“This project will decongest Daang Maharlika by 48 percent by serving as an alternate route to and from the two cities.

Aside from that, we expect the project to promote more livelihood opportunities in Region 3 that will further contribute in reducing traffic in Metro Manila,” said Villar.

The CLLEX Phase 1 is being implemented by the DPWH-UPMO Road Management Cluster I headed by Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain with a total budget cost of P14.93 billion from the Official Development Assistance (ODA) Fund.

‘PHL may miss UN goal on closing education gaps’

By Cai U. Ordinario

U

@caiordinario

NLESS the government takes action, the Philippines may fail to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on reaching equality in education by 2030, according to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Unescap).

Based on the report titled “Closing the Gap,” Unescap said the country struggled with the absence of sufficient data for the disabled and slow progress in addressing gender and residence gaps in education.

The Unescap report said only five countries in the Asia and the Pacific region will be able to meet the education SDGs by 2030. These are Kazakhstan, Malaysia, the Russian Federation, China and India.

“Even in countries where gaps are expected to close, they may only do so at levels insufficient to reach related SDGs,” the report stated.

“Looking ahead, these trends do not bode well for socioeconomic development in the region. On the contrary, they reveal some of the obstacles for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” it added. Unescap said the Philippines is already making inclusive progress in terms of closing gaps in education between rural and urban areas and gender. However, there is not enough evidence in terms of closing the gaps in terms of disability.

The report said the Philippines, along with India, Mongolia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Turkmenistan, has steadily increased the completion rates of rural residents.

In terms of gender and resi-

dence, the Philippines continued to struggle with completion rates among men belonging to the bottom 40 percent of households living in rural areas.

“In the Philippines, the furthestbehind group consisted of men living in rural areas from bottom 40 households, who had a completion rate of 26 percent,” the report stated.

In terms of persons with disabilities (PWDs), Unescap said this group has been less included in the overall educational progress in the region, including in the Philippines.

PWD students are regarded as “worse off” given the barriers they face such as accessibility and the physical environment in school, as well as inadequate instruction and curriculum. Unescap said this is why many of them are less likely to attend school or drop out from school.

“Many still cannot access mainstream educational systems and are often directed to special schools, which may impact their future opportunities in the labor market,” the report stated.

These gaps in reaching the SDGs were discussed at the recent 75th session of the Unescap in Bangkok last week. The meetings concluded with the adoption of resolutions to strengthen regional cooperation and partnerships to reach the goals.

“The resolutions are firmly anchored in the 2030 Agenda and provide solid foundations on which to build upon. Many are aligned with the priorities I set out earlier this week and are essential to achieving a transformed and resilient society in Asia and the Pacific,” United Nations Undersecretary General and Executive Secretary of Unescap Armida Alisjahbana said.

Editor: Efleda P. Campos

Companies BusinessMirror

Monday, June 3, 2019

B1

Megaworld sees ₧8-B sales from new McKinley project

By VG Cabuag

P

@villygc

ROPERTY developer Megaworld Corp. said it has launched a third tower for Park McKinley West, one of the residential condominium clusters in the township, as demand rose for residential properties inside its 34.5-hectare McKinley West development in the former Fort Bonifacio property.

The company said will generate P8 billion in sales from this new tower. The project is expected for completion in 2024, it said.

Standing 25 stories high, the third tower of Park McKinley West offers unit layouts ranging from one-bedroom of up to 70.5 square

meters, two-bedroom of up to 110 sq.m., three-bedroom of up to 212 sq.m., four-bedroom of up to 229 sq.m. and five-bedroom of up to 336 sq.m.

Designed by UK-based architectural firm Broadway Malyan, the third tower of Park McKinley West will have amenities that include a swimming pool with its own pool deck, children’s pool, game and entertainment room, yoga room outdoor yoga deck, function halls, and a fitness center. The property will also have its own roof-deck garden and a skygarden at the 15th level. “ The residential market in McKinley West is growing. We sold out our first tower for Park McKinley West in just two months last year, and when we launched our second tower in July, it only took us a few months again to sell

it out. Today, prices of residential units in Park McKinley West rose to almost P265,000 per sq.m. compared to P218,000 per sq.m. when we first launched it a year ago,” said Noli D. Hernandez, the company’s senior vice president for sales and marketing.

The tower’s ground level will also have retail stores and dining establishments, providing convenience to future residents. The residential tower will also have its own three-level parking facility.

Park McKinley West is the third residential development launched in the complex, which sits beside Forbes Park and the Manila Polo Club.

The company is also building two upscale mid-rise residential developments in the township: Saint Moritz Private Estate and Albany.

SCPC gets ERC approval to develop transmission facility in Limay, Bataan

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

S

MC Consolidated Power Corp.

(SCPC) received the go-ahead of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to develop a transmission facility so that electricity from its 4x150-megawatt (MW) Limay coal plant in Bataan can reach the Luzon grid via the substation of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.

To dispatch the power to be generated by the power plant, SCPC will construct a dedicated point-to-point limited transmission facilities to connect said power to the 230-kilovolt (kV) Lamao substation of NGCP. The transmission facility will cost P114,412,440.75.

In approving SCPC’s application, the ERC said the NGCP shall operate the facility to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the nationwide electrical grid. SCPC was also directed to pay the commission a permit fee of P639,789.74.

The ERC noted that the entry of SCPC’s power plant to the Luzon grid is technically feasible and that the transmission facility is “necessary for the power plant to deliver its generated power to the grid through NGCP’s 230-kV Lamao switching station.”

Likewise, in order to comply with SCPC’s obligation to supply power with distribution utilities, the power plant should be connected to the grid.

“Thus, the development of the sub-

ject facility is required,”the ERC said.

SCPC is a wholly owned subsidiary of SMC Global Power Holdings Corp.

(SMCGPH), one of the largest power firms in the country.

SMCGPH controls 4,197 MW of combined capacity as of end-September 2018 and which benefits from diversified fuel sources, including natural gas, coal and hydro. Its combined capacity comprises approximately 19 percent of the national grid, 25 percent of the Luzon grid and 9 percent of the Mindanao grid.

It is considering further expansion of its power portfolio of additional capacity nationwide through greenfield power projects over the next few years, depending on market demand.

Agrinurture in talks with investor for $100-M seed fund

A

GRINURTURE Inc., the listed agribusiness company of businessman Antonio Tiu, said it is in discussions with an Asian partner to pour an initial $100 million, or about P5 billion, for a new microfinance program to assist in the productivity of farmers nationwide.

The $100 million, he said, will serve as initial seed money for ANI’s planned Agri Token program, a move that is part of its technology transformation.

Tiu, who is ANI’s president and CEO, said farmers can use the tokens to buy from accredited merchants what they need to produce crops, such as fertilizers. They can easily tap the credit using their smart phones upon accreditation.

Tiu said this is better than lend-

ing cash that may otherwise be used for nonfarm purposes.

“With the token system, you can buy from accredited merchants. You can buy, for example, hybrid seeds and fertilizers you need to produce high-quality rice,” Tiu said.

He said the tokens are not virtual currency, and the program would not be taking investments from the public, but instead be funding farmers’ productivity costs.

“My limitation right now is that I can sell more bananas, mango and coconut to the world, but I cannot have enough. So this is what I am trying to achieve, to make sure we have inclusive growth. I have to include my downstream, I have to include the farmers so I need to boost their productivity,” he said.

ANI plans to launch its Agri Tokens within the next two months, with initial implementation in Luzon and Mindanao focused on two crops like rice and banana.

If the program succeeds, ANI would cover the rest of the country and add more crops to the coverage of the program.

“What we really want to achieve right now is transformation in technology. I want to make agriculture sexy so you can inspire the millennials,” he said.

ANI is one of the country’s major exporters of fruits to the world market.

It recently has added rice to its portfolio and would soon be importing rice from Vietnam in line with the government’s rice importation program. VG Cabuag

Waze introduces number-coding scheme feature

F

OLLOWING the recent launch of the DJ Khaled navigation voice, Waze is bringing the most sought-after number coding feature of the Filipino Waze Community right at the fingertips of motorists—thanks to its pool of volunteer map editors who had just completed incorporating the scheme into the maps of Metro Manila, Cavite and Baguio.

This new innovation aids Wazers get to their destination while avoiding prohibited roads during their coding day. They simply need to key in the last two digits of their vehicle’s license plates into the app so as to receive routes they are allowed to drive on based on

the day’s restrictions.

To add or change a plate number on Waze, just tap the Menu, then Settings. Tap Car details/Vehicle details, License plate/Number plate, and enter the last two digits of the car’s license plate.

For guidance on the number coding scheme in the metropolis, tap on the ETA bar at the bottom of the screen. Tap Routes on the bottom left corner to view alternate routes. To view, turn-by-turn directions, tap List view. To look at a map, tap Map view.

It is highly advised that drivers check the number coding scheme guide at the beginning

of every trip. For multiple cars, just change the license plate number anytime on the app.

A crowd-sourced traffic and navigation app itself, Waze is driven by the driving public data. By simply driving around with this app open on mobile device, users share real-time information related to traffic conditions, road structure and other reports such as accidents, police traps, blocked roads, weather conditions and more.

Waze collects this information and analyzes it in order to provide other users with the most optimal route to their destination, 24 hours a day. Roderick L. Abad

Phoenix Petroleum leads oil price cut on June 1

P

HOENIX Petroleum led the price cut in petroleum products last week. It slashed gasoline price by P1.75 per liter and diesel

by P1.05 per liter.

The price rollback took effect at 12 noon on June 1.

The move, Phoenix said, was meant to provide the public with a longer period to avail themselves of cheaper fuels. On Sunday, meanwhile, Petro Gazz said it will implement the same price rollback in gasoline and diesel effective 6 a.m. on June 4.

Other oil firms will announce their respective price adjustment

by Monday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Petron Corp. implemented a P6.45-per-kilogram (kg) rollback in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices effective on June 1.

Likewise, auto LPG prices decreased by P3.45 per liter, also last Saturday.

“These reflect the international contract price of LPG for the month of June,” it said.

Last week, oil firms also implemented a price reduction by P0.50 per liter in gasoline, diesel by P0.45 per liter and kerosene by P0.60 per liter. Lenie Lectura

B2

Companies BusinessMirror

Monday, June 3, 2019

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

May 31, 2019

Net Foreign Stocks Bid Ask Open High Low Close Volume Value Trade (Peso) Buy (Sell) FINANCIALS ASIA UNITED BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BDO LEASING COL FINANCIAL FERRONOUX HLDG IREMIT MEDCO HLDG NTL REINSURANCE PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE VANTAGE

59.25 137.1 80.8 26.65 11.46 71.75 13.22 57.6 57.1 26.45 175 59.8 2.23 18.76 4.47 1.34 0.47 0.97 183.1 1751 1.12

59.5 138 80.9 26.7 11.48 72.45 13.7 57.75 57.75 26.6 176.3 60 2.26 18.8 4.56 1.39 0.49 1 185 1819 1.22

58.1 136 79.45 26.8 11.44 72 13.46 58.8 57.15 26.45 176 60 2.25 18.76 4.55 1.34 0.49 1.02 182.5 1819 1.12

59.5 138.4 80.9 26.8 11.5 72.95 13.7 58.8 57.75 26.5 176.3 60.75 2.25 18.8 4.57 1.34 0.49 1.02 185 1819 1.12

58.1 135.6 79.45 26.65 11.42 71.75 13.2 57.3 57 26.4 175 59.6 2.25 18.76 4.55 1.34 0.47 0.98 182.5 1750 1.12

59.5 138 80.8 26.7 11.46 71.75 13.7 57.6 57.75 26.45 175 59.8 2.25 18.8 4.56 1.34 0.49 1 185 1750 1.12

18450 5115690 3347780 55200 149900 2302840 1700 1196480 2270 13100 264570 30970 10000 600 8000 10000 180000 506000 190 95 1000

1097316 704191146 269927076.5 1475130 1717584 166296761.5 22972 69237115 129517 346455 46396776 1861426 22500 11276 36490 13400 86650 500650 35075 166950 1120

INDUSTRIAL ALSONS CONS ABOITIZ POWER BASIC ENERGY FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG MERALCO MANILA WATER PETRON PETROENERGY PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL SPC POWER VIVANT AGRINURTURE CENTURY FOOD DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EMPERADOR SMC FOODANDBEV ALLIANCE SELECT GINEBRA JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR MACAY HLDG MAXS GROUP MG HLDG PEPSI COLA SHAKEYS PIZZA ROXAS AND CO RFM CORP ROXAS HLDG UNIV ROBINA VITARICH VICTORIAS CEMEX HLDG EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP HOLCIM MEGAWIDE PHINMA TKC METALS VULCAN INDL CROWN ASIA EUROMED LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL PRYCE CORP CONCEPCION GREENERGY INTEGRATED MICR IONICS PANASONIC SFA SEMICON CIRTEK HLDG

1.38 36.2 0.29 23.1 78 379.8 22.6 6.11 4.76 2.34 11.92 41.85 6.55 15.32 14.06 14.6 5.6 10.14 7.65 107.4 0.71 43 287.8 34 9.5 12.74 0.189 1.22 13.48 1.53 4.92 1.91 166.6 1.27 2.47 2.5 15.94 10 13.68 20.15 9.1 1.47 1.2 2.02 1.63 4.2 3.4 4.82 43.75 2.33 10.22 1.68 5.4 1.19 25.05

ABACORE CAPITAL ASIABEST GROUP AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ATN HLDG A COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG KEPPEL HLDG B LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA AYALA LAND LOG PRIME MEDIA REPUBLIC GLASS SOLID GROUP SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP SOC RESOURCES SEAFRONT RES ZEUS HLDG

0.58 12.7 909 54.9 15.54 0.74 1.23 6.82 10.54 14 0.25 863 6.15 62.25 6 5 0.475 4.64 14.94 0.53 4.48 0.039 3.58 1.08 2.16 1.33 936 186 0.9 2.38 0.29

1.42 36.5 0.295 23.15 78.35 385 22.65 6.12 4.79 2.35 12.18 42.15 6.6 17 14.1 14.64 5.75 10.16 7.67 107.5 0.72 43.4 288 50 9.85 12.76 0.2 1.23 13.5 1.55 4.99 1.96 167 1.28 2.5 2.52 15.96 10.08 13.74 20.2 9.4 1.49 1.22 2.05 1.7 4.22 3.49 4.94 44.85 2.34 10.3 1.71 5.69 1.2 25.6

1.39 35.3 0.3 22.9 78.75 378.8 22.15 6.13 4.75 2.37 12.1 41.65 6.6 17 14.4 14.18 5.81 10.16 7.5 105.4 0.7 42.55 283 49.95 9.4 12.92 0.19 1.26 13.1 1.54 5 1.95 164 1.24 2.5 2.5 16.02 10.1 13.8 20.25 9.07 1.22 1.24 2.05 1.69 4.17 3.41 4.81 44.85 2.4 10.2 1.71 5.69 1.19 25.25

1.39 36.7 0.305 23.25 78.75 385 22.85 6.27 4.8 2.42 12.18 42.15 6.6 17 14.4 14.9 5.81 10.28 7.69 107.4 0.72 44 288 50 10 12.94 0.19 1.26 13.6 1.56 5 1.95 167 1.3 2.51 2.53 16.16 10.34 13.82 20.4 9.07 1.67 1.27 2.06 1.69 4.2 3.49 4.95 44.85 2.41 10.46 1.73 5.69 1.2 25.65

1.38 35.3 0.285 22.75 78 375.4 22.15 6.07 4.75 2.32 11.88 41.5 6.55 17 14.1 14.04 5.75 10.1 7.48 105.4 0.7 42.5 283 49.95 9.4 12.74 0.189 1.2 13.04 1.52 4.99 1.91 162 1.21 2.5 2.43 15.96 10 13.6 20.1 9.05 1.19 1.19 2.05 1.69 4.17 3.4 4.8 44 2.3 10.08 1.69 5.69 1.19 25.05

1.38 36.5 0.29 23.1 78 385 22.6 6.12 4.79 2.34 12.18 41.85 6.55 17 14.1 14.6 5.75 10.14 7.67 107.4 0.72 43 288 50 9.5 12.76 0.189 1.23 13.5 1.55 4.99 1.91 167 1.28 2.5 2.5 15.96 10.08 13.74 20.2 9.07 1.47 1.2 2.05 1.69 4.2 3.49 4.95 44 2.34 10.22 1.71 5.69 1.2 25.6

72000 3007900 9760000 5551900 37100 154820 1077000 3746300 35000 31531000 64800 285800 31900 300 1088400 1744300 12300 3770400 5488400 180270 531000 137200 1111730 1000 75100 739000 120000 2884000 1139900 470000 1200 42000 2121770 12390000 438000 5102000 350800 2581300 298400 2486500 2000 33775000 9433000 88000 117000 5000 11000 82000 800 5792000 203000 93000 200 169000 346500

99440 109296265 2887400 127802405 2901996 59374688 24316890 23259369 167680 74775210 785098 11969560 210340 5100 15565558 25595466 71301 38292098 41850592 19133155 377500 5906545 316861106 49980 720621 9451226 22720 3525150 15380822 720370 5999 80910 350271202 15776120 1095540 12739410 5621250 26232142 4114500 50240400 18120 52554020 11452300 180450 197730 20880 37570 396270 35370 13660290 2081064 158810 1138 201470 8813165

HOLDING & FRIMS 0.59 12.9 919 55.9 15.6 0.77 1.24 6.85 10.58 14.16 0.27 866 6.2 62.6 6.21 5.99 0.5 4.65 15.18 0.55 4.5 0.04 3.59 1.1 2.79 1.36 942 187.5 0.92 2.47 0.295

0.61 12.78 908.5 54.5 15.28 0.74 1.23 6.78 10.4 14.2 0.265 873 6.15 61.5 6.18 5 0.51 4.64 15.26 0.52 4.44 0.038 3.42 1.07 2.6 1.35 935 183.2 0.95 2.38 0.3

0.61 12.98 919 55.9 15.6 0.77 1.24 6.9 10.6 14.2 0.27 888 6.2 62.7 6.21 5 0.51 4.7 15.26 0.52 4.5 0.039 3.65 1.1 2.6 1.36 942 187.5 0.95 2.38 0.3

0.58 12.62 906.5 54.5 15.2 0.74 1.22 6.78 10.4 14.16 0.265 863 6.15 61.15 6.18 5 0.48 4.62 14.94 0.52 4.35 0.038 3.42 1.07 2.6 1.35 929.5 182.1 0.9 2.38 0.29

0.58 12.9 919 55.9 15.6 0.74 1.24 6.82 10.58 14.16 0.27 863 6.16 62.6 6.21 5 0.5 4.65 14.94 0.52 4.5 0.039 3.59 1.1 2.6 1.36 942 187.5 0.92 2.38 0.295

10657000 80300 390140 1150070 11671400 1316000 609000 225800 3833100 9100 40000 117960 46000 1661820 39100 100 54000 1763000 304300 167000 23475000 8800000 10914000 50000 8000 31000 378160 277240 1562000 2000 3430000

6339110 1022898 357162415 63849180 180486964 979840 748550 1540658 40493440 129182 10750 102545500 283520 103825325.5 241788 500 26810 8198610 4569368 86840 104780630 343100 39011280 53950 20800 42150 354380270 51330957 1428650 4760 1006200

1069819 -50637797 54413952.5 451505 -168344 -48169291 16660256.5 26520 -6738116 1369985.5 -45100 45372155 1205000 49867125 -296071 44392272 -1665080 4230359 376630 264410 -5100 -527438 -884414 -29000 -13014926 9376155 3416447 107549.9998 -22463964 -467874 29640 13956396 -55171436 -2194020 955000 2471850 1428944.0003 6495332 761608 -43308405 -93550 -5500 835990 561882 5070 95629180 20677709 91583838 -54382 18849548 -11342 -1895130 27735429.5 -7445410 -1691530 30243740 -621960 -4982615 23515051 147750

PROPERTY

ARTHALAND CORP 0.75 0.78 0.8 0.8 0.75 0.77 826000 629170 ANCHOR LAND 10.22 11.88 11 11.88 11 11.88 300 3388 AYALA LAND 49.5 49.55 48.6 49.6 48.5 49.5 27118400 1338488325 144688115 ARANETA PROP 2.03 2.09 2.02 2.09 2.02 2.03 34000 70170 BELLE CORP 2.25 2.28 2.29 2.29 2.25 2.28 367000 831640 -27230 A BROWN 0.81 0.82 0.8 0.82 0.78 0.81 2263000 1816750 656200 CITYLAND DEVT 0.92 0.94 0.96 0.96 0.92 0.94 90000 85610 CROWN EQUITIES 0.23 0.231 0.226 0.237 0.226 0.231 3430000 780370 227000 CEBU HLDG 6.2 6.4 6.2 6.4 6.2 6.4 9200 57080 CEB LANDMASTERS 4.97 4.98 4.97 5 4.95 4.98 865000 4299500 189750 CENTURY PROP 0.59 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.58 0.6 24874000 14763750 -294880 CYBER BAY 0.375 0.39 0.375 0.375 0.375 0.375 190000 71250 DOUBLEDRAGON 25.4 25.55 24.9 25.65 24.75 25.4 563500 14271300 2010245 DM WENCESLAO 9.89 9.9 9.85 9.91 9.71 9.9 237000 2339334 46761 EMPIRE EAST 0.48 0.485 0.475 0.48 0.475 0.48 110000 52550 EVER GOTESCO 0.125 0.133 0.125 0.132 0.125 0.132 130000 16460 -3960 FILINVEST LAND 1.7 1.71 1.64 1.71 1.63 1.71 78625000 133076920 53177460 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.41 1.42 1.41 1.42 1.39 1.41 2936000 4128560 209209.9999 8990 HLDG 15.92 15.96 15.72 15.98 15.72 15.96 1426900 22643978 842492 PHIL INFRADEV 1.78 1.8 1.88 1.88 1.77 1.78 6704000 12117550 348740 CITY AND LAND 0.8 0.81 0.81 0.82 0.79 0.81 284000 226450 MEGAWORLD 5.85 5.9 5.95 6.08 5.81 5.9 37823500 224397422 64569768 MRC ALLIED 0.31 0.315 0.315 0.32 0.305 0.315 11090000 3455900 15750 PHIL ESTATES 0.47 0.48 0.47 0.47 0.47 0.47 310000 145700 ROBINSONS LAND 25.75 26 25.35 26 25.15 26 8480100 217072290 70107410 PHIL REALTY 0.41 0.415 0.415 0.415 0.41 0.41 270000 111550 ROCKWELL 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.08 2.06 2.06 98000 202860 SHANG PROP 2.98 2.99 2.99 2.99 2.98 2.99 1582000 4714960 STA LUCIA LAND 1.86 1.87 1.93 1.95 1.87 1.87 2086000 3958580 9650 SM PRIME HLDG 39.6 39.8 39.3 39.8 39.15 39.8 7313100 289554955 -27537490 STARMALLS 6.29 6.3 6.3 6.3 6.27 6.29 128300 805980 SUNTRUST HOME 0.74 0.78 0.78 0.78 0.78 0.78 10000 7800 VISTA LAND 7.11 7.18 7.09 7.18 7.09 7.18 4861900 34757536 2180067

SERVICES ABS CBN 18.26 18.28 18.3 18.4 18.26 18.26 55700 1018882 GMA NETWORK 5.37 5.38 5.4 5.4 5.36 5.37 57200 307352 MANILA BULLETIN 0.55 0.57 0.58 0.58 0.55 0.55 700000 387300 GLOBE TELECOM 2170 2172 2220 2238 2170 2170 82375 181172230 82240650 PLDT 1340 1350 1293 1350 1293 1350 220625 296017650 122260090 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.044 0.046 0.045 0.046 0.044 0.046 4200000 185700 DFNN INC 5.73 5.9 5.9 5.91 5.73 5.9 7100 41723 -16520 IMPERIAL 1.75 1.93 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.75 1000 1750 ISLAND INFO 0.123 0.125 0.122 0.122 0.122 0.122 460000 56120 ISM COMM 6.05 6.06 6 6.07 5.95 6.06 2280700 13743040 1802750 NOW CORP 2.4 2.41 2.31 2.44 2.28 2.4 4958000 11857060 250769.9997 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.36 0.365 0.36 0.365 0.35 0.365 16710000 5925200 PHILWEB 3.35 3.38 3.32 3.41 3.3 3.35 2069000 6958220 -964640 2GO GROUP 11.5 11.52 11.5 11.52 11.5 11.52 10400 119668 1152 ASIAN TERMINALS 20.6 20.8 20.8 21 20.8 21 2100 43700 CHELSEA 6.6 6.62 6.68 6.69 6.5 6.6 744700 4892232 109937 CEBU AIR 90 90.15 89.9 90.5 88.5 90 513850 46236871 104665 INTL CONTAINER 135.9 136 136 137.2 134.8 136 2083810 282948043 14961084 LBC EXPRESS 14 15 14 15 14 15 5400 75800 LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.82 0.86 0.85 0.86 0.81 0.86 94000 77660 MACROASIA 20.75 21 20.85 21 20.65 21 372600 7795695 2364985 METROALLIANCE A 1.53 1.56 1.56 1.56 1.53 1.54 131000 201390 PAL HLDG 9.7 9.88 9.9 9.9 9.88 9.88 8600 85049 HARBOR STAR 2.22 2.23 2.18 2.23 2.15 2.22 2428000 5335020 -930070 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.058 0.059 0.059 0.059 0.058 0.059 9410000 554640 WATERFRONT 0.7 0.71 0.69 0.71 0.69 0.71 921000 641290 CENTRO ESCOLAR 7.05 7.37 7.03 7.4 7 7.4 45400 321200 FAR EASTERN U 890 895 895 895 890 890 250 222750 IPEOPLE 10.18 11.2 10.16 10.16 10.1 10.16 6500 65800 STI HLDG 0.66 0.67 0.67 0.68 0.66 0.67 2019000 1354310 126870 BERJAYA 2.86 2.9 2.98 2.98 2.85 2.91 922000 2657300 5010 BLOOMBERRY 11.84 11.86 11.8 11.9 11.8 11.84 1030000 12179416 -3628012 PACIFIC ONLINE 3.19 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.18 3.2 30000 95920 3200 LEISURE AND RES 4.49 4.53 4.5 4.58 4.46 4.49 1724000 7756060 -398440 MANILA JOCKEY 3.69 3.7 3.67 3.7 3.52 3.7 36000 132150 PH RESORTS GRP 4.9 4.99 5 5 4.86 4.99 68700 340091 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.78 0.79 0.79 0.81 0.78 0.79 12710000 10084650 -245930 TRAVELLERS 5.29 5.3 5.4 5.4 5.27 5.3 1011600 5361640 -5296838 METRO RETAIL 2.67 2.69 2.73 2.73 2.67 2.69 2407000 6473940 -300760 PUREGOLD 44.6 45 44.2 45.3 44.2 44.6 837900 37543150 12445720 ROBINSONS RTL 72.8 73 72.2 73.3 72 73 292680 21369600.5 -153993.5 PHIL SEVEN CORP 122 124 123.4 124 123.4 124 3850 475214 6175 SSI GROUP 3.15 3.16 3.14 3.19 3.11 3.16 7204000 22600160 677320 WILCON DEPOT 16.98 17 17 17.1 16.8 16.98 1277700 21682638 2729764 APC GROUP 0.42 0.43 0.41 0.425 0.41 0.425 880000 367800 8200 EASYCALL 10.44 10.6 10.76 10.76 10.42 10.44 32600 343168 GOLDEN BRIA 400.2 410 402.4 415 376 413 22730 8999926 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.8 0.81 0.82 0.83 0.8 0.81 7675000 6256650 -749230 SBS PHIL CORP 9.4 9.54 9.4 9.6 9.4 9.6 17300 163839

MINING & OIL ATOK 11.5 12.38 11.9 12.38 11.9 12.38 12700 153000 APEX MINING 1.19 1.2 1.16 1.23 1.16 1.19 6046000 7255500 -435089.9999 ABRA MINING 0.0018 0.0019 0.0018 0.0018 0.0018 0.0018 23000000 41400 COAL ASIA HLDG 0.28 0.285 0.295 0.295 0.285 0.285 160000 45700 CENTURY PEAK 2.79 2.8 2.8 2.83 2.79 2.79 240000 671410 DIZON MINES 7.85 7.86 7.79 7.85 7.75 7.85 12300 95885 FERRONICKEL 1.51 1.52 1.55 1.55 1.51 1.51 2732000 4206740 GEOGRACE 0.232 0.239 0.24 0.24 0.232 0.239 60000 14150 MANILA MINING A 0.0074 0.0079 0.0074 0.0074 0.0074 0.0074 3000000 22200 MARCVENTURES 1.04 1.05 1.05 1.05 1.03 1.05 148000 154480 NIHAO 0.97 1.02 1.01 1.02 1 1.02 8000 8090 NICKEL ASIA 2.26 2.33 2.21 2.34 2.21 2.26 2217000 5060750 -922190 OMICO CORP 0.56 0.59 0.56 0.61 0.56 0.59 56000 32490 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.87 0.9 0.91 0.91 0.87 0.91 80000 71430 PX MINING 2.99 3.01 2.93 3.01 2.91 2.99 957000 2858000 -401480 SEMIRARA MINING 21.8 22 21.8 22.25 21.5 22 1648200 36157035 13080250 UNITED PARAGON 0.0065 0.0069 0.0069 0.0069 0.0069 0.0069 3000000 20700 ORNTL PETROL A 0.011 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.011 0.012 9300000 111500 ORNTL PETROL B 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 1100000 13100 -12000 PHILODRILL 0.01 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 32900000 361900 PHINMA PETRO 3.64 3.66 3.58 3.7 3.57 3.64 271000 976000 PXP ENERGY 9.25 9.26 8.6 9.25 8.55 9.25 7346400 65701687 2788696

PREFFERED

HOUSE PREF A 94 97 97 97 97 97 10 970 AC PREF B2 487 490 490 490 489.8 490 250 122498 ALCO PREF B 94 99.9 98.5 98.5 98 98 5170 509174 DD PREF 97 98 98 98 97 98 10280 997330 GTCAP PREF B 920 959 959 959 959 959 50 47950 LR PREF 0.99 1 1 1 0.98 0.99 47000 46410 PCOR PREF 2B 952 1025 1015 1015 1015 1015 1440 1461600 SMC PREF 2B 75.3 75.45 75.45 75.45 75.35 75.35 350 26389.5 SMC PREF 2C 77 77.95 76.95 77 76.95 77 6300 485090 SMC PREF 2E 71.75 73.5 71.7 71.7 71.65 71.65 8190 587123.5 SMC PREF 2H 73.5 73.85 73.5 73.5 73.5 73.5 6100 448350 SMC PREF 2I 73 73.7 73 73.7 73 73.7 9050 664220 -

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR GMA HLDG PDR

17.96 5.2

18 5.33

18 5.34

18 5.34

17.96 5.3

17.96 5.34

45600 50000

820776 265540

WARRANTS LR WARRANT

2.08

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ITALPINAS 4.81 XURPAS 1.02

2.1

2.19

2.2

2.06

2.1

511000

1094690

-

4.82 1.03

4.89 1.01

4.89 1.04

4.8 1

4.81 1.02

266000 4387000

1284970 4465310

4860 188430

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

117.6

-802776 -72090

119.5

117.9

119.5

117.5

119.5

6370

757865

-

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Alsons’s Japanese partner drops hydro project in Sarangani

T

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

OYOTA Tsusho Corp., the Japanese partner of Alsons Consolidated Resources Inc. (ACR), might not be keen on pursuing its partnership for the 15.1-megawatt (MW) run-of-river hydropower project along Siguil River in Sarangani province, citing security reasons.

“There is a probability that Toyota will not enter Siguil for security reasons. It’s in the red area for them because of the peace and order; that peace and order overhangs,” ACR acting CEO Tirso G. Santillan said.

The Siguil hydro project is the company’s first renewable-energy (RE) venture, with commercial operations targeted in 2022. ACR will still pursue the hydro project.

Toyota Tsusho Corp. has been a longtime partner of ACR on a perproject basis. It has a 25-percent stake in Western Mindanao Power Corp. (WMPC), Southern Philippines Power Corp. (SPPC) and Sarangani Energy Corp. (SEC).

ACR officials said last year Toyota Tsusho is keen on investing in ACR’s RE projects, particularly hydro resources, in Visayas and Mindanao.

“Their issue is the risk in some areas in Mindanao. Zamboanga, and then outside of GenSan, is a gray area

to them. Although they entered SEC, Siguil and Kalaong are in the mountains. I don’t know if Sindangan is in Zamboanga del Norte. They may not enter there either,” Santillan explained. Toyota Tsusho is, however, interested in another hydro project not located in Mindanao.

“It is clear for them that if we invite them into Bago, they will go in. They want to go into renewables. In fact, meron silang subsidiary that is a renewable company,” Santillan said.

ACR plans to develop specific sites with a hydro potential totaling about 200 MWs in the following sites: Bago River in Negros Occidental, Sindangan River in Zamboanga del Norte, and locations in Davao Oriental, Maitum Sarangani, the two Agusan Provinces and Surigao del Sur. Santillan said the company has identified four sites along Bago River that can produce 42MW in total capacity.

STOCK-MARKET OUTLOOK LAST WEEK

SHARE prices rose last week, with the main index returning to the 7,900-point level, or almost a 3-percent increase from the previous week, mainly as a result of the conclusion of the MSCI’s emerging market basket rebalancing.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index gained 222.93 points to 7,970.02.

Foreign investors were net sellers at P199.51 billion, while average value of trade for the week was at P8.37 billion.

“We also saw foreign net-buying on the last two days of the week which ends the consecutive 15 days of outflows. The main index had a very interesting month as it ended in the green after being down almost 6 percent in the middle of the month. The rally we saw in the last two weeks allowed it to end the month with some minor gains,” said Christopher Mangun, research head at Eagle Equities Inc. “There was heavy volatility as investors were undecided on whether prices were attractive enough to start getting back in heavily. The rally was quite a surprise as global equities continue to pull back coupled with heavy foreign outflows. Local investors really picked up the slack, grabbing the opportunity to bargain hunt,” he said.

All other subindices ended on the green, led by the All Shares index that grew 108.52 points to 4,890.37 points; the Financials index rose 21.8 to 1,728.59; the Industrial index surged 418.71 to 11,634.44; the Holding Firms index increased 201.3 to 7,577.31; the Property index gained 153.51 to 4,325.82; the Services index was up 25.35 to 1,683.12; and the Mining and Oil index expanded 191.22 to 7,388.4.

Gainers edged losers 130 to 88, and 26 shares were unchanged.

Top gainers were PXP Energy Corp., Now Corp., Phinma Energy Corp., Transpacific Broadband Group International Inc., PH Resorts Group Holdings Inc. and Manila Broadcasting Co. Top losers were iPeople Inc., Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc., Vantage Equities Inc., Phinma Petroleum and Geothermal Inc., Mabuhay Holdings Corp., and Bright Kindle Resources and Investments Inc.

THIS WEEK

SHARE prices may move closer to more than 8,000 points this week, as focus will be on the local front with the release of the inflation figures for May. “Any indication for results to stay within the single-digit would be lauded, strengthening the administration’s success in addressing supply bottlenecks,” broker 2TradeAsia said.

This will be a four-day work week as June 5 was declared a public holiday in observance of the Feast of Ramadan.

“Investors have more confidence now than they have had since the beginning of the year which will fuel the rally. With inflation numbers coming in the middle of the week, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has expressed some concern that the deceleration has come to a halt because of a jeepney fare hike in Visayas,” Mangun said.

STOCK PICKS

BROKER Regina Capital and Development Corp. advised to trade the range on the shares of International Container Terminal Services Inc. after its shares were trading on a sideways range since the previous week.

“This trend may progress, at least until the next few days, as indicators point toward bearishness. The stock previously hit its strengthened support of P133.90 this week, but should prices continue to rise, a weak resistance can be seen at P140.15,” the broker said.

ICTSI shares closed on Friday at P136 per share.

Meanwhile, the broker advised to buy during breakout on the stock of Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. after the stock’s weekly range exhibits an upward trend.

“An immediate support can be placed at P52.05 after prices failed to breach past this point during the week. Following this, the next support is at P46.59. However, amid the neutrality of the indicators, trading looks to be showing signs of ascent as the stock approaches its resistance of P56.80, at least within the next few days,” it said.

AEV shares closed last week at P55.90 per share. VG Cabuag

“After Siguil, there are two possible projects that will be implemented. That’s Bago and Sindangan.

We’re moving toward implementing Bago. As soon as we’re ready to go, Toyota Tsusho will…the process is long. Japanese companies want to be certain.”

ACR operates three diesel power facilities—the 103-MW diesel plant of Mapalad Power Corp. (MPC) in Iligan City, the 55-MW facility of SPPC in Alabel, Sarangani, and the 100-MW power plant of WMPC in Zamboanga City.

Meanwhile, the second unit of the coal-fired power plant of SEC in Maasim, Sarangani, will start operating later this year with an additional 105 MW. By then, ACR will have a total installed capacity of 468 MW by the end of 2019. Once the Siguil hydro project begins operating in the next three years and when the San Ramon Power Inc. (SRPI) coal-fired power plant in Zamboanga City goes onstream soon after, the company is expected to account for around 25 percent of Mindanao’s projected peak power demand.

The present situation of excess power capacity in Mindanao was brought about by the influx of baseload coal-fired power plants which

MUTUAL FUNDS

started to come online begining 2015.

Santillan said such climate of surplus capacity also posed challenges to ACR’s diesel plants and prompted the company to embark on initiatives for these plants to provide ancillary services to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) to supply peaking, back-up and replacement power to Mindanao’s distribution utilities and electric cooperatives.

Last year, NGCP signed an ancillary services procurement agreement (Aspa) with WMPC for its 100-MW diesel plant in Zamboanga City to provide the grid operator with dispatchable generating capacity, reactive power support and black start capability that would stabilize the power grid in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Also last year, ACR tendered a proposal for its SPPC diesel plant in Sarangani to provide ancillary services to NGCP in order to help stabilize the power grid in Region 12.

In 2013 ACR decided to reclassify itself as a primarily power company rather than a holding company. In these few years, Santillan said, the company has managed to make a name for itself as a major player in Mindanao’s power industry.

May 31, 2019

NAV ONE YEAR THREE YEAR FIVE YEAR Y-T-D

PER SHARE RETURN* RETURN STOCK FUNDS ALFM GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 261.62 2.1% 0.14% 0.92% 3.72% ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 1.6146 6.5% 8.96% 3.34% 12.06% ATRAM PHILIPPINE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 4.0784 -0.23% 0.33% 0.24% 4.49% CLIMBS SHARE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND CORP. -A 0.935 4.17% N.A. N.A. 5% FIRST METRO CONSUMER FUND ON MSCI PHILS. IMI, INC. -A 0.8687 4.78% N.A. N.A. 5.85% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN EQUITY FUND,INC. -A 5.4312 2.84% 0.48% 0.88% 3.04% MBG EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND, INC. -A 123.17 10.36% N.A. N.A. 5.76% ONE WEALTHY NATION FUND, INC. -A 0.8695 1.8% -4.32% N.A. 4.46% PAMI EQUITY INDEX FUND, INC. -A 51.7373 4.72% 1.23% N.A. 5.15% PHILAM STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 538.8 3.63% 0.27% 0.84% 4.67% PHILEQUITY DIVIDEND YIELD FUND, INC. -A 1.3138 5.45% 2% 3.45% 4.77% PHILEQUITY FUND, INC. -A 38.6008 5.54% 2.71% 3.04% 5.37% PHILEQUITY MSCI PHILIPPINE INDEX FUND, INC. -A,3 1.0376 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILEQUITY PSE INDEX FUND INC. -A 5.2449 5.54% 1.98% 3.21% 5.77% PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND CORP. -A 875.59 5.6% 1.68% 3.2% 5.68% SOLDIVO STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 0.929 7.34% 1.42% N.A. 7.87% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE EQUITY FUND, INC. -A 4.2927 5.82% 1.92% 2.42% 5.76% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND, INC. -A 1.0065 5.07% 1.63% N.A. 5.47% UNITED FUND, INC. -A 3.7157 5.57% 3.85% 3.24% 6.13% EXCHANGE TRADED FUND FIRST METRO PHIL. EQUITY EXCHANGE TRADED FUND, INC. -A,C,2 117.2504 6.01% 2.68% 4.28% 5.87% ATRAM ASIAPLUS EQUITY FUND, INC. -B

$0.9499 -12.03% 5.07% -0.54% 2.24% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY WORLD VOYAGER FUND, INC. -A $1.2408 -3.1% 6.89% N.A. 12.28% BALANCED FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ATRAM DYNAMIC ALLOCATION FUND, INC. -A 1.7144 2.05% -1.17% -1.44% 3.83% ATRAM PHILIPPINE BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 2.2996 0.84% 0.33% 0.64% 4.09% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN BALANCED FUND INC. -A 2.6278 2.48% -0.4% -1.56% 3.3% GREPALIFE BALANCED FUND CORPORATION -A 1.3509 1.42% N.A. N.A. 3.57% NCM MUTUAL FUND OF THE PHILS., INC. -A 1.9219 4.24% 0.88% 1.36% 4.28% PAMI HORIZON FUND, INC. -A 3.6752 2.35% -0.34% 0.36% 4.13% PHILAM FUND, INC. -A 16.5781 3.37% -0.17% 0.43% 4.21% SOLIDARITAS FUND, INC. -A 2.1363 3.14% 1.03% 1.87% 3.09% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 3.8418 5.16% 0.91% 1.51% 5.21% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2028, INC. -A,D,4 1.0006 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2038, INC. -A,D,4 0.9971 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2048, INC. -A,D,4 0.9946 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DYNAMIC FUND, INC. -A 0.9831 5.03% 1.07% N.A. 6.66% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES COCOLIFE DOLLAR FUND BUILDER, INC. -A $0.03667 4.77% 0.93% 1.54% 4.03% PAMI ASIA BALANCED FUND, INC. -A $0.9465 -9.16% 2.65% -1.46% 1.1% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ADVANTAGE FUND, INC. -A $3.6237 -0.57% 5.17% 2.22% 9.53% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR WELLSPRING FUND, INC. -A $1.0813 1.08% 3.28% N.A. 7.06% BOND FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 349.01 3.05% 2.05% 2.11% 1.64% ATRAM CORPORATE BOND FUND, INC. -A,1 1.9008 2.12% 0.09% -0.23% 2.24% COCOLIFE FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 3.0381 5.48% 5.27% 5.27% 2.27% EKKLESIA MUTUAL FUND INC. -A 2.1683 2.53% 1.24% 1.64% 1.77% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN FIXED INCOME FUND,INC. -A 2.2793 2.8% 0.63% 1.03% 3.17% GREPALIFE FIXED INCOME FUND CORP. -A P 1.6051 1.81% -0.53% -0.01% 2.6% PHILAM BOND FUND, INC. -A 4.0719 2.39% -0.22% 0.55% 3.88% PHILEQUITY PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.6342 4.26% 1.47% 1% 3.33% SOLDIVO BOND FUND, INC. -A 0.9259 1.67% -0.51% N.A. 3.73% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BOND FUND, INC. -A 2.913 6.25% 1.81% 1.71% 5.32% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY GS FUND, INC. -A 1.6155 5.91% 1.26% 1.27% 4.91% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ALFM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $456.03 3.12% 1.83% 2.67% 1.73% ALFM EURO BOND FUND, INC. -A Є216.02 1.58% 1.42% 1.42% 1.58% ATRAM TOTAL RETURN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -B $1.1734 5.56% 1.74% 2.13% 4.23% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $0.0254 2.42% 0.94% N.A. 2.42% GREPALIFE DOLLAR BOND FUND CORP. -A $1.7156 1.09% -1.24% 0.6% 1.5% PAMI GLOBAL BOND FUND, INC -A $1.0738 3.22% -0.25% -2.17% 3.49% PHILAM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $2.2901 6.26% 0.86% 2.6% 5.48% PHILEQUITY DOLLAR INCOME FUND INC. -A $0.0586411 3.4% 1.38% 1.68% 2.91% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ABUNDANCE FUND, INC. -A $3.0167 4.47% 0.32% 2.06% 5.03% MONEY MARKET FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 123.02 3.52% 2.31% 1.86% 1.8% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A,5 1.0124 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILAM MANAGED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 1.2044 3.2% 1.43% 0.9% 1.9% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 1.2401 3.54% 2.58% 1.96% 1.73% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR STARTER FUND, INC. -A $1.0262 2.1% N.A. N.A. 1.01%

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 - ADJUSTED DUE TO CASH DIVIDEND ISSUANCE LAST JANUARY 29, 2018. 2 - ADJUSTED DUE TO STOCK DIVIDEND ISSUANCE LAST JUNE 5, 2018.

3 - LAUNCH DATE IS JANUARY 3, 2019. 4 - LAUNCH DATE IS JANUARY 28, 2019. 5 - LAUNCH DATE IS FEBRUARY 1, 2019.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Cash supply uptick in April fast but tame C

ASH supply circulating in the economy grew slightly faster in April but remained at a tame single-digit level during the month, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said.

In a recent report, the Central Bank said domestic liquidity—broadly measured as M3—grew at 7 percent to about P11.7 trillion in April this year. This is an acceleration from the 6.1-percent expansion seen in March.

A growing cash supply is often beneficial for an expanding economy such as the Philippines, as it provides fuel to the productive sectors of the country.

However, an excessively slow growth in M3 could be detrimental to the country’s overall growth as especially if it is not enough to fuel the productive activities in the economy. An excessively high cash-supply growth, meanwhile, could stoke inflationary pressures and pull prices upwards for the economy.

At this rate, the BSP said in a statement over the weekend that the Central Bank will continue to watch liquidity conditions to make sure it is ample to support the country’s growing needs.

“The BSP will continue to closely monitor domestic liquidity dynamics to ensure that overall monetary conditions remain in line with maintaining price and financial stability,” the BSP said.

While the domestic demand for credit continued to drive the rise in the country’s liquidity conditions for the

month, contrastingly bank lending grew at a slightly slower rate in April.

Data from the Central Bank showed that the outstanding loans of universal and commercial banks grew at 12.7 percent in April, down from the 12.9 percent in the previous month.

Loans for production activities continued to dominate the lending portfolio of banks—which comprised about 88.2 percent of the banks’ aggregate loan portfolio during the month. The growth in production loans was driven primarily by lending to the following sectors: financial and insurance activities growing at 28.8 percent; real-estate activities with a 3.9-percent expansion; wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles at 11.9 percent; construction with a 48.9-percent growth; manufacturing at 10.7 percent; and electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply at 11.2 percent.

However, those in other community, social and personal activities declined by 57.2 percent. Loans to professional, scientific and technical activities were also down by 32 percent, while loans for human health and social work activities contracted 0.8 percent. Meanwhile, loans for household consumption grew by 15 percent in April from 15.1 percent in March, as faster growth in credit-card loans and motor-vehicle loans was slightly offset by the slower expansion in salary-based general purpose consumption loans and other types of household loans during the month Bianca Cuaresma

Monday, June 3, 2019

B3

BIR orders foreign workers on 3-month gig to get TIN

E

ACH foreign national working in the Philippines is now required to secure a tax identification number (TIN) with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) even if they are working in the country for only three months.

In a BIR Revenue Memorandum Order 28-2019 released on Friday, foreign nationals with various working permits are covered by the new policy.

The order includes foreign nationals who have Special Working Per mits (SW Ps) or those working in the country but only have tourist visas. These workers have a contract of at least three months and renewable for another three months.

“Foreign nationals who are planning to work, engage in trade or business in the Philippines, are required to secure t heir T IN fol low ing e x isting related revenue issuances,” the

memorandum stated.

“Nonresident aliens not engaged in trade or business shall be issued a TIN for withholding taxes on their income from sources within the Philippines,” the BIR added. “The withholding agent shall apply for the TIN in behalf of the nonresident aliens not engaged in trade or business.”

Foreign nationals with SWPs are required to secure their TIN w ith Revenue District Office (RDO) 39 in Quezon City. They are required to present their BIR Form 1904 and a photocopy of their passport.

The order excludes foreign nationals who are professional ath-

letes, coaches, trainers and assistants; international performers with excellent abilities; artists, performers and their staff who perform before an audience for a fee; service suppliers who do not receive salaries from a Philippine source; and treasure hunters authorized to search for hidden treasure with a permit from the government.

Further, foreign nationals who are movie and television crews authorized to film in the country; foreign journalists tasked to cover specific events in the country; trainees assigned in government institutions and private entities; lecturers, researchers, trainers and those pursuing academic work in educational institutions; religious missionaries and preachers; commercial models and talents; culinary specialists; professionals; and consultants are also excluded.

Meanwhile, registered foreign nationals can also avail themselves of preferential tax rates under effective tax treaties. Currently, BIR said, the Philippines has 43 effective tax treaties.

Foreign nationals in the country who are residents of these

countries may opt to file a Tax Treaty Relief Application with the International Tax Affairs Division.

“However, the ta x liability of foreign nationals engaged in trade or business or are gainfully employed in the Philippines will depend on the provisions of the applicable tax treaty. Moreover, the entitlement to tax treaty relief is on a case-to-case basis depending on facts as represented by the foreign national applicant,” BIR said.

The BIR said it has effective tax treaties with 43 countries.

These countries include Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria and Norway.

Other countries are Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States, and Vietnam. Cai U. Ordinario

With eye on $840-M e-commerce sector, GCash banks on huge MSME network

G

LOBE Fintech Innovations Inc. (GFII) said it is stepping up alongside micro-, smalland medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to promote e-commerce in the country, which hosts some of the world’s most active smartphone and social-media users.

With its 65,000 merchant partners and 20 million users, GFII said its product GCash is well-positioned as a pillar to support the expansion of e-commerce, which brought in $840 million in revenues in 2018 alone.

At the recent TrainForTrade talk copresented by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the Department of Trade and Industry, GFII highlighted the role of financial technology companies in developing a cashless ecosystem that allows more Filipinos to participate in the economy.

“For a cashless ecosystem to become a reality for Filipinos, you have

to look through the consumer’s daily journey. Where does he/she interact with payments? Where does he/ she interact with cash?” GFII Vice President for Merchant Solutions and Sales James Mauricio Aujero said at the May 20 Unctad event held in Makati.

“For GCash, answering these questions not only means maintaining market leadership; it is also the key to a more inclusive financial system that offers opportunities even to the most largely ignored segments,” he said.

MSME to benefit

AN economic segment that would benefit from a cashless ecosystem are MSMEs, which make up 99.6 percent of all local enterprises and contribute 25 percent to the Philippines’s gross domestic product. E-commerce is seen as a way for MSMEs to become more competitive.

By 2025, e-commerce is expected

to account for 4.7 percent of all retail sales in the Philippines, according to GFII citing a web site. This is consistent with studies that show more and more Filipinos are making purchases online, the company said.

It also cited a report that showed Lazada as the top online merchant in 2018 in the Philippines, with a monthly traffic estimate of 67.8 million. It is followed by Shopee, with 9.85 million; Zalora with 2.95 million; Metrodeal with 2.89 million; Globe with 2.15 million; eBay with 1.9 million; and Carousel, Galleon, CD-R King and VillMan with a combined monthly traffic of about 2.1 million.

With GCash, Aujero said online shopping is made easier because a customer has to enroll only once to immediately gain access to oneclick payments for thousands of merchants in platforms.

GFII has also started giving out GCash vouchers for various

Perspectives Trust in the time of disruption

N

AVIGATING technology disruption is now a business norm, propelling organizations to both experiment with and deploy advanced digital products and services that increasingly collect, leverage and ultimately create value from abundant amounts of data.

The continuous nature of technology development, and the ability to drive customer engagement and gain performance enhancements through digital transformation, generates significant excitement at a board level— both as an opportunity to gain a competitive advantage, as well as being a catalyst for disruption. The ability to achieve agility in what is now a continuous process of transformation and innovation is fast defining success for organizations, and maintaining trust in the age of the customer is becoming a differentiator for those able to act and demonstrate an understanding of their consumer’s concerns.

Consumers are a key driver in the digital transformation agenda, as digital engagement evolves and expectations rise. Successful organizations must anticipate and respond to commercial

opportunities arising from consumers who increasingly demand trusted and digitally enabled experiences. Fully understanding individual consumer demands is critical to business success, and this requires the collection of a significant amount of data. To fully harness the benefits from technology, companies must better position themselves to seize opportunities arising from consumer trust agendas—agendas which have gained priority against a backdrop of new cyber threats to both organizations and the consumers who use their products.

In this new survey, our aim was to assess whether there has been a shift in consumer expectations regarding digital trust and whether organizations are placing the consumer’s security front and center of their digital product offerings. We also explore what it takes for consumers to stay with a brand when things go wrong—and whether organizations genuinely place consumer interests first during times of crises.

Understanding the gap in perceptions of cyber security between consumers and the organizations that serve them is a key theme of this report. We believe that solving this gap in percep-

tions generates consumer trust, and confidence propels business growth.

The rise of the concerned digital consumer

AS technology innovation progresses, consumers are revising upward their expectations on how organizations deliver digital products and services, and expect security as integral to their digital experience. Based on our research, it is clear that many consumers actively embrace new, personalized and user-friendly technology. However, concerns around data security are also increasing and, in many cases, consumers are uncomfortable with the way that businesses address these concerns.

Boards at a crossroads

DIGITAL transformation is now a way of life for all organizations, but many boards appear to actively engage with only part of the transformation agenda.

Most boards are significantly more comfortable with the upsides of transformation—incorporating new technology and data strategies for growth—while overlooking the potential risks associated with these.

products and services, which presented opportunities for the mobile payment solution to co-fund marketing campaigns with their merchant-partners.

Partnership between stakeholders

AUJERO said “the point was to encourage not just repeat usage of GCash, but also brand loyalty to the different merchants.”

“Building a cashless ecosystem does not mean you have to do it on your own,” Aujero said. “It should be a partnership between stakeholders.”

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has already come out with the National Retail Payment System (NRPS), a policy and regulatory framework that aims to increase the adoption of electronic retail payments from 1 percent in 2013 to 20 percent in 2020, and ensure a safe, efficient and reliable retail payment system in the Philippines.

This is reflected in our responses from security leadership. More than a third of security executives considered their organization’s information-security budget inadequate. Worryingly, some security executive respondents stated that their company views information security primarily as a compliance and risk-management issue, with 12 percent briefing the board on only an annual basis or less.

We believe that when cyber security is left out of the business value chain, a trust ecosystem is not delivered, a significant commercial opportunity is missed and the risk for all increases. Boards should balance their responsibilities between the growth agenda with the customer trust agenda.

The excerpt was taken from the KPMG publication titled “Consumer Loss Barometer: The economics of trust.” R.G. Manabat & Co. is a Philippine partnership and a member-firm of the KPMG network of independent member-firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative, a Swiss entity. For more information on KPMG in the Philippines, you may visit www.kpmg.com.ph.

BEST MANAGED BANK Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. (Metrobank) announced

recently that was recognized as “The Best Managed Bank in the Philippines” during a leadership achievement awards event in Bangkok, Thailand. This photo courtesy of Metrobank shows its chairman, Arthur Ty (second from right), posing with unnamed executives at the awards night.

Software firm launches online payment platform

A

SOFTWARE engineering solutions firm recently launched a new version of an online payment application called “Bayad Center” that it developed with CIS Bayad Center Inc. (CIS BCI).

Multisys Technologies Corp. (MTC) said Filipinos can now pay over 1,000 types of bills and perform other financial transactions practically anywhere using the new version of the app.

The two companies recently launched the payment app in a bid to make digital financial services even more accessible, and promote cashless payments for consumers to make payments easily and securely via their mobile devices.

CIS BCI President and CEO Manuel L. Tuason said the new version of the app offers a more convenient way of settling one’s obligations.

“We are able to transform our bills payment app into a next-generation payment app where anyone can pay not only their bills, but even their government contributions, loan payments, professional license fees, even traffic violation tickets, in the comfort of their homes,” Tuason said.

Green Monday BusinessMirror

B4 Monday, June 3, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Lyn Resurreccion

For biodiversity conservation

‘MakMak’ targets Brooke’s Point kids

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

M

eet MakMak, a “resident” in the municipality of Brooke’s Point, Palawan. However, MakMak is not an ordinary resident that goes to work for wages, or the school to learn its ABCs.

Rather, MakMak will fly from school to school to teach the town’s schoolchildren about the ABC’s of biodiversity.

This adorable mascot will teach young children about the importance of protecting Brooke’s Point’s biological diversity, why they exist, what’s their purpose and how they are able to support life in Brooke’s Point and anywhere else in the world.

Introduced on March 19 during the Kanyugan Festival by the Champions for Conservation (C4C) in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Protect Wildlife Project, MakMak was conceptualized to bring about behavioral change in Brooke’s Point through the younger population.

MakMak was introduced to a group of environmental journalists in a tour organized by Protect Wildlife in some of its project sites in Palawan on May 23 and 24.

Endangered species

MakMak, is blue-naped parrot, a representation of Palawan’s most threatened species which residents of Brooke’s Point are very familiar with.

With its outfit designed like a forest ranger, MakMak is hoped to represent the campaign to protect Brooke’s Point and its natural resources against the various threats to the people’s way of life.

As a species, the blue-naped parrot, a forest dweller, is able to

see far and wide in the forest as it lives high in the trees, and is quite “talkative,” something the spokesman for biodiversity should be.

Rich biodiversity

Although biodiversity is now being slowly introduced in the curricula of public elementary schools in some areas in the country, little is known about it—what it means, or what it represents.

The Philippines is rich in biodiversity and is one of the 17 megadiverse countries in the world.

However, the country is also a biodiversity hot spot owing to the rapid rate of biodiversity loss.

Many species are driven to extinction even before they were known to exist because of habitat loss characterized by massive deforestation, land conversion, invasive alien species and, in some cases, destructive development projects like mining, quarrying and illegallogging activities.

In many areas that are supposedly protected by law, illegal wildlife trade remains a big challenge, such as in Brooke’s Point or the entire province for that matter.

A rockstar campaigner

Designed by the Brooke’s Point alumni of C4C training given by USAID Protect Wildlife, Makmak is fast-becoming a “rockstar” in barangay feasts and school events in Brooke’s Point.

Its very presence communicates educational messages about the environment, how to care for

Environmental journalists with MakMak Brooke’s Point local government

it and promote behaviors that protect species, their habitat and that of others that are important to maintain ecological balance in Brooke’s Point.

When MakMak is in complete unifor m—inc lud ing a ranger vest, radio, binoculars and a whistle—it illustrates the conservation threats that the behaviorchange campaign of Broke’s Point is striving to resolve.

Loca l officia ls in the area claimed that the town is highly dependent on t he bou nt y offered by the Mount Mantalingahan Protected Landscape (MMPL), considered as the nature’s pharmacy among Palawan indigenous people.

Booke’s Point shares MMPL with four other municipalities and is endowed with rich forest vegetation, trees, shrubs, grass and flowering plants and wildlife that

include birds, reptiles and insects.

In terms of diversity, MMPL has at least 351 plant species, distributed across 214 genera and 192 families.

Of these, 16 species were identified as economically important, half of which are considered threatened or endangered.

Behavioral-change campaign

Lawrence San Diego, communications manager of the Protect Wildlife Project, said a behavioralchange campaign is a different approach to communication.

“IEC [information, education and communication] is good for promoting awareness and attitude toward environmental protection and conservation, but if you want actions that are measurable, we introduced behavioral change,” he said.

San Diego explained that their

We believe that one approach is not enough that’s why we have employed a multidimensional approach to address the problems.”—San Diego

work with partners on the ground aims to encourage positive action, hoping that there will be an improvement in attitude or a change in the practice of the communities toward environmental protection and conservation.

Protect Wildlife Project targets to address two main issues—namely wildlife trafficking, or illegal wildlife trade, and habitat loss.

“We believe that one approach is not enough that’s why we have employed a multidimensional approach to address the problems.

One is the behavioral-change campaign, conservation financing, governance and policy, which is the bedrock of the project we are working on to improve policy in environmental protection, conservation research and strengthening enforcement capacities,” San Diego said.

Conservation advocacy

Officia ls of Brooke’s Point said MakMak will help the local government in its behavioralchange campaign strategy targeting the town’s young children, who may soon start a way of life that deviates from that

of the older generation.

“We’ve decided to change our strategy—from teaching the elders to teaching the children instead,“ said Rebecca Gadayan of the Municipal Planning Office of Brooke’s Point.

Gadayan said as part of advocacy, they produced IEC materials like comics, posters, leaflets, pamphlets and other reading materials for the schoolchildren.

Also the acting General Services Officer of Brooke’s Point, Gadayan said the decision to target children came after years of apparent failed attempts to educate the older population.

She explained that it is more difficult to educate the people as they have been accustomed to a way of life that is dependent on the natural resources.

Upland farming, for instance, is slash-and-burn farming to Brooke’s Point’s farmers.

Catching the blue-naped parrot for pets, or simply cutting down trees in the forest, means easy money.

“We want to change all that.

This time, we want to educate the children, hoping they will be the one who will to educate their parents,” she said.

Francelita Ilado, Administrative Assistant IV of the Office of the Mayor, said soon MakMak will go to schools as part of their advocacy, making learning about Brooke’s Point’s endangered species fun and entertaining.

Besides the blue-naped parrot, the talking mynah, another endangered bird, is a targeted species in Palawan.

“In the communities, homes have a parrot or mynah as pets,” Ilado said.

To bring the young closer to Brooke’s Point’s threatened species, MakMak will soon be attending school events, both in public elementary and high schools— and teach the children to impart what they’ve learned to their parents—about the environment and ABCs of biodiversity.

Building climate-resilient communities for agri, fisheries

‘I

t is getting hotter. When you are delayed in planting, you’d lose [your capital].”

This is the common sentiment shared by farmers in San Francisco and Guinyangan, Quezon. They said it has not rained in their area since the start of the year.

Experts from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Office in Calabarzon and agricultural technicians from the Office of the Municipal Agriculturists have earlier warned that this dry spell is not yet the start of the dry season.

It would get drier and hotter. The farmers were advised to anticipate and prepare for the possible problems it would entail.

Earlier this year, the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-Pagasa) advised the public to take precautionary measures to mitigate the potential adverse impact of El Niño.

This natural phenomenon threatens the agriculture and fisheries sector. To make matters worse, extreme weather changes, severe droughts and floods, more frequent and stronger typhoons, increase in annual mean temperature, among other events, brought about by climate change also pose a serious threat to the AF sector as it threatens its stability and productivity.

In 2013, the DA launched the Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA) Program to enable the AF sector to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change and build climate-resilient communities and livelihood.

The initial phases of the program identified climate hazards and assessed climate-risk vulnerabilities of the communities.

DA tapped various state universities and colleges to conduct a Climate Resiliency and Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA) in the first 10 provinces, including Ilocos Sur, Isabela,

Tarlac, Quezon, Camarines Sur, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Bukidnon, North Cotabato and Davao del Sur. CRVA is measured through three components: 1) exposure of the municipality to climaterelated hazards, 2) sensitivity of the crops to climate risks; and 3) capacity of the farmers to adapt with the changing climate conditions.

Dubbed as the “Food Basket of Calabarzon,” Quezon is primarily an agricultural province with more than 300,000 hec tares of agricultural land.

According to the Southern Luzon State University through its CRVA in Quezon, “most municipalities have low to moderate exposure index to hazard; but considering that crops are highly sensitive to changes in temperature and extreme rainfall, then a minor change in weather and climate could have major implications on production.”

SLSU identified San Francisco as the most vulnerable municipality followed by Guinyangan. San Francisco has low exposure to hazard index but several crops are sensitive to climate change and they have a low adaptive capacity index.

SLSU said that the best strategy to address their adaptive capacity is to increase the human and social capital in the municipality alongside introducing climate-resilient interventions and practices.

CRA project in Quezon

DA field offices in the 10 pilot sites used the results of the CRVA as the baseline data for the next phase of the program.

DA-Southern Tagalog Integrated Agricultural Research Center, through funding support from the Bureau of Agricultural Research, implemented the “Community-based Action Research for Climate-resilient Agriculture

[CRA] in Calabarzon Region.” The project aims to help the farmers adapt to climate risks and build climate-resilient livelihood through participatory action research.

During a monitoring activity of BAR from February 27 to March 2, farmer cooperators shared their observation with the changing climate and their experiences in going through the project and adopting the interventions introduced to them.

In order to strengthen and improve the human and social capital of the farmers, the project team organized 10 Farmers’ Learning Groups in San Francisco and five in Guinyangan.

“Farmer cooperators conducted field trials of CRA interventions according to their commodity concern and shared these technologies and outcome with other farmers,” said Project Leader Aida Luistro.

Further, rice farmers in San Francisco tried testing stress-tolerant varieties. They attested that RC 282 and GSR 11 are the varieties that gave promising yield and results. These varieties are drought-tolerant with longer maturing days of 110 and 115, respectively.

To provide additional income to the farmers, the project team introduced the planting of legumes (i.e., mung bean, peanut and soybean) which is effective in improving soil health.

Other CRA interventions in San Francisco are corn-based cropping system with legumes or purple yam, sloping agricultural land technology, breeding of native pig production.

In Guinyangan, vegetable farming was introduced to coconut farmers. The package of technology includes fertilizer application based on soils analysis, use of organic fertilizer and use of open-pollinated variety seeds.

They are also currently testing two black pepper varieties (native and Taiwan).

Planting black pepper is in support to the

Guinyangan municipal government to expand its production in other barangays.

“To promote CRA technologies and practices to other farmers, two Farmers’ Field Day were conducted,” Luistro said.

She added that farmer cooperators in San Francisco were able to visit the AMIA villages in Guinyangan. Through this educational visit, they were given the opportunity to learn from each other’s knowledge and experiences with the CRA interventions and practices.

In addition, the project team capacitated the AF communities in agri-based enterprise development through seminars. They included corn charcoal-briquette making, soybean processing and native pork processing.

They also linked farmers to government financial service providers and conduit cooperative/bank and provided access to weather information and farming advisories.

Access to weather information and farming advisories were also provided to the farmers with assistance from DOST-Pagasa. Weather forecast is disseminated through social media.

They also installed farm-level weather instruments to monitor and record precipitation and temperature.

In San Francisco, Cristino Bayran rigorously observed and recorded weather information since the start of the project. Based on his observations, the diurnal range increased from 7 degrees Celsius to 14°C. He shared that the extreme changes in the weather is very alarming. In late 2018, he said farmers couldn’t plant because of severe rainfall—a complete opposite of what they are experiencing this early in the year.

Thus, they farmers saw importance of enabling AF communities to adapt to climate risks and build climate-resilient communities and livelihood.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. volunteers plant mangroves in Batangas coasts.

Toyota plants mangroves, conducts coastal cleanup

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oyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) conducted mangrove-planting and coastal cleanup along the coasts of Lian, Batangas, as part of the All Toyota Green Wave Program.

Volunteers composed of TMP team members, TMP foundation scholars and TMP School of Technology faculty and staff planted 1,000 mangroves. They were also able to collect 54 kilograms of garbage after the coastal cleanup.

The planted mangroves will not only help protect shorelines from damaging storms, waves and floods, but will likewise maintain water quality and clarity by filtering pollutants and

trapping sediments coming from land.

The activity is part of Toyota and Conservation International (CI) Philippines’s partnership with the goal to preserve the Verde Island Passage, which serves as a source of livelihood for 2 million locals engaged in coastal tourism and fisheries.

It is also a part of the shipping route to the international ports of Batangas, Manila and Subic Bay. On a global scale, Toyota puts environment protection as one of its top priorities. Through various programs and initiatives, Toyota continues to find ways to fulfill its goal of creating a society in harmony with nature.

Biodiversity Monday BusinessMirror

Asean Champions of Biodiversity Media Category 2014

Monday, June 3, 2019

Editor: Lyn Resurreccion • www.businessmirror.com.ph

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people Urge companies to protect it

Asians increasing awareness of biodiversity

By Rolando A. Inciong

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Special to the BusinessMirror

wareness of the importance of biodiversity among Asian consumers—especially the youth—has increased over the last decade and more people want private companies to protect biodiversity.

T h i s w a s re por ted by t he recently launched 2019 UEBT Biodiversity Barometer, an ongoing set of research that has spanned more than a decade and is updated annually.

T he B a rometer h a s i nter viewed more than 68,000 consumers over 11 years, asking what they know and understand about biodiversity, and what they expect from brands.

This year’s edition focused on consumer insights from four countries in Asia: China, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam.

The report, which was commissioned by the Union for Ethical BioTrade, an international nonprof it orga n i z at ion, w a s shared with company leaders at UEBT’s annual Beauty of Sourcing with Respect Conference held in Paris.

A majority of Asian consumers surveyed felt that companies have a moral obligation to assure them that they have a positive impact on people and biodiversity.

The survey participants said they have more faith in brands “whose commitment to ethical sourcing biodiversity is verified by independent organizations.”

Dr. Cristiana Paşca Palmer, executive secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, said “In line with our 2020 biodiversity targets, we see consumer awareness rising every

year, including in Asia. Businesses must embrace conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in response to consumer expectations on biodiversity, and assure a livable future for all.

Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim, executive director of the Asean Centre for Biodiversity, said the 10 Asean member-states—Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, T hailand and Vietnam—sup ported by the ACB, continue to work together in promoting the values of biodiversity and the importance of its conservation, through mainstreaming initiatives, as well as communication, education and public awareness (Cepa) campaigns.

“Mainstreaming biodiversity conser vation is a good strateg y to increase awareness of the importance of biodiversity and generate greater multi-sector involvement in conser vation.

Sectors—suc h as inf rast r ucture, agr icu ltura l ex pansion, mining, energy and other development activities—have been impacting biodiversity directly and indirectly,” Lim explained.

She added: “Hence, it is crucial to mainstream biodiversity conservation into development plans, as well as in the business processes of the private sector to ensure that biodiversity is still protected

An all-white giant panda is captured by an infra-red triggered remote camera at the Wolong Nature Reserve in southwest China’s Sichuan province. Wolong National Nature Reserve via AP

Photo courtesy of Asean CentRE for Biodiversity

in an ever-growing region, such as Asean. Biodiversity conservation is a multi-sectoral concern, thus, the Asean and ACB are prioritizing mainstreaming biodiversity in the decision-making framework to increase its visibility among policy-makers in the government and business.”

UEBT’s Executive Director Rik Kutsch Lojenga said, “We felt the time was right to dive deeper into consumers’ insights from Asia.

In 2020, China will host the UN Summit on Biodiversity, which will define the global plan on biodiversity for the next decade.”

Lojenga said Chinese leadership

It is crucial to mainstream biodiversity conservation into development plans, as well as in the business processes of the private sector to ensure that biodiversity is still protected in an ever-growing region, such as Asean.”—Lim

E.U. affirms support to Asean biodiversity conservation

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All-white panda seen in Chinese nature reserve

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EIJING—A rare all-white giant panda has been photog raphed for t he f irst time, according to a nature reserve in southwestern China.

Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan province released a photo last weekend showing the panda crossing through a verdant forest in the reserve.

The panda has red eyes and lacks the usual black fur on its limbs and ears, and around its eyes.

The albino panda is about one to two years old judging from its size,

the reserve said in a statement.

It appears to be physically strong and has a steady gait, showing that the albinism probably hasn’t affected its health.

The unusual panda was caught by a camera that was triggered by the panda’s movement as it passed by in early April.

Albinism does not affect body structure or activities, but it does make an animal easier to spot and more sensitive to direct sunlight, Li Sheng, a Peking University researcher, said in the statement. AP

in this major global event “underscores the role that Asia has in protecting the world’s biodiversity.”

This also means that “there is an opportunity for business to take concrete action to position their brands in Asian markets as leaders in sourcing with respect for people and biodiversity,” Lojenga added.

T he 10 h ig h l ig ht s of t he UEBT Biodiversity Barometer includeAwareness and understanding of biodiversity grow year after year, around the world. Consumers with lower incomes show particular growth. Young consumers remain the best informed. Biodiversity is becoming a mainstream concept for consumers.

Consumers find biodiversity conservation important for their personal well-being and that of generations to come. They want

to personally contribute.

Respecting people and biodiversity in purchases is a growing concern. Consumers understand their potential to make a positive contribution to society—this makes them feel good.

Consumers expect companies to respect biodiversity, but don’t trust they do.

Consumers call more and more for transparency on ingredient and their origin. They want more information—preferably externally validated—on how products respect people and biodiversity.

Authentic stories, proof of good practices on the ground and clear communication are key to convince consumers of companies’ respect for people and biodiversity.

Young consumers have the highest awareness of biodiversit y and can identif y brands that respect biodiversity and are most demanding on companies.

They can identify brands that respect biodiversity and value companies that “walk the talk ” by taking action.

Opportunities exist for brands that wish to position themselves around sourcing with respect for people and biodiversity. To date, only Natura Cosmetics is clearly recognized in relation to biodiversity—and only in Brazil, where it has over 50-percent consumer recognition rates.

Corporate communication on biodiversity by beauty, food and beverage companies continues to rise year-on-year. It is becoming industr y practice, though t he i nfor m at ion prov ided is often superficial.

Consumers are increasingly interested in naturals, and companies are investing in biodiversity-based research and development. Complying with evolving rules on Nagoya Protocol, and Access and Benefit Sharing legislation is becoming an increasingly important factor in reputation risk management.

he European Union (EU) has affirmed its continued support to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in the protection and conservation of biological diversity in the region.

In an interview at the EU-Asean Ambassador’s Visit to Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) headquarters at the foot of Mount Makiling in Los Baños, Laguna, Ambassador Franz Jessen, head of EU Delegation to the Philippines, highlighted over 40 years of EU-Asean friendship through various programs and projects.

The event highlighted two important global celebrations: the International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22 and World Environment Day on June 5.

So far, the EU has poured in a €10-million grant to Asean in support of biodiversity conservation and protection.

“I am very happy that it is working and it is working well. Two and a half years ago, we have seen the construction of this building [ACB headquarters],” Jessen said.

He said EU’s support to Asean underscores its commitment to support its “brothers and sisters” within the EU structures in the Asean region.

“Helping Asean protect and conserve biodiversity is important, not only for EU but for the global society,” Jessen said, adding that Asean can learn from European countries’ experience.

Over a century ago, he said, European countries “cared less about the environment in pursuing growth and development.”

This, he said, resulted in environmental degradation. As Asean, including the Philippines, is still young and developing, he said EU can share its valuable lessons in pursuing growth and development.

He underscored the need to mainstream biodiversity in Asean through intensified information campaigns to raise awareness about its importance.

The EU is supporting the Biodiversity Conservation and Management of Protected

Ambassador Franz Jessen of the European Union Delegation Jonathan L. Mayuga Areas in Asean, a five-year program (2017-2022) under the Asean-EU Cooperation for biodiversity conservation and protection implemented by ACB. The project aims to contribute to global sustainability by ensuring that the Asean’s rich biological diversity is conserved and sustainably managed toward enhancing social, economic and environmental well-being.

Incidentally, the ACB implements the Asean Heritage Programme, which has established over 40 Asean Heritage Parks in the region, including the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve, where its headquarters is situated.

Underscoring the importance of the theme of the International Day for Biological Diversity: “Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health,” Assistant Secretary for Staff Bureaus Ricardo Calderon of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said there is a need to highlight the benefits of biodiversity, for food and health.

Speaking in mixed Filipino and English, Calderon, representing Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu at the event, said the Philippines is blessed with a diversity of natural food—from native fruits and plants with high medicinal value, to fish and other seafood.

However, he said the rapid rate of biological loss caused by various threats is alarming, severely

affecting not only the Philippines, but the entire Asean region.

The diversity of food sources, he said, makes food consumption better, while natural health and wellness prolong life, a lot better than the medicines in capsules or tablets from drug stores.

“Biodiversity is not just about the native animals or plants, but more importantly, about the food we eat, about the health that it provides. The food we eat, the herbal medicine for health and wellness, these we need to highlight for greater appreciation of our rich biodiversity,” Calderon, the concurrent director of the DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), told the BusinessMirror in an interview.

In a speech read by Clarissa C. Arida, director of ACB’s Programme Development and Implementation, ACB Executive Director Theresa Mundita S. Lim said the theme for the International Day of Biological Diversity calls for collective efforts to restore the health of biodiversity, ecosystems, and food systems for human well-being and health.

Incidentally, Lim said 2019 is also significant for the EU-Asean relations as it marks the 21st year of cooperation on biodiversity conservation, with the launching in 1998 of the EU and the government of the Philippines, on behalf of Asean, launched the Asean Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation (ARCBC).

“The project intensified biodiversity conservation through improved cooperation in a comprehensive regional context, by assisting in setting up a network for institutional links among Asean countries and between Asean and EU partner institutions,” she said.

While EU’s technical assistance to ARCBC concluded in December 2004, Lim said it paved the way for the establishment of the ACB the following year for the purpose of sustaining the gains of the ARCBC and in recognition of the need for a center that will facilitate regional cooperation on biodiversity conservation.

In her speech, Lim, a former director of the DENR-BMB underscored Asean’s rich

biodiversity and endemism.

“All these biodiversity, as well as the ecosystems services that they provide, are key to the survival, development, well-being and prosperity of some 650 million inhabitants of the Asean region,” she said.

However, she said the world is faced with challenges that threaten its biodiversity. She cited the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services report that human activities result in the alarming decline of biodiversity that will eventually lead to detrimental effects on human life and will compromise the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The global scientific report emphasized that around 1 million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction, she warned, which calls for the Asean and the EU to work together to stop or reduce the unprecedented rate of biodiversity loss Besides Jessen, the diplomats who visited the ACB were Ambassador Michel Goffin of Belgium, Ambassador Jozsef Bencze of Hungary and Ambassador Win Naing of Myanmar.

The Asean-EU diplomatic delegation included Kairul Hazwan, deputy chief of mission, Brunei Darussalam Embassy; Khim Kanal, first secretary, Cambodian Embassy; Sharifah Ezneeda Wafa, minister counsellor, Malaysian Embassy; Khine Htut Hla, second secretary, Myanmar Embassy; Xavier Canton Lamousse, programme manager, Cooperation Section, Camille Lavirotte, deputy head, Contracts and Finance Section and Thomas Michel Olascoaga, from the EU Delegation; Amaya Fuentes Milani, deputy head, Spainish Embassy; Emma Briffaut, Attaché for Higher Education, French Embassy; Kathleen Ann Coballes, Climate Change and Energy attaché, United Kingdom Embassy; and Amiel Diaz, assistant to the Political Section, Czech Republic Embassy.

Besides Calderon, Sofio Quintana, director of the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau, was also another DENR official present during the event. Jonathan L. Mayuga

B6 Monday, June 3, 2019

JRS Express opens two more branches

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he increased economic and regional development drives JRS Express in opening more branches in provincial areas of the country.

Recently JRS Express, the leading courier when it comes to next-day delivery service, opens two new branches on Marcos Highway, Baguio City (409th branch) and at Karport

Building, fronting Rizal Drive, Bonifacio Global City (410th Branch).

With its tagline “Kahit Kailan Maasahan, Kahit Saan Makakarating”, JRS Express, for 58 years, has proven its commitment in delivering its clients’ need on time, in the least possible cost. Log on to www.jrs-express.com.

Insular Life elects former SSS chief as Independent Trustee

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awyer Emmanuel F. Dooc was recently elected as an independent board trustee of Insular Life. Dooc was the president and chief executive officer of the Social Security System (SSS) until March.

“We are honored that Dooc is now part of [the] board, because we will definitely benefit from his wise counsel, given his long years of experience and outstanding record in the insurance industry,” said Nina D. Aguas, executive chairman of Insular Life, the country’s largest Filipino life-insurance company.

Dooc is a distinguished veteran in the life-insurance industry. He served as the insurance commissioner from 2011 to 2016. He has had extensive experience in the insurance operations, compliance and governance.

He is a master fellow and fellow of

Life Office Management, an associate in claims of the International Claims Association, and a fellow of the Institute of Corporate Directors. He has professional certificates in strategic management from the College of Insurance in New York and 2015 Fall International Fellows Program organized by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and The Center for Insurance Policy and Research. He attended the executive program for senior government officials at the JFK School of Government and has been designated as the honorary insurance commissioner in Louisiana in 2015.

Dooc earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from San Beda College. He took up Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Mabini Colleges.

OXFORD BUSINESS GROUP RETAINS NEW REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR ASIA

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xford Business Group (OBG) has assigned Maria Meroño as its regional director for Asia. Meroño will oversee a broad range of projects in markets that OBG cover across the region.

The move makes a comeback for Meroño, who previously spent almost three years in Indonesia and other countries in the Asean bloc, and played a pivotal part in expanding the firm’s operations.

Since joining OBG 12 years ago, Meroño has built up a wealth of experience in emerging markets, h av i ng worked ac ross A si a , t he Midd le East, A fr ica and the A mer icas. Most recent she held the regional directorship on the Americas while extending its reach to new markets including Argentina.

Meroño has a master’s degree from Esade Business and Law School in Spain. She has previously studied business administration at both Maastricht University and Carlos III

University in Spain.

P o l i n a V i r r , O B G ’s n e w l y appointed managing director and previously regional director for Asia, said Meroño’s experience of working in emerging markets, combined with her involvement in OBG’s expansion o ve r t he ye a r s, me a nt she w a s extremely well placed to take on her new post.

“These are significant times for A sia’s economies, especia l ly t he Asean bloc, which is working toward closer economic integration and trade linkages,” she added. “I’m delighted that we will benefit from Maria’s knowledge of these countries—their workings, growth stories and plans for the future—as we step up our coverage of the region.”

Meroño said she was thrilled to be returning to Asia and playing a part in the next chapter of OBG’s operations there.

“Investor conf idence rema ins high in many of the region’s markets,

despite external pressures, buoyed by the expectation of high returns,” she said. “I look forward to meet people that are driving the transformation of this exciting region and ensure that many investment opportunities emerging across the markets we cover reach a global audience.”

Keeping your aircon in tip-top shape

KonsultaMD bags major prize at Kidlat Awards 2019

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onsultaMD, the country’s only telehealth hotline and a Globe Telecom subsidiary, continues its winning streak with recent accolades from the Kidlat Awards 2019.

KonsultaMD emerged as one of Kidlat Awards’ biggest winners, bagging five major awards for creative storytelling and effectiveness of “Consult a Real Doctor”, which was cocreated with advertising agency Gigil. These include Gold Craft Film Copywriting, Gold Creative Storytelling Film and Bronze Creative Effectiveness Film for “Dok Internet”, Silver Creative Storytelling Outdoor for “Dok Everywhere” and Bronze Creative Storytelling Film Campaign for Consult a Real Doctor.

“It is a great way to start [the year] 2019 with this new honor, another fitting recognition for our efforts and advocacy of educating Filipinos [on] the value and importance of seeking professional medical assistance for their health-care needs....,” says Maridol Ylanan, chief executive officer of Global Telehealth Inc., which operates KonsultaMD. KonsultaMD is a dedicated platform where Filipinos with medical needs get easy access to primary medical

care by talking to a licensed Filipino doctor anytime, anywhere, over the phone. The service is made up of a team of licensed, highly trained and experienced medical professionals ready to provide Filipinos with highquality medical information 24/7.

These on-call doctors provide straightforward help regarding healthcare concerns and information on certain primary conditions, like cough, fever, flu, allergies, among others, plus permissible (over the counter) medication.

The service is also not meant to replace the necessary face-to-face interaction between a patient and a doctor to resolve a medical issue.

To subscribe to KonsultaMD, Globe Postpaid customers only need to pay a subscription fee of P150 a month, available for use by up to four additional household members. Globe Prepaid and TM users can subscribe to KonsultaMD by paying P15 weekly. Meanwhile, subscription for Globe Platinum members is free.

Globe customers may subscribe online at www.konsulta.md. For more information and inquiries, visit www. konsulta.md.

Less problems, more learners on class opening—Briones

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ess than a week before School Year 2019-2020 opens, Education Secretary Leonor MagtolisBriones directed all regional and division offices to help ensure less recurrent problems and more learners able to attend school on the opening of classes. “[Ito] ang pinaka-urgent na question: Paano tayo naghahanda para sa opening ng school year? We have our early registration, school-readiness assessment [and], of course, ang Brigada Eskwela, among others. This week the Department [of Education] reactivated its annual Oplan Balik Eskwela with a public assistance command center [PACC] in the central, regional and division offices, to ensure the readiness and the welfare of our learners,” the education chief highlighted.

The PACC includes frontline services, such as help desks, hotline numbers and e-mail addresses, to accommodate

the public’s queries and concerns.

The regional and division offices also conduct advocacy and information campaign, and employ best practices to help improve the public’s awareness and understanding of the department’s programs, projects, policies and activities at the grassroots level.

As of morning of May 29, the PACC at the central office resolved 739 of the 823 total queries, complaints, requests and suggestions since its reactivation.

Among the concerns raised were of the senior high school program, enrolment, school policy and operations, DepEd programs, examinations, resources/ facilities and legal matters.

Aside from monitoring OBE activities, the secretary is also set to visit schools starting June 3 to welcome learners and ensure that they are accommodated in a conducive, nurturing and safe learning environment.

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eeping your air conditioner c l e a n i s a s i mp or t a nt a s maintaining good air quality.

Its air filters are designed to catch dust and microbes and, if not cleaned regularly, it can clog, collect moisture and even mold. The more clogged the filter, the harder the air conditioner must work to push air through it.

This can also mean higher energyrunning costs. It’s not good for your air conditioner and mainly for you!

Especially this summer season, regular cleaning of your air conditioner will mean better energyefficiency and lower running costs.

A i r cond it ione r come s w it h a n instruction manual that tells how to clean air filters and any other usermaintainable parts. Manufacturers usually recommend that you clean air filters every two weeks, depending

how often you use the air conditioner.

Simply put, the more you use it, the more often you should clean the filters. At the very least, aim to clean them a couple of times a year.

Usually on wall-split type models, there are one or two main filters in the indoor unit while some may also have a separate air-purification filter (such as a Hepa or carbon filter) for better health maintenance, so it is important to get to know your air conditioner well. Outdoor units, on the other hand, must be ensured to be clear of surrounding grass and plants, brush away dust, leaves and cobwebs regularly. Running a vacuum cleaner over the air intake can also help clear accumulated dust inside.

Aside from basic cleaning, do not also forget to have your AC system reg u larly inspected by a ser v ice

professional, at least once a year. Let the technicians check refrigerantgas levels, test the thermostat and make sure all internals are in good working condition. This will keep the unit cooling and cleaning your air for years.

Markes Appliances, exclusively distributed by Continental Sales Inc., is now offering efficient and cost-saving X AT (inverter) and XET (semi inverter) air-conditioner series that carries notable features, such as hyperblast cooling, independent dehumid if ication, 4D air sw ing , Vitamin C filter, nanometer filter, silver-ion filter, 5-Speed fan and dual drainage. For inquiries and information, visit www.LKGgroup. com/csi.

Markes brand are available in all major appliance stores nationwide.

Sheraton Extends P8-K Summer Deal!

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ood travel starts right in the heart of the city, with Sheraton M a n i l a Hot e l ’s e x t e nd e d summer deal at P8,888 until July 31!

Sheraton Manila Hotel is the newly opened 5-Star hotel at the forefront

of Resorts World Manila complex, right across third airport terminal. It is a premier gathering place to relax, indulge or celebrate, like a “home away from home” destination.

It is the absolute treat that is more

than just an overnight staycation.

Apart from enjoying its luxurious facilities, your appetite will be satisfied with a breakfast buffet for two and P2,000 worth of dining credits that can be used in any of their outlets or in-room service.

With the multifaceted facilities that Sheraton Manila has, there are a lot things to do for all ages. While adults are working out in their 24hour Sheraton Fitness (gym), kids can play or do educational activities at the kids’ club next door. Enjoy live entertainment at The Lounge at night while unwinding with cocktail on hand. The huge Vega pool, an outdoor resort-like oasis, will make you forget the city life in a while. Just few steps out of the hotel are more ways to be entertained of your choice, either watching a movie, enjoying theater play or shopping until you drop.

Make your reservations by visiting www.sheratonmanila.com and look for the “Offers” tab.

Sports WARRIORS: BusinessMirror

C1

| Monday, June 3, 2019 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

NO NEED TO WORRY

STEPHEN CURRY (from right) says Kevin Durant’s presence around the locker room is helpful until the two-time Finals MVP can get back on the floor and help stop Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors. AP

The Warriors’ 1-0 deficit may be unusual, but they certainly don’t seem uncomfortable. Golden State had won 12 straight Game Ones before falling, 118-109, on Thursday, and the two-time defending champions hadn’t been behind in the National Basketball Association Finals since Cleveland had a 2-1 lead in 2015.

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By Brian Mahoney The Associated Press

ORONTO—The Toronto Raptors are rugged and relentless, capable of punishing teams in transition any time they make a mistake.

The Golden State Warriors felt like they were seeing a version of themselves in Game One of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals, and now they have to stop it.

No problem, they figure.

“It’s first to four, not first to one,” Klay Thompson said.

“So, still a lot of basketball to be played.”

The Warriors’ 1-0 deficit may be unusual, but they certainly don’t seem uncomfortable. Golden State had won 12 straight Game Ones before falling, 118-109, on Thursday, and the two-time defending champions hadn’t been behind in the NBA Finals since Cleveland had a 2-1 lead in 2015.

Golden State Coach Steve Kerr has pointed to his team’s poor transition defense in the opener after Toronto used its quickness to score 24 fast-break points and turn the Warriors’ 17 turnovers into 17 points.

“They were getting the ball off the rim and just pushing it. Instead of crashing as hard as we did, we’ll have to make the adjustment in Game Two and try to send more guys back,” Thompson said on Saturday. “But 10 days off as well, we might have had a little cobwebs. It was just a mixture of things. But I know this: I know we’ll be better tomorrow.”

Kerr said the Raptors reminded him of the Warriors, with Pascal Siakam pushing the ball in transition the way Draymond Green does. Siakam was the far more effective player in the opener, with 32 points while Green struggled to a 2-for-9 night.

But the Warriors aren’t worried, relying on the confidence from facing just about every possible situation while making it to five straight NBA Finals.

“They got rings and they can be confident,” Raptors guard Kyle Lowry said. “We can’t really necessarily worry about them. We have to continue to worry about us.

They’re going to be them and they’re going to do their thing, but for us we have to concentrate on us and focus on what we have to do.”

BETTER LEONARD?

KAWHI LEONARD scored 23 points in the opener but shot just five for 14 after averaging 31.2 points in the first three rounds. Coach Nick Nurse doesn’t think the All-Star forward was bothered by a leg injury that appeared to hamper him somewhat in the Eastern Conference finals.

“I don’t think the leg trouble is much of an issue,” Nurse said, “and I’m expecting him to play a lot better tomorrow.”

TALKING TRASH

IF the Warriors want to rattle Leonard, it will require actions rather than words. The 2014 NBA Finals MVP always appears to be calm, and he was asked if he responds when players try to trash talk him.

“It really doesn’t happen too much,” Leonard said. “I really can’t say it happens.”

KD’s OK

THOUGH Kevin Durant remains out at least one more game with a strained right calf, he traveled to Toronto with the Warriors to work with the training staff.

Stephen Curry said his presence around the locker room is helpful until the two-time NBA Finals MVP can get back on the floor.

“Anybody who goes through an injury like that, you kind of feel alienated because your schedule is a little different. Most of the time you’re on kind of [isolation] with our athletic training staff, putting extra hours in.

Stuff starts to feel monotonous, especially with the big stage of the finals here and now,” Curry said. “So I think

he’s handled that well, understanding his time is coming sooner than later and he’s doing whatever he can on a daily basis to get healthy.”

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

THE Warriors started Jordan Bell at center in Game One and Kerr thought he did well, but Golden State has other options. DeMarcus Cousins and Andrew Bogut are also in the center rotation along with Kevon Looney.

“Every game is going to be different,” Kerr said.

“Pretty much every game this postseason has been different at the center position, based on what we have needed. The one constant is Looney, who is going to play his 28, 30 minutes one way or the other. What we’re always trying to do is mix and match, and find matchups and fill in those gaps with the right combinations that can help us win.”

WATCH YOUR MOUTH

THE Los Angeles Clippers were fined $50,000 by the NBA on Friday for comments Coach Doc Rivers made about Leonard during a TV appearance. Kerr won’t fall into the same predicament, having gotten in trouble before.

“I got fined when I was the GM of Phoenix for making a joke on The Dan Patrick Show.” Kerr said. “I think he asked me if we were interested in LeBron when LeBron was a free agent back in whatever it was that he went to Miami. I said if he’s willing to take the minimum, we would take him. Dan laughed. And I wrote a $10,000 check the next day. So I learned my lesson. I don’t comment about any other players.”

CENTER (OR CENTRE) OF ATTENTION T

ORONTO—Marc Gasol’s highest-scoring game since joining the Toronto Raptors came at the perfect time—Game One of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals.

He scored 20 points, busting out of a slump in a variety of places: at the rim, from midrange, on the foul line, beyond the arc.

All different, yet with one thing in common— Golden State’s DeMarcus Cousins wasn’t on the floor for any of them.

That may change on Sunday night. It’s spelled center in the US, centre in Canada, and either way that position battle may tell the tale when the Raptors host the Warriors in Game Two of the title matchup.

Cousins logged only eight minutes in his first game since recovering from a serious quadriceps injury, and it would shock nobody if the Warriors called on him for more as the series goes along.

“He did some good things. That was a good first step,” Warriors Coach Steve Kerr said on Saturday when assessing Cousins’s performance in Game One. “So we have to figure

out now as a staff, as a team, where does that leave us?

Do we increase the minutes? Do we change the role at all?

Those are all things we have been discussing.”

The answers may be critical.

For as elaborate as certain elements of NBA offenses are, the Raptors operate under a fairly simple pretense— find the open guy. They did that often in Game One, with Gasol one of the main reasons why. When he’s camped out at the three-point line, Gasol creates space. When the Warriors aimed to take that space away, he found room to maneuver elsewhere.

“If the rotation happens and they leave somebody else open, my nature is to make the extra pass,” Gasol said. “If they stay home, it is my job to knock it down.”

When he was struggling to find ways to get any shots to fall in the Eastern Conference finals against Milwaukee, Raptors Coach Nick Nurse hinted that lineup changes were coming and the suggestion seemed to be that Gasol would be coming out of the lineup. Turns out, Nurse really had no intention to sit Gasol. He merely had a chat with him, trying to settle him down.

“Doesn’t hurt,” Gasol said. “I don’t know if it helped or not, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to have your coach say, ‘Hey, it’s OK.’” The thing Nurse was certain of, when it came to Gasol, that the biggest moments were not going to be too big for a veteran of his stature.

“He’s not only played in a lot of big NBA games, but he’s played on the international stage at the highest level,” Nurse said. “I think he has a couple silver medals under his belt or something like that.”

Nobody’s playing for a silver medal in this series.

And even though it’s just one game, the Warriors surely feel some sort of urgency now. Even heading home for Games Three and Four, a 2-0 hole in the title series would be daunting.

That’s why the decision on Cousins’s role is one Kerr isn’t taking lightly. A misstep now is a big problem, even for Golden State.

“I feel fine,” Cousins said. “The adjustments, we’ll make those according to what we see fit. We’ll take it from there.” AP

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SERENA, LIKE OSAKA, BIDS ADIEU TO PARIS P

ARIS—Maybe it was the daunting deficit Serena Williams faced in the French Open’s third round. Maybe it was the way her 20-year-old American opponent, Sofia Kenin, was questioning line calls.

Either way, as Williams attempted to start a comeback on Saturday with a three-ace game, she followed those big serves with some serious staredowns.

Whether it was meant to get herself going or intimidate Kenin, it didn’t work. Outplayed from start to finish, Williams lost, 6-2, 7-5, to the 35th-ranked Kenin, ending her latest bid for a 24th Grand Slam title with her earliest loss at a major tournament in five years.

“In that first set in particular, she hit pretty much inches from the line, and I haven’t played anyone like that in a long time,” the 37-yearold Williams said. “I just saw a player that was playing unbelievable.”

It was the second significant surprise in a matter of hours: Earlier in the day, No. 1 seed Naomi Osaka was eliminated, 6-4, 6-2, by 42nd-ranked Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic. That ended Osaka’s 16-match Grand Slam winning streak, which included titles at the US Open final in September— when she beat Williams in the final—and at the Australian Open in January.

Osaka was trying to become the first woman to win three consecutive major trophies since Williams grabbed four in a row in 2014-2015, a run that was preceded by a second-round loss at Roland Garros and a third-round loss at Wimbledon.

Since those early-for-her defeats, Williams had won six of the 14 majors she entered to surpass Steffi Graf’s professional-era record of 22 Grand Slam singles championships. With 23, Williams stands one away from Margaret Court’s mark for the most in tennis history; Court played in both the professional and amateur eras.

“Serena is such a tough player. I’m still trying to process what just happened,” Kenin said, about an hour after the match ended with her covering her face with both hands. “She’s a true champion and an inspiration.”

Kenin was born in Moscow and is fluent in Russian. Her family moved to New York when she was a baby, and she now is based in Florida.

“I’m proud to be an American,” said Kenin, who wore a blue US Fed Cup cap to her news conference. “I think it’s great we moved to America for a better life for me.”

She is appearing in the ninth

major of her career and now is headed to her initial trip to the round of 16, where she’ll meet No. 8 seed Ash Barty. Other women’s fourth-round matchups established on Saturday: defending champion Simona Halep vs. 18-year-old Iga Swiatek of Poland; No. 14 Madison Keys of the US versus Sinikiakova; and 17-year-old Amanda Anisimova of the US versus qualifier Aliona Bolsova of Spain.

Williams sat out four Slams in 2017-18 while she was off the tour to have a baby. Her first major back was last year’s French Open, where she withdrew before a fourth-round match because of a chest-muscle injury. She went on to reach the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open before wasting match points during a quarterfinal loss at the Australian Open this January.

Williams came to Paris having played only four matches since then—she withdrew from two tournaments because of an injured left knee and another because of illness.

And she had said she considered not entering the French Open at all.

“I’m glad I came, at the end of the day,” she said, “but it’s been a really grueling season for me.”

Asked whether a third-round appearance was satisfactory, given her issues, Williams not surprisingly

said it was not.

“I wouldn’t expect to have gotten only to the third round,” she replied.

Her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou said: “All I know is, she was not ready. And it was obvious, I think.”

Williams couldn’t control her shots, compiling 34 unforced errors, twice as many as Kenin’s 17.

Another key statistic: Kenin won four of Williams’s 10 service games.

Kenin also was composed as can be, never getting rattled by Williams or by a Court Philippe Chatrier crowd that whistled and jeered her for repeatedly eyeing ball marks to see whether

AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

The athletics stadium at the New Clark City looks prime for the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games with MTD Philippines President Patrick Nicholas David (inset) saying work is 75-percent complete at the world-class International Association of Athletics Federationcertified facility at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. The SEA Games are set from November 30 to December 11. BERNARD TESTA

Red Lions seek 4th straight win

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them was Patrick Cantlay with a skill set that suggests he should have more than his one victory that came in the fall of 2017.

“We can all play good golf, and it’s quite nice for tomorrow because no one is really holding back,” Kaymer said. “I think you only hold back if you don’t know the situation because then you don’t know how to react and you play safe, defensive.... No one is playing like that in that group.”

Kaymer was at 15-under 201 in his first appearance at the Memorial in 10 years.

The German was on the verge of falling out of the top 200 in the world ranking until a tie for eighth in the British Masters last month.

His road back began with an emphasis on the short game, and it paid off in a big way on a course that slowly getting faster.

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calls were correct.

“I didn’t care at that point,” Kenin said. “I was like, ‘I’m going to check the mark.’”

After Williams showed fight by going from 3-1 down to 4-3 ahead in the second set, Kenin hung in there. At 5-all, she got the last break she’d need with a forehand return winner off a 102-mph (164 kph) serve.

She ran to her sideline seat and pressed a towel against her face.

There was one last pivotal moment: Serving for the victory, Kenin faced a break point, but Williams’s miscue let it go by. One last error by Williams—a backhand that sailed long—ended things.

Kenin dealt so well with the stakes, the scene, the setting.

She’d never shared a court with Williams before, although Kenin did try to set up a practice session during the offseason by texting Mouratoglou.

Didn’t work out. AP

Kaymer builds two-shot lead at Memorial UBLIN, Ohio—Martin Kaymer is 18 holes away from ending five years without a victory.

He is mildly surprised. He is not the least bit stressed.

And he has plenty of company among contenders at the Memorial for whom winning has become more of a memory than a habit.

Kaymer was bogey-free on Saturday at Muirfield Village for a six-under 66 that gave him a two-shot lead over Adam Scott, setting up a final pairing of two major champions and former No. 1 players in the world in the midst of long droughts.

Four shots behind and very much in the mix are Jordan Spieth—a three-time major champion and former No. 1—and Hideki Matsuyama, both winless since 2017. Joining

CARAPAZ ON VERGE OF GIRO VI

He holed par putts of eight feet and 20 feet on the front nine to keep within the leaders, took the lead with a wedge into 3 feet for birdie on the par-five 11th, saved par from a scary bunker shot behind the 12th green with water in front of him, and then holed a 35-foot birdie putt on No. 13 that breaks sharply over the last few feet.

Spieth, playing with Kaymer, raised his putter as he watched it break, appreciating the difficulty of it.

Scott had only one blemish on the ninth hole, and did enough right to pile up birdies on the par 5s and a few other holes that he’s in a spot to win again. A year ago, Scott left the Memorial and had to go through US Open qualifying. While he hasn’t won, he chased Brooks Koepka all the way to the finish

AN Beda University eyes its fourth straight win for the top spot in Group A when the Red Lions face the San Sebastian College Stags in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup on Monday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The Red Lions-Stags game is set at 5 p.m.

The Stags bowed to the Chiefs last Thursday, 75-69, despite their tormentors missing two vital players—Kent Michael Salado and Justin Araña, to fall to 3-1.

Idle La Salle and University of the Philippines were the first to reach four wins, but the Green Archers tote a 4-1 card while the Fighting Maroons are at 4-2.

Lyceum of the Philippines and Adamson University, both toting identical 4-1 won-lost records, vie for the Group B leadership when they take on separate foes.

Lyceum meets Jose Rizal University (1-4) at 3:15 p.m. while Adamson University takes on Far Eastern University (2-2) at 1:30 p.m.

College of Saint Benilde (1-3) and Emilio Aguinaldo College (1-5) open the collegiate hostilities at 11:45 a.m.

In the 11-Under division, De La Salle Zobel and Claret meet at 8 a.m. while Don Bosco and Colegio de San Benildo battle at 9a.m.

Undefeated Nazareth School of National University (3-0) takes on tough and exciting University of Perpetual Help at 10 a.m. in the Under-11 class.

Adamson University’s Papi Sarr, meanwhile, was named Gatorade Best Player of the Week. Joining him in the Best Five are Arellano University’s Archie Concepcion, University of the Philippines’ Jun Manzo, Lyceum’s Jason David and FEU’s LJ Gonzales.

Lyceum’s Gyle Montana was named Best Defensive Player in the juniors division to complete the Best Five along with La Salle Zobel’s Kyle Baclaan, University of Santo Tomas’s Bismarck Lina, San Beda’s Justine Sanchez and National University’s Gerry Abadiano.

In the 11-Under division, James Macale of Colegio de San Benildo was named Best Player of the Week, and joining him in the Best Five are Markaine Magsumbol of Marist, Dominic Tuazon of La Salle Greenhills, Carl Songco of San Beda and Rambert Lagar of Xavier School.

Rick Olivares

ECUADORIAN cyclist Richard Carapaz remains one minute and 54 seconds ahead of his closest pursuer. AP

ROCE D’AUNE-MONTE AVENA, Italy—Ecuadorian cyclist Richard Carapaz took a huge step toward winning the Giro d’Italia as he preserved his overall lead at the end of the penultimate stage, which was won by Pello Bilbao of Spain on Saturday.

Carapaz, who rides for Movistar, remained one minute and 54 seconds ahead of Vincenzo Nibali ahead of the final time trial in Verona on Sunday.

“We’ve tried to win the stage with Mikel Landa, as well as myself to retain the Maglia Rosa, but we’ve missed out by very little,” Carapaz said.

“However, we’re happy with how it went. I believe 1:54 over Nibali is enough although anything can happen in a final time trial.”

Landa leapfrogged Primoz Roglic into third, 2:53 behind Cara paz, after finishing second in a sprint with Bilbao after 194 kilometers (121 miles) from Feltre to Croce d’Aune-Monte Avena, which had five long, categorized climbs in the Dolomites.

It was Bilbao’s second Grand Tour victory after the Astana rider triumphed on Stage 7.

“I knew that Carapaz would try to give the win to Mikel Landa so I followed the best wheel,” Bilbao said. “My first win was special. This second win is even better because it’s a big mountain stage. When the GC riders caught us I thought it would be hard

Angels unscathed in 3 matches

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ETROGAZZ pounced on the continued absence of injured Myla Pablo and the sidelining of import Edina Selimovic and posted its third straight-set victory, a 25-22, 25-18, 25-19 romp over Motolite in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Flying V Center in San Juan City on Sunday.

Cuban Wilma Salas and American import Janisa Johnson sustained their top form coming off the Angels’ victories over the Creamline Cool Smashers and the BanKo-Perlas Spikers last week, combining for 38 hits and keeping the team unbeaten in the early going of the season-opening conference of the third season of the country’s premier league organized by Sports Vision.

But Coach Arnold Laniog downplayed his wards’ early surge, citing the breaks that they gained in trouncing their first three opponents.

“Against Creamline, Alyssa [Valdez] got injured, while Kia [Bright] didn’t start quite well for BanKo-Perlas and Motolite played without an

line at Bellerive in the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Championship last summer and feels comfortable where he is.

“I’m just going to play as good as I can tomorrow,” Scott said. “I like where it’s all at. I feel like the last few times I’ve been in with a chance, going back to the PGA Championship last year, I felt comfortable. So I’m not worried. I feel like this is the spot I’m meant to be.... I feel like my game is at a level that if I put it all together properly and control myself out there, I can win.”

Matsuyama won the Memorial in 2014, the start of his road to stardom. He finished strong on both nines to give himself a chance with a 64.

Spieth has put together his best threeweek stretch since the end of the 2017 season, and he was most pleased that he is keeping his tee shots in play and overcame some spotty iron play with a short game that appears to have returned full force. He finished with a 15-foot par putt on the 18th. AP MARTIN KAYMER goes bogey-free at Muirfield Village on Saturday. AP

import,” Laniog said. “But the challenge for us is how to sustain our form in our next games.”

Salas scored all her 25 points off attacks while punctuating her solid game with nine excellent receptions while Johnson added 13 hits with 12 receives and 10 digs to boot.

Jeanette Panaga added six points for PetroGazz, which pumped in 45 spikes.

Motolite drew 22 points from American reinforcement Channon Thompson with former University of the Philippines stalwards Isa Molde and Tots combining for 12 points.

Pablo sat out for the second straight game with a sore lower back while Selimovic, from Bosnia, failed to see action after suffering a minor knee injury in the fourth set of their loss to the PacificTown Army Lady Troopers last Saturday.

But with the way the Angels are playing as one cohesive unit, Pablo and Selimovic would need to be in top shape to stop the strong starting

Maka Japan

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AKATI Football Club (MFC) wrapped up its four-day intensive training camp in Japan as part of its preparations for two major international tournaments next month.

Mostly composed of 14-year-old standouts, MFC is building up for the Gothia Cup and Paris World Games from July 6 to 22, where it will bring five teams consisting of 80 players to Europe.

“MFC has been seeking to provide our kids with the highest quality of football in the country,” SeLu Lozano, chief operating officer of MFC, said.

The club over the weekend went to JFA Academy Fukushima, one of the many sub-branches of the Japan Football Association that intensively offer valuable coaching and training in an optimal environment to talented players.

“Japanese football displays great discipline with high technical and tactical skills. Exposing our

orts

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Monday, June 3, 2019

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RICK OLIVARES bleachersbrew@gmail.com

BLEACHERS’ BREW

Happiness and relief at Liverpool’s victory

GO DEBUTS AS PRO IN TOUR’S CEBU LEG

ICTORY

but they were tired, too.”

Giulio Ciccone was third, two seconds behind the front two.

Miguel Angel Lopez had hopes of competing for a stage win but he was tripped by a fan, who was running

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alongside encouraging him but collided with another spectator and fell onto the cyclist.

As Lopez got back up, he slapped the fan. Lopez was still visibly furious when he crossed the line 18th, 1:49 off the pace.

“I’m sorry for what happened, I was full of pure adrenaline. But there needs to be more respect for the cyclists,” Lopez said.

Another incident with a fan also cost Roglic.

The Slovenian was pushed by a spectator and didn’t attempt to push him away and so was penalized 10 seconds by the race jury. Roglic, who finished 50 seconds behind Carapaz, now trails by 3:16 overall. However, he is a time trial specialist and will hope to at least finish the three-week race on the podium. AP

LOYD GO finally marks his pro debut on the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT), upbeat but wary of his chances against a slew of veteran local and foreign campaigners in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Club Filipino de Cebu Invitational beginning on Wednesday at the Club Filipino de Cebu golf course in Danao City.

The former national champion actually dominated and topped the 72-hole PGT Qualifying School at Taal Splendido in 2018 but deferred moving to the pro ranks to help power Team Asia-Pacific past Team Europe in the Bonnalack Trophy in Doha, Qatar, thus forfeiting his PGT playing rights.

But the Cebuano star, who also gained an Asian Tour card last December and finished tied for 52nd in Bangabandhu Cup in Bangladesh last April, is seeing action this week as one of the six invitees, joining the

PetroGazz side, which has yet to drop a set in the tournament.

Creamline later picked up its second straight following an opening day loss to PetroGazz, repulsing BanKo-Perlas, 23-25, 25-12, 25-17, 25-23, to move to joint second with PacificTown Army.

Thai import Kuttika Kaewpin fired 27 points while Alyssa Valdez atoned for back-to-back foiled attacks with a key hit late in the fourth and Aleoscar Blanco secured the victory for the Cool Smashers with a power hit off a quick set to frustrate the Perlas Spikers’ bid for a second straight win.

Still from reaching peak form, the defending champions also pounced on their rivals’ sloppy service reception with Kaewpin coming away with nine aces to highlight her explosive offensive game.

BanKo-Perlas, which beat BaliPure in four on Saturday, dropped to 1-1.

ati FC wraps up n training camp players to one of the best in the world will help enable their abilities to improve,” Lozano said.

“This camp is a good way to benchmark the level of football Japan has that will help MFC gather possible ways of maximizing the full potential of our elite players and create opportunities for them. We hope to continue to partner with JFA and JFA Fukushima to make strides towards developing our youth’s future,” he added.

The camp included friendlies against Tomisumika FC, JFA Academy and Liberdade FC. Makati FC has hired the services of Masahiko Uema (JFA S license) and Takahiro Adachi (JFA A and JFA GK-A License), to lead the training camp.

The young players was accompanied by former national team standout Richard Leybe, a Fifa “B” licensed and AFC GK Level 1 licensed coach, who is also the assistant coach of Stallion Laguna FC and the technical director of Stallion And Makati FC Youth.

likes PGT Asia leg winner David Gleeson of Australia, Mateo Gomez and Sebastian Lopez of Colombia, Englishman George Twyman and Jack Sullivan, another talented shotmaker from Down Under.

They will be up against a stellar international cast, led by defending champion Jhonnel Ababa, multi-titled Tony Lascuña and Jay Bayron, former Masters titlist Jerson Balasabas, PGT Asia leg champions James Ryan Lam, Justin Quiban, Joenard Rates and Rene Menor, along with PGT winners Guido Van der Valk of the Netherlands, Zanieboy Gialon, Charles Hong and Mars Pucay along with recent National pro-am champion Rey Pagunsan.

A slew of foreign aces are also in the fold, all aiming for a top finish in the 72-hole championship at the tight, up-and-down layout, including Americans Lexus Keoninh, Charles Lee, Pete Vilairatana and Sean Talmadge, Aussies Fidel Concepcion and Calum

Junifer, Koreans Hyang Myung Chal, Kim Young Hyun, Park Jun Sung, and Japanese Ryui Hashimoto, Makoto Iwasaki, Yudai Suzuki, Kei Matsuoka, Kanata Nakagawa, Ryo Nishimura and Raiki Okamoto.

Others tipped to contend for top honors in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. are Emilio Parodi of Argentina, PGT Q-School topnotcher Marcos Pastor of Spain, Thai Pachara Sakulyong and Peter Stojanvoski of Macedonia, The event, backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Champion, Summit Mineral Water, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT and M.Y. Shokai Technology Inc. also serves as the kickoff leg of the four-stage Visayan swing with action shifting to Bacolod Country Club from June 12 to 15, then to Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club from June 19 to 23, then to Iloilo Golf and Country Club from June 26 to 29.

REED, STEFFEN REIGN SUPREME LLOYD GO gets the chance to slug it out with tour’s top guns.

By Ramon Rafael Bonilla

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UBIC Bay—Australian Tim Reed and Swiss Caroline Steffen made winning look like a breeze despite the sweltering heat to regain the crowns in the Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 Subic presented

by Big Boss on Sunday morning.

Reed, a former three-time world champion, unleashed a strong finish kick to clock four hours, four minutes and 33 seconds to beat fellow Aussie Tim Van Berkel and Seychelles’s Nicholas Baldwin in the 1.9-km swim/90-km bike/21-km run race.

Van Berkel (04:08:36) and Baldwin (04:09:06) tried to challenge Reed in the swim and bike legs, but faded in the run section to settle for second and third place, respectively.

“I’ve been a winner here before so it’s a pleasure to win again,” said Reed, 34, who topped the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Subic title in 2015. “I love coming back here. It’s a great feeling but more important, it’s like my form is coming back after a rough path in the past couple of months. It’s just good to be racing well again.”

The troika actually headed to the closing run stage in a tight race but Reed poured it all out in the first 10 kilometers to pull away from his rivals on his way to fashioning out the fourminute victory, his fifth Ironman 70.3 title here, counting the three in Cebu.

The victory was worth $3,000 for Reed, who snapped a string of poor finishes in endurance races, including a fourth place effort in the Davao Ironman 70.3 two months ago.

Steffen, the winner in 2016, fashioned another masterful performance to also bank $3,000 in the event organized by Sunrise Event Inc. The Swiss, the 2017 Subic and Davao Ironman 70.3 champion, crossed in 04:29:14 to beat Dimity Lee Duke (04:42:58) of Australia and Laura Wood (04:46:22) of New Zealand.

Alex Polizzi, also from Australia, actually came out ahead of the compact field after the opening swim leg, clocking 23:21 minutes with Sam Betten in second in 23:29, and Reed and Van Berkel turning in identical clockings of 24:34 with Baldwin struggling in 26:30.

But Reed and Van Berkel made their move in the bike course with the former clocking 2:13:45 and the latter just behind in 2:13:46.

Baldwin also fought back with 2:14:06 effort but Polizzi timed 2:14:53, Betten fell behind in 2:18:24.

Reed then unleashed a strong finishing kick, clocking 1:23:17 with Van Berkel groping in 1:27:17 and Baldwin rallying with a 1:25:36 effort. Polizzi closed out with a 1:31:15 for fourth in 4:12:35 while Betten lost steam and clocked 1:45:07 for fifth in 4:30:24 with McKay Connor ending up sixth in 4:53:58.

Filipino August Benedicto (04:44:04) won the Asian Elite crown in 04:44:04 worth P50,000 with Alexandra Ganzon taking the women’s plum in 5:18:14.

TIM REED and Caroline Steffen regain their fierce form to rule the Ironman 70.3 in Subic on Sunday. ROY DOMINGO

LIVERPOOL Football Club annexed its sixth UEFA Champions League title with a 2-0 victory over fellow English club, Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday morning (in Manila).

And it caps a thrilling and magnificent season for Liverpool that came within two points of winning the Premier League, and a double.

I have to admit that when referee Damir Skomina of Slovenia blew the final whistle, there were equal parts happiness and relief.

Happiness because I thought that last year when they lost to Real Madrid in the finals, Liverpool lost their way when Mohammad Salah went out with an injury. I felt that they could play Madrid, a belief I still cling on to.

Happiness because this is the club’s first major trophy in a long time. It validates what manager Jurgen Klopp has been doing since he came on board three-and-a-half seasons ago.

Relief because they lost the Premier League when they fell to Manchester City in the second round of the regular season. That was the title right there. Yes, they accrued 97 points from 37 wins, seven draws and one loss. But no one will remember that years from now except they came in second.

And there were the pre-finals talk where the question was asked, “if you finish second in the domestic league and the Champions League, does that constitute a failure or a success?”

Am not sure. What I do know is no one remembers second placers. Furthermore, in the years prior to Klopp’s arrival, when the Reds finished second in the league, they fell down the table the next campaign.

By the same token, no one will remember that Man City suffered four defeats to Liverpool’s lone loss. At the end of the day, it is Man City that won.

Listening to the post-match press conference, a journalist asked Tottenham Manager Mauricio Pocchetino to comment about the disparity in shots on target, 8-3, in favor of Tottenham. I am glad that the Argentinean coach downplayed that.

More shots on goal doesn’t mean much when you can’t finish. Dominance in possession and completed passes doesn’t mean a thing when you can’t score.

Football is cruel that way.

You can have a great game, but punished by one mistake.

I’ll say this though...in years past, this was the sort of game that Liverpool would lose; lead aside.

It is playing even the tough games when they are running on fumes after three weeks from their last competitive match (the end of the Premier League).

The belief, the stronger players, the culture and attitude—a lot of this has Klopp’s fingerprints on it (along with the front office and top management that is able to provide the support and muscle to build the team).

When it was announced that Klopp was taking over from Brendan Rodgers in the middle of the 2015-2016 season there was a lot of excitement from all quarters; myself included. In fact, I went to England a few weeks later to watch Klopp manage a game against Arsenal where they drew 3-3 at Anfield with a late equalizer coming from Joe Allen with the seconds ticking away and the snow falling.

Anfield erupted during Allen’s goal. But as incredible as that fightback was, the club is better now; much better. They can compete with the best of Europe.

With the Champions League trophy heading back to Liverpool, in a few months’ time, the club can now turn their attention to winning the domestic league. And becoming consistent.

But that’s a few months away. Now, it is celebrating the massive triumph and accomplishment that has placed them behind Real Madrid and AC Milan in terms of European Cup trophies.

So I am celebrating for my favorite football club (have been a fan since 1979) with a mixture of happiness and relief.

Am happy for my club, but am also relieved because I can—at least for the next few months—not worry about late nights and early mornings of watching football.

In the meantime, I’ll be walking around with hope in my heart, and a huge smile on my face.

RUIZ STUNS JOSHUA! Sports

A MASSIVE underdog just like Buster Douglas, Andy Ruiz Jr. knocks down British champion Anthony Joshua four times, and the final two in the seventh round prove the decisive blows. AP

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| Monday, June 3, 2019 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

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By Dan Gelston The Associated Press

EW YORK—Andy Ruiz Jr. had six weeks to prepare for the fight of his life.

He’ll have a lifetime to celebrate one of boxing’s biggest heavyweight stunners.

A massive underdog just like Buster Douglas, Ruiz knocked down British champion Anthony Joshua four times, and the final two in the seventh round proved the decisive blows.

Ruiz, the first heavyweight of Mexican descent to win a heavyweight title, capped one of boxing’s epic upsets to

win Joshua’s shares of the heavyweight championship on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.

“I just feel so good, man,” Ruiz said. “This is what I’ve bee n dreaming about, this is what I’ve been working hard for. I can’t believe I just made my dreams come true.”

Ruiz etched his name in heavyweight lore by TKO at 1:27 in the seventh round to become the surprise champ in a bout that had shades of Douglas’s upset over Mike Tyson for the heavyweight title in 1990. Ruiz barely was on anyone’s heavyweight radar when he was summoned as a replacement to fight the undefeated Joshua in front of a packed Garden.

Considered a joke by fans, all Ruiz did was dominate

the British champion and used a TKO to turn his life and the heavyweight division upside down. Ruiz racked up 32 wins without beating many boxers of note and walked into the ring with a waistline that will need a supersized championship belt.

Ruiz, a flabby fighter out of Southern California, came up short in his only other shot at a world title, having lost on points to then-World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion Joseph Parker in December 2016.

Ruiz even warned Joshua before the fight: “Don’t underestimate this little fat boy.”

The 270-pound heavyset heavyweight knocked down Joshua twice in the third round and did it two more times

in the seventh before referee Mike Griffin ended the fight.

Joshua was woozy and seemed to stumble toward the wrong corner after the final blow.

Ruiz stepped in after fighting on April 20, when he stopped Alexander Dimitrenko. Jarrell Miller’s failed drug tests sent the challenger to the sideline and paved the way for Ruiz’s unexpected title shot. Ruiz (33-1, 21 KO’s) seized the opportunity and made boxing history to win the World Boxing Association/International Boxing Federation/WBO/ International Boxing Organization championships. He raised his arms in celebration and jumped around the ring as his corner quickly mobbed him and a wild celebration kicked off.

“I’ve got that Mexican blood in me,” he said. “Talking about the Mexican style? I just proved it.”

The true shock might have been that the Garden was packed on a Saturday night for a fight few expected to be competitive. Yes, Ruiz is up there with Douglas and Hasim Rahman for who-can-believe-it wins, but casual sports fans don’t even know the names of most boxing champions—consider, instead of pay-per-view parties, this card was streamed by DAZN. When ring announcer Michael Buffer announced the name of the judges “should this fight go the distance,” fans laughed at the ridiculous possibility as Ruiz was an ultimate underdog.

Joshua (22-1, 22 KOs) and Ruiz were both knocked down in an electrifying third round that had the sellout crowd of 20,201 howling with each heavy hit. Joshua knocked down Ruiz early in the round and the promise of an early finish seemed horizon.

Ruiz, his trunks a bit too low for his portly frame, came right back and used an overhand right that rocked the champ and sent him to the canvas. Joshua recovered only to get pummeled in the corner. Ruiz knocked him down again in the final ticks of the round as fans in a disbelieving Garden crowd screamed “Oh my God!” Again, Joshua beat the count, but the bell saved the Brit from a going a second longer in his weakened state. Had it not been a championship fight, perhaps Griffin would have stopped the bout.

Alas, for Joshua, it went on.

Ruiz, whose father, a native of Mexico, got him into the gym when he was 6 and had his son in bouts a year later, shook up the boxing world. Joshua was the fan favorite and had all the hype for his first fight in the United States.

“If it wasn’t for my dad, I wouldn’t be here,” Ruiz said.

National Basketball Association star Kyrie Irving and rapper Meek Mill were among the celebrities in the house expecting Joshua to roll to a win and set up more ambitious, lucrative bouts against the likes of Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and a few other potential opponents.

“Sorry I let my fans down, sorry I let my supporters down,” Joshua said.

Ruiz made some new ones.

“It is never over until it’s over with the Mexicans. God bless them. Congrats Andy Ruiz,” former UFC champion Conor McGregor tweeted.

Wilder, owner of the WBC crown, decided to give Luis Ortiz a rematch. Ortiz battered Wilder for parts of their fight in early 2018 before running out of gas and getting knocked out.

Wilder tried to steal the headlines this week when he announced his rematch with Fury was set for 2020.

Wilder and Fury fought to a split draw in December in Los Angeles, with Wilder retaining his WBC heavyweight title after knocking down his British challenger twice.

Joshua instead heads toward a likely rematch against Ruiz later this year.

Fans booed when Ruiz was shown on the big screen holding a personalized Knicks jersey. He walked out to his press conference wearing the jersey—his coronation complete, a table full of championship belts all for him.

“My life is going to change,” he said. “I don’t have to show them no more.”

Woman accuses Neymar of rape, but Brazilian star says it’s a setup

A

BRAZILIAN police document says an unidentified woman has accused soccer star Neymar of raping her in Paris last month.

After the revelation, the player used Instagram to publish a seven-minute video that includes WhatsApp messages he says he exchanged with the accuser in a friendly way days later.

Neymar calls the incident “a setup” and insists it is an attempt of extortion against him.

The document obtained by The Associated Press on Saturday says the incident took place May 15 at 8:20 p.m. in a hotel. The woman went to police on Friday in São Paulo.

São Paulo state’s Public Security Secretariat, which oversees police, confirmed in a statement that the complaint was registered, but did not offer details.

Once more involved in an incident off the pitch, Neymar said he fell in a trap and will learn from the incident.

“There was a relationship between a man and a woman between four walls. On the next day nothing happened,” the striker said.

“I hope investigators read the messages and see what happened.”

The first messages in Neymar’s video are dated March 11. The video includes multiple erotic photos and messages he said he exchanged with the accuser. The last date that appears on the video is of May 16, with no reference to the alleged crime.

Earlier his father and agent, Neymar da Silva Santos, said his son had consensual sexual relations with the accuser and was blackmailed by her lawyer after they broke up.

“This is a tough moment. If we can’t show the truth quickly it will be a snowball. If we have to show Neymar’s WhatsApp messages and the conversations with this lady, we will,” Santos told TV Band.

Neymar’s father said he has evidence that his son was blackmailed, including pictures and witnesses, but did not show either in the interview. He also said his son is already preparing his defense for a legal case if needed.

The Paris police and the city’s prosecutors’ office said through spokesmen that they were unaware of any complaint.

The woman says she and the Brazil star met in France after exchanging Instagram messages.

She told police a representative of the Paris Saint-Germain player named Gallo allegedly bought her tickets to Paris and booked her a hotel room. She said Neymar arrived apparently drunk at the hotel.

The woman described to police that they “touched each other, but in a given moment Neymar became aggressive and, with violence, had sexual intercourse against the victim’s will.”

The text also says the woman left Paris two days later and said she did not file her complaint in Paris because she was shaken.

The police document says the woman will go through medical exams as part of an investigation.

Neymar is in Brazil preparing for the Copa America starting next week. He arrived at the Granja Comary training ground outside Rio de Janeiro 10 days after the alleged incident.

Brazil players had a day off Saturday.

Neymar left the training ground with other teammates in his helicopter earlier in the day.

On Sunday, an event named after the player is expected to take place in Rio, but his presence is not assured.

The 27-year-old Brazilian has had problems on and off the pitch. One week before the accusation of rape became known, he lost Brazil’s national team’s captaincy for the Copa America to veteran Dani Alves. Coach Tite did not lay out the

reasons for the move, but he was under pressure to punish Neymar for his disciplinary problems at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

After PSG lost the French Cup final to tiny Rennes on April 27, Neymar had altercation with a fan and publicly criticized teammates he didn’t name for not listening to him enough.

That was one of his first matches since January, when he once more picked up a fifth metatarsal injury in his right foot.

That was the same problem that affected his performances in the last World Cup, a tournament he prefers to forget because of an image disaster caused by his constant diving.

Brazil’s fitness coaches say he will be in better shape once the South American tournament begins.

This week Neymar skipped two Brazil training sessions in Copa America preparations because of pains in his left knee. Brazil’s soccer confederation said on Friday he was fully recovered.

Fan love for the player has also been stained because of politics after his showing of support to far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has made a series of racist, misogynistic and anti-gay statements.

As Neymar prepared for his return after the injury, Brazilian media reported his father had met Bolsonaro and Economy Minister Paulo Guedes to discuss the player’s tax problems, which didn’t help him with fans that will pressure him more than ever to win a Copa America on home soil later this month. AP NEYMAR calls the incident “a setup” and insists it is an attempt of extortion against him. AP

D

Merciful God

EAR God, giver of courage and grace, You strengthen us in love. In faith and hope we pray: Faithful God, hear our prayer. Heal those who suffer from long standing, injuries, grudges or grievances and resentments. Strengthen those who harbor doubt, worry or anxiety and unbelief. Rescue those who experience oppression, injustice or captivity. May the peace of Christ reign in our hearts, by the light of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

GIVE US THIS DAY SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

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

CLOCKWISE: Bea Patricia “Patch” Magtanong (Bataan), Hannah Arnold (Masbate), Gazini Ganados (Talisay, Cebu), Maria Andrea Verdadero Abesamis (Pasig), Vickie Marie Rushton (Negros Occidental) and April May Short (Zamboanga)

Life

AND THEN SOME: SHINING, SHIMMERING AND PINK D4

BusinessMirror

Monday, June 3, 2019

D1

Bb Pilipinas 2019 Tough Ten

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HIS is the year when there is no runaway front runner. For the Miss Universe Philippines title, that is.

It’s a batch of accomplished beauties that anyone on this list is deserving of that top plum and all the other titles—Binibining Pilipinas International, Supranational, Globe, Intercontinental and Grand International.

COMEBACK QUEENS ON their second attempts at winning a crown after their runner-up finishes, Mary Jean Lastimosa (2nd Runner-up 2011) stopped at Top 12 in 2012, Pia Wurtzbach (1st Runner-up 2013) stopped at Top 15 in 2014, and Jehza Mae Huelar (2nd Runner-up 2016) stopped at Top 15 in 2017. They clinched their crowns only after their third try.

Last year’s 1st runner-up, Vickie Marie Rushton of Negros Occidental, and 2nd runner-up, Samantha Mae Bernardo of Palawan, will try to break this recent

sophomore curse. Vickie is this years’ Miss Ever Bilena while Samantha Mae is Miss Blackwater and a finalist for Miss Talent. Both are finalists for Best in National Costumes. These awards, however, have no bearing on their final scores.

Maria Andrea “Aya” Verdadero Abesamis of Pasig placed at the Top 15 last year. At 27, this will be her last year of eligibility to win a crown.

Aya is a “legacy,” her mother being the legendary Maria Desiree Verdadero, Miss Universe 1984 3rd Runner-Up. Desiree, incidentally, also won the top title on her second attempt, after placing 1st runnerup in 1982 to Maria Isabel Lopez.

BATTLE OF QUEENS THIS batch attracted candidates who have won local and international titles. Vickie was Mutya ng Pilipinas-International 2011, Samantha Ashley Lo was Binibining Cebu Tourism 2017, April May Short was Miss Zamboanga 2018 and Leren Mae Bautista of Laguna was Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International 2015.

Gazini Ganados of Talisay, Cebu, was Top 13 at Miss World Philippines 2014; Samantha Mae was Top 13 in 2013. Emma Mary Tiglao has done the rounds of the pageant circuit. The Pampanga stunner was Mutya ng Pilipinas 2012 1st Runner-up, Top 15 at Binibining Pilipinas 2014 and Miss Word Philippines 4th Princess in 2015.

QUEENLY THIS year’s fresh faces are Bea Patricia “Patch”

Magtanong of Bataan and Hannah Arnold of Masbate.

Perhaps the only pageant newbie who won handily was Shamcey Supsup in 2011, who went on to place 3rd runner-up at Miss Universe.

Patch is the first lawyer to vie for a crown, as eventual lawyers Zorayda Ruth Andam (Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2001) and Anna Theresa Licaros (Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2007) were still law students when they competed. All four abovementioned are beauty and brains products of the University of the Philippines.

Hannah, on the other hand, has the lethal winning mix of being an articulate half-Australian like Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and the sparkling personality of Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach.

STEALTH QUEENS THEY never figured in my forecasts but proved to be worthy representatives of the Philippines: Miss Supranational 2016 Top 25 Joanna Louise Eden, Miss Grand International 2017 2nd Runner-up Elizabeth Clenci and Miss International 2018 1st Runner-up Maria Ahtisa Manalo.

They may fly under my radar but they might pull a surprise on pageant night: Jessica Marasigan of Malabon, Malka Shaver of Zamboanga Sibugay, Martina Turner of Muntinlupa, Louisielle Denise Omorog of Catanduanes, Ilene Astrid de Vera of Mandaue City, Julia Saubier of Albay, Resham Saeed of Maguindanao, Pauline Anne Cordero Barker of Isabela, Larah Grace Lacap of Quezon City and Kimberle Mae Penchon of La Union.

Forever 21’s new collection, new ambassadors AMERICAN retail brand Forever 21 (www.facebook.com/Forever21PH) continues to bring the hottest trends to Manila, as it recently launched its latest collection in a runway show at its SM Makati branch. During the event, the brand’s new ambassadors were also introduced: Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 6 contestant Jach Manere, socialmedia darling Janica Nam Floresca and football champ Patrik Franksson.

Together with beauty partner Sephora.ph, the launch not only featured this season’s most stylish looks, but also the perfect makeup looks for the season to make you this summer’s best-dressed.

Forever 21’s latest collection

includes chic resort wear perfect for sundown soirees. Get your hands on bright, flowy maxis, palazzo pants and sarong skirts. Have fun with saturated colors and tropical prints that make for a picture-perfect look, anytime and anywhere.

Also showcased were fab workwear to give your look a stylish upgrade with neutral earth-tone pieces that are easy to put together. Go for denim, beige, white, olive, rust and a pop of variegated stripes for a stylish twist.

Meanwhile, guys can go for a casual-cool summer street outfit through relaxed California style in tropical cutoff shorts, and layer relaxed polos over graphic tees.

LEGENDARY QUEENS COME Coronation Night on June 9 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, I would love to witness some anniversaries to be observed.

It’s been 50 years since Gloria Diaz won Miss Universe, Margaret Rose Montinola was Top 15 at Miss International 1969 and when Nelia Sancho, who was 1st runner-up. Nelia became Queen of the Pacific 1971. She later on became a brave advocate for social issues. Nineteen seventy-nine was the year of Binibining Pilipinas Universe Criselda “Dang” Cecilio, Miss International Melanie Marquez, Miss Maja International 1979 Top 10 Princess Ava Quibranza and Miss Young Pilipinas 1979 Maria Teresa Carlson.

On its 25th anniversary, Sara Jane Paez reigned as Binibining Pilipinas Universe in 1989 while Lilia Eloisa Andanar was Binibining Pilipinas International, and Jeanne Therese Hilario was 2nd runner-up at Miss Maja International.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Charlene Mae Gonzales as Binibining Pilipinas Universe, who was Top 6 at Miss Universe 1994 on home soil; Miss World 1994 Top 10 Caroline Subijano; Miss International 1994 Top 15 Alma Concepcion and 1st runner-up Abbygale Arenas, who went on to be Miss Photogenic at Miss Universe 1997.

Miriam Quiambao was an almost Miss Universe in 1999 while Pamela Bianca Manalo’s reign in 2009 was the last year of “The Dark Ages” of the Philippines at Miss Universe. The next year, 2010, our consecutive placements at Miss Universe started with Maria Venus Raj. n

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Monday, June 3, 2019

Style

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

z

Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Rafael Nadal, 33; Anderson Cooper, 52; James Purefoy, 55; Deniece Williams, 69.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Seize the moment, look for new prospects and don’t be afraid to do things by yourself. Stretch your mind, and make alterations that will coincide with what you are trying to accomplish.

Set goals, and rethink experiences, situations and relationships. Without making judgments, do what’s right and best for you. Life choices are yours to make.

Your lucky numbers are 4, 12, 23, 27, 36, 38, 47.

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Plan to do something you enjoy, but take care of your responsibilities first. How you handle others will determine your attitude. Kindness, not complaints and criticism, will always get you further ahead. Don’t make promises you can’t deliver. HHHH

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Stop thinking about what you want, and go after your goals wholeheartedly. Set up talks or confront situations that need to be addressed in order to make a move. Make a decision, and put your plans in motion.

HHH

c

Fusing invincible strength and timeless design

By Trisha Jean V. De Leon

A

NALOG wristwatches have a distinct charm that’s irresistible. Many people, despite the emergence of modern digital timepieces, still prefer the traditional clock face. But apart from the aesthetic aspect, durability and wearability also top their priority list.

For the toughest, strongest and bravest, Luminox remains one of the top choices among heavy-duty watches since they are designed to withstand the test of time. Plus, this line of wristwatches has unique features that set it apart from the others.

With their advanced light technology, Luminox watches provide all-day luminosity for up to 25 years.

What makes them a reliable tool?

Unlike most watches with luminescent paint that fades quickly or battery-operated push-to-light system, Luminox offers a proprietary technology which was once exclusive for the military.

It also contains borosilicate glass capsules, which are tiny glass lights that help make the watches readable at glance.

Creating Luminox watches involves a meticulous hand-applied process to install the light technology system. It may be more complicated, costly, and timeconsuming to make, but the extraordinary features beat extra measures.

If you’re one of those people who don’t want to compromise comfort when wearing a heavy-duty wristwatch, Luminox is just right for you. Thanks to its Carbonox, an innovative compound that’s six times lighter than steel, you won’t have to worry about bulky watches that feel hefty. Plus, it’s nonmetallic, anti-allergenic and antimagnetic.

When you think of Luminox, the words Navy SEAL would probably pop up in your mind. This line is probably the most popular timepiece that the brand has introduced to the world.

Originally, Nick North, the assistant RDT&E officer of the Navy SEALS, and Barry Cohen, Luminox founder and CEO, worked together to

create this variant.

After the success of the Luminox Navy SEAL watch, other elite units were intrigued by this brand and asked Cohen to incorporate their needs to the model’s design. The brand has since become standard equipment for law-enforcement units, military groups, divers and sports enthusiasts.

In the Philippines, Luminox is slowly gaining traction in the market. In fact, it has teamed up with the Lucerne Group as a new retail partner to bring the brand closer to the Filipinos.

Earlier this year, Luminox and Lucerne became the official timing partner of the 2019 Spartan Races in the country, where only the toughest can survive the

obstacles. Participants are faced with many physical activities, such as running, climbing, crawling and lifting, which make Luminox watches an essential gear for every Spartan.

Moreover, this timepiece brand also hosted the “Siege and Strike” media event in historical Corregidor Island, a maritime citadel that is now a symbol of exceptional grit and fortitude. Contenders from the professional, celebrity and media divisions were put into a test while wearing their very own Luminox watch. Even when submerged in mud and water, the Luminox timepieces remained unfazed, staying true to their claim to be a “durable, dependable adventure gear.” n

Prada latest luxury fashion house to go fur-free MILAN—The Prada Group has become the latest luxury fashion house to go fur-free.

Prada said on Wednesday that it will no longer include animal fur in its designs and new products starting from the spring-summer 2020 women’s collection, which will be previewed in September.

Prada joins Versace, Gucci and Burberry in giving up fur in quick succession since the beginning of 2017. The move was in collaboration with the Fur Free Alliance of animal protection groups in more than 40 countries.

Miuccia Prada said that “focusing on innovative materials will allow the company to explore new boundaries of creative design, while meeting the demand for ethical products.”

The Prada Group, comprised of Prada, Miu Miu, Church’s and Car Shoes brands, will continue to sell items with fur until inventory is exhausted. AP

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Refuse to let your emotions take over or lead you into something that isn’t right or good for you. Concentrate on your pursuits, and look for the best way to get things done without interference. HHH

d

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Stay focused on what you need to get things done. Progress will be what impresses onlookers. Don’t be fooled by someone trying to distract or mislead you. Go directly to the source if something doesn’t appear to be right. HHH

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Touch base with people you have collaborated with. Running your ideas by someone who understands the way you think and who may want to get involved in your plans will help you figure out how to move forward. HH

f

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Instead of trying to change someone else, concentrate on making personal adjustments that will better prepare you for what’s to come. Learning something new, updating your image or taking the time to listen to what others have to offer is encouraged. HH

g

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Forge ahead using your intelligence, intuition and what you know. Refuse to let someone stand in your way or waste your time on things that will not benefit you.

HHHHH

h

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Look outside your immediate surroundings for answers.

A day trip or visiting a place that will spark your imagination will pay off. A partnership will change the way you do things and help you excel. HHH

i

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Listen to your heart as well as your intuition when dealing with others. What someone says and what actually happens will lead to confusion if you are too accommodating or gullible. When in doubt, ask questions. Ulterior motives are apparent. HHH

j

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Make adjustments to your surroundings that will give you a place to unwind. Comfort, convenience and being with people you find easy to share your space with will help motivate you mentally and physically. Make health a priority. HHH

k

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Expand your interests, friendships and knowledge. Listen to what’s being said, and consider how best to use the information you gather. Make plans to do something enjoyable with someone who stimulates your mind and encourages you to do your own thing.

HHHHH

l

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Physical fitness coupled with a healthy diet and lifestyle will make a difference to the way you feel. Get together with people who are good influences and will support your effort to be the best you can be. HHH

A MODEL shows off a furred helmet, during the Prada Fall/Winter 2006/2007 men’s fashion collection. The Prada Group has announced that it will no longer include animal fur in its designs and new products. AP

BIRTHDAY BABY: You are sensitive, imaginative and hardworking.

You are outgoing and insightful.

‘p is for puns’ BY MARK MCCLAIN The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Sight from Buffalo 5 Worked on a set 10 Targets of some blockers 13 End notes?

14 Radiance 15 Brooklyn ballers 17 Finished 18 Dinner bell sequence?

20 Sticklers for order 22 Oddly frightening 23 Main character, usually 24 Pie, e.g.

26 Fishing magazine evaluations?

30 Pi, e.g.

31 Pollen seeker 32 Trounce 36 Easily bruised things 37 Nightstand fixtures 39 “Queen of Country” McEntire 40 Man-to-man alternative 41 Clairvoyant’s “gift,” briefly 42 Ice-cream shop supply 43 Satisfaction in a job well done?

6 Major Belgian city 4 50 Second word in many fairy tales 51 Pick up, in a way 52 Politicians’ media events, informally 56 Best time to cuddle certain lap dogs?

59 Tulsa resident, e.g.

60 Lofty poems 61 Hogwarts potions expert 62 The Bruins of the Pac-12 63 ___ back and relax 64 Provide hors d’oeuvres, say 65 Turnpike fee DOWN 1 John Nash’s Nobel category, briefly 2 Wander about 3 Inventor’s starting point 4 Famous picture from Apollo 8 5 Have high hopes 6 Sulu crewmate 7 Twinings offerings 8 Slender swimmer 9 CSI material 10 South American chain

1 Tractor maker 1 12 Step in a flight 16 Editor’s reversal 19 Famous loch 21 Pianist Peter 24 “Take a ___ breath!”

25 Lambs’ mothers 26 Top exec 27 Othello antagonist 28 School near Windsor 29 Early desktop 32 Overpowers with sound 33 City near Lake Tahoe 34 Ride-sharing giant 35 Enjoy the sun 37 Impolite gaze 38 “Now!” 42 Money execs 43 Confident solvers’ implements 44 Where Andorra is 45 Warm-up band 46 TBonz dog treat brand 47 Requirements 48 Sulu portrayer

9 Seize forcefully 4 52 Junior’s exam: Abbr.

53 Kitchen tool brand 54 Little stream 55 Aquatic barker 57 Corner key 58 SNL alum Gasteyer

Solution to Friday’s puzzle:

Show BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Monday, June 3, 2019

Mr. & Mrs. B NONIE and Shamaine Buencamino

TAYLOR SWIFT ASKS TENNESSEE SENATOR TO SUPPORT EQUALITY ACT NASHVILLE, Tennessee—Taylor Swift says she’s kicking off Pride Month by asking Tennessee’s Republican US Sen. Lamar Alexander to protect LGBTQ rights and support the Equality Act. The pop star, who lives in Tennessee, posted a letter on social media early Saturday that she supported the House’s recent passage of the Equality Act, which would extend civil-rights protections to LGBT people by prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The protections would extend to employment, housing, loan applications, education, public accommodations and other areas.

The Democratic-controlled House in mid-May passed the legislation. Every Democrat voted in favor, along with eight Republicans. However, in the GOP-controlled Senate, the bill’s chances appear slim.

Swift added that she “personally rejects” the notion that President Donald J. Trump’s administration supports equal treatment of all people. AP

B

OTH acclaimed and highly respected actors in the Philippine film, theater and television circuits for many decades now, husband and wife Nonie and Shamaine Buencamino continue to up the ante of acting in every new project that comes their way.

Take, for instance, the new movie Sunshine Family, a collaboration between Film Line of Korea and Spring Films of the Philippines, directed by Kim Tai-Sik. The Buencaminos, who were handpicked by the producers from both countries to play the lead characters, flew to Korea where the entire movie was shot.

Sunshine Family is a remake of a Japanese movie, titled Hit and Run Family, released during the early 1990s. Sticking very close to the original story, the Buencaminos play the heads of a dysfunctional family stuck in a bewildering situation of lies and cover-ups brought about by an accident.

It is interesting to note that despite years of being A-list actors, this is the very first project that has Nonie and Shamaine together as lead actors.

“This movie is very special,” beamed Nonie, adding, “Shamaine and I both enjoyed the experience working on a film as the lead characters, and we flew overseas to shoot the entire movie. We had locations in Seoul and the scenic Yangpyeong county. We really had an amazing and unforgettable time, both as a couple and as actors.”

Said Shamaine, “It is rare that Nonie and I get to be cast in one project, and it is even more rare that we share stellar billing in a film! We are all excited about this movie that will have its world premiere in Manila

‘Dobol B sa News TV’ goes daily BEGINNING today, June 3, expect a bigger and better Dobol B sa News TV as it now airs daily from 6 am to 12 noon, with new programs and an exciting lineup anchored by the country’s most trusted radio broadcasters.

Jump-starting weekday mornings is veteran anchorman Melo del Prado with the freshest news of the day on Melo Del Prado sa Super Radyo at 6 am. GMA News top anchor Mike Enriquez and Joel Reyes Zobel deliver the biggest news stories and latest news updates on Super Balita sa Umaga Nationwide at 7 am.

Mike later on provides the public with more information about the issues at hand through interviews with key personalities on Saksi sa Dobol B at 8 am, while Joel returns at 9 to 9:30 am with Anong Say N’yo?

At 9:30 am, another top GMA News anchor, Arnold Clavio, together with Ali Sotto tickle the viewers and listeners’ minds through their juicy blind items in Sino?. Later on at 10 am, the tandem further dissects the issues that made it to the news that day on Dobol A Sa Dobol B. For the final slot at 11 am, Kay Susan Tayo! Sa Radyo, anchored by Susan Enriquez, returns to the small screen.

On Saturdays, Melo del Prado hosts Super Radyo Nationwide at 6 am, followed by Super Balita sa Umaga with Sam Nielsen and Rowena Salvacion at 7 am. In the next hour, Rowena also hosts Isyu Atbp., while I M Ready sa Dobol B, hosted by resident meteorologist Nathaniel “Mang Tani” Cruz, comes next at 9 am.

DOBOL B Sa News TV anchors (from left) Mike Enriquez, Arnold Clavio, Ali Sotto and Joel Reyes Zobel

Meanwhile, one of the newest additions to DZBB is the well-loved health program hosted by Connie Sison, Pinoy M.D. sa Dobol B, which airs at 10 am. It is followed by DZBB Super Serbisyo: Buhay, Trabaho at Negosyo at 11 am with Norilyn Temblor, Tootie and Lala Roque. More exciting programs await viewers and listeners on Sundays.

GMA News TV will now be seen on free TV via Channel 27 beginning June 4, while viewers abroad can also catch Dobol B Sa News TV on GMA News TV International.

SPACEY LAWYER SAYS ACCUSER DELETED ‘EXCULPATORY’ MESSAGES BOSTON—The man who accused Kevin Spacey of groping him at a bar in 2016 deleted text messages that would support Spacey’s claims of innocence, the actor’s lawyer said in court documents filed on Friday.

Defense Attorney Alan Jackson is urging the court to order prosecutors to hand over a “complete and unaltered” forensic copy of the accuser’s cell phone. He is also accusing prosecutors of trying to conceal that they had been in possession of the man’s cell phone since November 2017.

“Newly produced evidence confirms” that the accuser “deleted exculpatory text messages and provided falsified screenshots of his conversation from the night in question to law enforcement,” Jackson wrote. The accuser “has gone to great lengths to remove text messages he believes did not fit his narrative. The prosecution is aware of this and hid that information from the defense,” Jackson wrote.

An attorney for Spacey’s accuser declined to comment.

Spacey pleaded not guilty in January to a charge of indecent assault and battery. His lawyers have called the accusation “patently false.”

It’s the only criminal case that has been brought against the 59-year-old Oscar winner since his career fell apart amid a flurry of sexual misconduct allegations in 2017.

The case first came to light that year when former Boston TV anchor Heather Unruh said Spacey got her son drunk and sexually assaulted him at Nantucket island’s Club Car restaurant and bar, where the teen worked as a busboy.

Spacey’s attorney says it appears the accuser deleted certain messages between him and his then-girlfriend from

his phone before sending screenshots of conversations to an officer investigating the case back in November 2017.

Messages from a screenshot of a group text between the accuser and several of his friends that was sent to the officer have not been turned over to the defense, Jackson says.

Spacey’s lawyer is also challenging the impartiality of the district attorney’s office after a top prosecutor in the office disclosed that his sister is friends with Unruh. Jackson is asking for all communications made about the case by First Assistant District Attorney Michael Trudeau, who said his sister shared a ski house with Unruh for years.

“The prosecution’s bias and apparent advocacy for the complaining witness, rather than the evenhanded pursuit of justice, is perhaps best evidenced by the Commonwealth’s decision to withhold” the accuser’s cell-phone information, Jackson wrote.

Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe told The Boston Globe that he hadn’t read the filings and couldn’t comment on Jackson’s allegations.

“If the defendant wasn’t who he is, no one would care about this case,” O’Keefe told the newspaper.

A spokesman for the prosecutors’ office said it asked Spacey’s lawyers to agree to a protective order because of privacy concerns before turning over data downloaded from the accuser’s cell phone, but the defense has not yet done so.

Another pretrial hearing in Spacey’s case is scheduled for Monday. The judge has ordered the Club Car by Monday to turn over any surveillance footage taken the night the man says Spacey groped him. AP

this June.”

The Buencaminos are on a roll this year. The couple were also part of the very successful restaging of the politically charged The Kundiman Party, written

by Floy Quintos and directed by Dexter Santos.

The play was originally staged at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater in University of the Philippines Diliman before it found its new home at the PetaPhinma Theater in Quezon City.

Shamaine played the lead character Maestra Adela, a retired, restrained and reclusive opera singer, while Nonie essayed the role of Juancho Valderama, a traditional feisty Philippine senator.

The last time Nonie performed for Peta was in 2005, as the lead character for the late Mario O ‘Hara’s Palasyo ni Valentin. “It has been almost 15 years. But wherever the venue is, or whatever theater company

is it for, the love for theater will always have a special place in my heart.”

On television, the Buencaminos remain very active, and they always set the bar for many of the younger generation of TV series actors. Nonie gives life to the role of Gen. Greg Maximillano, a new character in The General’s Daughter, while Shamaine is in the long-running Ang Probinsyano, where she plays mother to the character of Yassi Pressman.

Be it on film, television or stage, Nonie and Shamaine Buencamino make sure that they give their best every time. They are sometimes referred to Mr. and Mrs. B—and B doesn’t just stand for Buencamino.

Nonie and Shamaine are brilliant, bodacious and breathtaking in whatever role they give life to.

Indeed, the industry is more than blessed to have both of them. n

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Monday, June 3, 2019

Style

www.businessmirror.com.ph

MODEL Cara Delevingne is the face of the Dior Addict Stellar Shine campaign.

Shining, shimmering and pink P

INK, glossy and shiny aren’t always my choices when it comes to lipsticks.

Combine pink, glossy and shiny in one lipstick and I have a recipe for disaster because I am that person who leaves lipstick stains on everything, including the back of the passenger seats of cars and lots of coffee cups and glasses.

But I will always make an exception for Dior not because it is expensive but because luxury brand makeup, for me, makes every woman happy from the packaging to the product application. Dior is one of those brands, which gets my need for makeup and skin care to look pretty and make me feel pretty.

Last year Dior released a line of ultra pigmented and weightless lipsticks called Rouge Dior Ultra Rouge, which I loved. I went through the iconic 999 shade in about three months, which is a record of sorts for me.

Dior Addict Stellar Shine, the brand’s new line of lipsticks, is no exception to how makeup and skin care from Dior has made me feel all these years.

Dior Addict Stellar Shine is a new formula that comes in a new case decorated with the Dior letters lit up in pink. It reminds me of the Dior Lip Glow packaging.

“Under the guidance of Peter Philips, creative and image director of Dior Makeup, and faithful to this Dior spirit, color becomes attitude and shine, ever more extraordinary: a manifesto,” said Dior in a press release.

Dior Addict Stellar Shine proclaims: “Be Dior. Be Pink.”

This signature attitude was inspired by Christian Dior, who defined pink—one of his favorite and lucky colors—as “the color of happiness and femininity [...] Every woman should have something pink in her wardrobe.” Be Dior. Be Pink. is therefore, an infinitely Dior statement: to express femininity freely, without compromise, radiantly.

The claims for Stellar Shine are quite lofty: n Tone-on-tone micro-pearls reflect light multidimensionally,

boosting shine to stellar radiance. n The formula includes beeswax of natural origin, as well as five ultra-sensorial lightweight oils selected for the exceptional properties of shine, nutrition, hydration, comfort and softness they bring to lips instantly and throughout the day. n The formula, infused with aloe vera combined with oils and waxes, provides a fresh sensation on the lips from the first application and 24-hour hydration. At the end of the day, lips are 38 percent more hydrated. Day after day, they feel softer and more supple. n A soft scent of vanilla instantly reveals an elegant sensorial signature. A subtle sweet taste adds to this fragrant surprise. Impossibly addictive.

The line is composed of 24 luminous colors.

Stellar Shine comes in three made-to-measure, highly wearable effects: n Glazed: Pure and luminous shine (16 shades) n Sparkle: Dazzling, glittery shine (four shades) n Mirror: Bold shine with metallic radiance (4 shades) Of the 24 colors, there are four “It Shades” that embody Be Dior. Be Pink. n 976 Be Dior is “a resolutely iconic fashionable pink” that is the pink version of the iconic red 999. n 536 Lucky is a bold red pink that will work for morena skin tones. I have this and I love it. n 673 Diorcharm is a coral pink most women will love, in my opinion. It’s work-appropriate. n 891 Diorcelestial is a glitter-filled deep purple.

Okay, now on to the review. I used Lucky almost everyday for two weeks and while I wasn’t a fan of the luminosity, I loved the color.

I could wear it like a stain or on top of other colors and textures. For example, it softened the look of matte lipsticks.

The luminosity, however, looked good on my colleague and friend Charlene, who has very fair skin.

I let her try Diorcharm and it suited her skin tone so well that I almost gave it to her. But I didn’t.

As for the claims of 24-hour hydration, I didn’t wear the lipstick for 24 hours but, yes, it was very moisturizing. This is one of those lipsticks that have the moisturizing effects of a lip balm and the pigmentation of a lipstick. I normally wore it on top of or under a lipstick and I really did not need to wear lip balm. Dior Addict Stellar Shine was moisturizing without being too slippy. So would I purchase again? Probably yes, despite the price tag of over P2,000. n

BusinessMirror

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Can we trust machines that sound like us?

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Monday, June 3, 2019 E1

Harnessing digital information to improve population health

By Samyukta Mullangi, John P. Pollak & Said Ibrahim

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EALTH systems do not systematically collect information on social determinants of health, or SDH—the conditions in which people are born, live, grow and age—despite knowing they have a big impact on individual and population health. But the shift from reimbursing providers for the volume of services they deliver (fee for service) to the quality of patient outcomes relative to cost (value) is causing them to focus more on maintaining patients health, by investing in population health management strategies, which require them to better understand local populations and identify unmet needs.

Alternative means of collecting such information are emerging: smartphones, credit-card transactions and social media.

By David Weinberger

Before long we’ll be talking with just about anything that has an electric switch, and all those things will be replying in a human voice. In these simple, practical cases, if we find out that these assistants are not telling us the truth, we’ll simply stop using them. But they also all have an incentive to tell us a bigger lie every time they talk: that they are like us.

Assistants sound like humans because their makers want our trust. They know we’re wired to attach ourselves emotionally to human voices. That’s also why they tend to default to women’s voices: We humans, at least in the West, apparently find those voices more reliable. If sounding like a talented frog happened to play into our biological preferences, then

Siri would be voiced by Kermit. Unearned trust should not be trusted.

Furthermore, all of this humanizing isn’t aligned with our actual interests.

I’d like to be able to tell Alexa to speak faster and to skip the pleasantries. In fact, a device that talks in a flat, speedy voice designed for nothing but the efficient transfer of information may be better at signaling that its maker’s interests are aligned with ours. We don’t need the stove to pretend it cares about us.

It may be too much to ask that our devices not try to speak like humans right out of the box. But as the things around us start to compete for our attention and our trust by talking in phony human voices, companies may find that giving us the

Research and development spending has surpassed advertising spending

By Vijay Govindarajan, Shivaram Rajgopal, Anup Srivastava & Ye Wang

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AVE firms’ commitment toward marketing changed over time?

We recently examined this question using data.

Marketing expenses are typically not disclosed in financial statements. However, firms do disclose their advertising expenses. Although marketing and advertising are distinct, advertising expenses could represent a firm’s commitment toward marketing as a discipline. Until the late 1970s, companies spent about the same amount on R&D and advertising.

Today, they spend 10 times more on R&D. Firms spent more than 1 percent of their total expenses on advertising until the 1980s. This percentage declined to less than 0.8 percent in recent years. During the same period, R&D investment increased dramatically from less than 1 percent to more than 7 percent of total expenses.

Retail firms have not changed their business models for the past 35 years, which could explain their struggle to face the onslaught of competition from new challengers like Amazon. In contrast, the manufacturing industry has changed its business model and now spends more than 5 percent of its total expenses on R&D. Technology firms show the most dramatic change. Since 1995, they have spent more

than 10 percent of expenses on R&D and less than 1 percent on advertising. The fastest-growing industry in the past three decades has shifted its focus away from marketing toward innovation and product development.

There are several other explanations that could partly account for our findings. First, firms might increasingly rely on acquired brands instead of developing them organically. Second, firms might achieve higher mileage from advertising dollars through more intimate knowledge of their customers and by using improved tracking and analytics. Third, firms increasingly rely on peer networks, word-of-mouth, blogs and cross-sold services to establish brands. And fourth, new firm founders may be more passionate about discovering new technologies than about their marketing success.

But it is at least plausible that marketing has lost relevance relative to engineering, technology and product development, which would have profound implications for organizational structures, manpower planning and management education.

Vijay Govindarajan is a professor at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. Shivaram Rajgopal is a professor and vice dean at Columbia Business School. Anup Srivastava is an associate professor at the University of Calgary. Ye Wang is a doctoral student at the University of Calgary.

© 2019 Harvard Business School Publishing Corp. (Distributed by The New York Times Syndicate)

WWW.FREEPIK.COM

RETTY soon everything will have a voice.

Your phone already has one, and maybe your smart speaker. Those voices are likely to be both highly reliable and based on a lie.

option to command our digital assistants to speak like the soulless machines they are makes good business sense.

David Weinberger is a senior researcher at Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society.

SHOULD COMPANIES USE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO ASSESS JOB CANDIDATES?

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By Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic & Reece Akhtar

EW things seem creepier than algorithms mining our voices or photos to determine whether we should be considered for a job, and yet we’re not that far from this scenario at all. What’s more, it may not be as creepy as you think. If we want to make talent identification more effective—and more meritocratic—it’s important to continue to look beyond existing methods, particularly if technological innovations enable us to predict, understand and match people at scale.

One of the major problems with the way we currently interview job candidates is that the process is largely unstructured, leaving the questioning to the whims and fancies of the interviewer. This is not only inefficient, but it also leads to biased decision-making.

Video or digital interviews can remove these limitations almost entirely. And AI algorithms can mine a candidate’s facial expressions and body language, alongside both what they say, and how they say it.

Mining all this data can reveal a lot about the candidate’s talent, and can indicate how they might perform on the job.

The fact that AI algorithms can detect and measure latent or seemingly intangible human qualities may lead some to be skeptical, but there are plenty of scientific studies demonstrating that humans can accurately

identify personality and intellect from very thin samples of both verbal and nonverbal behavior. AI algorithms simply leverage the same cues that humans do. The difference is that the latter can scale, and can be automated. What’s more, AI does not have an ego that needs to be managed.

We do not suggest that all hiring decisions be made by an AI system. There must always be human oversight. Instead, we believe that human decisions can be significantly improved if there is accurate and valid data to inform and shape our judgments.

Of course, it’s essential to consider the legal and ethical implications of using these innovative tech tools, just as we do when we consider using traditional assessment methods. Also, clearly, there is now a difference between what we can know about people, and what we should know about them, with the possibilities surpassing both legal and ethical boundaries. Yet organizations—and individuals—will benefit enormously when new technologies can boost their ability to place the right person in the right job.

Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic is the chief talent scientist at ManpowerGroup and a professor at University College London and Columbia University. Reece Akhtar is the head of product innovation at RHR International and a visiting lecturer at New York University and Columbia University.

SMARTPHONES: The Pew Research Center estimates that more than threefourths of Americans now own smartphones. One example of how these devices could be used to collect SDH information involves the mobile applications that health systems offer to allow patients to easily book appointments or contact medical providers; these apps can also access information on patients’ location, which can be cross-referenced with rich databases to understand a patient’s experience of his or her neighborhood. In a research setting, this type of location sharing has yielded startling insights.

CREDIT-CARD TRANSACTIONS: These are another gold mine of information that can help round out the medical record. Distinct lifestyle clusters can be identified in terms of expenditure patterns, age, mobility and social networks.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Leveraging the willingness of people to divulge personal details on social media is yet another emerging frontier, and can be used to successfully access populations that have historically been considered hard to reach: younger people, females and low-income individuals.

Certainly, several pragmatic issues might create barriers to applying these approaches. An obvious one is privacy.

Another lies in the very act of obtaining consent from a large number of patients.

Finally, it may be difficult to get the attention of physicians already suffering from information overload. But with these new elements in place, health-care systems will be able to identify the needs and interventions required to create healthier communities.

Samyukta Mullangi is a hospitalist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and a healthpolicy researcher at Weill Cornell Medicine.

John P. Pollak is a cofounder of Wellcoin. Said Ibrahim is vice chairman for development and strategy at the Department of Health Policy and Research at Weill Cornell Medicine.

E2 Monday, June 3, 2019 • Editor: Efleda P. Campos

Education BusinessMirror

Education platform reaches 2.4M students in Mindanao

By Manuel T. Cayon

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@awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

AVAO CITY—The online Edukasyon.ph has recorded online searches and inquiries from 2.4 million students and parents last year seeking appropriate courses and scholarships from Philippine and foreign universities.

The number of Filipino users of the education Internet platform was likely to increase significantly with more students becoming aware of the presence of the platform linking collegiate courses with what more corporations were needing for their future manpower, Edukasyon.ph executives said.

Charmaine Vanta, Edukasyon. ph’s head of Mindanao, said the number was monitored for searches originating in Mindanao alone.

Davao City has 421,000 users.

In 2017, there were 1.7 million users of the platform, she added, with Davao City having 230,000 users.

She said he numbers coming in the first semester would indicate a likely spike in usage of the platform.

Davao City company briefer said its portal was being visited by 10 million users from the Generation Z sector per year. This sector is comprised of 13- to 23-year age group.

Rianna Puno, public affairs

head of Edukasyon.ph, said the platform links senior high-school students to the more than 300 colleges and universities offering their preferred courses and courses pitched in by the partner or client corporations.

“These are the students and parents who want to know which institutions offer these courses, and which could provide better and conducive environment for learning,” Puno added.

Edukasyon.ph could help with accessibilty where students and parents may process their inquiry and enrolment without going and spending to visit the schools, she said.

Puno said the platform was formed five years ago over the expressed need of families to have a selection of colleges and universities offering courses, a service no organization or portal was providing in the Philippines.

Abroad, an online portal of educational institutions was accessible in many countries already, she added. Besides, Puno said, there were many corporations that have expressed their need to get the good

number of college graduates with the skills they require.

Edukasyon.ph has engaged schools and students in holding education fairs and career clinics, notably to graduating senior high schools. Puno said teams from Edukasyon.ph have reached several cities in Mindanao to hold these activities.

She said industries would soon find the benefit of being their client once the universities begin to see the first batches of the graduates. The first college students are now into the second year yet after the implementation of the Kindergarten to 12 years of basic education (K to 12).

But the schools told Edukasyon. ph they have benefited from its services.

Gian Carlo Tancontian, head of the Institutional Communications and Promotions Office of the Ateneo de Davao University, said the career clinics and educational fairs of Edukasyon.ph have facilitated several schools to explain the program and offering of the schools to graduating senior highschool students.

Kids discover joy of learning math, the SAM way

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HILDREN are innately enthusiastic learners. However, as they reach school age, many begin to feel pressured, at times intimidated, by the rigors of academics—from quizzes and periodical tests to understanding concepts integrated in “challenging” subject areas like mathematics.

And with education-system reforms enforced under the K-12 curriculum, a child’s ability to learn and achieve math proficiency is seen as an essential precursor to his or her future academic and life success. Faced with such situation, parents, being the caring and guiding force that they are, look for the best math-enhancement program that will help motivate their kids into gaining back the confidence and self-motivation to become better learners.

Seeking to provide an effective intervention program that imparts key strategies for children to help them develop their own abilities and gain a positive attitude toward math learning, Seriously Addictive Math (SAM)—an authentic math enrichment program that originated from Singapore—was created. Founded in 2010

by Samuel Chia and Lau Chin Loong, SAM is a multi-awarded international Singapore math enrichment program developed by experienced Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE) teachers.

This same nurturing, parental love for her daughter combined with a deep aspiration to provide the best educational foundation for kids struggling in math is what inspired Joni

Jocson to become one of SAM’s first franchisees in the country way back in 2016. Her SAM Center-Marikina Branch currently accommodates many students from Kinder to Grade 8 and is looking forward to welcoming more in the coming months.

“My daughter in her younger years had Singapore math in her school. I was really amazed how she answered math problems especially ratio. We had our struggles with her assignments, like modeling and explaining to her how I arrived at the answer considering how I usually solved the problems the algebra way.

How do I explain X to her? She would always tell me, ‘Mommy, that’s not how we solve it with our teacher.’ Now, I understand better. I really want to make kids and parents appreciate math minus the struggles. And SAM is really the best way because it makes math more fun, more colorful and easier to understand,” she narrated.

As to what she thinks made SAM a highly successful and effective after-school enrichment program among students, Jocson cites its unique teaching methods which motivate pupils to genuinely understand math concepts through engaging, independent and “disciplined” learning. The program, she said, suits kids struggling in their studies, as well as those who simply love math and want to take their learning to the next level of mastery.

“SAM does not make your child memorize.

We make your child understand math. Once they understand, then they will be more confident in facing the math questions and problems. When they get the answers correct, then it boosts their self-confidence. If ever they get the answers wrong, they will have to correct it themselves so that they will learn from the experience, and hopefully not to commit the same mistake again,” she said.

“We also teach them independence and discipline. Kids have take home worksheets that they need to work on. They just need to answer a few questions everyday so that they can hone their math skills. They need to know how to balance their time between their homework in school and their worksheets with us.

We usually tell parents to let the kids on their own in answering their worksheets. If they commit mistakes or if they miss answering their worksheets, they will learn from their experience. Parents should not get stressed too much with SAM More often than not, kids would usually finish their worksheets in one sitting because the sheets are so colorful and so challenging,” Jocson added.

As a proud SAM franchisee, Jocson is grateful to have landed a business that enhances children’s math performance as they rediscover the fun in learning numbers, as well as assist their parents in their aspirations to provide their kids the best education. On a personal level, Jocson regards her franchise

as a “meaningful accomplishment.”

“SAM franchisees are not only given an income-generating opportunity. Running your own tutorial center does offer life-changing benefits for students, like helping them get improved grades, better appreciation of math concepts and accelerated learning, the perks go beyond as they give kids and their parents real results.

I’m truly honored to be among the first ones to bring SAM here in the Philippines,” Jocson said.

For those thinking of franchising a SAM tutorial center, Jocson has this to say: “You must really have the passion and drive to help kids overcome their fear with math! And with the support of SAM Team, this is really one good option for you to not only have a business but also the advocacy of helping parents and kids,” she concluded.

Via an award-winning curriculum modelled after the world-renowned Singapore Mathematics syllabus and pedagogy, this Singaporean brand, SAM program is especially tailored and designed for children age 3 to 12 years old. Its aim is to build students’ core foundation in Singapore math and enhance their thinking abilities. All the centers are franchised, and the franchisees are personally selected by the Singaporean Franchise Director, and trained by the SAM Head Trainer to ensure that the quality of the teachers are up to international standards through vigorous testing, diagnostics and continuous training programs.

RESEARCH IN SERVICE OF THE PEOPLE: CELEBRATING DLSU SDRC’S 40 YEARS

By Paula Symaco Joson

Special to the BusinessMirror

Conclusion

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VER 200 studies have been completed since the establishment of the SDRC. Throughout the years, the SDRC has conducted pioneering projects, which has made the research center distinguished. In the late 1980s, two of SDRC’s projects have impacted the society we know today. A study entitled “Social Benefits and Costs: People’s Perceptions of the US Bases in the Philippines” sought to determine the perceptions of key informants regarding the issue of US bases in the country. This study evoked policy insinuations and factors, which decided the fate of the US airbases in Clark and Subic. Another study, entitled “Health and Nutrition Status of and Health-Seeking Behaviour Among Families in Depressed Urban Poor Communities,” pinpointed the illnesses risking the urban poor communities in the country. The study also identified which groups among the communities are at high-risk, and explained to them how to manage diseases and illnesses, maintain their health and how to utilize the available health services within their communities.

At present, there have also been recent

notable projects, which shed light on current national issues and have provided empirical data, which promote action toward the issue.

Some of these key projects are: “National Study on Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children in the Philippines [OSAEC]” headed by Dr. Maria Caridad H. Tarroja; “Health Conditions, Health Seeking Behaviour and Access to Insurance among overseas Filipino Workers” headed by Dr. Melvin A. Jabar; “Reclaiming Filipino Indigenous Culture through Teaching and Learning” headed

by Dr. Hazel T. Biana; “From the Margins to the Mainstream of Society: Transforming the Lives of Workers with Exceptionality, Their Co-Workers, Business, Corporate Practices, Policies and the Workplace” headed by Dr. Roberto E. Javier Jr.; “Batanes Province Project on the Construction of Ivatan Houses in Basco with Related Publications” headed by Dr. Raymond Girard Tan; “Capacity Building in Asia for Resilience Education [Cabaret]” headed by Dr. Marlon Era; “A Study on the Financing of LGU-Owned Hospitals” and “Effect of Devolution on Local Health Expenditure and Delivery of Health Services,” both headed by Dr. Marites M. Tiongco; and “Yolanda Aftermath: Disaster Risk Reduction Responses, Needs, Optimism and Sentiments of Economically Disadvantaged Families in Leyte” and “Mapping of Health Risks from

Agents of Disasters and Extreme Events in the Philippines,” which were both headed by the late Scientist-in-Residence Dr. Exaltacion E. Lamberte.

Key projects like these, supported and spearheaded by faculty and research fellows, have resulted in policies and projects that identify and assess issues and affected individuals who require greater attention and services from the community. SDRC has also been recognized for its consistent research endeavors in poverty, social development and people empowerment, considering their contributions in building schools, organizing communities and promoting the delivery of services in the fields of health, governance and social service.

The SDRC began as an initiative to provide funding and support for research and publication of academic materials and serving as the link between faculty and persons in the government, business and the industry who desire the research services of DLSU’s faculty. From simply being formed to provide improved research activities in DLSU, it has evolved to conduct research on the irresolute social development needs such as rural and urban development, natural resources and environmental management, education for indigenous communities and reproductive health, health and population, governance

and institutional reforms, sustainable development, social change and protection, and inclusion and exclusion in social policy.

The SDRC has come a long way by expanding the scope of its projects, engaging the community and academe, as well as earning and establishing the trust of its stakeholders. Through these factors, the SDRC has earned credibility among national and international funding organizations and government agencies. These organizations and agencies have commissioned SDRC to administer mission-oriented research on the following subjects: 1) People Empowerment and Poverty; 2) Social Development; 3) Youth in High-risk Environments; 4) Women’s Health and Gender Relations; and 5) Quality of Delivering Programs and Services.

Bringing decades of experience with her, Dr. Maria Caridad H. Tarroja, the current director of the SDRC, continues to lead the research center into becoming on a par with other research entities in Southeast Asia. Apart from SDRC’s contributions in data and analysis, the Center continues to create a mark on the lives of people, by enabling individuals to become agents of social change.

Paula Symaco Joson is an Organizational Communication undergraduate student at De La Salle University.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Unicef’s ‘school-in-a-bag’ package to improve learning in Region 8

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ACLOBAN CITY— Schools in Samar and Northern Samar received digital learning packages to help improve student learning in multigrade classes. Through the “school-in-abag” program led by Unicef and in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), PLDT-Smart and Seameo-Innotech, 50 portable and digital classroom packages for select schools were turned over.

Multigrade classes are inclusive systems wherein children with different developmental levels, abilities and needs mix and learn together in one classroom under the guidance of one teacher.

Each school-in-a-bag package equips classes with a projector, one teacher laptop and tablet in one, five student tablets, DVD player, USB memory drive and pocket Wifi with starter load. Around 2,500 disadvantaged schoolchildren will stand to benefit from the project.

“Today’s turnover of schoolin-a-bag packages aims to bring 21st-century learning to all children, particularly for learners from isolated and indigenous poor communities. This is part of our longstanding commitment that every Filipino child realizes their right to quality education,” Unicef Representative Julia Rees said.

“It is a timely initiative that will help improve learning opportunities for disadvantaged and vulnerable children. It marks an important milestone in our partnership with DepEd and the private sector, and we look forward to replicating the project in other parts of the country where it is needed most,” she added.

As the project’s technolog y partner, PLDT-Smart, developed a learning app in Waray and Ibakon

languages, and packaged customized, relevant e-learning resources for tablets and laptops. These were based on the review and feedback from multigrade teachers and implementers who completed a training on Contextualization of Multigrade Teach-Learn Material in Region 8 in February 2018.

As an implementing partner, Seameo-Innotech has been helping improve access to quality learning by coordinating and organizing activities with the DepEd. Unicef has been working to promote quality and inclusive lifelong learning for all Filipino children.

In Region 8, Unicef has been supporting DepEd in reviewing and strengthening the delivery of its multigrade program. This partnership aims to provide better access to quality education to students in multigrade classes, especially children from poor, isolated and conflict-affected areas. These efforts support in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 of providing equitable access to quality elementary education for all children.

About 2.8 million school-aged Filipino children are not in school or enrolled in alternative learning options due to the lack of schools, teacher absenteeism, run-down facilities and the lack of inclusive learning setup for children from indigenous communities or for children with disability.

Samar and Northern Samar form part of Unicef’s geographical priority areas where some of the most disadvantaged children are. Priority areas also include Western Samar, Zamboanga del Norte and the five provinces in BARMM, namely, Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Be a Certified PPP Advocate!

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ITH the massive infrastructure projects envisioned by the government under the “Build, Build, Build” program, there has been a growing demand for public-private partnership (PPP) consultants and specialists needed by organizations—both by the private and public sectors—and investors to guide them and achieve success on their PPP initiatives.

The Center for Global Best Practices (CGBP), in partnership with Quantum Prisms Consulting Inc. (QPCI) and lawyer Alberto Agra, will launch a three-module program entitled “PPP Certification Course” to be held on Wednesday and Thursday, June 26 and June 27, 2019 (Module I); Thursday and Friday, July 25 and July 26, 2019 (Module II); and Thursday and Friday, August 29 and August 30 (Module III) at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, Resorts World Complex, Pasay City.

Be part of the growing team of PPP Advocates! This program is addressed to fill in the capacity gaps of PPP in the Philippines and to increase the tribe of the PPP champions—who will be at the forefront of their respective organizations’ quest for PPP projects. This special training is designed to skillfully train attending participants to become a Certified PPP Advocate through a ladderized-approach to master the following: Policy and Legal Framework (Module I); Technical, Financial and Environmental Aspects (Module II); and lastly, Contract, Drafting, Terms of Reference Preparation and Contract Management (Module III). Attendees completing this three-module program will have to take the final assessment to confer the title of a Certified PPP Advocate.

This learning initiative will feature lawyer Alberto C. Agra, one of only two in the world who are both a Certified PPP Specialist and Certified Regulation Specialist. He drafted a proposed PPP Code/Ordinance

for local government units (LGUs), which, to date, has been adopted by 81 LGUs in the Philippines. He was also part of the team who developed the 2008 National Economic Development Authority Joint Venture Guidelines. He has conducted over 100 lectures on PPPs and JVs. He is also the author of the Proposed PPP Ordinance: Annotated and coauthor of the book Knowing PPP, BOTs & JV: A Legal Ordinance. Currently, he holds a position as the chairman of the Philippine Reclamation Authority, and is a PPP, local government professor and political law bar reviewer at Ateneo Law School.

Master your PPPs and create billions of transaction value for your country! Registration is open to the general public. CGBP is accredited by the Civil Service Commission.

Attendees from the government can earn points for their career advancement and are exempted from the P2,000 limit set by COA when attending training conducted by the private sectors based on DBM circular 563 dated April 22, 2016. Interested participants are encouraged to avail themselves of the early payment savings and group discounts for three or more registrants. Seats are limited and preregistration is required.

For details, check www.cgbp.org.

This web site contains CGBP’s complete list of best practices programs, including “Certification Course for Chief of Staff of Legislators,” “Certification Course for LGU Administrators,” “Certification Course for Compliance Officers,” “What You Must Know About the Procurement Law,” “How to Joint Venture Effectively with the Government,” “Best Practices and Remedies to Avoid COA Disallowances,” “Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service,” “Omnibus Rules on Appointment and other Human Resource Actions,” and many more! You may also call landlines in Manila (+632)8427148/59 and (+632)556-8968 or 69; in Baguio (+6374)423-2914; and in Cebu (+6332)512-3106 or 07.

Marketing BusinessMirror

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Editor: Efleda P. Campos • Monday, June 3, 2019 E3

PR and the power of speech

T

By Bong R. Osorio

What is a presentation? It is speaking before 1,000 people using PowerPoint in a formal setting, a Ted Talk with just your voice and strong physical presence as your tools, or coming face-to-face with 10 people in a more informal atmosphere. It could also be a one-on-one with just a document or a laptop on a desk, or a relaxed chat over Starbucks coffee. Eighty percent of the skills you use routinely over coffee are still relevant to a 1,000-person presentation.

So, what happens? You become a presenter. You cease to be yourself.

You loosen up, and become more personal and animated. Structurally, a successful presentation is one where you “tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them and tell them what you’ve just told them.”

Nearly every communications opportunity is simply a well-told story. Think about it. Jim Endicott,

president of Distinction Communication, said, “Your presentation opportunities must tell a compelling story of change, personal development or future potential. It must open with fire that quickly engages your audience and moves at a pace that keeps the message flowing in a meaningful way. And it must end in a way that underscores key points that can win the hearts, minds, wallets, or votes of a busy and distracted audience. There should be a story behind every pitch.”

The illustrated-storyline method, where visuals are used to accelerate and clarify your ideas, works best.

Out with too many bullets, just like images in a child’s storybook, creative approaches must be clear and easy to understand. Or you can be a business storyteller who can lend credibility and believability to the story being told. Your tactical use of pacing, pauses, and purposeful movement should transfer your passion and excitement to your listeners, moving them consider new ways of thinking.

Selling the steak, not the sizzle.

Nowadays, presentations are made easier. Software, powerful technologies, plug-ins and utilities, seminars and books have helped make the job less of a worry. Anybody can now present. Your biggest challenge today is in key messaging and delivery so your audiences “get it” and are moved to action. Of course, there is a world of difference between those two perspectives. Technology focused, presentercentric presentations have become commonplace. The competition has shifted from simply “giving presentations” to effectively “getting the message” across—from mere pizzazz or dazzle to lucid storytelling.

Emotions rule. Effective communicators use three essential channels to convey important messages: facts that are crisply articulated and pre-distilled; emotional restraint propped by creative or right-brain stories and visually rich images; and symbolic connectivity between the emotional and rational aspects of the pitch. People are more persuaded by what they’ll lose than what they may gain. You remember unsolved problems, frustrations, failures and rejections much better than you remember your successes and completions. Truly, this is a solid manifestation that emotions sell better than reason.

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PR Matters

HERE is no other accomplishment one can have—including PR professionals—that can so quickly make a career and secure recognition than the ability to speak.

As a PR communicator, educator and marketer, I subscribe to this tenet, knowing full well that if you can articulate your thoughts, the power to connect with your constituents, stakeholders or audiences will be stronger, and carrying out plans will produce more substantial results.

PR people do a lot of written and verbal presentations. Both are equally challenging and important in leveraging personal and professional opportunities, but the oral variety, in many instances, is more demanding.

It's all about your audience. Endicott shared several mistakes in presenting.

One is your tendency to choose your own self-interest over your audience’s desire to know. It’s an issue of relevance.

Good presentations are not about you, although most political pitches are centered on “me, myself and I.” Failure to establish the relevance of your idea or information early is often a byproduct of traditional presenter-anchored messaging. This approach places a higher value on what you feel compelled to tell than any meaningful dialogue around the process of identifying and articulating issues and the solutions that are being proposed.

An adaptive communications style allows you to be heard and understood better. “It’s not enough that you under-

stand your own communications style tendencies, but you must be willing to adapt your styles to achieve efficiency.

Endicott said, “Your individual style should move from yourself to the audience, and from your own world to their world; from ignoring what’s going on in the presentation room to acknowledging room dynamics; from getting glued to your notes to establishing more eye contact; and from too much use of words and charts to leveraging stories and vivid images.”

Never choose intellect over interpersonal connections to influence an audience. Who you think you and

your company or party may be, is not as important as how you’re perceived.

You can try to manage those perceptions, but presentations—and presenters—often inadvertently send all the wrong signals. It’s not typically what you have said and done that creates those impressions; it is what you have not said and done. You’re rarely persuasive when your presentations are clearly centered on you or the party you represent.”

A persuasive presentation flows this way: Define the problem, quantify the impact, specify the need, propose the solution, quantify the benefits, sell the advantage or differentiation, and substantiate the claim.

In a Columbia University study, presentations influenced by the left or rational brain make use of bullets, heavy text and cold, hard data points.

They are logical, sequential, analytic and data-driven, where the audiences “check out” fast, rarely remember, and are provided little emotional and persuasion value.

Right brain or emotional presentations make use of images from personal stories, audience interaction or testimonials. They are sensory-based, emotion-filled, imagistic and talk of the here and now. The impact is usually stronger, engaging the audience’s senses. The points are made more quickly, messages are remembered much longer and action points are heeded immediately. The appeal is directed to the heart, eliciting such reactions as, “The presenter understood the problems and has some good ideas for solving them. I really think I can work with him.”

Points to remember in doing presentations: n Follow the mantra: “Tell them

what you’re going to tell them, tell them and tell them what you’ve just told them.” Said another way: “Say what you’re going to say, say it and say what you’ve just said. n Presentations must be designed to “awaken people by dreaming their dreams more clearly than they dream them themselves.” n Aim to get this reaction from a prospect: “Well, those guys really understood our problems, and had some good ideas for solving them, and I really think I can work with them.”

n Interpersonal communications resonate better with people: “Senior managers spend so much time flying around the world rather than just picking up the telephone because they need to look people in the eyes and see if they are on the level.” n In summary: When doing a presentation: Structure it, use the techniques that work for you, psyche yourself up, put substance in what you must present and be congruent.

Boyd Clarke and Ron Crossland wrote in their book The Leader’s Voice

that 86 percent of business professionals rate themselves as effective communicators, but only 17 percent of their audience agreed. Given this percentage ratio, our challenge as business communicators has more to do with our perceptions than our perfections.

During your life’s crucial moments, results are often established not only by your deeds, but also by what you say. Saying the right thing the right way can make the difference between clinching the account or losing the business, advancing your career or suffering a demotion, and getting the votes or losing the support of people.

During these moments, it’s important to be pitch-perfect, which renowned media coach Bill McGowan defined as “using the right tone to convey the right message to the right person at the right time.”

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premier organization for PR professionals around the world. Bong R. Osorio is a communications consultant of ABS-CBN Corp., SkyCable, Dentsu-Aegis Network, government projects among others, after retiring as vice president and head of the Corporate Communications Division of ABS-CBN. We are devoting a special column each month to answer our readers’ questions about public relations. Please send your questions or comments to askipraphil@gmail.com.

E4

Perspective BusinessMirror

Monday, June 3, 2019

ARIEL Arce and Edwin Arce makes sure the operations of the business is always good. From time to time they do spot check and audits inside the factory

AN Arce Dairy employee checks the ice cream mix before it goes to aging.

LABELS are important factor, here the Arce employees makes sure proper tags and labels are added to each container of ice cream.

THE mixing area of the Arce Dairy Factory, this is where the milk is pasteurized and homogenized.

ARCE Dairy favorites

THE GENUINE MIX THAT MAKE UP A GREAT ICE CREAM BRAND

W

By Leony R. Garcia

HEN you’re down and out, a scoop of ice cream may be all that’s needed to bring much-needed cheer.

The frozen, flavorful concoction is actually scientifically proven to help ease the blues, and even get you through boredom or stress.

That’s because eating ice cream releases serotonin, a body chemical referred to as one of the “feel-good hormones.”

Moreover, a half-cup serving of ice cream alone can deliver 5 grams to 9 grams of protein, which can help prolong the feeling of being full, while boosting energy levels. Loaded with goodness, ice cream also contains calcium, potassium and magnesium, which help maintain healthy blood-pressure levels. Other nutrients found in our favorite frozen delight include Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, thiamine, riboflavin and phosphorus.

Whether it’s summer or beyond, ice cream is a perfect treat for any season. On a sunny day, especially during the hot and humid months, cool off with a delicious scoop of your favorite flavor; while during the colder seasons, float your fancy with a favorite crepe topped by your favorite flavor of ice cream.

In the Philippines, ice cream is enjoyed the whole-year-round, any time of the day.

Other than those available in groceries and supermarkets, Filipinos make do with the neighborhood treat called sorbetes being peddled by ambulant vendors, just to savor the refrigerated delight.

‘Homemade experiment’

IN terms of the more “premium” or “branded” ice cream, several come to mind. One of them would be Arce Dairy, which traces its roots back in the 1930s, when Ramon Arce started pasteurizing carabao (water buffalo) milk in Novaliches. Back then, he was selling and distributing fresh milk in bottles under another recognizable brand name: Selecta.

The story goes that while Ramon marketed the branded milk to residences, restaurants and offices, his wife Carmen concocted their own ice cream recipe made

from carabao’s milk. The couple subsequently decided to turn their “homemade experiment” into a business and sell them to retail customers by 1948.

These products became the foundation of the family’s Selecta business, which later included the Selecta restaurants (the biggest branch of which stood alongside Aristocrat Restaurant in Roxas Boulevard back in the day).

By the 1970s Selecta ice cream and fresh milk were still sold in supermarkets despite Arce’s retirement in 1950.

In January 1990 RFM Corp. acquired the Selecta trademark and established Selecta Dairy Products, Inc. to take over the mass production of Selecta ice cream. Under RFM, the ice cream recipe eventually shifted to cow’s milk using plastic tubs as containers. With aggressive marketing and advertisement, it surpassed the popularity and sales of the market leader at that time.

As Selecta penetrated the ice cream markets of classes C and D by offering the product at a much lower price, its position as a high-end brand started to wane.

With this development, the Arce family decided to revive the well-loved ice cream brand to the market, which had only the best, natural ingredients: fresh carabao’s milk mixed with local fruits and nuts, among others.

It was in January 1995 when Mauro Arce, the youngest of Ramon and Carmen, revived the family’s ice cream business under a new brand name: Arce Dairy. Now under the company name Arce Foods Corporation operating at the original family-owned plant at Selecta Drive in Quezon City, the brand is being managed by third- and fourthgeneration Arces.

At the helm of the family biz are the uncle-buddy-sports tandem of Ariel Ramon A. Arce as vice president for operations, and Edwin S. Arce as marketing head. Ariel is

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ice cream in the country, as the main ingredients are sourced from the local dairy industry, while fruits and nuts come from Filipino vendors.

“Arce Dairy is the only local ice cream company which uses fresh carabao’s milk and fresh, real fruits—not puree or flavoring. By having natural ingredients, we are on the healthy side,” Ariel and Edwin emphasized.

“Right now, we are also developing the ‘no-sugar added’ line. Calling it sugar- free or low sugar would be [misleading,] because the fruit itself has sugar,” he added.

Moreover, the VP said they are also starting to work their way into the middle class and lower-income consumers, while ensuring they will still enjoy the superb quality of their products.

Their newest offering is a drumstick line called “Drummies,”. This is also marketed for the millennials as well, which Ariel described casually as “isang dampot, isang kain: ubos,” that would be ideal for convenience stores.

Ariel said the first three flavors—the all-time favorites vanilla, mantecado and avocado- remain to be the best sellers (the first one being the top). The mouthwatering strawberry banana variant is picking fast as well, while the dark-chocolate ice cream exudes a dreamy feeling, along with a moist chocolate cake enjoyment.

“We also have the famous matcha ice cream, as well as the durian flavor,” then he beamed with pride: “Do you know that President Duterte only eats our durian ice cream nowadays? He has stuck with our brand since he tasted Arce Dairy.”

The brand, therefore, has earned the preference of the presidential palate.

Invigorated company’s plans

THE Arce Dairy Executive Committee: (From left) Edmond Arce, Edwin Arce (VP Marketing), Maurita Arce, Eloisa Arce-Romero (Executive VP), Faustito Arce (President), Ariel Arce ( VP Operations), Armida Arce-Jimenez (Corporate Secretary), Cynthia Arce, Dennis Arce (VP Finance), Ramir Arce Romero.

the son of the company’s current president Faustito Arce, who in turn is a sibling to Edwin.

“We added many variants courtesy of my sister Rossanna, a food technologist by profession. She has been in charge of research and development since then. We now have [more than] 40 flavors,” Ariel beamed with pride.

A renaissance of sorts

ACCORDING to Edwin, he and Ariel are almost of the same age and grew up together as classmates and teammates in basketball and track-and-field.

“All the sports competitions that we joined together, we emerged as champions.

We have a good combination, which we are bringing here at Arce Dairy. During our childhood days, we played right here at the plant, and we learned the business at a young age, Edwin related. “We would be getting ice cream straight from the machine right into to our cups, and our parents would ask us: ‘How does ice cream become frozen?

What makes it melt?’ Without actually knowing it, we were being taught about the business,” Ariel did not join the company until 2011 when his dad asked him to

oversee the operations to find out the reason the company barely made break-even.

When he took over the operations, it only had two trucks for deliveries, and its monthly electricity bill averaged P1 million, which is too costly for a 4,000-square-meter ice cream facility.

To bring down the costs, the VP for Operations implemented several remedies, one of which was to produce ice cream on a day-to-day basis. Majority of the output for the day was loaded into the trucks for deliveries early the next day.

Another tactic was to manufacture whatever has been ordered for the day and deliver them within 24 hours. They barely stock ice cream to this day.

“By doing so, the company limits the use of freezers in the factory, thereby reducing our electricity consumption,” Ariel explained.

And it worked. In two-months’ time, the company’s electricity consumption was reduced to 60 percent. The huge savings on electric bills opened up many opportunities for the company to generate more profits, which allowed them to purchase modern ice cream machinery.

With the new pieces of machinery, Arce

Dairy’s production tripled in 2015 and is now making an average of 3,000 gallons of ice cream a day. Moreover, the company now has 10 freezer trucks that deliver ice cream products in Metro Manila and in some parts of Luzon. Ariel proudly stated he purchased the vehicles solely through the company’s income, and without incurring debts.

Currently, Arce Dairy supplies to hotels, schools and cafés, but its biggest distributors are the supermarkets. The company also exports to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Japan and Hong Kong. It is also currently finalizing details for penetrating the US and China markets.

“More important, we now give bonuses to our people. They enjoy midyear and Christmas bonuses, aside from the 13th-month pay and other dividends. From 90, we now have more than 170 employees. Most of them and their families live within the Arce compound,” the vice president shared.

Special ice cream

FROM its early years and up to now, Arce Dairy puts a premium on its ingredients. For generations, Ariel and Edwin said, it is the family’s pride to produce the best-tasting

EDWIN shared that their company has already acquired two machines from Italy that can produce 800 liters of ice cream an hour.

“With those machines, the amount of ice cream that we churn out for a day can be done in two hours. That’s why we really can produce more.”

He added: “With that, our next plan is to increase our storage area. Our compound is [all of] seven hectares. We need [to have] our storage right here to save on rent as well to make handling [of the products] efficient.

Once everything is in place, with bigger production and storage, maybe in two years’ time, we can ‘go public.’ Going into the IPO (initial public offering) or stock market launch is in the pipeline, actually,” the VP revealed.

“Our scooping stations in Glorietta, Shangri La and Greenhills are doing very well, those are all managed by Eloisa Arce Romero and Armida Arce Jiminez.” Ariel added.

We are also considering franchising for our business.We might as well base the franchising model there,” he further stated.

Ariel’s time and energy are dedicated to make Arce Dairy “the country’s greatest company and best ice cream brand” in the years to come.

“The real secret of a successful business is being hands-on and being present in the business at all times. Owners or business operators need to be there to oversee their business. They need to work alongside the people, the employees and learn more with them. That way, big mistakes are avoided, while minor errors are readily corrected,” he explained.

“That’s what I have been telling my staff: I expect your concern for the business the same way that I am concerned with you and your family.”

He went on to say: “You see, they have been living here within the compound all these years. Their children automatically become our employees when they reach the legal age. Our employees can come directly to us bosses for their concerns. There’s no need to go through the manager or supervisor.”

Asked what made Arce Dairy the formidable company that it is for so many years, Ariel opined: “For me, the key for a successful business is genuine concern within the entire organization. Malasakit.”